The Video Management System (VMS) is a flexible, extensible platform designed to adapt to your project requirements. You can combine existing Nx components, integrate third-party tools, or build custom software to create a complete VMS.

Follow this guide to plan and implement your custom solution.

Review built-in features

Before creating custom functionality, check the out-of-the-box VMS feature set to avoid duplicating work. Standard features include:

• Camera support: Automatic discovery for most IP cameras on the market. Check the Supported IP Devices list for compatibility.

• Storage management: Built-in video recording, automatic storage balancing, and regular backups.

• Search and playback: Advanced video playback, bookmarking, motion detection, and metadata search through the Desktop Client.

• Automation: Flexible Event Rules management to trigger automated actions.

• Remote connectivity: Secure remote connections using the Cloud without complex network configuration.

• High availability: Multi-server architecture featuring automatic failover and no single point of failure.

Verify system requirements

The VMS runs on standard hardware across multiple operating systems and environments:

• Operating systems: Windows, Linux, macOS, and ARM devices.

• Deployment options: 

  • Physical hardware for Desktop Client and Media Server and 

  • Virtual Environments for the Media Server.

Verify that your deployment hardware meets the specific operating system requirements for your project scale.

Select project components

The VMS includes a Media Server application, Desktop Client, Mobile Client, and Cloud services. Combine the components your solution requires:

• Headless integration: Run the Media Server in the background and use the Server API to integrate video streams into an external application.

• Custom mobile clients: Use the Desktop Client to configure Site settings while developing a custom mobile application to stream video for end users.

• Monitoring centers: Use the Desktop Client with custom layouts and the built-in web browser for centralized video walls.

• Full deployment: Deploy all standard components to provide a complete enterprise VMS out of the box.

Add custom features and integrations

Extend your system by connecting custom software or third-party plugins:

• Web UI extensions: Build custom UI panels inside Desktop Client using standard web technologies in the built-in web browser.

• Analytics plugins: Add third-party analytics plugins, such as facial recognition, to trigger automated access control events.

• External security systems: Connect external alarm systems to the Media Server to generate instant notifications and create video bookmarks during events.