Video Servers Or Video Encoders - Overview

By: Robert Thomson Click author's name for more of his/her articles

A video server or a video encoder digitalizes analog signals and distributes digital images directly over an IP-based network, changing analog cameras into digital network cameras. A video server/encoder has analog video channels, image digitizer, image compressor and web server with network interface. This is ideal for migrating existing analog video system into a digital network video solution. By converting a CCTV analog system to a network video system, all the functional benefits of digital technology such as 'remote access', 'cost-effectiveness', 'flexibility', 'scalability' can be achieved. So, if you have an existing analog system and would like to move on to IP and also plan to add network cameras video servers is the way to go.

Basic Features and Benefits of Video Servers/ video encoders:

* Analog CCTV video converted into high quality digital video.
* Digital quality images reduce the Motion blur caused by analog interlaced images.
* Simultaneous MPEG-4 and motion JPEG.
* Direct connection to IP networks.
* Independent system with embedded web server eliminates the neccessity of additional hardware or software to capture and transfer images.
* Remote access to live images via the existing network from any computer.
* Cutting cost by using existing analog CCTV system.
* Digital video storage of images/footage which is convenient for searching.
* Easy addition of network cameras (IP based) into the existing system.

To make this system work the installers would have to be familiar with IP Networking and for analog CCTV installers the basic step towards this would be to enroll into an IP Networking course, eg: Cisco CCNA course.