Month: June 2010

Categories
Knowledge Support Support exacqVision Client Categories Products

Downloading and Installing avcodec for Decoding h.264

There is a known issue when decompressing H.264 video from Arecont cameras that might cause the exacqVision Client or Web Service to crash. This issue appears to be specific to Arecont cameras with hardware version 65212. The H.264 hardware version can be read by browsing to the camera’s web page. Our workaround to this issue is to facilitate the use the avcodec (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libavcodec) for decompressing H.264 video instead of the Intel Performance Primitives decompressor that is normally used by exacqVision. Arecont tests with avcodec and distributes it with their AV100 software; thus, any incompatibilities with their hardware compression should be minimized.


Following are instructions for downloading and installing avcodec for each supported operating system:


Windows:

  1. Download exacqVision Client version 4.2.3.22315 or later from here: http://www.exacq.com/support/downloads.html
  2. Obtain the required avcodec DLLs. Because of license restrictions, Exacq cannot currently distribute these DLLs. If you have Arecont AV100 installed, browse to the installation directory (typically C:\Program Files\Arecont Vision\Video Surveillance) and copy avcodec-51.dll and avutil-49.dll. Otherwise, install AV100 from the CD that came with your Arecont camera, or download AV100 from the Arecont web site at http://arecontvision.com/index.php?section=downloads&subsection=list_files&s_fk_category_id=5 and follow the previous instructions.
  3. Save avcodec-51.dll and avutil-49.dll to the exacqVision Client directory (typically C:\Program Files\exacqVision\Client).
  4. By default, AV100 runs a service that causes conflicts with exacqVision Server. Either uninstall AV100 or disable the AV100 LMService by opening the Windows Service Control Manager (run services.msc), selecting the LMSrv service, clicking Stop, and setting the startup type to Disabled.
  5. Restart the exacqVision Client.

If you are using the exacqVision Web Service, complete these additional steps:


  1. Download the latest version of exacqVision Web Service from here: https://exacq.com/support/downloads.php
  2. Copy avcodec-51.dll and avutil-49.dll to the exacqVision WebService installation directory (typically C:\Program Files\exacqVision\WebService\Bin).
  3. Restart the Web Service from Start, Programs, exacqVision Web Service, Restart exacqVision Web Service.

Ubuntu 8.04:

  1. Download exacqVision Client version 4.2.3.22315 or later from here: http://www.exacq.com/support/downloads.html
  2. Obtain the required avcodec shared libraries by opening a terminal window and running the following:
    sudo apt-get install libavcodec1d
    sudo ln -s libavcodec.so.1d /usr/lib/libavcodec.so
    sudo ln -s libavutil.so.1d /usr/lib/libavutil.so
  3. Restart the exacqVision Client.

If you are using the exacqVision Web Service, complete these additional steps:

  1. Download the latest version of exacqVision Web Service from here: https://exacq.com/support/downloads.php
  2. Stop the Web Service: sudo /usr/local/exacq/webservice/service.sh stop
  3. Start the Web Service: sudo /usr/local/exacq/webservice/service.sh start

Ubuntu 10.04:

  1. Download exacqVision Client version 4.2.3.22315 or later from here: http://www.exacq.com/support/downloads.html
  2. Obtain the required avcodec shared libraries by opening a terminal window and running the following:
    sudo apt-get install libavcodec52
  3. Restart the exacqVision Client.

Mac OS:

  1. Download exacqVision Client version 4.2.3.22315 or later from here: http://www.exacq.com/support/downloads.html
  2. Download the ffmpeg installer from here: http://lame3.buanzo.com.ar/FFmpeg_Libraries_for_Audacity_on_OSX.dmg
  3. Extract and install the ffmpeg.pkg from the dmg.
  4. Open a Terminal window and execute the following:
    sudo mv /usr/local/lib/audacity/* /usr/local/lib
  5. Restart the exacqVision Client.

To make this fix work with an existing standalone *.exe file, complete the following steps:

  1. Install the latest version of the exacqVision Client software. This includes the latest version of the ePlayer software.
  2. Open the standalone *.exe and then save it as a *.ps file.
  3. Open the saved *.ps file with the updated ePlayer.
  4. Save the file as a standalone *.exe. This packages the updated ePlayer with the video clip.
  5. Send both avcodec-51.dll and avutil-49.dll along with the saved standalone *.exe file. The DLL files must be saved to the same directory as the standalone *.exe when it is run on the remote computer.
Downloading-and-Installing-avcodec-for-Decoding-h.264.pdf
Categories
Knowledge Support Documentation Support exacqVision Server Products

RAID Setup Using 3ware Controller – LEGACY

To configure a RAID 5 array using a 3ware controller, complete the following steps:

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  1. Restart the computer.
  2. When prompted, press Alt-3 to enter the 3ware RAID BIOS.
  3. If prompted, type admin256 as the password.
  4. Press any key to acknowledge the warning.
  5. The available drives are listed under Exportable Units. If you are re-creating a failed RAID array, some drives will still be a part of the old array. You must delete the old array before creating the new array. To do this, complete the following steps:

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    a.) Select the drives in the failed RAID array by pressing Enter when they are highlighted and using the up and down arrows on the keyboard.
    b.) Press Tab to enter the menu.
    c.) Select the Delete Unit square and press Enter.
    d.) Press Enter to confirm. This allows all the drives to be included into one RAID array.

