Keep reading for tips that can help narrow down your search.

  Identify your VMS must-haves

Preliminary work

Take an inventory of all the sites, devices, and systems you currently have. It’s also important to identify your bandwidth, power, retention, and storage requirements.

During this process, you’ll gain lots of valuable information that will help you and your team inform your decisions. You might decide to keep some existing equipment or learn that your current storage won’t support your growth plans. You might also learn that you need bandwidth management, network health monitoring, data optimization, video analytics, automation, edge storage, and processing, etc. These insights affect what solution you choose and how you build your video system architecture.

Assess vulnerabilities

If you have an existing deployment, conducting a thorough assessment of potential vulnerabilities and broader opportunities can also be helpful. For example, you may discover that your cybersecurity strategies aren’t robust enough to withstand today’s evolving threats. Or that some remote locations would benefit from cloud-based video systems because of on-site limitations.

Think about tomorrow

Don’t forget to look beyond your video surveillance applications. Are there any other security or business systems that you’d like to integrate with your video system to enhance efficiencies? All this information helps you zero in on your technical requirements and some key must-have VMS features.

But don’t limit these considerations to your immediate needs. When you’re in this phase, build out a tentative five or ten-year roadmap. This helps you pick a solution that can grow with your organization.

  Ensure your new VMS can simplify monitoring tasks

Another big consideration in your VMS decision is your operational requirements and users. For example, think about:

• How many users do we have?

• What are their specific roles?

• What are their specific tasks?

• Do they have special requirements?

• How will they be using the video system every day?

• Do certain user roles or groups need to share information or collaborate during emergencies or investigations?

If you have in-field officers who use body-worn cameras or are dispatched to a scene, a video solution with mobile capabilities could be high on your list of priorities. This also helps if you have operators who work from a main control room to oversee incidents across many sites. Choosing a highly scalable VMS can help your team centrally monitor many systems across your organization.

Guide to buying video management system

Read Also : VMS vs NVR Comparison 2024

What if your team does more after-the-fact investigations than live monitoring? You’re going to want to take a closer look at VMS solutions that help streamline investigative work for your team. VMS features like quick search, visual tracking, video analytics, and digital evidence management could be beneficial to your VMS deployment.

Working through these questions can help you pinpoint some must-have features that make everyday security monitoring tasks easier.

  Prioritize cybersecurity and maintenance tools

Maintenance is a big part of keeping your VMS optimized and cybersecure. Whether it’s your security or IT teams keeping things up to date, you need to make sure you can easily stay on top of tasks without sapping resources.

First, consider what tools are available that help you protect your data and strengthen your cybersecurity posture. This means looking for a VMS that allows you to build layers of defense using advanced encryption, authorization, and authentication methods.

Beyond that, you should consider video management systems with built-in tools that enhance automation across your maintenance and cybersecurity tasks. For example, choosing a system that helps you streamline software and firmware updates can play a significant role in keeping threats at bay. Receive alerts when new versions are available, including those that come with fixes for known vulnerabilities. This ensures you always have the latest features and defenses available to harden your video deployment.

Advanced video surveillance systems can even automatically track the security of your deployment in real-time and give you a security score. At any time, you can check that score to know how secure your whole system is. You’ll also receive clear actionable steps and recommended best practices to optimize your cyber hygiene.

  Be open to open architecture

Being able to adapt your video management software is critical. After all, you don’t ever want to end up in a situation where you’re limited to video devices that don’t meet your needs.

Choosing an open architecture video system gives you the freedom to make changes over time. This differs from a closed or proprietary VMS, which locks you into a specific vendor’s video cameras, network video records (NVRs), and software. Often, these closed systems limit your flexibility to make the changes you want. This either leads to big compromises in your video deployment or the dreaded rip-and-replace scenario.

“The value was clear from the outset and it was immediately apparent that Genetec would be an important strategic partner for today and tomorrow. The platform is comprehensive, intuitive, and, as part of our five-year strategy, the open architecture gives us so many options.”

An open architecture video system can help reduce upgrade costs. You’ll have the option to keep existing video devices and slowly add new IP cameras and other video technology over time as your needs evolve, or more budget becomes available. You’ll also be able to integrate other security systems such as access control, intrusion, video analytics, automatic license plate recognition, and more.

But there’s a small catch. Not all open video software is created equal. You’ll want to look for a VMS solution that supports a broad ecosystem of video devices and other technologies. The more options you have, the easier it will be to find and implement the best security technologies for your unique application.

  Take a look at cloud and hybrid-cloud video deployments

More organizations are looking at cloud solutions to expand their video surveillance deployments. Some need to add video coverage to smaller remote sites or require more storage and redundancy. Others are looking for ways to reduce hardware and maintenance costs associated with traditional servers. No matter the reason, a cloud-based VMS is providing viable alternatives to make it all happen.

This is why as you shop around for a new video management system, you’ll want to keep cloud capabilities and solutions on your radar. And remember this—it’s not all cloud or no cloud. By taking a hybrid-cloud method, you can keep existing on-premises installations and expand your storage or build layers of redundancy in the cloud.

You can also migrate away from closed VMS solutions using new cloud-connected infrastructure solutions or expand video coverage to smaller sites using Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solutions. All your on-premises video and cloud-based solutions come into the same central VMS software. That means your operators can monitor video and review archived footage from all your sites in one place.

Another benefit of choosing a cloud video management system is enhanced cybersecurity. When you migrate some systems over to the cloud, your team no longer needs to travel to various locations to manage infrastructure, handle updates, or check system health. Instead, you’ll get many built-in tools to automate processes and harden your video systems remotely.

