Getting started with Video Framework

This section provides procedures that describe how to install a Video Framework network and setup a DVR and camera device using NiagaraAX 3.6 and later. Procedures include:

Installing a Video Framework network
Adding a camera under a DVR
Adding a display under a DVR
Adding a camera to a station (non-DVR)
Adding a remote camera to a station

Installing a Video Framework network

Not all Video Framework networks support or require a DVR device. The following procedure applies to a Video Framework that supports a DVR device.

To install the Video Framework network, do the following:

In Workbench, connect to the target station (where you want to install the network driver). Expand the Config node graphics/xwc7341453597966143936.cgm in the nav tree and double-click on the Drivers node . The Driver Manager view displays.
At the bottom of the view, click the New button. The New dialog box appears.
In the New dialog box, select the desired network for the specific video driver from the option list, enter the number of networks to add, and click the OK button. The New dialog box appears again with the selected driver(s) displayed in the table pane across the top.
Select the network from the option list and edit the following fields, as desired:
- Name
  Type a meaningful name in this field to identify the network instance.
- Type
  This is the same option list as in the previous step. Verify the current selection is the desired network.
- Enabled
  Set this value to true (default) to enable each added network, as desired.
In the New dialog box, click the OK button. The network appears in the Driver Manager view and in the nav tree.
Double-click the newly added network. The Video Driver Manager view displays.

Installing a device

At the bottom of the Video Driver Manager view, click the New button. The New dialog box appears.
In the New dialog box, verify that the desired video device is selected in the option list, enter the number of video devices to add, and click the OK button. The New dialog box appears again with the selected video device(s) displayed in the table pane across the top.
Select one or more of the listed devices and edit the fields, as desired.

NOTE: You can batch-edit the Type and Enabled fields by selecting all entries in the table pane. However, you must individually select each entry to name it.

For more information about these properties, see DedicatedMicros device properties

The new video device appears in the Device Manager under the manufacturer’s network.

NOTE: Some video device extensions include one or more default child nodes. For example, a DVR device may contain a ‟Cameras” device extension”. These specific device extensions organize and provide manager views for the associated devices. However, some video devices may not contain or support these types of subordinate device extensions.

The following procedure describes how to add a camera device under a video device such as a DVR or NVR. As an example, the procedure shows how to add cameras under a Dedicated Micros DVR.

Adding a camera under a DVR

This procedure assumes that a network and a DVR device component are already installed in the station. Refer to Installing a Video Framework network, if necessary.

To add a camera, do the following:

In Workbench, connect to the target station (where you installed the video driver). Expand the Config node , the Drivers node, and then the network node to display the DVR device node in the nav tree.
In the nav tree expand the DVR device node and double-click the Cameras device extension graphics/xwc8542763315271846012.cgm. The Camera Manager view displays.
In the Camera Manager view, click the Discover button at the bottom of the view.

NOTE: Only the cameras that are configured and accessible from the DVR device are available for discovery. Refer to the specific video driver and associated documentation for camera configuration instructions. As an example, refer toAppendix B Axis Video driver for instructions specific for managing Axis cameras.
In the Discovered pane, select one or more discovered cameras to add.

NOTE: The Camera Manager’s Add button is available when you have one or more items selected (highlighted) in the top Discovered pane. Also, the toolbar has an Add tool , and the Manager menu has an Add command. Also, you can simply double-click a discovered item to bring it up in the Add dialog box.
At the bottom of the view, click the Add button. The Add dialog box appears, with all selected points in the top pane of the dialog box.
In the Add dialog box, edit properties as desired (refer to About the Camera device for a description of typical camera properties) and click the OK button. The camera(s) are added to the Database pane and appear in the nav tree.

The camera Name appears under the Cameras node.

Adding a display under a DVR

Double-click the Displays extension under the DVR in the nav tree.
In the Video Display Mgr view, click the New Display button.
Accept the defaults by clicking the OK button.
- Name
  This is the text string that appears in the nav tree and on reports.
- Description
  This text string provides additional information about the device.
In the New dialog, type a name and description for the display and click the OK button.
The driver adds the display to the station. To edit the name and description, click the Edit button.

