DW Spectrum Professional Maximum Site Size

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Affected Roles: Administrator, Power Users

Related DW Software: DW Spectrum Professional

Software Version: 6.1

Last Edit: February 2, 2026

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Site Limitations

While DW Spectrum Professional is scalable from one to thousands of devices, there are still limitations to be considered. In addition to the hardware requirements of a DW Spectrum Server, the restrictions that would otherwise impede the effectiveness of a DW Spectrum Site should always be followed. Surpassing the recommended limitations when building a DW Spectrum Site can cause operating issues, video issues, network issues, etc.

This article will outline some of the operating limitations of DW Spectrum Professional when considering deploying a large-scale DW Spectrum Site or in general.

Related Articles

• DW Spectrum- Client Hardware Requirements
• DW Spectrum - Server Hardware Requirements
• DW Spectrum - IP Storage Calculator

Supported/Affected Devices:

• DW Blackjack Server Series

Terminology Glossary

The following terminology is commonly used when referring to DW Spectrum:

• Site – can be comprised of a single DW Spectrum Server or of multiple DW Spectrum Servers that have been merged into a single DW Spectrum Site
• Server – refers to the computer where the DW Spectrum Server software is installed. The purpose of such servers is to receive video streams from cameras, manage local cameras, process and analyze video for analytics or other special settings. Additionally, a DW Spectrum Server is responsible for archiving and storing video footage, while also acting as the central device in the surveillance network.
• Client – refers to the DW Spectrum Client software portion of the platform. This application can be used as a GUI when managing and using the DW Spectrum program. It is typically permissible to install both the DW Spectrum Client software alongside the DW Spectrum Server software for quick setting adjustments, however it is recommended to avoid using the DW Spectrum Client application on the same computer for extended periods of time to avoid unnecessary processing consumption. A good alternative would be to install the Client on a separate computer, then connect with the Server through the network.
• Resource – when referring to a DW Spectrum Site, a “resource” is typically a reference to any device (IP camera, I/O device, standalone recorder, etc.) that has been registered and connected with a DW Spectrum Server.

Single DW Spectrum Site Limits

The following limitations apply to DW Spectrum Sites (overall) and are based on lab testing results, which may vary depending on the Site’s environment (physical, network, etc.):

**IMPORTANT: It is recommended to merge no more than 30 CaaS cameras together when acting as a single DW Spectrum Site. However, you may install more CaaS cameras on the same local subnetwork if they remain unmerged and can be viewed using the Cloud Layout feature in DW Spectrum Client. It is recommended to avoid merging CaaS cameras (in server-mode) into the same Site as regular DW Spectrum Servers.

Camera and Video Stream Limit

Currently, there is a limit of 128 video streams per DW Spectrum Server and a limit of 10,000 resources overall per DW Spectrum Site. Surpassing the recommended limitations for a DW Spectrum Site can cause critical errors within the platform.

However, DW Spectrum is a scalable platform. If there are more than 128 video streams planned for a DW Spectrum Site, additional DW Spectrum Server can be added to the Site to increase the number of video streams that can be safely used by the Site. For example, a Site with two DW Blackjack E-Rack servers in a merged DW Spectrum Site can safely support up to 256 video streams (128 streams x 2 servers = 256 streams).

**NOTE: DW Blackjack Servers can vary in the number of IP cameras that are supported, depending on the hardware model. For example, a DW Blackjack E-Rack supports up to 128 IP cameras, but a DW Blackjack Cube only supports up to 64 IP cameras. Please consider this when planning a DW Spectrum Site.

Video Thread Limit

When processing the media stream from an IP camera, the DW Spectrum Server will create up to four (4) threads:

• Thread 1 – reads a high-quality RTSP stream from the camera
• Thread 2 – reads a low-quality RTSP stream from the camera
• Thread 3 – processes the high-quality RTSP stream and uses a multiplexer to convert the input into .mkv format
• Thread 4 – processes the low-quality RTSP stream and uses a multiplexer to convert the input into .mkv format

As a result, 128 cameras can require up to 512 threads in total. While there is not a set limit of 512 threads in modern Operating Sites, our developers tested and concluded that when 512 threads is surpassed, there is a significant degradation in the DW Spectrum Site performance.

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Rev: 06/25                              Copyright © DW. All rights reserved. Specifications and pricing subject to change without notice.