Before SSMS goes live, or before you add a site, you need to know that your cameras will work with it. This guide gives you a simple five-step check. The full list of supported brands and protocols is in a separate article. Here you learn how to check your own cameras against it.
Before you start
- Get access to each NVR's device list, or ask your installer for it.
- Find purchase invoices or the original equipment list, if you have them.
- Keep the supported brands and protocols article open for reference.
Step 1 — Build an inventory
An inventory is a list of every camera and NVR you own. An NVR (network video recorder) is the box many cameras record to. Find each brand and model in one of these places:
- the label on the camera body;
- the box or the installation paperwork;
- the NVR's device list, which shows the cameras connected to it;
- the purchase invoice.
Write everything in a simple table like this one.
| Site | Location | Device | Brand | Model | Connected to | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HQ | Main gate | Camera | Hikvision | From label | HQ NVR | Named brand |
| HQ | Server room | NVR | Hikvision | From label | Network | Named brand |
| BR2 | Store | Camera | Other brand | From label | Direct | Check step 3 |
If you already keep a camera register, start from it.
Step 2 — Compare with the named brands
SSMS has native support for these nine brands:
- Hikvision
- Dahua
- Axis
- Uniview
- Bosch
- Hanwha (Wisenet)
- Vivotek
- Reolink
- TP-Link VIGI
Native support means SSMS works with that brand directly. SSMS also works with other cameras through ONVIF or an RTSP stream. Mark each row in your inventory as a named brand or as another brand.
Step 3 — Check the other brands
- Check ONVIF. ONVIF is an open standard that lets cameras and software from different makers work together. Search for your model in the ONVIF conformant products list. Note which profiles it lists: S, G or T.
- Check for an RTSP stream. RTSP is a stream address that starts with rtsp://. The camera's manual usually says whether it has one.
- For very old cameras, check for HTTP/MJPEG. This is a simple stream of still pictures sent one after another.
What the ONVIF profiles mean, in short:
| Profile | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Profile S | Basic video streaming and settings |
| Profile G | Recordings stored on the device itself |
| Profile T | Advanced streaming, including H.264 and H.265 compression |
Write the result in your inventory: ONVIF with its profiles, RTSP, MJPEG, or not known.
Step 4 — List your NVRs too
SSMS can be pointed at an NVR, and it discovers the cameras behind it. So the NVR's brand and model matter, not only the cameras. Add every NVR to your inventory. Note how many cameras each one has.
Step 5 — Send the list to Skyline
Send your inventory to Skyline through the contact page or info@alskyline.com. Do not include any passwords. During the site survey, Skyline confirms each model, including the rows you could not check. If a model is not supported, Skyline advises you on the options.
Common questions
- My camera brand is not on the list. It may still work through ONVIF or RTSP. Do step 3.
- I cannot find the model. Check the label, the NVR's device list, or ask your installer. If it is still unknown, mark it and Skyline checks it in the survey.
- Do I need to replace my cameras or NVRs? Not if they are on the supported list. Skyline confirms each one during the survey.
Where to go next
- Adding a new camera to SSMS
- Choosing new cameras for an SSMS site
- Moving from separate NVR screens to one SSMS console
Quick checklist
- Every camera and NVR is in the inventory with brand and model.
- Each row is marked as a named brand or another brand.
- Other brands are checked for ONVIF, RTSP or MJPEG.
- NVRs are listed with their camera counts.
- The inventory went to Skyline, with no passwords in it.
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