Use Axis P3354 (P, Q & M Series) Network Camera and CameraFTP VSS Software as Cloud-based CCTV NVR System
Contents
Introduction
Step 1: Connect Camera & PC to the Same Network; Find the Camera's IP Address
Step 2: Access Camera's Web-based Configuration Tool
2.1 Add ONVIF Media Profiles
2.2 Create an ONVIF User Account to Connect to the Camera's Video Stream
3. Use CameraFTP VSS with Axis Cameras / DVRs
Appendix 1: Make Changes; CameraFTP Viewer
Axis Communications' P, Q and M series IP cameras are compatible with CameraFTP VSS software for using a PC as
a CCTV NVR System. We will use Axis P3354 as an example.
Axis P3354 (P Series) Network Camera is a mid-range IP camera. It provides a good balance between performance and affordability.
Axis supports HD to 4K resolution, WDR (Wide Dynamic Range), PoE, with outdoor and indoor models.
Axis network cameras are very reliable. They have the most sophisticated firmware and features. All Axis M, P and Q series IP cameras support
cloud-based image and video recording, including continuous and motion-triggered
recording, via FTP, SFTP or SMTP. You don't have to use CameraFTP VSS software.
There are a few advantages using CameraFTP VSS with Axis cameras / NVRs:
- It works like a regular NVR; VSS can display live camera videos on your PC screen;
- It can record footage to a local drive or to the cloud;
- It is slightly easier to configure the camera. You can save quite a few steps;
- It supports live viewing with minimal latency.
Axis P3354 Network Camera Basic Information
| Video / image resolution |
1280x960, 1280x720, 800x600, 640x480, 640x400, 640x360, 480x360, 320x240 |
| Audio recording |
No |
| Image upload frequency |
1 image/hour to 10 images/second |
| Video frame rate |
1-30 frames/second |
| Night-vision |
No, but supports WDR in low-light setting |
| Image snapshot recording |
Supported |
| Video clip recording |
Supported |
| Motion detection |
Supported for both image and video clip based recording |
| Continuous recording |
Yes |
| Supported video format |
.MKV |
| Connection type |
Ethernet cable |
| PoE (Power on Ethernet) |
Yes |
| Indoor / outdoor |
Indoor |
| Lowest pricing (as of 6/18/2024) |
$100 |
Note: This document is not designed to replace Axis product manual. The information provided is based on our knowledge of
the model Axis P3354 (P Series and Q Series) network camera. It may not be accurate or up-to-date. Users shall contact the manufacturer for
all camera-related issues and contact us only for CameraFTP-related (i.e. cloud
service / FTP) issues. We guess the following Axis camera models are compatible with our service:
AXIS P32, P39, Q35, Q36 Dome Camera Series, P9117-PV Corner, Q9216-SLV Camera, Q9307-LV; P13, Q16 Box Camera Series;
AXIS P14, Q17, Q18 Bullet Camera Series; AXIS Q87 Bispectral PTZ Camera Series, AXIS P56, Q60, Q61, Q62, Q63, Q86, V59 PTZ Camera Series:
This camera is a PoE camera. You must have a PoE switch. You don't need a power adaptor.
Just connect the camera with a PoE switch with an ethernet cable.
The camera will be powered on. It will automatically connect to the network and acquire a local IP address using DHCP.
You also need a PC with CameraFTP VSS software installed. The PC must be connected to the same local network with the Axis IP camera (or NVR).
Now, you can use
CameraFTP VSS software
to find the camera's IP address. Launch CameraFTP VSS, click Add -> IP Camera -> Find IP Cameras in Local Network, it will automatically
scan the local network for connected IP cameras. Please see the screenshot below:
The device name is shown as Axis P3354. For certain Axis IP camera models, the device information
may not be very clear. If so, you can check each IP address one by one. (Or you can disconnect the camera,
search the network and record the list of IP addresses; then connect the camera and search the network again.
The new IP address should be the camera's IP address.)
