Vivotek VS2403 User Manual

Product name: Video Server (VS2403)
Release Date: 2008/01/29
Manual Revision: 1.3

Web site: www.vivotek.com
Email: [e-mail]

[e-mail]

Made in Taiwan. © 2008 VIVOTEK INC. All rights reserved

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Before You Use

It is important to carefully examine the contents with the Chapter Package Contents
after opening the package. If there is anything missing, contact your reseller. Read the
Chapter Physical Description
peripherals. 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, read the System recovery
Troubleshooting

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, find the appropriate section in the Chapter How to Use
and follow the steps to setup the system. T o make best use of Video Server , read Chapter
Advanced Functions
detailed explanations of system configurations. To those professional d evelopers, the
Appendix URL Commands of Video Server
Web-based application.

to restore factory default settings and perform installation again.

to get creative ideas and review Chapter System Configuration for

before assembling and operating the device and

section in Appendix

for your application

will be a very helpful reference to develop a

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 operations of such devices are legal before installing this unit for
surveillance.

Those paragraphs preceding with
Ignoring the warnings may result in serious hazards.

must be fully understood and cautioned.

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Table of Contents

Before You Use.......................................................2

Package Contents...................................................5

Features and Benefits.............................................6

Physical Description...............................................8

Front Panel ......................................................................8

Rear Panel .....................................................................10

How to Install ......................................................13

Ethernet Environment......................................................14

How to Use...........................................................17

Authentication................................................................18

Installing Plug-in.............................................................19

Main Page......................................................................20

System Configuration...........................................23

Introduction...................................................................23

Definitions of Configuration ..............................................24

Advanced Functions .............................................39

Capture Up-to-date Still Images........................................39

Get Continuous Images ...................................................40

Download Event-triggered Snapshots.................................41

Uploading Snapshots Periodically ......................................43

Customize Graphics in Homepage .....................................44

Command Script for Complex Applications ..........................45

URL for External Device Control ........................................48

URL of System Maintenance .............................................50

Configure System via FTP ................................................51

Telnet Commands ...........................................................54

Appendix..............................................................56

A. Troubleshooting ..........................................................56

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B. Frequently Asked Questions..........................................58

C. Upgrade System Firmware ...........................................61

D. URL Commands of Video Server ....................................62

E. Settings of Supported PTZ Cameras...............................77

F. Camera Control Cable...................................................78

G. Time Zone Table.........................................................79

H. Technical Specifications ...............................................82

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Package Contents

If any of the following items are missing, please contact your reseller.

Video Server VS2403

Power adapter

Two I/O terminal connectors

Software CD

Quick installation guide

Camera control cable

Mounting kit

Warranty card

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Features and Benefits

Video Server is a high-performance networking video multiplexer. With powerful VLIW
DSP core and fully optimized algorithm, it can compress and transmit the high quali ty
real-time video through standard TCP/IP inter-network. In addition to meet the basic
needs of video feed, many advanced features are added to help building applications of
surveillance or web attraction. The state-of-art design well compromises among stable,
robust, simple-to-use and flexibility.

☆ Real-time motion-JPEG compression

Four video inputs can be efficiently compressed into packets of JPEG images without
delay. Optimal compression engine makes the equivalently excellent image with much
smaller size. There is no more sacrifice in remote monitoring and storage. Five levels of
compression ratio and four sizes of image resolutions are easy to meet your
requirement.

☆ Robust system operation

Industrial real-time operating system prevents from malicious hackers and virus that
threat Windows or Linux systems. The on-board watchdog eternally monitors the system
operations for dead-proof.

☆ Easy Web access via standard browser

Y ou don’t have to install any software to access Video Server. The embedded Web server
makes users can access Video Server anywhere over Internet with any popular Web
browser. As long as you are connected to network, you can cast your eyes on your
precious property.

☆ Password protection of system access

Password level protection is provided by the system to prevent from malicious intruders
from network. Once the password of administrator is entered, any user will need
password authentication to access Video Server. Each user can have individual access
right to view video or control external devices.

☆ Accessible list for specific client

Administrator can use accessible list to filter the clients by IP address. It can let the video
stream be showed in the approvable clients.

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☆ Privacy mask

Each video channel supports five privacy mask windows. By setting the privacy windows,
no one can see the protected areas. It is flexible for setting the camera.

☆ Built-in motion detection

No more external sensors are required. Each video channel ca n be setu p to detect any
motion with customized settings. By tu ning the object size and sensitivity, it is more
reliable to fit into your environment. With this built-in facility, you can easily setup a
security system in your home or office.

