Navigation:  Working with Nx Witness > Configuring Server Settings > Configuring Server and NAS Storage

Each server can use an unlimited number of local and network storage paths. If more than one storage location is used, the Media Server will automatically balance space consumption across drives (see "Background: Archive Distribution and Retention"). Each local hard disk partition is considered a storage location. Network attached storage (NAS) and USB storage, if enabled, are also supported. Usage intensity is directly related to storage availability.

 IMPORTANT: 10-30 GB of free space is always preserved on each storage location. For NAS storage, this amount may vary between 50 and 100 GB depending on storage capacity. If only one system partition (where OS is installed) is present, then Nx Witness will use this partition for recording. If any other disk is added and an extended partition is created with 5 times the storage capacity than the system storage or if the total sum of available (non-system) storage capacity is 5 times that of the system storage, the system partition will be disabled for recording and Nx Witness will record data to the extended partition(s).

To configure server storage

 Note: USB storage is not enabled by default. Nx Witness will show a warning when a user is attempting to record to a removable drive (USB).

1.Open the server context menu and go to Server Settings > Storage Management tab.

2. Nx Witness discovers and displays local storage resources.

In the example shown below, the computer has 3 partitions. Disk E is the main storage partition and disk D is configured as backup. Disk C is not used because it is a system partition (a partition where the operating system is installed) and there are two other storage locations in the list. The system disk drive will only be used if it is the only storage location on a server.

3.Click on a storage location and use the button at the end of the row to toggle it on or off. There must always be at least one Main storage location. Once a main storage location is enabled, any other storage location can be set as Main or Backup, as needed.

 Note: At least one drive must be defined as Backup for archive backup to be possible.

4.Nx Witness will check all storage locations for validity and confirm the ability to write to each. If a drive is not available or has insufficient space, a warning will display.

5.To enable storage backup, see "Configuring Backup and Redundant Storage".

 Note:  Because some cameras record directly to their own internal storage, Nx Witness must periodically download archive from the camera's internal storage to Nx Witness System servers. See "Remote Archive Synchronization".

To add external storage

 IMPORTANT:  Make sure NAS is available and accessible through the network on which the computer server is installed.

1.Open the server's context menu and go to Server Settings > Storage Management tab.

2.Click Add External Storage

3.Choose the desired option from the Protocol menu, and enter the storage path (URL), Login, and Password for the external storage device.

4.Click OK to accept the entries and add the new device to the list of storage locations.

5.Use the button at the end of the row to toggle it on or off.

To find archive on a storage device

The storage structure on a partition is as follows:

<drive>/HD Witness Media/$Resolution/$ID/$YYYY/$MM/$DD/$HH

where:

•$Resolution:

•hi_quality – high resolution streams

•lo_quality – low resolution streams

•$ID – if reported, the MAC address of the recorded device, otherwise the Camera ID

•$YYYY – year recorded

•$MM – month recorded

•$DD – day recorded

•$HH – hour recorded