Series Camera Configuration; Camera Configuration Overview - FLIR F-Series Installation Manual

3 F-Series Camera Configuration
3.1

Camera Configuration Overview

In general, it may be necessary for the installer to make a limited number of configuration
changes for each camera, such as setting the serial and/or IP communication parameters.
For example, each camera comes from the factory with the same default IP address, so adding
more than one camera to an IP network requires different IP addresses. On the other hand,
many of the configuration parameters will remain unchanged from the factory default settings.
This section provides a brief guide to setting the configuration parameters which are most
commonly changed in order to get the camera to communicate and to operate normally.
In order to control the camera, it is necessary to communicate with it either over serial
communications (RS-232 or RS-422), or over Ethernet using Internet Protocol (IP). In either
case, it is likely there are some communication parameters that are specific to each
installation.
For a camera that is installed in a legacy-type CCTV network using analog video, the camera will
commonly be controlled with serial communications. The serial cable from the camera will be
connected to a keyboard/joystick device, or to a video switch or DVR that has a serial
communication port. In this case the installer may want to configure parameters such as the
address of the camera, the baud rate, and so on. These parameters can be set either using
hardware DIP switches or through software using a web browser.
For a camera installed in an IP network, the camera will commonly be controlled over Ethernet
by a PC or laptop running FLIR Sensors Manager (FSM) or a third-party Video Management
System (VMS) software. FSM is an integral part of the Nexus architecture—it is a client
program that communicates with the Nexus server on the camera. It allows control of the
camera and video streaming and many other sophisticated functions. Additional information
about the Nexus architecture and about FSM is available on the CD that ships with the camera,
or online at www.flir.com.
For a camera installed in an IP network, configuration changes are made using a web browser.
Refer to the Web Configuration Overview below for general information about the web interface
and about saving configuration changes.
In many cases, a camera will be installed with both serial and Ethernet communications. As
such, the camera can be controlled by means of a serial device or through software. When
someone tries to control the camera with a serial device at the same time as someone does
through the software IP interface, the serial device takes priority.
For basic configuration information, refer to section 3.3 "IP Communications Quick Guide" on
page 3-5 and section 3.4 "Serial Communications Quick Guide" on page 3-11. Not all
parameter settings are described in these sections. If you need help during the configuration
process, contact your local FLIR service representative or, call 877-773-3547 inside the US.
427-0030-00-12, version 150 January 2012 3-1