SVR Exceeding Bandwidth Limit
The SVR Exceeding Bandwidth Limit trouble condition occurs when the combined bitrate of all active local recording rules for the Stream Video Recorder (SVR or CSVR) exceeds its bandwidth limit. The bandwidth limit is the maximum amount of total recorded video an SVR can process at any given time, and exceeding this limit could cause gaps or interruptions during recordings.
Important: Gaps in video recording cannot be recovered; once footage has been missed, it is gone.
What causes an SVR to exceed its bandwidth limit?
Since camera and recording configurations evolve, it is possible for a previously-acceptable system setup to eventually exceed the SVR's bandwidth limit. This trouble condition usually occurs when one or more of the following change over time:
- Recording rules are expanded (e.g., more cameras are associated to the SVR)
- Camera stream settings are increased (i.e., higher resolution, frames per second, quality, or bitrate)
- Third-party camera settings are modified outside of Alarm.com
What happens when the bandwidth limit is exceeded?
When total recording throughput exceeds what the SVR can handle:
- The SVR begins to fall behind while ingesting video
- Network communication with cameras is delayed
- Camera streams may time out
- Recording gaps appear
For these reasons, it is recommended to resolve this trouble condition as soon as possible.
How to resolve
There are potentially many ways to resolve this trouble condition. Below are some troubleshooting methods to lower an SVR's combined bitrate total under its bandwidth limit, ordered from least disruptive to most disruptive.
Option 1: Reduce stream settings on recording cameras (recommended)
Lower the resolution, frame rate, quality, and/or maximum bitrate of the stream(s) used for recording. Bitrate is the biggest driver of SVR bandwidth load, so small reductions across several cameras can have a larger impact.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| No new hardware required | Reduced video quality on affected cameras |
| Fast and easy to implement | - |
| Works for all Alarm.com cameras and most third-party cameras | - |
To reduce stream settings when using Alarm.com cameras:
The recording schedule settings for Alarm.com cameras can be reduced using the Alarm.com customer website.
- Log in to the Alarm.com customer website.
- Click Video.
- Click Recording Rules.
- Click Local.
- Click
to edit the desired recording schedule.
- To change the maximum bitrate setting, click Advanced Options and use the Maximum Bitrate dropdown menu to select the desired bitrate.
- Click Save.
To reduce stream settings when using third-party cameras:
The recording schedule settings for third-party cameras can be reduced using the Alarm.com customer website.
- Log in to the Alarm.com customer website.
- Click Video.
- Click Recording Rules.
- Click Local.
- Click to edit the desired recording schedule.
- To change the maximum bitrate setting, click Edit Stream and use the Maximum Bitrate dropdown menu to select the desired bitrate.
- Click Save.
Note: The bitrate of third-party cameras can also be reduced using the camera's local UI.
Option 2: Split recording across multiple SVRs
If the account requires high stream settings across many cameras and quality cannot be reduced, re-distributing the cameras and local recording rules across two or more SVRs is a scalable option that can accommodate high-quality settings for larger systems.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Preserves high-quality settings | Requires additional hardware |
| Scales well for larger systems | Typically involves on-site implementation, including potentially required network changes |
Option 3: Upgrade the SVR
If the system has outgrown the original SVR, but multiple SVRs are likely not needed since further expansion is unlikely, replacing a lower-throughput SVR with a higher-capacity model (e.g., upgrading a 21XXP to a 20XXP) may be the best resolution.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Increases total available throughput | Replaces existing hardware |
| Simplifies configuration by preserving existing camera values | - |
SVR bandwidth limit best practices
- Configure SVRs so that there is a buffer between the local recording rules' bitrate limit and the SVR's maximum bandwidth limit
- Treat bandwidth warnings as preventative, not informational
- Resolve issues early—before recording gaps occur