HUGE RUMOR: Unifi Protect will support ONVIF cameras (like from HIK/Dahua)

[steve.mosher]

Hey everyone,

I’ve got a Ubiquiti Dream Machine SE (UDM SE) running about 10 Amcrest 4K cameras (not sure of the exact model, but they were around $100 each). Unfortunately, the system couldn’t keep up with the load.

The UDM SE has a single drive configuration, so I’d recommend getting something with a larger cache or a large SSD-style disk if you’re thinking about a similar setup. But in my experience, the UDM SE just couldn’t handle the workload of all those 4K streams.

At this time, we are not moving forward with the Ubiquiti solution and will continue to use Blue Iris for our camera system.

I’m just sharing my experience so far with these products. Has anyone else had similar issues or found a solution?

 

[Dudleydogg]

Funny Story, I put the cloud key on same vlan as all the hik cameras, it found them and adopted and Logged in, then I put cloud key back on original vlan and they all stayed connected.

 

[kd4e]

Does the Ubiquiti system require a constant Internet connection to work or can it be set up and operated locally without any Internet connection?

 

[Dudleydogg]

Does the Ubiquiti system require a constant Internet connection to work or can it be set up and operated locally without any Internet connection?

you can access a cloud key or docker container running your controller locally. it just wont ever update and you would need local user/pass

 

[aesterling]

Does Unifi Protect only use ONVIF cameras’ main stream? Any concept of/benefit from sub streams?

Since it’s not doing any analysis or event detection, then is Protect only decoding the stream when you’re viewing it live?

 

[CCTVThomas]

How?

Check out his video, he explains properly how to set up Vlans. I used this a guide for my CCTV vlan.

 

[HMC8403]

Check out his video, he explains properly how to set up Vlans. I used this a guide for my CCTV vlan.

Thanks, but I had then setup correctly.

I used @jpc-s4 advice and was able to add the cams by clicking the "?" and selecting Advance Options.

 

[Duh987]

so is it kind of a transition to get you to replace with unifi not a usable position? when I try to add Hikvision camera I get "invalid login" any tricks you may have done differently?

You have to create a new onvif user or at least I did with a few of my amcrest cameras. The move is to get you into unifi but I think their main goal is to allow the enterprise to more easily move into unifi. I think they will be adding onvif alerting in future updates.

 

[Duh987]

Hey everyone,

I’ve got a Ubiquiti Dream Machine SE (UDM SE) running about 10 Amcrest 4K cameras (not sure of the exact model, but they were around $100 each). Unfortunately, the system couldn’t keep up with the load.

The UDM SE has a single drive configuration, so I’d recommend getting something with a larger cache or a large SSD-style disk if you’re thinking about a similar setup. But in my experience, the UDM SE just couldn’t handle the workload of all those 4K streams.

At this time, we are not moving forward with the Ubiquiti solution and will continue to use Blue Iris for our camera system.

I’m just sharing my experience so far with these products. Has anyone else had similar issues or found a solution?

UDMs are do it all machines, they have specific devices if you need more power.

 

[HMC8403]

I have 11 Dahua cams, most 5442 models, and have been able to add them all to my UDM-Pro. I do get a message saying that I am approaching the limit. As I am only able to only record continuous video but no events, I’m holding off getting a Unifi NVR until more Protect features are added.

At this time I’m enjoying being able to live view my cams while offsite without having to jump on my VPN.

 

[BORIStheBLADE]

Ok so I know it’s early but I haven’t been up on Unifi since I had there AP’s years ago. For AI you will need cameras that have it built in right? Their hardware doesn’t have any AI?

 

[jpc-s4]

Ok so I know it’s early but I haven’t been up on Unifi since I had there AP’s years ago. For AI you will need cameras that have it built in right? Their hardware doesn’t have any AI?

Yes, no apparent smarts built into Unifi Protect. And at this point, no ONVIF trigger support. It's essentially like a backup to my BI, and as HMC8403 said, a way to check the cams without signing into VPN.

 

[steve1225]

Ubiquiti has a series of videos showcasing their products, based on the format of the old Apple 'i'm mac, i'm pc' commercials. In the latest video they showed the Enterprise NVR and the ability to connect multiple NVRs into one common web interface.

The interesting thing about the video is that in the IT rack used in the video you can find 2 new Unifi products that have not been released yet. One of them looks like this:


it looks like 3 computer modules inside 1U rack chassis. There are many ideas over Reddit, what it is.. Most popular one: those are AI modules to add AI processing to non AI / ONVIF cams integrated with Unifi Protect.

if this is true, it means that Ubiquiti decided to not try to integrate Motion Detection or any cams AI over ONVIF. They will simply add Unifi motion detection to ONVIF cams using another own product (which will be form of tax on non Unifi cams)..

