Add third-party cameras using their IP address

Last modified: Sunday October 01, 2023.

 

The Alta Video security solution is compatible with cameras that meet the ONVIF standards or that use the Axis Vivotek protocol. This provides compatibility between Alta Video and your existing ONVIF, Avigilon, Vapix, or Vivotek cameras.

Prerequisites

You must connect third-party cameras to an Alta Cloud Connector. Physically install the cameras and connect them to a network visible from the Alta Cloud Connector. For more information, see Claim your Alta Cloud Connector.

Ensure that the cameras have already been physically installed in your site, and that you have the following information available:

  • The name to be assigned to the camera (optional). This name is used to refer to the device from within the Alta Video software.
  • IP address of the camera.
  • Username and Password needed to access the camera.

Additionally, make sure you have suitable Configuration profiles and Camera groups created, to assign to each new camera.

Task — Add a third-party camera

  1. Choose Tools Open a tool > Devices Devices.
  2. Click Add devices button Add cameras.
  3. From Add cameras, click Manually by IP or serial number.
  4. In IP ADDRESS OR SERIAL NUMBER, type the IP address for the camera.
  5. Select the Cloud Connector to which the camera is to connect.
  6. Click Next.
  7. In the NAME field, enter the name to be used to refer to this device within Alta Video.
  8. From DEVICE GROUP, select the group for the camera.
  9. From CONFIGURATION, select the Configuration profile for the camera.
  10. Click Next.
  11. If required, type a PORT.
  12. Select the camera TYPE.
    1. Choose Automatic to have Alta Video check for the correct protocol for the camera.
  13. Choose how the camera feed is encrypted.
  14. Select your preferred MEDIA CONFIG.
    1. It is recommended to use the default Ava Aware configuration. Only use the Camera default if the camera does not support automatic configuration by Alta Video, or when you use Alta Video alongside another video management system already connected to the camera.
  15. Click Next.
  16. Define or select the USERNAME and PASSWORD combination to use for the new camera.

    You can select multiple Username/Password combinations, or add new credentials. For some cameras, they might need multiple Username/Password combinations for different streams or for different protocols.

    Some devices have account lockout policies based on failed attempts. Selecting multiple credentials might cause the camera to lock. If this happens, wait for the camera to unlock and try again with only the correct credentials for the device selected.

  17. Click Done.
    After checking that the Username and Password and all other information matches the selected camera, the device is added to Alta Video.