Installing a Recorder and Testing
Peripheral Connections
Quick Steps
The Administrator Console allows you to provide the recorder with an IP address and verify all
connections, including camera position and focus.
Use the following steps to install a recorder and test peripheral connections using the Administrator
Console.
•
Step 1 — Load the Administrator Console on your laptop computer (page 2)
•
Step 2 — Physically Install the recorder and optional components (page 2)
•
Step 3 — Connect external peripherals to the recorder (page 2)
•
Step 4 — Power on the recorder (page 2)
•
Step 5 — Connect your computer to the recorder (page 3)
•
Step 6 — Assign an IP address to the recorder (page 3)
•
Step 7 — Set up and test peripheral connections (page 4)
•
Step 8 — Configure IP Cameras (page 5)
•
Step 9 — Check the hard drive status (page 6)
•
Step 10 — Connect the recorder to the network (page 6)
•
Step 11 — Specify the recorder’s general network settings (page 7)
•
Step 12 — Configure the CES or the ESM connection (optional) (page 7)
•
Step 13 — Next steps (page 8)
Administrator Console Quick Steps
Step 1 — Load the Administrator Console on your laptop computer
The Administrator Console is included on the software DVD or in a software installation package
accompanying the recorder.
Note: Installation from a network path is not supported. Install files must be available locally.
1
From either the March Networks Visual Intelligence DVD or the installation software package,
find the Autorun.exe file and double-click to open the file.
The Software Installation page appears.
2
On the Software Installation page, click Install System Management Applications.
3
On the System Management Applications page, choose Administrator Console and follow the
prompts to install the software.
Step 2 — Physically Install the recorder and optional components
1
At the installation site, unpack the recorder.
2
Follow any steps in the installation guide (accompanying the recorder) to set up the recorder.
3
If you purchased an option kit, such as an audio option kit, install it in the recorder. Details are
provided in the instructions accompanying the option kit.
4
If you purchased an additional hard drive, install it. Details are provided in the instructions
accompanying the hard drive.
Step 3 — Connect external peripherals to the recorder
Make peripheral connections, including camera, audio, alarm, dataport, and switch connections.
Details on making these connections are provided in the installation guide accompanying the recorder.
Important: If you are using IP cameras, do not connect the cameras right now. Details on
connecting IP cameras are provided later in this document.
Step 4 — Power on the recorder
Plug the recorder’s power cord into a standard wall outlet. For some models, you are required to
turn a key to the ON position to apply power.
Tip: The recorder is fully powered when the green recorder LED turns on solid.
When the recorder is fully powered, it automatically starts recording video.
Administrator Console Quick Steps
2
Step 5 — Connect your computer to the recorder
Connect your laptop computer to the recorder using a cross-over Ethernet cable.
Note: If a network is available, you can connect the recorder and computer to the network.
Step 6 — Assign an IP address to the recorder
1
Start the Administrator Console and ensure that the Device Installation task type is selected.
2
Click the Detect Devices button.
You should only click the Detect Devices button in the following situations:
3
•
Your computer is connected directly to the recorder using a cross-over Ethernet cable.
•
If you connected your computer to the network in step 5, your computer must be on the
same network subnet as the recorder you are adding. If your computer is on a different
subnet, the recorder may not obtain a suitable address on the network. This may cause other
IP devices to become unreachable.
The recorder automatically obtains an IP address, and the recorder appears in the Device
Selector panel.
Note: This is a temporary IP address, which will be replaced when you connect the recorder to
the network. It can use DHCP to automatically obtain a new IP address. Or, it uses the static IP
address you assign. If the recorder was previously connected to the network, it retains its original
IP address, and may not need to obtain a temporary IP address.
If the recorder does not appear, verify that your computer has an IP address.
4
To view your computer’s IP address, start an MS-DOS command line window on your computer
and type ipconfig.
If there is no IP address, or 0.0.0.0 appears in the IP address line, your computer does not have an
IP address. If this occurs, we recommend you assign your computer a static IP address and then
repeat the procedures in this step. For details about assigning a static IP address, see the
documentation accompanying Windows®.
