Axis 250S Blade User manual

AXIS 250S MPEG-2 Video Server
User’s Manual

AXIS COMMUNICATIONS
<Product Name> Quick User’s Guide
AXIS 250S User’s Manual
2
About This Manual
This manual is intended for administrators and operators
of the AXIS 250S MPEG-2 Video Server, and is applicable
for firmware release 3.02. Later versions of the document
will be posted to the Axis Web site, as required.
Previous experience of networking will be of use to the
reader when installing and using this product. Some
knowledge of UNIX or Linux-based systems would also be
beneficial, for developing custom programming scripts
and applications.
Safety Notices Used in This Manual
Caution! - Indicates a potential hazard that can damage
the product.
Important! - Indicates a hazard that can seriously impair
operation.
Do not proceed beyond any of the above notices until you
have fully understood the implications.
Legal Considerations
Camera surveillance may be prohibited by laws that vary
from country to country. Check the laws in your local
region before using the AXIS 250S for surveillance.
The AXIS 250S includes 3 viewer licenses. The
installation of more than 3 instances of the viewer is
prohibited. To purchase further licenses, please contact
your Axis reseller.
Intellectual Property Rights
Axis AB has intellectual property rights relating to
technology embodied in the product described in this
document. In particular, and without limitation, these
intellectual property rights may include one or more of
the patents listed at http://www.axis.com/patent.htm and
one or more additional patents or pending patent
applications in the US and other countries.
Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC)
This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio
frequency energy and, if not installed and used in
accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful
interference to radio communications. However, there is
no guarantee that interference will not occur in a
particular installation.
If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio
or television reception, which can be determined by
turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged
to try to correct the interference by one or more of the
following measures: Re-orient or relocate the receiving
antenna. Increase the separation between the equipment
and receiver. Connect the equipment into an outlet on a
circuit different from that to which the receiver is
connected. Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV
technician for help. Shielded (STP) network cables must be
used with this unit to ensure compliance with EMC standards.
USA - This equipment has been tested and found to comply
with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15
of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide
reasonable protection against harmful interference in a
residential installation.
Europe - The AXIS 250S fulfills the requirements for
radiated emission according to limit B of EN55022:1998.
When using the Line input, the AXIS 250S also meets the
requirements for immunity according to EN55024:1998
residential, commercial, and light industry. The Mic input may
be subject to interference from nearby radio transmissions.
For best performance, use the Line input.
Liability
Every care has been taken in the preparation of this manual.
Please inform your local Axis office of any inaccuracies or
omissions. Axis Communications AB cannot be held responsible
for any technical or typographical errors and reserves the right
to make changes to the product and manuals without prior
notice. Axis Communications AB makes no warranty of any
kind with regard to the material contained within this
document, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties
of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. Axis
Communications AB shall not be liable nor responsible for
incidental or consequential damages in connection with the
furnishing, performance or use of this material.
Trademark Acknowledgments
Acrobat, Adobe, Boa, Ethernet, IBM, Internet Explorer, LAN
Manager, Linux, Macintosh, Microsoft, Netscape Navigator,
OS/2, UNIX, Windows, WWW are registered trademarks of the
respective holders. Java and all Java-based trademarks and
logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun
Microsystems, Inc. in the United States and other countries.
Axis Communications AB is independent of Sun
Microsystems Inc.
Axis Support Services
Visit the Axis Support Web at www.axis.com/techsup/
AXIS 250S MPEG-2 Video Server User’s Manual.
Revision 2.0
Part no: 20675
Dated: September 2003
Copyright © Axis Communications AB, 2002-2003

AXIS 250S User’s Manual 3
Table Of Contents
Safety Notice - Battery Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Features and Benefits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Product Description. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
AXIS 250S Front Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
AXIS 250S Rear Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Hardware Inventory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Installing the AXIS 250S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Client System Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
The AXIS Media Control (Viewing Client) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Accessing the AXIS 250S from Internet Explorer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Configuring the video source and audio equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Operating the AXIS 250S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Accessing and logging on to the AXIS 250S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Access from a browser . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
The Live View Page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Events and Event Types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Upload Servers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Notification Servers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Audio & Video Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Port Status & Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Live View Layout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
The System Options. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Users . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Firewall Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Date & Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
TCP/IP Network Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
SMTP (email) Network Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
RTP (Multicast) Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Ports & Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Support - Logs & Reports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
The Factory Default Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Appendix A - Other IP Setup Methods. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
The AXIS IP Installer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

