4XEM IPVS1A User Manual

Before You Use

Surveillance devices may be prohibited by law in your country. Though Video Server is not only a high performance surveillance system but also a networked video server, ensure that the operation of such devices are legal before installing this unit for surveillance.

It is important to carefully check the contents with the "Package Contents" section after opening the package. Understanding the physical description can prevent damage caused by abnormal usage and reduce most problems during installation.

Basically Video Server is a network device and should be easy to use for those who already have basic network knowledge. If there is a system error and it does not recover easily due to erroneous configuration, check the section "Auxiliary buttons" to restore factory default settings and run installation again.

Video Server has been designed for various environments and can be used to build various applications for general security or demonstration purposes. For standard applications, read "System configuration" to understand all functions. To make the best usage of Video Server, review "Advanced functions" to get creative ideas. To those professional developers, "URL Commands of Video Server" will be a very helpful reference.

Those paragraphs preceding by should be fully understood and cautioned. Ignoring the warnings may result in serious hazards.

Table of Contents

Before You Use .......................................................................................1

Table of Contents...................................................................................2

Package Contents...................................................................................4

Physical Description ..............................................................................1

Front Panel ...........................................................................................................1

Rear Panel ............................................................................................................2

How to Install.........................................................................................6

Ethernet Environment...........................................................................7

Hardware installation ...........................................................................................7

Software configuration.........................................................................................9

First access to Video Server...............................................................................18

Modem Environment...........................................................................20

Hardware installation .........................................................................................20

Software configuration.......................................................................................22

First access to Video Server...............................................................................30

How to Use............................................................................................ 32

Authentication....................................................................................................33

Primary user’s capability....................................................................................35

Client Setting......................................................................................................37

System configuration .........................................................................................39

Advanced functions............................................................................................72

URL commands of Video Server .......................................................................78

Appendix...............................................................................................92

A. POST procedure............................................................................................92

B. Frequently asked questions............................................................................94

C. Technical specifications.................................................................................98

Package Contents

Video Server IPVS1A

Power adapter

Null modem cable

I/O terminal block connector

Software CD

Camera control cable

Physical Description

Front Panel

BNC video input

75Ohms resistance video port for connecting an external camera. To ensure video modulation type being correctly detected, cameras should be attached and powered on before the Video Server is powered on.

RCA audio input

The audio input is connected by RCA connector of mono-audio Line-In signal.

Rear Panel

Ethernet 10/100 socket

Connect to Ethernet network with a UTP category 5 cable that cannot exceed 100 meters. Once the Ethernet cable is connected without error, Video Server will utilize Ethernet interface regardless of modem connection.

COM port

This RS232 serial port can connect with a modem or included null modem cable to utilize

dial-up network when Ethernet is not available. If Video Server operates with Ethernet interface, administrators may use this port to control PTZ camera attached to VIDEO.

General I/O terminal block

1 Å DI+ INPUT (Max. 50mA, 12VDC) 2 Å DI- INPUT 3 Å SW_COMMON OUTPUT (short with NC at initial state) 4 Å SW_NOPEN OUTPUT (Max. 1A, 24VDC or 0.5A, 125VAC) 5 Å RS485 B (inverting) 6 Å RS485 A (non-inverting)

Video Server provides a very flexible general I/O interface to combine with the user’s security devices such as sensors, alarms, lighting or door locks. The general I/O terminal block has six pins for device control. These pins can be divided into two categories based on their functions, including RS485 and digital inputs and outputs.

If the device connected to COM has an RS485 interface, wire two control lines to pin 5 and pin 6. After switching to RS485 on the configuration page, the PTZ control commands will be directed through pin 5 and pin 6. If the distance from the controlled device is too far to allow accurate function, an external power source may be used to pull high the RS485 signal.

Video Server provides one digital input and one relay switch. Pin 1 and pin 2 can be connected to external sensor and the state of voltage will be monitored according to the programmed scripts in configuration. The relay switch can be used to turn on or off external devices.

Status LEDs

Each time Video Server starts, it will perform a Power-On Self Test, abbreviated as POST hereafter, to examine every hardware module. As soon as the administrator plugs in the power adapter, both LEDs under the network LED will flash one by one until the POST is done. If any module fails, both LEDs will indicate to the users the error according to the pattern listed in Appendix A. If the result is good, both LEDs will turn off for a while and then follows the pattern below. Network interface depends on the peripherals including Ethernet UTP cable, modem or null modem cable. If the Ethernet cable between Video Server and Ethernet hub is good, Video Server will choose the Ethernet network. If Ethernet is unavailable but a operational modem is connected, the network interface will be PPP with modem. If either of the above is not the case, Video Server will try the interface of PPP with null modem.

