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Getting Started with Anava

This guide walks you through deploying Anava to your Google Cloud project and connecting your first Axis camera.

Prerequisites​

Before you begin, ensure you have:

  • Google Cloud Account with billing enabled
  • Axis Camera with IEEE 802.1AR support (Edge Vault)
  • Google Chrome browser (required for the camera discovery extension)
  • Admin access to your camera's local network

How Anava Works​

Anava transforms your Axis cameras into AI-powered security sensors. Here's the high-level flow:

Platform Flow

Key concepts:

  • Cameras detect events (motion, objects, digital inputs) and send them to the cloud
  • AI analyzes images using Gemini models to identify objects, count people, detect threats
  • Results appear in real-time on your dashboard with optional alerts and actions

Deployment Overview​

Anava deployment follows four steps, guided by an interactive onboarding wizard:

Onboarding Steps

StepWhat Happens
ConnectInstall the Chrome extension for camera discovery
DiscoverFind cameras on your network and register them
ConfigureCreate Skills (what to detect) and Profiles (when to trigger)
VerifyTest the system by triggering an event

Step 1: Deploy Infrastructure​

Install to Your GCP Project​

  1. Visit the Anava Web Installer
  2. Sign in with your Google account
  3. Select or create a GCP project
  4. Click Deploy and wait for infrastructure provisioning (~15 minutes)

The installer provisions:

  • MQTT broker (e2-micro VM with mTLS)
  • Cloud Functions for event processing
  • Firestore database
  • Firebase Hosting for the dashboard
  • Vertex AI / Gemini API access

Access Your Dashboard​

After deployment completes:

  1. Click the link to open your Events Viewer dashboard
  2. Sign in with the same Google account
  3. You'll see the onboarding wizard

Step 2: Connect - Install Chrome Extension​

The Chrome extension enables camera discovery on your local network.

  1. When prompted, click Install Extension
  2. Add the "Anava Camera Discovery" extension from Chrome Web Store
  3. Pin the extension for easy access
  4. Return to your dashboard - the extension status will turn green
tip

The extension only runs when you're on the Anava dashboard. It doesn't collect data or run in the background.

Step 3: Discover - Add Cameras​

Using the Camera Wizard​

  1. Click Find Cameras to scan your local network
  2. Select cameras from the discovered list
  3. Click Add Selected Cameras

The wizard will:

  • Extract the camera's 802.1AR certificate
  • Register the camera in your Anava project
  • Deploy the Anava Agent (ACAP) to the camera
  • Configure MQTT connection settings

Camera Status Flow​

Camera Status Flow

Manual Camera Addition​

If automatic discovery doesn't find your camera:

  1. Navigate to Devices in the sidebar
  2. Click Add Device Manually
  3. Enter the camera's IP address and credentials
  4. Follow the registration flow

Step 4: Configure - Set Up Detection​

Anava uses three core concepts that work together:

Detection Model

ConceptPurposeExample
GroupContainer for cameras with shared configuration"Warehouse Entrances"
SkillDefines what AI looks for and how to respond"Detect weapons and alert security"
ProfileLinks triggers to skills with scheduling"Analyze on motion, after hours only"

Create Your First Group​

  1. Navigate to Groups in the sidebar
  2. Click Create Group
  3. Enter a descriptive name (e.g., "Loading Dock - North")
  4. Assign cameras to the group

Create a Skill​

Skills define the AI analysis:

  1. Go to Skills in the sidebar
  2. Click Create Skill
  3. Configure:
    • Name: Descriptive name (e.g., "Intruder Detection")
    • Objects to Detect: Person, Vehicle, Weapon, etc.
    • Questions: "How many people?", "Is anyone loitering?"
    • Actions: Alerts, voice announcements (talkdown), webhooks

Create a Profile​

Profiles control when analysis runs:

  1. Go to the Profiles tab in your group
  2. Click Create Profile
  3. Configure:
    • Skill: Select the skill you created
    • Trigger: Motion, Object Analytics, Digital Input, or Schedule
    • Schedule: Always, After Hours, Weekdays, etc.
    • View Area: Which camera view triggers analysis

Assign to Group​

  1. Return to your Group
  2. Add the Profile to the group
  3. Cameras in the group will receive the configuration within 30 seconds

Step 5: Verify - Test Your Setup​

Trigger a Test Event​

  1. Create activity in front of a camera (wave, walk past)
  2. Navigate to Live Events in the sidebar
  3. You should see an event appear within 5-10 seconds

Understanding Events​

Each event shows:

  • Captured Frame: Image analyzed by AI
  • Detection Results: Objects found, questions answered
  • Confidence Score: AI certainty level
  • Actions Taken: Alerts sent, announcements made

Event Flow

Dashboard Features​

After setup, explore your Anava dashboard:

Monitoring​

FeatureDescription
DetectionsOverview of all detection configurations across groups
Live EventsReal-time event stream from all cameras
Vector SearchSemantic search across captured images

Insights​

FeatureDescription
AnalyticsActivity trends, device performance, time patterns
Fleet HealthSystem-wide alerts and camera status
AURA InsightsAI-generated reports and recommendations

Configuration​

FeatureDescription
DevicesCamera management, status, and settings
GroupsOrganize cameras into logical groups
SkillsDefine AI detection behaviors

Admin (Admins Only)​

FeatureDescription
UsersUser management and role assignment
Audit LogEnterprise compliance logging
UpdatesSystem updates and version management

Architecture Overview​

Architecture

Next Steps​

Now that your system is operational:

Troubleshooting​

Chrome Extension Not Detected​

  1. Ensure Chrome is your browser (Firefox/Safari not supported)
  2. Check the extension is enabled in chrome://extensions
  3. Refresh the dashboard page
  4. Try clicking the extension icon to wake it up

Camera Not Discovered​

  1. Ensure camera and browser are on the same network subnet
  2. Verify camera supports IEEE 802.1AR (check Edge Vault in camera settings)
  3. Check camera's web interface is accessible
  4. Try manual IP entry if discovery fails

Camera Stuck in "Deploying"​

  1. Check camera has internet access to reach GCP
  2. Verify MQTT broker is reachable (port 8883)
  3. Review camera logs for ACAP installation errors
  4. Try removing and re-adding the camera

No Events Appearing​

  1. Verify the profile is Active (not disabled)
  2. Check camera status shows Online in Devices
  3. Ensure trigger type matches your test (motion vs digital input)
  4. Verify schedule allows current time (e.g., "After Hours" won't trigger at noon)

Authentication Failures​

See the PKI Authentication guide for certificate-related issues.

Getting Help​

  • Documentation: Browse the full docs at docs.anava.ai
  • Support: Contact support@anava.ai for enterprise customers
  • Community: Join our Discord for community discussions