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How to Configure Continuous Recording onto SD Cards on Axis Cameras With Edge Recording

In this blog, we will walk you through how to enable edge storage in Milestone XProtect to allow for continuous recording onto an SD card in your Axis cameras.
Table of Contents

You’re an experienced video security administrator who knows the importance of smoothly running cameras and reliable recordings. Edge recording—an efficient hybrid storage solution—can be enabled in Milestone XProtect. To help get you started, we’ll go over the steps necessary to configure continuous recording onto SD cards on Axis cameras using edge recording. 

 

Why set up edge recording/storage?

Utilizing edge storage is an efficient hybrid storage solution that can be enabled in Milestone XProtect VMS to allow for continuous recording onto an SD card. 

Recording onto an SD card is important for video security cameras because it ensures that footage is not lost in the event of a power outage or other interruptions. Edge recording also saves space on the card, as it does not require as much storage as traditional video recording methods.

By combining camera-based storage with central storage we get an efficient solution that improves performance and reduces the total cost of ownership.

 

Overview

You will create a new stream profile, format and encrypt the SD card, create a recording schedule and rule, verify recordings are active (is recording), and verify Milestone is configured as well.

Let’s dive in.

Create a New Stream Profile

Note: If your setting a camera to record to an SD on an Axis Model M-3048-P, you will need to set the camera to capture mode by going to Settings > Image > Capture Mode : 360 overview (2048×2048) @ 15/13 fps dewarped views 16:9. In the stream profile you will want to change the compression to 75 out of 100, but keep other settings the same. 

  1. Create a new stream profile by going to the Stream tab on the camera and then select  Create new.
  1. Set the New Profile settings and then select Create.
    Profile Name: Edge_Recording
    Format: H.264
    Resolution: Best Camera resolution with an aspect ratio of 4:3
    Frame Rate: 8 FPS

Formatting and Encrypting the SD Card

  1. Select System | Storage.
  1. Under Onboard storage, select the wrench icon with the encrypt option selected. Create an encryption password if one isn’t created and stored in 1Pass
  1. Change the recording time (to 2 Months or ) to the amount of time agreed upon with the customer.

Creating a Recording Schedule and Rule

Note: Applies to the following firmware versions:

  • 9.40.1
  • 9.40.1.3
  • 9.50.1
  • 9.80.2.4
  • 9.80.3
  1. Under the System Tab, go to Events | Schedules and modify the After Hours schedule to show as Always Record.
  1. Set the start time to 00:00 and the End Time to 23:59
  1. Select Sat and Sun and select Save.
  1. Select Rules and create a new one called Always Record to SD.
  1. Select Use this Rule.
  1. Set the condition to Scheduled event and the schedule to Always Record.
  1. Set the action to Record video while the rule is active.
  1. Set the Stream Profile from “Don’t use a stream profile” to Edge_Recording and Set the storage to SD card and select Save.

Verify Recordings are Active

Note: Applies to the following firmware versions:

  • 9.40.1
  • 9.40.1.3
  • 9.50.1
  • 9.80.2.4
  • 9.80.3
  1. Select Storage and then select Recordings.

Note: Depending on how many devices the cameras use, you will need to set up multiple Rules. Use names such as Always Record to SD Stream 1, Always Record to SD Stream 2, etc…

This example shows 4 devices recording.

Creating a Recording Schedule and Rule in Firmware Version 8.40.4.1

  1. Select Schedules.
  1. Select After Hours and then Select Modify.
  1. Change the Name from After Hours to Always Record. Put in a Start Time of 00:00 and End time of 23:59 and then select the Sat and Sun checkboxes and then select OK.
  1. Select Action Rules and then select Add…
  1. On the Action Rule Setup screen, name the rule Always Record to SD.
  1. Set the condition trigger to Time and the schedule to Always Record.
  1. Set the Actions to Record Video.
  1. Set the stream profile to Edge_Recording.
  1. Select Pre-trigger time, Post-trigger time and the Storage to SD Card.
  1. Select OK.

Verify Recording is Active in Firmware Version 8.40.4.1

  1. Verify the camera is recording by going to the main screen of the camera and select the storage symbol.
  1. You should see recordings available.

Note: If there are no recordings, there may be an issue with the SD card.

Milestone Configuration

  1. Within the Milestone Management Client, select the camera device(s) and then choose the Settings tab.
  1. Under the General section, set the “Edge recording type to retrieve” to either Continuous, Triggered, or Scheduled.
  1. With the camera still selected, choose the Record tab and check the box at the bottom for “Automatically retrieve remote recordings when connection is restored”.
  1. Make sure there is a recording rule set for the cameras, otherwise, the recording server will not save the footage when it is retrieved.

Note: The Rules system in XProtect Corporate and XProtect Expert can also be used for flexible retrieval of the video using either the “Retrieve and store remote recordings from devices” action or the “Retrieve and store remote recordings between start and end time from devices” action.

Note: Make sure that “Edge recording type to retrieve” matches the same type in the camera’s web interface; for example, if it’s set to Continuous in the camera’s web interface, it should be also set to Continuous in the camera settings in XProtect Management Client. The same applies if you also use Triggered in the Management Client — then in the camera’s web interface you should use Events in Events → Action Rules.

  1. Done!

Setting up continuous recording on SD cards is a great way to ensure your video footage will be there when you need it. Enabling edge recording on Milestone XProtect provides an added layer of protection. By using both camera-based and central storage methods, you create an efficient solution that will help reduce total costs and maximize performance.

At The Boring Lab, we aim to make managing Milestone XProtect less boring and less complicated. 

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