AXIS 250S User’s Manual
4
Appendix B - Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Pinging Your IP Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Appendix C - Updating the Firmware. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Obtaining Updated firmware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Updating the firmware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Appendix D - Customizing The AXIS 250S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Modifying the File System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Configuration via FTP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Custom Web Pages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Appendix E - Unit Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
The D-Sub Connector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
The I/O Terminal Blocks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Connecting Pan/Tilt Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Controlling and Monitoring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Appendix F - Technical Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Appendix G - Bandwidth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Glossary of Terms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

AXIS 250S User’s Manual Safety Notice - Battery Replacement 5
Safety Notice - Battery Replacement
The AXIS 250S MPEG-2 Video server uses a 3.0V CR2032 Lithium battery as the power
supply for its internal real-time clock (RTC). This battery will, under normal conditions, last
for a minimum of 5 years.
The battery should not be replaced unless required!
If the battery does need replacing, please observe the following points:
Caution!
•Danger of Explosion if battery is incorrectly replaced!
•Replace only with the same or equivalent battery, as recommended by the manufacturer.
•Dispose of used batteries according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Introduction AXIS 250S User’s Manual
6
Introduction
The AXIS 250S MPEG-2 Video Server is a one-port MPEG-2 video server that allows
real-time compression and transmission of DVD quality MPEG-2 video streams over a
TCP/IP network (LAN).
When viewing multimedia content (video and audio) in a browser on a network, various
technologies and protocols are employed to supply the content. The video and audio
streams are transmitted either as unicast, where communication is between a single sender
and a single recipient, or as multicast, which is communication between a single sender
and multiple recipients. Multicasting is an excellent way to save on bandwidth.
The AXIS 250S’s built-in support for multicasting via RTP (Real-Time Protocol) ensures
smooth delivery to multiple clients on a local network. The only restrictions on the number
of multicast clients are those imposed by the network in use, plus the requirement of one
license per client. The video stream delivered by the AXIS 250S uses approximately a third
of the bandwidth required by an equivalent Motion-JPEG stream.
The AXIS 250S MPEG-2 Video Server
The AXIS 250S includes all of the required networking connectivity for distributing
multimedia content over the network. The built-in Web server provides its own application
page for direct viewing of the video stream, as well as full web-based control of the
management and configuration functions. All of this can be accessed from a browser over
the network.

AXIS 250S User’s Manual Introduction 7
Features and Benefits
Complete & independent - The AXIS 250S runs independently of any other server and, apart
from a camera and audio equipment, requires no other hardware.
No special software - To view live video streams and configure the product over the network,
all that is needed is Microsoft® Internet Explorer 5.5 or higher, and DirectX® 9.0 or higher.
These components are included with Microsoft Windows 2000 and XP, but if you need to
upgrade to the specified versions, these can be obtained from the Microsoft® web site.
TCP/IP, SMTP, HTTP, RTP and other Internet-related protocols are supported.
Viewing Client - For the live MPEG-2 video stream, the AXIS 250S includes one encoder
license and three decoder (viewing) licenses. Each client (unicast or multicast) viewing the
media stream requires its own license. Further licenses may be purchased from your reseller
or directly from Axis.
Superior Imaging - MPEG-2 hardware compression and transmission technology uses
approximately 1/3 of the bandwidth required by a Motion-JPEG stream of comparative
quality. The video stream can be viewed by up to 3 standard (unicast) clients, or multiple
multicast clients on a LAN and full frame rate (25/30 frames per second) is assured,
provided the required bandwidth is available. There are 4 different image resolutions
available and the video quality is configurable. The on-board AXIS ETRAX 100-LX
processor provides up to 25/30 frames/second over 10 or 100 Mbit/s networks.
Configurable GOP structure - Experienced users can take advantage of the advanced video
settings, which allow certain modifications to the internal structure of the video stream.
Configurable event types - Remote storage of MPEG-2 video recordings to FTP-servers, and/or
activation of external devices. Possible to enable a pre-alarm video buffer, allowing up to 1
minute of video to be buffered in the server and transmitted when the event occurs. Users
can also be notified of events by email.
External Device Connection - Supporting the RS-232 and RS-485 communication protocols,
the AXIS 250S includes the physical interfaces for connecting a variety of external devices;
such as, Pan/Tilt/Zoom devices, doorbells, switches and alarm relays. Develop your own
programing scripts for creating a variety of security applications triggered on time or
alarm-based events. You can even drive annunciators and other audible alarm devices
using the relay output. Fully utilizes high quality audio equipment for surveillance. 4 alarm
inputs allow connection of e.g. sensors for triggering events and recordings. 1 digital
output allows the server to trigger external devices.
Security - Multi-user and multi-level password protection. Administrators can create and
modify accounts for authorized users, as well as allow anonymous viewing. The built-in
firewall provides IP-filtering, thus preventing unauthorized access.

