Nx Witness Video Management Software
Nx Witness 5.1
Nx Witness VMS is a lightning-fast, easy-to-use, cross-platform IP video management system/video surveillance software designed to discover, view, record, and manage IP video cameras so you can monitor, analyse, and react to critical events in real-time.
The Nx Server application is a lightweight, powerful media server that discovers, connects, and manages system devices and data.
Advanced Object Analytics
Nx Witness offers a variety of video analytics capabilities that can detect and track objects of interest over time and indicate the presence of events or suspect behaviour involving these objects. These capabilities include:
- Advanced Object Search: is a feature in Nx Witness VMS that allows you to quickly and easily search for specific objects in video footage.
It allows users to search for objects based on various criteria, including object type (e.g., person, animal, or vehicle), colour, size, and direction of movement. This feature can quickly find specific objects in an extensive video archive, making retrieving events or incidents related to those objects easier.
- In-Camera Analytics: Nx Witness supports various in-camera analytics features from manufacturers, including AXIS and Hanwha, that integrate seamlessly with the system. These features include people counting, tampering detection, fog detection, defocus detection, and queue management. In-camera analytics can detect and track objects in real time, providing instant alerts when certain events or behaviours are detected.
- Third-Party Video Analytics: Nx Witness works with third-party video analytics solutions, such as Ultinous and Graymatics, to provide additional video analytics capabilities. These solutions use AI-powered video analytics to detect and track objects and to identify specific events or behaviours involving those objects.
- Object Detection & Tracking: Nx Witness provides tools for implementing object detection and tracking within the system. This feature helps users find and follow objects in the video stream. It can also trigger events or alerts based on their presence or movement.
Overall, Nx Witness’s video analytics capabilities provide a powerful way to detect and track objects of interest over time and identify events or suspect behaviour involving those objects. By using these features, end-users and customers can build a more robust and tailored video surveillance solution to meet their needs.
Advanced Object Search
Nx Witness VMS’s Advanced Object Search feature is a powerful tool. It changes how users manage 10 to 100 IP video surveillance cameras, making working with their video archives easier.
The feature includes a unique object database. This database imports and indexes objects detected by any video analysis. This facilitates rapid retrieval of associated footage, further streamlining the search process. Nx Witness VMS also supports in-camera analytics from top manufacturers like AXIS, Bosch (Flexidome & Flexidome Panoramic), Hanwha, and Vivotek.
The Advanced Object Search is a pop-out window, allowing simultaneous live video viewing and searches. It integrates a unique object database for rapid retrieval of associated footage. Nx Witness VMS offers native support for in-camera analytics from leading manufacturers.
In essence, the Advanced Object Search provides a standardized method for searching videos across all object-based analytics integrated with Powered by Nx products. It simplifies and accelerates the process of creating system automations and searching video archives using object metadata, making it an indispensable tool for end-users managing multiple IP video surveillance cameras.
AXIS ACAP + VAPIX In-Camera Analytics
Nx Witness supports analytics built with the AXIS Camera Application Platform (ACAP) via the AXIS VAPIX API, including:
- AXIS People Counter
- AXIS P8815-2 3D People Counter
- AXIS Object Analytics
- AXIS Perimeter Defender
- AXIS Loitering Guard
- AXIS Fence Guard
And dozens of additional AXIS ACAP Applications.
Hanwha Wisenet In-Camera Analytics
Hanwha Wisenet cameras include a suite of powerful, easy-to-use video analytics features that integrate seamlessy with Nx Witness, including:
- Appear/Disappear
- Loitering
- Enter/Exit
- Intrusion
- Face Detection
- Audio Classification
Nx Witness Open API
The Nx Witness Open API provides developers with a framework to create applications for video surveillance management. Here’s how it works:
- API Access: Developers can access Nx Witness’s video surveillance data, including live video streams, recorded footage, and system metadata, through the Open API.
- Integration: The API allows developers to integrate video surveillance functionality into their applications or systems. This can include customising user interfaces, automating tasks, or creating new features.
- Control: Developers can control and manage cameras, recording, and playback functions programmatically. This enables applications to interact with cameras, trigger recordings, or retrieve specific video segments.
- Event Handling: The API provides access to real-time event data, such as motion detection or alarms. Developers can use this information to build applications that respond to specific events, like sending notifications or initiating predefined actions.
