Documentation
Overview
This page summarizes how OrionAlerts is deployed and what it works with: deployment models, camera compatibility over ONVIF, RTSP and vendor SDKs, on-site GPU processing, updates, data handling and integrations. It is a technical overview, not a full product manual. For questions specific to your cameras and sites, book a technical walkthrough.
Nebula OS runs where the video already is. The same operating system image and the same modules are used in every model — only the placement of the node changes.
Single plants, campuses and facilities
Nebula OS runs on an on-premise appliance or server next to the cameras. Video and AI inference stay inside the site network; only health, alerts and configuration metadata sync outward.
Multi-site organizations and regional operations
Each site runs its own Nebula OS node for video, recording and inference, while Orion Cloud provides the central command view — estate-wide health, alerts, assets and AMC across every location.
System integrators and AMC providers
Integrators deploy and operate Nebula OS nodes on behalf of their customers, using the health, asset and AMC modules to run service delivery across multiple client estates.
You do not need to replace existing cameras. Nebula OS includes a universal device layer that connects supported IP cameras and recorders through ONVIF, RTSP and vendor (OEM) SDKs, and translates them into one internal device model. This keeps a deployment brand-neutral.
Compatibility is confirmed per camera model during solution design, because available protocols, stream formats and firmware capabilities differ between models and generations.
Nebula OS boots on a single appliance or server at the site. Power it on and the video, AI, storage and health services come up together. Its core engines are: Video Engine, Recording Engine, AI Runtime, Health Engine, API Engine, Device Manager.
AI processing happens on the site node. Nebula OS is designed for hardware-accelerated video decoding and AI inference, so GPU acceleration is used where AI analytics are enabled. Node sizing depends on channel count and which detections are running, and our team sizes it per deployment.
The AI runtime reads decoded frames from the same video engine that records the cameras, so analytics run on the streams you already record. See edge AI video analytics and on-prem vs cloud video analytics.
Nebula OS and the services that run on it are released and updated as one unit. Updates follow a managed, rollback-ready deployment path, and connected nodes can receive secure over-the-air updates, so there is no separate upgrade and re-test cycle for video, analytics and monitoring components.
In the standard deployment, video and AI inference stay on the on-site Nebula OS node. Orion Cloud synchronizes health status, alerts, configuration and operational metadata for central management, without requiring raw video to be uploaded. Alerts are delivered to the dashboard, mobile app and email.
For how we handle security and personal data, see Security and the Privacy Policy.
OrionAlerts is designed to work alongside existing IP camera networks, NVRs, VMS platforms, IoT devices, access control systems and enterprise applications where required. A built-in API engine is part of the Nebula OS core, and the integrations each site needs are scoped during solution design rather than assumed up front.
CP Plus. OrionAlerts is a technology partner for CP Plus. Through its API engine, OrionAlerts can connect compatible CP Plus cameras and recording systems, so existing CP Plus installations can gain AI video analytics without replacing every working camera. Compatibility is assessed model by model. Read the CP Plus integration notes.
Deployment, cameras, detections, multi-site operations and partners.
Read moreArchitecture, modules, deployment models and how the platform is built.
Read moreDefinitions of VMS, VSaaS, ONVIF, RTSP, edge AI, ANPR, AMC and more.
Read moreHow each AI detection works, what affects it and what you need to run it.
Read moreVMS vs VSaaS, on-prem vs cloud analytics, and Nebula OS vs NVR plus analytics.
Read moreLegal entity, headquarters, modules, protocols, video handling and contacts.
Read moreNeed a walkthrough or implementation help? Contact the team
We will review your cameras, sites and network, confirm compatibility per model and size a node for your deployment.