Administrator Console Quick Steps
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Step 7 — Set up and test peripheral connections
In the Administrator Console, click the recorder, and navigate through the pages that correspond to
connected peripherals. Perform the setup and tests indicated below for each connected peripheral.
Cameras
Click a camera in the list and use the live view to confirm that the appropriate view is being
captured. Adjust the camera as required, until you have the correct view. Click Update Camera
Thumbnail to capture a reference image that Investigator users will see when reviewing the camera
listing.
If you are working with IP cameras, you must assign the IP cameras to the recorder. Details on
assigning IP cameras are provided later in this document.
Audio
Click an audio input or output, and click the Start Audio Test button that appears. When you test
an audio input, you can use the Delay slider to delay audio capture and playback. This lets you start
the audio test, move to the microphone to speak into it, and then return to your laptop computer to
hear the captured audio. When you test an audio output, a pre-recorded audio recording plays.
Alarms
Trigger an alarm. The time in the Last Alarm State Change column should match the time that
you triggered the alarm.
Dataports
Click the dataport you want to configure, then click the Settings button, and specify the type of
device you are using, for example, a text capture peripheral, or an analog PTZ camera. Also, specify
the general configuration settings, such as protocols and port settings. After you specify these initial
settings, click the dataport, and then click Test. For IP PTZ cameras, the settings are not configurable.
•
For text capture peripherals, text streams in the window to the right of the list.
•
For analog PTZ cameras, click within the video display window to move the camera’s field of
appears on top of the video display window to indicate the direction
view. A yellow arrow
in which the field of view is moving.
•
To configure a PTZ passthrough device so that you can control a PTZ camera with a joystick, click
the dataport you want to configure and click the Settings button. In the Device Usage list,
click PTZ, and in the Protocol list click PTZPassThru. In the Assigned Cameras box, click Add,
select the camera you want to use, and click OK. In the Ports list, click the dataport configured
for PTZ Passthrough and click Test. If required, in the COM Port Selection dialog box, click the
COM port you want to use and click OK. Use the joystick to control the direction of the PTZ
camera in the video display window.
Note: You can set a default COM port in the Administrator Console or the Live Monitoring
Console in the Preferences dialog box.
Administrator Console Quick Steps
4
Switches
Click a switch, and click Switch On or Switch Off. Confirm that the switch responds to the change.
If any of the above tests fail, we recommend you check the recorder wiring and power supply before
repeating the steps to test the peripheral.
For dataports, use an external tool to test the connection. For example, set up a HyperTerminal
session to determine if data is being sent. For details about testing the dataport unit, see the
documentation accompanying the unit.
Tip: If any of the peripherals connected to the recorder’s option kits are not working properly,
navigate to the Details page, and review the status under Built-in Hardware and Optional
Hardware.
Step 8 — Configure IP Cameras
There are two options for connecting IP cameras:
•
•
Network connection — Allows you to access IP cameras connected to the corporate network.
Keep the following points in mind when you determine the connection method:
-
This option requires a large amount of network bandwidth.
-
You need to provide each camera with an IP address on your network. If there are only a few
unused IP addresses on the network, this option may not be suitable.
Direct connection to the recorder — Allows you to connect IP cameras directly to an IP
camera card installed in the recorder. Keep the following points in mind when you determine
the connection method:
-
This option does not require any corporate network bandwidth.
-
The IP cameras you connect do not require IP addresses on the corporate network. Instead,
you provide the IP camera card with a unique subnet from which you can assign new IP
addresses.
Configuring IP Cameras connected to a network
Access the IP camera’s built-in software and ensure the camera has an IP address. If required, you can
provide a user name and password. For details see the documentation accompanying the IP camera.
Configuring IP Cameras connected directly to the recorder
Before you can access an IP camera connected directly to the recorder’s IP camera card, you must
configure the IP camera card’s network settings.
1
Navigate to the Network page. Under Network Settings, ensure PCI Card Ethernet
Controller is selected in the Connection list. In some cases the interface may be labeled
Generic Ethernet Controller. Specify an IP address and subnet mask for the network interface.
