Video Server Configuration

A video server is connected to EntraPass through a specific IP address. The video server captures, stores and distributes video data to the EntraPass desktops for monitoring and surveillance purposes. Video data can then be accessed by any EntraPass workstation (with appropriate permission) through the network. In order to use the video feature in EntraPass, the video server must be identified to EntraPass. To do this, you have to:

•   Define the video server communication settings

•   Specify video parameters including the number of cameras connected to the server

•   Set communication delays

•   Define parameters for use with EntraPass Video Vault, etc.

NOTE: Panasonic and American Dynamics video integrations are not compatible with Windows Server 2003 and 2008 operating systems.

Defining the Video Server Communication Settings

1 - From the EntraPass main window, click the Video tab, then click the Video server  button in the Video window toolbar. The Video server window appears with the General  tab enabled.

2 - From the Video server  drop-down list, select the Video server you want to configure (or click the New  button to create a new one), then assign it a descriptive name in the language section. It is recommended to supply a name in the two languages if you are running the application in two languages.

3 - From the Video Server type drop-down list, select the DVR type for the Video server you are configuring.

NOTE: The current version of the software integrates with American Dynamics Intellex and HDVR . EntraPass supports HDVR-2U, HDVR-4U, all versions of Intellex: DVMS8000 (Up to 8 cameras) and DVMS16000 (Up to 16 cameras), Intellex IP (up to 16 network video streams), Intellex Ultra (16 channels) and Intellex LT. This later version limits the number of cameras to 4, 8 or 16 depending on the selected Intellex LT (LT-4, LT-8 or LT-16). EntraPass also supports the following models:

•   AD-TVR-04 : AD TVR 04 video channels (models ADTVR04050 and ADTVR04100).

•   AD-TVR-08 : AD TVR 08 video channels (models ADTVR08100 and ADTVR08200).

•   AD-TVR-16 : AD TVR 16 video channels (models ADTVR16050, ADTVR16100, ADTVR16200 and ADTVR16400).

•   AD-TVR-VS : AD TVR-VS 4 video inputs.

•   AD-NVR: Allows users viewing, managing and controlling the video being recorded on the AD-NVR through the EntraPass software:

○   Can support up to 128 IP cameras

○   Up to 400 Mb/sec image streaming

○   Base model includes minimal video analytic and can be upgraded to a full analytic package

○   One pre-configured video playback button

○   Connect to EntraPass through an IP connection. No other interface needed.

○   Video with live and playback views on the same screen:

4 - Check the On-line  option to tell EntraPass that the video server is on-line.

NOTE: The   On-line  option must be unchecked when the server is off-line for long periods such as maintenance reasons, for example. Otherwise, EntraPass will continue polling the video server; this may cause the system to hang.

5 - In the IP address  field, specify the static IP address of the Video server. Make sure that the Video server is set to a static IP address. For specific information about the video server IP address, contact your network administrator.

6 - Domain name : Video server domain address.

7 - Specify the port information for Video (Intellex only) , Communication (Intellex, HDVR and TVR II) and Event (Intellex only) . Make sure that these are the same used by the DVR (Digital Video Recorder).

NOTE: The   TCP port (Transmission Control Protocol) is used by the Video application to communicate with EntraPass. Options displayed in the TCP port section depend on the device you are configuring. For details about ports and their settings, contact your network administrator or the documentation provided with the Digital Video Recorder (DVR) vendor.

8 - Check the Bypass Ping for identification   (Intellex only) option if you want to save on bandwidth utilization. In fact if this option is not checked, the workstation will continually poll for server identification.

9 - Check the Specify video server login   (Intellex only) option if you want users to enter their credentials before accessing the Video server. If this option is checked the Login  tab appears in the Video Server window.

10 - Check the Bypass DVR Messages option if you want to cancel all the messages coming from Intellex.

11 - In the Video server parameters section:

•   Enter the Number of cameras. The number of cameras connected to the video server (or use the up/down arrows) or click the Import camera details  button to get this information from the video server. Using the Import camera details button offers a fast way to define cameras connected to the video server. In fact, when you click this button, EntraPass will connect to the Video server and get the number and default names for cameras connected to the DVR.

•   Specify the Polling frequency (mm:ss) . The polling frequency refers to the delay between two polls from the Kantech Server to the Video Server. This operation is processed by the Kantech Video Server Interface.

•   Specify Polls before Communication failure . This refers to the number of unsuccessful polls before the EntraPass Server declares the video server offline. For example, if you enter 4 in this field, EntraPass will attempt to connect four times to the video server before it declares that the server is down.

•   Indicate the Time zone adjustment. Using the up/down arrows, specify the Time zone adjustment if the EntraPass server and the DVR server are not in the same time zone. The time zone adjustment refers to the time zone difference between the DVR server and the EntraPass server. Adjusting the time zone enables workstations to retrieve events generated by the DVR server at the EntraPass Server’s time.

•   Check the Time for clock synchronization   (Intellex only) box. The Time synchronization refers to the time of the day when the video server will synchronize with the Kantech server for date and time. This operation is processed by the Kantech Video Server Interface.

