This article covers the network requirements specific to ButterflyMX security cameras — including the Camera Gateway, Dome Cameras, Bullet Cameras, and LPR Cameras. Camera networking is different from other ButterflyMX products and has its own requirements. Read this article before planning or installing a ButterflyMX camera system.
How the ButterflyMX Camera System Works
ButterflyMX cameras connect to the ButterflyMX cloud platform through a Camera Gateway — a network bridge device that streams video from connected cameras to the ButterflyMX platform for live viewing, cloud storage, and access event integration. Cameras cannot function within the ButterflyMX platform without a gateway.
Cameras record continuously. Footage is stored locally on the Camera Gateway and uploaded to the cloud at intervals — the full local stream bitrate is not consumed by cloud upload continuously.
Camera Models Overview
Product |
Type |
Best For |
|---|---|---|
ButterflyMX Dome Camera |
Fixed dome, varifocal lens (2.8mm–12mm), 6MP sensor, 1080p cloud stream |
Indoor common areas, lobbies, hallways |
ButterflyMX Bullet Camera |
Vandal-deterrent bullet, 6MP, IP66 weather-rated, night vision (up to 95 ft), 1080p cloud stream |
Outdoor entrances, parking areas, dark or exposed environments |
Standard Camera Gateway |
Network bridge device — connects up to 10 cameras, 1TB local storage, USB-C powered |
All standard camera deployments |
AI Camera Gateway (LPR) |
Same as standard gateway, adds License Plate Recognition capability |
Parking access, vehicle tracking |
Third-party ONVIF-compliant IP cameras can also be integrated via the Camera Gateway. See the ONVIF section below.
Connection Requirements
ButterflyMX cameras and Camera Gateways require a wired Ethernet connection. Wi-Fi and cellular are not supported for any camera or gateway device.
Requirement |
Details |
|---|---|
Connection Type |
Wired Ethernet only — Wi-Fi and cellular are not supported |
Cable Type |
CAT5e or CAT6 |
Maximum Cable Run |
328 ft (100 m) from switch to camera or gateway |
PoE |
Cameras require PoE+ (802.3af, ~8W per camera). A PoE+ switch or PoE injector is required if PoE is not already available on the network. |
Camera Gateway Power |
AC/DC adapter (included). |
Internet Connection |
Broadband required. DSL is not supported for ButterflyMX camera systems. |
Latency |
Target network latency under 50 ms |
Same-Network Requirement
All cameras and the Camera Gateway must be on the same local network. They do not need to be connected to the same physical switch, but they must have local network reachability to each other.
A dedicated VLAN for camera traffic is recommended for security and bandwidth management, but is not required.
Bandwidth Requirements
ButterflyMX cameras use two types of bandwidth: local network bandwidth (between the camera and the gateway) and internet bandwidth (from the gateway to the ButterflyMX cloud).
Standard Cameras (Dome and Bullet)
Bandwidth Type |
Per Camera |
|---|---|
Local network bandwidth |
~2 Mbps per camera |
Internet (cloud upload) bandwidth |
~600 Kbps per camera |
LPR Cameras (AI Camera Gateway)
Bandwidth Type |
Per LPR Camera |
|---|---|
Local network bandwidth |
~6 Mbps per camera |
Gateway capacity |
1 LPR camera = 3 standard cameras (capacity and bandwidth) |
Internet Bandwidth Planning by Camera Count
Use the table below to plan your internet upload bandwidth. Figures are based on standard cameras at ~600 Kbps per camera. Add LPR cameras separately at 3x the standard rate.
Number of Cameras |
Minimum Upload |
Recommended Upload |
|---|---|---|
1–5 |
10–25 Mbps |
30 Mbps |
6–10 |
20–50 Mbps |
60 Mbps |
11–20 |
40–100 Mbps |
120 Mbps |
21–30 |
60–150 Mbps |
180 Mbps |
Dual-lens cameras count as two camera streams for bandwidth and gateway capacity planning.
Camera Gateway Capacity
Gateway Type |
Max Camera Capacity |
Local Storage |
Power |
|---|---|---|---|
Standard Camera Gateway |
10 cameras (standard) |
1TB onboard (cloud upload) |
5V 5A USB-C adapter (included) |
AI Camera Gateway (LPR) |
10 camera slots — 1 LPR = 3 standard slots |
1TB onboard (cloud upload) |
12V 5A AC/DC adapter (included) |
Third-Party ONVIF Camera Integration
The Camera Gateway supports third-party ONVIF-compliant IP cameras. Requirements:
Must support ONVIF (Open Network Video Interface Forum) standard — ONVIF Profile S or T required
Must be an IP camera (analog cameras are not supported)
H.264 video stream required
Must be on the same local network as the Camera Gateway
Maximum 1080p resolution
Third-party cameras require configuration verification and testing before deployment. ButterflyMX-native cameras (Dome and Bullet) are the primary supported models.
What Is Not Supported
Wi-Fi connections for cameras or Camera Gateways
Cellular connections for cameras or Camera Gateways
DSL internet connections
Analog cameras
Cross-VLAN camera-to-gateway communication without a shared broadcast domain
Firewall and Port Requirements
For the full list of required ports for camera systems, see Firewall and Port Requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do cameras need to be on the same physical switch as the Camera Gateway?
No. Cameras and the Camera Gateway must be on the same local network, but they do not need to be connected to the same physical switch as long as they have local network reachability to each other.
Can I use a separate VLAN for my cameras?
Yes, and it is recommended. A dedicated VLAN for camera traffic improves security and makes bandwidth management easier. Cameras and the Camera Gateway must still be on the same VLAN.
Can I use Wi-Fi for cameras?
No. ButterflyMX cameras and Camera Gateways require a wired Ethernet connection. Wi-Fi is not supported.
Can I use DSL for a camera system?
No. DSL is not supported for ButterflyMX camera systems. A broadband internet connection is required.
How does camera recording work?
Cameras record continuously. Footage is stored locally on the Camera Gateway's onboard storage and uploaded to the ButterflyMX cloud at intervals. The full local stream bitrate is not consumed by cloud upload at all times.
How many cameras can one Camera Gateway support?
The standard Camera Gateway supports up to 10 cameras. The AI (LPR) Camera Gateway supports up to 10 camera slots, with each LPR camera counting as 3 standard camera slots.
Can I use a P2P wireless bridge to extend my camera network?
Yes. See General Network Requirements for P2P connection guidelines, which apply to all ButterflyMX devices including cameras.