Network Interface Condition LED2 (Heartbeat) LED3 (Status)

Ethernet

before installed OFF OFF after installed flash OFF during camera control flash Flash

PPP with modem after POST flash ON

before connected ON ON PPP with null modem after connected flash ON

Restore button

There is a button hidden in the box for restoring the system factory default settings. When the system fails to install or operates abnormally, use the included assistant stick in the package and follow the following procedures to reset the system back to its original status.

Poke the assistant stick into the hole to press down on the restore button. Restart the system by unplugging and re-plugging the power jack. While keeping the button pressed, the system will perform POST twice rather than the usual once, which can be observed from the flashing LEDs. After the system flashes the LEDs for the second time, withdraw the stick to release the button. The system will have restored factory default settings at that moment.

Power adapter

Connect the power jack of the included power adapter. Connecting the power adapter should be the last operation while physically installing Video Server.

How to Install

To easily fit into various environments, Video Server automatically detects the attached interfaces and configures itself to the best condition. Therefore users need not care whether the connected cameras are either NTSC or PAL, how to select the network between Ethernet and modem, and whether the Ethernet speed is 10Mbps or 100 Mbps. If the connected motorized camera is on the support list, users only need to plug and play without complicated configurations.

Video Server supports Ethernet and modem interfaces according to the user's existing network. Ethernet can provide higher bandwidth to achieve the best performance while dial-up network with modem is more common in current Internet applications. Refer to the related installation section for your network environment. If both interfaces are available, Ethernet is recommended and will be chosen as the first priority if Ethernet cable and modem are concurrently attached. Managing to install in the other interface will automatically clear the previous network settings to start new installation.

In the following content, "user" refers to those who can access Video Server and "administrator" refers to the supervisor who has the root password to configure Video Server in addition to general access. Administrators should carefully read this manual, especially during installation.

Ethernet Environment

Hardware installation

Before installing multiple Video Servers at the well-chosen locations, the administrator should memorize the serial numbers on the packages respectively for future use.

Cable connection

Shut down all the peripheral devices prior to connection. Connect the supplied cables from Video Server to related devices according to the following steps. Note that the power adaptor must be kept unplugged until other cables are firmly connected.

Power on

Make sure all cables are correctly and firmly connected before turning on Video Server. Turn on cameras, sensors, alarm devices, and then attach the power adaptor of Video Server to the electric power socket*. After the POST (power-on self test) is complete and the result is successful, Video Server is ready for software configuration as described in this manual. At this stage, network speed and video modulation type are automatically detected. If the detection of video modulation fails, administrators may change the setting on the configuration page. Refer to the configuration section for further information.

Connect the power jack of the power adapter to Video Server prior to plugging the utility

end into the utility power socket. It will reduce accidental electric surge shock.

Software configuration

Easy way with installer program

In order to configure Video Servers remotely, administrators should keep the serial numbers of the new Video Servers for identification and initial passwords. After successfully mounting Video Servers in the proper position, run the Installer program on the appropriate PC to locate the newly installed Video Servers. Video Servers also support manual setup procedures to non-Windows based environments. The manual procedure is described next.

After the POST is done, Video Server will try to configure itself by detecting the network environment. If there is DHCP service over the network, the Installer program will catch the given information and display the serial number and given IP address for each Video Server as following figure. If no DHCP service is available, a previous IP address will be displayed instead. In that case, it may be 0.0.0.0 for a brand new unit. When multiple units are mounted, there may be several entries shown in the window. Administrators may click on each entry with "Assigned" field labeled "No" to install sequentially.

The IP address shown in "Current IP Address" field is for the administrator's reference. If the administrator wants to use another IP address, modify the IP text field below the list window.

If the administrator wants to fix the IP address of the unit, check the option "Use this IP whenever system boots" to skip future installation procedures. Otherwise the unit will need installation whenever it is restarted.

When IP and options are O.K., click on . A message window will pop open to inform if the IP address is valid.

If the IP is not taken by another network device in the network, the Installer program will continue with the setup. Otherwise another message window will warn that the assigned IP

conflicts. In this case, administrators should ask the network supervisor for a vacant IP address.

After successful notification, administrators may keep the address information for user’s request.

After clicking on , the "Assigned" field will be labeled "Yes". Administrators may click directly on to access the newly installed server in the default browser.

While checking “Use this IP whenever system boots”, a dialog window may pop out to ask for “Server FTP Port” and “Root Password” because they are already changed to other than default settings. If the settings are lost, restore default settings and use installer to install again.

Once installation is complete, administrators should follow the actions in the "First access to Video Server" section for necessary checks and configurations. Experienced administrators may use the customized config.ini script file to perform a quick setup via FTP. Detailed procedure can be found on the section “One-shot fast configuration via FTP”.

To allow users to connect to Video Server through an easily memorized name, the administrators must first configure the name server in his network. Here is an example: When the administrator wants to set up Video Server with a fixed IP address and let users connect to Video Server by typing a name instead of IP address, the administrator may reserve the IP from DHCP service and assign it with name in the domain name service. During Video Server installation, assign the ready IP address. After successful installation, users may access the Video Server by the given name.

