1. Network Design Thoughts
Guy Arazi: Director of Product Management

2. Virtual Machines What is a virtual machine?
A computer with the operating system and added software that does not run on dedicated hardware
Multiple VMs can run on the same physical hardware server and share its resources
To the network, each PC seems just like a stand-alone one

3. Virtual Machines Where does this meet our business?
IT users purchase a very powerful hardware server and attempt to run as many virtual PCs as possible
The requirement to run NVRs on such machines is growing
This is less problematic for display stations (workstations and VMDC) as these function more as user PCs and not servers

4. Advantages Hardware cost is shared by multiple servers
Redundancy solutions can be offered
Saves space, power and HVAC resources

5. Advantages Disadvantages Hardware cost is shared by multiple servers
Redundancy solutions can be offered
Saves space, power and HVAC resources
Server prices are very high
VMs tend to be under powered if too many share the physical server
Setup and resource allocation needs to be done with attention to system needs

6. Virtual Machines Where do we stand?
Vicon neither tests nor approves specific VMs

7. Virtual Machines Where do we stand?
Vicon neither tests nor approves specific VMs
There is an unlimited number of combinations!

8. Virtual Machines Our Recommendation:
Ensure the VM meets the minimum requirements for an NVR
Verify you have a dedicated network card for the NVR - not shared!
Verify you have a dedicated hard drive for recording - not shared!
The overall load on physical servers supporting NVRs is much greater than on typical IT servers – more resources are required
Currently VM redundancy has not been tested but should be supported

9. Power Over Ethernet
Use the CAT cable from the network switch to push power to the device and save the need for a power supply
Standard is primarily meant for use on 100BaseT networks
PoE enabled switch or mid-span can be used as the power source
Advanced standards allow High power PoE over a 1Gbps connection as well

10. Network and power on same CAT cable
PoE through Switch
PoE enabled switch
Network and power on same CAT cable
PoE IP camera

11. Network only on CAT cable Network and power on same CAT cable
PoE through Mid-Span
Regular switch
Network only on CAT cable
PoE mid-span
Network and power on same CAT cable
PoE IP camera

12. PoE Facts
Still primarily designed for 100BaseT using 2 spare pairs in the CAT cable
PoE for 1000BaseT networks is available with certain distance and power restrictions
Provides 48 VDC
Can provide up to 15.4W per channel (Standard PoE)
External cameras with heater/blower usually require much higher current
Need to use a Power injector or Midspan with HighPower PoE

13. PoE Good to Remember
Typical PoE switches have spec for their PoE power
Most switches won’t offer full power on all ports
Examples seen on specs:
24 port switch will offer 15.4W a port UP to 12 ports and 7.6W for more
Some switches will state the total wattage (300W) and let you figure it our..
Keep and eye on the camera power vs. switch to make sure you don’t fall short
Remember the heater and blower

14. Great new Option IP and PoE
Existing analog systems tend to keep analog to avoid new cabling
There is a wide offering for IP over coax (with PoE)
This solution similar to other “over the…” solutions allows replacing analog with IP with a minimal pain
The cost of the hardware is typically less than the new cabling

15. Ethernet over Coax or UTP

16. How Network and Storage are Affected
Demands of IP video systems put an increased load on:
The network carrying the video
The storage holding those recordings
Analogies to describe the situation:
Cars on a road heading to work
Water in a pipe heading to a pool

17. Bandwidth = Traffic
A road can handle only so many cars. A network can carry only so many bits.
To move more cars, we need more lanes. To move more bits, we need more bandwidth.

