Month: February 2011

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Knowledge Support Support Categories Products exacqVision Integrations

RTSP Plug-in used with ExacqVision Software

The RTSP plug-in supports generic streaming of audio and video using the RTSP/RTCP/RTP protocol. The plug-in automatically configures the streaming transport to either UDP or TCP. The default when the device is connected is TCP; if it fails to connect, it tries to connect through UDP. The plug-in does not support any configuration — it is only an audio/video streaming plug-in. The device must be configured through its web page or other application provided by the manufacturer.

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Video Formats Supported

MJPEG
MPEG4
H.264

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Audio Formats Supported

L16: uncompressed 16-bit audio with 8000 sampling rate (ACTi)

G711-muLaw: compressed PCM audio into 8-bit samples with 8000 sampling rate (AD, IPX, Pelco)

AAC: single channel (AXIS)

G726-16,24,32,40: ADPCM encoded audio with 2, 3, 4, and 5 bits per sample with 8000 sampling rate (AD, Panasonic, AXIS, Sony)

You can find the address to choose for your camera model from a number of locations online or by referring to the manufacturer’s manuals and documentation.

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Exacq-Specific Controls

In the RTSP URL, control parameters provide additional control of the streaming functionality. These controls are used to override the default behaviors. The typical default behavior is to select the first video and audio stream available. The default transport protocol is TCP, and if the setup process failed with 461 or Unsupported Transport protocol, it switches to UDP and restarts the session. The usage of the override controls is to append the normal RTSP URL with # and follow with key word = value.

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Video Stream Index Override Control

The key word for this control is stream, and the expected value is one of the available video stream index numbers. The stream index is the index of video stream found within the described response. Thus, if two video streams and one audio stream are available, index 1 would refer to the first stream and index 2 would refer to the second video stream. For example:

rtsp://[user-name]:[password]@[ip-address]:[port]/[path]#stream=1

To select video stream number 2 from the ACTi camera:

rtsp://Admin:123456@192.168.3.61:7070#stream=2

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Video Track Index Override Control

The key word for this control is track, and the expected value is one of the available video track index numbers. The track index is the logical control path of a stream that is part of the the described response. Thus, a track with the value of 1 would refer to the the video stream with a control path of track1. For example:

rtsp://[user-name]:[password]@[ip-address]:[port]/[path]#track=1

To select video track number 2 from the ACTi camera:

rtsp://Admin:123456@192.168.3.61:7070#track=2

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Transport Protocol Override Control

The key word for this control is transport, and the expected values are tcp, udp, or http. TCP and UDP are used to control the RTP streaming transport method. HTTP is for RTSP tunneling over HTTP, such as with ONVIF cameras. For example:

rtsp://[user-name]:[password]@[ip-address]:[port]/[path]#transport=udp

To select UDP as the transport protocol for the ACTi camera:

rtsp://Admin:123456@192.168.3.61:7070#transport=udp

Also note that multiple additional control parameters could be appended to the URI. The following example would stream the first track in UDP mode:

rtsp://Admin:123456@192.168.3.61:7070#stream=1&transport=udp

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Knowledge Support Support exacqVision Server Categories exacqVision Hardware Products

Changing the Automatic Login User in Linux (Legacy)

To change the automatic login user in Linux, complete the steps provided for your Linux version.

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Ubuntu 18.04 and higher

On systems built by Exacq with Ubuntu version 18.04 and higher, the ability to use the operating system to configure automatic logins has been removed as a security measure.

You may, however, utilize the Exacq Kiosk User software to create kiosk user accounts and select whether or not a kiosk user account will automatically login.

See also: Setting up the Kiosk User for ExacqVision Systems

Ubuntu 16.04

  1. Log out of the User account.
  2. Log in as an Admin.
  3. From the upper-right corner, click the computer icon from the menu bar.
  4. Select System Settings from the menu.
  5. In the Settings window that appears, select Users.
  6. Select Unlock. Enter the admin password when prompted.
  7. Highlight the user account you wish to automatically login.
  8. Toggle the Automatic Login switch for the user account.
  9. Close the User Accounts window.
  10. Restart the system to test the new automatic login.

Ubuntu 14.04

  1. Log out of the User account.
  2. Log in as an Admin.
  3. From the upper-left corner, open the Applications menu.
  4. Expand the System Tools option from the menu.
  5. Expand the Administration menu, then select User Accounts.
  6. Select Unlock. Enter the admin password when prompted.
  7. Highlight the user account you wish to automatically login.
  8. Toggle the Automatic Login switch for the user account.
  9. Close the User Accounts window.
  10. Restart the system to test the new automatic login.