☆ Weekly schedule for automatic surveillance

The user-defined time period will repeat weekly to check any security settings and
accordingly sending notification or drive external devices. It is easy to install in SOHO,
retail shop and home as a security system.

☆ Flexible I/O control for external devices

There are four opto-isolated sensor inputs and four relay outputs to control external
devices. System integrators can easily replace the current analog systems to build an
advanced security system.

☆ Bundled powerful surveillance software

T o extend the capabilities of Video Server, a powerful surveillance program is included in
the package and totally free to use. Users can easily utilize the existing PC to be a digital
video recorder. Schedule or one-click recording keep every important moment in your
local hard disk; reliable motion detection and instant warning make you sharp for every
conditions. Quick and simple search and playbac k let you easily find the moment you
want to inspect more carefully and output to AVI files for ano ther copy.

☆ Remote system upgrade

T o achieve the promise we made to support our valuable customers in life-time, the most
up-to-date firmware is always put on our web site to add new functions or solve known
bugs. A free upgrade wizard is included to facilitate the job.

☆ Developer’s technical support

The high-performance Video Server can be integrated into many applications under
perfect control of budget. The complete programming interface and standard JPEG
format can ease and speed developers’ task. More creative ideas can be found on o ur
Web site.

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Physical Description

Front Panel

Status LED’s

NET SYS
Tx/Rx

Link
10/100
Full duplex

Each time Video Server starts up, it will perform power-on-self-test, abbreviated as POST ,
to examine every hardware module. As soon as the administrator plugs in the pow er
connector both LED’s under the power LED will flash one by one until the diagnosis is
done. If the result is good, both status LED’s will turn off for a while and then follows the
pattern below. If any module fails, refer to the Appendix A for the error pattern and
follow the trouble-shooting procedures. If the system still cannot operate normally,

Power

LED1
(Heartbeat)
LED2
(Status)

please contact your reseller for technical service.

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Item LED status Description

Power-On-Self-Test

Camera control LED2 blink every 1 second Get the control

LED1 and LED2 blink alternately by 150ms During the test
LED1 blinks one time and LED2 blinks 3 times TM1302 test fail
LED1 blinks one time and LED2 blinks 4 times RTL8100BL test

fail
LED1 off, LED2 off Network fail Network
LED1 blink every 0.5 second, LED2 off Network normal,

Heartbeat

message

BNC video inputs

Video Server allows up to four cameras attached at the same time. To ensure video
modulation type being detected correctly , cameras should be attached sequentially from
“VIDEO1” to “VIDEO4” and powered on before Video Server is powered on.

DIP switches “1” to “4”

There are four DIP switches numbered from “1” to “4” in the front panel regarding of
each video input. They are used to enable the 75-ohm re sistance of video impe dance.
They should be kept ON if the video input is terminated in the Video Server or left in high
impedance for looping.

Auxiliary button “RESET”

There is a button located at the left of “VIDEO4” in the front panel. Refer to the Appendix
Troubleshooting

for the detailed usage of system recovery.

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Rear Panel

Ethernet 10/100 socket

Connect to an Ethernet network with a UTP category 5 cable of length shorter than 100
meters according to the standard.

COM port

This RS232 serial port is dedicated to control the PTZ cameras attached to COM port.

General I/O terminal block

Video Server provides a very flexible general I/O interface to combine with the use r’s
security devices such as sensors , alarms, lighting or door lock s. Two green connectors
are included in the package to connect the external devices. The general I/O terminal
block has 26 pins for device control. These pins can be divided into three categories
based on their functions, including power source, RS485 and digital inputs and outputs.

No. Pin description Regulation

1 DC power output(-) Max. 500mA at 12V DC
2 DC power output(+) Max. 500mA at 12V DC
3 Relay output 1 – Normal Open Max. 1A, 24V DC or 0.5A, 125V AC
4 Relay output 1 – Common Short with NC at initial state
5 Relay output 1 – Normal Close Max. 1A, 24V DC or 0.5A, 125V AC
6 Relay output 2 – Normal Open Max. 1A, 24V DC or 0.5A, 125V AC
7 Relay output 2 – Common Short with NC at initial state
8 Relay output 2 – Normal Close Max. 1A, 24V DC or 0.5A, 125V AC

