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Low-Latency RTSP Streaming

Stream your Verkada cameras on third-party applications or media players

Real-Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP) is a streaming protocol that allows Verkada cameras to integrate live video into third-party applications or media players. The video is streamed directly from the camera to the client without passing through the Verkada cloud.

Verkada camera RTSP streams can only be accessed over the local network from private addresses as defined in RFC 1918. This means a camera with a non-standard internal NAT IP outside of 10.0.0.0/8, 192.168.0.0/16, or 172.16.0.0/12 will fail to start an RTSP stream.

Verkada offers high quality (HQ) and standard quality (SQ) RTSP streams, where:

  • The resolution and bitrate of the RTSP streams are the same as in Verkada Command. See Adaptive Quality Recording for more information.

  • You can set up to 2 concurrent RTSP streams for a single camera.

Before you begin

Secure your camera network

RTSP 1.0 is widely supported by vendors for interoperability, but because it is an unencrypted protocol, you need to configure the network to secure the data properly.

1

Create a custom username and password for RTSP that is not used in any other system. We recommend that you generate a random long password for this purpose.

2

Segregate your cameras onto a separate network, virtual local area network (VLAN), or virtual private network (VPN) inaccessible from the internet or other untrusted systems.

3

If you use a third-party cloud video integration, set up a VPN between the third-party system and your camera network, as the RTSP authentication and connection are not encrypted when streaming video.

4

Configure your external/edge firewall to drop RTSP traffic (port 8554).

5

Add only the minimum necessary RTSP client IP addresses in Verkada Command.

6

If you have traffic shaping/limiting capabilities, consider configuring the bandwidth allowed for RTSP.

Configure the network

You need Site Admins permissions to enable RTSP.

1

In Verkada Command, go to All Products > Cameras.

2

Select a camera and click Settings.

3

Under Device, toggle on Real Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP).

4

Enter a username and password, and click Enable.

A valid password is required to enable RTSP streams, and users are prompted to enter a valid password the first time they toggle on the feature. Store your password in a secure location; it will not display again after it is created.

Copy and paste RTSP URLs

For your convenience, you can see the RTSP URLs in Verkada Command. This allows you to copy and paste them with one click. You need to replace the [PASSWORD] text in the URL with the password you set up for the camera before using it in the RTSP client.

1

In Verkada Command, go to All Products > Cameras.

2

Select a camera and click Settings.

3

Under Device > Real Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP), click Copy next to the standard or high-resolution URL and change the [PASSWORD] section of the link with the password you created when RTSP was enabled.

4

Once you have updated the link, add it to your third-party application.

RTSP specs by camera model

Verkada supports RTSP 1.0 and RFC 2326. Verkada camera RTSP streams can only be accessed over the local network from private addresses as defined in RFC 1918.

Dome series

Model

RTSP Audio

Max SQ Streams

Max HQ Streams

Max Concurrent Streams

CD63 | CD63-E

Yes

2

2

2

CD53 | CD53-E

Yes

2

2

2

CD43 | CD43-E

Yes

2

2

2

CD62 | CD62-E

Yes

2

2

2

CD52-E-F | CD52-F

Yes

2

2

2

CD52 | CD52-E

Yes

2

2

2

CD42 | CD42-E

Yes

2

2

2

CD42-E-F | CD42-F

Yes

2

2

2

CD32 | CD32-E

Yes

2

2

2

CD22 | CD22-E

No

2

2

2

Mini Dome series

Model

RTSP Audio

Max SQ Streams

Max HQ Streams

Max Concurrent Streams

CM42

Yes

2

2

2

CM41-S | CM42-S

Yes

2

2

2

CM22

No

2

2

2

CM41 | CM41-E

Yes

2

2

2

Fisheye

Model

RTSP Audio

Max SQ Streams

Max HQ Streams

Max Concurrent Streams

CF83-E | CF81-E

No

2

2

2

Bullet series

Model

RTSP Audio

Max SQ Streams

Max HQ Streams

Max Concurrent Streams

CB62-E | CB62-TE

No

2

2

2

CB52-E | CB52-TE

No

2

2

2

Multisensor

Model

RTSP Audio

Max SQ Streams

Max HQ Streams

Max Concurrent Streams

CY53-E

Yes

2

2

4 (2 per camera thread)

CH52-E

No

2

2

8 (2 per camera thread)

PTZ

Model

RTSP Audio

Max SQ Streams

Max HQ Streams

Max Concurrent Streams

CP63-E | CP52-E

No

2

2

2

Need more help? Contact Verkada Support.

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