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Add & Configure an ONVIF Camera

An ONVIF camera is an IP camera supporting the Open Network Video Interface Forum standard. It lets Banalytics VMS connect to compatible cameras across brands using one configuration model for streaming, credentials, transport, and device metadata.

What ONVIF gives you

ONVIF promotes interoperability between cameras, video management systems, and other network equipment regardless of manufacturer. Adding an ONVIF camera component in Banalytics VMS gives you a reusable device record that can be used by capture, recording, motion detection, and remote monitoring tasks.

New to ONVIF? Read ONVIF Cameras Explained for a plain-language overview of what ONVIF is, how it compares to other camera types, and when to use it.
ONVIF Camera configuration screen in Banalytics VMS

Prerequisites

Before adding an ONVIF camera in Banalytics VMS, confirm that the camera is reachable and that you have the credentials needed to connect.

01

Camera is powered and connected

The camera must be connected to power and to your network by wired Ethernet or Wi-Fi.

02

Camera is on the same local network

The device running Banalytics VMS and the camera should be on the same local network. The camera needs an assigned IP address and must be reachable from the server.

03

Verify connectivity with a network scan

Use Scan Your Network for IP & ONVIF Cameras to scan your local network, confirm the camera IP address, and verify that the device is reachable.

04

Have camera credentials ready

You need the camera username and password. Check the camera documentation, device label, packaging, or reset to factory defaults if credentials are unknown.

Adding an ONVIF camera component

Once the camera is reachable on the network, add it to Banalytics VMS as a component.

01

Open the Banalytics VMS interface

Navigate to your Banalytics server in the browser interface.

02

Find the ONVIF Camera sub-menu

In the left panel under your Banalytics server, locate ONVIF Camera under Components.

03

Create the component

Click the + button next to ONVIF Camera. The configuration panel opens for the new component instance.

04

Fill in the parameters

Enter the camera IP address, port, credentials, and transport protocol. The full parameter reference is below.

Choosing the right transport protocol

The transport protocol controls how video data moves between the camera and Banalytics VMS. Start with RTSP, then adjust only when your camera or network requires it.

TCP
Reliable

Guaranteed delivery. Useful on unstable networks, though it can add latency.

Quality
Latency
UDP
Low latency

Connectionless delivery with very low latency. Best on reliable local networks.

Quality
Latency
HTTP
Fallback

Use when RTSP, TCP, or UDP are blocked or unsupported. Expect higher latency.

Quality
Latency
Which protocol should I use? Start with RTSP. If streams are unstable on a high-latency network, try TCP. Use UDP only on a reliable LAN where packet loss is negligible. Use HTTP only as a fallback.

Configuration parameters

These are the parameters available when adding or editing an ONVIF Camera component.

Parameter Required Description Default
ID
Yes Unique identifier generated automatically for this component instance. Read-only. Auto-generated
Restart on failure
Yes Restart behavior after an error:
  • Stop on failure - not restarted until triggered manually
  • Immediately - restarts right after an error
  • 10 sec - restarts after a 10-second delay
  • 30 sec - restarts after a 30-second delay
  • 1 min - restarts after a 1-minute delay
10 sec
MAC address
Optional Unique identifier for the camera network interface. Find it in the camera web interface, through Scan Your Network for IP & ONVIF Cameras, or on the camera label or packaging. -
Title
Yes Human-readable camera name used throughout Banalytics VMS, such as Garage Camera or Front Entrance. -
Host and port
Yes Camera IP address and port number used by Banalytics VMS.
  • Default ONVIF HTTP port: 80
  • Default ONVIF HTTPS port: 443
  • Camera settings can use custom ports
-
Username and Password
Yes Credentials for the camera web interface.
  • Check the camera documentation
  • Look for a sticker on the camera or packaging
  • Reset to factory defaults if necessary
-
Transport protocol
Yes Controls how video data is transmitted between the camera and Banalytics VMS.
  • RTSP - recommended for most deployments
  • TCP - reliable delivery, higher latency
  • UDP - low latency on reliable LANs
  • HTTP - fallback for restricted environments
RTSP
Override RTSP port
Optional Specify a different RTSP port than the one set in the camera web interface. Useful for port conflicts or custom network rules. The default RTSP port is 554. No (554)

After adding the camera

Once the component is configured and running, set up a task that uses the camera for capture, recording, detection, or monitoring.