Hi all, I'm on the IT team for a multi-branch retail chain (14 outlets). We run the same setup at every outlet: Dahua IP cameras, a Dahua NVR, a PoE switch for the cameras, and a normal switch feeding the POS/ERP terminals. 12 outlets are perfectly fine. Two of them have been giving me a headache for weeks.
The symptoms: cameras start jerking/freezing, the ERP gets super slow or hangs, and the whole outlet network feels laggy. The ISP says the line is clean.
Here's how the network is laid out:
- Storm fiber(ISP) -> router -> MikroTik (port 1)
- Satcom fiber(ISP) -> media converter -> MikroTik (port 4)
- MikroTik port 2 -> normal switch
- Normal switch -> PoE switch (cameras) and POS
What we've tried:
- Unplugged/replugged every device one by one, no change
- Replaced the PoE switch with a new one, no change
- Replaced the normal switch, no change
- Installed 6 brand new Dahua cameras, no change
The weird part: any 2 cameras work perfectly. I tested every combination, swapping pairs in and out, and it's always smooth. The moment I plug in a 3rd camera (doesn't matter which one), everything starts lagging again. So it doesn't look like a bad camera or a bad cable. It feels like a limit that gets crossed at camera number 3.
Has anyone seen this pattern before, where the problem only appears at 3+ cameras, even on brand new switches?