Servers running VMS generation 6.x or later on a x64 processor can be connected to a maximum of 256 cameras, while servers running a 5.x version of the VMS software on a x64 processor can be connected to a maximum of 128 cameras. ARM processors are limited to 12 cameras per server.

Internal performance testing indicates these limits allow for maximum server scalability without compromising the operating system's performance or the quality of video streams.

These limits are not enforced within the VMS configuration controls the computational capacity of each server can vary based on the hardware configuration, operating system, and background tasks running.

It is highly recommended that each server always has some available capacity to support failover events and moments when the server may have maintenance or intermittent tasks running.

Additional information

A server will create up to 4 threads for each media stream, as summarized below. Thus, 256 cameras can generate 1,024 threads on a CPU (central processing unit).

• Thread 1: Reads high quality RTSP stream from camera
• Thread 2: Reads low quality RTSP stream from camera
• Thread 3: Processes high quality RTSP stream and convert it to a MKV file
• Thread 4: Processes low quality RTSP stream and convert it to a MKV file