Introduction AXIS 250S User’s Manual
8
Audio and Video inputs - 1 BNC composite video input for connecting a CCTV camera. 1
S-Video input for connecting S-Video cameras or other video equipment. 1 stereo
microphone input for connection of high quality microphones. 2 discrete amplification
steps available. 1 stereo line input for connecting audio sources providing amplified audio
signals.
Linux Operating System - The AXIS 250S includes modified versions of the Boa Web server,
and Linux operating system - both of which are freely distributed under the GNU General
Public License, as published by the Free Software Foundation. This software provides a
stable and reliable platform for open-source development of the product. In accordance
with the GNU General Public License, Axis has published the kernel for this product at
http://developer.axis.com/.

AXIS 250S User’s Manual Introduction 9
Applications
The AXIS 250S MPEG-2 Video Server can be used in a wide range of surveillance and
monitoring applications, and is the perfect choice where high-quality video and audio
streams need to be distributed at a fixed frame rate over a local area network (LAN). The
AXIS 250S provides live video and audio streaming to multiple clients, but can also upload
and save video sequences to web/FTP servers.
With direct access from your browser, you can view live video, and manage and control the
AXIS 250S at any time, from anywhere on the network. The AXIS 250S’s sophisticated
features make it the ideal tool for intruder detection, industrial process control, public
surveillance and visual security.
• Live video monitoring on a Local Area Network by up to 3 unicast clients, or multiple multicast
clients. Note that each client requires a viewing license.
• Continuous storage of video on external server
• Event notification
• Pre-trigger and post-trigger video capture

Product Description AXIS 250S User’s Manual
10
Product Description
Read the following information to familiarize yourself with the AXIS 250S, making
particular note of where the connectors and indicators are located.
AXIS 250S Front Panel
AXIS 250S Rear Panel
❶Factory Default Button
- Press this button to
restorethefactorydefault
settings, as described on
page 38.
❷MicrophoneConnector
❸Line Connector
❹Y/C Video Input (S-Video) - Physical connections
made using s-video cable.
❺Switch for selecting 75 ohm video termination (for BNC). Usually set to ON.
❻Video Input (BNC) - coax/BNC connector. Connections using 75 Ohm coax video cable have a recommended maximum length
of 800 feet (250 meters).
❺
❻
❹❸❷
❶
❹
❶
❸
❺❻
❷
❶I/O Terminal Block A -
Provides the physical inter-
faces to one transistor out-
put, two digital inputs, and
GND. Used for connecting
external devices typically
associated with CCTV
equipment. See also page
50.
❷Power Supply Connector -A single socket (PS-K) for connection of the
AXIS 250S power supply. Alternative power supply = 7-20V DC.
❸RS-232 Serial Connector - Used for connecting Pan/Tilt/Zoom devices, etc.
❹RJ45 Network Connector - Variable data communication speed (10-100 Mbit/s).
❺Indicator LEDs - The Power LED shows steady green for normal operation, or flashing green or unlit for a malfunction in the
power supply. It will also flash amber during a firmware upgrade. The Status LED shows steady green for normal operation, or red
for critical errors. The Network LED flashes amber for 10Mbps network activity, flashes green for 100Mbps network activity, or
shows solid red for no network connection. An unlit indicator denotes no activity.
❻I/O Terminal Block B - Provides the physical interfaces to RS-485 Pan Tilt devices and 2 digital inputs. See page 50 for pinout
information.

