garybdavis

System: 12 cameras, 3MP, mostly Hikvision with USA firmware Dell T20 Server, Xeon E3 3.25GHz, 16GB Ram, 1TB OS Hard Drive, 4TB Purple Video Hard Drive, NVIDIA GeForce GT 610 Video Card 2GB Originally, my system was turned up with Milestone. Things ran fine for the first year or so and then it started to hang every few days. I suspect it was after a Windows update. Problem was, my licenses had expired and I couldn’t get an update or support from Milestone. The dealer who sold me the licenses did spend some time checking out my system but couldn’t find anything wrong. They offered to sell me a new support license and I suspect that an update to the Milestone software would have fixed the issue, but I felt like I had already paid for the software. I was aware of the Milestone support fees but I didn’t think I would need updates just to keep the system working. I suppose if I had disabled Microsoft updates that might have been true. Perhaps a simple reinstall of the current version would also have solved the problem but without any support to guide me, it’s hard to say. Instead of continuing on with Milestone, I purchased Avigilon Core through Alex (AK357). For the initial purchase price, I get support and upgrades from Avigilon until the software version is discontinued. It's a new release so I expect this to be at least 5 or 6 years and after that, I hear they give discounts for moving existing users to the next release. After I got it installed, Alex took the time to log into my system, check things out and make a few recommendations. I’ve called him a couple of times since and he always answers the phone. Nice to know there’s someone in case you need the help. The two systems are similar in functionality with Avigilon being a bit higher in initial cost. You can find pricing for Milestone online but you have to get Avigilon pricing from a dealer. When I factored in the reoccurring support fees from Milestone, I was better off with Avigilon in the long run. I was initially happy with Milestone and thought it to be a very powerful system, but the reoccurring support fees didn't fit my application (or budget). Avigilon seems to be better suited for me and with several weeks of uptime, it’s been rock solid.

Looking for video card recommendations. Running a Dell T20 server w/12 cameras. The integrated card does ok, but I suspect the system would run a bit faster if I put in a dedicated video card. The T20 functions as the recording/mobile server and has the client server up most of the time. 12 feeds of VGA for live view with no issues. 3MP playback x 12 does pretty good, but does skip on occasion. Something that's low power but plenty of memory. Current monitor is HD but I'd like for it to be able to handle a 4k. I'm not a gamer so this is out of my expertise. Thanks, Gary

I'm perfectly happy to pay for each major release. I just want them to continue to support it for a decent length of time (like several years). Mainly issuing updates to keep up with the Microsoft Windows updates. I haven't seen any Avigilon pricing but will get with ak357 to find out how much $$.

Core will do. I'm near Austin, Texas

Looking further up the log, there are some "Failed to add to database" errors. Never mind the Davis Portable "Cannot Retrieve Serial Number". That's a portable camera that I have disconnected most of the time. 2016-11-23 12:28:39 FAILURE Driveway East 10.10.10.13 Failed to add to database! (Error code: 125. System error code: 32) 2016-11-23 12:28:40 ADD OK Driveway East 10.10.10.13 Database OK 2016-11-23 12:28:40 FAILURE Davis Portable 10.10.10.9 Cannot Retrieve Serial Number 2016-11-23 12:28:41 FAILURE Driveway East 10.10.10.13 Failed to add to database! (Error code: 125. System error code: 32) 2016-11-23 12:28:43 ADD OK Driveway East 10.10.10.13 Database OK 2016-11-23 12:28:44 ALERT Event "Driveway West Motion Start" triggered 2016-11-23 12:28:44 FAILURE Driveway East 10.10.10.13 Failed to add to database! (Error code: 125. System error code: 32) 2016-11-23 12:28:45 ADD OK Driveway East 10.10.10.13 Database OK 2016-11-23 12:28:46 FAILURE Driveway East 10.10.10.13 Failed to add to database! (Error code: 125. System error code: 32) 2016-11-23 12:28:48 ADD OK Driveway East 10.10.10.13 Database OK 2016-11-23 12:28:49 FAILURE Driveway East 10.10.10.13 Failed to add to database! (Error code: 125. System error code: 32)

