Docker is a platform-as-a-service product that uses OS-level virtualization to deliver software in packages called containers.

A container packages code and all its dependencies so the application runs reliably across different computing environments. A Docker container image is an executable package that includes everything needed to run an application, such as code, runtime, system tools, libraries, and settings. Container images become containers at runtime on the Docker Engine.

Containerized software runs uniformly on both Linux and Windows infrastructure. Containers isolate software from its environment, which ensures consistent performance across development and staging environments.

Benefits of running the Media Server in Docker

Docker is widely used in enterprise environments to make IT infrastructure flexible, robust, and manageable.

You can use Docker to run multiple software services in isolated containers on the same hardware. Configured, updated, and managed through a unified approach, deploying the Media Server in a Docker environment helps you manage your VMS consistently with other IT components and can lower ongoing support costs.

Running the Media Server in Docker provides several additional capabilities:

• Troubleshoot and test efficiently by running multiple servers or different server versions concurrently on the same machine.

• Scale automatically by creating scripts to speed up server setup and deployment in large systems.

• Run the Media Server in a lightweight macOS environment without a full virtual machine.

• Test integrations with Servers by creating a multi-server Site on a single workstation.

• Isolate specific servers to debug camera issues without affecting production systems.

Media Server Docker support and compatibility

You can install the Media Server package for Ubuntu directly from a current-version Dockerfile. Currently, only Ubuntu containers are supported.

Observe the following constraints:

• Deployments involving Docker might receive limited support due to the inherent complexities of containerized software.

• Support assumes you have prerequisite knowledge and skills in Docker. 

• Network Optix welcomes feedback to address possible optimizations in future releases to make the experiance as smooth as possible. 

Key considerations

Host OS support includes:

• Ubuntu Linux hosts are tested and supported.

• macOS hosts work, but have known networking limitations.

• Windows hosts are untested.

Docker repository

To access the source files, visit the Docker repo on Nx Open GitHub.

Try Nx Witness in Docker

The Docker image in the repository is built for developing Nx Meta VMS, not for running the Nx Witness VMS directly. If you want to try running Nx Witness in Docker anyway, you can edit the Dockerfile and set two build arguments:

1. MEDIASERVER_DEB: Set this to the download link for the Nx Witness installer package, which you can find on the Nx Witness downloads page.

2. COMPANY: Set this argument to networkoptix.

# VMS Server debian package file or URL.
ARG MEDIASERVER_DEB={Nx_install_deb_url}
# VMS Server user and directory name.
ARG COMPANY="networkoptix"