Add 3rd party camera to Bosch Alarm Management

Central_Support · ‎10-23-2023

Alarm Management Configuration: Add a 3rd party camera

Bosch Alarm Management supports to connect 3rd party cameras from version 2.11.0 and later.

Depending on the 3rd party cameras’ capabilities, there are different ways of adding such cameras to Bosch Alarm Management.

Overview:

1. Add 3rd party cameras with VX Cloud Agent app

1.1 Axis platforms ARTPEC-5, ARTPEC-6 & -7

1.2 Vivotek Schubert platform

1.3 Connectivity

2. Add 3rd party ONVIF cameras

2.1 Port forwarding

2.2 Add 3rd party ONVIF camera

2.3 Alarm Management ONVIF compatibility

3. Video Control

Step-by-step guide

1. Add 3rd party camera with VX Cloud Agent app

1.1 Axis platforms ARTPEC-5, ARTPEC-6 & -7

For these Axis cameras, the VX Cloud Agent app needs to be installed in the camera to establish the connection to Bosch Alarm Management. The Access Token authenticates the connection from the camera to Alarm Management.

Please perform the following steps:

1. In the local network, find the related camera with AXIS IP Utility.

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2. Open the camera's website
3. Select Settings

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4. Select Apps (1)
5. Select "AXIS Video Motion Detection" app (2), start the app (3) and configure motion detection (4)

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6. Add and install the "VX Cloud Agent" app.
Note: currently there are different app versions available depending on camera platform and connection w/o and w/ proxy.

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7. Open Alarm Management Configuration, add a 3rd Party camera, select VX Cloud Agent App

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8. Then copy the Access Token.

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Note: Proxy connection is only recommended for corporate managed networks in critical industry with restrictive outgoing firewall rules and without need for load-balancing video connections. Proxy connection is not recommended for large-scale installations.

9. In Axis camera Settings > Apps > VX Cloud Agent app

a. Select Allow reverse port forwarding (1) and Apply default settings (1)

b. Unselect checkbox Ignore cloud settings (2)

c. Add user name (3), password (3) and Access Token (3) and click Save (4).

10. Then Start the VX Cloud Agent app (5).

11. In Alarm Management Configuration, configure Recording Mode and Cloud Storage.

Now your AXIS camera is set and you should be able to see video from the camera in the Alarm Management Live View.

1.2 Vivotec Schubert platform

For Vivotek Schubert cameras, the VX Cloud Agent app needs to be installed in the camera to establish the connection to Bosch Alarm Management. The Access Token authenticates the connection from the camera to Bosch Alarm Management.

Please perform the following steps:

1. When you have connected a new camera to your router, you need to open its web interface - just type in the local IP address of your new camera in a web browser - you can find this local IP address (usually in format 192.168.x.x) in your router among other connected devices.

2. When you have opened the camera’s web interface, you need to activate it first by setting up a password:

3. Login to the camera using the password and navigate to Configuration > Applications > Package management and upload the application package:

4. Wait until installation ends and refresh the page. You will see “VXG Cloud Agent“ appeared in the Package list. Click on it to open the app settings page:

5. Open Alarm Management Configuration, add a 3rd Party camera, select VX Cloud Agent App

6. Then copy the Access Token.

Note: Proxy connection is only recommended for corporate managed networks in critical industry with restrictive outgoing firewall rules and without need for load-balancing video connections. Proxy connection is not recommended for large-scale installations.

7. Then go back to the camera’s app settings page and enter the following information:

Access token - the one you have copied on the Dashboard
Camera login & password - your camera credentials

8. Save changes.
9. In Alarm Management Configuration, configure Recording Mode and Cloud Storage.

Now your Vivotek camera is set and you should be able to see video from the camera in the Alarm Management Live View.

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Was tested with the following camera models: M1045-LW, M1054, M3045-V, M3065-V, P3227-LV.

1.3 Connectivity

Outgoing connections usually are not blocked by a router, however in a corporate network with proxy server, firewall, etc. involved, the IT dept might open the needed ports.
The following domains and ports are used for connectivity:

Notes:

Proxy connection is only recommended for corporate managed networks in critical industry with restrictive outgoing firewall rules and without need for load-balancing video connections.

Proxy connection is not recommended for large scale installations.

2. Add 3rd party ONVIF camera

2.1 Port forwarding

To add a 3rd party ONVIF camera to Bosch Alarm Management, port forwarding needs to be configured for each camera in the Internet router.

The following ports need to be forwarded:

HTTPS port (default 443) for communication
- optional HTTP port (default 80), if the camera does not support https
RTSP port (default 554) for video streaming

Note: To change the used ports from default, if requested by the customer, please refer to the camera’s manual.

Example:

Public IP = 62.225.116.122
Public domain: mydomain.com
External HTTPS port to be used = 15000
External RTSP port to be used = 15001
Camera’s LAN address = 192.168.2.43
Camera’s HTTPS port = 443 (default)
Camera’s RTSP port = 554 (default)

Port forwarding with public IP address:

HTTPS: In the router, forward public 62.225.116.122:15000 -> to internal 192.168.2.43:443

RTSP: In the router, forward public 62.225.116.122:15001 -> to internal 192.168.2.43:554

Port forwarding with public domain:

HTTPS: In the router, forward public mydomain.com:15000 -> to internal 192.168.2.43:443

RTSP: In the router, forward public mydomain.com:15001 -> to internal 192.168.2.43:554

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To configure port forwarding is individual per router manufacturer and model. Please refer to the router’s manual.

2.2 Add 3rd party ONVIF camera

Please perform the following steps:

1. Open Alarm Management Configuration, navigate to Accounts > Sites > Devices.

2. Add a 3rd party camera, select ONVIF (via Port Forwarding)

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3. Enter device name, host (public IP address or domain), HTTPS and RTSP ports, and camera credentials (user name and password).

Note: Some camera brands need to configure an ONVIF user to activate ONVIF communication. Please refer to the related camera manual.

4. Click Add.

5. Then configure Recording Mode and Cloud Storage.

Note: Pre-alarm recording is not available for ONVIF cameras.

Now your 3rd Party ONVIF camera is set and you should be able to see video from the camera in the Alarm Management Live View.

2.3 Alarm Management ONVIF compatibility

Basically all ONVIF Profile S and T compatible cameras can be connected to the VX Platform (see https://www.onvif.org/conformant-products/), supporting minimum:

H.264 base or main profile
G711 or AAC audio encoding
ONVIF motion events in case of event recordings & alarms, when the camera supports the Real-time Pull-Point Notification Interface
http and/or https

A quick test in one of our demo cloud accounts on the compatibility for