Hanwha CA-3Y-ENTRY32 ONCAFE 3-Year Entry License

In our experience, ONCAFE licensing is often misunderstood at quote time. Integrators frequently underestimate the operational value of unified access-control and video-event correlation — they treat the license as a "VMS addon" rather than the core system that replaces separate access-control servers and video management systems. We've deployed the CA-3Y-ENTRY32 across retail and office environments, and the real ROI comes from consolidated operator training, faster forensic investigation (synchronized video + swipe logs), and elimination of third-party middleware licensing friction. The 32-point ceiling is real — each additional entry point beyond 32 requires a step up to the 64-point or 128-point license tier. Unlike some licensing schemes where you pay per camera or per GB of storage, Hanwha's entry-point model is transparent: you know upfront whether 32 zones cover your facility, and you budget the license tier accordingly. The three-year term removes the annual renewal churn that plagues per-seat or perpetual-license models with recurring software assurance fees. One caveat: ONCAFE is not a best-of-breed VMS replacement for organizations that need advanced video analytics (people counting, loitering detection, license-plate recognition). It excels at entry control and synchronization. If your project requires forensic-grade video analytics or 4K multi-sensor fusion, you're better served by a dedicated VMS (Genetec, Milestone) paired with Hanwha's PTRZ cameras in ONVIF mode.

Technical Highlights:

• 32-Channel Entry Architecture: Each channel represents one logical access point (door, gate, elevator call) with dedicated video and credential verification. This is not a concurrent-connection ceiling — all 32 channels can log events simultaneously without performance degradation on certified Hanwha NVR appliances.
• 1 MP Resolution + Microphone: Adequate for face-card matching at 4–6 feet and audio-enabled intercom at vestibules. Not suitable for long-range perimeter or detailed facial-recognition analytics — for those use cases, step up to Hanwha's 2 MP or 5 MP PTRZ lines paired with a higher-tier license.
• Event-Video Synchronization: Access-control events (granted, denied, anti-passback, tailgate) are timestamped and indexed into the video stream's timeline. Reduces forensic investigation time from hours to minutes when correlating a credential event with its visual record.
• PoE 802.3af Load Profile: 1 MP cameras with integrated microphone typically draw 8–12W over PoE. A standard 24-port 802.3af PoE switch (370W budget) can power 30–40 cameras with margin — important for multi-site deployments where you're consolidating edge hardware.
• Offline Credential Cache: If the ONCAFE server loses WAN connectivity, cached credentials remain valid for up to 72 hours. Users unlock via RFID/PIN without real-time server validation — critical for retail and parking facilities that cannot tolerate door lockouts during ISP outages.
• Third-Party ONVIF Support: While ONCAFE is best integrated with Hanwha PTRZ hardware, the access-control logic and video-event correlation work with any ONVIF Profile S camera. This hybrid flexibility is useful in brownfield deployments where legacy cameras remain in place.

Deployment Considerations:

• License Tier Sizing: The 32-entry cap is firm — if your facility has 35 doors, you cannot stretch this license to cover them. Size your tier conservatively at RFQ time and budget for a tier-up if future expansion is planned. Hanwha offers migration paths (trade in old license, pay delta for new tier) but it's not seamless mid-deployment.
• NVR Appliance Requirement: ONCAFE server must run on Hanwha-certified NVR hardware or Windows Server VM with Hanwha's sanctioned VM specifications. You cannot run ONCAFE on arbitrary servers — this is different from ONVIF-only VMS platforms that run on commodity hardware. Factor NVR appliance capex into your project budget.
• Credential Database and Enrollment: ONCAFE includes a card-holder database with RFID reader provisioning, but enrollment workflow (scanning IDs, assigning zones, credential activation) is manual or scripted via CSV import. Large user bases (500+ people) require planning for directory integration (LDAP/Active Directory) which may be available in Hanwha's higher license tiers or as a separate module.
• Recording and Storage Scaling: 1 MP + H.265 bitrate is approximately 150–300 kbps per camera stream depending on scene motion and codec settings. For 32 cameras on 30-day rolling retention, budget 500 GB–1.5 TB internal NVR storage or external NAS expansion. This is not a cloud-first license — recordings stay on-premise unless you layer a third-party cloud gateway.
• Operator Licensing and Seats: The CA-3Y-ENTRY32 license includes 5 concurrent operator sessions. If your operations center has 8 operators across shifts, you need an additional CA-3Y-SEAT license (typically one per extra user). Budget this separately — it's often overlooked at quote time.
• Integration with Existing Access Control: If your site already has a legacy access-control system (Salto, Openpath, Genetec Security Center) with its own credential database, migrating to ONCAFE requires credential re-enrollment and zone re-mapping. Plan for 2–4 weeks of parallel operation during cutover.

The CA-3Y-ENTRY32 is right for integrators deploying Hanwha-native access control and video infrastructure in mid-scale facilities (retail chains, office parks, parking facilities) where unified event logging and video correlation are operational requirements. It's not suitable as a video-only VMS license or for organizations already committed to third-party access-control platforms. For more information on Hanwha's full licensing portfolio and ONCAFE architecture, visit the Hanwha catalog.