Axis Video Server User Manual
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Axis Video Server User Manual

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AXIS Video Server
User's Manual

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Summary of Contents for Axis Video Server

  • Page 1 AXIS Video Server User’s Manual...
  • Page 2 Search by product, category, or phrases purposes. This product includes one (1) MPEG-4 decoder • report problems to Axis support staff by logging in to your license. To purchase further licenses, contact your reseller. private support area •...

  • Page 3: Table Of Contents

    Advanced - MPEG-4 settings ......... . 24 Quad stream settings (AXIS 241Q/QA only) ....... 24 Audio (AXIS 241QA/SA only) .
  • Page 4 COM ports RS-232 and RS-485 ........59 The S-Video connector (AXIS 242S IV only) ....... 59 Y/C to BNC cable (AXIS 241S/SA only) .
  • Page 5 Axis video Server Optimizing your system ..........69 Frame rates - Motion JPEG .

  • Page 6: Product Description

    As the Axis video server is designed for use in security systems, it is equipped with several security features, such as IP address filtering, several user levels with passwords and HTTPS.

  • Page 7: Overview - Axis 241Q/Qa

    Axis video server - Product description Overview - AXIS 241Q/QA The AXIS 241Q and AXIS 241QA each provide 4 BNC inputs for connecting analog video devices. The AXIS 241QA also provides a Line/Mic In (mono) connector for connecting an external microphone or other source producing a line level signal.

  • Page 8: Overview - Axis 242S Iv

    The AXIS 242S IV provides 1 BNC input and 1 matching loop-through output. S-Video (Y/C) is accommodated directly via the supplied connector. The AXIS 242S IV also provides Line In and Mic In connectors. These are used for audio analysis purposes only.

  • Page 9: Switches & Connectors

    (only the left channel is used from a stereo signal). Line In & Mic In (AXIS 242S IV only) - 2 separate inputs for Line In and Mic In, respectively. Note that these inputs are used for internal audio analysis only.

  • Page 10: Rear Panel - All Models

    The I/O terminal connector also provides an auxiliary connection point for DC power. Network connector - The Axis video server connects to the network via a standard network cable, and automatically detects the speed of the local network segment (10BaseT/100BaseTX Ethernet).

  • Page 11: Using The Video Server

    Axis video server - Using the video server Using the video server The Axis video server can be used with most standard operating systems and web browsers. The recommended browser is Internet Explorer with Windows, and Mozilla with other operating systems. See also the Technical specifications, on page 66.

  • Page 12: The Live View Page

    •To view streaming video in Microsoft Internet Explorer, you must set your web browser to allow the AXIS Media Control (AMC) to be installed on your computer. AMC is required to use audio in the AXIS 241SA and AXIS 241QA. AMC also provides an MPEG-4 decoder for viewing MPEG-4 video streams.
  • Page 13 The second icon indicates that you will hear audio from the video server, but no audio is sent to web clients. When in simplex talk mode, the icon toggles between allowing you to speak, and is dimmed when you do not want other clients to receive any audio.

  • Page 14: Video And Audio Streams

    The Live View page in the Axis video server provides access to Motion JPEG and MPEG-4 video and audio streams, as well as to single JPEG images. Other applications and clients can also access these video and audio streams/images directly, without going via the Live View page.

  • Page 15: Mpeg-4 Protocols And Communication Methods

    The recommended method of accessing live video (MPEG-4 and/or Motion JPEG) and audio from the Axis video server is to use the AXIS Media Control (AMC) in Microsoft Internet Explorer in Windows. This ActiveX component is automatically installed on first use, after which it can be configured by opening the AMC Control Panel applet from the Windows Control Panel.

  • Page 16: How To Stream Mpeg-4

    Video/images from the Axis video server can also be accessed in the following ways: • If supported by the client, the Axis video server can use Motion JPEG server push to display video. This option maintains an open HTTP connection to the web browser and sends data as and when required, for as long as required.
  • Page 17 To access the video stream from e.g. QuickTime™ the following path can be used: rtsp://<ip>/mpeg4/#/media.amp This path is for all supported methods, and the client will negotiate with the Axis video server to determine exactly which transport protocol to use.
  • Page 18 Axis video server - Video and audio streams Accessing the audio streams In addition to accessing audio in the Live View page using AMC, audio from the AXIS 241QA/241SA can also be accessed in the following ways: AXIS VAPIX API You can read about accessing audio for the other protocols through the AXIS VAPIX HTTP API at www.axis.com/techsup...

