Passwords for cameras and other IP devices connected to exacqVision are stored in encrypted form. They may not be reset or viewed from the exacqVision software or configuration. This is intended for your system and device protection.
Solution
In the event you are unable to login to the device, you will need to factory reset the device so that you may set new administrator credentials. You may then edit or re-add the device to your exacqVision software.
Refer to the documentation provided by the device manufacturer for details on how to default/factory reset the device.
Enterprise Manager (EM), formerly known as Enterprise System Manager (ESM), includes a feature called Camera Inspection which allows EM users to notate cameras which need attention for a later date.
This handy feature means you can easily create a punch list of cameras which need attention for integrator/installer work orders to do things such as:
Clean camera domes/lenses
Maintain camera focus on subjects
Trim foliage or remove debris blocking camera views
Re-orient camera field of view if a camera has been tampered with or nudged
Beneath the Cameras header on the navigation menu, click on Inspection.<br><br>
A paginated view of available cameras is displayed. Each camera listed will display the Server Group name / Server name / Camera name at the top of its box.
Orange border = Has not been checked
Green border = Marked Good
Red border = Marked Bad
To work effectively a reference image would have been set when the camera was added/installed. This image appears on the left and can be set using the Use current image as camera image link on the camera details page.<br><br>
Use the Camera Inspection page by comparing the current snapshot on the right with the one on the left. <br><br>
Mark Good if you are pleased that the current snapshot indicates no action is needed.
Mark Bad if further action is needed.
Clicking the View Details link allows the user to enter additional comments, such as “Camera is out of focus”, or, “Camera dome needs cleaned”. Comments could also include notes about the person or date/time an issue was resolved. The bottom corner allows navigating through all cameras one by one while in the details/comments view.
After marking each camera, you may export a report to provide your integrator/installer. <br><br>
After issues have been fixed, use the Camera Inspection tool to Mark Fixed.<br><br>
Tyco Illustra Pro Gen3 cameras placed in Corridor Mode will not have motion masks/detection zones that match between the exacqVision Client’s camera settings page and the camera’s web browser graphical interface. Nothing can be done to properly synchronize the motion masks/detection zones between the two interfaces.
In the exacqVision Client, Motion masks are created to block out areas where motion detection IS NOT DESIRED and are displayed in red. In the Illustra camera, the Motion Detection Zones are created to define areas where motion detection IS DESIRED and are displayed in yellow. Essentially, the displays should be the inverse of each other but the respective zone area(s) in the field-of-view should match.
Figure 1 displays one possible symptom where the Illustra camera has the entire field-of-view defined for motion detection but the corresponding zone in the exacqVision Client shows an area “masked” for exclusion. The client motion mask CANNOT be deleted. This is an error condition.
Figure 1. Side by side comparison of Illustra web page Motion Detection tab vs. exacqVision Client Motion tab.
In other words, a full-screen motion detection area set in the camera is displayed as masked for ignoring motion events in some areas from within the client. Smaller zones do not match either.
Illustra Pro Gen3 2MP, 3MP, 5MP, & 8MP Mini-Dome and Bullet camera models are affected. Verified with firmware versions:
exacqVision supports connecting to many cameras using HTTPS. Depending on the camera firmware capabilities and the device type plugin used in exacqVision the level of encryption provided may vary.
Using the IP Camera Integration Database, you may choose to filter the displayed results by devices which support SSL (HTTPS).
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Connecting with HTTPS
When adding a new camera to an exacqVision Server or editing an existing camera connection, the IP Camera Information section on the Add IP Cameras page provides a Protocol drop-down menu. The following options are available:
HTTP
HTTPS If Available
HTTPS Required
Selecting ‘HTTPS If Available‘ does not permit customizing the Port number field. This option will attempt to connect to the camera using HTTPS on port 443. If this attempt fails it will fall back to attempt connection with HTTP on port 80. This may add a small delay to the initial connection as it tests HTTPS first.
Selecting ‘HTTPS Required‘ will only permit connection to the device using HTTPS. If the device cannot accept such a connection the device will fail to connect. You are permitted to change the Port number field should your camera be configured to provide HTTPS over a custom port number.