Everything from device firmware and software patches to other critical security data is also automatically pushed to your system. This takes the burden off your IT and security staff to ensure that your physical security systems are up to date.

  Make built-in privacy features a must

As you narrow down your search for a VMS, it’s important to consider data privacy in your decision. Whether it’s the General Data Protection Regulation in Europe, the California Privacy Act in the United States, or any other privacy regulations that apply to your region or business, you need to ensure full compliance. After all, an unreported data breach not only comes with hefty fines but can also cause massive reputational damage.

First, take time to assess your data usage and the policies you have in place. This can include asking questions such as ‘What type of video and data are we collecting? How are we collecting video and data, and where is it all being stored? Who has access to our live and recorded data and for what purpose? With whom and how are we sharing our data?’

Then, make sure to choose video software that is built with privacy in mind. You’ll have all the built-in tools to secure your video and keep it out of the wrong hands, with cybersecurity and privacy features enabled by default.

With a VMS built with Privacy by Design, you can set retention times to make sure you’re only collecting and storing the video you need. You can also limit access to sensitive data depending on your users’ roles and responsibilities. You might also consider using privacy masking tools to automatically obscure individuals’ faces caught within a camera’s field of view, so security operators only see what they need to see.

  A new VMS should offer operational benefits

Every day, your video system collects a lot of information. This data can inform operational improvements across the entire business and support new digital transformation initiatives.

But when you’re collecting so much data, it can be difficult to make sense of it all. As you consider how to extract more operational value from a VMS, look for video systems that offer you rich data visualization tools. That means having data displayed in maps, charts, or histograms, rather than in databases and spreadsheets. This can help you quickly find valuable insights and uncover a few unexpected issues.

For instance, a data-driven view can help your team identify patterns in security incidents and better understand how current security strategies measure up. From there, they might find opportunities to enhance incident response or make cost-saving improvements to standard operation protocols (SOPs).

Combining video surveillance with video analytics can lead to significant business outcomes. This includes tracking how many people come into your business, or how long they wait in lines. You can then deploy more staff or resources to address gaps in customer service. You can also better understand how your employees use your offices and make changes to optimize your spaces.

  Choose VMS vendors you can trust

There’s no denying that cyberattacks have become more sophisticated and prevalent than ever before. Today, ensuring resilience isn’t limited to having the latest defenses at hand. You also need to scrutinize your entire supply chain ecosystem and establish baseline security standards for the video solutions you purchase and the vendors you partner with.

While finding a new VMS solution that meets all your requirements is important, so is choosing video technology vendors that you can trust. In the end, you should aim to standardize on cybersecurity-minded vendors across all your video surveillance infrastructure.

To identify video technology providers that truly value security and data privacy, consider asking your VMS partners the following questions:

A final tip—Invest in unified security

When you’re looking for a new video surveillance system, it’s easy to get hyper-focused on the task at hand. But thinking this way can limit what you can do and achieve in the future. If you choose a system with many disparate video and security solutions, it might not be designed to scale, limiting integration capabilities with your other core security technologies.

Instead of thinking only about your immediate video needs, take time to establish how you plan to evolve. Think about your video system growth and longer-term security objectives. Broaden your vision to other security and business systems that are currently operating in your environment. Consider where cloud technologies might fit within your deployment, whether it’s today or in the future. Talk to other department leaders and learn how physical security data could inform new business outcomes.

All of this will show you how and why investing in a unified security strategy will be a game-changer for your security operations and your entire organization.

Operator using a VMS vs NVR security system.

If you’re deploying a video management system, you’re probably weighing many considerations. Everything from camera count and site requirements to infrastructure and network availability. Through it all, you might also be wondering.

Should you choose a video management system (VMS) or network video recorder (NVR)?

Here’s the short answer: it depends. Both an NVR and a VMS have pros and cons. The right choice for your business will be contingent on factors like your budget, the number of cameras, how you use your video system, and what your long-term plans are.

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How to choose the right video management system

Taking the time to explore what your organization needs from a video management system (VMS) will help ensure you get the right deployment. To help you make the best choice, we’ve created a list of questions you and your team can go through.

What’s a network video recorder?

If you and your team have been shopping for a video surveillance system, you’ve probably come across the term network video recorder or NVR. But what is an NVR security system?

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An NVR is a specialized appliance that enables a network video camera system. It’s a simple device that connects to a small number of cameras over your network. For example, an NVR will usually accommodate anywhere between eight and 32 cameras.

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The NVR is designed to record and store video from your network video cameras, and usually, there’s no software to install or maintain. You can use a simple web-based application to view cameras or retrieve video recordings.

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Beyond basic viewing, search, and export functionality, a typical NVR security system doesn’t offer many other features. This is one of the reasons why an NVR is better suited for simple deployments. Whereas a video surveillance system is primarily used for after-the-fact investigations.

VMS vs NVR Comparison 2024

Read Also : The Ultimate Guide to EZVIZ Camera

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How is an NVR different than a VMS solution?

A video management system or VMS is different from an NVR in many ways. A VMS is a software application that allows you to monitor and manage a large number of IP video cameras from any location. It’s either hosted on a network-connected server or runs as a cloud-based service. Whether you decide to go with on-premises server infrastructure or the cloud, you’ll be able to monitor live video and access recordings using the VMS software.

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One of the biggest differences between an NVR and a VMS is that a VMS is more feature rich. Here are a few examples of what you can do with an IP video management system:

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Receive real-time notifications when a camera falls offline, or movement is detected in a specific area

View camera locations or alarms on a map of your facilities or jump from camera to camera to track suspects moving through your property

Use built-in cybersecurity and privacy features to protect your video and data

Integrate other physical security or business systems to enhance response

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Essentially, the advanced features of a VMS help you streamline video management tasks. This is particularly useful in larger, mission-critical deployments.

