IP Products

Management software

by Mark Rowe

BCDVideo has released their SMARTcontrol Management Software (SMS). SMS is described by the US company as an evolution in health monitoring for physical security technology for BCDVideo’s video recorder and access control server platforms. BCDVideo will be making this a standard no-charge feature on its entire Nova Series platform, from February 2015.

SMS is a programme which serves as a mission-control centre inside the product. It sends alerts based upon criteria pre-set by the system administrator. This will deliver system analytics, and regulate and provide incident notification about power usage, CPU usage, memory usage, hard drive use, besides reporting.

Among the standard modules found within BCDVideo’s software include SMARTrestoration, a disaster recovery programme which allows the security installer to remotely re-boot and restore the server to its original BCDVideo factory image from anywhere. It will automatically generate a support ticket to the BCDVideo technical helpdesk.

Another standard module includes SMARTvault, a secure on-board flash device that allows isolated storage of video management software configuration data. The module features Auto-Backup, which will automatically back up the file on a set schedule to the SMARTvault device. For viewing SMARTvault logs a user selects a date span and clicks “submit”. In the event of a malfunction at the site, the installer can – from anywhere – remotely restore the last working settings to get the customer up and running.

The software also includes SMARTsupport, a support solution built into SMARTcontrol. On any internet-connected server, support tickets can be created with the BCDVideo engineering team. The product gives users an interface to manage, edit and update tickets from within the software. Creating a ticket generates snapshots of log files and attaches them for the BCDVideo team to help diagnose any hardware issue. As BCDVideo’s Nova series comes with a worldwide five-year on-site warranty, BCDVideo can then initiate an on-site service call for the customer, or use the SMARTconnect feature – also standard on all BCDVideo servers – to remote in and remedy the unit without it ever having to leave the site.

The software will also feature a 60-day trial license of Intelligent Management Center (IMC). IMC is an optional add-on module that offers resource management for a range of devices including IP cameras, network switches, client viewing stations, and smartphones.

The IMC allows the system administrator to view the status of all the VLANs through a network topology view, with the ability to monitor and manage devices from that same view. This module allows the user to view and monitor devices in a variety of visual methodologies, by device, IP, network topology, or through a custom view. By using the built-in Security Control Center, a system administrator can force device settings consistently and sound alarms when they become non-compliant.

This programme delivers detailed performance monitoring with real-time notifications, while providing the ability to monitor devices for report generation, performance information, and alarm notification. The built-in Network Traffic Analyzer feature analyses network traffic and how it is being consumed by devices attached to the network.

Intelligent Management Center will individually or collectively monitor devices for threshold settings, which when exceeded, will sound an alarm. BCDVideo adds that it will be partnering with Video Management Software (VMS) vendors to deliver management alarm features through the alarm notifications within their particular software packages.

Tom Larson, BCDVideo Director of Sales and Engineering, says: “We have taken an access control server that already had a low cost of ownership, and added system analytics to make it into a mission control centre. You control more than the access, you control the situation. Likewise, the intelligent video recorder is exactly as advertised, allowing 24/7 management capabilities from your desk, your couch, or from 5,000 miles away.

“This Platform as a Service (PaaS) offers the security integrator greater profitability over the course of the supported project, as well as delivering a chargeable service as a recurring revenue stream. Everything comes down to both ease of use and ease of management. The managed technology and analytics within our Nova Series systems allows the integrator to realize potential recurring revenue as it relates to service opportunities. And most importantly, BCDVideo’s proprietary technology does not interfere with our open standards platform, which allows us the ability to support all major VMS and access control software manufacturers.”

BCDVideo will begin including the SMARTcontrol Management Software on its Nova Series beginning in February, 2015.

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