AXIS 250S User’s Manual Product Description 11
Hardware Inventory
Check the items supplied with your AXIS 250S against the following list:
Note: The power supply for your AXIS 250S is country-specific. Please check that the type you are using
is correct.
Item Title/Variant Quantity Item Title/Variants Quantity
Video Server AXIS 250S MPEG-2
Video Server 1Power Supply (PS-K) * Europe UK
USA
Japan
Australia
1
Terminal Connectors 2This Document AXIS 250S User’s
Manual v 2.0 1
Warranty Document 1CD AXIS Network Prod-
uct CD 1.2 (or later) 1
License letter 1Mounting kit - 1

Installing the AXIS 250S AXIS 250S User’s Manual
12
Installing the AXIS 250S
This section is intended for use by the product administrator. Operators and viewers should
read Operating the AXIS 250S, on page 16.
• Quick installation - Follow the instructions below to quickly install on an Ethernet network.
• Easy installation - See TheAXISIP Installer,on page 40.
• Other Methods - Please refer to OtherIPSetup Methods,on page 39.
❹Using an appropriate method for your operating system, assign your product with a
unique IP address from a computer on your network, as follows:
You will now see ‘Request timed out...’messages repeatedly returned in the window.
Note: In some Unix systems, the arp command can be located in a directory that is not on the
command path.
❸Note the Serial number on the
underside of the unit. You need to
know this to set the IP address.
Serial number same as
MAC/Ethernet address; e.g.
00408c100086 =
00-40-8c-10-00-86
❷Connect a video source to
the BNC or S-Video connec-
tor. (Use a BNC-to-RCA con-
verter if your source is
supplied with a phono-type
(RCA)connector.)The75 Ohm
selector switch should nor-
mally be set to ON. If the unit
is connected in parallel (e.g.
with a monitor) set this
switch to OFF.
❶Connect a microphone to the Mic connector, or
an alternative input device to the Line input.
Windows only - Start a Command prompt and type these commands:
Syntax:
arp -s <Server IP address> <MAC/Ethernet address>
ping -t <Server IP address>
Example:
arp -s 172.21.1.200 00-40-8c-10-00-86
ping -t 172.21.1.200
UNIX only - Type this in your command line:
Syntax:
arp -s <IP address> <MAC/Ethernet address> temp
ping <IP address>
Example:
arp -s 172.21.1.200 00:40:8c:10:00:86 temp
ping 172.21.1.200

AXIS 250S User’s Manual Installing the AXIS 250S 13
❼ Approximately 10-15 seconds after connecting the power supply, the message ‘Reply
from 172.21.1.200...’ - or similar, is returned within the window. Ensure that the
Power Indicator is permanently lit and that the Network Indicator flashes intermittently.
❽Exit Ping. The installation is complete. You can now access the server directly from your
browser, as described below.
Client System Requirements
Client computers that will be viewing the video stream from the AXIS 250S MPEG-2 Video
Server should meet the following hardware and software requirements:
• Intel Pentium III 500 MHz processor, or better
•128MBRAM
• AGP graphics card with 16 MB video memory and support for DirectDraw®. Ensure that the
latest available driver is used.
•Windows®2000 or Windows XP (Windows XP requires Service Pack 1)
• Internet Explorer 5.5 or higher
•DirectX®v 9.0 or higher
• A media player (only required for viewing saved MPEG-2 files)
Power Indicator
❻Connect the power cable to the unit and
connect it to your main power supply.
Network Indicator
❺Connect an Ethernet cable to the AXIS
250S and attach it to the network.
Status Indicator

Installing the AXIS 250S AXIS 250S User’s Manual
14
The AXIS Media Control (Viewing Client)
The first time the AXIS 250S is accessed from a browser, the AXIS Media Control will
automatically be installed. This licensed component is required for viewing the video
stream in a browser. Simply accept the license agreement displayed in the setup window
and the client will install. Note that a viewing license may be used for multicast or unicast
clients, but that each individual client requires a separate license.
Important!
After the installation has completed, restart your computer, if required.
After the client is installed, there will be a new icon in the Windows Control Panel. Clicking
on this icon opens the properties tool for the client, from where various settings can be
changed. Please see the readme file included in the tool for more information.
The AXIS Media Control can be uninstalled from the Windows Control Panel.
• The AXIS 250S is supplied with three (3) licenses for the AXIS Media Control. Installing more than 3
instances of the viewer contravenes the terms of the license agreement and is prohibited. To pur-
chase further licenses, please contact your Axis reseller.
• To allow the installation of the AXIS Media Control, your browser must be set to allow the installa-
tion of signed ActiveX controls. This is the default setting in Internet Explorer.