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What are the pros and cons of an NVR camera system?

An NVR is a budget-friendly option for small to medium-sized video surveillance deployments. Since there’s no software to install or maintain, an NVR camera system is normally quite easy to set up. You can simply power up the NVR, connect it to a network, and configure your cameras via a web-based app. The ease of an NVR security system helps keep costs down.

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The biggest downside to an NVR is that you’re limited to very basic functionality. Because of this, you may need to rely on IT professionals to ensure your system is cybersecure. And you won’t have access to newer video analytics or the advanced features that are included in a VMS.

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Some NVRs are also proprietary. This means you’ll be stuck with specific vendors’ cameras and the NVR won’t support other types of devices or systems. Even if you do find an NVR that integrates with other physical security systems such as access control, the functionality may be limited.

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What are the pros and cons of a video management system?

A VMS can provide many advantages over an NVR surveillance system. For one, you can scale your video surveillance system to hundreds or thousands of cameras. You can also connect many VMS systems across various locations back into a security operations center to facilitate centralized video management.

As mentioned earlier, a VMS comes packed with advanced features that can enhance your response procedures and investigations. It also offers built-in system health monitoring tools and privacy-by-design features that help mitigate cyber risks and enhance compliance.

With an open architecture VMS, you can choose the cameras that best suit your budget and deployment. You can also easily unify your video software with other physical security systems such as access control and intrusion monitoring solutions and connect cameras to various sensors. This gives your operators a more complete picture of what’s happening when responding to events or handling investigations.

Some VMS solutions come with application programming interfaces (APIs). This allows you to add customizations and really tailor the VMS to meet your environment’s specific requirements.

Overall, there’s far more flexibility with a VMS. This means you can keep growing and expanding your system over time and adding newer technologies as they come to market.

What are the disadvantages of a VMS? The advanced capabilities of a VMS will come at a cost. A VMS is more expensive than an NVR overall. Software license fees, software maintenance agreement fees, and the cost of purchasing and maintaining servers can add up.

A VMS also has a more complex installation. You’ll need to rely on the help of a system integrator to ensure everything is set up and running well. They may also provide operator training for a VMS system, so these costs should also be factored into the deployment budget.

Top considerations when deciding between a VMS and NVR

Choosing between a VMS and an NVR isn’t always straightforward. You might think an NVR security system is right for you today, but perhaps that’ll change in time when you decide to add more cameras or integrate an access control system.

So how do you know if a VMS or NVR is better for your deployment? Consider the following key decision criteria:

 Size of your deployment

How many cameras will you be managing today? Do you plan to add more cameras or expand video coverage over time? Do you have more than one location that you’d like to secure with video surveillance technology?

If you’re planning on implementing fewer than 32 cameras at one location, then an NVR might be your best option. However, if you have a larger number of video devices, have plans to expand your coverage later on, or have multiple locations to secure, choosing a VMS will likely be the better long-term choice.

 Use cases for your video system

How will you be using your video system? Are you doing live monitoring and handling investigations regularly, or just conducting investigations following the odd incident? Do you have a busy environment where video surveillance is considered mission-critical?

If you need video surveillance to investigate random occurrences or to keep a visual on specific areas of business, an NVR may be able to fulfill those basic needs. But if you have multiple operators monitoring live video around the clock and handling investigations a few times a week or month, a VMS will offer better monitoring and search capabilities.

 Video retention needs

How long do you need to keep your video recordings? Does your industry have regulations about video and data retention that you need to abide by? Do you need to store video evidence for significantly longer periods of time?

An NVR usually provides limited storage capacity. Though device specifications will vary, you may find that you’ll get up to 30 days of retention. But the more cameras you have, the less storage capacity you’ll be able to access.

On the other hand, with a VMS, you can select and build servers to meet your video retention requirements. And if you find out later that you need to keep video evidence for longer, you can add servers or expand with Cloud Storage to accommodate those demands.

 Unification and integration capabilities

Do you want to implement various types of cameras from different vendors? Are there other physical security systems or sensors that you’d like to connect to your network video system? Do you have plans to add access control or video analytics later on?

With an NVR, you may be limited to specific cameras or vendors. And you may not be able to unify your video surveillance system with other technologies. Even when you can connect other devices, sensors, or systems with your NVR surveillance system, the integration may limit what you can do.

Full flexibility comes from an open-architecture VMS. Open IP video software allows you to choose any cameras, add new sensors, and connect different systems. This gives you a more comprehensive view of your environment and the freedom to evolve your deployment as new needs come up.

 Video management tools

What tools would best serve your team and objectives? Do you want to monitor many locations from a security operation center? How many people need access to your system, and are user privileges important to your operations?

“Our SOC operators can pull up video to see exactly what happened and share information with security personnel while they’re still at the scene. Security Center allows us to manage situations on campus more effectively.”

An NVR is usually great for smaller environments that don’t typically experience much disruption. If an incident should occur, you’ll be able to look through recordings and find the video evidence you need. While some NVRs may come with search capabilities and other built-in features, they still won’t compete with the range of features available in a VMS.

If you have many security operators, want to build a security operations center, or need access to enhanced search capabilities, a VMS will be hugely beneficial. A VMS will give you a host of tools and features that can help your team get to the bottom of things quickly when incidents or emergencies come up.

 Cybersecurity and future requirements

Are privacy and cybersecurity regulations on your radar? Do you have the tools to monitor and mitigate threats? Can you limit access to sensitive data and remain compliant with evolving data protection and privacy laws?

