VBrick 7000 Series User manual
VBrick v2.0 H.264 Appliance
Getting Started Guide
September 10, 2009
4410-0252-0002
VBrick 7000 Series
Network Video Appliances
Copyright
© 2009 VBrick Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.
12 Beaumont Road
Wallingford, Connecticut 06492, USA
www.VBrick.com
This publication contains confidential, proprietary, and trade secret information. No part of this document may be
copied, photocopied, reproduced, translated, or reduced to any machine-readable or electronic format without
prior written permission from VBrick. Information in this document is subject to change without notice and
VBrick Systems assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors or inaccuracies. VBrick, VBrick Systems, the
VBrick logo, StreamPlayer, and StreamPlayer Plus are trademarks or registered trademarks in the United States and
other countries. Windows Media is a trademarked name of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and other
countries. Flowerfire is a trademark of Sawmill. All other products or services mentioned in this document are
identified by the trademarks, service marks, or product names as designated by the companies who market those
products. Inquiries should be made directly to those companies. This document may also have links to third-party
web pages that are beyond the control of VBrick. The presence of such links does not imply that VBrick endorses
or recommends the content on those pages. VBrick acknowledges the use of third-party open source software and
licenses in some VBrick products. This freely available source code is posted at www.vbrick.com/opensource.
FCC Part 15
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for Class A digital device, pursuant to Part 15
of the FCC rules, Class A for OC-3C Interface, Class A for the SDI Interface. These limits are designed to provide
reasonable protection against harmful interference when the equipment is operated in a commercial environment.
This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance
with the instruction manual, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. Operation of this
equipment in a residential area is likely to cause harmful interference in which case the user will be required to
correct the interference at their own expense. This Class A digital apparatus meets all requirements of the
Canadian Interference-Causing Equipment Regulations. Cet appareil numerique de la Classe A respecte toutes les
exigences do reglement dur le materiel brouilleur du Canada.
VBrick declares that this product conforms to the following certificate standards for electromagnetic
emissions when installed according to the manufacturer's specifications: EN 55022:2006; EN
55024:1998, A1:2001, A2:2003; EN 61000-3-2:2005; EN 61000-3-3:1995, A1:2001, A2:2005.
This product is Listed by Underwriters Laboratories Inc. Representative samples of this product have
been evaluated by UL and meet applicable safety standards. Although this product can operate in a 70°C
environment, the maximum recommended room ambient is be 66°C or lower to meet UL 60950-1
accessible surface temperature requirements.
About VBrick Systems
Founded in 1997, VBrick Systems, an ISO 9001 certified vendor, is a privately held company that has enjoyed rapid
growth by helping our customers successfully introduce mission critical video applications across their enterprise
networks. Since our founding, VBrick has been setting the standard for quality, performance and innovation in the
delivery of live and stored video over IP networks—LANs, WANs and the Internet. With thousands of video
appliances installed world-wide, VBrick is the recognized leader in reliable, high-performance, easy-to-use
networked video solutions.
VBrick is an active participant in the development of industry standards and continues to play an influential role in
the Internet Streaming Media Alliance (ISMA), the MPEG Industry Forum, and Internet2. In 1998 VBrick
invented and shipped the world's first MPEG Video Network Appliance designed to provide affordable DVD-
quality video across the network. Since then, VBrick's video solutions have grown to include Video on Demand,
Management, Security and Access Control, Scheduling, and Rich Media Integration. VBrick solutions are
successfully supporting a broad variety of applications including distance learning and training, conferencing and
remote office communications, security, process monitoring, traffic monitoring, business and news feeds to the
desktop, webcasting, corporate communications, collaboration, command and control, and telemedicine. VBrick
serves customers in education, government, healthcare, and financial services markets among others.
VBrick H.264 Appliance Getting Started Guide iii
Contents
H.264 Getting Started Guide
Preface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vii
Organization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vii
Getting Help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vii
Font Conventions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . viii
Printer-Friendly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . viii
Product Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . viii
1. Introduction
Appliance Overview. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Capabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Features and Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
2. Appliance Setup
Setup Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Using the Quick Start Guide. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Environmental Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Appliance Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Step 1. Connect the Audio and Video. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Step 2. Connect to the IP Network. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Step 3. Power-on the Appliance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Step 4. Set the IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Step 5. Verify Streaming Video . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Software Upgrade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Installing a Software Upgrade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Configuring VBDownload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
3. Shelf Setup
VBrick Rack Mount Shelf . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
H.264 Blades . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Blade LCD Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Unpacking and Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Blade Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
Software Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Power Supplies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Fan Tray . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Air Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
iv Contents
4. Software Upgrade
Software Upgrade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Installing a Software Upgrade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Configuring VBDownload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
5. Management Tools
Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
VBAdmin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
VBDirectory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Command Line Interface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
SNMP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Front Panel Edit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Web Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Auto Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
6. VBAdmin
Using VBAdmin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Login Page. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
Home Page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Configuration Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
LED Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Edit Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34
Using Apply, Revert, and Default . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Resetting the Appliance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Logout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Help. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
7. Front Panel Edit
Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Front Panel Modes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Front Panel Configuration in VBAdmin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Front Panel Navigation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Status Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Configuration Mode. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41
Configurable Parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Function Mode. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
8. Command Line Interface
Connection Modes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45
Connecting via the COM Port with HyperTerminal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Connecting with Telnet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Command Line Interface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Using the MIB. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Finding VBrick Parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
VBrick H.264 Appliance Getting Started Guide v
Setting VBrick Parameters. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
CLI Examples . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
9. Web Services
Web Services Interface. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55
10. Streaming Video Basics
Video Basics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Getting the Best Video . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Network Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Assigning Multicast Addresses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
IP Address Configuration using Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
VBrick Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Serial Port Passthrough . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59
How Passthrough Works . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Serial Port Passthrough Using Telnet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
11. VBrick 7000 Series Reference
VBrick H.264 Appliance Models . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Device Interfaces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Video-In (S-Vid) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Video-In (Comp-In) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Audio-In . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
COM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Ethernet Port . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
USB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
External Event Triggering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
vi Contents
VBrick H.264 Appliance Getting Started Guide vii
H.264 Getting Started Guide
Preface
This document explains how to set up and configure a VBrick H.264 network video
appliance. It explains the management tools available and describes some of the fundamental
concepts behind the technology. It also explains how to use the VBAdmin management
interface to configure the appliance and control appliance functions.
