How Camera and AI Streams Affect HDD Workloads

Surveillance systems create different types of storage activity. Camera streams continuously write video, while AI streams may add analytics, metadata, and random-write operations. Understanding these workloads helps system builders select a drive that matches the intended configuration.

Camera Streams

A camera stream is a continuous flow of video data from a security camera to a DVR, NVR or server. The data rate depends on resolution, frame rate, compression, and image complexity.

AI Streams

An AI stream represents video or metadata being processed for analytics. Examples include object detection, event classification and behavioral analysis. AI streams can increase random-write activity and real-time access requirements.

Annual Workload Rate

Annual workload rate measures the total amount of data read, written, or verified over a year. It is different from storage capacity. A system can have enough free capacity but still exceed the drive’s intended workload if data is accessed or rewritten heavily.

Matching the Drive to the System

The Toshiba S300 AI HDD supports up to 64 high-definition camera streams, up to 32 AI streams and workloads up to 550TB per year. Actual support depends on the host system, compression, software, and camera settings.

Planning for Growth

System designers should consider future camera additions, increased resolution, and expanded analytics. Selecting a drive with sufficient workload and capacity headroom can reduce the need for early replacement.

Product Recommendation

Use a purpose-built AI surveillance HDD when the system combines continuous recording with analytics and requires higher workload support.