  • Page 19: Configuring The Video Server

    Accessing the Setup tools Follow the instructions below to access the Setup Tools from a web browser. 1. Start the browser and enter the IP address or host name of the Axis video server in the location/address field. 2. The Live View page is now displayed. Click Setup to display the Setup tools.

  • Page 20: Video & Image Settings

    Modify the Image Appearance to optimize the video images according to your requirements. All configuration of images and overlays will affect the performance of the video server, depending on the usage and the available bandwidth. • High resolution generates larger files •...

  • Page 21: Video Source Settings

    • Y/C (S-video) connects a Y/C (S-Video) camera or other video equipment On the AXIS 241S/SA, the video type can be converted from composite video to Y/C (S-Video) by using a Y/C to BNC cable. See page 60 for more information. See also the dip switch settings on page 9.

  • Page 22: Overlay/Mask Settings

    Selecting the overlay/mask type from the menu will display further settings available for the selected type. See the online help for further information. Note: A privacy mask cannot be bypassed, but an overlay image can be bypassed with the help of the AXIS VAPIX API. Upload and use an overlay image 1.
  • Page 23 Windows 4-bit BMP (16 colors) Overlay image limitations: • The maximum overlay image size supported by the Axis video server is the same as the maximum image resolution. See the Technical Specifications, on page 66. • When a text overlay is also used, this reduces the amount of space available to the overlay image.

  • Page 24: Advanced - Mpeg-4 Settings

    Axis video server - Video & image settings Advanced - MPEG-4 settings Tools for adjusting the MPEG-4 settings and for controlling the video bit rate. The MPEG-4 standard provides many different coding tools for various applications in different situations. As most MPEG-4 clients do not support all of these tools, it is usual to instead define and use subsets for different clients or groups of clients.

  • Page 25: Audio (Axis 241Qa/Sa Only)

    Axis video server - Audio (AXIS 241QA/SA only) Audio (AXIS 241QA/SA only) The AXIS 241QA/SA can transmit audio to other clients using an external microphone and can play audio received from other clients by attaching a speaker. The Setup page for the AXIS 241QA/SA has an additional menu item called Audio, which allows different audio configurations to be set up, e.g.
  • Page 26 Audio from an external microphone or a line source can be connected to the Line/Mic In jack of the AXIS 241QA/SA. The audio source can be set to Microphone or Line. If you are using a microphone, the input sensitivity can be set to High or Low. See Technical specifications, on page 66 for the exact maximum levels.
  • Page 27 Axis video server - Audio (AXIS 241QA/SA only) If there are problems with the sound input being too low or high, it is possible to adjust the input gain for the microphone attached to the AXIS 241QA/SA. Audio Output If the sound from the speaker is too low or high it is possible to adjust the output gain for the active speaker attached to the Axis video server.
  • Page 28 Axis video server - Audio (AXIS 241QA/SA only) When the incoming sound is louder than the threshold, it will pass without any changes. When lower than the threshold, the incoming sound will be reduced by a certain attenuation factor. The threshold value should be set higher than the background noise, but lower than the useful audio.

  • Page 29: Live View Config

    Axis video server - Live View Config Live View Config Layout These are the tools for deciding the layout of the Live View page. The layout can be set in 3 ways: • Use Axis look - the layout is unchanged.
  • Page 30 To remove a file, check the box provided next to it and then click the Remove button. To use an external file located somewhere other than in the Axis video server, select this radio button and enter the URL in the field marked External.
  • Page 31 Output Buttons These buttons are used to control the outputs on the Axis video server and thus the equipment connected to them, e.g. to switch a light on or off: • The Pulse button activates the port for a defined period •...

  • Page 32: Html Examples

    Show crosshair in PTZ joystick mode - This will enable the display of a crosshair in the video image when the the PTZ mode is set to joystick. Show IV SVG data in image stream (AXIS 242S IV only) - The currently running IV module is capable of showing SVG data superimposed over the video image.

  • Page 33: Sequence Mode

    Axis video server - Live View Config Sequence Mode The live view page can be configured to rotate through selected internal and/or external video sources, in order or randomly. PTZ preset positions can also be included. Select the desired video sources and enter the time in seconds to display each source (up to 59 minutes).

