This article assists users you to navigate through articles regarding the installation of the Nx Witness VMS. If you want to re-install a prior system that failed can refer to Backup and Recovery.

I. Before Installation 

Architecture overview

The VMS has a unique Client-Server hive architecture:

• The Nx Witness Mediaserver retrieves and records videos from cameras, stores and manages video archives, tracks and reacts to certain events, and manages system users and data. 
• The Nx Witness clients have an intuitive GUI that’s used to view live or recorded videos and configure servers and cameras: Nx Desktop, Nx Mobile, Nx WebAdmin, and Nx Cloud Admin.

Performance & Environment Guidance

There are several bottlenecks to consider before selecting the appropriate hardware for your expected workload:

1. Storage size – to deliver video archive depth.
2. Network interface bandwidth – to collect video streams from cameras and provide them to clients.
3. Hardware performance – for transcoding video for certain client types.

Read the Server Hardware Specs, Desktop Client Hardware Specs, and the compatible Supported Operating System articles for additional guidance.

Please read the Large Systems Deployment article if you plan on deploying a system with more than 10 servers.

II. Installation

The following articles provide the Nx Witness installation steps:

• Windows (x86)
• Ubuntu (x86)
• macOS
• ARM (SBC)

Initial system setup

When Nx Witness is installed, some initial configuration is required. A newly installed server will be displayed as New Server on the Welcome Screen. Click on the New Server tile to launch the setup wizard. It will provide two options: Setup New System or Add to Existing System.

Depending on your requirements, additional settings might have to be configured in these areas:

• Server storage
• Licenses
• Device settings
• Recording settings
• User roles and permissions
• Layouts

III. Maintenance

Update 

Online updates can be performed over the internet using the latest build available, a specific build number, or locally from a downloaded file. At least one System component must have an internet connection, whether it is the Nx Desktop Client or the Nx Mediaserver. 

Offline updates can be performed on systems without an active internet connection as long as you have access to a computer with an active internet connection. 

Read Updating Nx Witness for instructions on how to perform online and offline updates.

Backup and recovery

System and server data is backed up automatically and can be easily restored. Video archives are not backed up automatically and must be configured according to each user's preferences.

Read How to preserve data from any Powered-by-Nx product for advanced backup and recovery instructions.

ARM platforms

ARM platforms are intended to host Nx Witness systems with a lower performance requirement than those built on x86 platforms. 

Read ARM Support Policy for more information regarding supported Single-Board Computers (e.g. Raspberry Pi, Nvidia Jetson, etc.) and supported operating systems (e.g. Raspberry Pi OS, Raspbian Jessie, Raspbian Stretch Desktop, etc.).