1. Different concepts.


NVR, also known as Network Video Recorder, is the storage and forwarding part of a network video monitoring system. Hard disk recorders, also known as digital video recorders, are also known as DVRs because they use hard disk recorders compared to traditional analog video recorders.




CVR is a network storage device.


2. Different functions.


NVR works in collaboration with video encoders or network cameras to complete video recording, storage, and forwarding functions.


DVR has the function of long-term recording, recording, remote monitoring, and control of images/speech.


CVR is a video dedicated storage technology that integrates encoding device management, recording management, storage, and forwarding functions.




3. Different forms.


NVR: The first type is a PC server based NVR software product (Software Only), and the second type is an overall NVR solution that integrates software and hardware provided by the manufacturer.


DVR: Embedded, hard disk recorder (EM-DVR).


1. In 2000, the first domestic DVR in China was introduced, and it began to enter the security field in China.


2. Subsequently, driven by both technology and the market, DVR began to develop rapidly.


3. By 2006, DVR had already occupied nearly 40% of the entire video surveillance market share.


4. In the process of video surveillance developing from analog to digital, DVR has played an extremely important role, and it can be said that DVR has ushered in an era of digital surveillance.


5. Since 2006, with the development of networking technology and the deepening of information construction, the video surveillance industry has entered the era of networking. The market has increasingly high requirements for the networking function and network adaptability of DVR. In this demand, some mainstream manufacturers have also begun to attach importance to network functions and launch DVS (network video server) products. In this regard, some industry insiders say that DVR will usher in the "post DV era".


6. However, due to the powerful network functionality of DVS products, which reduces local management and control capabilities, it is obvious that they cannot cover the original market of DVR.


7. As a hybrid product of digital and analog, DVR has never emerged from its awkward situation of semi digital and semi analog.


8. Therefore, the competition in the video surveillance market is becoming increasingly fierce, and product homogenization is also becoming increasingly severe - the market is calling for truly updated and upgraded products.


9. In response to the demand for networking in the monitoring market, the concept of NVR (Network Video Recorder), known as the replacement of DVR, has been frequently mentioned since 2007.


10. In fact, NVR products and technologies have started to be applied in some high-end security fields abroad.


11. In China, professional security media and other theoretical circles have also favored NVR, and their evaluation of the development prospects of the NVR market is extremely optimistic.


12. However, in the past two years, the market promotion of the entire Network monitoring product did not seem to have achieved the expected results, which led to the slow and hard work of the domestic NVR industry.


13. So it seems that both manufacturers and users are beginning to have doubts about NVR and online video surveillance. Where will the development of NVR and even the entire online video surveillance industry go? What are the advantages of editing this segment of NVR V.S DVR NVR to "challenge" DVR? Looking at the functions and features of NVR, there are several aspects that can be compared with "predecessor" DVRs: deploying and expanding traditional embedded DVR systems as analog front-end, and connecting monitoring points with central DVRs through analog means. Due to the impact of transmission distance and analog signal loss, the location of monitoring points also has significant limitations and cannot achieve remote deployment.


14. As a fully networked video monitoring system, NVR can connect monitoring point devices to NVR through any IP network. Therefore, monitoring points can be located at any location on the network and are not limited by geography.


15. Due to the use of analog front-end in DVR wiring, many lines such as video lines, audio lines, alarm lines, control lines, etc. need to be laid from the center to each monitoring point. Without paying attention, manual troubleshooting is required one by one to determine which line has problems. Therefore, the workload of wiring is quite cumbersome, and the larger the project scale, the greater the workload and the higher the wiring cost.


16. Compared to NVR, in the NVR system, only one network cable is needed to connect the center point and monitoring point, eliminating all the cumbersome lines mentioned above, including video and audio lines, and thus reducing costs naturally.


17. Plug and Play has long been a mystery for network products, including NVR, due to the need to set IP addresses, operate complex management backends, and so on, which has kept most engineering companies away. However, now, using NVR is no longer necessary. Simply connect the network cable and turn on the power, and the system will automatically search for IP front-end, assign IP addresses, and display multiple images, In terms of installation settings, it may not be better than DVR, but at least it is quite comparable.


18. One important factor that makes video storage DVR popular among users is its powerful recording and storage capabilities. However, this performance is still limited by its analog front-end, which means that DVR cannot achieve front-end storage. Once the central equipment or circuit malfunctions, video data cannot be obtained; At present, NVR products and systems on the market can support three storage methods: central storage, front-end storage, and client storage, and can achieve mutual backup between the center and front-end. Once the center cannot record for any reason, the system will automatically switch to the front-end for recording and storage; In terms of storage capacity, NVR is also equipped with a large capacity hard drive, and is equipped with a hard drive interface, network interface, and USB interface to meet massive storage needs.