Cyberattacks are at an all-time high and there’s no sign of cybercrime slowing down. Protecting your video and data isn’t just about mitigating loss and ensuring business continuity; it’s also about adhering to new and evolving compliance standards and laws.

If you decide to implement an NVR, there are measures you can take to protect your network and IP camera system. However, this usually requires additional expertise, components, and ongoing risk mitigation strategies.

An advanced VMS that is built with privacy and cybersecurity is different. It gives you layers of defense and a host of built-in tools to secure your video and keep data out of the wrong hands. This includes everything from encryption, multi-factor authentication and authorization to real-time system health monitoring and system hardening recommendations.

 Future growth and scalability

What are your plans for the future? Is there a possibility that your video system will grow beyond your current requirements? Do you want the freedom to evolve your system if new objectives come up?

If you have one location with a few video cameras and have no plans of ever doing more than that, an NVR will usually fit the bill.

However, if there’s a chance your deployment will evolve to encompass other locations, objectives, or requirements, a VMS will give you the freedom to grow and change. This might include adding more cameras with edge analytics or even extending system access to law enforcement during emergencies. Thinking through these longer-term considerations could reveal that investing in a VMS today is worthwhile.

What if you could have the best of an NVR and VMS?

Perhaps you’re still on the fence about whether to invest in an NVR or VMS. Maybe you’re thinking you want the advanced features, scalability, and openness of a VMS, and the ease of deployment and cost-efficiency of an NVR.

Well, here’s the good news: there’s another option to consider—Genetec Streamvault™, a plug-and-play, all-in-one security appliance.

Streamvault is a purpose-built, turnkey appliance that comes pre-loaded with the Omnicast™ video surveillance software. This allows you to get your video surveillance deployment up and running quickly while getting access to all the latest video management features. It’s a more cost-effective, easy-to-deploy solution that essentially offers the best of a VMS and NVR.

Streamvault is also highly scalable and comes pre-hardened out of the box. This means you can accommodate a larger number of cameras while ensuring the highest cyber resilience

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What is required:

What is included:

Optional Additional Hardware:
Cinder block and brick wall anchors

Step 1
Apply the drill template sticker where you will mount the camera.
If the cable will be mounted externally, make sure to note the direction of the cable exit.

Step 2
If mounting to drywall:
Drill three holes according to the drill template using a 3/16” drill bit.

If mounting to cinder block / brick:

Drill three holes according to the drill template using a 3/16” masonry drill bit.

If mounting to sheet metal:
Drill three holes according to the drill template using a 1/8″ drill bit.

Step 3 (optional, if routing cable internally)

If routing the ethernet cable internally, use a 1” hole saw to create the routing hole according to
the drill template.

Step 4
If mounting to drywall:
Apply the drywall wall anchors and gently hammer them in.

If mounting to cinder block / brick:

Apply the cinder block / brick wall anchors and gently hammer them in.

Step 5
If mounting to drywall, cinder block or brick:
Start by screwing in the top screw. Tighten by hand to avoid stripping the wall anchors.

If mounting to sheet metal:

Directly screw into the sheet metal. No wall anchors are required.
Start by screwing in the top screw. Tighten by hand to avoid stripping the hole.

Step 6
If mounting the cable externally:
Make sure the cable exit is sitting within the cable exit groove before fully tightening the
mounting screws.

If mounting the cable internally:

Route the cables into the pass through hole.

Step 7
For the Turret camera:
Snap the camera cover onto the mounting plate.

Use the Spot AI dashboard to view the camera field of view while adjusting the camera angle as

desired.

Step 8
Once the camera angle is set, use an allen key to tighten the set screw.

Step 9
Remove the camera protective lens covers from the camera lens.

Note:

Examine the RJ45 waterproof kit provided. One gasket is to cap the ethernet end closed. It is
not needed. Discard this part. You will only need what is circled in blue.

Bullet and Turret Camera Installation Guide

Read More : How to Use Hunting Trail Cameras

The order of assembly is as shown below:

There is a ridge on the inside of the main housing and the grommet. These should mate when
assembled.

Step 10

Assemble the grommet into the main housing.
Assemble the (1) screw cap then (2) the main housing with grommet insert onto the ethernet
cable.

Step 11
Assemble the gasket to the RJ45 receptacle pigtail from the camera side. Ensure that it is
properly seated for an appropriate seal.

Step 12
Using an insulation removal tool, strip the cable jacket of your ethernet cable.

Step 13

Orient your cable wires to be inserted into the RJ45 connector

Step 14
Prepare the wires for the RJ45 connection by trimming the wires to 1/2″ in length.

Step 15

Check the wire order once more, then with clip side down, push the wires into the RJ45
connector. Ensure all wires slide smoothly into the appropriate wire grooves.
Double check all wires are seated in the correct position.

Step 16
Then place the RJ45 connector into the crimping tool and crimp the wire.
Many RJ45 crimping tools are all-in-one, stripping and crimping at the same time.

The completed connection should look like the image below. If you have an ethernet cable

tester, this is a good time to test the connections for continuity prior to use.

Step 17
Plug in the ethernet connection into the camera RJ45 receptacle pigtail.
Slide the waterproof housing over the connection and twist the bayonet lock.
Lastly, tighten the end cap to create a watertight seal of the grommet on the wire jacket.

We hope this article was useful to you, please leave us a comment or feedback as it will help us improve our customer support center.

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How to do RTSP Directly from Ubiquiti IP Cameras in order to be use on Spot Dashboard

This guide will show you how simple and effective it is to add a camera to your SpotAI appliance using auto-discovery and quick activation. If you have cameras connected to an NVR that you need to add, check out this article.