  • Page 34: Intelligent Video

    Module upload To use an IV application in the AXIS 242S IV, the IV module must first be uploaded. If your video server was supplied with an IV module preloaded, this section can be skipped.

  • Page 35: Running Iv Module

    Module list The IV module list shows the currently uploaded IV modules. The maximum number that can reside in the AXIS 242S IV at any one time is only limited by the amount of flash memory available. To start an IV module from this list, select it and click the Start button. This will automatically stop any other IV module currently running.

  • Page 36: Event Configuration

    Event Servers are used for e.g. receiving uploaded image files and/or notification messages. To set up Event server for your Axis video server, go to Setup > Event Configuration > Event Servers and enter the required information according to the selected server type.

  • Page 37: Event Types

    2. Enter a descriptive name for the event, e.g. Main door. 3. Set the priority - High, Normal or Low (see online help files). 4. Select the Video Source the event is to act on, e.g. Video 1 on Main door (AXIS 241Q/QA only).
  • Page 38 Note: If the pre- or post-buffer is too large for the Axis video server's internal memory, the frame rate will be reduced and individual images may be missing. If this occurs, an entry will be created in the unit's log file.

  • Page 39: Motion Detection

    The motion detection feature is used to generate an alarm whenever movement occurs (or stops) in the image. The AXIS 241Q/QA can use a maximum of 40 Include/Exclude windows, whilst the AXIS 242S IV/AXIS 241S/SA can use a maximum of 10.

  • Page 40: Port Status

    Under Event Configuration > Port Status, there is a list that shows the status for the connected inputs and outputs of the Axis video server. This is for the benefit of an operator, who cannot access the System Options section.

  • Page 41: Pan Tilt Zoom

    Axis video server - Pan Tilt Zoom Pan Tilt Zoom Installing PTZ devices The Axis video server supports several PTZ devices. Please see www.axis.com for a complete list of supported devices, and to obtain the correct driver. Follow the instructions below to install a PTZ device: 1.

  • Page 42: Ptz Configuration

    HTTP specification for generic control of PTZ devices using CGI commands or a TCP/IP client. Please refer to the Axis Website at www.axis.com for further information. PTZ configuration Once PTZ has been installed for the Axis video server, PTZ Configuration now appears in the menu to the left along with the following sub menus. Preset positions A preset position is a pre-defined camera view than can be used to quickly move the camera to a specific location.

  • Page 43: Ptz Controls

    Axis video server - Pan Tilt Zoom PTZ controls If the Axis video server has been appropriately configured, the Live View page will display the controls available for the installed Pan Tilt Zoom (PTZ) device. The administrator can enable/disable the controls for specified users.
  • Page 44 There are also driver specific shortcuts that can appear in the Control Panel. In the screen to the right, a driver has been installed that brings up the Wiper shortcut button, which allows the user to configure and use a windshield wiping action with the Axis video server.
  • Page 45 PTZ driver and are displayed in the PTZ Panel. Limits - Define the pan, tilt, zoom and focus limits for the Axis video server. Movements to the left and right, up and down can be restricted to narrow the area under surveillance. The...
  • Page 46 Use the PTZ control queue window to enable and disable PTZ queueing. This window allows you to set up a queue for viewers wanting to access the Axis video server, and limits the number of viewers and the length of time each viewer can access and control the PTZ unit.
  • Page 47 PTZ control command. 2. Event - The Axis video server can be set up to take control of the queue and move to a specific position for 20 seconds when triggered by an alarm. The event will immediately be placed first in the queue, except when an administrator is in control.

  • Page 48: System Options

    Referrals - to prevent unauthorized sources from including the video stream from the Axis video server into external Web pages, check the Referrals box and enter the IP address or Host name of the computer that hosts the Web pages with the included video stream.

  • Page 49: Date & Time

    Certificate - to use HTTPS for communication with the Axis video server, a Certificate must be created using one of these methods: • A self-signed certificate can be created in the video server, but this does not guar- antee the same level of security as an official certificate.

  • Page 50: Network - Basic Tcp/Ip Settings

    Network - Basic TCP/IP settings IP address configuration The IP address of the video server can be set automatically via DHCP, or a fixed IP address can be set manually. DHCP is enabled by default. To use a fixed IP address, you must also enter the correct subnet mask and default router.

