Built-in Power over Ethernet (PoE) ports carry power and video data to compatible cameras through the recorder, which can simplify cabling and reduce the need for a separate PoE switch at the recorder location. Plan the camera connections around the recorder’s available PoE ports, then connect its network uplink to the broader network for viewing, management, and remote access.

The recorders in this category support up to 16 camera streams, with built-in Power over Ethernet (PoE) ports commonly supporting eight or 16 directly connected cameras. Some models support up to 15 4K cameras or 50 Full HD cameras, depending on the recorder and recording requirements.

Choose storage capacity based on the number of camera streams, video resolution, recording throughput, and how long you need to retain footage locally. Options in this category include three-terabyte, six-terabyte, and twelve-terabyte configurations, while recorders with multiple hard-drive bays can provide additional capacity and support storage management features such as RAID.

Compare the number of built-in Power over Ethernet (PoE) ports with the camera count your installation requires, such as eight or sixteen ports, and check whether the recorder uses dedicated camera-network connections. Also compare uplink options, including Gigabit Ethernet RJ45 and 10G SFP+, to match the recorder with your switch, cabling, and network capacity.