Name: RTSP Validator – Test CCTV & IP Cameras | Free · $5/mo | API.market
Brand: cctvtools
SKU: api-cctvtools-rtspstreamvalidator
Availability: InStock
Author: API Market

Dumindu Shalika

# RTSP Stream Validator API — CCTV & IP Camera Testing

The **only API you need** for RTSP stream validation, IP camera probing, ONVIF device discovery,
and CCTV storage planning. Built for surveillance SaaS platforms, NVR software developers,
and mobile CCTV app makers who need reliable camera connectivity testing without maintaining
their own infrastructure.

---

## Why Choose This API?

- **Real-time RTSP validation** — checks port reachability, stream accessibility, and authentication in one request
- **Automatic auth handling** — supports both Basic and Digest authentication used by Hikvision, Dahua, Axis, and more
- **Full stream metadata** — extracts codec, resolution, FPS, and audio info from live streams
- **Camera brand detection** — automatically identifies camera manufacturer from response headers
- **18 common RTSP path probing** — finds working stream paths without manual guessing
- **ONVIF device discovery** — retrieves profiles, stream URIs, PTZ support, and firmware info
- **Storage calculator** — instant CCTV storage estimates for any camera configuration
- **No setup required** — REST API with clean JSON responses, ready to integrate in minutes

---

## Supported Camera Brands

Works with any RTSP-compatible IP camera including:

| Brand | RTSP | ONVIF |
|---|---|---|
| Hikvision | Yes | Yes |
| Dahua | Yes | Yes |
| Axis | Yes | Yes |
| Hanwha / Samsung | Yes | Yes |
| Bosch | Yes | Yes |
| Vivotek | Yes | Yes |
| Reolink | Yes | Yes |
| Amcrest | Yes | Yes |
| Any ONVIF-compliant camera | Yes | Yes |

---

## Endpoints

### `POST /cctv/validate-rtsp`
Validates an RTSP stream URL end-to-end. Checks port reachability, sends an RTSP DESCRIBE
request with optional authentication, handles both Basic and Digest auth challenges, and
probes the stream to extract codec, resolution, FPS, and audio information.

**Example request:**
```json
{
  "url": "rtsp://192.168.1.100:554/Streaming/Channels/101",
  "username": "admin",
  "password": "password123",
  "timeout": 10
}
```

**Example response:**
```json
{
  "url": "rtsp://192.168.1.100:554/Streaming/Channels/101",
  "status": "online",
  "reachable": true,
  "latency_ms": 142,
  "auth_required": true,
  "auth_valid": true,
  "video": {
    "codec": "H.264",
    "resolution": "1920x1080",
    "fps": 25,
    "width": 1920,
    "height": 1080
  },
  "audio": {
    "codec": "AAC",
    "sample_rate": "44100",
    "channels": 1
  },
  "cached": false
}
```

**Possible status values:**

| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| `online` | Stream is accessible and streaming |
| `auth_required` | Stream is alive but requires credentials |
| `auth_failed` | Credentials provided but rejected |
| `path_not_found` | Host reachable but stream path returned 404 |
| `offline` | Host unreachable or port closed |
| `error` | Unexpected error during validation |

---

### `POST /cctv/check-camera`
Probes 18 common RTSP stream paths on a camera host automatically. Identifies working
stream URLs, detects camera brand from response headers, and measures connection latency.
Ideal for NVR software that needs to auto-discover stream paths without manual configuration.

**Example request:**
```json
{
  "host": "192.168.1.100",
  "port": 554,
  "username": "admin",
  "password": "password123"
}
```

**Example response:**
```json
{
  "host": "192.168.1.100",
  "port": 554,
  "online": true,
  "latency_ms": 98,
  "brand": "Hikvision",
  "working_streams": [
    "rtsp://192.168.1.100:554/Streaming/Channels/101",
    "rtsp://192.168.1.100:554/Streaming/Channels/102"
  ],
  "failed_streams": [
    "/stream1",
    "/live",
    "/cam/realmonitor"
  ],
  "cached": false
}
```

---

### `POST /cctv/storage-estimate`
Calculates CCTV storage requirements based on camera specifications. Returns per-camera
and total storage estimates for daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly periods. Supports
H.264, H.265, H.264+, H.265+, and MJPEG codecs. Includes motion-only recording mode
and H.265 savings recommendations. No network connection required — instant response.

**Example request:**
```json
{
  "resolution": "1080p",
  "fps": 25,
  "codec": "H.264",
  "bitrate_kbps": 2048,
  "cameras": 4,
  "retention_days": 30,
  "motion_only": false
}
```

**Example response:**
```json
{
  "input": {
    "resolution": "1080p",
    "fps": 25,
    "codec": "H.264",
    "bitrate_kbps": 2048,
    "cameras": 4,
    "retention_days": 30,
    "motion_only": false
  },
  "per_camera": {
    "daily_gb": 22.1,
    "weekly_gb": 154.7,
    "monthly_gb": 663.0,
    "yearly_gb": 8069.0
  },
  "total": {
    "cameras": 4,
    "retention_days": 30,
    "total_gb": 2652.0,
    "recommended_hdd_tb": 3.0
  },
  "tip": "Switching to H.265 would reduce storage by approximately 50%"
}
```

**Supported resolution presets:**

| Preset | Resolution |
|---|---|
| `4k` | 3840x2160 |
| `2k` | 2560x1440 |
| `1080p` | 1920x1080 |
| `720p` | 1280x720 |
| `480p` | 640x480 |
| `d1` | 720x576 |
| `cif` | 352x288 |
| Custom | e.g. `1920x1080` |

---

### `POST /cctv/onvif-info`
Connects to an ONVIF-compatible camera and retrieves full device information including
manufacturer, model, firmware version, serial number, media profiles, RTSP stream URIs,
PTZ capability, and available resolutions. Eliminates the need to integrate the ONVIF
protocol directly into your application.