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9 Opto-isolated sensor input 1(+) Max. 50mA, 12V DC
10 Opto-isolated sensor input 1(-) Ground
11 Opto-isolated sensor input 2(+) Max. 50mA, 12V DC
12 Opto-isolated sensor input 2(-) Ground
13 RS485 A D+, non-inverting
14 External power input Min. 1.5A, 12~15V AC or DC
15 External power input Min. 1.5A, 12~15V AC or DC
16 Relay output 3 – Normal Open Max. 1A, 24V DC or 0.5A, 125V AC
17 Relay output 3 – Common Short with NC at initial state
18 Relay output 3 – Normal Close Max. 1A, 24V DC or 0.5A, 125V AC
19 Relay output 4 – Normal Open Max. 1A, 24V DC or 0.5A, 125V AC
20 Relay output 4 – Common Short with NC at initial state
21 Relay output 4 – Normal Close Max. 1A, 24V DC or 0.5A, 125V AC
22 Opto-isolated sensor input 3(+) Max. 50mA, 12V DC
23 Opto-isolated sensor input 3(-) Ground
24 Opto-isolated sensor input 4(+) Max. 50mA, 12V DC
25 Opto-isolated sensor input 4(-) Ground
26 RS485 B D-, inverting

Power source

Pair of pin 14, 15 of AC or DC input is a replacement with the power adapter in case the
range cannot meet the requirement. The voltage of the power source can be AC or DC
and should fall in the range between 12V and 15V. Polarity does not matter. The DC
output through Pin 1, 2 is fed from power adapter of Video Server or pin 14 and pin 15
if an external power source is attached. The current of external devices is limited to less
than 500mA.

The power adapter of Video Server and the external power supply are prohibited to

exist together. Only one source can feed power to Video Server. Improper usage will
result in serious damage.

RS485 interface

The PTZ control commands can be directed through pin 13 and pin 26 to control the PTZ
cameras. If the distance from the controlled device is too far to allow accurate function,
an external power source may be used to amplify the RS485 signal.

Digital I/O control

Video Server provides four pairs of digital inputs and four sets of relay switches. Pin 9 to

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pin 12 and pin 22 to pin 25 can be connected to external sensors and the state of voltage
will be monitored according to the programmed conditions on the configuration page or
the external script file. Four relay switches can be used to turn on or off external devices.
When the system starts up, COMMON of both relay switches will be short with NC. A
simple diagram of example is shown below.

If DI1 in configuration is set as rising to
drive DO1 to high that denotes COMMON of
DO1 short with NO, then the bulb will light
when DI1 signal changes from 0V to 12V.

Power adapter

Plug the power jack of the included power adapter to Video Server . Connecting the power
adapter should be the last operation while physically installing Video Server.
Administrators may feed an external power source through pin 14 and pin 15 of the
general I/O terminal block to replace the power adapter.

The power adapter of Video Server and the external power supply are prohibited to

exist together. Only one source can feed power to Video Server. Improper usage will
result in serious damage.

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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, and whether the Ethernet speed
is 10Mbps or 100 Mbps.

Video Server can support four cameras but only one modulation type at the same time.
If more than one camera is connected, the modulation type of “Video1” will be chosen as
the first priority.

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

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Ethernet Environment

Hardware installation

Before installing multiple Video Server’s 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. The video BNC, Ethernet cable
and power adapter are essential for basic viewing function. If the attached cameras
belong to the same motorized model, they can be concatenated to single COM port and
will be differed by camera ID set on the cameras. Refer to the related configuration
section for detailed description.

Power on

Make sure all cables are correctly and firmly connected. Before turning on Video Server,
remember to run Installation Wizard on PC or no tebook in the same network first. As
long as the “Reset the IP address at next boot” option in network Web page is
enabled, the Installation Wizard is needed to install Video Server. Turn on cameras,
sensors, alarm devices, and then attach 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.

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Software installation

Easy way with installer program

In order to configure Video Server’s remotely, administrators should keep the serial
numbers of the new Video Server’s for identification. After successfully mounting Video
Server’s in the proper position, run the Installation Wizard on the PC in the same network
to locate the newly mounted Video Servers. After searching, Video Servers will be
located by the Installation Wizard. There may be several entries shown in the window.
The Administrator may differentiate the Video Servers with the serial number.

