ONVIF: what it is and which profile your cameras need
ONVIF is the open standard that lets a camera from one maker work with a recorder or video management system from another. It was founded in 2008 by Axis, Bosch and Sony, and it works through profiles: a camera and a recorder that share a profile can talk to each other.
How ONVIF works
1. Discovery
The recorder sends a WS-Discovery probe to the multicast address 239.255.255.250 on UDP port 3702, and every ONVIF device on the subnet answers with its address.
2. Configuration
Over web services on the camera's HTTP port, at /onvif/device_service, the recorder reads the profiles, sets resolution and codec, moves the PTZ and subscribes to events.
3. Streaming
ONVIF hands the recorder an RTSP address, and the video itself flows over RTSP and RTP, usually on port 554.
The RTSP side has its own pages: RTSP URL formats by brand and RTSP ports 554, 8554 and 322.
ONVIF profiles
| Profile | For | What it covers | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Profile S | IP cameras and encoders | Live video, PTZ control, audio and relay outputs | Support ends 31 March 2027; Profile T replaces it |
| Profile T | IP cameras | H.264 and H.265 streaming, imaging settings, motion and tamper events, metadata, two-way audio, streaming over HTTPS | Current |
| Profile G | Cameras and recorders with storage | Recording on the device, search and playback | Current |
| Profile M | Analytics devices and clients | Analytics metadata and events: object classes, faces, number plates | Current |
| Profile C | Access control | Door control and access events | Current |
| Profile A | Access control | Credentials, access rules and schedules | Current |
| Profile D | Access control peripherals | Readers, locks and other door devices | Current |
| Profile Q | Any device | Quick installation out of the box | Deprecated on 1 April 2022 |
What the camera datasheets say
CCTVplanner reads the ONVIF profiles from each manufacturer's datasheet. Of the 1,079 camera models whose datasheet lists them:
Profile S support ends on 31 March 2027. For a system that has to take new firmware after that, choose cameras and a recorder that both list Profile T.
ONVIF vs RTSP
| Aspect | RTSP | ONVIF |
|---|---|---|
| What it does | Carries the video and audio | Finds, configures and controls the camera |
| Port | 554 by default | UDP 3702 for discovery, the HTTP port for configuration |
| Gives you | A live stream | The RTSP address, PTZ, events, settings and recordings |
| Works alone | Yes, in VLC or any player | No, it points the recorder to RTSP for the video |
When an ONVIF camera will not connect
- ONVIF is switched off. Some brands ship with it disabled; Hikvision, for example, needs ONVIF enabled and a separate ONVIF user created on the camera.
- The clocks disagree. ONVIF logins carry a timestamp, so a camera whose time is far from the recorder's rejects the password. Point both at the same NTP server.
- Wrong port. ONVIF runs on the camera's web port, not on RTSP port 554.
- Different subnet. Discovery is multicast and does not cross routers or VLANs. Add the camera by its IP address instead.
- Profile or codec mismatch. A recorder that only speaks Profile S may not take an H.265 stream that the camera offers through Profile T.
To test a camera from a laptop, see how to use ONVIF Device Manager.
ONVIF in CCTVplanner
- Camera pages and the camera panel in the planner show the ONVIF profiles from the datasheet.
- The PDF equipment schedule lists them for every camera, so the recorder can be checked against them.
- The design check notes when cameras in one project support different profiles.
ONVIF questions
What is ONVIF?
ONVIF is an industry forum, founded in 2008 by Axis, Bosch and Sony, that publishes the interface specifications letting a camera from one maker work with a recorder or video management system from another. A product is conformant when it passes ONVIF's tests for a profile and appears on ONVIF's list of conformant products.
What is the difference between ONVIF and RTSP?
RTSP carries the video. ONVIF finds the camera, configures it, controls PTZ, delivers its events and tells the recorder which RTSP address to pull. You can watch a camera over RTSP without ONVIF; a recorder uses ONVIF to add and manage it.
Is ONVIF Profile S being discontinued?
Yes. ONVIF ends support for Profile S on 31 March 2027, after which new products and new firmware can no longer claim Profile S conformance. Profile T covers almost everything Profile S did and adds H.265, events, metadata and HTTPS streaming.
Which port does ONVIF use?
Discovery uses WS-Discovery on UDP port 3702. Configuration runs over the camera's HTTP or HTTPS port, usually 80 or 443 unless changed, at /onvif/device_service. The video then flows over RTSP, usually on port 554.
What share of cameras support ONVIF Profile T?
Of the 1,079 camera models whose datasheet in the CCTVplanner catalog lists ONVIF profiles, 967 (90%) support Profile T, and all of them support Profile S.