 In order to use Ubiquiti IP Cameras, you will first need to make sure you are running the latest firmware on the camera and then enable the “Standalone mode” on this unit.

 1. Connect the camera to the network as outlined in the Quick Start Guide (QSG) that came with your camera. QSG’s current versions are also downloadable in the Downloads page, within each product’s Documentation section.

2. Update the camera’s firmware to the newest available (also found on the Downloads page).

3. Log in to the camera.

a. On a new install, the wizard will appear. Select Standalone mode.

b. If this camera is already in use, go to the Configure tab and ensure it is set to Standalone mode and click Save.

> Once you have saved the Standalone configuration settings simply head back to the Spot Dashboard and type ” /s0  ”    where the Path field is located and click authenticate.

Source: https://help.ui.com/hc/en-us/articles/221314008-UniFi-Video-How-to-Utilize-RTSP-Directly-From-the-Camera

 We hope this article was useful to you, please leave us a comment or feedback as it will help us improve our customer support center.

Adding an Existing 3rd Party NVR to the Spot Dashboard

This article will guide you through how to pull video streams from an existing 3rd party NVR. This is for the scenario where cameras are connected to the 3rd party NVR rather than to the network directly. If you have cameras connected to the network directly that you need to add, check out this article.

Spot AI Dashboard

Step 1: Click on Configure at the top of the page.

Step 2: Go to Locations, find the location of interest and click Edit.

Step 3: Go to Cameras if you’re not already there and the Spot AI dashboard will automatically search for your cameras and NVRs.

Step 4: Spot Genius will attempt to auto-authenticate and find how many streams the NVR has, but if that fails, please enter the following:

Step 5: Once you have entered the information. Please click Authenticate. If all inputs were valid, you will see a still image populate from the cameras with a few streaming options. 

For the best viewing experience, choose the streaming option which has the specs closest to: 

For Appliances starting with sn5a and up, and enterprise Appliances (snae, snea, snae2):

For Appliances starting with sn4e and up:

Step 6: Click Activate on each stream. 

If you are stuck at any step, please reach out to Spot AI Support for assistance.

We hope this article was useful to you, please leave us a comment or feedback as it will help us improve our customer support center.

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Adding a New Camera to the Spot Dashboard

This article will guide you through how to add a camera to your Spot AI Dashboard using auto-discovery and auto-activation.  These steps will require a Spot IVR having already been added to the current location.  If that still needs to be done please follow this article. If you have cameras connected to a 3rd party NVR that you need to add, check out this article.

Step 1: Click on the Configure tab located at the top of the page.

Step 2: Go to Locations in the left-side menu, find the location of interest, and click Edit.

Step 3: Go to Cameras and the Spot AI dashboard will automatically search for your cameras and you’ll see a listing of all available cameras to choose from. 

Step 4: Spot Genius will attempt to automatically authenticate all discovered cameras. 

For the best viewing experience, choose the streaming option which has a resolution closest to:

For Appliances starting with sn5a and up, and enterprise Appliances (snae, snea, snae2):

For Appliances starting with sn4e and up:

This is the optimal resolution for low latency and seamless web viewing.  

Troubleshooting cameras not showing in the list:

If you do not find your camera in the list of devices, here are some troubleshooting steps:

Troubleshooting cameras not authenticating or activating:

Changing the password of an already activated camera:
If you need to change the password of a camera, please see the Camera Password Guide.  Once changed, access the camera on the Spot Dashboard (either through Maintain or Configure > Edit), click on the Connection and update the password entry there, then click Authenticate. If it’s correct you will see “Valid Connection” show up in green text.

Here is video showing how to add cameras on dashboard 

 https://youtu.be/-iUb3MhBamA

We hope this article was useful to you, please leave us a comment or feedback as it will help us improve our customer support center.

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Camera Password Guide

As part of the initial camera installation process, Spot strongly recommends changing the camera password from the default credentials to something more secure. The supported characters, default credentials, and how to change the password for the Spot cameras are included below.

Default Credentials:

Username: admin

Password: spot2330 OR admin

For cameras with MAC addresses beginning with 0c:cc:47:

Passwords can be up to 32 characters in length, and can include upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and the following special symbols: ~!@#$%^&*-_+=|;:,./?`

Changing the Password:

1.Log into the Native Camera Config page. 

2.Click Setup > Security > User

3.Choose the admin user > Edit 

4.Enter the Old Password, (new) Password, and confirm the new Password > OK 

For cameras with MAC addresses beginning with 2c:6f:51:

Passwords can be up to 31 characters in length, and can include upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and the following special symbols: ~!@#$%^&*-_+=|;:,./?

1.Log into the Native Camera Config page. 

2.Click Configuration > System > Security

3.Choose the admin user > Edit 

4.Enter the Old Password, make sure Modify Password is checked, (new) Password, and confirm the new Password > Save

5. 

We hope this article was useful to you, please leave us a comment or feedback as it will help us improve our customer support center.

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UniFi OS is pre-installed on UniFi Consoles, streamlining the setup process so you can get your network up and running quickly. Although it is possible to self-host the UniFi Network Server or setup Access Points (APs) in Standalone Mode, these methods lack key advantages including automated backups, system updates, and more advanced software offerings.

If you are new to UniFi, we encourage you to check out Introduction to UniFi to learn more about device adoption, remote management, and the UniFi ecosystem in general.

Have You Purchased a UniFi Console?

Our UniFi Consoles are built to run UniFi OS and come pre-installed with all UniFi Applications. This includes things like the Dream Machine, Dream Router and Cloud Key G2 Plus. With these consoles, it’s easy to automatically establish backups, update hardware and software, and ensure maximum compatibility by minimizing third-party inter-operation.

