Solving Local Storage and SD Card Recording Issues on Mobotix Cameras
Mobotix cameras are renowned for their decentralised architecture, allowing them to record high-quality video directly to internal or local storage without needing a central NVR. However, when your camera fails to save footage locally, it can be a critical failure point. This guide provides a systematic approach to troubleshooting and resolving issues with SD card and local storage on your Mobotix camera.
### Understanding Mobotix Local Storage
Most Mobotix cameras have a microSD card slot that allows them to store video and events directly on the device. This is a core part of the Mobotix decentralised concept. The camera can also be configured to save footage to a local network share, like a NAS (Network Attached Storage) drive. Problems usually stem from the storage medium itself, the camera's configuration, or network issues.
Troubleshooting Steps for Local Recording Failures
Follow these instructions to diagnose why your Mobotix camera is not saving footage locally.
1. Check SD Card Compatibility and Health
The choice of SD card is critical for reliable surveillance recording.
- Use a High-Endurance Card: Standard SD cards are not designed for the constant read/write cycles of a security camera and can fail prematurely. Use a 'High Endurance' or 'Industrial Grade' microSD card from a reputable brand.
- Verify Capacity: Check the maximum supported SD card capacity for your specific Mobotix model. Using a card that is too large may cause it to be unrecognised.
- Test the Card: If you suspect the card is faulty, test it in a computer with a diagnostic tool like H2testw to check for errors.
2. Properly Format the SD Card in the Camera
Formatting the SD card on a PC or Mac can lead to issues. It must be prepared by the camera itself.
- Log in to your camera's web interface with administrator rights.
- Navigate to the Admin Menu.
- Go to Storage on External File Server / Flash Device.
- The internal SD card should be detected here. Select the option to Format and Prepare the flash device.
- The camera will format the card with the correct file system and create the necessary folder structure. This process may take several minutes.
3. Configure Recording Settings Correctly
Once the card is formatted, you must tell the camera what and when to record.
- In the Admin Menu, go to Recording.
- Define a Recording Event: You need to link recording to an event. For example, in the Event Settings, you might have an event for 'Motion Detection' (VM).
- Set the Recording (REC) Action: In the Recording menu, ensure that you have an active recording job. This job should be triggered by your chosen event (e.g., VM) and the 'Storage Target' must be set to 'Internal Storage (SD Card)'.
- Enable the Storage Ring Buffer: Make sure the camera is set to overwrite the oldest recordings when the card becomes full. This setting is usually found in the main storage configuration menu.
4. Troubleshooting NAS / External File Server Storage
If you are trying to save to a network drive, the process is slightly different.
- Check Network Connectivity: Ensure the camera can ping the NAS drive's IP address. You can often find a network test tool within the camera's admin interface.
- Verify Credentials: Double-check that you have entered the correct username and password for the NAS share.
- Check Share Permissions: The user account you are using must have read and write permissions for the target folder on the NAS. This is a very common point of failure.
- Use the Correct Path: Ensure the path to the network share is entered correctly (e.g.,
//192.168.1.100/Recordings).
5. Check System Messages and Logs
The Mobotix system messages are an invaluable tool for diagnostics.
- In the web interface, go to Live > System Messages.
- Look for any errors related to 'Storage', 'SD Card', or 'Recording'. The logs will often provide a specific error message that can point you directly to the cause of the problem.
By systematically working through these steps, you can identify and resolve the vast majority of local storage issues on your Mobotix camera, ensuring your footage is always being recorded reliably.