IP Camera VLAN
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Hi,
I currently have a number of IP Cameras (7 of) on a separate VLAN (total VLANs is 7) and all working as it should.
My config is:-
Modem - Pfsense - Managed_Switch_1 (24 port) - Managed-Switch_2 (24 Port) - NVR (all cameras attached PoE)
I have LAGG set up between Pfsense & Managed_Switch_1 & also between the switches.
Although I do not appear to have any issues with network loading, I was wondering whether to leave as is or put the cameras on a separate switch (have 1 spare) and connect it to a spare NIC port on the Pfsense PC.
Thoughts? Worth doing / waste of time or wait until I start seeing issues. I don't really load the network other than media streaming from NAS and occasional file transfer
Thanks
Steve -
Probably not worth doing IMO. Worst case I'd imagine you might see some video issues if you manage to saturate the link with something else. Though if you have any sort of QoS enabled the camera stream is likely tagged high.
Are the cameras attached to both switches?Steve
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@stephenw10 All the cameras except for one (older one) are connected to a NVR which is connected to switch 2, the older camera is connected to switch 1.
Switch 2 is connected to switch 1 through LAGG
Forgot to say that there is no QoS set up currently!
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But physically they are IP cameras connected to the switches? If not then there's nothing to be gained.
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@stephenw10 yes, they are connected
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So all the cameras except one are just connected directly to the NVR. Only the video stream from one camera is going through the switches?
In that case there is very little benefit to making any change. A single camera stream does not use much bandwidth.
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@stephenw10 yes but the nvr is connected to the switches. Just checked and whilst the nvr is connected to the switch, the dedicated monitor for the cameras is connected to the nvr (I thought it was the switch) so in theory the only traffic through the switch would be the odd ball camera and any device running the camera app. However, the pfsense is seeing a fair bit of traffic on the camera vlan but I assume this must be due to the single camera
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I find it slightly odd that IP cameras would be connected directly to the NVR but perhaps that's in order to provide PoE?
However, yes, only traffic from that one camera and any viewing clients would be passing the switches. So the benefit of adding an extra switch just for that one camera is low IMO.
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@stephenw10 I bought a pack with cameras and the NVR and as the NVRcould also provide PoE as well as the switches I set it up that way, so you’re right there is little to no benefit to adding the extra switch. In fact, it would be more beneficial to replace the oddball camera and add its replacement to the NVR!