Set Up a Console

UniFi Consoles can be setup from the web or our mobile app. Regardless of which method you choose, you will be able to continue managing UniFi both via the mobile app and web following the initial setup.

Using the Mobile App (Recommended)

Using a Web Browser

Do You Have an Access Point Without a Console?

Standalone Mode should only be used when configuring a small quantity of APs because they do not support seamless roaming. Instead, you will need to manually connect to each AP as you move out of range. Also, APs must have a wired connection to your network; wireless meshing is not possible. Finally, remote management is not possible because it is done entirely through the UniFi Mobile app while locally connected to your WiFi.

For information on Standalone Access Points, check out our article here.

How to Set Up UniFi

Read More : How to set up a Hikvision CCTV system

Do You Plan to Host a Server Yourself?

UniFi can also be self-hosted on a Windows/macOS/Linux machine, but this is only recommended for users proficient with network administration, because it requires constant and precise attention. You’ll need to manually configure your network for sufficient communication between UniFi Network and all of your networking devices. Success hinges on your ability to continuously navigate various third-party software, firewalls and other networking devices.

For information on Self-Hosting, check out our article here.

Common Troubleshooting

Our setup flow is designed to be as seamless as possible. However, some circumstances, often related to external network configurations, may cause setup failures.

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Check Your Physical Connections

Ensure that your power and network connections are secure. If they are, but your issue persists, we recommend using our UniFi cables for optimal compatibility and performance.

Verify Your UniFi Console’s Internet Connection

UniFi Cloud Gateways (UniFi Consoles such as our Dream products, which contain an integrated security gateway) are usually connected directly to the internet. However, non-gateway consoles, such as the Cloud Key Gen2 Plus, can be incorrectly placed on a network or VLAN with restricted internet access. Please ensure this isn’t the case for your consoles.

Update to the Latest Version of UniFi OS

For the best setup experience, we recommend updating to the latest version and ensuring that automatic updates are enabled.

Open All Required Ports

Third-party gateways, firewalls, and Internet Service Provider (ISP) modems occasionally block traffic required for set up. Some of these include:

See Required Port Reference for a complete listing of all requisite ports. You may wish to contact your ISP to ensure none of these are being blocked. We also recommend disabling any third-party firewalls.

Clone Your ISP Router or Modem’s MAC Address

Some ISPs restrict connectivity to certain MAC addresses. You may need to clone your modem or router’s MAC address in order to set up your UniFi Console. We recommend contacting your ISP first to confirm whether or not this is necessary.

Contact Your ISP

If you’ve tried all of the tips above but are still having setup issues, please contact your ISP to ensure that they have not restricted your UniFi Console’s connectivity.

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Standalone Access Points (without UniFi)

UniFi access points (APs) can be set up and configured without any additional devices, but their features will be limited.

We recommend using a UniFi Cloud Gateway (e.g., Dream Machines and Dream Routers) or a dedicated UniFi Console (e.g., Cloud Key G2 Plus) to access our full features, including an integrated internet gateway for advanced network security, detailed traffic analytics, seamless VPN access, and powerfully intuitive Policy-Based Routing (PBR).

Limitations

Be aware of the following limitations of Standalone Mode:

Setting Up Your APs

Unable to Join the Network ‘UniFi’

Our APs broadcast a hidden WiFi used just for device setup. If you cannot connect to it, a mistake was made during your setup process.

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My AP is not powered on, or in a factory state.

Your AP should emit a solid white LED indicating that it is turned on and ready to be set up. If the LED is off, make sure it is receiving proper power. Consult your AP’s specifications to confirm its required power input.

A solid blue LED indicates that the device was already set up. In this case, you should factory reset it and try again.

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My AP does not have network connectivity.

APs must receive an IP address from your network- from your ISP modem, or a third-party router/gateway.

Verify if your AP has an IP address by using the Discovery feature in our WiFiman Mobile App (iOS / Android). If the device does not appear, or it appears with our ‘fallback IP address’ (192.168.1.20), this indicates a problem with your network’s configuration. Make sure your AP is properly connected to a local network port (LAN) of your modem or gateway/router.

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UniFi – How to Reset Devices to Factory Defaults

A factory reset is useful for a creating fresh setup of a UniFi Console, or device that was already configured in a managed state.

Restoring with the Reset Button

All UniFi devices have a Reset button. You can return a device to a factory-default state by holding this for 5-10 seconds (depending on the device), or until the LEDs indicate the restore has begun. Your device must remain powered during this process.

Example: The diagram below illustrates how to locate this button on the UDM Pro.

Restoring From Your UniFi Application

UniFi Devices

All UniFi devices can be restored to their factory defaults via their respective web or mobile applications. This is located in the Manage section of a device’s settings. Depending on the application, this may be referred to as Forget (UniFi Network) or Unmanage (UniFi Protect).

Selecting this option will unmanage the device from your UniFi Console and restore the device to a factory default state.

UniFi Consoles

A UniFi Console admin with Owner privileges has the ability to restore their console using the “Factory Reset” button located in the UniFi OS System settings. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my device still appear in my application after I restored it using the physical Reset button?

The physical reset button does not remove the device from any applications it was adopted to. This can be done under the Manage section of the device settings.

Why does my device say “Managed by Other”?

This will occur if the device was managed by another instance of a UniFi application. This includes cases where the UniFi Console (e.g., Dream Machine Pro, or Cloud Key) was factory restored, because the UniFi device still considers itself as being managed by the ‘old’ application console, prior to restoration.