Axis cameras / NVRs are compatible with VSS; but you need to configure them using the camera's web-based interface, which is very easy.
Now we have found the camera's IP address. Open a web browser and enter the URL:
https://IP-ADDRESS/
It will display the login page, or set-password page if the device's password has not been set:
Set the password for the device's root account, or log in to the device, it will display the live view page as follows:
Click Setup to begin setting up the camera. If you haven't setup this camera before, you can quickly follow the Basic Setup steps to finish the basic setup
(e.g. set the camera's date and time). These steps are not related with CameraFTP's service and are not required.
ONVIF (Open Network Video Interface Forum) is an open industry standard that enables
interoperability among IP cameras, NVRs, and software from different vendors. When using CameraFTP VSS with
Axis cameras/NVRs, you need to add an "ONVIF Media Profile", which is a video stream profile that will be available to VSS via ONVIF.
Click Video -> ONVIF Media Profile, then click Add (or select an existing profile and click Modify), please see the screenshot below:
You can adjust the video resolution and frame rate based on your subscription plan. In general, the selected resolution and frame rate should be higher
than the subscription plan you ordered. If you have a slow PC or if you have a lot of cameras, then try to use a small resolution and/or frame rate.
For the Encoding, please select H.264.
For CameraFTP VSS to connect to the camera's video stream, you need to create an ONVIF user account on the camera device.
Click System Options -> ONVIF, please see the screenshot below:
Click Add (or Modify), it will display:
Select "Media user", then click Ok to finish adding the user account.
CameraFTP VSS software
can use a PC as a CCTV DVR system. It can display live camera videos on your computer screen, while
also recording the video/image to the cloud (and the local disk). Axis IP Cameras / NVRs are compatible with CameraFTP VSS software.
Using CameraFTP VSS with Axis IP Camera is easier to setup than uploading directly from the camera; CameraFTP VSS supports both
image recording and video recording at any parameters; it also has more powerful features than a regular IP camera or NVR.
The disadvantage is it requires
a PC and CameraFTP VSS must be always running. (The PC cost is low. You can use an old PC, or buy a new one for less than $300;
One PC/laptop can support multiple cameras or webcams).
Axis IP Cameras support the standard ONVIF protocol. (Please make sure that you have added
an ONVIF user account to the device. Please read the previous chapter).
Now launch CameraFTP VSS software, click Add to add a camera, then click IP Camera. Then click Scan Local Network to
find IP cameras in the same local network. VSS can find the IP Camera very quickly with the ONVIF protocol. Please see the screenshot below:
Select the Axis IP camera, click Next.
CameraFTP VSS will display a login dialog. Please enter the ONVIF user info we previously added to the camera device.
Click Next.
CameraFTP VSS will search the camera's video stream URLs. It will display the result as follows:
It found two RTSP video URLs. These are the ONVIF Media Profiles that we added to the device previously.
The resolution and frame rate can be changed from Video -> ONVIF Media Profiles. You can select a video stream
URL based on your subscription plan. In general, the selected video stream resolution and frame rate should be higher
than the subscription plan you ordered.
(Selecting a video stream with lower resolution and frame rate can lower your CPU and local network usage.)
The remaining steps are standard. Just click Next and follow the wizard to finish adding the camera. The camera will be added to
VSS as follows:
If you need to make changes, you can open VSS's main window,
move your mouse on top of the camera live view,
then click the Edit icon in the popup toolbar. You can:
- Select a different source video stream;
- Bind the camera with a different camera license (if you ordered a subscription);
- Edit motion detection settings;
- Set recording schedules.
After a camera(s) is added, it will take about 1 minute for VSS to upload the first video or image.
However, you can view the live video (with audio) immediately from anywhere.
You can use the browser-based viewer by logging in to www.cameraftp.com
or download CameraFTP Viewer App for iOS, Android and Windows.
All viewers support live view and playback from anywhere. Moreover, they support video-calling to the camera.
Cannot get it to work? Please read our Trouble-shooting Guide.