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10 Key Features of Axis Inventory Manager You Should Know

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How to Set Up Axis Inventory Manager — Step‑by‑StepAxis Inventory Manager is a centralized tool for managing devices, licenses, and firmware across Axis network devices. This step‑by‑step guide walks you through planning, installation, initial configuration, device discovery, grouping, firmware and license management, integration with other systems, backups, and ongoing maintenance. Follow each section to set up a reliable, secure, and maintainable Axis Inventory Manager deployment.

Before you begin: planning and prerequisites

  • Check system requirements (CPU, RAM, disk) for the Axis Inventory Manager version you’ll install. Ensure the server meets vendor minimums.
  • Choose the deployment environment: on‑premises VM, physical server, or cloud instance.
  • Reserve a stable static IP or DNS name for the Inventory Manager server.
  • Ensure network connectivity between the server and all Axis devices (firewall rules, routing).
  • Prepare credentials for devices (admin accounts), Axis License keys, and any integration credentials (VMS, LDAP).
  • Identify backup and restore strategy and storage location.
  • Plan a maintenance window for scanning/updating devices if production impact is possible.

Step 1 — Download and install Axis Inventory Manager

  1. Obtain the latest Axis Inventory Manager package from Axis Communications portal.
  2. If installing on Windows or Linux, follow the vendor’s installer instructions. Typical steps:
    • Mount or extract the installer package.
    • Run the installer with administrative privileges.
    • Select installation directory and required components.
  3. Open necessary network ports (check vendor documentation; commonly HTTP(S) ports and device management ports).
  4. Start the Axis Inventory Manager service and confirm it’s running.

Step 2 — Initial web UI setup and administrator account

  1. Open the Inventory Manager web interface using the server IP/DNS and configured port (e.g., https://inventory.example.local:port).
  2. Create the initial administrator user and set a strong password. Enable MFA on the admin account if supported.
  3. Configure basic settings: server hostname, timezone, email SMTP server (for alerts), and NTP server for time sync.
  4. Apply a valid SSL/TLS certificate for the web UI (self‑signed for testing, CA‑signed for production).

Step 3 — Configure network and security settings

  1. Define allowed IP ranges or networks that can access the Inventory Manager UI and APIs.
  2. Configure firewall rules on the server and network to allow Inventory Manager to reach devices (ONVIF/HTTP/HTTPS/HTTPS management ports).
  3. If available, enable role‑based access control (RBAC) and create operator accounts with least privilege.
  4. Integrate with LDAP/Active Directory if your organization uses centralized authentication. Test user logins and group mappings.

Step 4 — Add device credentials and discovery settings

  1. Create credential profiles that Inventory Manager will use to authenticate to devices (username/password, SSH keys if supported). Use dedicated service accounts where possible.
  2. Configure discovery methods:
    • IP range/subnet scan
    • Specific device IP addresses
    • DNS names or host lists
    • ONVIF discovery (if devices support ONVIF)
  3. Set discovery schedule (immediate scan for initial population; recurring scans for ongoing discovery).
  4. Run a discovery pass and review results. Devices that fail to authenticate will be listed — verify credentials and network access.

Step 5 — Organize devices: groups, tags, and sites

  1. Create a site structure that mirrors your physical/organizational layout (e.g., Region → Building → Floor → Room).
  2. Assign discovered devices to sites automatically via IP ranges or manually.
  3. Use tags or labels for quick filtering (e.g., camera-type, critical, warranty-expires).
  4. Define device groups for batch operations like firmware updates or license allocation.

Step 6 — Manage firmware and software updates

  1. Inventory Manager typically can track current firmware versions and recommended updates. Review vendor recommendations before mass upgrades.
  2. Upload or point to firmware repository if required by your version of Inventory Manager.
  3. Test firmware upgrades on a small pilot group first (non‑critical devices).
  4. Schedule firmware rollouts during maintenance windows, using device groups. Monitor for failures and be prepared to roll back if needed.

Step 7 — License and entitlement management

  1. Import Axis device licenses or link to your Axis licensing account. Ensure license keys are stored securely.
  2. Assign licenses to devices or groups per vendor instructions. Inventory Manager will show license status and expiration.
  3. Set alerts for upcoming license expirations so renewals can be planned in advance.

Step 8 — Integration with VMS, NVRs, and monitoring systems

  1. If you use a Video Management System (VMS) or NVR, configure integration so Inventory Manager can share device inventories and health status. Follow vendor-specific integration steps.
  2. Configure SNMP, syslog, or API endpoints for central monitoring.
  3. Set up healthchecks and alerts (device offline, storage warnings, license expiry, failed updates) to be delivered via email or ticketing integration.

Step 9 — Backups and disaster recovery

  1. Configure regular backups of Inventory Manager configuration, database, and stored files. Follow the vendor-recommended backup frequency.
  2. Store backups off‑site or in a separate network location.
  3. Test restores periodically to validate backup integrity and recovery procedures. Document the restore process and recovery time objectives (RTO/RPO).

Step 10 — Monitoring, maintenance, and best practices

  • Schedule regular scans to keep the inventory current.
  • Maintain a change log for firmware updates, credential changes, and major configuration changes.
  • Keep Inventory Manager software up to date with security patches and minor/major updates from Axis.
  • Limit access to the administration UI to necessary personnel and enforce strong passwords and MFA.
  • Use tagging and groups to reduce human error during bulk operations.
  • Keep a small, isolated test group of devices for validating updates and configuration changes before broad deployment.

Troubleshooting tips

  • Devices not discovered: verify network connectivity, correct credential profile, firewall/NAT settings, and ONVIF/management service enabled on device.
  • Firmware update failures: check device free space, current firmware compatibility, and confirm the firmware file matches the device model.
  • License assignment issues: ensure license keys are valid for device models and have not already been consumed.
  • UI access problems: check SSL/TLS cert validity, server time sync (NTP), and that the Inventory Manager service is running.

Example setup checklist (quick)

  • Server prepared and network reachable
  • Inventory Manager installed and service running
  • Admin account created and MFA enabled
  • SSL/TLS applied to web UI
  • Credential profiles added
  • Discovery run and devices imported
  • Sites/groups/tags configured
  • Firmware repository and pilot group defined
  • Licenses imported and assigned
  • Backups configured and tested
  • Monitoring and alerts enabled

Setting up Axis Inventory Manager correctly up front saves time and prevents outages later. Follow these steps, test changes on a small set of devices, and keep documentation of configurations and procedures.

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