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  1. Navigate to the top of the list of drives listed as Exportable Units. Highlight Direct Attached and press Enter. Each drive should have asterisk (*) next to it.
  2. Press Tab to enter the menu.
  3. Navigate to the Settings square and press Enter.
  4. Select Controller Policies and press Enter.
  5. Select each policy you want to change and press Enter. Select the correct setting from the list, or type the desired value and press Enter.

    a.) Export JBOD Disks should be No.
    b.) Staggered Spinup should be Enabled.
    c.) Delay Before Spinup should be 2.
    d.) Number of Drives Per Spinup should be 1.
    e.) Delay Between Spinups should be 1 second.
    f.) Staggered Method should be SATA00B.
    g.) Auto-Carving should be Enabled.
    h.) Carving Factor should be 2048.
    i.) Auto-Rebuild should be Enabled.
    j.) Auto-Verify Preferred Start Day should be Saturday.
    k.) Auto-Verify Preferred Start Time should be 12:00am.

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  1. Navigate to OK and press Enter.
  2. Navigate to Create Unit and press Enter.
  3. Select each setting you want to change and press Enter. Select the correct setting from the list, or type the desired value and press Enter.

    a.) Array Name should be Exacq.
    b.) RAID Configuration match the raid level desired (5 or 6).
    c.) Stripe Size should be 256KB.
    d.) Write Cache Setting should be Enabled.
    e.) Read Cache Setting should be Intelligent.
    f.) StorSave Profile should be Performance.
    g.) Auto-Verify should be Enabled.
    h.) Rapid RAID Recovery should be Fast Rebuild/Shutdown.

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  1. Select Advanced and press Enter.
  2. Select each setting you want to change and press Enter. Select the correct setting from the list, or type the desired value and press Enter.

    a.) Boot Volume Size should be 33.
    b.) Drive Querying Mode should be Enabled.
    c.) Continue On Error When Rebuild should be Disabled.
    d.) Initialization Method should be Background.

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  1. Navigate to OK and press Enter.
  2. Navigate to OK and press Enter.
  3. Press Y to confirm cache without a battery.
  4. Note values and press any key.
  5. Press F8.
  6. Press Y to Save Configuration and Exit.

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Now you can install the operating system.
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Categories
Knowledge Support Support exacqVision Server Categories Products

Intel Desktop Utilities for Windows 7

NOTE: It is recommended that you do NOT install this software on Windows XP Professional.

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You can download Intel Desktop Utilities from the following location:

http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&DwnldID=18934&ProdId=3121〈=eng

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If you are not using the server and need to manually download the drivers, complete the following steps:

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  1. Select Desktop Boards under Products.
  2. Select Intel® 4 Series Chipset Boards under Product Line.
  3. Select Intel® Desktop Board DB43LD under Product Name.
  4. Select Windows 7, 32-bit under Operating System.
  5. Select Software Applications under Download Type.
  6. From the list, select Intel® Desktop Utilities from 4 & 5 Series Desktop Boards.
  7. Follow the links and download the software.

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If you are on the server itself, you can have Intel automatically search for the drivers and software needed. To do this, complete the following steps:

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  1. Click Run Now under the Automatically Identify and Find Drivers section.
  2. After the IDU_x.zip file is downloaded (x is the version of IDU software), extract the files to the Desktop (by default, they extract to an IDU_x directory).
  3. Open the directory where the ZIP file was extracted to. Right-click Setup.exe and select Run as Administrator to install the program.

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To make exceptions in Windows Firewall, complete the following steps:

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  1. Click Start, Control Panel, and Windows Firewall.
  2. Select Allow a Program or Feature Through Windows Firewall.
  3. Click Change Settings.
  4. Confirm the action if the UAC appears.
  5. Click Add Another Program.
  6. Click Browse.
  7. Browse to C:\Program Files\Intel\Intel Desktop Utilities.
  8. Select intelmain.exe and click Open.
  9. Repeat steps 5-7 and select iptray.exe and click Open.
  10. Confirm that Intel(R) Desktop Utilities and Tray Application for Intel(R) Desktop Utilities have been added to the exceptions list.

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You have now installed Intel Desktop Utilities to your Windows 7 exacqVision Server.

