Configuring recording settings for cameras

To set the recording mode (continuous, on motion, and so on) or enable encryption for your cameras, you can do so through the Recording tab of each individual camera.

To configure the recording settings for cameras:

1. From the Config Tool home page, open the Video task.
2. Select the camera to configure, and then click the Recording tab.
3. In the Recording settings option, select one of the following:
   • Inherit from Archiver:

     The camera inherits the recording settings configured for the Archiver role in the Camera default settings tab.
   • Custom settings:

     The camera uses its own settings.
4. From the Recording modes drop-down list, select one of the following:
   • Continuous:

     Records continuously. Recording cannot be stopped by the user ().
   • On motion/Manual:

     Records when triggered by an action (such as Start recording, Add bookmark, or Trigger alarm) through motion detection, or manually by a user. In this mode, the Record button in Security Desk appears in one of the following ways:

     • Grey () when the Archiver is not recording
     • Red () when it is recording but can be stopped by the user
     • Red with a lock () when it is recording but cannot be stopped by the user (on motion or alarm recording)
   • Manual:

     Records when triggered manually by a user. In this mode, the Record button in Security Desk appears in one of the following ways:

     • Grey () when the Archiver is not recording
     • Red () when it is recording but can be stopped by the user
     • Red with a lock () when it is recording but cannot be stopped by the user (on motion or alarm recording)
   • Custom:

     Recording is specified by a custom schedule.

     CAUTION: Recording schedules of the same type (for example, two daily schedules) cannot overlap, regardless of the recording mode configured for each. When a scheduling conflict occurs, the Archiver and the video units are displayed in yellow in the entity browser and they issue entity warning messages.
   • Off:

     Recording is off (), even when an alarm is triggered.
5. Enable Automatic cleanup and specify a retention period for recorded video (in days). Video archives older than this period are deleted.
6. (Optional) Click Show advanced settings and configure the advanced options.
   • Record audio:

     Switch ON to record audio with your video. A microphone entity must be attached to your cameras.

     NOTE: It is not necessary for the attached devices to belong to the same unit as the video encoder. However, for audio recording to work, ensure that the microphone belongs to a unit managed by the same Archiver, with the same Archiver extension, as the video encoder.
   • Record metadata:

     Switch ON to record metadata with your video.
   • Redundant archiving:

     Switch ON to allow primary, secondary, and tertiary servers to archive video at the same time. This setting is effective only if failover is configured.
   • Time to record before an event:

     Use the slider to set the durantion (in seconds) recorded before an event. This buffer is saved whenever the recording starts, ensuring that whatever prompted the recording is also captured on video.
   • Time to record after a motion:

     Use the slider to set the durantion (in seconds) recorded after a motion event. During this time, the user cannot stop the recording.
   • Default manual recording length:

     Use the slider to select the duration (in minutes) the recording lasts when it is started manually by a user, or when the Start recording action is triggered.
7. (Optional) Select your Encryption option.
   In this context, video refers to all media types: video, audio, and metadata.

   • None:

     The video is not encrypted.
   • In transit from Archiver:

     (Default) The video is encrypted only when it is streamed from the Archiver. The video archive is not encrypted. All users who have the right to access the camera can view the encrypted video. There is no need to install any encryption certificates. Use this option if your archive storage is secured behind firewalls.

     You must enable Secure communication on the Media Router for this option to work.

     This option has the following limitations:

     • Multicast from the unit is not supported
     • Audio streamed from Security Desk only supports TCP connection type
     • Video streamed to analog monitors is not encrypted in transit
     • Privacy protected streams are not encrypted in transit
     • Backward compatibility (Security Center 5.7 and earlier) is not supported:
       • Clients in compatibility mode cannot view video encrypted in transit
       • Auxiliary Archiver roles in backward compatibility mode cannot archive video encrypted in transit
       • Redirectors in backward compatibility mode cannot redirect video encrypted in transit
   • In transit and at rest:

     The video is encrypted after it reaches the Archiver, using fusion stream encryption. The video archive on disk is also encrypted. If the video unit supports encryption and is connected through HTTPS, then the video is encrypted end-to-end.

     To enable this option, you must install at least one encryption certificate on the server hosting the Archiver role.

     The video can only be viewed in one of the following ways:

     • Using a workstation with a certificate that matches one of the listed certificates on the Archiver. Access is restriced to the workstation.
     • Using a smart card with a certificate that matches one of the listed certificates on the Archiver. Access is restriced to the holder of the smart card.

     We recommended this option when your data center is managed by a third party.

     This option has the following limitations:

     • Video thumbnail and motion detection by the Archiver are not supported
     • Multicast from the unit is supported only if the unit supports encryption
     • Video encrypted in version 5.8 and later cannot be decrypted in version 5.7 and earlier

   TIP: Video encryption and privacy protection can be combined.

   • If the privacy of the individuals captured on video is your only concern, use privacy protection instead.
   • If the privacy of your data is your only concern, select one of the video encryption options.
   • If you need to protect the privacy of both the individuals and your data, you can combine privacy protection and encryption.
8. Click Apply.