What is disclosed is a video system. The video system includes a digital video recorder comprising a first camera interface configured to receive video captured from a first plurality of cameras, a packet interface configured to receive in a packet format video captured by a second plurality of cameras, and a storage system configured to store the video captured by the first plurality of cameras and the video captured by the second plurality of cameras. The video system also includes a video encoder coupled to the digital video recorder by a packet link, where the video encoder includes a second camera interface configured to receive video captured from the second plurality of cameras and an output interface configured to transfer in the packet format the video captured by the second plurality of cameras for delivery to the digital video recorder over the packet link.