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“Virtualization is a universal technology available for any company, but the way Innodep has actively collaborated with Microsoft has ensured that we are now able to offer a server integration rate of 20:1”

Sung Jin Lee, CEO, Innodep

Innodep launched the all-in-one server and storage equipment CCTV IP-Matrix and integrated control solution TSM 1.0. The CCTV IP-Matrix was designed to use Windows Server 2012 Hyper-V to integrate within a single device. Innodep raised the average server integration rate of 10:1 up to 20:1 by using a general x86 server and cooperating closely with Microsoft. For reference, for up to 500 channels of full HD camera and 1,000 channels for HD camera, image processing of CCTV IP-Matrix can now be done on a single system. TSM 1.0 is an integrated control environment that receives events collected from the cameras, sensors, and access control devices by the master server. Innodep expects that the new solution will solve the problems plaguing local governments nationwide related to securing adequate space to handle expansion of the CCTV integrated control center.

Business Needs

CCTV integrated control centers are now installed in 230 local governments nationwide. This boom in security awareness is part of the effort to ensure a safe urban environment. The media has helped to share a social census regarding the critical role that CCTVs can play in maintaining law and order: smart CCTVs can automatically perceive and identify problematic vehicles, find missing children or senior citizens suffering from Alzheimer's disease, and recognize strange sounds such as screams or a window breaking.

With the increasing expectations for what CCTV can do, local governments have implemented integrated control centers and, in so doing, have encountered a new concern: how to expand IT infrastructure sufficiently to maintain the new cameras coming online.

Indeed, the local governments that have already established CCTV integrated control centers revealed with one voice that there is a huge burden placed on extending IT infrastructure as they must increase the number of high-resolution cameras with at least 1.3 megapixels in order to secure clearer image data. The costs associated with these new cameras exacerbated issues surrounding how to secure additional IT equipment, including servers and storage. Local governments have thus run into several constraints at once: insufficient space, budget and labor. In other words, by operating the centers, they realized that there were significant issues involved, something that they hadn’t known in pre-implementation.

Innodep, a globally competitive leader in VMS (Video Management Solutions), saw the clear market need to address these issues for organizations that operate CCTV integrated control centers. Innodep’s solution is ‘virtualization’ technology. The company developed an all-in-one-system CCTV IP-Matrix embedded with its virtualization solution. This provides a new method for local governments to increase full HD cameras without having to worry about space, power and management. For Innodep, ‘virtualization’ was the only solution.

The first issue facing when planning to build CCTV integrated control centers is in regards to space. As these centers are generally established in the jurisdiction of the local government, it is not easy to secure the necessary space for various facilities and IT equipment, like servers and storage. Organizations that established CCTV integrated control centers after securing the space tend to encounter this space issue every year due to the increasing number of servers and storage required to handle additional CCTV cameras. There is not enough space for dozens and even hundreds of servers.

Even if they do manage to increase space, the increased number of devices that they are required to manage will naturally lead to maintenance issues. For local governments that already face difficulties in securing and allocating labor, extending CCTV integrated control centers and recruiting additional workforce are sure to emerge soon as critical issues. The CCTV IP-Matrix has been created to address precisely these concerns.

Solution

The CCTV IP-Matrix is an all-in-one-system that integrates server and storage functions into one. It can accommodate up to 500 channels of full HD camera and 1,000 channels of HD camera. In short, a single device can replace dozens of master servers and recording servers used for video security. Considering that local governments generally operate around 1,000 channels, a single CCTV IP-Matrix can now relieve their space concerns.

It was not difficult for Innodep to set the direction for the development of the CCTV IP-Matrix. Innodep has long focused on virtual technology after noticing that remote monitoring service based on the private cloud is fast securing its place as a megatrend in the video security market. The company undertook cloud services to capitalize on this. Experience allowed Innodep to have faith that virtualization technology would work in CCTV integrated control centers, as managed by local governments. It faced the difficult decision of which virtualization solution to use prior to product development.

Keeping in mind the development of an all-in-one-system for CCTV integrated control centers, Innodep conducted a range of tests while maintaining a collaborative relationship with the market leaders such as Microsoft and VMWare. Innodep came to realize that even though Microsoft and VMWare did not have much functional difference in what are effectively mature technologies, they were clearly different when it came to product development.

“We decided to create a product based on Windows Server 2012 Hyper-V due to Microsoft’s active support,” said Innodep CEO Sung Jin Lee. “Microsoft was far more advanced than VMWare in terms of partner program, as well as providing quick technical support and advice regarding product development.” He felt that it was more beneficial in many ways to select Hyper-V to optimize the virtualization solution for the product, rather than merely using virtualization in isolation.

