Smart Video Server Overview
What is a Video Server?
A Video Server is a device that converts an analog CCTV (Closed Circuit TeleVision) signal into a digital signal. A Video Server is usually used in installations which have pre-existing CCTV Cameras. Once the video signal is converted into a digital signal, it allows the live video to be viewed on computers and recorded to various types of digital equipment including NVR's (Network Video Recorder) and PC's.
A Video Server is connected to a CCTV Camera via a coax cable. The coax cable from the CCTV camera would plug directly into the Video Server and the Video Server would then output into an ethernet RJ-45 cable. This allows the Video Server video to be transmitted over IP to any PC's or NVR's within the network.
Video Servers can contain between one to four ports allowing up to four separate CCTV Cameras to be connected. A Video Server can also contain an audio in and audio out port which will allow for the video to contain synchronised audio. A Video Server can also contain a serial connection for PTZ (Pan/Tilt/Zoom) cameras.
Some Video Servers have embedded video analytics which allows for intelligent motion detection, object recognition, object detection and object tracking. This allows any CCTV Camera within a CCTV System to be monitored by an Intelligent Video Server to provide the highest level of surveillance.
Video Server Benefits
- A Video Server contains a built-in CPU allowing the Video Server to run stand-alone without the need of a PC.
- Some Video Servers contain Embedded Video Analytics which allow for a higher level of surveillance.
- A Video Server can contain Motion Detection allowing the Video Server to detect unwanted persons or objects in the cameras field of view.
- Video Server Alarm Notifications including FTP video snapshots, email video snapshots, SMS text messaging and uploading of video.
Smart Video Servers VS. Standard Video Servers
How does a standard Video Server compare to a Smart Video Server?
- A Smart Video Servers offers intelligent motion detection whereas a standard Video Servers offers basic motion detection on pixel change.
- Smart Video Servers can track objects, recognize objects, follow motion and check for unwanted or missing objects. Standard Video Servers cannot.
- Smart Video Servers still offer remote recording, remote access and computerless installations.
- A Smart Video Server has the video analytics software embedded into its processor whereas a Video Server does not contain video analytics.
- A Smart Video Server offers the ability to only send video over the network when an alarm is triggered lowering network bandwidth. A standard Video Server sends video across the network 24/7.
- When installations require multiple Video Servers, Smart Video Servers offer the ability to only show video when an alarm is triggered. This allows for less security staff to be monitoring all the CCTV Cameras at once.
More Video Server Information
To learn more about the benefits of a video server or for video server product recommendations, please visit www.networkcamerareviews.com.
For the latest video server news and video server related articles, check out the IP Network Camera blog at ipnetworkcamera.blogspot.com which discusses various articles relating to IP Network Video including video servers.
Looking to purchase a Smart Video Server? Check out the Smart Video Servers listed at the top of this page.
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