1
www.AlibiSecurity.com
About the Alibi Config Tool
The Alibi Config Tool is a PC-based network utility for discovery of Alibi compatible devices on a IP network. It provides an easy
way to activate Alibi devices, configure camera and recorder network configuration settings, and set device passwords. It can be
installed on a Microsoft® Windows®
operating system that has access to the IP network where your Alibi devices are installed.
Step 1.
Install the
Alibi Config Tool
software
1.
Download the Alibi Config Tool from the
AlibiSecurity.com
website. At the time when this document was published, the file is
named:
alibi-config-tool.zip
and is about 80MB.
2.
Un-zip the file on a computer with Microsoft Windows (Windows 7 or newer) that is connected to the LAN where your Alibi camera is
connected.
3.
Run the file contained in the zip file:
Alibi Config Tool.exe
. Follow the on-screen instructions to install the file.
4.
Open the Alibi Config Tool application. When the application opens, it automatically “discovers” and lists all Alibi compatible devices on
the LAN. See below.
Notice
: In the screen above, the tool discovered devices with IP addresses of 192.168.3.xxx. It will also list other Alibi compatible
devices on the LAN, and devices with the address 192.168.1.64 (an inactive Alibi device).
Step 2.
“Activate” inactive Alibi camera
When an Alibi camera is first installed, or reset to its factory configuration, it must be “Activated” before it can be used. In the Alibi
Configuration Tool, “Inactive” devices have a
Security
status of
Inactive
, and an IPv4 address of
192.168.1.64
. A device is “Activated” when
a password is assigned to the
admin
username of the device.
In the example below, an ALI-NS2112VR camera is activated and configured for its network.
1.
Scan through the list of devices the Alibi Config Tool discovered for the Inactive device you want to activate (see below). Click on the
device in the list to highlight it, and then click the select box to check it. See below.
Alibi Security IP cameras are usually installed on a network in either of two ways:
•
Connected to the internal switch of a network video recorder (NVR)
: In this configuration, Ethernet cables
connect the camera directly to an NVR back panel. The NVR automatically “Activates” the camera and configures the
camera’s network parameters to establish a communications link between them. In the diagram below,
IP Cam A
is
connected to the NVR which activates the camera and set up its network parameters.
•
Connected to the network router
: In this configuration, Ethernet drop cables connect the camera to a network switch
(router). The network utility,
Alibi Config Tool
, is used to “Activate” the camera and configure the camera’s network
parameters so that the camera can communicate across the network. In the diagram below,
IP Cam B
and
IP Cam C
are
connected to the router, and are activated with the
Alibi Config Tool
on
Computer B
.
Computer A
Computer B with
Alibi Config Tool
Smartphone with
Alibi Witness 2.0 app
IP Cam C
IP Cam B
Network VIdeo Recorder (NVR)
Internet
Ethernet
Firewall
IP Cam A
In the diagram above,
NOTE
that:
•
Computer A
cannot directly access any devices within the router firewall (with a browser) unless the device activated and setup with
network parameters compatible with the router, and the router is configured for port forwarded to the device.
•
Computer B
with
Alibi Config Tool
is used to activate Alibi cameras connected directly to the router (
IP Cam B
,
IP Cam C
) and
setup their network parameters. After Alibi devices on the router are activated and configured for the network,
Computer B
can
access each device using IE.
•
The
Smartphone
(Android or iOS) with
Alibi Witness
app can access the
NVR
with
IP Cam A
through the
Guarding Vision
Cloud
service without port forwarding the router. However, the router must be configured for port forwarded to
IP Cam B
and
IP
Cam C
to access them.
This guide provides a generic instructions for activating and setting up the network parameters for new Alibi cameras
Connected
to the network router
using the
Alibi Config Tool
. The examples shown herein activate an Alibi camera and configure its
network settings. Currently, the procedure is identical for all new Alibi IP cameras.
ALIBI™ IP Camera Network Setup Guide
ALI-IP_Cam-Ntwk_Setup_CQ
180605
