Axxon Next VMS Best Practices / Setup Checklist

Before you install Axxon Next:

1. Make sure all Servers are connected to an uninterruptible power supply (UPS).
2. To prevent frequent system updates, which can cause system inoperability, it is recommended to use Windows 10 LTSB or Windows Server (see Operating system requirements).
3. Install all the latest Windows service/update packs.
4. Synchronize the system time with world time and specify the correct time zone.
5. For each Server, specify a unique Windows hostname.
6. Specify a new password for the account of local administrator.
7. Synchronize the time of all Servers and IP devices.
8. Create another administrator account for backup. Specify a password for it.

Hardware setup:

1. On each server put in an extra SSD drive strictly dedicated for Metadata storage. It is highly NOT recommended to store AxxonNext Metadata on system drive nor the drive where the cameras feeds are being recorded.
2. If the overall archive size on one server is going to be more than 30 TB then split it into multiple logical drives each the size of less than 30 TB. For example if the planned overall archive storage / array is going to be 100 TB split it into 4 x 25 TB logical drives. This will increase recording stability and eliminate the risk of losing data.
3. If you are going to apply any kind of software analytics (including Motion detection for motion based recording and more advanced detectors) it is recommended to use NVidia GPU to increase system performance. Graphics cards requirements: Hardware requirements.

Axxon Next installation (see Installation, Update):

Recommendation on how to choose install type:

• Server and client: choose this type of install if you have no more than 5 servers in one location that need to be operating in one Axxon-domain.
• Failover server and client: choose this type of install if you have from 5 to 30 servers (minimum is 3) servers in one location that need to be operating in one Axxon-domain.

If you have more than 30 servers in one location or if they are spread between different locations but you need to have unified user management across all servers please contact your manager or technical support for consulting.

Server and client

1. Use the port range 20111-20210 (see Network settings utility, Ports used by the Axxon Next Software Package). In latest versions recommended port range is selected by default.
   When updating from versions 4.3 and older change the port range during install process (Custom > Server network settings) or after install using Network settings utility (see Configuring the Server ports).
2. Metadata database:
   
   1. Metadata path can only be specified once during install process. If you decide to change it later you will have to re-install Axxon Next (without loosing configuration and footage).
   2. It is highly recommended to install Metadata on the dedicated SSD drive.
      DO NOT install Metadata on system drive because Metadata size tends to grow over time and if the system drive space is not sufficient it might cause system issues.
      DO NOT install Metadata on storage drive (where the footage goes) because it will affect recording performance.
   3. Consider the disk space required for the database (see Disk storage subsystem requirements).

Failover server and client

1. Metadata path can only be specified once during install process. If you decide to change it later you will have to re-install Axxon Next (without loosing configuration and footage).
   To specify Metadata path in the Install program choose Custom type of install and specify the path in Configuration window.
2. It is highly recommended to install Metadata on the dedicated SSD drive.
   DO NOT install Metadata on system drive because Metadata size tends to grow over time and if the system drive space is not sufficient it might cause system issues.
   DO NOT install Metadata on storage drive (where the footage goes) because it will affect recording performance.

Antivirus configuration (see Appendix 4. Using Axxon Next with anti-virus software):

1. Add the following processes to the exclusion list:

   1. consul.exe
   2. nomad.exe
   3. apphost.exe
   4. postgres.exe
2. Add the following folders to the exclusion list:
   1. C:\ProgramData\AxxonSoft\AxxonNext
   2. C:\Program Files\AxxonSoft\AxxonNext
   3. C:\Program Files\Common Files\AxxonSoft
   4. Postgres and metadata folders if they are not default.
3. Add the following ports to the exclusion list:
   1. 20109-20210
   2. 4000 (only for Failover installation type)
   3. 4646-4648 (only for Failover installation type)
   4. 8300-8302 (only for Failover installation type)
   5. 8500 (only for Failover installation type)
   6. 8600 (only for Failover installation type)

Initial setup:

1. Activate the licenses (see Creating an activation request, Activation by applying license file).
2. Сhange root password (see Working with users). Create another administrator account for backup. Specify a password for it.
3. For Server only: add Client auto-logout after 1 hour (see Configuring automatic exiting and locking of the Client).
4. Create the archive before adding cameras.

