Steelbox Formally Introduces Comprehensive Video Management Solution
Unique SteelSwitch video appliance powers digital video management beyond conventional limits
ALPHARETTA, Ga.(21 Jul 2011)
Steelbox officially introduced its expanded video management solution optimized for tackling today’s critical security and IT challenge: managing the bandwidth for and access to growing amounts of digital video data across Internet Protocol-based networks.
“The performance security professionals expect from their digital surveillance networks is limited by conventional video management technology. That problem only gets worse as IP camera use grows,” said Nik Moissiadis, president of the Steelbox division of Adtech. “The Steelbox solution gets beyond those limits and opens up previously unavailable options for designing, implementing and ultimately benefiting from digital video networks.”
The Steelbox solution consists of SteelVision, a flexible and user-friendly video management system; SteelSwitch, an appliance built specifically for aggregating and distributing digital video among potentially thousands of endpoints; SteelVault, an intelligent video storage system; and the SteelEdge codec series.
The solution is both streamlined and powerful, giving security and IT professionals alike the tools they require for managing bandwidth for and providing access to digital video on IP networks more effectively.
“We can operate our surveillance network treating the IP cameras like the intelligent computers they essentially are,” said Slade Besson, assistant director, University Computer Services, at Nicholls State University in Thibodeaux, La., which manages approximately 300 cameras with the Steelbox solution.
“We can do that with one appliance instead of putting multiple video servers all over the network,” Besson said.
Bandwidth: A growing issue for everyone
Optimizing bandwidth management and access to video on IP surveillance networks is critical to users who want to take full advantage of the capabilities of IP, megapixel and high definition (HD) cameras. Bandwidth and video access issues only get more challenging as IP camera adoption spreads. When these are implemented the way they were designed to operate—and more importantly, the way their buyers want them to operate--these cameras, especially HD and megapixel models, can consume vast amounts of network bandwidth.
That bandwidth consumption strains conventional video management technology, such as Network Video Recorders (NVRs) and video management servers, which continue to focus on port and camera counts instead of bandwidth.
“When you start mixing standard IP cameras with HD and MP on an NVR, you can max out its performance capability long before you fill all its ports,” said Max-Henri Louis-Jacques, New York City Transit.
In turn, those performance issues can lead to video being unavailable, especially during an incident, when demand for video is high.
Further, NVRs and even many video management systems can’t bridge among network segments with different technology and bandwidth requirements, said Bill LeBlanc, CTO for Steelbox.
“The list of potential viewers and viewing devices, each with unique requirements, continues to grow, and getting IP video to them is a difficult challenge in today’s network infrastructures,” he said.
The Steelbox solution solves these digital video and network performance problems. The unique SteelSwitch network media appliance was built specifically to manage bandwidth-chewing digital video while also addressing video access issues. The appliance has the capacity—up to 1.5 Gb/s of incoming data and another 3 Gb/s of outgoing data—necessary to collect and distribute the growing numbers and variety of IP, megapixel and HD video streams that are increasingly common on digital surveillance networks of all sizes.
The Steelbox solution also solves a variety of network design challenges because of its ability to translate among network transport protocols and video formats. It effectively ensures that security professionals can make IP video available to responders and applications whenever, however and wherever they need it. The SteelSwitch can distribute one to hundreds of video streams, to one end-point or however many are needed—without expensive multicast network routers and switches required to transport them from their primary sources.
(For additional details about the unique Steelbox approach to digital video management, please see our technology backgrounder: http://www.steelbox.com/techbackgrounder.htm.)
“The Steelbox solution is what our customers are looking for: digital video technology that helps them solve complex network challenges and get the performance they expect from today’s IP, megapixel and HD cameras over their networks,” said Howie Chong, president, Integrated Networking & Systems, Inc.
New Ownership, New Vision
The solution’s core technology was originally brought to market by Steelbox Networks Inc., which went into receivership in 2008. Its assets were bought by Alpharetta, Ga.-based Adtech Global Solutions (Adtech) in early 2009.
“The original company was ahead of its time because the analog-to-IP transition was barely under way,” said Moissiadis. “The technology was unique and sound, and anticipated the management challenges of digital video traffic on IP networks. That challenge is here today and the Steelbox solution equips security and network professionals to meet it.”
The Steelbox solution is available immediately for new or existing video networks of many different sizes that need to go beyond the limits of conventional video technology to get optimal performance. A variety of solution configurations are offered for as little as $199 per node (MSRP, excludes storage). Sales and integrator inquiries should be directed to videobeyondlimits@steelbox.com or 866.823.9076.
About Adtech: Steelbox has expanded business and customer service capabilities through its parent, Adtech. The Alpharetta, Ga.-based company offers a range of technology solutions through its three divisions: Adtech Services, which offers custom application hardware, engineering services and global installation and support; Adtech Solutions, which creates and enables channel focused solutions in key vertical markets; and Steelbox, developing products and solutions that take digital video beyond the limits of conventional technology.