Abstract: A digital video system including one or more video cameras and a video server connected to the one or more video cameras is disclosed. In an illustrative embodiment, the video server includes a computer having a central processing unit (CPU) for executing machine instructions and a memory for storing machine instructions that are to be executed by the CPU. The machine instructions when executed by the CPU implement a number of functions including identifying a failure mode of one or more cameras from one or more failure modes and executing a contingency function from one or more contingency functions based on the identification of the failure mode. The failure mode may be selected from a first, second and third failure mode. The contingency function may be selected from a first and second contingency function.