There are several options to resolve this:

Note: If you are self-hosting the Network application, you should only ever download the UniFi software on a single machine which will act as the UniFi Network Server. Some users mistakenly download this multiple times because they believe it is a requirement to manage their Network Application from other devices, but this is actually creating a completely new instance. To manage your network from another device, you can type in the IP address of the UniFi Network Server while connected to the same local network. Alternatively, you can enable Remote Access to manage your network anywhere. See Connecting to UniFi to learn more.

Why is my UniFi Device not factory restoring?

Ensure that your device remains powered on during the restoration process, otherwise it will not occur. 

It is also possible that you held the button for too short of a time (resulting in a reboot), or too long of a time (resulting in entering TFTP Recovery Mode). Refer to our UniFi Device LED Status guide for more information.

UniFi Network – Understanding Device LED Status Indicators

Learn how to identify your device’s state based on the LED color patterns. These blue and white status LEDs apply to all our UniFi access points, routers, switches, and the UDM base model.

Status LED Patterns

Note: The animations are for illustrative purposes – the speed of the flashing or strobing patterns below might differ slightly from your device’s.

Flashing White / Off Every 1/2s

The device is initializing and booting up.

Steady White

The device is ready for adoption.

Slow Flashing Blue (UDM Only)

A client device is connected to the UDM via Bluetooth.

Blue and Flashing Off Every 5s (UDM Only)

There is no internet connection to the UDM.

Steady Blue

The device is adopted and is in normal operating mode. Access Point is broadcasting WiFi.

Strobing White / Off

If this happens, power cycle the Access Point.

If this doesn’t help, please reach out to our support team.

Quickly Flashing White / Blue

The device firmware is currently being upgraded – do not interrupt the process.

UDM will flash only white during an upgrade.

Blue and Flashing Off Every 5s

Access Point has lost network connectivity and is searching for a wireless uplink.

Rapid Flashing Blue / Off

The device “Locate” feature was activated in the UniFi Network application.

Flashing White-Blue-Off

The device is in TFTP mode.

To enable this mode:

If this wasn’t intentional, please ensure the device’s reset button isn’t jammed (it should click when pushed).

LED Off

The device is offline.

Verify the Power, POE, and Ethernet cables to troubleshoot.

UniFi Bridge to Bridge (UBB)

Including the statuses described above, the UBB has two additional ones:

Red with Circulating Blue LED

The 60 GHz link cannot be established or has dropped due to bad weather. If the UBB fails over to 5 GHz, the LED will remain red. When the 60 GHz link is re-established, the LED will turn blue (or the custom color selected in the UniFi Network application).

Note: If the other bridge device is within range and the UBB LED is red, we recommend adjusting the UBB’s position to enhance the signal strength.

Green

If the Alignment Tool enabled in the UniFi Network application, a green LED means the UBB devices are properly aligned.

Note: If the other bridge device is within range and the UBB LED is green and red, we recommend adjusting the UBB’s position until the LED is green.

LED Patterns for Ports

The ports of UniFi Security Gateways and UniFi Switches have a different type, number, and location.

Please refer to your specific device model’s Quick Start Guide (QSG) for the exact location and description of its ports.

Console Port’s right LED (in the applicable devices):

Speed/Link/Act (right LED ports other than Console):

PoE (left LED on ports of applicable devices):

SFP (in the applicable devices):

See specific port LED information in the Hardware Overview section (between pages 5 and 6) of the Quick Start Guides (QSG). You can find the QSGs in the Documentation section of our UniFi Downloads page, by searching for the device in question in the left-hand menu.

LED Patterns for PoE Adapters

LED is Off: PoE is Off.

LED is On and steady: PoE is functioning as it should.

LED is blinking: this is not a configured state, this may indicate that the device is not connected properly, or that something is wrong with the cable.

How to Disable Device LEDs

The device status LEDs can be disabled for all the site, or only for specific UniFi devices.

To enable/disable status LEDs throughout a site, go to to Settings > Site on the UniFi Network application and edit the LED feature in the Services section.

To configure specific devices individually:

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Introduction to UniFi

UniFi is a powerful and intuitive operating system enabling an end-to-end management experience for all of your IT needs. When paired with our specially designed hardware, you will have unparalleled control over your network and WiFi, security cameras, VoIP phones, door access, smart enterprise lighting, digital signage, and much more!

Check out ui.com to learn how we can help simplify your IT management!

UniFi Consoles

The UniFi experience begins with one of our UniFi Consoles. These were created to run our UniFi software which allows you to manage your network and WiFi, security cameras, VoIP phones, door access and more!

UniFi Cloud Gateways combine the power of a UniFi Console with an integrated internet gateway. This brings you advanced network security, seamless VPN access, detailed traffic analytics and more.

A Cloud Gateway is all you need to hit the ground running with your home or office network.

For further customization, we offer specialty UniFi Consoles to fit specific needs:

Note: While some users choose to self-host their UniFi Network application, we do not recommend self-hosting unless you are highly familiar with networking administration. Invalid configurations may lead to system crashes, poor performance, and compromised network security.

For more details, please see our recommendations in Which Ubiquiti UniFi Console is Right For Me?

UniFi Applications

The UniFi application suite is thoughtfully constructed to serve a wide variety of technological needs within your home or business:

Adopting Devices

Device adoption is the process of setting up a device and linking it to the respective UniFi application so you can manage it. For more details, see Device Adoption.

Remote Access and Your UI Account

Your UI Account allows you to manage UniFi from anywhere in the world using our UniFi Site Manager at unifi.ui.com, or our UniFi Mobile Apps (iOS / Android). See Connecting to UniFi to learn more about remote and local connections.

Other benefits of using a UI Account include:

Standalone Access Points (without UniFi)

UniFi access points (APs) can be set up and configured without any additional devices, but their features will be limited.