- Scalability: Nx Witness is designed to support large-scale deployments, and the Open API allows developers to create solutions that can scale accordingly. This is crucial for managing extensive video surveillance systems.
- Security: Security is a paramount concern in video surveillance. Developers can use the API to implement security measures or integrate with existing security systems to ensure data protection.
- Customisation: With the Open API, developers can tailor video surveillance solutions to specific use cases. This can range from building mobile apps for remote monitoring to creating specialised analytics tools.
In summary, the Nx Witness Open API empowers developers to build customised video surveillance management applications by providing access to video data, control over surveillance components, event handling capabilities, scalability, security options, and the ability to customise solutions to meet specific needs.
Camera Replacement
The NX Witness camera replacement feature lets users easily replace an old camera with a new one without configuring the replacement camera settings.
When a problem or an upgrade requires a camera replacement, the system can transfer the settings. This means the new camera will have the same settings as the old one, helping reduce downtime and the configuration of the new camera.
This feature simplifies managing an IP video surveillance system by making it easier to maintain camera networks. You can copy settings like recording schedules, motion detection zones, and user permissions.
This function greatly helps users who manage networks of over ten or more IP cameras. Instead of changing the settings on each new camera by hand, the replacement function reduces labor and risk, allowing for quicker camera updates and scaling. This saves time and money and requires fewer man-hours for system maintenance. It also leads to more consistent settings across cameras, which can improve the reliability and functionality of the surveillance system.
Cross-System Layouts
NX Witness is a video management system designed to streamline the handling of IP video surveillance cameras. Cross-system layouts in NX Witness enable users to create custom views that can pull in live or recorded video feeds from multiple cameras, even if those cameras are part of different systems or locations. This centralization is particularly efficient for end-users with 10 to 100 IP video surveillance cameras, as they don’t have to switch between various systems or interfaces to monitor all cameras. Everything can be viewed and controlled from a single dashboard, which reduces the time and effort needed to manage surveillance footage and allows for more effective real-time monitoring and faster decision-making.
The efficiencies are multi-fold. First, it cuts training time and costs since staff need to become proficient with only one system. Second, it aids in rapid response to security incidents by providing a unified view of all camera feeds. Having a streamlined, integrated interface can be crucial in scenarios requiring immediate attention. For instance, in case of a security breach at one location, users can quickly assess the situation and keep an eye on other sites to ensure no coordinated incidents. By reducing the complexity of handling multiple systems and interfaces, NX Witness’s cross-system layouts make it easier and more efficient for end-users to manage medium to large surveillance setups.
Cross Platform Support
Nx Witness supports all major operating systems – including Windows, Ubuntu Linux, Mac, and more.
- Run Desktop & Server on all 64-bit Windows versions released in the last ten years.
- Manage your system from Apple computers using Nx Witness Desktop for Mac OS.
- Use Nx Witness in virtualised environments with VMWare ESXi, Virtual Box, and more.
- Manage your system on-the-go with Nx Mobile for Android phones and tablets.
- Operate Nx Witness Desktop & Server on all 64-bit versions of Ubuntu OS from 16.04 LTS onward.
- Customise Nx Witness to run on embedded ARM devices like Raspberry Pi and NVIDIA Jetson.
- Deploy Nx Witness using its Docker container image for development and orchestration.
- Access & manage your system anywhere, anytime with Nx Mobile for iPhone & iPad.
FAQs
How does the Smart Motion technology in Nx Witness enhance the efficiency of video search?
Smart Motion technology in Nx Witness significantly enhances the efficiency of video search by intelligently analysing and categorising motion events. Traditional searches may require users to manually sift through hours of video, but Smart Motion allows for quick and precise retrieval of relevant video clips. By focusing only on frames where motion occurs, the technology reduces the volume of data to be reviewed. This is particularly useful when looking for specific motion-based events, like someone entering a restricted area or a vehicle pulling into a parking lot.
Moreover, some implementations of Smart Motion technology offer the ability to fine-tune search parameters. This could include specifying the type of motion (e.g., human, vehicle), the area within the frame where motion occurred, and the time period for the search. These features make it possible to find the exact footage needed for incident verification or investigation in seconds, saving time and effort for security professionals.
Smart Motion technology boosts operational efficiency and improves the speed and accuracy of security responses. Identifying relevant events empowers security personnel to make more informed decisions in real-time scenarios.
What are the potential limitations or challenges of using Smart Motion technology in Nx Witness?
