There are 3 main types of connections:
Direct to Cloud (camera plug-ins)
Cloud Gateway/NVR (bridged).
Direct ONVIF.
Direct to Cloud
VXG partners with major camera manufacturers and has developed camera firmware plug-ins that are installed directly on cameras. This makes a connection between a camera and the cloud plug-and-play and it doesn’t need any additional hardware on-premise.
Features
The plug-in performs the following operations:
Maintains connection with the Cloud.
Direct recording to the Cloud storage.
Playback from local SD card storage.
Remote configuration of a camera.
Delivers camera events to the Cloud.
Cloud Gateway/NVR
VXG Cloud NVR/Gateway is a software module distributed as a Docker image for x86 and ARM. It can record video in its local storage (NVR mode) or just relay videos to the Cloud (Gateway mode). In both cases, live and recorded videos can be watched through the Cloud.
The VXG Cloud NVR/Gateway connects to any standard ONVIF or RTSP camera from the local network on one side and on the other side connects automatically to the Cloud bridging the connection between cameras and the Cloud.
System requirements
VXG Cloud NVR/Gateway can run on almost any x86 or ARM computer running Linux with Docker container support. Minimal system requirements for 20 cameras are 4GB RAM, Atom CPU or 4GB RAM, Raspberry PI 4.
NVR vs. Gateway modes
In the Cloud NVR mode, the videos will be recorded on a local hard drive. The recorded videos can be played through the Cloud and the user experience is the same as if videos were recorded on the Cloud.
In the Cloud Gateway mode, the video streams are relayed to the Cloud. The streams can be watched and recorded on the Cloud.
It is possible to run the NVR and Gateway mode at the same time having a videos recorded on-prem and on the Cloud.
Direct ONVIF
VXG works with any ONVIF or RTSP camera. A camera should have an IP address that VXG can access from the Cloud. The possible options are described below.
Port forwarding
This requires mapping of IP camera ports to external ports on a router. We usually require 2 ports: HTTP (80) or HTTPS (443), and RTSP (554) ports.
VPN
VXG supports connection through a variety of VPN clients. Once connected to your VPN, VXG can connect to your cameras using your VPN IP address.
IP address white-listing
Some firewalls will restrict accessing networks from unknown IP addresses. VXG supports a special Gateway Service that will pass through all traffic and all the connections will be made using a known IP address or a list of addresses.
Other cameras and connection options
Using a VPN router
VXG supports IPsec VPN tunneling and can establish a Site-to-Site VPN. Cameras can be then connected over ONVIF/RTSP using local (VPN) IP addresses.
Mobile phones
VXG Mobile applications for Android and iOS turn any phone into an additional video camera that can be used along with other cameras in the system.
Wearable and IoT devices
VXG offers an integration kit for wearable cameras and video IoT devices. VXG also offers engineering services to help with the integration.