Recording and playback
Set when each camera records and for how long, find video on the timeline, play up to 8 cameras in sync, protect evidence, and export MP4 files with a SHA-256 manifest.
Contents
How recording works
A camera's Site Node stores its selected Recording quality on a local fixed drive or folder, without re-encoding.
- Encryption: recordings are encrypted at rest with AES-256-GCM by default.
- Integrity: recording objects carry SHA-256 integrity roots and are checked during playback and export.
Set up recording for a camera
- Open Configure > Recording & storage > Recording, or a camera's Recording tab in Devices.
- For an unconfigured camera, choose its Storage location, then Set up recording. This enables continuous recording.
- After setup, change the Recording mode if needed and select Save policy.
| Recording mode | Records |
|---|---|
| Disabled | Nothing; saved settings remain. |
| Always | Continuously. |
| Schedule | During a named schedule. |
| Events | When a rule's Start recording action requests video. |
| Custom | A combination of continuous, scheduled and event recording. |
For events, set Pre-roll and Post-roll. The default pre-roll buffer holds up to 30 seconds; missing pre-roll is reported. Overlapping requests produce one recording.
Allow manual start/stop enables authorized users to request Manual coverage without changing the automatic mode.
Schedules
Under Schedules, select New schedule, enter a Name and choose a Preset: Business hours, Nights, Weekends or Custom. Adjust the weekly windows; they can cross midnight. Set Time zone under Advanced settings, then Save schedule. Apply to cameras assigns it to several cameras.
Retention and storage
On Schedules & retention, set Global retention in days for the installation (1–3,650; default 30). Each recording location normally reserves 2 GiB, shown as Kept free. Low space can trigger deletion of eligible old footage before its retention age. Protected ranges are excluded until released.
Storage shows capacity and status, including Ready, Full, Degraded, Not writable, Report out of date and Not reporting. Open Details for its path and capacity figures.
To add local storage, open Configure > System > Recording storage > Add a recording location; see Install Kalytera VMS. Existing recordings stay in place; the Site Node restarts briefly. Use Move cameras, or later Move cameras here, to change where future recordings go. A Windows Site Node can also record to a network share folder once its sign-in is stored under Network share sign-ins.
A missing or unwritable location stops recording there and raises Recording storage unavailable. Recording does not automatically move to another drive.
Play back video
Open Operate > Video > Playback. Choose a camera, enter the local date and time in the displayed format, and select Go to time.
- Several cameras in sync: choose the main camera by its name in Cameras. Use Add to grid for others, up to 8 cameras total.
- Speed: 0.25×, 0.5×, 1×, 2×, 4× or 8×.
- Navigation: select a jump interval of 5, 10 or 30 seconds, or 1 or 5 minutes.
- Keyboard: Space/K plays or pauses; arrows jump five seconds; J/L use the selected interval; F toggles full screen.
Read the timeline
Timeline has a row per camera and distinguishes Recorded, Gap, Event and Uncertain. Hover for previews. Use the zoom buttons or Ctrl with the wheel; zooming out can load a longer period.
Bookmarks
Open Bookmarks from the playback toolbar to mark a moment or selected range with a Title and Note. Leave Share with all users unchecked for a private bookmark. Other users see shared bookmarks read-only.
Protect evidence
Select a timeline range, then Protect. With multiple cameras, choose the camera or all cameras. Protection excludes footage from retention and storage cleanup until released and requires retention hold permission.
Export video
- Select a timeline range by holding Shift while dragging, or use I then O at the desired boundaries with the timeline focused.
- Select Export. In Export recorded video, check the Start, End and, with multiple cameras, Cameras. Select Queue export or the numbered queue button.
- Follow Exports; when ready, choose Download MP4 and Manifest.
Exports require export permission. Each camera produces a separate MP4 without re-encoding. The JSON manifest records its SHA-256 hash, source integrity roots and gaps. Compare a copy's SHA-256 with that manifest to check it is unchanged.
Exports over 256 MiB require direct-to-disk saving in a browser that supports it, such as Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome.
Hikvision recorder archives
For supported Hikvision NVR/DVR channels added through Hikvision HTTP, select Recorder archive in the camera list. Browse recorder footage, play a time or download a clip of up to ten minutes. Playback requires the Site Node to have measured the recorder's clock offset.