Management server (explained)

The management server is the central VMS component. It stores the configuration of the surveillance system in a SQL Server database, either on SQL Server on the management server computer itself or on separate SQL Server on the network. It also handles user authentication, user permissions, the rule system and more.

To improve system performance, you can run several management servers as a Milestone Federated Architecture™. The management server runs as a service and is typically installed on a dedicated server.

Users connect to the management server for initial authentication, then transparently to the recording servers for access to for video recordings, etc.