One-page printable worksheet for sizing a surveillance system end to end: the eight-step method with every formula filled in — per-camera load (bitrate, GB/day, switch port, decode share), recording-server sizing by sustained write throughput (MB/s) not camera count, the two storage budgets (capacity = retention TB x 1.4-1.6 provisioning; throughput = write MB/s x RAID penalty), the network and PoE budget (+20-30%), the client-decode budget (substreams + hardware decode), and the headroom-and-re
Download free PDF
The handbook · 7 volumes
Fora Soft Video Engineering Handbook
This VMS capacity worksheet sizes a surveillance system in eight steps: per-camera bitrate and storage, recording-server write throughput, storage budgets, network and PoE, and client decode. Our seven-volume handbook goes deeper: Volume 1 on encoding and bitrate, Volume 6 on video analytics, and Volume 7 on serving cost and regulation. Written by Nikolay Sapunov, CEO at Fora Soft.
Sizing servers and storage for a new surveillance deployment?
Send us your camera list and retention rules: we will size recording servers, storage and network, and give a hardware and build estimate. 250+ video products shipped since 2005.
You get a realistic estimate, technical recommendations and next steps. Free, no obligations.