AXIS 250S User’s Manual Installing the AXIS 250S 15
Accessing the AXIS 250S from Internet Explorer
Important!
Configuring the video source and audio equipment
You should now configure the connected video source and audio equipment. Start by
clicking the Setup link.
1. Open the Video settings, either from Basic Configuration or from the menu links on
the left.
2. Select the physical connector the camera or other equipment is connected to.
3. Set the Source modulation to the correct type for your camera. NTSC is the standard in
the United States and PAL is the standard in Europe. If unsure, check the
documentation supplied with the camera. Click Save.
4. Open the Audio settings page.
5. Select the audio input you connected your equipment to.
6. Enable audio, set the desired audio quality, and set the Mic Input Sensitivity according
to your microphone. Click Save and then return to the Live View page to view the
video stream. See also the configuration section for audio and video on page 25.
Upon delivery, the AXIS 250S is supplied with one pre-configured Administrator user name and pass-
word, set to root and pass, respectively. The Administrator password should be changed as soon as pos-
sible, to prevent unauthorized access to the setup tools and/or the video stream.
❶Start your browser and enter the IP address of the AXIS
250S in the location/address field. The first time the server is
accessed, there will be no need to log in.
❷The Live View page now opens, allow-
ing you proceed with the product’s con-
figuration by clicking on the Setup link.

Operating the AXIS 250S AXIS 250S User’s Manual
16
Operating the AXIS 250S
This section is intended mainly for system Operators, that is, personnel responsible for
using the AXIS 250S as part of e.g. an integrated surveillance system or similar. Although
the topics covered here relate to the everyday running of the system, product
Administrators will also find this section useful reading. The following topics are covered:
• accessing the AXIS 250S MPEG-2 Video Server
• adding and modifying event types
• configuring upload servers
• editing audio and video settings
• checking port and device status
• changing the layout of the Live View page.
For more information on configuring the AXIS 250S at the Administrator level, please refer
to The System Options, on page 29.
Accessing and logging on to the AXIS 250S
The AXIS 250S allows several levels of access and generally requires the user to log on. The
various types allow different degrees of control and some options/controls are not available
at the lower levels. One of the product administrator’s first tasks should be to create and
define the users allowed to access the server. For more information on managing users, see
Users, on page 30.
An operator will have access to the server’s main application page, as well as certain other
functions and controls - in short, everything not included in the System Options, which are
only available to administrators.
The only exception to the logon requirement is if the server has been configured to allow
anonymous viewing access and an anonymous user connects to the server.
Important!
Your system Administrator has installed the AXIS 250S on your computer network, connected a surveil-
lance video camera to the unit, and tailored the functions and look and feel of the system to meet your
specific surveillance needs. Consequently, the examples provided here may differ from those displayed in
your system. Any problems with your application should be referred to your system administrator.

AXIS 250S User’s Manual Operating the AXIS 250S 17
Access from a browser
The video stream and the setup tools in the AXIS 250S can be accessed using Microsoft
Internet Explorer 5.5 on Windows 2000 or Windows XP.
Follow the instructions below to access your images:
1. Start Internet Explorer.
2. Enter the name or IP address of the AXIS 250S into the Address bar:
Example!
The Live View page, similar to the example shown below, is now displayed.
Note: To enable the viewing of the MPEG-2 video stream in Microsoft Internet Explorer, you must set
your browser to allow signed ActiveX controls and install the AXIS Media Control onto your
workstation. This is required to view the video stream and will be performed automatically the
first time the server is accessed.
The Live View Page
The page available to all user levels when accessing the AXIS 250S MPEG-2 Video Server is
known as the Live View page. This page shows the server’s basic application, that is, a live
MPEG-2 video stream from the connected video source. If there is a Pan/Tilt/Zoom device
connected and configured, it will be possible to control it from this page.
http://172.21.1.200/
Play/Stop
button
Mute button
Full Screen button
(use “Esc” to cancel)
Volume slider
Setup tools
Snapshot button