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HTTPS Connection Symbols
The IP Camera List on the Add IP Cameras page as well as the Camera Recording page provide symbols in the Protocol column allowing you to quickly view which devices are connected with HTTPS and to what level.
An empty field in the Protocol column indicates an HTTP connection.
The gear icon denotes that the connection is made to the device with HTTPS, which encrypts the login credentials to the device, the camera web interface in the Client’s web panels, and CGI commands made to the camera.
A padlock icon in the Protocol column indicates that the HTTPS connection encrypts the credentials, web page, and CGI commands, but also includes encryption of the video stream.
NOTE: HTTPS between the exacqVision software and camera encrypts only the communications between those two devices.
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Enabling HTTPS on Your Camera
Cameras will vary from manufacturer to manufacturer as well as between versions of firmware. Legacy firmware on some devices may require you to apply your own certificate. Many IP cameras today provide HTTPS support out-of-box using self-signed certificates. Below, we examine the settings on an Illustra IQ camera. For other devices, please refer to your device’s documentation.
NOTE: When accessing a camera through the web browser interface using HTTPS, your browser may warn you or prompt you for permission to continue due to having a self-signed certificate. A self-signed certificate can be used to encrypt communication but cannot provide certificate validation. Certificate validation requires the certificate be issued by a Certificate Authority (CA).
Some devices may require you to generate a new self-signed certificate if you have changed the IP address since the last certificate was created.
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Illustra IQ Cameras
Illustra IQ devices provide self-signed certificates out-of-box. When entering the Setup mode of an Illustra IQ camera expand the Security menu, then navigate to the HTTP/HTTPS page, as shown.
This page allows you to configure the port number used. Using the Upload button will allow you to upload your own certificate from a trusted Certificate Authority rather than using the camera’s self-signed certificate.
If you decide to use a certificate from a Certificate Authority you must provide them with a Certificate Signing Request (CSR) from the camera. Each camera requires its own, unique certificate from your CA.
NOTE: Do not use wildcard certificates for this purpose.
To generate a CSR file to provide to your CA, navigate to the Generate CSR page, also found under the Security menu. Complete the form on the left as required for your site and needs, then click Apply. The field to the right will populate. You will copy the data from this field into a new text file, but save it as a .CSR file. If you accidentally save the file as .txt, simply replace the .txt file extension with .csr. Provide this file to your CA.
Certain Samsung camera models can cause a “490 Account Blocked” error every five minutes in the exacqVision system log. This causes the Analytics events socket to reconnect every five minutes, and analytics events are missed during the reconnection.
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This does not affect exacqVision recording, motion events, and input triggers. Only analytics are affected.
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Affected Versions
This is caused by an issue in Samsung firmware for camera models SND-6084, SNV-6084, SNV-6084R, SND-6084R, and SNO-6084R. The symptoms were introduced in exacqVision Server analytics in version 6.9.0.75893.
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Fix/Workaround
Samsung is working on a fix to its firmware. This article will be updated with more information when available.
Pelco’s release of firmware version 3.29 for the Sarix Professional Series has disabled the creation of motion masks in exacqVision 6.2.
Exacq recommends that you do not upgrade to Pelco firmware version 3.29.
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Process to fix issue
If you have already upgraded the firmware, use the camera’s web configuration page to define motion windows. exacqVision will continue to receive motion events after this has been completed.
Sometimes exacqVision SDVR boards do not immediately recognize the PAL format of analog cameras. Images could be displayed in black and white or even with tearing. If your PAL cameras show those issues when using SDVR boards, complete the following steps in Linux:
Log out of the restricted user account and log in as an administrator.
Close the exacqVision Client.
Click Start and select Accessories and then Terminal.
Type sudo /etc/init.d/edvrserver stop.
Type admin256 at the prompt (or the correct admin password if it has been changed from the default).
Type sudo nano /etc/stretch.conf.
Find the DefaultVideoStandard=”NTSC” line in the file.
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