looking for advice on my first install.

[Patient_Zero 0]

I have typed this out three times only to have my fat fingers mess something up. I am looking for a critique on a first time build. I am new to surveillance systems but not new to the world of computers and network management. I am doing this install for the learning experience. I would not have undertaken the task is I thought it was over my head and could not be done in a professional matter. That being said I want to make sure I am going in to this with as much knowledge I can. The person I am doing the install for already has a system at his other location and wants to continue to use the same software. I will be using Milestone Xprotect express in the NVR.

 

 

I am going to list below the system I am planning on installing, Any critiques you have of the system please let me know and let me know why I should change it. This isn't so myself or others can judge you but for my own personal learning. If this system install goes well I may be looking at 15+ more locations. This first system is for me to a learn what works and what doesn't. Second I want to see if this is something I want to tackle with more stores.

 

The system.

 

Cameras

 

Outdoor: 1 x Vivotek FD8164V-F2 with Vivotek AM-215 wall bracket.

Indoor: 7x Vivotek FD8169

 

NVR

cpu: Intel Core I5 4440 ( overkill for the system but I want to be able to better render video if needed)

Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-H97N-WIFI (has dual nic, may switch out for another board an ethernet addon card, I want to keep the cameras on a parallel network to reduce congestion)

Memory: 8gb (2x 4gb)

Boot drive: intel 535 series 120gb ssd with windows 7 professional

Live view HDD: 1 tb WD purple drive

Recording HDD: 3 tb WD purple drive

case: Norco RPC-231 rackmount case

Power Supply: 80 plus certified or better modular power supply. 430w

 

Network and Misc.

Switch: Trendnet TPE-1020WS

UPS: TRIPP LITE SMC15002URM

Rack: Tripp Lite SRW9U

[zr1 0]

Cams

The Vivo’s you mention work fine, but they’re a little 2009….er…..or were they 2006?

 

2MP will look good, but for new installs, I’m usually on 3MP, though this month everyone’s excited about 4MP given the new pricepoint (that’s still well below those Vivo’s). Vivotek is simply midprice-range, but not the price-per-performance I’m seeing with some other brands in 2015.

 

But those 2MP Vivo’s will work fine, do their job, and look good.

See the IP/Megapixel folder for the various opinions on current cams:

viewforum.php?f=19

 

Also, I tend to use POE cameras when I can to simplify cabling. Though using a POE splitter at the cam can be done and still run the single network cable to the camera.

 

PC

If the PC isn’t doing any other duties, the bandwidth of the 8 cameras is well below that of a single hard drive. So going with one HDD will fit performance-wise. But if you’ve got extra money and want an extra drive, I’d probably suggest a 2nd spindle simple to mirror the data in case one HDD buys the farm prematurely…but even then, if you reallllllly need to have the data in case a HDD dies.

 

PC#2

If the client is set on the PC solution, then they’re set.

If you’re (or somebody) is up to supporting the PC as things go along, then so be it.

 

For most of my small business customers, they go with with a dedicated NVR for so few cameras as the NVR does everything they want and it’s a near fire-and-forget device that they almost never have to trouble with. Which they like as they want to spend their business-time working on their welding/orangutan-training/widget-making/etc.

 

As for the purple drives:

* I’ve been through a lot of drives over the years

* From my limited one-sighted experience, I haven’t noticed a difference in using the “surveillance-labeled” drives

* I still buy them though and use them anyway

 

Network

With the dual-NIC, again, all 8 cams are doing about 20Mbps combined, so it depends on what else you’ve got going on your network traffic. But for most small businesses and residential, it still leaves plenty of bandwidth for Netflix, Facebook, smartphones, and more for several users…and that’s on 10/100 Fast Ethernet. (though if you have a Linux/Torrent-minded person…well, you’re on Gigabit anyway, right? )

 

OS

Win7 will mean you can turn off forced-updates/reboots so that the cameras can do their thing and you just do the updates on your schedule and not Microsoft’s.

 

Looks like a fun system though...have fun with it and hope the 15 other sites work out great too!