Category: exacqVision Hardware

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exacqVision and Heartbleed

In April 2014 a Security Advisory was issued by the OpenSSL project notifying the public of a serious vulnerability in the encryption software used by a large number of companies. (For detailed information, visit http://heartbleed.com/.) Exacq Technologies took immediate action to assess how this affects its products.

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exacqVision uses OpenSSL for a few functions, but the version affected is used only in a small number of exacqVision products:

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exacqVision Server and Client 6.0 for Window

OpenSSL 1.0.1e is used in exacqVision 6.0, released in March 2014. However, the use of this product is not subject to the Heartbleed vulnerability. You can optionally upgrade to the latest version that includes updated OpenSSL at https://exacq.com/support/downloads.php.

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exacqVision S-Series


exaqVision S-Series systems use Ubuntu 12.04, which includes the affected version of OpenSSL. However, only specific non-default configurations expose the system to the Heartbleed vulnerability. See https://exacq.com/kb/?crc=61212 details.

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exacqVision-and-Heartbleed-1.pdf
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Enabling iSCSI Support on exacqVision Systems with Windows Embedded

Early versions of exacqVision systems with the Windows Embedded operating system did not have support for iSCSI. These systems were manufactured in in January and early February 2014.


To determine whether a system supports iSCSI, complete the following steps:

  1. Open the Start menu.
  2. Right-click Computer.
  3. Select Manage from the pop-up menu.
  4. Double-click Services and Applications.
  5. Double-click Services.
  6. If Microsoft iSCSI Initiator Service is not running, start it.
  7. Click Device Manager.
  8. Expand the Storage Controllers node if necessary.
  9. If you do not see Unknown Device, your system supports iSCSI.
  1. If you do see Unknown Device, right-click it, select Properties, select Details, and select Hardware IDs. If the value is ROOT\ISCSIPRT, your system does not support iSCSI.

To enable iSCSI support on the system, complete the following steps:

  1. Download iSCSIPack.zip from https://exacq.com/files and unzip it to a flash drive or directly to the exacqVision system.
  2. On the exacqVision system, navigate to the directory containing the unzipped installation files.
  3. Double-click the install.bat file.
  4. The installer prompts for administrator rights, installs the files, and restarts the system.
Enabling-iSCSI-Support-on-exacqVision-Systems-with-Windows-Embedded.pdf
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Replacing SATA Power Cable in Hybrid ExacqVision Systems with Stretch (sDVR) Boards

(NOTE: This article applies to hybrid ExacqVision systems with Stretch boards, manufactured from June 2012 to September 2013 as described in TAB 2013-01. If you need to replace the SATA power cable to an optical drive and hard drive please visit Article 2320.)

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To replace a SATA power cable to a Stretch (sDVR) board in an ExacqVision system, complete the following steps:

1. Shut down the system through the operating system (instead of using the power switch), and then remove the system power cable from the power supply on the back panel.

2. Remove the system lid.

3. Locate the sDVR board. The board could be installed vertically or horizontally, and there could be one or two of these boards.

4. Remove the SATA power cable from each sDVR board. The following images show the location of the sDVR boards (both vertical and horizontal) and the cables that need to be removed.

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Vertical sDVR Board

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Horizontal sDVR Board

5. Trace the SATA power cable back to the 4-pin Molex connector.

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Vertical sDVR Board

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Horizontal sDVR Board

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6. Disconnect the the 4-pin Molex connector.

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7. Remove the faulty SATA power cable and set it aside.

8. Connect the new SATA power cable at the 4-pin Molex connector side first. The following image shows a faulty cable (left) and a replacement cable (right).

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9. Connect the new SATA power cable at the power side to each SDVR board.

10. Replace and secure the system lid.

11. Plug the system power cable back into system’s power supply and turn the system on.

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Related article: Replacing SATA Power Cable in exacqVision System

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USB Sound Card for exacqVision ELX-Series Systems

exacqVision ELX does not provide audio support through the system motherboard. However, a USB audio adapter can be used with an exacqVision ELX system. Exacq has verified Diamond Sound Tube USB Audio Device (model XSTU21) for this purpose.

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USB-Sound-Card-for-exacqVision-ELX-Series-Systems.pdf

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Technical Advisory Bulletins Other Categories Products exacqVision Hardware

Technical Bulletin: SATA 2013

Please see the attached PDF file for information about the SATA 2013 Technical Advisory Bulletin.

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exacq_TAB_2013-01.pdf

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Upgrading a Linux-based exacqVision Server with Active iSCSI Configuration to exacqVision 5.8 (Legacy)

When upgrading a Linux-based exacqVision server to exacqVision 5.8, the existing mount point for an active iSCSI connected drive might not be recognized. To work around this issue, complete the following steps after the upgrade is complete:

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  1. Using exacqVision Client 5.8, open the Storage page for the upgraded server.
  2. Select the Extended tab.
  3. Look for your iSCSI connection and corresponding mount paths. If they appear as expected, no further action is necessary. Otherwise, continue with the following step.
  4. Note the mount paths that appear on the Extended tab. The example above shows /mnt/edvr/11/ (and three other mounts).
  5. On the Drive tab, deselect the recording drives listed on the Extended tab. Click Apply to disable recording to those mount paths.
  6. Ensure that the originally configured iSCSI mounts are still enabled for recording.
  7. On the server, run sudo /etc/init.d/edvrserver stop in Terminal.
  8. Use the mount command to determine the device name of the iSCSI mount point. The output will look similar to this:
    /dev/sdb1 on / type ext4 (rw,errors=remount-ro)
    proc on /proc type proc (rw,noexec,nosuid,nodev)
    /dev/sdc1 on /mnt/edvr/4 type ext4 (rw,_netdev,errors=remount-ro)
    /dev/sdd1 on /mnt/edvr/5 type ext4 (rw,_netdev,errors=remount-ro)
  9. Note the /dev/sdxx device name that corresponds to the /mnt/edvr/x mount path from earlier in the procedure.
  10. Run blkid -o value -s UUID /dev/sdc1 (substituting your device’s name for /dev/sdc1) to determine the UUID for the device.
  11. Open the /etc/fstab file for editing. Find the entry that specifies the iSCSI UUID. Change the mount point in the entry to the pre-upgrade configuration. For example, if the UUID= entry contains /mnt/edvr/4, change the “4” to “2.”
  12. Delete the fstab entry created for the iSCSI device before the upgrade. The file will have multiple entries for the mount point; keep the one specifying UUID, and delete the other, which will look similar to /dev/sdc1 /mnt/edvr/2 ext4 _netdev.errors=remount-ro 0 0.
  13. Save all changes.
  14. Continue to edit the fstab file for each iSCSI drive on the system.
  15. Run sudo mount -a to reload the fstab file.
  16. Open /usr/local/exacq/server and delete archivepi.xml and psfpi.xml.
  17. Run sudo /etc/init.d/edvrserver start.

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exacqVision Client should now display the correct mount paths on the Extended tab on the Storage page.

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Are All ONVIF-conformant Cameras Compatible with ExacqVision Systems?

The streaming profile of ONVIF (Profile S) provides a standard interface for streaming video and audio between conformant devices (cameras or encoders) and clients (VMS). The ExacqVision VMS is listed as an ONVIF Profile S-conformant client.

Extensive testing with a wide variety of ONVIF Profile S-conformant cameras has revealed enough inconsistency that Exacq does not explicitly declare support for all Profile S cameras for use with ExacqVision. Only the IP cameras listed in the Exacq IP Camera Integration database are officially compatible and supported for use with ExacqVision. Cameras not listed in the camera database should not be considered compatible with ExacqVision, even if they are Profile S-conformant.

If you are interested in using an ONVIF Profile S-conformant camera that is not listed in our camera database, please submit an integration request on the IP camera integration web page by clicking “Can’t Find Camera?”

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Replacing SATA Power Cable in ExacqVision System

(NOTE: This procedure covers the replacement of a SATA power cable to an optical drive and hard drive in an ExacqVision system, as described by TAB 2013-01. If you need to replace the SATA power cable on a system with a Stretch capture board, please visit Article 2328.)

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To replace a SATA power cable in an ExacqVision system, complete the following steps:

1. Shut down the system through the operating system (instead of using the power switch), and then remove the system power cable from the power supply on the back panel.

2. Remove the system lid.

3. EL Series only: Locate the optical (DVD) drive in the system and remove the SATA power cable.

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4. A Series Only: Locate the optical (DVD) drive in the system and remove the SATA power cable. Also, if the SATA power cable is connected to an additional hard drive located under the optical drive, remove the cable from the hard drive.

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5. Trace back the SATA power cable to the 4-pin Molex connector and disconnect it.

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6. Remove the faulty SATA power cable and set it aside.

7. Connect the new SATA power cable at the 4-pin Molex connector side first. The following image shows a faulty cable (left) and a replacement cable (right).

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8. A Series Only: If you disconnected the removed SATA power cable from an additional hard drive in step #4, connect the new cable to the hard drive.

9. Connect the SATA power cable to the optical drive.

10. Replace and secure the system lid.

11. Plug the system power cable back into system’s power supply and turn the system on.

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H.264 Camera Configuration for Time-lapse Recording

H.264 compression uses a Group of Pictures (GOP) or Group of Video (GOV) to define how many P-frames are sent between each I-frame. (I-frames are complete pictures, whereas P-frames are partial frames reconstructed based on the last I-frame and all the P-frames in between.) Time-lapse recording stores I-frames. If time-lapse recording is configured at short intervals (about 30 seconds or less) on H.264/MPEG-4, time-lapse scheduling might not be able to record as fast as desired.

To ensure time-lapse records at the desired rate, the camera must be configured for a GOP/frame rate setting equal to or less than the time-lapse setting, in seconds. For example, suppose you have a camera with a GOP of 30 configured to record 5 frames per second (fps), which produces an I-frame once every 6 seconds (30 divided by 5). In this case, time-lapse recording cannot capture I-frames more than once every 6 seconds. Thus, the time-lapse interval must be greater than 6 seconds. If you want to record time-lapse video at shorter interval, you must reduce the GOP setting.

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H.264-Camera-Configuration-for-Time-lapse-Recording.pdf
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Joystick Z-Axis on Mac-based exacqVision Client

When using a joystick on Mac-based exacqVision Client software, Z-Axis operations do not work correctly. On an exacqVision Surveillance Keyboard (and most other devices), the joystick’s Z-Axis is mapped to the action of twisting the joystick, which is used to control zoom functions.

On some keyboards, zoom functionality can be mapped to a programmable button. See the keyboard manufacturer’s documentation for information about programming buttons.

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Joystick-Z-Axis-on-Mac-based-exacqVision-Client.pdf