While Smart Motion technology in Nx Witness offers significant benefits, it’s essential to consider its potential limitations. One such limitation is its reliance on camera quality and positioning. If the cameras are of low resolution or are not correctly positioned, the Smart Motion detection may produce false positives or miss relevant events, impacting its effectiveness.
Another challenge could be computational load. Smart Motion technology, by its nature, requires more processing power to analyse and categorise motion in real time. If your existing hardware isn’t robust enough, this could lead to system lag or reduced overall performance. Also, while Smart Motion technology is designed to reduce the volume of data to be reviewed, it might not be as effective in highly dynamic environments with continuous motion. In such settings, the technology could still capture a large volume of data, requiring manual review to isolate specific incidents.
Although beneficial, fine-tuning search parameters can be a double-edged sword. Overly specific parameters might lead to missing crucial footage, whereas too broad parameters may result in overwhelming data to review.
Finally, as with any technology that involves analytical interpretation, there is always a margin for error. False positives or negatives may occur, which can be critical depending on the security context in which the system is being used.
How does NX Witness integrate with other security systems?
Integration with other third-party systems including alarm & access control systems:
- API: Using the Server API, developers can access nearly every feature available in the system’s thick client, including but not limited to:
- Query/manage system resources (servers, cameras, users).
- Manage users and permissions.
- Pull live or recorded video out of the system.
- Generate events.
- Create rules.
- Control PTZ cameras, and more.
- Metadata SDK: The Metadata SDK enables the integration of 3rd party video analytics systems and devices such as people and object recognition by supporting the exchange of metadata and events. Metadata SDK enables developers to create applications/plugins that use custom rules and events to fulfil a video analytics function. For a step-by-step guide on integrating a video analytics plugin, click on the link: https://support.networkoptix.com/hc/en-us/sections/360004090353-Integrating-Video-Analytics-Overview
- Video Source SDK: The Video Source Integration SDK enables easy integration of any video source (live or archived) into the system. With the SDK, it’s possible to create a method for discovering, displaying, analysing, and recording video from virtually any live or recorded video source – IP Cameras, encoders, NVRs, DVRs, and more. It also allows for the integration of device I/Os (inputs and outputs) and motion detection metadata.
- Storage SDK: The Video Source Integration SDK enables easy integration of any video source (live or archived) into the system. With the SDK, it’s possible to create a method for discovering, displaying, analysing, and recording video from virtually any live or recorded video source – IP Cameras, encoders, NVRs, DVRs, and more. It also integrates device I/Os (inputs and outputs) and motion detection metadata.
- Input/Output Controls: NX Witness often has built-in I/O (Input/Output) ports that can be programmed to send or receive signals from other devices. For instance, an access control system could signal NX Witness to start recording when a door is opened.
- Third-Party Plugins: Some third-party companies develop plugins that can be installed into NX Witness to provide out-of-the-box integration options. These plugins can extend the VMS capabilities to interact seamlessly with alarms, door controls, and other security systems.
- Direct Integration: Some alarm and access control systems come with native support for NX Witness and can be directly configured within the NX Witness interface.
- MQTT Protocol: MQTT (Message Queuing Telemetry Transport) is another communication protocol often supported by security systems. NX Witness can use MQTT to subscribe to messages from other systems, enabling robust, real-time integration.
What are the security implications of running Nx Witness in a virtualised environment?
Running Nx Witness in a virtualised environment has both advantages and considerations regarding security. On the positive side, virtualisation allows for quicker deployment of security updates and patches, centralised management, and more accessible backup and recovery processes. It can also make it easier to isolate different applications, potentially reducing the impact of a security breach on any single application.
However, there are also concerns. Virtualised environments are susceptible to their own set of vulnerabilities, such as hypervisor attacks. If the virtualisation layer is compromised, all virtual machines (VMs) running on that host could be at risk. Additionally, running a security-critical application like a VMS in a shared environment with other applications could introduce potential attack vectors. Overprovisioning resources could also negatively impact the performance of the VMS, potentially leading to lapses in video recording or real-time monitoring. To mitigate these risks, it’s important to harden the virtual environment against potential attacks, regularly update and patch both the host and guest systems, and carefully manage resources to ensure the VMS performs optimally.
Contact Us
Call us on 1300 556 334 or email [email protected] to learn more.
Customers in New Zealand call 0800 345 677 or email [email protected].