What is NAS exactly ...OR... can I record on Int/Ext Drives?

R

Rick Simonton

Young grasshopper
Jan 1, 2019
77
10
San Fernando Valley
My 3rd camera (DS-2CD2232-I5) has no micro-SD Slot so the (thin) documentation indicates I am to record to a NAS.
Does this include the internal/external drives on the macs in my network, ...OR are they quite literal...Ethernet connected external drives on my network? What about DVRs? Recommendations?

Thanks Rick
 
Rick Simonton said:
Does this include the internal drives on the mac in my network, and/or the external drives connected by USB or Firewire to the macs on my network...OR are they quite literal...Ethernet connected external drives on my network?
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It includes any devices that offer file sharing over the network, using either the NFS or SMB/CIFS file-sharing protocol.
That's one of the main features of a NAS.
 
NFS (unix) or SMB/CIFS (windows) are the protocols used to mount (unit) or net use (windows) an external file share. That file share can be from another server/device; e.g. unix, windows, main-frame, network attach storage (NAS), etc.

if on windows computer FRED, with sharing service enabled, you could create a share CAMERA that is directed to the C: drive and a directory you create, MYHIKCAM. From another system that uses SMB/CIFS you could access (read, write) the share via \\FRED\CAMERA.

This is a high level overview, there are more pieces/parts here than described, access rights, permissions, etc.

The short version is that the camera mentions NAS specifically, but a similar function can be defined on a constant-on windows or linux system which has adequate available storage.
 
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Thank You both! Well said. I think I got it, except for who's FRED? In any case I guess I need to buy a NAS box that supports NFS. (NFS because I'm Mac based). Can anyone recommend a product that has a stupid simple setup?
 
Rick Simonton said:
Thank You both! Well said. I think I got it, except for who's FRED? In any case I guess I need to buy a NAS box that supports NFS. (NFS because I'm Mac based). Can anyone recommend a product that has a stupid simple setup?
Click to expand...
Dont waste your time with nas. Use an NVR or better yet a vms.
 
Rick Simonton said:
Thank You both! Well said. I think I got it, except for who's FRED? In any case I guess I need to buy a NAS box that supports NFS. (NFS because I'm Mac based). Can anyone recommend a product that has a stupid simple setup?
Click to expand...


FRED is a carry over from my tech days, FRED, WILMA, PEBBLES, BARNEY, BETTY, BAMBAM. Never used the client's naming convention and was simpler (for me) to keep track of my examples.


:winktongue:
 
fenderman said:
VMS is video management software. Like Milestone, blue iris, Nxwitness, avigilon, etc...it is run on a pc and much more flexible and feature rich than an NVR.
Click to expand...

For my application I think simpler is better. Feature rich VMS sounds complicated and confusing to me. Plus I still need something to record to.
BUT ... I'm going to do some more research on NVRs. However... having a big NAS on RAID 1 appeals to me because it can double as a backup target.
I assume ill need to partition it.
 
Rick Simonton said:
For my application I think simpler is better. Feature rich VMS sounds complicated and confusing to me. Plus I still need something to record to.
BUT ... I'm going to do some more research on NVRs. However... having a big NAS on RAID 1 appeals to me because it can double as a backup target.
I assume ill need to partition it.
Click to expand...
its actually significantly more complex and difficult to get the cams recording to the nas...and playback.
You would record to the pc.
no need for raid....you are not a bank
 
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Rick Simonton said:
Please understand I'm mac based and there is no Blue Iris for mac. It appears that the best mac alternative is SecuritySpy.
Do you (or anyone else) have an opinion on SecuritySpy?
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You could pick up a used / cheap comp on ebay that is more than suitable for BI, or you could get an NVR. What NAS do you have? Synology has Surveillance Station which is okay, I set it up it at a friends place for backup. However I would not want to use it as a regular recorder, not because it's not stable, but because it's not as user friendly. BI + cheap PC will be what most people on the forum would do.
 
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Since you will want the PC that is acting as your VMS to only do that anyhow, my advice is to buy a refurb with Windows 10 installed, and use that machine exclusively for Blue Iris.

You really don't want your VMS computer to be used for other tasks, anyhow. So you can use your Mac(s) as usual, and have that Windows PC dedicated to being your security camera virtual NVR.
 
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Sometimes you have to learn the hard way. I encourage you to buy the nas and mess with it. When that fails buy an NVR. When you get frustrated with that, then buy a 100 dollar pc and blue iris.
 
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Rick Simonton said:
For my application I think simpler is better.
Click to expand...

So there you go, my friend, you said it yourself. A dedicated $100-$150 refurbished PC with Win 10 and Blue Iris is the very definition of "simple" as compared to a NVR or to a NAS. Plus you've got a forum here with lots of sharp (and modest) members to help you with any BI questions you may have.
 
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Thank you all for the feedback as I've been down with the flu for a couple of days. I detect a definite trend in the responses . Buy a PC with windows and create a dedicated system. Hummmm I'll need to sleep on that as I've used exclusively macs since 1984. Never hardly touched a PC. The thought of learning a whole new operating system, integrating into my network, plus BI software frankly makes me a little nauseous...or is that the flu. In any any case, let me sleep on it.

Sincerely thank you for your suggestions,
Rick
 
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Rick Simonton said:
Thank you all for the feedback as I've been down with the flu for a couple of days. I detect a definite trend in the responses . Buy a PC with windows and create a dedicated system. Hummmm I'll need to sleep on that as I've used exclusively macs since 1984. Never hardly touched a PC. The thought of learning a whole new operating system, integrating into my network, plus BI software frankly makes me a little nauseous...or is that the flu. In any any case, let me sleep on it.

Sincerely thank you for your suggestions,
Rick
Click to expand...
It's the flu, it's really not hard to do. Do a little reading on the website, check the wiki etc and you'll see that it's not only well worth it, but easy!

Best of luck.
 
And, you can ask here, and get all of the help you might need to get it up and running.

I'm no fan of Windows 10. But my Win 10 Blue Iris PC requires so little attention, that I don't even turn its monitor on for months at a time.

I view cameras live and play back clips/alerts from other PCs, my PC at work, my phone, etc. I suppose I should update BI to the newest version, but I'm lazy.

I put some money into the PC, a good UPS for it, an Asus router so I could use Open VPN, a couple of POE switches, etc., and spent some time setting everything up. But now it's a very trouble-free setup.

And this is all due to the excellent help and information I've received on this site.
 
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