Orion or VMS

[dseebeck]

I have a restaurant business with multiple sites. I am in the process of evaluating cameras for all locations. Would the Orion software be something I could use to set up multiple locations from a single pane of glass allowing me to easily navigate from site to site. If not do you have any suggestions for me to look into.

I have installed this software and configured it accessing one NVR we have at our corporate office. It looks like it has the ability to create multiple organizations but It appears to be stuck on Current Site. If I try to create an org it puts it under Current Site.

Regarding this client server architecture. Is the server used to continually stream and store videos from the NVRs and Cameras that are added? Kind of like a cloud server. Or, is the system built to utilize the client software to access camera videos stored on cameras and or NVR's with the server used to store clipped videos that are downloaded for analysis?

There is not a lot of info out on the internet explaining how this software is intended to be used. Amcrest has a user manual and datasheet but no overview. Videos for Amcrest on Youtube are years old and relate to dvr's and cameras with a couple of NVR unpack and install videos.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thank you

[Revo2Maxx]

To be honest, I don't know enough about Orion to say what options it would offer someone with many locations and cameras.. I know that from what I hear it comes with first 64 cameras free and then each after that cost.. Now that isn't to say that someone with 120 cameras wouldn't be able to setup a couple of computers with the software to support that number..

What I know is that it is a software that you can control and monitor the connected devices. outside of that I don't know what all it can do. I have so many devices and also have Blue Iris that I use more then I do most anything else.. For me most of my devices are in 1 location and a couple of other smaller systems that I connect remotely time to time..

For my local system I use a HDMI Multi view. There are a few different ones out there that might have better options then what I use mine for. but I can change the layout of the view in different ways.. So in my 4k monitor I have setup for displaying 4 of my systems on that monitor when I am in that location and want to keep an eye. Outside of that have different HDMI management along with some older d-sub KVMs that I use for my office monitors.

Most remote systems are for remote viewing and may not offer remote recording. I know that ASP that is older you can setup a local PC-NVR and recording can be done local to the ASP computer. When you try to add in a system that is not using local IP it can't be added for that option.. There are things that could be done, that gets into a different topic of Networking and would be best left to someone that specializes in that area..

For me I need to start writing down my Orion password because I always seem to forget it and get locked out. I have so many different passwords for things that I seem to always forget it and after so many failed tries it locks you out for 5 min.. So I just uninstall and install it again lol. But has really kept me from staying active with the software.. I thought I saved it last time I setup the software but is unchecked and seems I again forgot the password lol..

Might want to make a ticket with Amcrest and see if they could have some one get in touch with you that knows more about the software.

[dseebeck]

Thank you for your response. Passwords are a nightmare for everyone.

[Pogo]

I have a restaurant business with multiple sites. I am in the process of evaluating cameras for all locations. Would the Orion software be something I could use to set up multiple locations from a single pane of glass allowing me to easily navigate from site to site. If not do you have any suggestions for me to look into.

First, my personal experience with Orion is limited and is an evolving process. My comments are based on both that, and a fairly good understanding about how client/server surveillance setups are generally supposed to work.

There's much to consider in attempting a response that may actually present any value to you. My first suggestion would be to devour all 230 pages of the documentation several times through and not just hunt and peck for areas that aren't cooperating from an intuitively driven approach to getting things working as expected. Trust me.

As for deployment, multiple sites usually present multiple challenges unique to each site. Determining the needs and priorities of each specific installation instance should not be minimized in favor of a boilerplate approach simply for the sake of simplicity and/or convenience. An ideal central management client/server model should be flexible enough to accommodate anything you throw at it from the client side and not be the determining factor in whatever flexibility or creativity may be otherwise considered or implemented at any give location. This obviously includes your camera considerations for starters and any locally required hardware to make everything work as intended, along with being remotely accessible in an efficient and secure manner. But you know this already.

The key here is implementing a system that is standards based (ONFIV) and vendor agnostic to allow whatever mix and match hardware solutions may be appropriate or desired. Amcrest recommends their products, but Orion is hardly a unique and proprietary Amcrest effort by any means and should accommodate any ONVIF compliant product by any vendor.

I have installed this software and configured it accessing one NVR we have at our corporate office. It looks like it has the ability to create multiple organizations but It appears to be stuck on Current Site. If I try to create an org it puts it under Current Site.

See suggestion number one. LOL

Regarding this client server architecture. Is the server used to continually stream and store videos from the NVRs and Cameras that are added? Kind of like a cloud server. Or, is the system built to utilize the client software to access camera videos stored on cameras and or NVR's with the server used to store clipped videos that are downloaded for analysis?

It would appear that any combination of storage, analysis and management are possible several different ways on several different levels at both the client and server ends. The key to both ends is having secure Windows machines with enough horsepower to efficiently perform the functions expected by the system at each location. Just putting a NVR on a shelf with a handful of cameras and accessing it with the Orion management piece does not an Orion system make.

However..., and the above stated, Orion is a pretty exotic solution and would generally be considered beyond the needs of even modest sized organizations. Similar solutions are out there including the Hikvision iVMS4200 system (very similar) among others that may better fit the bill with a much smoother learning curve providing equally acceptable results in both performance and flexibility.

Remotely managed NVR solutions at each location can be implemented any number of ways from a central management setup. I would suggest exploring Blue Iris as one such possibility since you seem to be more than capable of finding your way around such a solution..., and there is a very large community of Blue Iris users out there for support at any level required, (though some of the online arenas are more friendly than others). I use it as the core of my surveillance network (along with additional NVRs) as does Revo to one extent or another in his own operations. It may be just the ticket for your needs as well.

There is not a lot of info out on the internet explaining how this software is intended to be used. Amcrest has a user manual and datasheet but no overview. Videos for Amcrest on Youtube are years old and relate to dvr's and cameras with a couple of NVR unpack and install videos.

Your above observation is probably the most important consideration for either choosing a different platform altogether or being prepared to go it alone when difficulties with the system are encountered. Amcrest support is notorious for being non-existent -- especially in higher level matters.

On the other hand, Orion itself is free.

Good luck, and keep us posted.

[Volkemon]

@Pogo - Well said:

"" My first suggestion would be to devour all 230 pages of the documentation several times through and not just hunt and peck for areas that aren't cooperating from an intuitively driven approach to getting things working as expected. Trust me""

I have been finding the 'intuitively driven approach ' gives results exactly as you describe with Amcrest software/GUI so far.

Looks like a decently written manual, at first skip through. Hope that opinion holds.