Ubuntu 12.04

  1. Log out of the User account.
  2. Log in as an Admin.
  3. From the upper-left corner, open the Applications menu.
  4. Expand the System Tools option from the menu.
  5. Select System Settings.
  6. In the System Settings window, select User Accounts.
  7. Select Unlock. Enter the admin password when prompted.
  8. Highlight the user account you wish to automatically login.
  9. Toggle the Automatic Login switch for the user account.
  10. Close the User Accounts window.
  11. Restart the system to test the new automatic login.

Ubuntu 10.04

  1. Log out of the User account.
  2. Log in as an Admin.
  3. In the upper-left corner, select System from the menu bar.
  4. Select Administration from the menu.
  5. Select Login Screen from the menu.
  6. Select Unlock. Enter the admin password when prompted.
  7. Select Log In As and then select the desired user from the drop-down list.
  8. Click Close.
  9. Restart the system to test the new automatic login.

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Knowledge Support Support exacqVision Server Categories Products

Set iSCSI Storage to Start Before ExacqVision Server in Windows

If you are recording video to an iSCSI target in Windows, it is important to ensure the iSCSI device is available in the operating system before the ExacqVision Server starts. Please follow the instructions from the Microsoft iSCSI Software Initiator Version 2.x Users Guide:

Note: The following information was written and published by Microsoft Corporation, which is responsible for the accuracy of the information.

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Running automatic start services on iSCSI disks

The disk startup sequence in Windows when using the Microsoft iSCSI software initiator kernel mode driver is different from the startup sequence when using an iSCSI or other HBA. Disks exposed by the Microsoft iSCSI initiator kernel mode driver are available for applications and services much later in the boot process and in some cases might not be available until after the service control manager begins to start automatic start services. The Microsoft iSCSI initiator service includes functionality to synchronize automatic start services and the appearance of iSCSI disk. The iSCSI service can be configured with a list of disk volumes that are required to be present before the start of automatic start services.

In order to install automatic start services on volumes created from iSCSI disks you need to follow the following steps:

  1. Login to all of the targets your machine will be using. Ensure that these are the only targets that are logged in. Be sure that you have also made them persistent logins by using the iscsicli command PersistentLoginTarget or clicking on the appropriate option in the control panel applet.
  2. Configure all volumes on top of the disks using Disk Administrator
  3. Use the iscsicli commands BindPersistentVolumes, AddPersistentVolume, RemovePersistentVolume and ClearPersistentVolumes (or appropriate button in the control panel applet) to allow the iSCSI service to configure the list of persistent volumes

On Windows 2000 only, make the automatic service dependent upon the msiscsi service.

Note: If you have made any services dependent upon the Microsoft iSCSI initiator service, you will need to manually stop the service before upgrading or removing the Microsoft iSCSI Software initiator package.

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Knowledge Support Support exacqVision Server Categories Products

exacqVision SDK Compatibility with exacqVision Server Versions

The exacqVision SDK is designed to be compatible with all versions of exacqVision Server. However, individual features in certain versions of the server and SDK might not be compatible. For more details about the features available in a each version of the server or SDK, see the readme.txt file available in their install packages.

It is recommended that you use the newest version of the SDK for compatibility with the most complete set of exacqVision Server’s features and enhancements.

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exacqVision-SDK-Compatibility-with-exacqVision-Server-Versions.pdf
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Knowledge Support Highlighted Support exacqVision Server Categories Products

How do I apply a license to an exacqVision Server?

Only one license key may be applied on each system at a time. This license key includes information on the number of licensed IP Cameras the system is permitted to use as well as the specific system it is assigned to.

For information on increasing your licensed number of cameras or changing your license level, contact your authorized exacqVision dealer.

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Individual License Update

To apply or update an individual system license, expand the exacqVision Server node on the navigation tree along the left-hand side of the Client window, then select Configure System.

On the System tab, the License section is found to the right. There are multiple methods available to apply a license to the software.

From Exacq.com

If your exacqVision Server has an internet connection, this is the simplest choice. This method will automatically pull the most recent license generated for the system.

  1. Press the Import button.
  2. Select ‘From exacq.com‘.

If there is a particular reason necessary for applying a license that was not the most recently generated, see the additional options below.

From File

If the server does not have an internet connection, you may use the .KEY file issued by Exacq Orders via email.

  1. Press the Import button.
  2. Select ‘From File‘.
  3. Navigate to the directory where you have saved the .KEY file to select and apply it to the system.

