Video Management Software

There are three ways to reach devices from outside, and they differ mostly in security. A VPN into your own network is the most secure and works for the VMS, the web page and the app alike; P2P (a cloud service) is the simplest for phones, because the device connects out to the cloud service and as a rule needs neither a public IP nor router configuration; port forwarding with DDNS is the most fragile and leaves the largest attack surface open. Use a VPN for administrators and VMS clients, use P2P for occasional phone viewing if you trust the manufacturer's cloud service, and treat port forwarding as a last resort. The specification tables of KDT NVRs and cameras list P2P and DDNS among their supported protocols.

For video management, KL-VMS+ (VMS Plus) is KDT's licensed VMS for large projects with several servers; for analytics, KL-PRS reads license plates and KL-FRS recognizes faces. For everyday work with KDT NVRs and cameras, the product specification tables list the KDT CMS/VMS Windows software and apps for Android and iOS. The download center of this website adds device-search tools, KDT Player and KDT Desk, the remote-support program.

A VMS (video management software) is installed on a PC or server and manages many cameras and NVRs from one place, with separate users and permissions, alarm rules, maps, several monitors and analytics. The NVR's web page is for configuring and viewing that single device, and the mobile app is for quick live view and playback. Supported browsers depend on the model: the specification tables list Chrome, Edge, Firefox and IE for most models and IE only for some.

CMS (central management software) is usually the client program that comes with recorders: it connects to several devices and provides live view, playback and export. A VMS is a fuller platform that adds recording servers, multi-server and multi-site operation, user roles, alarm rules and analytics. Vendors do not always keep the two names apart, which is why the specification tables of KDT NVRs simply list 'KDT CMS/VMS'; for the fuller platform, see the KL-VMS+ datasheet.

For one site with a single NVR and a few viewers, the web page and the mobile app are enough and nothing has to be installed. For several recorders or a control room with several monitors, use the Windows KDT VMS; its manual states that it can show 128 cameras across several monitors. For projects with several sites, user roles, maps, alarm rules, or integrated plate and face recognition, choose KL-VMS+, which according to its datasheet has no limit on the number of servers or users.