The system's scale and bandwidth will determine how many users can simultaneously access video or playback footage in real time. Through a TCP/IP network, the central command can monitor multiple NDVRs, flexibly managing RAID and NAS storage. As NDVRs and NVRs must consider scale, network architecture is different. Considering typical network environments and IP infrastructure, an NDVR is more flexible and usable for midsize or large-scale video deployments.
Selection of NDVRs depends on several key areas.First, the NDVR server-side functions must be examined by checking the CPU efficiency and flash memory. The display card must meet basic standards, with compatibility with the operating system and network camera brands. The device must support local recording as a backup in emergencies. Most importantly, the solution must be scalable and have four server management functions over the real video server, alarm-processing server, digital matrix and database server. These management functions will raise NDVR system manageability and efficiency to NVR levels, unlike a networkenabled or hybrid DVR.
TROUBLESHOOTING
After comparing and contrasting NDVRs and NVRs, let us examine the unique applications NDVRs are suited for. This type of system is suited for PoS integration, particularly for retail chain stores. As NDVRs support network and analog signals, they are suited for large-scale, hybrid projects with huge existing analog investments or users who have a diverse group of cameras. These include airport boarding gates, long-haul bus depots, railways, mass transit, highway toll booths, universities, industrial facilities, amusement parks and casinos.
A common problem for NDVRs in these applications is networking. As cameras must connect to the back-end storage over an IP network, the system's firewalls and front-end VPN address translation for multiple network devices are trouble areas installers must address. The ease of setting up multiple cameras will depend on protocol selection and the type of UPnP access and TCP compatibility used. Different equipment groups, such as camera groups or recording settings for specific devices or zones, frequently cause configuration headaches and are set up wrong, costing installers valuable time. On the hardware side, storage compatibility must be considered for projects involving third-party equipment and software. Integrating multiple SDKs will require integrators to spend time programming. Sometimes, open IP and analog brand options, along with unrestricted Internet Explorer-based remote viewing and navigation, create more integration and programming issues for integrators and installers.
In real life, many NDVRs have added networking capability to previously closed analog systems, shown through many success stories. NDVRs have surpassed DVRs for networking and surveillance performance. In areas where NVRs are growing, NDVRs — given their DVR DNA — are not guaranteed for defeat.