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Intel-Desktop-Utilities-for-Windows-7.pdf
Categories
Knowledge Support Support exacqVision Server Categories Products

Mouse and Keyboard Disabled During Windows Installation

On rare occasions, the system mouse and keyboard can become disabled during a Windows installation. The cause of this issue is unknown. However, the issue can be resolved by disconnecting the mouse and connecting the keyboard to the USB port directly below the Network port. When finished, restart the system.

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Mouse-and-Keyboard-Disabled-During-Windows-Installation.pdf
Categories
Knowledge Support Support exacqVision Webservice Categories Products

What type of video does the exacqVision Web Service transmit?

The codec used to transmit video will depending on the plugin used. In many cases the exacqVision Web Service performs transcoding and transmits a compressed JPEG stream of images to the Web Client or Exacq Mobile 3 app. Some plugins are capable of forwarding the H.264 stream without the need to transcode.

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Categories
Knowledge Support Support exacqVision Client Categories Products

Problems Exporting to CDs or DVDs

If you select files to export to a CD or DVD through the ExacqVision Client software, but you cannot actually burn the CD or DVD, it is possible that you are using low-quality optical disks. Try replacing the blank optical disk with a new one perhaps from a different manufacturer. Low-quality optical disks are prevalent; the following third-party web site is a useful resource for identifying high-quality optical media:

http://www.digitalfaq.com/reviews/dvd-media.htm

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Categories
User Guides Integrations Categories Products exacqVision Hardware

Automation Control Circuitry

What is TTL?

TTL stands for Transistor-to-Transistor Logic, where the “logic” determines which values are high and low.

Standardized common TTL circuits operate with a 5-volt power supply. A TTL signal is defined as low when the voltage is measured between 0.0 V and 0.8 V with respect to the ground terminal, and high when measured between 2.2 V and 5 V (precise logic levels vary slightly between sub-types).

Exacq Hybrid NVR systems and the exacqVision USB I/O Module provide TTL inputs to activate input triggers and create output alarms. This allows exacqVision to interact with external devices/controls which may not provide means to be activated via software integration. The controllers in these systems follow the voltages listed above closely, as shown in the graphic below.

TTL uses a high/low indicator instead of the standard open/closed indicator of a contact closure. Many devices will accept this kind of information; if you have a device that works only with contact closures, you can find devices that convert TTL to contact closure.

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Controlling External Devices with TTL Output

Using Event Linking, exacqVision can activate external devices based on configured events, such as motion detection, analytic object detection, system health, input triggers, and more. See our User Training Videos on Event Linking and Event Monitoring, or refer to the User Manual, for information on configuration.

AC Devices

If you want your exacqVision Server to activate a 120VAC device during an event, it is recommended that you use the Xantech AC-1 switched AC outlet and a 120VAC power source/outlet. Event Linking must also be programmed in the exacqVision Client software.

Figure 1

DC Devices

If you want your exacqVision Server to activate a low-voltage device during an event, it is recommended that you use the Altronix RBSN-TTL relay and a 12-24VDC power supply. Event Linking must also be programmed in the exacqVision Client software.

Figure 2

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Wet and Dry Contacts

Automation and control devices come in countless forms, from different manufacturers, models, and types of devices. But, the general purpose is to turn a circuit on or off to drive a load of some type. In electrical terms a “load” is the end output device. This could be a light bulb or a motor.

When electricity is applied to actuators or relays there is typically some sort of switching involved, whether a physical switch used by a person, a sensor, or a relay. The contacts switch between an open and closed position to either complete the circuit or break the circuit. Additionally, we tend to think of a completed circuit as being “on”, however when using relays our voltage could be applied to the normally open (NO) or the normally closed (NC) contact, which will determine the behavior of the circuit.

DRY CONTACTS require electricity to be sent to the load from some sort of external source. This is the case when using relays, including those found on Exacq Hybrid NVRs or the exacqVision USB I/O Module. Voltage is usually supplied through a “common wire”. In addition, the I/O terminals on many IP Cameras are relays as well.

WET CONTACTS provide power directly, where the current driving the load flows through the switch itself. Consider the circuit breaker panel for your home. The switch on the circuit breaker allows the current to flow through it to power the devices on that circuit.

Exacq Hybrid NVRs and the exacqVision USB I/O module provide both TTL and relay outputs. While TTLs provide electricity directly through solid-state switching, they usually provide too little current to do anything more useful than power a tiny LED, which is why the relay devices mentioned above are used to introduce external current. Whether you use AC or DC will depend on the device you are attempting to control.

Note, that in Figure 1 and Figure 2 above, both modules provide power to the load from an external source. This is required because the output terminals from Exacq do not provide enough voltage or amperage to drive most devices, only enough to signal another device of a change.

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