Axis IP-Surveillance system Design Manual page 24

Storage Options
Storage solutions depend on a PC's or server's ability to store data. As larger hard drives are produced at
lower costs, it is becoming less expensive to store video. There are two ways to approach hard disk stor-
age. One is to store video on the same server that runs the application. This is called a direct attached
storage. The other is to have the storage separate from the server that runs the application. This is called
a network-attached storage (NAS) or a storage area network (SAN).
Network switch
Computer server with video
Network cameras
management software
Figure 2.4.a. Direct attached storage
Direct attached storage is probably the most common solution for hard disk storage in small to medium-
sized IP-Surveillance installations (See image above). The hard disk is located in the same PC server that
runs the video management software. The PC and the number of hard disks it can hold determine the
amount of storage space available. Most standard PCs can hold between two and four hard disks. With
today's technology, each disk can store approximately 300 gigabytes of information for a total capacity
of approximately 1.2 terabytes (one thousand gigabytes).
For information about NAS and SAN, please see Chapter 8.
2.5.
Video management software
Although video can be managed simply by using the built-in web interface of a network video product,
video management software enables more effective management of video from multiple cameras for live
monitoring and recording. Video management software is, therefore, an important component of an IP-
Surveillance system.
Video management requirements depend on the number of cameras, performance criteria, platform
preferences, scalability, and whether there is a need for integration with other systems. Solutions typi-
cally range from single PC systems to advanced client/server-based software that provides support for
multiple, simultaneous users and thousands of cameras.
AXIS Camera Station
AXIS Camera Station is a video management software program that is designed specifically for manag-
ing Axis network cameras and video encoders. It enables multi-camera viewing, high-quality recording,
playback and event management.
Figure 2.5.a. AXIS Camera Station video management software
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