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AXIS 216FD/FD-V - Video Streams
Video Streams
The AXIS 216FD/FD-V provides several different image and video stream formats. The
type to use depends on your requirements and on the properties of your network.
The Live View page in the AXIS 216FD/FD-V provides access to MPEG-4 and Motion JPEG
video streams, as well as to single JPEG images. Other applications and clients can also
access these video streams/images directly, without going via the Live View page.
How to stream MPEG-4
This video compression standard makes good use of bandwidth, and can provide
DVD-quality video streams at less than 1 Mbit/s. Note that the image settings of the
MPEG-4 stream are the same for all clients.
Deciding on the combination of protocols and methods to use depends on your viewing
requirements, and on the properties of your network. The available options in AMC are:
Unicast RTP
This unicast method (RTP over UDP)
should be your first consideration for live
unicast video, especially when it is
important to always have an up-to-date
video stream, even if some images are
dropped.
Unicasting is used for video-on-demand broadcasting,
so that there is no video traffic on the network until a
client connects and requests the stream.
Note that there is a maximum of 10 simultaneous uni-
cast connections.
RTP over RTSP
This unicast method (RTP tunneled over
RTSP) is useful as it is relatively simple to
configure firewalls to allow RTSP traffic.
RTP over RTSP over HTTP
This unicast method can be used to
traverse firewalls. Firewalls are com-
monly configured to allow the HTTP pro-
tocol, thus allowing RTP to be tunneled.
Multicast RTP
This method (RTP over UDP) should be used for live multicast video. The video stream is always
up-to-date, even if some images are dropped.
Multicasting provides the most efficient usage of bandwidth when there are large numbers of cli-
ents viewing simultaneously. A multicast broadcast cannot however, pass a network router unless
the router is configured to allow this. It is thus not possible to multicast over e.g. the Internet.
Note also that all multicast viewers count as one unicast viewer in the maximum total of 10 simul-
taneous connnections.
AMC will negotiate with the camera to determine exactly which transport protocol to use
in the order listed above. This order can be changed and the options disabled, to suit any
specific requirements.
Important!
MPEG-4 is licensed technology. The AXIS 216FD/FD-V includes one viewing client
license. Installing additional unlicensed copies of the viewing client is prohibited. To
purchase additional licenses, contact your Axis reseller.