Manual Entry

The license key code may also be manually entered. The key code is also issued by Exacq Orders via email.

  1. Type the license key code into the License text field at the top of the license section.
  2. Press the Apply button.

All keys are displayed in XXXXXX-XXXXXX-XXXXXX-XXXXXX-XXXXXX-XX alphanumeric format.

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Batch License Update

A .KEY license and corresponding key code may be used on a single exacqVision Server, whereas a properly formatted .CSV file can be used to license multiple exacqVision servers with a single import. This method is useful for enterprise environments managing many servers.

  1. Create a new file (using a spreadsheet program or hand written text file to be formatted as CSV) where each row contains the system’s licensed MAC address in the first column and the license key code for that MAC address in the second column. If using Excel to create this table, be sure to save as .CSV.
  2. Select the Systems node from the very top of the navigation tree on the left-hand side of the exacqVision Client.
  3. Below the Systems list panel, select the Import License button.
  4. Navigate to the location of your .CSV file to select and apply.

You may also utilize the Export Licenses button to export a properly formatted .CSV containing this information for connected systems, which may be useful for keeping site records. If updating licenses rather than licensing for the first time, edit the exported file for later import to save time.

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Related Articles

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Knowledge Support Support exacqVision Client Categories Products

exacqVision Video File Naming Format

2040–00160380.ps

min/sec manufacturer device id storage rule

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exacqVision files are stored on each drive enabled for recording in a directory structure as follows:

  • Year (such as 2018)
  • Month (such as 01 for January)
  • Date (such as 30 for the 30th)
  • Hour (such as 23 for 23:00 or 11 p.m.)

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Within each directory, video is stored in files with duration of five minutes. Each device (IP camera, compression board, encoder) has its own files. The file naming convention is as follows: MMSS-XXXXYYZZ.ps and MMSS-XXXXYYZZ.psi. The *.ps file contains the actual compressed video data, and the *.psi file is an index for frame locations within the associated *.ps file. Here is the meaning of each part of the filename:

MMSS is the minutes and seconds which the file begins.

XXXX is the four-hex-digit plug-in ID associated with the recording device. The first X is normally 0, with additional multistreaming contexts incremented up to 7. The remaining three Xs are based on the camera manufacturer, such as 0004 for an eDVR board or 0018 for Arecont.
See also: ExacqVision IP Plugin IDs

EXAMPLE:A single-stream Arecont camera would have a plug-in ID of 0018, but a multistream Arecont camera would have plug-in IDs of 0018, 1018, 2018, and so on as high as 7018. Even if a context is deleted, the file will remain on the system as needed.

YY is the device number within the plugin family.

ZZ is the storage rule associated with the video file. The value is 80 if there is no storage rule associated with this video recording.

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Knowledge Support Support exacqVision Server Categories Products

Assigning a Default Printer to the Windows User (Restricted) Account

If you want to print images from the ExacqVision software on an ExacqVision server, you might need to change the default printer. Because Windows is locked down when you log in as a User, you must perform the following steps to configure the default printer:

  1. Log out of the Windows User account.
  2. Log in to the Windows Admin account.
  3. From the Start menu, select Programs, Accessories, and Notepad.
  4. Type the following, where “Printer Name” is the name of the desired default printer (such as “Lexmark 2310”).
    • RUNDLL32 PRINTUI.DLL,PrintUIEntry /y /n “Printer Name”
  5. From the File menu, select Save As. Change the filename to DefaultPrinter.bat (make sure the extension is not .txt).
  6. Open the Startup directory. In Windows XP, this directory is found in C:\Documents and Settings\User\Start Manu\Programs. In Windows 7, it is found in C:\Users\User\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs.
  7. Copy the DefaultPrinter.bat file to the user profile in the Startup subfolder.
  8. Restart the server.

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Assigning-a-Default-Printer-to-the-Windows-User-Restricted-Account.pdf
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Knowledge Support Support exacqVision Client Categories Products

Where are ExacqVision Groups and Views Stored?

Views and Groups are stored on the the relevant ExacqVision servers. For example, if you create a view named “East Side Entrances” that has Camera A from Server 1 and Camera B from Server 2, the group ID and name are stored on both Server 1 and Server 2. Also, Camera A’s membership in “East Side Entrances” is stored on Server 1 and Camera B’s membership in “East Side Entrances” is stored on Server 2.

Thus, if the integrator connects his Client at home to Server 1, he sees a group named “East Side Entrances” containing Camera A without any need for configuration or file transfer. If he then connects to Server 2, Camera B is also seen in “East Side Entrances”.

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