After the POST is done, Video Server will try to configure itself by detecting the network

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environment. If there is DHCP service over the network, the Installation Wizard will catch
the given information, then display the serial number and given IP address for each
Video Server as the figure above. If there is no DHCP server, the Video Server will try to
find a free IP address (this takes from 15 second to 3 m inutes, depending on the LAN
status). The method of finding IP address is seeking from 192.168.0.99, to

192.168.0.254. If any of the address insid e this range is free, the Video Server will be
assigned to this IP address, and its subnet mask would be 255.255.255.0. If none of the
addresses is free, the Video Server will try the range from 192.168.0.2 to 192.168.0.98.
After an IP address is assigned to the Video Server, the “Activity” status LED blinks.
To connect the Video Server, follow the steps.

1

○

Click the check box of the Video Server in the Installation Wizard.

2

○

Click “Link to selected device(s)” , the default Web browser will pop out and connect the

main page of Video Server.

For more detailed usage of the Installation Wizard, please refer to the user’s manual of
the Installation Wizard.

Once the installation is complete, administrators should follow the First access to

Video Server section for necessary checks and configurations.

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First access to Video Server

Set password of administrator

The administrator must change the root password immediately after the initial
installation to ensure security . The 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 to ask for the new password.

Manage user privilege

For complete protection from illegal usage, Video Server provides three privileges and
always needs user name and password before access. The lowest level is DEMO mode
whose services are subject to administrator's permission. The standard level is the USER
mode that consists of twenty user profiles. Each user is able to access Video Server
under the given privilege, 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”.

Complete the network settings

Although Video Server already can be accessed after software install ation in lo cal area
network, administrators should complete the network settings in the configuration page.
The complete network configurations including subnet mask as well as the IP address of
default gateway and DNS are provided by your network administrator or Internet service
provider. Once the wrong network settings make Video Server fail to work, refer to
Appendix A to restore factory default settings.

By default Video Server will need administrator's installation every time it reboots. If the
network settings are sure to work all the time, fix the network settings in network
configuration Web page.

Details about configurations are described in the relative category of the Chapter
Definitions of Configuration

.

How to Use

Open your familiar web browser and connect to Video Server just like a general web site
and the video will present on demand. Make sure the web address of th e target Video

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Server is accurate.

Authentication

After opening the Web browser and typing in the URL of Video Server, if the root
password is set, a dialogue window will pop out to request a username an d password.
The primary users will be allowed to enter as soon as the administrator finishes adding
user profiles. Upon successful authentication, the main page will be displayed.

In the figure, the foreground is the login window and the background shows the message
when authentication fails. The user may check the option to save the password for future
convenience.

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Installing Plug-in

If it is initial access to Video Server via the Web browser supporting server push, the
motioned pictures will display directly. If the Web browser is Internet Explorer in
Windows, users will be asked to install a new plug-in that is provided by Video Server.
This plug-in has been registered for certificate and is used to display motioned pictures
in the Internet Explorer. Users may click on “Yes” to install the plug-in. If the web
browser does not allow the user to insta ll, check the security option to lower security
levels or contact network supervisors.

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Main Page

Basic functions are displayed in main entrance page of Video Server. The first figure
below is graphic mode that has better visual effect and the second one is text mode that
will shorten download time. The main page may lo ok different depending on the PTZ
driver or the privilege of the user.

Graphic mode

Text mode is default

Text mode

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Video input selection

Switch the video source among up to four cameras connected to Video Server. When
clicking on the quad display button, a special quad display of all video inputs is available
for simultaneous monitoring. The picture refresh rate of quad display is slower than the
single input because it takes time to capture the valid image after changing the video
source. The actually appearing buttons depend on the system settings.

Video quality selection

It allows users to adjust the video quality for speed or smoothness. The performance is
also subject to the network bandwidth and the number of users. Five options are
available to be chosen from “Medium” to “Excellent”. “ Medium” quality means the
picture has the quickest refresh rate but the worst image quality and “Excellent” quality
means the picture has the slowest refresh rate but the best image quality.

Video size selection

It allows users to adjust the image size with consideration of bandwidth and image
resolution. Six options are available including “Half”, “Half×2”, “Normal”, “Normal×2”,
“Half D1” and “Double”. “Half×2” consumes the same bandwidth as “Half” but has the
same size with “Normal”. Of course the visual effect is worse than “Normal”.
“Normal×2” compared to “Double” is similar to the case. “Half×2” is especially suits in
the low bandwidth environment. To fit into the small image area, timestamp will be
skipped in “Half” and “Half×2” modes.

While in the quad display mode, “Half” means the image is composed of half size image
of each channel; “Normal” means the image is composed of normal size image of each
channel.

System configuration

There is a button or text link under video buttons for system configuration that only
appears in administrators’ main page.

