XProtect device licensing is the counting model Milestone Systems uses for its XProtect video management software (VMS). Each installation needs at least one base licence for the VMS product, plus device licences for the hardware it records. “As a minimum, you have a base license for one of the XProtect VMS products. You may also have one or more base licenses for XProtect extensions.” “Generally, you need one device license per hardware device with a camera that you want to add to your system.”[2] The binding counting rules are set out in the EULA under “License, Installation and Use Conditions and Restrictions”, which apply to all four VMS variants.[1]
Editions
The base licence determines the variant. Variants differ in how many servers and devices one licence can drive:
| Variant | Management server | Recording servers | Failover recording servers | IP devices per recording server |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Express+ | One computer or cluster[1] | One[1] | Not mentioned | 100[11] |
| Professional+ | Unrestricted per SLC | Unrestricted | Not mentioned | Unrestricted, depending on configuration |
| Expert | Unrestricted per SLC | Unrestricted | Unrestricted | Unrestricted, depending on configuration |
| Corporate | Unrestricted per SLC | Unrestricted | Unrestricted | Unrestricted, depending on configuration |
Sources: EULA product-specific terms[1] and the variant comparison.[11] Catalog proof: Express+ limited to one management server and one recording server; Corporate and Expert allow unrestricted recording and failover servers.
Metrics
Device license
The EULA rule reads: “For IP devices with one IP address included in the Milestone Supported Device List, one device license is needed per IP device connected to and enabled in the Product. For IP devices with more than one enabled IP address, the number of required device licenses is specified in the Milestone Supported Device List.”[1] IP devices are defined broadly as “cameras, encoders, video services or other types of video and non-video devices that are addressed through a unique IP address”.[1] Milestone states that the Supported Device List contains licensing information “applicable to XProtect 2021 R1 and further versions”.[3] Catalog proof: Device license; One device license per listed IP device.
Exceptions in the EULA
The EULA lists three exceptions for listed devices with one IP address:[1]
- Devices connected through an intermediate device or system need one device licence per enabled video channel.
- Devices with multiple lenses or sensors, and encoders with up to 16 connected analog cameras, count as one IP device.
- Encoders with more than 16 channels need one device licence per enabled video channel.
The administrator guide adds that for an encoder above 16 channels, a licence is required per activated camera “also for the first 16 activated cameras”. An encoder of up to 16 channels needs “one device license per video encoder IP address”.[2] Catalog proof: Encoders above 16 channels and intermediate systems count per channel.
Device license per enabled video channel
For devices not on the Supported Device List, “IP devices with video capabilities require one device license per enabled video channel, (ii) IP devices without video capabilities require one device license per IP address”. The Video Processing Service Driver in the MIP SDK also needs one licence per enabled channel.[1] The Supported Device List page adds: “If a device is connected using a universal driver or is not listed, licensing is applied per enabled video channel.”[3] A four-channel camera on a universal driver can therefore need four licences where the same camera on its specified driver needs one. This is an illustration derived from the cited rules. Catalog proof: Device license per enabled video channel; Unlisted devices count per enabled video channel; Universal-driver devices count per enabled video channel.
What does not count
“Device licenses are not required for speakers, microphones, or input and output devices attached to your cameras.”[2] Users are not counted. The comparison chart shows the maximum number of users as unrestricted for every variant.[11] The XProtect Smart Client, Web Client and Mobile client may be installed or used on an unrestricted number of computers or devices under the EULA client terms.[1] Catalog proof: Speakers, microphones and I/O devices need no device licence.
Counting / floors
Ceiling, not floor. Each variant’s terms end with the same acknowledgement: “the Product may only be used with as many IP devices as you have acquired device licenses for”.[1] In the Management Client, devices beyond the licences held appear in the Without License column “and cannot be used in your system”. Hardware devices that need more than one licence are listed in a full device license report.[5] Catalog proof: Use limited to the number of device licences acquired; Devices beyond licences held cannot be used.
Reharvesting. “If you remove a camera from a recording server, you free a device license”, but access to the old camera’s databases and settings is lost. Replacing a camera with a similar model at the same IP address keeps the databases. Replacing it with a different model uses the Replace Hardware wizard.[4] Catalog proof: Removing a camera frees a device licence.
Pricing basis. Milestone sells through partners. The price depends on “the XProtect variant, the number of connected devices, maintenance coverage, and any extensions”, and extension licences are “also priced by the number of devices”.[12]
Extension licences
| Extension | Licences | Source |
|---|---|---|
| XProtect Interconnect | Interconnect camera licences on the central site, “one license per stream”; only XProtect Corporate can be the central site | [2] |
| XProtect Access | One base licence per instance (unrestricted access servers); one door licence per door, and “A door with two entry points requires only one (1) door license”; “a one-time fee, with no maintenance or annual charges” | [6] |
| XProtect LPR | One base licence (unrestricted LPR servers); one LPR camera licence per camera; one country module licence per country, state or region, with five included | [7] |
| XProtect Smart Wall | One base licence for unrestricted monitors; included with Corporate, bought separately for Expert | [9] |
| XProtect Incident Manager | One base licence; included with Corporate 2022 R2 and later, bought separately for Expert and Professional+ | [10] |
| XProtect Management Server Failover | Licence for both primary and secondary management server, issued for the Node 1 and Node 2 hostnames; three-day demo licence | [8][1] |
| XProtect Hospital Assist | One licence “for each enabled video channel” | [1] |
Catalog proof: Interconnect needs camera licences at the central Corporate site; XProtect Access licensed per door with a one-time fee; LPR needs camera licences and country modules; Smart Wall included in Corporate, extra for Expert; Incident Manager included in Corporate 2022 R2 and later; Management Server Failover licence bound to node hostnames.
Mobile video push. The administrator guide requires “one device license per mobile device or tablet that should be able to push video to your system”.[2] The EULA phrases the requirement per user: “each named user of the XProtect Mobile client wanting to make use of the video push functionality requires one (1) camera license”.[1] Where one user pushes from several devices, or several users share one device, the two documents give different counts. A licence manager should record which one the organisation relies on. Catalog proof: XProtect Mobile video push license; Video push needs a device licence per mobile device.
Virtualization & partitioning
The device metric counts cameras and channels, not servers. Server components may be installed on as many computers as the variant allows per Software License Code, physical or virtual, provided the operating system is one “for which the Product was designed”.[1] The Management Server Failover licence is the exception, because it is tied to hostnames.[8]
Cloud / BYOL
XProtect on AWS uses the customer’s own base and device licences under the EULA’s bring-your-own-license clause.[1] Cameras streaming to an AWS-hosted recording server count exactly as on premises. Catalog proof: XProtect may be deployed on AWS under BYOL.
Out of scope
- The per-model licence counts in the Supported Device List, which change as devices and firmware are added.[3]
- Licensing rules for XProtect versions before 2021 R1.
- XProtect Transact and BriefCam, whose licences were not reviewed.