 

[looktall]

Like their cloud key's or something but for AI?
Not sure why they would need the display panels like they've got in the render.
Just because they can i guess.

 

[steve1225]

Like their cloud key's or something but for AI?
Not sure why they would need the display panels like they've got in the render.
Just because they can i guess.

they add those displays to all rackable products..
probably the AI modules can work inside 1u chassis or can work standalone on desktop for smaller setups..
each have own IP and display to configure/monitor the AI module.

this is not a render - rack with equipment used in video was real.
Ubiquiti have long history of teasing a new products this way..

big questions: what is price? and what is performance (how many cameras are supported by one AI module)? what Ai functionality will be offered (only SMD/IVS or something more)?

 

[looktall]

this is not a render - rack with equipment used in video was real.

I didn't watch the video. Your screenshot looks like a render.

what is price?

How much have you got?

 

[SFC]

Ubiquiti has a series of videos showcasing their products, based on the format of the old Apple 'i'm mac, i'm pc' commercials. In the latest video they showed the Enterprise NVR and the ability to connect multiple NVRs into one common web interface.

The interesting thing about the video is that in the IT rack used in the video you can find 2 new Unifi products that have not been released yet. One of them looks like this:

View attachment 204067
it looks like 3 computer modules inside 1U rack chassis. There are many ideas over Reddit, what it is.. Most popular one: those are AI modules to add AI processing to non AI / ONVIF cams integrated with Unifi Protect.

if this is true, it means that Ubiquiti decided to not try to integrate Motion Detection or any cams AI over ONVIF. They will simply add Unifi motion detection to ONVIF cams using another own product (which will be form of tax on non Unifi cams)..

When they zoom in, it is absolutely a rendering. When they show the guys in the shot, it's clearly the hardware itself. The modules say AI Key on the front, so I'm sure it is some sort of AI offload, hopefully for the NVR but reality is they could be for anything.

 

[The Automation Guy]

I've personally written off Ubiquity/Unify equipment. I had Unify APs and had problems with their software releases being buggy. I eventually stopped updating them because everytime I did, something broke. Then I bought a Cloudkey+ to manage them (I was initially using the software solution), but that product was designed wrong and they all have battery swelling issues. It's literally dangerous to use now and the unit is impossible to open up to remove the bad battery without breaking stuff. Overall I would say the reliability of the APs has been mediocre at best.

I've actually bought the hardware to replace them all, but I just haven't gotten around to it. There is no way in hell I would recommend Unify to anyone. It looks great with their integrated GUI, but that "candy" masks some very flawed hardware and software designs.

 

[BlueWave]

I've personally written off Ubiquity/Unify equipment. I had Unify APs and had problems with their software releases being buggy. I eventually stopped updating them because everytime I did, something broke. Then I bought a Cloudkey+ to manage them (I was initially using the software solution), but that product was designed wrong and they all have battery swelling issues. It's literally dangerous to use now and the unit is impossible to open up to remove the bad battery without breaking stuff. Overall I would say the reliability of the APs has been mediocre at best.

I've actually bought the hardware to replace them all, but I just haven't gotten around to it. There is no way in hell I would recommend Unify to anyone. It looks great with their integrated GUI, but that "candy" masks some very flawed hardware and software designs.

Your experience is abnormal, likely due to a configuration error on your side. Ubiquity has probably 10+ million active customers (Okay I made that up) who have been using them daily in both a residential to enterprise setup for years without any major issues. I have most of their products and have not had to contact support once in the past 8 years and upgrades are virtually always flawless. I think at most I've had to reboot the UDM Pro a few times over the years and that resolved any issues 100% of the time. Either your configuration is wrong or you somehow got bad hardware which would be easily resolved by swapping out under warranty.

 

[cbunting]

I've personally written off Ubiquity/Unify equipment. I had Unify APs and had problems with their software releases being buggy. I eventually stopped updating them because everytime I did, something broke. Then I bought a Cloudkey+ to manage them (I was initially using the software solution), but that product was designed wrong and they all have battery swelling issues. It's literally dangerous to use now and the unit is impossible to open up to remove the bad battery without breaking stuff. Overall I would say the reliability of the APs has been mediocre at best.

I've actually bought the hardware to replace them all, but I just haven't gotten around to it. There is no way in hell I would recommend Unify to anyone. It looks great with their integrated GUI, but that "candy" masks some very flawed hardware and software designs.

I don't think your experience is normal, nor is "they all have battery swelling issues" I have never had a battery go bad in a cloud key + or any product from them. We have over 50 sites running flawlessly, many for years... software/firmware updates are usually very stable.