NOTE: There’s no way to ping the display because it is connected to the DVR and not directly to the network.
Expand the nav tree and double-click the display device.
The resulting view is the same as the Surveillance Viewer with the addition of a list of cameras displayed on the left side of the monitor.
Select a camera in the list and drag it to one of the quadrants of the view.
To update the display, click Save.
The camera feed appears in the view.

Adding a camera to a station (non-DVR)

This procedure requires that a non-DVR network is already installed in the station. Refer to Installing a Video Framework network, if necessary.

To add a camera to a station, do the following:

To display the Cameras device extension, in Workbench, connect to the target station (where you want to install the camera). Expand the Config node , the Drivers node, and then the network node graphics/xwc4949082288904294002.cgm in the nav tree.
In the nav tree, double-click the Cameras device extension.graphics/xwc566105791605503386.cgm. The Camera Manager view displays.
In the Camera Manager view, click the Discover button at the bottom of the view. The Discovery Parameter dialog box appears with default settings.

NOTE: For initial setup, you can usually accept all default settings.
In the Discovery Parameters dialog box, click the OK button. The discovery job runs and ‟discovered” cameras appear in the Discovered pane at the top of the view.

NOTE: Only the cameras that are configured and accessible on the network are available for discovery. Refer to the specific Video Driver and associated documentation for camera configuration instructions.
In the Discovered pane, select one or more discovered Cameras to add.

NOTE: The Camera Manager's Add button is available when you have one or more items selected (highlighted) in the top Discovered pane. Also, the toolbar has an Add tool and the Manager menu has an Add command. Also, you can simply double-click a discovered item to bring it up in the Add dialog box.
At the bottom of the view, click the Add button. The Add dialog box appears, with all selected points in the top pane of the dialog box.
In the Add dialog box, edit properties as desired (refer to About the Camera device for a description of typical camera properties) and click the OK button. The camera(s) are added to the Database pane and appear in the nav tree, as shown below.

Adding a remote camera to a station

This procedure requires that a Video Framework network is already installed in the remote station and that the remote station has been discovered and added under the local station’s NiagaraNetwork. In addition, the following prerequisites apply both the target (remote station) and local station:

NiagaraAX-3.6 or later is installed.
The stations are licensed for remote video.
The remoteVideo.jar file (module) is installed, in addition to the standard video module requirements that are listed in Chapter 1, Video Driver Installation.
The RemoteVideoService component is installed under the station Services node.

To add a remote camera to a station, do the following:

In Workbench, open the supervisor station and, in the nav tree, expand the Config node , the Drivers node, and the NiagaraNetwork node to display the remote station in the nav tree.

NOTE: If the desired remote station is not visible under the NiagaraNetwork node you must do a Discover and Add from the supervisor’s Station Manager view to add the desired remote station.
In the nav tree, expand the remote Niagara station node and double-click on the Cameras node . The Niagara Camera Mgr view displays.

NOTE: If the Cameras node is not visible, it is possible that you have not installed the RemoteVideoService under the station’s Services node. The RemoteVideoService component is available in the remoteVideo palette.
In the Camera Manager view, click the Discover button at the bottom of the view. The Discover job runs and ‟discovered” cameras appear in the Discovered pane at the top of the view. These are all cameras that have been added at the remote station.
In the Discovered pane, select one or more discovered Cameras to add.

NOTE: The Camera Manager's Add button is available when you have one or more items selected (highlighted) in the top Discovered pane. Also, the toolbar has an Add tool and the Manager menu has an Add command. Also, you can simply double-click a discovered item to bring it up in the Add dialog box.
At the bottom of the view, click the Add button. The Add dialog box appears, with all selected points in the top pane of the dialog box.
In the Add dialog box, edit properties as desired (refer to About the Camera device for a description of typical camera properties) and click the OK button. The camera(s) are added to the Database pane and appear in the nav tree, under the NiagaraNetwork, as shown below.