Rapid Expansion of Systems

[Juliofantastico 0]

Hi all

 

I need some help as a system I have looked after for 10 years has rapidly expanded beyond my area of expertise, and whilst I can get my head around almost anything that gets thrown at me, I have grave fears of embarking down the wrong path with this.

 

The system has evolved from a 60 camera Pelco analogue system, to an IP based system with 6 x 64 channel NVR's 30 network switches and around 10 users. At the moment there are around 260 cameras which I have endeavoured to split over four VLAN's governed by a router (personnally, I think the router may be the pinch point)

 

VLAN 1 is the legacy system, and the first foray into the IP solution, all switches, servers, and approx 150 cameras are in VLAN 1. Switches are TP Link TL-SG3424P that sit on a single mode fibre self healing ring and the cameras in this VLAN seem to be okay.

 

There are about 15 cameras in VLAN 2 at the moment which since the introduction of the router have begun to lag, jump etc as the data isn't getting through fast enough. VLAN 2 connect via a TP-Link Switch with ports configured accordingly.

 

There are around 70 cameras on VLAN 3 which are just as bad if not worse than VLAN 2. VLAN 3 is likely to expand to around 200 cameras very quickly. VLAN 30 comprises some Allied Telesis switches and some TP-Link switches although the AT Switches are on a radial.

 

I've employed an IT specialist to set up the VLANs but im getting the impression he is figuring it out as he goes along himself.

 

So, my questions are;

 

How do I get all these cameras to work on 1 system considering the amount of data it will generate?

 

Is the router (Vigorswitch) the problem and if so, will a layer 3 switch work better?

 

Will I need to sit servers and cameras on separate networks then use the second network port on the server to connect them to another network for viewing purposes?

 

All help gratefully received

[ilk 0]

As IP based systems grow in size, the necessary requirement to move from a flat network to a fully routed network requires a review of the detailed network design.

 

As you have indicated, router processor speed and back plane capacity is critical, as it is for the network switches employed.

 

Also issues, such as camera setup (resolution, bit rate (CBR/VBR) and frame rate transmission) and the number of streams also need to be factored in.

 

This will allow some detailed calculation of network load in the worst case scenario to be undertaken and allow you to check router and switch selection and set up.

 

I hope this helps

 

Ilkie

[Juliofantastico 0]

Thanks for that. I tried looking through the switch manuals etc, but it's a discipline if it's own. Every time I've ever tried to change a setting it seems to result in a catastrophic meltdown...

[dan732 0]

Your switches are "consumer" grade, I believe that is your bottleneck (as well as the router). I would invest into Cisco Catalysts 3850's (or 3750x/3750e/3750g older generations that you can buy form refurb companies) and interconnect them using the stack cables. It isn't cheap, but infrastructure is the reason why growing networks like these fall apart.

[Juliofantastico 0]

We're going to ditch the cheap router and use a layer 3 switch that we have (Allied Telesis x610) to manage the switching to see if it makes a difference later this week. Ultimately, we're looking at running the cameras on separate networks with a server or two on each, and then linking the servers via a network. Not sure of the difference myself, but cleverer people than say it'll work.

Will keep you posted.