What Is the ONVIF Standard? An Introduction to ONVIF

Vũ Khôi

Author at Wotech Electronics Blog

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The ONVIF standard is now built into many of today's surveillance cameras. So what is ONVIF and what role does it play? Join KBVISION and find out right in today's article!

What Is ONVIF?

ONVIF (Open Network Video Interface Forum) is a standard that allows IP video surveillance products and other security surveillance areas to communicate with one another. It was founded in 2008 by major brands such as Axis, Bosch, and Sony. It is a standard for communication between security devices built on an IP platform.

ONVIF Profiles

ONVIF profiles make it easy to recognize that ONVIF-compliant devices and client applications are compatible with one another. An ONVIF profile has a fixed set of features that must be supported by the compliant device and client. For example, it ensures that a client conforming to Profile S will work with a device that also conforms to Profile S.

In addition, there are optional features — features that may be implemented by an ONVIF device or ONVIF client if it supports the feature in any way, including proprietary features. The basic functions of the features included in a profile are defined in the ONVIF network interface specification.

Clients and devices can support more than one ONVIF profile. For instance, a network camera with local storage may conform to both Profile S and Profile G.

Conformance to a profile is the only way to guarantee compatibility between ONVIF-compliant products. Therefore, only products registered as conforming to a profile are considered ONVIF-conformant.

Profiles A and C relate to access control systems. Profiles G, Q, S, and T relate to video systems.

Profile A

Profile A is intended for products used in electronic access control systems. A conforming device can retrieve information, statuses, and events, and configure entities such as access rules, credentials, and schedules. A conforming client can provide the configuration of access rules, credentials, and schedules. The client can also retrieve and receive standardized access-control-related events.

Profile C

Profile C is intended for products used in electronic access control systems. Clients gain support for site information, door access control, event management, and alarms (if the client conforms to Profile C).

Profile G

Profile G is designed for IP-based video systems. A Profile G device (for example, an IP network camera or video encoder) is a device that can record video data over the IP network or on the device itself.

A Profile G client (for example, video management software) is software that can configure, request, and control video recording over the IP network from a Profile G-conformant device. Profile G also includes support for receiving audio streams and metadata if the client supports those features.

Profile Q

Profile Q is intended for IP-based video systems, and its purpose is to provide quick discovery and basic configuration of conformant products (for example, network cameras, network switches, and network monitors). A Profile Q-conformant device is one that can be discovered and configured by a Profile Q client. A Profile Q-conformant client can discover, configure, and control Profile Q devices over the IP network.

Profile Q also includes specifications for TLS (Transport Layer Security) configuration for conformant products that support the feature. TLS is a secure communications protocol that allows ONVIF devices to communicate with clients over the network in a way that protects against tampering and eavesdropping. Special attention should be paid to the factory default state when deploying ONVIF Profile Q devices.

To ensure the effective interoperability of IP-based physical security products, ONVIF provides specifications referencing modern cybersecurity standards. However, compliance with those regulations falls outside the scope of ONVIF.

Profile S

Profile S is designed for IP-based video systems. A Profile S device (for example, an IP network camera or video encoder) is a device that can send video data over the IP network to a Profile S client.

A Profile S client (for example, video management software) is software that can configure, request, and control video streaming over the IP network from a Profile S device. Profile S also includes ONVIF specifications for PTZ control, audio input, multicast streaming, and forwarding for conformant devices and clients that support those features.

Profile T

Profile T is designed for IP-based video systems. Profile T supports advanced video streaming features such as H.264 and H.265 encoding formats, image settings, and alarm events such as motion detection and tampering. Mandatory features for devices also include on-screen display and metadata streaming, while mandatory features for clients also include PTZ control.

Profile T also includes ONVIF specifications for HTTPS streaming, PTZ configuration, motion zone configuration, and digital input/output (relays and two-way audio) for devices and clients that must conform to and support those features.

Why ONVIF?

ONVIF provides a standard that addresses interoperability issues in video surveillance systems, covering important requirements such as defining device configuration interfaces, event handling, and similar matters.

Most importantly, ONVIF has been embraced by the majority of manufacturers of digital and IP cameras, as well as software and hardware vendors.

Benefits of Using ONVIF

For manufacturers and software providers: Opportunities to expand the market, because their products and software can easily be used as part of a global security solution. Reduced organizational investment costs thanks to the adoption of established standards.

For system integrators and software consultants: Compatibility between products from different vendors enables flexible, cost-effective solutions. It simplifies the installation of IP-based security products regardless of brand.

For end users: Greater flexibility and comfort of choice. The standard allows end users to select compatible products from many different brands that follow the ONVIF standard.

Advantages and Disadvantages of ONVIF

ONVIF advantages

• Enables compatibility between devices from different vendors.

• Easy to deploy on VMS software.

• Supported by most IP-based security device manufacturers.

• Compatible with more than 5,000 IP devices.

• Members contribute to improving the protocol.

• Well supported with easy-to-understand documentation.

• The protocol is continuously developed.

ONVIF disadvantages

• Does not support some advanced video analytics features.

• No policy control over self-declared compliant devices.

• Sometimes devices fail to communicate via the protocol.

At KBVISION, all DVR/NVR recorders and IP cameras support ONVIF; however, depending on the product line, different profiles are supported. If you want to connect with camera systems from other brands for viewing and recording, that is all possible. Features such as PTZ (rotation) control and alarms are only available on certain models.

We hope KBVISION's sharing above helps you better understand the ONVIF standard. You can explore and choose the products with ONVIF built in that best suit your needs!

See also: 3 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT WDR ON KBVISION CAMERAS

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