What is a video server?

The video server allows you to smoothly upgrade your video monitoring system to a network-based video monitoring system while retaining existing analog video monitoring devices, it is ideal for integration with existing analog CCTV (CCTV monitoring) systems. The video server provides new features for analog video equipment and completely removes the system's reliance on dedicated devices such as coaxial cables, analog monitors, and DVRs. DVR is no longer a necessity for video recording, because with the help of Video Servers, video images can be recorded and managed through standard PC servers.

 

A video server usually has one to four analog video input interfaces for connecting to a simulated camera, and one Ethernet interface for connecting to the network. Like a Network Camera, it contains built-in Web servers, image compression chips, and operating systems. Under these components, analog video input will be converted into digital video signals, it can also transmit and store video resources over a computer network, which greatly simplifies access and management of video resources.

In addition to video input, the video server can also achieve more functions and transmit more information through the same network connection, including: digital alarm input and output (I/O interface, which can be used to trigger the server to enable video recording and transmit videos, or to activate external alarm devices such as alarm lights or open the door), audio, serial port light for serial data transmission or PTZ Device Control. Through image caching, the video server can also send images before and after alarms. Video Servers can also be connected to more dedicated cameras, such as high-sensitivity black and white cameras, micro cameras, or micro cameras.