Need recommendations to replace failed Avigilon NVR

I have a client who installed an Avigilon system about four years ago, and now their NVR has failed—conveniently, just a month after the warranty expired. They were never really happy with Avigilon and don’t want to replace it with the same brand.

They have 32 cameras, including a mix of 2-head and 3-head models. They need a new system with strong detection features like line crossing and AI-based alerts.

Looking for recommendations on building a new setup with reliable software that supports these features. Any suggestions? Appreciate the help!

Do you know the exact Avigilon camera models? Some, like the H5 series, work well in ONVIF mode.

Are the detection features (line crossing, AI) built into the cameras, or do you need the NVR software to handle them? Avigilon hasn’t been great about exposing these features through ONVIF, so if you’re moving to a different system, you might have to rely on the NVR for motion detection and AI processing.

If you’re considering third-party software, you might want to look into something like XProtect or Blue Iris.

Check out Scrypted NVR:

https://demo.scrypted.app

If they were willing to invest in Avigilon, they might consider Axis. It’s in the same price and quality range.

EmmanuelBrown said:
If they were willing to invest in Avigilon, they might consider Axis. It’s in the same price and quality range.

Axis is solid, but how well does their NVR work with other brands of cameras?

Since the client already has 32 cameras, they might not want to replace everything just yet.

@Mason
Axis Camera Station supports some third-party cameras:

If compatibility is a concern, you could consider Milestone XProtect or Eagle Eye—they specialize in working with ONVIF-compatible cameras.

Geovision is another option if you’re looking for a company that focuses more on NVRs than cameras.

It really depends on how proprietary Avigilon’s AI features are. A lot of analytics now happen on the camera itself rather than the NVR.

@EmmanuelBrown
Good point. ONVIF doesn’t seem to have a standardized profile for AI-based detections—it all falls under Profile T, which isn’t very specific. Seems like a big oversight.

Synology’s Surveillance Station supports AI detection for a few brands, letting you differentiate between vehicles and people for alerts. It might be worth looking into.

Are you looking for Windows- or Linux-based software, or a dedicated NVR appliance?

Synology Surveillance Station supports Avigilon/Motorola cameras (or any ONVIF-compatible ones), but for AI detection, you’d need something like the Synology DVA3221.

You might also consider a cloud-based video recorder (CVR) that can work with existing ONVIF cameras.

OpenEye is a great platform with strong detection features and solid remote access.

Amcrest has been great for my businesses. We switched all 18 locations to Amcrest and haven’t looked back.