  • Page 51: Network - Advanced Tcp/Ip Settings

    Host name configuration The Axis video server can be accessed using a host name, instead of an IP address. The host name is usually the same as the assigned DNS Name. For more information, please see the online help...

  • Page 52: Socks

    The default HTTPS port number (443) can be changed to any port within the range 1024-65535. This is useful for e.g. simple port mapping. NAT traversal Use NAT traversal when your video server is located on an intranet and you want to make it available from the other side of a NAT router. RTSP The RTSP protocol allows a connecting client to start an MPEG-4 stream.

  • Page 53: Snmp

    For more information, please see COM ports RS-232 and RS-485, on page 59. RS485 - The COM ports on the Axis video server supports several operational modes listed on this page. For more information, please see COM ports RS-232 and RS-485, on page...

  • Page 54: Maintenance

    •Loaded IV modules in the AXIS 242S IV will be reset to their default values for both Restore and Default. The modules themselves are retained in flash memory during these operations.

  • Page 55: Support

    The System Overview provides a summary of the status of the video server. Logs & Reports - when contacting Axis support, please be sure to provide a valid Server Report with your query. Information - The Log report and the Parameter List also provide valuable information for troubleshooting and when contacting Axis support service.

  • Page 56: Resetting To The Factory Default Settings

    Axis video server - System options Resetting to the factory default settings To reset the Axis video server to the original default settings, go to the System Options > Maintenance web page (described in Maintenance, on page 54) or use the control button...

  • Page 57: Unit Connectors

    • Y/C to BNC cable (AXIS 241S/SA only), on page 60 The D-Sub connector The Axis video server provides one 9-pin D-Sub connector, providing the physical interface for an RS-232 port, used for connecting accessory equipment; such as standalone PTZ devices for the remote control of connected video cameras.

  • Page 58: The I/O Terminal Connector

    1. Loosen the corresponding screw on top of the pin on the connector block (see the table above to determine which pin to use). 2. Push the cable into the connector block and secure it by fastening the screw. 3. Once all devices are connected, connect the connector block to the video server’s terminal connector.

  • Page 59: Schematic Diagram - I/O Terminal Connector

    This connector can be used to connect Y/C video directly to the AXIS 242S IV. When this connector is used, it must be selected. Go to the AXIS 242S IV web pages under Setup > Video & Image > Video Source and select Y/C (S-video) from the Physical...

  • Page 60: Y/C To Bnc Cable (Axis 241S/Sa Only)

    The AXIS 241S/SA supports conversion from Y/C (S-video) to composite video using an Y/C to BNC cable. The cable is available as an accessory - see the Axis Web site at: www.axis.com. Follow these instructions to connect the Y/C to BNC cable: 1.

  • Page 61: Troubleshooting

    Note: Pre-configured and customized settings will be retained for use when the new firmware is running (pro- vided the features are available in the new firmware) although this is not guaranteed by Axis Communica- tions. 1. Save the firmware file to your computer. The latest version of the Axis video server firmware is available free of charge from the Axis Web site at www.axis.com/techsup or from your local distributor.

  • Page 62: Support

    2. If the unit does not reply within a few seconds, restart it and wait for a reply. Press CTRL+C to stop Ping. 3. Open a web browser and type in the Axis video server’s IP address. In the page that appears, use the Browse button to select the upgrade file to use, e.g. axis241qa.bin or axis241sa.bin.

  • Page 63: Symptoms, Possible Causes And Remedial Actions

    The IP address has been changed 1) Move the Axis video server to an isolated network or to one with no DHCP or BOOTP server. by DHCP Set the IP address again, using the ARP Ping command.
  • Page 64 Using only 16 or 256 colors on your display will produce dithering artifacts in the image. Incorrect exposure in images Incorrect line termination If the Axis video server is to be connected in loop through with other equipment, disable the input termination by turning the corresponding DIP switch to OFF. Problems with the MPEG-4 format Lower frame rate than expected.
  • Page 65 Audio volume too low/high Volume settings incorrect. The volume of the microphone or speaker connected to the Axis video server is either too high or too low. Change the volume for the speaker or microphone in the Live View page.

