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427-0073-12-12 Version 120
May 2015
2-1
2
Basic Operation and Configuration
This chapter provides basic information on how to operate a new camera that has not yet been
configured. A bench test can be used to verify camera operation before the camera is configured for the
local network. This chapter also provides basic configuration information.
The camera has an Ethernet connection that allows streaming video over an IP network as well as
configuration and control of the camera
1
. It is possible to stream video and control the camera as it is
from the factory, without making any configuration changes. However in most cases the camera will have
at least some configuration changes to allow it to connect with other devices or other video management
systems on the existing network.
Once the camera is connected to a network and powered on, the user can perform a bench test by using
a web browser
2
to view the video and control the camera, or by using the FLIR Sensors Manager (FSM)
software. The FSM software can be downloaded from the FLIR web site (
http://support.flir.com/
) for free
and does not require a license to use. Refer to the FSM User Manual for details about using the
software; the manual is available from the Windows Start menu once the software is installed.
Getting the camera IP interface set up and working may require a level of familiarity with managing IP
networks that is new to many security professionals. Prior to configuring the IP interface and streaming
video parameters, be familiar with how to manage and configure the other equipment in the network (for
example, any PC or device that will connect to the camera, any router or firewall that will carry the IP
traffic, and so on). FLIR technical support can only provide limited support in this regard.
2.1
IP Camera, ONVIF Profile S Compliant
The FC-Series camera is an IP camera with a microprocessor inside that runs the camera firmware.
When the camera is connected to the network it functions as a server; it provides services such as
camera control, video streaming, network communications, and geo-referencing capabilities. The
communications protocol used is an open, standards-based protocol that allows the server to
communicate with a video management client, such as FLIR Sensors Manager or with a third-party VMS
client, including systems that are compatible with ONVIF Profile S.
There are two main components to the server software. One is a web server known as the web tool or
web interface that listens on the network for web browser requests, and is used for the initial (and
perhaps ongoing or occasional) configuration changes to the server. The web tool also allows the user
to view video and to operate the camera.
The other process, known as the Nexus Server, listens on the network for connections from clients such
as FSM , ONVIF-compliant systems, or other VMS clients. These clients can be used to control the
camera and stream video during day-to-day operations of the camera.
2.1.1
Server Configuration
In general, it may be necessary for the installer to make a limited number of configuration changes to the
server, such as setting the IP communication parameters. For example, each camera comes from the
factory with the same default IP address, so adding more than one camera to an IP network requires
1. For this chapter, it is assumed the camera will be connected to a network via Ethernet. For
installations that use only analog video output, it is not possible to make configuration
changes unless an Ethernet connection is also used.
2. The web interface is supported on the latest versions of Microsoft Internet Explorer, Google
Chrome and Mozilla Firefox.