Question about ONVIF compatibility of DVR/NVR/HVR and IP cameras

I

icucam

n3wb
Sep 12, 2016
2
1
USA
Let say I found a NVR that I like and it list ONVIF 2.2.
While researching for cameras, many of them have different ONVIF version numbers like 2.0, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, and 2.4.

1) Would cameras with older (2.0-1) ONVIF versions work with NVR ONVIF 2.2? Is there a such thing as backwards compatibility?
2) Would cameras with newer (2.3-4) ONVIF versions work with NVR ONVIF 2.2?

I have not bought anything yet.
 
icucam said:
1) Would cameras with older (2.0-1) ONVIF versions work with NVR ONVIF 2.2? Is there a such thing as backwards compatibility?
2) Would cameras with newer (2.3-4) ONVIF versions work with NVR ONVIF 2.2?
Click to expand...

The version number is not as important as the profile. You have the client and the server. In this case the camera is the server and the NVR is the client. As a gross generalization as long as the client >= the server you are ok. So a 2.2 NVR would be fine with a 2.0 or 2.1 camera. In practice it's a little more complex than that, but unless you are looking for specific features of the protocol then you are probably ok.

It starts to get fussy when you get into analytic metadata, dynamic profile changes or on-the-fly stream parameter changes. Most of these fly way above any NVR you are likely to bump into.

ONVIF is pretty specific about basic backwards compatibility and tries to remain fairly compatible on a basic level within the current profile (most cameras seem to be Profile S these days).

I've encountered some weird ONVIF compatibility bugs with Hikvision products that even trip up the official ONVIF test tool, so while they claim compatibility in practice it's a little more nuanced. I've not tested any of the other cheap cameras.

Worst case you set your NVR up to pull an RTSP stream from the camera and it's all good.
 
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