  • Page 66: Technical Specifications

    • AXIS 241Q: 4-channel video server • AXIS 241SA: 1-channel video server with audio • AXIS 241QA: 4-channel video server with audio • AXIS 242S IV: 1-channel video server with support for Intelligent Video Video compression • Motion-JPEG, including single snapshot JPEG images.
  • Page 67 • RAM AXIS 242S IV / AXIS 241S/SA - 32MB • Flash memory - 8 MB • DSP (AXIS 242S IV only) - RAM 32 MB , flash memory 8 MB. Power • External power adapter PS-K (included): 9V DC, 9W (AXIS 241Q/QA and AXIS 241S/SA) •...
  • Page 68 See www.axis.com for available modules. (AXIS 242S IV only) Complimentary Software • AXIS Media Control (AMC) - ActiveX component software required for Microsoft Internet Explorer, installed automatically on first use. • Optional: AXIS IP Utility - Windows application for small installations.

  • Page 69: General Performance Considerations

    Optimizing your system To see the bandwidth and frame rate currently required by the video stream, the Axis video server provides a tool that can be used to display these values directly in the video image. To do this, special format strings are added as part of a text overlay.

  • Page 70: Frame Rates - Motion Jpeg

    25/30 Frame rates - MPEG-4 The following test results show the frame rates in frames/second (fps) for MPEG-4 streams from the Axis video server. Note that these values are guidelines only - actual values may vary. The MPEG-4 test conditions: •...

  • Page 71: Bandwidth

    Axis video server - Technical specifications Bandwidth As there are many factors affecting bandwidth, it is very difficult to predict the required amounts. The settings that affect bandwidth are: • the image resolution • the image compression • the frame rate •...

  • Page 72: Glossary

    Alternatively, the signal can be digitized with the use of a rectangular grid of pixels. It defines a display space and video server, and can then be made available over a data color for each pixel (or "bit") in the display space. This (IP) network.
  • Page 73 (Decibels) - A unit to measure sound level changes. A network by using a video server. 3dB change is the smallest level change we can hear. A CGI (Common Gateway Interface) - A specification for...
  • Page 74 10 Mbps and 100 Mbps respectively. modulation (PCM) scheme operating at 8 kHz sample rate. ETRAX (Ethernet Token Ring AXIS) - The ETRAX chip is G.726 - A frequently used speech-compression algorithm the cornerstone of Axis technology and the 'brain' in in telecommunications due to its high perceived speech nearly all Axis products.
  • Page 75 Axis video server - Glossary type of images (I-VOP's or P-VOP's) included in the connection between the communication end-points, stream, and their internal order. See also GOV and VOP. packets can be sent via different routes and do not need to arrive at the destination in the correct order.
  • Page 76 Axis video server - Glossary JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) - Together MPEG-2 - The designation for a group of audio and video with the GIF file format, JPEG is an image file type coding standards, and is typically used to encode audio commonly used on the web.
  • Page 77 Pixel (Picture Element) - A pixel is one of the many tiny along its vertical axis, and zooming is the adjustment of dots that make up a digital image. The color and intensity the zoom lens to magnify the view.
  • Page 78 Axis video server - Glossary RS-232 - A long-established standard that describes the protect people, property and assets. Such systems are physical interface and protocol for low-speed serial data therefore an especially attractive option for companies communication between devices. This is the interface that currently using CCTV.
  • Page 79 Video encoder (video server) - A video encoder/server TCP is a connection-oriented protocol, which means that digitizes analog video signals and sends digital images...
  • Page 80 Axis video server - Glossary VPN (Virtual Private Network) - This creates a secure "tunnel" between the points within the VPN. Only devices with the correct "key" will be able to work within the VPN. The VPN network can be within a company LAN (Local Area Network), but different sites can also be connected over the Internet in a secure way.

  • Page 81: Index

    Audio mode 25 Generic HTTP 59 Audio output 27 Generic TCP/IP 59 Audio settings 25 Audio transmission 17 AXIS Internet Dynamic DNS Service 50 Half duplex 25, 26 AXIS Media Control (AMC) 15 Host name 51 HTML examples 32 HTTP API 44...
  • Page 82 Axis video server - Index Restart 54 Maximum bandwidth 52 Restore 54 Motion detection 39 RS-232 connector 10 Motion JPEG 14, 17 RS-485 58 MPEG-4 14, 17 RTP 15, 53 MPEG-4 clients 17 RTSP 15, 52 MPEG-4 protocols 15 MPEG-4 settings 53...
  • Page 83 Axis video servr - Index Video source 12, 21 Video streams 14, 16, 21 View size 12 Viewer settings 32 Y/C to BNC cable 60...

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