Manual way with existing programs

In addition to the provided installer program, some common network tools including ARP and PING can be used to install Video Server. Open a DOS command prompt window to perform the manual installation.

First, type arp –s “assigned IP address” “Ethernet address” to add an entity in the system’s name table. The Ethernet address is identical to the serial number of Video Server and should be typed in the appropriate format, with every two characters separated by a hyphen like “uu-vv-ww-xx-yy-zz”.

Once a name entity is added, type ping "assigned IP address” to invite the new Video Server. If it replies, that means Video Server has accepted the assigned IP address and is ready for access. The first several ping requests may fail during the self-configuration period of Video Server.

First access to Video Server

When connecting to Video Server for the first time, administrators should check security and network settings on the configuration page. For complete protection from illegal usage, Video Server provides two privileges and always needs user name and password before access. The standard level is the USER mode that consists of twenty user profiles. Each user is able to access Video Server except for system configuration. The twenty user profiles are also maintained by the administrator. The highest level is ROOT mode that only opens to administrators for initial setup, system configuration, user administration and software upgrade. The user name of the administrator is internally assigned to “root”.

When connecting to Video Server, users will be requested for user name and password by an authentication message window. A root password, identical to the Video Server's serial number, is needed for the initial access to a newly installed Video Server. The administrator must change the root password immediately after the initial installation to ensure security. The new root password should be well memorized since there is no way to retrieve or recover it. After changing the password, the browser will display an authentication window again to ask for the new password.

The other important part is network settings. The software configuration above makes Video Server easily accessed through local networks. However administrators should review the network settings on the configuration page according to the existing service. The safe and easy way is to compare the network settings with another PC or workstation in the same network.

The software installation in the previous section only set the host IP address and default subnet mask as 255.255.255.0. Administrators should change the subnet mask if it differs from the one provided by server. Administrators should also fill in the default gateway, primary and secondary domain name servers if necessary.

By default Video Server will need administrator's installation every time it reboots. If the

network settings are sure to work all the time, disable the install option if this IP address is already reserved for this Video Server. Clearing this option will skip the installation procedure during the next power-up and use the previous settings. If the install option stays checked, Video Server will perform the installation procedure every time the system boots up.

Details about configurations are described in the "How to Use" section. Related figures are attached for easy reference.

Modem Environment

Hardware installation

Before installing Video Server, the administrator should memorize the serial numbers on the packages respectively for the initial passwords.

To use a dial-up network, the Ethernet socket should be left disconnected since Ethernet is the first priority among available interfaces. After powering up, Video Server will detect if any external modem is connected to the modem port. Once a modem is detected, the heartbeat LED will flash periodically. If no modem responds, Video Server will assume the included null modem cable is connected to perform system configuration. Then both lower LEDs will turn on until null modem connection is established.

If users have setup a remote dialup server or subscribed to an ISP service, Video Server can be configured to dial to the server upon special events. Otherwise it will wait permanently for the user’s call to establish a network connection to provide services.

In the following content, dial-in connection denotes a passive Video Server waiting for a phone call to establish a point-to-point connection. Dial-out connection denotes an active Video Server to dial out to the other end of a dial-up server or any Internet service provider, abbreviated as ISP, to request a point-to-point connection.

Cable connection

Shut down the peripheral devices prior to connection. Connect the supplied cables from Video Server to the related devices according to following steps. Note that power adaptor must be kept unplugged until other cables are firmly connected. For the first access to Video Server without Ethernet, administrators may use the included null modem cable to connect to COM for direct connection. It is also convenient for administrators to access Video Server through the null modem cable directly without modem or Ethernet card. After necessary information is entered, a modem can be used to dial into the Internet.

Power on

Make sure all cables are correctly and firmly connected. Turn on cameras, sensors, alarm devices, and then finally attach power adaptor of Video Server to the electric power outlet*. Since most automatic detections of hardware perform when the system starts, Video Server should be turned on after all peripherals are turned on and ready.

Connect the power jack of the power adapter to Video Server prior to plugging the utility

end into a utility power outlet. It will reduce accidental electric surge shock.

Software configuration

For the first time, users should connect the included null modem cable between the COM port of Video Server and any COM port of the PC for initial setup.

Install a new modem

Open the control panel and double click the modems icon.

Check "Don't detect my modem......" item and click on to install a new modem.

From (Standard Modem Type) choose the Standard 33600 bps Modem and click on .

Choose the serial port that the included null modem cable is attached to and click on . The null modem is now ready for use.

If no Dial-Up adapter exists in the system, Windows will automatically prompt to install. Press

to continue.

Setup a new connection

After the 33600 bps modem is installed, open the dialup network folder in Windows to build a new connection.

Select the device as the newly installed standard 33600 bps modem and click on .

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