**Example request:**
```json
{
  "host": "192.168.1.100",
  "port": 80,
  "username": "admin",
  "password": "password123"
}
```

**Example response:**
```json
{
  "manufacturer": "Hikvision",
  "model": "DS-2CD2143G2-I",
  "firmware": "V5.7.15",
  "serial": "DS-2CD2143G2-I20220101",
  "hardware_id": "88",
  "onvif_version": "2.6",
  "profiles": ["Profile_1", "Profile_2"],
  "stream_uris": [
    "rtsp://192.168.1.100:554/Streaming/Channels/101",
    "rtsp://192.168.1.100:554/Streaming/Channels/102"
  ],
  "ptz_supported": false,
  "resolution_options": ["1920x1080", "1280x720", "640x480"],
  "cached": false
}
```

---

### `GET /health`
Returns API health status and uptime. Requires a valid API key.

**Example response:**
```json
{
  "status": "ok",
  "region": "US",
  "uptime_seconds": 3600.5,
  "redis_healthy": true,
  "version": "1.0.0"
}
```

---

## Important Notes

> **Network Access Requirement:** RTSP validation requires your camera to be accessible
> from the public internet via a public IP address or DDNS hostname. Cameras behind
> a private NAT (e.g. `192.168.x.x`) must have port forwarding configured on your
> router to be reachable by this API.

> **Timeout:** All validation requests have a maximum timeout of 10 seconds per
> connection attempt. Offline or unreachable cameras will return a response within
> this window.

> **Caching:** Validation results are cached for 30 seconds. Repeated requests for
> the same URL within this window return the cached result instantly.

---

## Pricing Plans

| Plan | Monthly Units | Price | Overage per Call | Rate Limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Free** | 1,000 | Free for a week | — | 1 TPS |
| **PAYG** | — | Pay as you go | $0.0005 | 5 TPS |
| **Basic** | 50,000 | $5/month | $0.0002 | 5 TPS |
| **Pro** | 300,000 | $10/month | $0.0001 | 15 TPS |
| **Ultra** | 1,000,000 | $20/month | $0.00008 | 30 TPS |
| **Bulk** | 5,000,000 | $90/month | $0.00005 | 50 TPS |

> **1 API unit = 1 API call** across all endpoints.
> Start free with 1,000 calls for 7 days — no credit card required.

---

## Quick Start

**1. Get your API key** from the subscription.

**2. Validate an RTSP stream:**
```bash
curl -X POST "[baseUrl]/cctv/validate-rtsp" \
  -H "x-api-market-key: YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"url": "rtsp://your-camera-ip:554/stream1", "username": "admin", "password": "yourpassword"}'
```

**3. Probe a camera for working stream paths:**
```bash
curl -X POST "[baseUrl]/cctv/check-camera" \
  -H "x-api-market-key: YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"host": "your-camera-ip", "port": 554, "username": "admin", "password": "yourpassword"}'
```

**4. Estimate storage for your CCTV system:**
```bash
curl -X POST "[baseUrl]/cctv/storage-estimate" \
  -H "x-api-market-key: YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"resolution": "1080p", "fps": 25, "codec": "H.264", "cameras": 4, "retention_days": 30}'
```

**5. Get ONVIF device information:**
```bash
curl -X POST "[baseUrl]/cctv/onvif-info" \
  -H "x-api-market-key: YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"host": "your-camera-ip", "port": 80, "username": "admin", "password": "yourpassword"}'
```

---

## Use Cases

- **NVR software** — auto-discover working RTSP paths and camera brands during device setup
- **Mobile CCTV apps** — validate camera URLs before saving to user profiles
- **Surveillance SaaS platforms** — verify camera connectivity during onboarding
- **Security system integrators** — test camera streams remotely without on-site visits
- **Storage planning tools** — calculate NVR storage requirements for any camera configuration
- **ONVIF-based management software** — retrieve device profiles and stream URIs without implementing ONVIF protocol
- **Remote monitoring platforms** — periodic stream health checks and uptime monitoring

---

## API Limits & Fair Use

- Rate limits are enforced per API key based on your plan:

| Plan | Rate Limit |
|---|---|
| Free | 1 request/second |
| PAYG | 5 requests/second |
| Basic | 5 requests/second |
| Pro | 15 requests/second |
| Ultra | 30 requests/second |
| Bulk | 50 requests/second |

- All endpoints accept JSON request bodies and return JSON responses
- `401 Unauthorized` is returned when the API key is missing
- `403 Forbidden` is returned when the API key is invalid
- `429 Too Many Requests` is returned when the rate limit is exceeded
- Validation results are cached for 30 seconds per unique URL or host
- Maximum validation timeout is 10 seconds per request

---


Validate RTSP streams, probe IP cameras, and query ONVIF devices. Free 1000 calls/mo, from $5/mo. Start free on API.market.

RTSP Validator – Test CCTV & IP Cameras | Free · $5/mo | API.market

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