External digital output control

There may be two remote control buttons for each digital output on the main page. If
there are external devices attached to digital outputs, administrators or permitted users

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can click on “Open” to short “Common” and “Normal Open” pins of the digital output or
click on “Close” to short “Common” and “Normal Close” pins of the digital output. To
know more about the digital outputs for external devices, refer to the rear panel
introduction of the Chapter Physical Description

.

Motorized camera control

If there is any serial device like motorized camera attached and correctly setup to either
COM port, the control panel will appear on permitted users’ main page. The effe ctive
buttons will change color when users move the cursor over. Users can control the
motorized camera in pan and tilt direction as well as zoom and focus. The home button
can return the camera to the center position if the camera supports this command.
Besides the near and far control in focus, an “AUT O” button is provided for setting auto
focus mode. T o move the motorized camera more precisely, speed control of pan and tilt
allows users to fine tune the aiming position. Users also can directly click on any point in
the image to force the motorized camera to focus on it. Users can pull down the list of
preset locations to choose any one to move the camera to the preset location that is
pre-defined by administrators. The detailed configurations are described in the relat ed
section in the Chapter Definitions of Configuration

.

Custom camera commands

There are at most five buttons of custom commands for users to control the attached
motorized cameras in addition to the default pan, tilt, zoom and focus control. The
custom commands mean that administrators can setup some special commands like
activating or deactivating the wiper of dome according to the user’s manual of the
attached motorized device.

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System Configuration

Introduction

The system configuration can be easily done remotely on Internet Explorer through the
Web interface. Administrators may type directly the URL of system configuration,
“http://<IP address of Video Server>/setup/config.html”, to directly enter the
configuration page. If administrators also want to set certain options through the URL,
read the relative section in the Chapter Advanced Usage
supports FTP to modify the system configuration file, CONFIG.INI, for technical usage.
The details are described in the Chapter Advanced Usage

Since it is a networking video server, adm inistrators should well configure “Security”,
“Network” and “Video” at least. To support external serial port devices, configure
“Camera Control” and then “Camera Setting” in “Video”. To utilize the built-in
features of security and web attraction, configure “Application” . Besides these features,
administrators can adjust the system date and time in “System”, or have different
homepage layout by configuring “Homepage layout”. Video Server also provides some
system maintenance like “View log file”, “View parameters” and “Factory default”.

for reference. Video Server also

.

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Definitions of Configuration

System parameters

Change host name

The “Host name” is used for the homepage title of main page and displays as the title
over the video window on the main page. The maximum string length is 40 characters or
20 characters in double-byte-character-systems like Chinese or Japanese.

Adjust date and time

There are three ways to adjust system date and time. The easiest is to make Video
Server "Sync with computer time". The second “Manual” is to set the date and time
manually by entering new values. Notice the format in the related field while typing. The
third “Automatic” is to make Video Server automatically synchronize with timeservers
over the Internet every month. It may fail if the assigned NTP server cannot be reached
or Video Server is within a local network. Leaving the NTP server blank will let Video
Server connect to default time servers. Domain name or IP address format is acceptable
as long as DNS server is available. Do not forget setting the "Time zone" offset for local
settings. Refer to the Appendix G for the time zone of your region. It only affects the hour
in NTP method.

Once the settings are changed, click on “Save” to validate changes.

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Security privilege

Change root password

To change the administrator’s password, type the new password in both text boxes
identically. What is typed will be displayed as asterisks for security purposes. The
maximum password is 16 characters. After pressing “Save”, the web browser w ill ask
administrators for the new password for access.

Add new users

To add a new user, type the new user's name and password, check respective privilege,
and then press “Add” to insert the entry . There are a total of twenty user accounts. Each
user can have independent access right of each video channel, external I/O access and
camera control.

Edit user’s privilege

If the permitted rights of some user have to be changed, pull down the user list to find
the user name and press “Edit” . A new window will pop out for administrators to change
password and choose different privilege.

Delete existing users

To delete a user, pull down the user list to find the user name to be deleted and press
“Delete”. A message window will pop up for confirmation.

Enable snapshot mode for more users

The maximum users that can view Video Server at the same time are twenty.
Administrators can check “Allow more guests with snapshot mode” to enable the
snapshot mode for more users. Then the users over twenty will have the main page with
snapshot mode instead of normal motion picture. It is practical for web attraction. In
such case, configure the “Snapshot interval” to achieve better performance. The
bigger interval between snapshots, the more users can have snapshot mode work.

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