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Troubleshooting VMS integrations with ONVIF Device Manager

Troubleshooting ONVIF Device Manager is a Network Video Client (NVC) to manage Network Video Transmitters (NVT), Network Video Storage (NVS) and Network Video Analytics (NVA) devices. Implements Discovery, Device, Media, Imaging, Analytics, Events and PTZ services. Written in C# and uses ffmpeg for media decoding.
A problem is seen in a particular model connected to the Video Management System.

Resolution:

1. Verify both the camera and VMS are at the latest software revisions.
2. A third-party tool called ONVIF Device Manager (ODM) (https://sourceforge.net/projects/onvifdm/) will be installed on the VMS. This tool will be used to identify if the issue is camera or VMS related.
3. Install ODM and launch the program. It will begin auto discovering cameras. If your camera is not populated you can manually add it on the lower left. 
4. Enter the username (admin) and the password for the camera. 
5. Once logged in, select the camera. There are links to view the live video from each sensor(s) depending on the camera model. 
6. Monitor the live video from here to see if the symptoms experienced in the VMS can be replicated.

Read More : How To Connect a Camera to an Amcrest NVR Using ONVIF

Exacq: Contera Onvif Driver Integration

Issue:

• Contera cameras will be stuck on “Connecting”.
• Customers using Contera series cameras may be requested by Exacq technical support to downgrade the firmware to an older release.
  Downgrading is NOT required as you should be on the latest camera firmware release.

Environment:

Contera series cameras

Resolution:

Contera series cameras MUST be added using the ONVIF driver. Attempting to add the camera using the auto discovery method uses the Arecont Vision driver and will not work.

 

1. Click New.
2. Select ONVIF from the drop-down.
3. Provide the IP address of the camera.
4. Provide the username and password.
5. Click Apply.
6. Click on the camera from the navigation tree on the left. You should see 4 inputs for multisensor cameras. In the example below, it’s an AV20476DN running firmware 65412.

exacqVision: How to add a camera using ONVIF

Environment:

exacqVision Client version 19.12.4.0
exacqVision Server version 19.12.4.0
AV12CPD-236 version version 37101

Issue:

An Arecont Vision camera (i.e. AV12CPD-236) needs to be added to an exacqVision server.

Resolution:

1. Go to the webpage of the AV12CPD-236.
2. Click Setup > User > Add.
3. Provide a username and password then click OK. In this example, the below was used.
   • Username: onvif
   • Password: onvif
4. Click Time and next to Sync Mode select your appropriate setup then click Save.
5. In the exacqVision client click Setup > Add IP Cameras.
6. Click Find IP Cameras > Rescan Network > Select the AV12CPD-236.
7. Click Add Selected.
8. Enter the username and password from Step 3.
9. Within a minute the status should say Connected.
10. Click Live and drag the camera over to the panel.

ExacqVision: Integrating an AV20CPD-118 using ONVIF

Objective

Successfully connect the camera to the server with a password and enable motion recording.

Solution

• Ensure both the camera and Exacq software are on current software revisions.
• Add the camera as an ONVIF device if you want to use a password and record on motion.
• The camera will not connect with the AV driver if a password is configured on the camera.

General Setup:

1. Click Config > Systems > exacqVision Server > Configure System > Add IP Cameras.
2. Click New.
3. Next to Device Type select ONVIF.
4. Provide the IP Address of the camera then click Apply.
5. Once the camera is added click the Live Page.
6. You will see 4 inputs from the camera populated.

Motion Recording:

1. Delete the camera from Exacq.
2. Navigate to the webpage of the camera and set a password.
3. Enable motion detection and validate it’s triggering properly.
4. Add the camera using ONVIF as described above but include the username/password specified.
5. Verify motion is triggering in Exacq.

Avigilon: Integration Best Practices

Issue:

• Avigilon software needs to be at the latest version.
• Avigilon is no longer updating the Arecont Vision driver. The focus has shifted to ONVIF compatible cameras. Ensure the functions/features you want are compatible via ONVIF.
• Just because a device is ONVIF compliant does not mean all features/functions (i.e. motion) will be supported. See this link: https://www.onvif.org/conformant-products/ and filter it by CoStar Technologies and then look at the respective model. For example, the AV5255PMIR-SH (MegaDome 2 Series) is ONVIF Profile S compliant. Per the ONVIF Profile Feature Overview motion is not supported in Profile S. If motion is required, the camera must support motion detection and the Arecont Driver must be used when adding the camera to the VMS.

VMS Integration: Best Practices

Issue:

A customer/integrator is using Arecont Vision cameras and running into various issues. They need a process to follow to streamline their troubleshooting issues.

API documentation can be found here: https://http-api.arecontvision.com/

NOTE: VMS vendors (confirmed: Avigilon, ExacqVision, Milestone) are no longer updating the Arecont Vision driver. The focus has shifted to ONVIF compatible cameras. Ensure the functions/features you want are compatible via ONVIF.

NOTE: CostarHD partners listed will only use one license for our OMNI cameras (4 sensors)

• Avigilon
• ExacqVision
• Milestone

NOTE: All Contera cameras must be added as ONVIF.

NOTE: Just because a device is ONVIF compliant does not mean all features/functions (i.e. motion) will be supported. See this link: https://www.onvif.org/conformant-products/ and filter it by CoStar Technologies and then look at the respective model. For example, the AV5255PMIR-SH (MegaDome 2 Series) is ONVIF Profile S compliant. Per the ONVIF Profile Feature Overview motion is not supported in Profile S. If motion is required, the camera must support motion detection and the Arecont Driver must be used when adding the camera to the VMS.

Resolution:

Verify camera functionality.

1. Verify the camera Web UI is accessible and that you can see live video in the browser.
2. Verify you can view the RTSP stream from the same computer the VMS software is installed on.
   • How to connect to RTSP streams on Arecont cameras
   • How to connect to RTSP streams on Contera cameras
3. Verify you can see the live stream of the camera using ONVIF Device Manager
4. Do not troubleshoot any VMS problem until the above steps pass.

VMS Guidelines:

1. Check with the VMS manufacturer if the camera requires a specific firmware version.
   • Information on any matrix they provide may be outdated and only show firmware they have had time to certify. There will typically be newer firmware on the Arecont Vision website which resolves camera issues we have identified and resolved.
   • NOTE: Downgrading camera firmware is not always possible in the field once you are at a particular revision. It will require the camera to be sent in as an RMA to be reflashed to the required version.
2. If there is an issue when the camera is added to the VMS with the Arecont driver, attempt the below:
   • Remove the camera from the VMS.
   • Re-add it using the ONVIF or RTSP option.
   • If it is successful, the Arecont driver they provided is out of date.
3. If there is an issue when the camera is added to the VMS with the ONVIF driver, attempt the below:
   • Remove the camera from the VMS.
   • Re-add it using the Arecont Driver if available or RTSP option.
   • If it is successful, verify the camera datasheet states the camera is ONVIF compliant.
4. Check the VMS manufacturer for a software update.