Video Architectures and Limits

Integrating video surveillance into Desigo CC requires two specific software components:

  • Video Management System (VMS): Handles the physical connection to video devices and supports video services. This is a distinct software component that must be separately installed and configured to work with Desigo CC.
    NOTE: It is possible to use VMS solutions from different providers, including Milestone and Siveillance (contact your nearest sales representative).
  • Video extension: Installs a component (BT Video API) on the Desigo CC server which acts as an interface to the VMS.

The VMS can be installed on the same computer as the Desigo CC server (local VMS) or on a separate one (networked VMS).

Information

NOTE:
The local VMS solution is suitable only for small installations. Networked VMS server is the preferred solution for video systems, and should always be applied to medium and large size installations. For more information see the limits in the sections below.

 

Overview of Video Architectures

  • Local VMS Deployment: The VMS runs on the same computer as the Desigo CC server.
  • Networked VMS Deployment: The VMS runs on a separate computer that connects to the Desigo CC server.
  • Supported Architectures with Additional VMS Servers: To allowremote access to a wide-area vide system,additional VMS servers can be interconnected with the main VMS server that is in turn connected to Desigo CC. However, The architecture with multiple VMS servers in Federated Site Hierarchy is not supported (only the main VMS server is visible from Desigo CC).
    NOTE: Support for multi-VMS server and multi-recorder solutions depends on the specific VMS provider.
  • Supported Architectures with Additional Desigo CC Servers: In a distributed management platform with interconnected Desigo CC servers, only one of the Desigo CC servers is directly connected to the VMS. The other Desigo CC servers instead access video through the connected one.

 

Limits for Local VMS

The solution where the VMS server runs on the same computer as the Desigo CC server is supported on small installations with a maximum of:

  • 2 client stations
  • 48 video cameras (including cameras disabled in the VMS)
  • 96 monitors
  • 6 monitor groups
  • 1 NVR (Recording Service)

Requirements for Desigo CC Server Computer that also Hosts the VMS
(for Milestone or Siveillance VMS)

Operating Systems

Hardware Requirements

(typical configuration)

  • Windows 10 64-bit
  • I7 Intel CPU or equivalent
  • 16 GB Ram
  • 1 SSD 256 GB Operating System disk
  • 2 x 2TB hard disks
  • Graphic card with 2GB Ram
  • Windows Server 2012 R2 SP1 64-bit
    OR
  • Windows Server 2016 64-bit
  • Windows Server 2019 64-bit
  • I7 Intel CPU or equivalent
  • 24 GB Ram
  • 500 GB Operating System disk
  • 2 x 2TB hard disks
  • Graphic card with 2GB Ram
Limits for Networked VMS

This solution can be applied to medium/large management platforms comprising a maximum of:

  • 20 client stations equipped with video, and using up to 36 independent video streams each
  • 1000 video cameras (128 for UL/ULC approved systems), including any cameras disabled in the VMS.
  • 800 monitors
  • 128 monitor groups
  • Minimum 4 NVRs or more (Recording Services)

 

General System Limits
  • Video streams on client stations: max 36 simultaneous streams per client station. These may be contained in a single pane layout, or subdivided among multiple layouts (for example, 32 in the Primary pane, and 4 in the Assisted Treatment video step).
    NOTE: The simultaneous use of multiple video layouts (Primary, Secondary, event treatment) that exceed 36 streams in total may cause excessive CPU and memory usage, slowing down the client station.
  • CPU usage for video display: 8 simultaneous Full HD video streams or 36 simultaneous 4CIF video streams result in a typical CPU usage <33% and memory usage <830MB.
    (Test conducted on PC with I7-3770 3.4 GHz processor and Nvidia Quadro 2000D video card with 1 GB of memory, and with VMS running on a separate PC.)
    NOTE: Actual CPU usage depends on the frames per second (fps) and nature of the images (whether "static" or with many moving objects) received from the VMS
  • For other system limits, refer to the specific deployment architectures described above. For the system limits of the Milestone / Siveillance VMS see Technical Limitations for Siveillance / Milestone VMS integration with the Management Platform.

 

Technical Limitations for Siveillance / Milestone VMS integration with the Management Platform

The following constraints apply when the Milestone or Siveillance VMS is integrated with the management platform:

  • A Desigo CC server can have only one project enabled for video (see 4 – Configure Project Settings for Video). Multiple Desigo CC projects running video on the same machine are not supported.
  • A VMS server (possibly with additional interconnected VMS servers) can be connected to:
    • Only one project on any given Desigo CC server.
    • Only one of the Desigo CC servers in a distributed management platform deployment.
    • Up to two separate Desigo CC servers operating independently (that is, not in distribution).
  • Windows Server 2019 is supported starting from Milestone / Siveillance VMS version 2019R1.
    NOTE: Previous versions of the Milestone / Siveillance VMS (2018R3 and lower) are not compatible with Windows Server 2019. Therefore this operating system cannot be used for a Desigo CC system integrating these VMS providers. This limitation applies even when the VMS server runs on a separate computer.

 

Known Issues for Milestone and Siveillance VMS:

This section lists the known issues with the current integration of these VMS providers into the management platform.

  • The first time a video stream from a camera is selected to display, loading of the stream may take 15 to 25 seconds depending on network and PC performance. Subsequent selections of the video stream will not have this delay.
  • Off-line configuration is not supported. You can only fully configure video on a running system with video devices connected.
  • Each Desigo CC project restart causes the video connection to stop. Operators must issue a new connect command from a client station after restarting the system project.
Video Support on Web Clients

The use of video on Web Clients and Windows App clients (formerly Click-Once clients) requires the following:

  • Use Internet Explorer 11, 32 bit edition.
    NOTE: You may need to start Internet Explorer from the Windows Start menu if the default desktop icon starts the 64-bit program. For more information, refer to the Windows documentation.
  • On each web station, run the setup program MilestoneProviderInstaller.msi from the Prerequisites\BT_Video_API folder of the installation files.
    NOTE: This setup is included in the management platform client setup. Therefore, you do not need to perform this step on installed clients.
NOTICE
Recording and storage capacity

The NVRs and hard drive storage required for a specific configuration depend on the number of video cameras, their resolution, and the average recording time. For a correct sizing of the video recording and storage capacity, contact the technical support of the connected VMS.

NOTICE
Disabled cameras performance

Cameras disabled in the VMS are still acquired into the Desigo CC Video Configurator tab. In deployments with a high number of disabled cameras, this may impact on system performance, resulting in slower alignment or refresh.