Lee’s decision hit the mark. Thanks to Microsoft’s active support, Innodep was able to reduce the time required for product development and quickly solve various issues in the development process. “Microsoft’s technical support was extremely fast,” Lee said. “Whenever we had a question, we always got an answer almost immediately, which allowed us to conduct countless tests for the two months in which we developed the product.”

In line with the implementation of Windows Server 2012 for the CCTV IP-Matrix development, Innodep used System Center 2012 to develop TSM (Tybis System Manager) as well. TSM is a management tool that helps the user integrate and manage devices embedded with the VMS Tybis in the center at one go.

To briefly explain TSM, it is an integrated control environment that receives events collected from camera events, sensors, firewatchers and access control devices from the master server and notifies the manager of the events. As it is closely linked to the System Center, TSM allows the user to simultaneously and immediately determine various events, detect obstacles related to IT equipment and take prompt measures.

Benefits

Server Integration Effect Surprises Even the Clients

After developing the CCTV IP-Matrix and TSM, Innodep conducted a benchmark test (BMT) with Gwanak-gu Office that operates 1,000 CCTVs in July 2013, and with Namyangju City Hall that operates 1,200 CCTVs in January 2014. The tests received an enthusiastic response from both clients, who had been suffering from increased heat and electricity consumption due to the lack of image surface space and the presence of supplementary servers following the establishment of additional cameras.

The BMT proved that the officials at Gwanak-gu Office and Namyangju City Hall were able to integrate dozens of servers into a single system using the CCTV IP-Matrix. It also showed that they reduced electricity consumption by up to 70%. What captivated their eyes was the fact that neither of them had to open each console of the dozens of servers they had. Instead, they were able to process everything en bloc on the TSM for ease of management.

Innodep plans to carry forward its business for 2014 by aggressively targeting CCTV integrated control centers. The market outlook is positive. “The number of CCTV cameras being installed is increasing annually at a rapid pace,” said Lee. “More CCTV cameras naturally lead to more image processing servers. There are generally 100 to 200 servers operated in each metropolitan city. Judging from the recent increase in the number of CCTVs, everything can be an issue: server space, skilled labor, and adequate budget. With the CCTV IP-Matrix and TSM, Innodep is able to provide a one-stop solution that addresses the concerns of local governments in Korea.”

Securing Differentiated Competitiveness

Then how great is the server integration effect that made the clients who participated in the BMT gape in amazement? The server integration rate of the CCTV IP-Matrix is generally 20:1. Though it can integrate up to 30:1, Innodep recommends 20:1 to secure maximum stability and reliability. Then, how much is the integration effect if general video security solutions providers carry out virtualization with a general-purpose x86 server?

The specifications recommended by Innodep to operate full HD 500 channels are as follows: Intel Xeon 2.6GHz 8-core or higher for server, 256GB of RAM, and 16TB of storage with the possible combination of RAID 1+0, 5, 6. As a result of optimizing Windows Server 2012 Hyper-V to Innodep’s VMS operation conditions, Innodep discovered that it was able to assure a server integration rate of 20:1. If virtualization is carried out in the same specifications without optimization, it allows an integration of 10:1, given the stringent standards of video security.

“Unless we have something to differentiate ourselves from countless video security solutions providers, we’re likely to fall behind in the market,” said Lee. “Virtualization is a universal technology available for any company, but the way Innodep has actively collaborated with Microsoft has ensured that we are now able to offer a server integration rate of 20:1. This is the highest level in the industry and provides our company with differentiated competitiveness.”

Solving the Issue of Labor Shortage

By linking with System Center, TSM has become as important as the CCTV IP-Matrix in ensuring that Innodep differentiates itself from its competition. Innodep added an integrated management function to the TSM for a virtualization environment because the company is well aware of the challenges facing local governments in securing not only adequate space for the necessary equipment, but also hiring skilled labor to operate it. Centers grow when equipment grows, including cameras, servers and storage volumes. Innodep decided that there would not be many organizations that can actually increase labor on a pro rata basis.

According to the recommendation of the Ministry of Security and Public Administration, one person is required to manage 50 cameras. In other words, to control the average number of 1,000 cameras that each local government has, it must employ 20 workers to monitor the cameras nonstop for 24 hours, every day. More realistically, 40 workers are required if they were to work in double shifts, and 60 in a triple shift system. This inevitably begs the question of hiring IT administrator as well as addressing the concerns surrounding server and storage management? The issue of a labor shortage is unavoidable.

Innodep thinks that TSM will be a realistic solution to the labor issue. TSM can effectively solve it by using intelligent control to collect and analyze various events without human intervention, with notification provided to a single manager. By using System Center functionality, it can manage dozens of servers like a single server.

Innodep predicts that once all 230 local governments in Korea are equipped with CCTV integrated control centers in the next several years, the first task facing them will be a full-scale discussion on metropolitan integration. Innodep expects that the CCTV IP-Matrix and TSM will play a significant role in the market of metropolitan integration as well.