Creating archives (see Configuring Archives):

1. Divide the archive to multiple volumes located on different hardware devices.
2. We recommend you to create an archive with volumes no larger than 30 TB each.

Camera configuration (see The Video Camera Object):

1. Connect the cameras to the Servers.
2. Synchronize the time of all Servers and cameras with a single NTP server.
3. Add the cameras to the system (see Adding and removing IP devices, Bulk creation of IP devices). Preferred protocol: ONVIF generic.

4. Multistreaming:

   1. Make sure that for each camera different stream IDs are selected as High quality and Low quality streams.

   2. Low quality stream settings should be lower than the High quality stream.
5. Codec type*: H.265 or H.264 is recommended. If you plan to use the Web Client, then H.264 is recommended since using H.265 leads to the stream recompression on the Server side.
6. FPS: the Low quality stream frame rate should be at least 6 to ensure the correct operation of the detection tools.
7. Resolution:
   1. Aspect ratio should be the same for Low and High quality streams*.
   2. The Low quality stream resolution should be no less than 640x360 and no more than 1280x720 to ensure the correct operation of the detection tools.
8. Bitrate: 

   1. Recommended type*: VBR.

   2. Set maximum bitrate / bandwidth limitation.

   3. Recommended bitrate: 1 mbps per 1 MP.

9. GOV (also known as GOP, I Frame, etc.): it is recommended to have at least one keyframe per 2 seconds. 
   
   *May differ for different camera models.

Archive recording configuration (see Binding a camera to an archive):

1. Link each camera to at least one archive.
2. Configure recording to the archive (permanent or triggered by detection tools) for each camera.

3. Make sure pre-recording is enabled (> 1 sec).

4. Note that after you re-create the archive, it is necessary to re-create all recording rules in the detection tool settings or Programming settings.

Detection tool configuration (see Configuring detection tools):

1. The motion detection tool should operate on a low quality stream (see Configuring VMD).
2. Using masks, exclude the areas of the frame which constantly trigger motion detection (for example, on-screen display (OSD) or TV).
3. Create automatic rules for recording to the archive (see Automatic Rules).
4. Use a NVIDIA GPU for the detection tools operation if there is one.

Automatic notifications (see Configuring Macros):

1. Create and configure an email notification (see The E-mail Object).
2. Configure a cyclic macro command (once a day) to check if all cameras are recording (see Checking for archive video recordings, Cyclical macros).
3. Configure event macros based on statistical data (CPU load, free disk space, see Triggering macros by statistical data).

Users and roles (see Configuring user permissions):

1. Create and configure the roles (see Creating and configuring roles).
2. Create the users (see Working with users).
3. Create the layouts and share them to users (see Configuring Layouts).
4. Check your setup by logging in under different user accounts and verifying the interface and permissions.

Backups (see Backing up a configuration):

1. Create a new backup:
   1. After you complete the system configuration.
   2. Before you update to a new version.
   3. After you update to a new version.
   4. Periodically (recommended period is 1 month).

2. To restore the configuration, use the backup created on the same version of software (see Restoring a configuration). Example: if backup was created on v. 4.3 then restore it only on v. 4.3; if you also need to update to 4.5 then first restore it on 4.3 and then update to 4.5.

Web Client (see Working with Axxon Next Through the Web Client):

1. Do not use H.265 in camera settings since it causes the stream recompression on the Server side. It is recommended to use H.264 for such cameras.
2. Change the HTTP port from 80 to a custom port (see Configuring the web server).

System check:

1. Monitor the CPU load (<= 60%).
2. Monitor the RAM load (<= 60%).
3. Monitor the disk load:
   1. Active time is lower than 50%.

   2. Average response time is lower than 1 sec.

4. Monitor free disk space: system drive has not less than 20 GB.
5. Use the statistics panel in Web client (see Viewing Camera and Archive Statistics).