We recommend using a UniFi Cloud Gateway (e.g., Dream Machines and Dream Routers) or a dedicated UniFi Console (e.g., Cloud Key G2 Plus) to access our full features, including an integrated internet gateway for advanced network security, detailed traffic analytics, seamless VPN access, and powerfully intuitive Policy-Based Routing (PBR).

Limitations

Be aware of the following limitations of Standalone Mode:

Setting Up Your APs

Unable to Join the Network ‘UniFi’

Our APs broadcast a hidden WiFi used just for device setup. If you cannot connect to it, a mistake was made during your setup process.

My AP is not powered on, or in a factory state.

Your AP should emit a solid white LED indicating that it is turned on and ready to be set up. If the LED is off, make sure it is receiving proper power. Consult your AP’s specifications to confirm its required power input.

A solid blue LED indicates that the device was already set up. In this case, you should factory reset it and try again.

My AP does not have network connectivity.

APs must receive an IP address from your network- from your ISP modem, or a third-party router/gateway.

Verify if your AP has an IP address by using the Discovery feature in our WiFiman Mobile App (iOS / Android). If the device does not appear, or it appears with our ‘fallback IP address’ (192.168.1.20), this indicates a problem with your network’s configuration. Make sure your AP is properly connected to a local network port (LAN) of your modem or gateway/router.

.

Introduction to UniFi

UniFi is a powerful and intuitive operating system enabling an end-to-end management experience for all of your IT needs. When paired with our specially designed hardware, you will have unparalleled control over your network and WiFi, security cameras, VoIP phones, door access, smart enterprise lighting, digital signage, and much more!

Check out ui.com to learn how we can help simplify your IT management!

UniFi Consoles

The UniFi experience begins with one of our UniFi Consoles. These were created to run our UniFi software which allows you to manage your network and WiFi, security cameras, VoIP phones, door access and more!

UniFi Cloud Gateways combine the power of a UniFi Console with an integrated internet gateway. This brings you advanced network security, seamless VPN access, detailed traffic analytics and more.

A Cloud Gateway is all you need to hit the ground running with your home or office network.

For further customization, we offer specialty UniFi Consoles to fit specific needs:

Note: While some users choose to self-host their UniFi Network application, we do not recommend self-hosting unless you are highly familiar with networking administration. Invalid configurations may lead to system crashes, poor performance, and compromised network security.

For more details, please see our recommendations in Which Ubiquiti UniFi Console is Right For Me?

UniFi Applications

The UniFi application suite is thoughtfully constructed to serve a wide variety of technological needs within your home or business:

Adopting Devices

Device adoption is the process of setting up a device and linking it to the respective UniFi application so you can manage it. For more details, see Device Adoption.

Remote Access and Your UI Account

Your UI Account allows you to manage UniFi from anywhere in the world using our UniFi Site Manager at unifi.ui.com, or our UniFi Mobile Apps (iOS / Android). See Connecting to UniFi to learn more about remote and local connections.

Other benefits of using a UI Account include:

Connecting to UniFi and Remote Management

UniFi allows you to access and manage your UniFi ecosystem from a web browser or our UniFi Mobile Apps, with ease and security.

Using a Web Browser

It’s easy to connect to your UniFi Console through your preferred browser. We generally recommend using the UniFi Site Manager for a simple, secure, and convenient way to manage all UniFi deployments associated with your UI Account.

How to Connect Remotely (UniFi Site Manager)

How to Connect Locally (Local Site Manager)

The Local Site Manager is great when the remote UniFi Site Manager is unavailable, for example during an Internet outage. You may also note improved UniFi dashboard load times and lower latency when locally viewing high-bandwidth recordings from UniFi Protect.

Using a Mobile Device

Download our UniFi Mobile App (iOS / Android) and sign in using your UI Account to automatically see all UniFi Consoles compatible with UniFi OS associated with that account. If you have not enabled Remote Management, you can do so within your UniFi OS settings*.

*UniFi Consoles that are not compatible with UniFi OS, such as legacy Cloud Keys and self-hosted Network Servers can find this in Settings > System > Administration.

Local-only Access

Some users may optionally add a local-only connection. This is done by manually specifying your UniFi Console’s IP Address, Port (8443 for self-hosted Network Servers, and 443 for consoles running UniFi OS), Username*, and Password. Please note that restrictive network configurations or firewall rules may inhibit your ability to connect using this method.

*UniFi Console (Dream products, Cloud Key Gen2 Plus, etc.) offline without a UI Account, the default username is ‘admin’.

Direct Connections

Direct Connections establish a higher-performing management session when connecting with your UniFi Console. This is useful for any remote admin who regularly checks video footage, or manages a very large network with multiple access points. You can learn more here.

For your convenience, the UniFi Site Manager automatically establishes a Direct Connection when you are on the same local network as your UniFi Console.

Direct Remote Connections

It is also possible to establish a Direct Connection when remotely connected through the UniFi Site Manager from outside of your network. The Direct Remote Connection setting can be enabled in either your UniFi OS settings, or your UniFi Network Advanced Settings.

Note: This setting requires a UniFi Gateway with a public IP. Additionally, TCP Port 443 must be open and not used in a port forward rule. 

Remote Access Privacy and Security

Remote access is a secure method of connecting to your UniFi Console from anywhere using your UI Account credentials. We prioritize facilitating direct connections with your local UniFi Console as a means of bolstering data security and optimizing low-latency connectivity. A new admin must be invited by the UniFi Owner in order to gain access. Once granted access, our UI Accounts support multi-factor authentication to ensure maximum security.

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