An IP video system is a multi-vendor environment. Various components from multiple manufacturers interact to perform the tasks required of the system. Any problem with system operation might originate with any of the various components.
Consider an analogy: If your car isn’t running, the goal is to get it running again. It takes a mechanic to analyze the “why” and address the problem, whether it is the transmission, engine, or whatever. In short, observing a symptom does not immediately point to the cause of the problem.
So it is when troubleshooting IP video systems: The problem could be the camera, the recording device, the network, or any number of other issues (or even multiple failures). How can you diagnose the problem and get to an answer?
Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise worked with industry experts SourceSecurity.com and Stone Security to examine some of the best practices when it comes to troubleshooting IP video systems. In this White Paper, we review the role of the manufacturer, systems integrator and end user. As well, we discuss the merits of a managed network switch and highlight the kinds of training, support agreements and troubleshooting approaches that contribute to a speedy and appropriate resolution to the problem.