Verkada Camera Offline? A Step-by-Step Guide to Get it Back Online
An offline Verkada camera is a critical issue, creating a blind spot in your surveillance. The "Offline" status in your Verkada Command dashboard means the camera cannot communicate with the cloud, rendering it unable to stream or record video. This guide will help you systematically troubleshoot the most common causes of this problem and restore your camera's connection.
## Step 1: Physical Inspection and LED Status
Start your troubleshooting at the camera's physical location. A visual inspection can often reveal the root of the problem.
- Check the Ethernet Cable: Ensure the network cable is firmly seated in the camera's Ethernet port and in the corresponding port on your network switch. A loose or disconnected cable is a simple but common cause.
- Observe the LED Indicator: The status LED on the camera provides vital clues:
- Flashing Amber: This is the classic sign of a connectivity issue. The camera has power but cannot establish a stable connection to the Verkada servers.
- Solid Amber: The camera is booting up. If it stays in this state for more than a few minutes, it may be stuck in a boot loop.
- No Light: This indicates a power failure. The camera is not receiving power from the PoE switch.
- Solid Blue: The camera is online and operating correctly.
## Step 2: Verify Power over Ethernet (PoE)
Verkada cameras receive both power and data through a single Ethernet cable using Power over Ethernet (PoE). A power issue will always result in an offline status.
- Check the Switch Port: Confirm that the port on your network switch that the camera is connected to is active and providing PoE. Most managed switches have an indicator light to show PoE is being delivered.
- Test with a Different Port: Unplug the camera and plug it into a different switch port that you know is providing PoE to another working device. If the camera powers on and comes online, the original port may be faulty.
- Check Power Budget: If you have multiple PoE devices on one switch, ensure you haven't exceeded the switch's total PoE power budget.
## Step 3: Investigate Network and Firewall Settings
If power and physical connections are solid, the problem likely lies within your network configuration. Verkada cameras require specific outbound access to function.
- DHCP Service: Ensure your network has a working DHCP server to assign an IP address to the camera. Without an IP address, it cannot communicate.
- DNS Resolution: The camera must be able to resolve domain names to find the Verkada cloud. Check that your network's DNS settings are configured correctly. You can test this by trying to connect another device to the same network port and accessing the internet.
- Firewall Rules: This is a critical checkpoint. Your network's firewall must allow outbound traffic on TCP port 443. The camera needs this to establish a secure connection to the Verkada cloud. If this port is blocked, the camera will remain offline. You may need to work with your IT administrator to confirm that
*.verkada.comis whitelisted.
## Step 4: Use Verkada Command for Clues
Your Command dashboard can offer more information.
- Select the offline camera from your list.
- The platform will show the last time the camera was online. This can help you correlate the outage with any recent network changes or power failures.
- While you cannot see a live feed, the historical data might provide context for the failure.
If you've worked through all these steps and the camera remains offline, it's time to contact Verkada Support. Provide them with the camera's serial number and the troubleshooting steps you've already performed for a faster resolution.