Note: The IP address that appears for the PCI Card Ethernet Controller MUST be on a unique
subnet. For example, the subnet must be different than the other network interfaces.
2
For each IP camera, perform the following tasks:
Note: DO NOT connect IP cameras to the IP camera card. You perform this step later.
a Establish a back-to-back connection between your laptop computer and the IP camera. Use
the IP camera’s built-in software to provide the camera with an unused static IP address on
Administrator Console Quick Steps
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b
the PCI Card Ethernet Controller subnet. For details, see the documentation accompanying
the IP camera.
Note: You may need to temporarily re-configure your laptop computer’s network settings
to complete this task, as outlined in the documentation accompanying the IP camera.
After you configure the IP camera, disconnect the back-to-back connection. Connect the IP
camera to the recorder’s IP camera card.
Assigning IP cameras to the recorder
1
Navigate to the Cameras page.
2
Click Camera List to display a list of cameras, or Camera Grid to display camera thumbnails.
3
Click an unassigned IP camera in the list, or click an IP camera thumbnail.
4
Click the manufacturer in the Camera Brand list, and type the camera’s IP address in the
Address box.
5
If required, click the camera model in the Camera Model list.
6
Type an ID in the Login box and a password in the Password box.
7
Click a supported mode in the Camera Mode list.
8
Click the video channel in the Channel list.
9
Click Apply.
Setting the encoding method for a March Networks MegaPX 720p or 1080p camera
Open the camera’s Web page, and in the Device Management panel, double-click Video, then
click Encoders. Click the preferred encoding method in the Types list and set the corresponding
Channel in the Cameras page of the Administrator Console using the following guidelines:
•
for JPEG, use Channel 1
•
for H264+JPEG, use Channel 2
•
H264 only and H264+H264 are not currently supported
For more information about selecting an encoding method, see the camera documentation.
Step 9 — Check the hard drive status
Check the status of the recorder’s hard drives (if installed).
1
In the Storage page,
ensure that the correct number of hard drives appear.
2
If drive mirroring has been set up, ensure the correct groups appear.
3
Verify the status of the hard drives, and ensure the state reads Online.
4
If an error message appears, March Networks recommends that you log on to the recorder’s
built-in provisioning interface to access the hard drive diagnostic tools.
For more information, see the Provisioning Interface Technical Instructions included on your
software DVD or available from the March Networks Partner Portal website.
Step 10 — Connect the recorder to the network
1
If you connected directly to the recorder (back-to-back), disconnect the Ethernet cable.
2
Connect the recorder to the network using the Ethernet cable.
Administrator Console Quick Steps
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Step 11 — Specify the recorder’s general network settings
1
Navigate to the Network page
.
2
Under Network Settings, specify the network name. This name appears in the software
applications, such as the Administrator Console and Investigator, to identify the recorder.
3
In the Connection list, ensure the default network connection is selected. Each recorder has one
network interface set as the default interface, which configures the default route out of the
recorder. The default network interface connection is typically 0/0 Network for 8000 series and
GT series recorders or DVR On Board Ethernet Controller for 3000/4000 series recorders.
Note: Depending on the recorder model and the installed option kits, additional network
connection options may appear. These options correspond to other peripherals that the recorder
communicates with, such as IP cameras. For example, the 8000 series recorders typically have an
alternate network called 0/1 Camera.
4
Choose one of the following IP address options:
•
Obtain an IP address automatically using DHCP: Select this option to allow the recorder
to obtain an IP address, subnet mask, and gateway from the network.
•
Use the following IP address: Select this option to specify a unique IP address, and specify
the Subnet mask, Gateway, and Domain name in the boxes provided.
Use the Add and Remove buttons to configure the DNS server IP addresses.
For more information on the network settings, see the Administrator Console User Guide, or
the Provisioning Interface Technical Instructions included on your software DVD or available
from the March Networks Partner Portal website.
Step 12 — Configure the CES or the ESM connection (optional)
If the organization has either a Command Enterprise Server (CES) or an Enterprise Service Manager
(ESM) for centrally managing recorders, configure the recorder to communicate with it.
