Troubleshooting Guide for Verkada Cameras with No Video Feed
A Verkada camera that is offline or not displaying a video feed in the Command platform is a critical security gap that needs immediate attention. The cause of this issue is almost always related to either the camera's power supply or its network connection. Verkada's solid-state design means hardware failures are rare, so a systematic check of the infrastructure is the most effective approach.
This guide will take you through the necessary steps to diagnose and resolve the 'no video' issue with your Verkada camera.
### Step 1: Check the Camera's Status LED
The LED light on the front of your Verkada camera is the most important diagnostic tool you have. It tells you exactly what the camera is doing or trying to do.
- No Light: The camera is not receiving any power. This is the most critical issue to address first.
- Solid Orange: The camera has power and is in the process of booting up. This is normal for a few minutes after it's first plugged in. If it stays orange for a long time, it may be stuck in a boot loop.
- Flashing Blue: The camera has power, has booted up, and is attempting to connect to the network and reach the Verkada servers. If it stays in this state, it indicates a network connectivity problem.
- Solid Blue: This is the desired state. The camera is powered on, connected to the network, and communicating successfully with the Verkada Command platform. If you see a solid blue light but no video in Command, the issue is likely with the platform or your browser.
- Flashing Orange: The camera is in the process of updating its firmware. Do not unplug it during this time.
## Step 2: Troubleshoot Power and Physical Connections
If the status LED indicates a power problem (no light), follow these steps.
-
Verify Power over Ethernet (PoE): Most Verkada cameras are powered by PoE.
- Check the Switch: Look at the network switch the camera is plugged into. Does the port indicate that it is active and providing power? Most PoE switches have indicator lights for this.
- Test the Port: Unplug the camera and plug another known-working PoE device (like another camera or a VoIP phone) into the same port to confirm the port is functioning correctly.
- Test the Cable: A faulty Ethernet cable can prevent power delivery. Swap the camera's cable with a new or known-working one.
-
Check Power Adapter (if applicable): If you are using an external power adapter instead of PoE, ensure it is the correct model for your camera and that it is securely plugged in.
## Step 3: Diagnose Network Connectivity Issues
If the status LED is flashing blue, the camera has power but cannot get online.
- DHCP Service: Verkada cameras require a DHCP server on the network to be assigned an IP address. Ensure that your network's DHCP service is running and has available leases.
- Firewall and Port Filtering: This is a very common issue in corporate environments. Verkada cameras need to make outbound connections over specific ports (primarily TCP 443) to communicate with the cloud.
- Action: Check your network firewall's outbound rules. Ensure that traffic to
*.verkada.comis not being blocked. You may need to consult with your IT department to have the necessary rules put in place. The Verkada documentation provides a specific list of required hostnames.
- Action: Check your network firewall's outbound rules. Ensure that traffic to
- DNS Resolution: The camera must be able to resolve DNS addresses to find the Verkada servers. Ensure your network's DNS server is functioning correctly.
### Step 4: Check the Verkada Command Platform
If the camera's LED is solid blue, the camera itself believes it is working perfectly. The issue may be on the viewing end.
- Refresh Your Browser: A simple refresh of the Command web page can sometimes resolve display glitches.
- Try a Different Browser or Computer: Test to see if you can view the camera feed from a different web browser or another computer. This will rule out issues with your local machine or browser extensions.
- Check Command Status: While rare, you can check Verkada's official status page to see if there are any ongoing platform-wide outages.
By methodically checking the camera's status light and then working through the power, network, and platform layers, you can efficiently pinpoint and resolve the reason your Verkada camera is not displaying video.