Ideal Industries Networks explains its SignalTek IItest tool has the capability to assure IP-video surveillance-system reliability, whether the cabling infrastructure used to support IP video is copper- or fiber-based. “IP physical security systems require a powerful mix of infrastructure components, ranging from robust high-speed cabling and PoE/PoE+ power delivery, to IPv4 and IPv6 connections and high-capacity network equipment,” the company notes. “A single flaw in any of these components will seriously compromise system availability, as well as the overall security of a facility and its occupants.”

That’s where its SignalTek II comes in for surveillance-system integrators, the company says. “SignalTek II begins the job by verifying that the system’s copper or fiber cabling is capable of supporting bandwidth-heavy IP-based video surveillance applications over 10/100 Megabit or Gigabit Ethernet,” Ideal says. “Next, SignalTek II will test IP connections, validating proper DHCP [Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol] and static IPv4 and IPv6 addressing, testing Internet and cloud connections with ping and trace route, and ensuring connection to NVRs [network video recorders], video clients, decoders and wireless nodes. It will also load test network capacity between cameras and the NVR, storage and client locations, as well as simulate any number of MJPEG or H.264 camera with resolutions up to 5 MP.”

Finally, Ideal Industries Networks says, the tester generates documentation verifying network connectivity and job completion. Reports provide a pass/fail summary and individual test result details, the company says.