In most cases, all you’ll need to get up and running is a PoE-enabled switch with a DHCP-enabled network. What you'll need:

To activate and configure any camera, you first need to have a Verkada Command account. You can do this on either a web browser or through the mobile app.

Each camera has a serial number which is printed on its box and on the bottom of its mount plate. On the Devices page select Add Devices and enter the camera serial number to claim it. If you need more information or have a large number of cameras to add see more detail on adding devices.

Verkada cameras are designed to take the headache out of configuring security cameras and connecting them to a local area network (LAN). If your environment includes a firewall, however, you may need to make some small updates to get your camera online. Please see this help article for details.

Note: For security purposes, please ensure that each camera you plan to install is successfully added to Command before proceeding. If you are unable to add a camera, please contact Support.

All Verkada cameras are powered over Ethernet (PoE), which means electrical or coaxial wires are not required. To get your camera online, you’ll need to connect it to a PoE-enabled network switch or a similar connection. 

Note: For security purposes, please ensure that the camera is successfully added to Command before you connect the camera. If you were unable to add a camera, contact Support and resolve the issue before you plug in the camera.

Once connected, your camera will run an automatic firmware update and begin auto-provisioning into your Command account. Typically this takes about 5-7 minutes. 

The camera's flashing orange status light indicates a firmware update; a solid blue light indicates the camera is operational. Read more about camera status lights.

Note: While Verkada cameras are considered low-voltage devices that do not require a certified electrician to install, we strongly recommend you work with a system integrator or other professional for installation.

While Verkada cameras store video data locally in on-camera storage, they do require an internet connection to enable remote access and to send metadata to your Verkada cloud-based account. Depending on the number of cameras installed, your internet connection requirements may vary, see Bandwidth Consumption & Uplink Requirements for more info.

Visit Training Center for bite-sized video tutorials on how to accomplish role-based tasks in Command.