19. Security Sexual network products have long been considered to have potential security risks. Indeed, without a secure and reliable mechanism, the network is indeed a troubled place. However, in the Network monitoring system, once security is ensured through the use of AES stream encryption, user authentication, authorization and other means, the security concerns of Network monitoring products stemming from the network will be completely eliminated. At present, NVR products and systems can already achieve these guarantees; In contrast, DVR simulates the audio and video raw signals transmitted by the front-end without any encryption mechanism, making them easily intercepted and easily displayed once intercepted.


20. Managing the entire network management of the NVR monitoring system should be a major highlight, as it can achieve full monitoring and centralized management of transmission lines, transmission networks, and all IP frontends, including monitoring of device status and browsing of parameters; However, DVR is also unable to achieve real-time monitoring and centralized management of transmission lines and front-end equipment due to its analog transmission from the center to the front end. When there is a fault in the front end or line, it is very inconvenient to verify the specific cause.


21. The reason why NVR replaces DVR. From the comparison at the product level above, NVR indeed has the foundation to comprehensively replace DVR.


22. From a market perspective, NVR also has the trend of fully replacing DVR, due to the following three aspects: the basic network is becoming increasingly popular, whether it is remote network or the internal LAN of the monitored unit, which is currently very popular and mature, which has the prerequisite for networked deployment; People's demand for networked monitoring is becoming increasingly prominent. They not only need to achieve monitoring locally, but also hope to be able to monitor remotely or even wirelessly, which can only meet the needs of users through networking; In terms of front-end, IP cameras have developed very rapidly in recent years, and many manufacturers that used to do analog cameras, DVRs, and DVS have been promoting IP cameras. From this, it can be seen that the IPization of cameras and analog front-end is a very obvious trend in the current and future. This trend was clearly seen at the 2007 Shenzhen Security Expo, and should be said to be very obvious.


23. A few years ago, there were still very few IP cameras that were already dazzling at the last Anbo Expo.


24. Digitalization and networking of the front-end are the trend. In terms of price, a single IP camera used to be sold for thousands of yuan, but now it can be bought for a few hundred yuan. The decrease in price makes it affordable for consumers, which also provides sufficient conditions for deploying the front-end and enables users to have the conditions for networked deployment.


25. From the above three aspects, whether it is the maturity of the basic network, the maturity of front-end devices, or people's demand for monitoring, we can see that the direction of networked deployment has laid a solid foundation for the popularization of Network monitoring products, including NVR.


26. Not long ago, iSuppli Company made a prediction based on market research data that the total market value of various IP monitoring system devices worldwide will reach 7.1 billion US dollars in 2010, far higher than the 735 million US dollars in 2006.


In China, before 2006, online video surveillance accounted for less than 15% of the entire video surveillance market, but by the end of 2008, it is expected to account for about 47%, with a growth rate of up to 40%.


28. NVR still needs to make efforts to expand the market. Looking at the entire video surveillance market, the prospects of NVR are promising, and coupled with its product features that have a significant competitive advantage in the market, it has a strong momentum of ups and downs.


However, achieving this result is not easy. From the perspective of product functionality alone, DVR has undergone several years of sedimentation and has been subjected to the harsh baptism of the market and time. Its mature market recognition is unmatched by current NVR.


30. In addition, as mentioned at the beginning of this article, the competition in the domestic DVR market is quite fierce, with a large number of DVR manufacturers and varying levels of good and bad. However, on the other hand, competition has also prompted some high-quality mainstream manufacturers to continuously improve product performance and promote technological progress. They have not ignored the trend of networking, as demonstrated by the DVS products mentioned earlier. Although DVS is positioned differently from DVR and NVR, at least it indicates that for NVR, In order to dominate the country, in addition to possessing technological advantages, there are also many indispensable factors such as accurate market positioning and rapid market response.


31. In summary, although NVR has gained popularity due to its technological and functional advantages, the road ahead may still be bumpy. In this game against DVR, many factors such as technical performance, market channels, and brand support need to be prepared, and DVR should be used as a precedent. Only by enduring the pain of market development in the early stages can it seize the dominant position of DVR, And truly become a market leader or even a substitute for DVR.