Camera Direct FAQ

Eagle Eye Camera Direct is a simple solution that provides system flexibility and is ideal for businesses with multiple locations requiring only a few cameras at each location. Deploy Camera Direct cameras as a stand alone cloud surveillance solution without the need for an Eagle Eye Bridge/CMVR, or mix them with an existing Eagle Eye camera system that’s already Bridge/CMVR connected and on the Cloud VMS.

Is Camera Direct a new Cloud-based VMS?

No, Camera Direct is a direct-to-cloud solution that utilizes the Eagle Eye Cloud VMS and eliminates the need for a Bridge/CMVR. This means that there is essentially no training or education required, and your certified technicians are already ready for their first Camera Direct installation.

How are Camera Direct cameras added to the Eagle Eye Cloud VMS?

Connect your Camera Direct cameras to the internet and add them to the Eagle Eye Cloud VMS using their MAC addresses, or use the Eagle Eye Viewer mobile app for a simple setup by scanning the on-camera QR codes. Once added, your cameras will quickly be ready for viewing within the Cloud VMS. Read this Setup Guide for more information. 

Can customers that require more than 6 cameras use Camera Direct?

Possibly, but not without a thorough review, discussion, and approval from your Sales Engineer. Eliminating the Bridge/CMVR means that bandwidth management is imperative with this solution. If you feel that you have adequate bandwidth and would like to discuss camera counts above six, contact your Sales Engineering representative.

Is Camera Direct interoperable with Bridge/CMVR supported cameras?

Yes, Camera Direct cameras can be mixed with Eagle Eye Bridge/CMVR supported cameras to expand security system coverage either in a new or existing location. In cases where the security system grows and a Bridge/CMVR is needed in the future, Camera Direct cameras can be connected to any Eagle Eye Bridge/CMVR.

Can Camera Direct cameras be added to an existing sub-account on the Eagle Eye Cloud VMS? 

Yes, Camera Direct cameras can be added to an existing account within the Eagle Eye Cloud VMS. All of the cameras show up in the dashboard in the “direct-to-cloud” section and can be added to existing Layouts if required.

Which cameras are compatible with Camera Direct?

Eagle Eye Camera Direct supports Eagle Eye camera models that are 4MP or less. For more information, refer to the Camera Direct Feature Sheet. 

If a non-Camera Direct camera is added to the VMS, what will happen?

The camera will not work and will simply show as offline. Please note that you will not receive an error message when you add the camera, so do not add unsupported cameras. 

Are there any Cloud VMS limitations with Camera Direct?

Yes. LPR/VSP, 2-Way Audio, Analytics (line crossing, people counting, etc.), and camera tunneling are not supported at present. However, motion detection and AI-driven functionality like Smart Video Search and Smart Layouts, along with the Brivo integration, will still function as expected. 

Is Camera Direct video encrypted similar to a Bridge/CMVR, including the SD card?

With the exception of video that is stored on the SD card, video data is always secure and encrypted. This includes during transmission, storage, and playback.

Can I remotely connect and VPN tunnel into Camera Direct cameras? 

To access Camera Direct cameras, you need to be on the same local network as the camera and connect using the camera’s Cloud VMS Web Interface. To do this, you'll need the IP address and the credentials of the camera, which are available in the camera settings tab.

Do PTZ functions operate as expected with Camera Direct?

Yes, PTZ functions for a Camera Direct camera can be accessed from the live view of the camera. The controls are the same as those used for a Bridge/CMVR connected camera. 

How much bandwidth does a Camera Direct camera use? 

Camera Direct cameras always stream full-resolution video to the cloud and require sufficient bandwidth. The amount of bandwidth needed depends on the resolution and bitrate that’s been set within the camera settings. For example, for 1080p, see the values listed below (these values are different for each resolution).

This is the maximum upload bandwidth the camera would need and is the recommended upload bandwidth for each camera. So if you want to install three 1080p cameras at 1536 kbps, you would need an upload bandwidth of 1536x3 = 4608 kbps (4.5 Mbps). Contact your Sales Engineer to discuss further if assistance is required.

Do I need to open ports or set firewall rules for Camera Direct?

Camera Direct uses the following TCP ports.  All connections are outbound-only, meaning that connections are outbound and never accept inbound connections (so you do NOT need to set up e.g. NAT rules as a general rule). 

• TCP 80:     Used to discover video termination endpoints in the cloud

• TCP 443:   Used to discover video termination endpoints in the cloud

• TCP 8181: Used to transfer video to the cloud

Eagle Eye Camera Direct Subnets

1. Dispatch1v1.cameramanager.com 

2. dispatch1v1.eagleeyenetworks.com

3. dispatch2v1.cameramanager.com

4. dispatch2v1.eagleeyenetworks.com

5. 192.40.4.124

6. 192.40.5.26

Apart from this, the IP addresses which are used as outbound IPs for the Eagle Eye Bridge also need to be whitelisted. Additional details can be found here.

Does Camera Direct work with Brivo Access integration?

Yes, the Brivo Access integration is a cloud-to-cloud integration, and as Camera Direct connects to Eagle Eye Cloud VMS, the integration will also work for Brivo Access. 

How do I resolve camera offline status issues?  

Check if the camera is accessible locally and has a stable internet connection. If it does, please contact our technical support team at support@een.com. 

With sufficient local storage, can Camera Direct function as a CMVR?

Camera Direct functions more similarly to a bridge. Video is always synced to the cloud and is not intended for local storage, regardless of data capacity.

Are other camera manufacturers compatible with Eagle Eye Camera Direct?

Yes, Axis cameras are supported by Camera Direct and can be directly connected to the Cloud VMS without a bridge or CMVR. For more information about supported features and cameras, read App Note 078.

Is Camera Direct available via Eagle Eye Complete (an Operational Expenditure model)?

Yes, Camera Direct cameras can be purchased as an Eagle Eye Complete offering if desired. Eagle Eye Complete is a purchasing plan that allows you to reduce upfront costs and pay for the hardware as part of the subscription. View the Eagle Eye Complete web page for more details.

Is video recorded during an internet outage accessible? 

Yes. The camera always records on the SD Card, and when the camera comes back online, then all the data from the offline period is synced to the cloud. 

Is a firmware update needed for Edge Storage Cloud Sync to work?

No, all existing firmware works with Edge Storage Cloud Sync. 

How do I enable the Edge Storage Cloud Sync feature for a camera?

Insert the SD card in the camera. If it is an Eagle Eye Camera, the SD card will be formatted automatically from the cloud. Once configured, the camera will start recording to the SD card automatically. After you complete the steps above, Cloud Storage Edge Sync will automatically be enabled for the camera.

Are SD cards included with Camera Direct cameras?

No. Eagle Eye recommends you procure the SD cards sold by Eagle Eye, which have been stress-tested and approved for use with Camera Direct cameras.

Are there any limitations on the storage size of SD cards supported?

There are not any limitations on storage size but the cameras supported at launch have a current storage limit of 256 GB.

Will Eagle Eye Cabinet Systems require updates to support Edge Storage Cloud Sync?

No. Eagle Eye Camera Direct Cabinet Systems include pre-installed and pre-formatted SD cards. No software update is needed to take advantage of Edge Storage Cloud Sync.

How can I share feedback and suggestions about Camera Direct?

Please send all product-related feedback and recommendations to the Product Management team at pm_team@een.com. 

For support please email: support@een.com 

or give us a call at: 512-473-0501

Eagle Eye Knowledge Base

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