Alarms (explained)

Available functionality depends on the system you are using. See the Product comparison chart for more information.

The Alarms feature is a MIP-based feature that uses functionality handled by the event server. It provides central overview and control of alarms in any number of system installations throughout your organization.

You can configure alarms to be generated based on either:

Internal events (system-related): for example, motion, server responding/not responding, archiving problems, lack of disk space, and more.
External events (integrated): for example, MIP plug-in events.

The Alarms feature also handles general alarms settings and alarm logging.

Configuring alarms

An alarm configuration may include:

Dynamic setup of alarm handling based on users access rights
Central overview of all components: servers, cameras, and external units
Setup of central logging of all incoming alarms and system information
Handling of plug-ins, allowing customized integration of other systems, for example external access control systems.

Viewing alarms

The following can play a role with regards to alarms and who can view/control/manage them and to what degree. This is because alarms are controlled by the visibility of the object causing the alarm.

Source/device visibility: if the device causing the alarm is not set to be visible to the user, the user cannot see the alarm in the alarm list in XProtect Smart Client.
Right to trigger manually defined events: if manually defined events are available in your system, these can determine if the user can trigger selected manually defined events in XProtect Smart Client.
External plug-ins: if any external plug-ins are set up in your system, these may control user's rights to handle alarms.
General access rights: can determine whether the user is allowed to (only) view or also to manage alarms.

Time profiles for alarms

Alarms can be based on time profiles (for alarms). Time profiles for Alarms are periods of time to use when you create alarm definitions. You can, for example, create a time profile for alarms covering the period from 2.30 PM till 3.30 PM on Mondays and use that time profile to make sure that certain alarm definitions are only enabled within this period of time.

Alarms and XProtect Smart Client

Alarms appear in the alarm list in XProtect Smart Client. Here, you can view and manage alarms to ease overview and to delegate and handle alarms. You can, for example reassign alarm, change their status or comment on alarms.

You can integrate alarms with the map functionality. The Alarms feature is a powerful monitoring tool, providing instant overview of alarms and possible technical problems.

Alarms and XProtect Central

The alarms feature covers almost the same functionality as XProtect Central and configuration of XProtect Central functionality is now included in the alarms feature.

XProtect Central was an independent product consisting of two parts: a dedicated server and a number of dedicated clients. Alarms, on the other hand, is an integrated part of your system. This means that much configuration needed in XProtect Central has become redundant with the introduction of Alarms. Client-wise, the Alarms feature uses XProtect Smart Client. However, you must still configure the features Alarms, Time Profiles (for Alarms) and General Settings in the Management Application. These features are very similar to XProtect Central. You cannot reuse old alarm and map definitions from XProtect Central. You must redefine your alarms and maps definitions in the Alarms feature.