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18
Disconnected Video Source
Any problem with the camera or video source is indicated by a blank display. This may be
due to a break in the signal transmission or the cable, or to incorrect source modulation.
Any such incident should be immediately referred to your system administrator.
Positional Control of the Video Source
Pan Tilt Zoom PTZ) devices are connected and controlled directly from the server’s ports.
Pan, Tilt and Zoom bars, are automatically displayed as shown in the example below:
Notes: •To use click-in-picture, point to the desired position in the image and click the mouse button. It
is also possible to zoom in and out of the image by scrolling the mouse wheel.
•The AXIS 250S can control a range of relative and absolutePTZ devices via the Web interface, or
via third-party applications. The positioning tools provided depend on the selected PTZ device.
Other functions, not shown in this illustration, may also be available. If PTZ controls have been
disabled in the Live View layout settings, they may be unavailable in the user interface.
•Clicking anywhere on a toolbar’s gradient allows for a “smooth” PTZ adjustment; whereas click-
ing on the left or right arrows causes a stepped incremental change.
•Note that the image latency inherent in the MPEG-2 file format will affect the speed of move-
ments when using PTZ devices.
Pan bar
Allows smooth or stepped hori-
zontal panning of the camera.
Iris bar
Opens and closes the iris on
the connected camera.
Tilt bar
Allows smooth or
stepped vertical pan-
ning of the camera.
Home (H)
Returns the camera
tothe‘Home’position.
Select Preset Position
To enable quick and
accurate camera posi-
tioning, up to 20 preset
camera positions can be
set and selected at any
time from the
drop-down dialog.
Click-in-Picture
Point and click in the
image to move the
PTZ device.
Focus bar
Adjusts the focus on the
connected camera.
Zoom bar
Allows smooth or stepped camera zoom
between telescopic and wide viewing.

AXIS 250S User’s Manual Operating the AXIS 250S 19
Events and Event Types
The AXIS 250S MPEG-2 Video Server is capable of performing various actions when
certain types of events occur. The terminology used to describe this is as follows:
•Event type - a defined set of parameters that specify how and when something will
trigger an action.
•Event - an event that occurs while the system is running. It is started by a trigger, it
initiates an action, and is time-stamped and named.
•Action - what occurs when the event triggers. Examples are the upload of video to an
FTP server, email notification, etc.
•Trigger - the circumstances that start an event. This could be e.g. a pre-programmed
time or a signal from an external device, such as a door switch or a motion sensor.
Configuring Event Types
An event type is a set of parameters describing how and when the server will perform
certain actions. An event type may result in one single event, or it may result in many,
depending on how often is triggered. The most common kind of event type will trigger the
upload of images to a specified destination. Other actions performed by event types can
include the sending of e-mail, the activation of the output port and various types of event
notification.
Important!
• Event types that perform uploads should be kept to the minimum required for your application. There
is a limit of 3 simultaneous uploads at any one time, although more may be configured.
• Note that when adding, modifying and deleting event types, any other event type that is currently
active will be stopped. Stopped event types that have been configured to run for as long as the trig-
ger is active will automatically restart, but others with different configurations will not.

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20
Setting up a new event type
Click the menu link to Event Types. This opens the list of event types as in the example
below. The list shows various information about the event types currently configured.
Click the Add button. This launches the Event Type Setup dialog. Depending on the event
type you require, you will then need to provide some or all of the following information:
General
•Name - Give the event type a suitable name.
Respond to Trigger...
This setting determines when an event can be triggered. The options are:
•Always - the event can be activated by the trigger (see below) at any time
•Only during time frame - a trigger will only start the event during the times specified.
Triggers at other times will be ignored. Select the days and set the period’s start time and
Duration. The Duration may be set up to a maximum of 168 hours. If a Duration of more
than 24 hours is required, then only one weekday may be checked. To use two or more
trigger time frames longer than 24 hours - two or more event types (one for each period)
must be configured.
•Never - the event type is disabled and no actions will be performed.