NOTE: The   EntraPass server serves as the reference time source. The video server will process the time according to the EntraPass Server’s time. For example, if the EntraPass Server’s time is 3:00 and that of the video server is 2:00, the Timezone adjustment data will be -1 so that the video server can display the correct information about an event that occurred at a specific time.

Enhancing the Security of Video Servers

1 - If your Intellex video server is secured by Policy Manager, EntraPass operators must use a domain name, a specific login and password to access the video server. In that case, you will check the Specify Video server login  box in the General  tab.

NOTE: Login name and password are mandatory if a HDVR or a TVR II video server type is used

NOTE: For   details about the video server security parameters, contact the network administrator.

2 - If the Specify video server login  option is checked, the Login tab is displayed.

3 - Enter the login data in the displayed fields:

•   Domain name : enter the domain name used by the Intellex Video server (not used for HDVR and TVR II) .

•   Login name : enter the login name used for accessing the video server.

•   Password : enter the password specific to the domain controller.

•   Password confirmation : the password for confirmation must be identical to the password entered in the previous field. If you get an error message, make sure that the Caps Lock key is not activated. For a HDVR or a TVR II, it corresponds to the DVR server password.

Remote Video Connection

This function allows controlling server video from many occurrences of the RemoteVideoProcess.exe application, on the server computer or any computer connected on the same network.

Once the Remote video connection option is registered, new parameters can be configured in the Video server window.

•   IP address

•   Domain name (from which the RemoteVideoProcess.exe will be executed)

•   Communication port (port opened by the RemoteVideoProcess.exe application to monitor incoming requests from the EntraPass server)

NOTE: The RemoteVideoProcess.exe is not accessible from the redundant server

NOTE: The Video Viewer  option, accessible from the EntraPass installation process, must be used for the RemoteVideoProcess function to work.

NOTE: Installation of the Remote Video Connection will add 128 new video servers.

Defining the EntraPass Video Vault

The EntraPass Video Vault parameters tab allows you to specify settings such as archiving schedule or transfer frequency for EntraPass Video Vault if this application has been activated in EntraPass and has been configured for use within the EntraPass applications.

•  For details about installing EntraPass Video Vault, see Adding System Components.

•  For details about configuring the EntraPass Video Vault application, see Configuring the EntraPass Video Vault Application.

•  For details about using EntraPass Video Vault, see EntraPass Video Vault.

1 - From the Video server window, select the Video Vault parameters tab.

2 - Enter information for the EntraPass Video Vault application:

•   Video Vault application : the name of the EntraPass Video Vault application associated with the selected video server.

•   Archive schedule : the selected schedule indicates the period during which video segments will be saved. When this schedule is valid, all video segments from user-defined triggers, video server triggers or manual triggers will be saved for archiving purposes.

3 - Define the Video segment transfer parameters :

•   Transfer interval (hh:mm) : the interval specified in this field indicates the period during which videos segments are retrieved from the video server. This feature restricts data retrieval and the availability of the video server during a specified period of time.

NOTE: The server allows one video retrieval at a time. If, for instance, the specified period is 02:00 --> 04:00, video segments will be retrieved for two hours per day. If the specified period is 18:00 --> 06:00, this indicates an interval of twelve hours starting from 6:00 PM to 6:00 AM.

•   Notify on transfer failure (days) : this number indicates the number of days allocated for the video retrieval. If a video segment was not retrieved after the number of days specified in this field, the video segment will be considered unrecoverable for archiving and EntraPass Video Vault will notify the operator of the failure.

•   File language : This option is applicable to KVI and KVA formats only. Users can choose between English and French as the language that will be used to describe the archived data.

•   Video file format : select the format for the video file that will be retrieved:

○   Video Vault default : this is the format defined for the selected EntraPass Video Vault ( Devices  > EntraPass Applications  > (Select Video Vault application ) > Video Vault Process tab).

○   KVI (Kantech Intellex Video) Format : The KVI file contains thumbnail and video context information and places a watermark on embedded .img. It must be viewed with the Intellex Video Player that uses the American Dynamics API. You must make sure that the API has been installed on the client’s computer.

○   KVA (Kantech Video AVI) Format : The KVA file contains thumbnail and video context information with no watermark on the embedded .AVI. Video files can be viewed using Windows Media Player or any other AVI player on the market.

○  AVI (Audio Video Interlaced) Format: This is the standard AVI format, with no watermark. Video files can be viewed using, Windows Media Player or any other AVI player on the market.

○   IMG Intellex Format : This format places a watermark on the video. It must be viewed with the Intellex Video Player using the American Dynamics API. You must make sure that the API has been installed on the client‘s computer.

○   PS Format : HDVR native compressed video format. Use eplayer to play.

4 - For increased security, check the Use a password for KVI and KVA file formats option if you want to protect the KVI and KVA archived video segments by a password. Make sure to enter identical information in the Password and Password confirmation fields. Before viewing video segments archived on the EntraPass Video Vault being defined, operators will have to enter this password. Archived video files can be viewed from the Browse Video Vault window.

Comment

NOTE: For more details about the Comment entry box, please refer to Comment Field.