18. Storage = Parking Lot
Parking lots can hold only so many cars. Hard drives can hold only so many video files.
Once the lot is full, parking more cars requires:
Expanding the parking lot
Having some cars leave to make room for new cars
Once a hard drive is full, we can either:
Add more storage capacity
Remove older video files to make room for new recordings (Shorten the number of days video is kept)

19. Design Considerations
For Each Camera:
How many FPS is really necessary?
What resolution is required?
For Storage:
How much is required given above camera requirements and number of days storage
For Network:
How to best use technology to create an efficient system?
Work with IT to maximize the network traffic and optimize storage

20. IP Cameras on the Network
IP camera-based systems require more bandwidth
Megapixel cameras need even more
Consistent, reliable system performance requires network planning
Recommendation:
Video transmission may consume up to 70% of total network bandwidth
(i.e., 1000 Base/T network can provide about Mbps for video transportation)

21. Parameters that Affect Bandwidth
Resolution
The higher the resolution, the higher the bandwidth:
Frame Rate
1-30 fps per camera; higher FPS  higher bandwidth.
Motion Type
Higher motion (activity) in the picture (i.e., a casino floor) uses more bandwidth than medium motion (i.e., an office space)
NOISE = MOTION
Compression Format
H.264, MPEG-4, M-JPEG have varying requirements

22. Network Configuration
How many cameras can the network support?
Output from the switch = sum of all camera outputs

23. Basic Calculations
Connecting 10, 20, or 50 cameras on the network? Assuming each camera outputs 2 Mbps, then…
10 cams X 2 Mbps = ~ 20 Mbps
20 cams X 2 Mbps = ~ 40 Mbps
50 cams X 2 Mbps = ~ 100 Mbps SO
When using a 100 Mbps switch
35 cams X 2 Mbps = ~ 70 Mbps = 70% capacity
This is the maximum recommended number of cameras.

24. Daisy Chain Topology Assuming 100 Mbps switches 18Mbps 6Mbps 50Mbps
Too Many Mbps
18Mbps

25. Star Topology Assuming 100 Mbps switches 50Mbps 50Mbps 50Mbps
Possibly too many Mbps

26. Star Topology - Explanation
Using a 1000 Mbps (1 Gbps) switch:
IP cameras use a 100 Mbps network card
Connecting to a 100/1000 Mbps switch will utilize Mbps (1 Gbps) going out to the PCs
Whether the cameras can connect from smaller switches at 100 Mpbs to central switches at 1000 Mbps all depends on the accumulated bandwidth
Remember to make sure each and every switch has enough bandwidth to support its in/out needs!

27. Using 1 Gbps Switches
The main switch can output 1Gbps

28. Unicast of Individual Streams
2 Mbps
Every user gets an individual stream from the camera.
Data is fully acknowledged to protect from losing information.
Bottleneck on one viewer doesn’t affect the others.
Wireless bridge
3X2 Mbps
≈ 6 Mbps
Wireless access point
Switch
2 Mbps
2 Mbps
4 Mbps

29. Multicast of Streams Each camera sends only one stream to the network
Special switch provides a copy of the stream to PCs who request it
Everybody gets the same stream regardless of their supported bandwidth
Multicast is UDP and not acknowledged
2 Mbps
Wireless bridge
2 Mbps
Wireless access point
Switch
2 Mbps
2 Mbps
2 Mbps

30. Switch Backbone and Output
Every switch has a certain specification
A 16 port switch with 1Gbps ports cannot support a full 1Gbps through each port simultaneously. Its “Backbone” is the total throughput capacity.
The more professional the switch, the stronger the backbone.
High end switch systems usually connect the central switches with a special connection or fiber to create a central backbone.
“Stacking” switches

31. Pure Gigabit Stack

32. Points to Remember What are the critical design points in the network?
Evaluate the expected bandwidth from each camera
keep in mind the number of concurrent users per camera.
Each switch’s output (to the next switch or NVR) must not exceed 70% of maximum bandwidth
Using the Star topology, add central switches with higher bandwidth.
Remember, every port on the switch has its own bandwidth, so if two workstations are connected to two different ports, each has its own 100 or 1000 Mbps.
In very high traffic network, invest in a strong central stack of switches with a strong backbone