Configure the CES
1
If the CES is available, ensure that the Administrator Console is connected to the CES. (File menu
> Connect to CES, or access the Preferences to configure the Administrator Console to
connect to a CES.)
If the CES is not available, you can pre-register the recorder to an existing CES. You must know
the credentials for the CES in order to pre-register.
2
On the Network page, click Register with CES to display the Device Registration to CES
dialog.
3
Enter the required details of the CES you want to register the recorder to (CES address, CES user
name, CES password, DVR address, DVR admin password).
4
Under Station ID Assignment, assign the unique ID that enables the CES to identify the
recorder using one of the available methods.
Note: We recommend you contact a CES administrator at the organization and confirm that the
identifier you choose is unique within the system.
5
Click OK and ensure that the CES Registration Status changes to Registered to CES (if the CES is
available) or Pre-Registration configured (if the CES is not currently connected).
To complete the registration of a pre-registered recorder, connect the Administrator Console to
the CES. (File menu > Connect to CES, or access the Preferences to configure the connection.)
Administrator Console Quick Steps
7
Configure the ESM
1
On the Network page, click Register with ESM to display the Device Registration dialog.
2
In the Manager address box, type the ESM’s IP address or network name.
3
Under Station ID Assignment, assign the unique ID that enables the ESM to identify the
recorder using one of the available methods.
Note: We recommend you contact an ESM administrator at the organization and confirm that
the identifier you choose is unique within the system.
4
Click OK and ensure that the ESM Registration Status changes to Registered.
5
If you want to configure a recorder for an intermittent connection, on the Network page in the
ESM Connection Settings section, select Connect to ESM every and click a time interval in
the list.
6
To display a recorder as “unreachable” if a connection has not been made for a specific duration,
in the ESM Connection Settings section, select the Mark as unreachable if no connection
is made check box, click a duration in the list, and click Apply.
Step 13 — Next steps
Use the Administrator Console to customize peripheral and recorder settings, configure the ESM,
and other configuration settings. For more information on the Administrator Console, see the
Administrator Console User Manual.
If the organization is using a CES, use the Command Client user interface. For more information on
Command Client, see the Command Enterprise User Guide.
These user guides and other documents are available from the March Networks Partner Portal
website.
If another individual will be customizing the peripheral and recorder settings, contact that individual
and provide them with the recorder’s IP address (as displayed on the Network page).
Administrator Console Quick Steps
8
Company Overview
March Networks®, an independent subsidiary of Infinova®, is a leading provider of intelligent IP
video solutions. For more than a decade, the company has helped some of the world’s largest
commercial and government organizations transition from traditional CCTV to advanced
surveillance technologies used for security, loss prevention, risk mitigation, and operational
efficiency. Its highly scalable and easy to use Command™ video management platform enables rapid
system deployment and complete system control. It is complemented by the company’s portfolio of
high-definition IP cameras, encoders, video analytics and hybrid recorders, as well as outstanding
professional and managed services. March Networks systems are delivered through an extensive
distribution and partner network in more than 50 countries. For more information, please visit
www.marchnetworks.com.
Customer Support and Assistance
North America
Telephone – 1 613 591 1441
Toll Free (US & Canada) – 1 800 472 0116
Email – [email protected]
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Telephone – +39 0362 17935 extension 3 (CET)
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APAC
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Email – [email protected]
© 2016. March Networks, An Infinova Company. All rights reserved.
Information in this document is subject to change without notice. MARCH NETWORKS, March
Networks Command, March Networks Searchlight, March Networks RideSafe, Shadow Archive, and
the MARCH NETWORKS logo are trademarks of March Networks Corporation. Infinova is a
trademark of Infinova Corporation. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Notice of Rights
The software described in this document is furnished under a license agreement or nondisclosure
agreement. The software may be used or copied only in accordance with the terms of those
agreements. The contents of this manual and accompanying software are protected by copyright.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any
form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, recording, or otherwise without the prior written
permission of March Networks Corporation.
Part Number
28129 Rev 2.0, May 2016
Administrator Console Quick Steps
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