The VMS1000 Digifort system delivers Cost-effective, Failover options using ‘Buddy’ Server Architecture
The Redvision VMS1000 video management and analytics solution, powered by Digifort software, offers market-leading, simple to deploy, efficient failover options. It must be noted that for any system to survive server and / or network failure the network itself must have redundant routes, to mitigate failure of the primary routes.
‘Failover’ is an important security function in server-based CCTV and enables multiple aspects of the system to be switched to a backup ‘failover’ server, should the live server, or the network path to it, fail for any reason. Since additional backup servers are required, failover adds cost to a CCTV system. This has limited its deployment to mission critical applications and those with higher budgets. However, VMS1000’s approach to failover, using ‘buddy’ instead of ‘management’ server architecture, makes failover much more cost-effective to deploy, broadening its scope.
In this ‘buddy’ server architecture, live and failover servers are in constant communications. The buddy server takes over the live server’s duties, immediately, once a problem occurs. VMS1000 uses this architecture for the following critical reasons:
- No need for dedicated server management software.
The ‘buddy’ server architecture does not require dedicated server management software, such as MS Cluster. Nor does it need the VMS management server licenses and architecture to operate, giving significant cost savings.
- No single point of failure.
The ‘buddy’ server architecture does not have single point of failure for the CCTV system, unlike ‘management’ server architecture, where – if a management server, or the network, fails, then the capability to failover is lost, along with live operation in many cases, too. VMS1000 works independently, to maintain video management integrity.
- Speed of failover.
Video recording is delayed for the duration of the failover process. So, the quicker the failover the better, as less data is lost. The ‘buddy’ server architecture used by VMS1000 is by far the fastest failover method - with a 50-camera system taking less than 15 seconds to complete. By comparison, a similar sized CCTV system using management servers, can take over a minute.
- Failover Density.
When using a “many-to-one” failover strategy it is possible to specify a server that is capable of hosting more then one live servers’ capability. For instance, in a system with multiple servers hosting 60 cameras, one failover server could take over from two failed live servers, and their system capabilities. Nor does failover have to be “all or nothing”. It is also possible to “pick and choose” critical cameras from multiple servers and instruct the failover server to only take these cameras over on failure of one or more liver servers.
VMS1000’s comprehensive ‘failover’ functionality is uniquely built into and configured from the VMS platform itself. This keeps configuration simple and avoids any direct programming of servers, where greater IT knowledge may be required. VMS1000 supports different failover options, including:
- Mirrored. This is where failover is from one live server to one failover server.
- Spread servers. Failover from many live servers to one failover server.
- Spread cameras. Failover of critical cameras from many live servers to one failover server.
VMS1000 does not limit the benefits of failover to live cameras and recording. It can include many other aspects of the CCTV system, such as:
- Network I/O units
- LPR configurations and operation
- Video analytics configurations and operation
- Maps
- Onboard Middleware
Even third-party systems, such as PSIM, can be included amongst VMS1000’s simple and fully effective failover options. Here, outgoing http messaging is used to notify the PSIM of the IP address of the failover server.
For more information about the VMS1000, please contact our Technical Sales team on Sales@redvisioncctv.com, or +44 (0) 1420 448448