I'm having issues with Milestone Essential 2014. The recording function stops working and my server is largely hung up. The smart client mostly responds but I can't get any other application on the PC to fire up including task manager. I have to do a hard reboot. Looking through the recording server log, this is the only thing that looks odd (see below) and I see it several times when I restart. I'm still narrowing it down, but last time the recording server quit was about the same time the log said it deleted an archive. I might add that it takes several minutes for a recording activity to show up in the activity line on the Playback. I'm running a 4TB purple drive dedicated to Milestone video storage and it stays around 2 to 2.5TB full. I'd like to post this on the Milestone forum but I can't get registered. Guess I need to fork up another chunk of $$ to get support... Anyways, any help would be appreciated. 2016-11-23 12:29:51 STARTUP F:\Security Camera Storage\C42F9034353C_1\2016-11-23-12-00\C42F9034353C_1.PQZ Database Corrupt, Repair performed using DB repair strategy 0 2016-11-23 12:29:51 STARTUP F:\Security Camera Storage\C42F9034353C_1\2016-11-23-12-00\C42F9034353C_1.PQZ Attempting FAST repair of this database... 2016-11-23 12:29:51 STARTUP F:\Security Camera Storage\C42F9034353C_1\2016-11-23-12-00\C42F9034353C_1.PQZ FAST repair of corrupt database failed. 2016-11-23 12:29:51 STARTUP F:\Security Camera Storage\C42F9034353C_1\2016-11-23-12-00\C42F9034353C_1.PQZ Attempting EXHAUSTIVE repair of this database... 2016-11-23 12:29:51 STARTUP F:\Security Camera Storage\C42F9034353C_1\2016-11-23-12-00\C42F9034353C_1.PQZ Repair of corrupt DB successful!

So which Avigilon version would you recommend? I just want the basics for a 12 camera system: camera activated motion recording for 15 days, app for iPhone and Android, run on a T20 Xeon at ~25% CPU, no annual fees, Hikvision camera drivers, motion based recording search capability and Windows based software that is supported for more than a year or two. And where do I buy Avigilon?

I'm beginning to think Milestone is not for me. I've been running a Dell T20 based server system with 12 Hikvision cameras and Milestone XProtect Essential 2014. Lately, I'm having some issues that seem to be Windows compatibility based. Maybe if I left my Windows system alone and not updated it, things would be stuck in time and still stable. But, I need to update Milestone or get something else. Milestone is offering a special (50% discount) to go to XProtect Express. That's valid until the end of 2016. Since my upgrade expired 9/2016, the special deal will cost me $504 for a 12 camera system. That gets me a 3 year upgrade plan. I already have $600 into Milestone software and I've been running for just over a year. https://www.milestonesys.com/newsletters/reseller_/emea/2016/October/Upgrade-XProtect-Essential-Customers-to-XProtect-Express-for-free/ This is just a home security system but I don't want to have to pay fees every year to keep my system running. Anyone else want to whine about paying annual fees with me?

I’m building a component based system and need some feedback on a couple of things. Here are the details: 8 x POE cameras, mix of 5MP and 3MP Dell T20 server running Milestone XProtect Go Will a Dell T20 server (Xeon 3.2GHz, 4GB RAM) be about right for this number of cameras at 3 & 5MP? Milestone list the minimum requirement of Xeon 2.0GHz. The client will be on my laptop (i7 4600). The only thing I’ve purchase so far is a 3S 5MP box camera that I’ve mounted in a Pelco 3512 with heater/defrost/fan. I’ve bench tested it, figure out all the bitrate/GOP settings and I’m happy with it. I’ve got the PoE/switch solution figured out for my two remote buildings (Ubiquiti NanoBeam M5, cheap 4 port switch, separate injectors for 24/48v), but for the house, I need to update the switch to GE. I know the camera ports can be 10/100 but would want GE for the connection to the server. Also, for a camera network this size, would it be best to put the cameras, server and client laptop on a GE switch? I would then run that switch into a router port. That way all of the traffic would stay off the router except for my DDNS base viewing (phone/web apps). Thanks, Gary