Organization
This online help system provides access to VBrick H.264 documentation. It has a
powerful search engine so you can get answers to technical questions in seconds; it also has
the documentation in PDF format if you need hard-copy. Our publications team is
committed to providing first-rate documentation and your feedback is important to us. If you
find errors or omissions, click the e-mail icon in the upper-right corner of this window or
Introduction Lists the specifications and describes the features and
functions of the H.264 appliance.
Appliance Setup Explains the basics. Provides general configuration
recommendations as well as how to cable the appliance and
connect it to the network.
Shelf Setup Explains how to set up and configure a Rack Mount Shelf
that houses from 1 to 11 H.264 blade encoders.
Software Upgrade Explains how to upgrade the appliance or blade when new
software is available form VBrick.
Management Tools Explains how to configure the appliance using a variety of
management tools. These include the VBAdmin web
interface, Telnet, SNMP, and the command line.
VBAdmin Explains how to use the VBAdmin application to manage
VBrick configuration from an external browser.
Front Panel Edit Explains how to use the keypad on the appliance front
panel to set IP Address, DHCP Enable/Disable, Subnet
Mask, and other parameters.
Command Line Interface Explains how to configure an appliance from the command
line using Telnet or HyperTerminal (when an Internet
connection is not available).
Streaming Video Basics Explains some of the fundamentals behind the technology
including compression techniques, network concepts, serial
port passthrough, and other video basics.
VBrick 7000 Series Reference Provides back panel drawings, COM port pinouts, LED
descriptions, and other miscellaneous information.
viii Preface
Getting Help
If you need help, or more information about any topic, use the online help system. The
online help is cross-referenced and searchable and can usually find the information in a few
seconds. Use the tree controls in the left pane to open documents and the up and down
arrows to page through them. Use the Search box to find specific information. Simply enter
one or more words in the box and press Enter. The search results will return pages that have
all of the words you entered—highlighted in yellow (Internet Explorer only). The Search box
is not case-sensitive and does not recognize articles (a, an, the), operators (+ and –), or
quotation marks. You can narrow the search by adding words.
If you can't find the information you need from the online help, or from your certified
VBrick reseller, you can contact VBrick Support Services on the web. Support Services can
usually answer your technical questions in 24 business hours or less. Also note that our
publications team is committed to accurate and reliable documentation and we appreciate
your feedback. If you find errors or omissions in any of our documents, please send e-mail to
products, all of our product documentation is available on the web. Go to www.vbrick.com/
documentation to search or download VBrick product documentation.
Font Conventions
Arial bold is used to describe dialog boxes and menu choices, for example: Start > All
Programs > VBrick
Courier fixed-width font is used for scripts, code examples, or keyboard commands.
Courier bold fixed-width font is used for user input in scripts, code examples, or keyboard
commands.
This bold black font is used to strongly emphasise important words or phrases.
Folder names and user examples in text are displayed in this sans serif font.
User input in text is displayed in this bold sans serif font.
Italics are used in text to emphasize specific words or phrases.
Printer-Friendly
VBrick H.264 Appliance Getting Started Guide
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1. Click once to open the PDF document in Acrobat Reader.
2. To save or print a PDF document, right-click and select Save Target As or Print Target.
Product Safety
Electrical Cautions
Caution: Battery. The appliance contains a lithium battery which may explode if
replaced incorrectly. Do not attempt to replace this battery. If absolutely necessary,
replace only with the same or equivalent type recommended by manufacturer. Recycle
batteries if possible and dispose used batteries in accordance with local environmental
regulations.
VBrick H.264 Appliance Getting Started Guide ix
Caution: General. Do not spill food or liquids on your appliance. Protect your
appliance from sudden power-surges and interruptions by using a surge suppressor,
line conditioner, or uninterruptable power supply (UPS). Avoid using and/or connecting
appliance during an electrical storm. Comply with all standard safety precautions associated
with the use of electronic devices.
General Cautions
Caution: Servicing. This product contains no user-serviceable parts. No user is
authorized to remove the appliance's cover. This device has tamper-evident seals.
Breaking or modifying the seals will immediately invalidate the product warranty. If you have
problems with this appliance, contact VBrick Support Services.
Caution: Placement. Use common sense when installing the device. Do not expose the
appliance to direct sunlight, high humidity or wet conditions. Do not block the air
vents or impede the airflow in any way. And once installed, do not place anything on top of
unit. Failure to follow these guidelines can cause overheating and affect the reliability of your
appliance.
Caution: Cleaning. This product and accessories will only require an occasional wipe
with a dry cloth. Do not spray any substance or use any thinners, abrasives, liquids, or
aerosol products to clean the device.
xPreface
VBrick H.264 Appliance Getting Started Guide 1
Chapter 1
Introduction
Topics in this section
Appliance Overview. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Features and Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
Appliance Overview
Built on a completely redesigned architecture, the VBrick H.264 appliances represent
VBrick’s newest networked video appliances. Capable of supporting both standard definition
and high definition video delivery, VBrick expands its market leadership by continuing to
deliver on its heritage of providing reliable, flexible, portable, scalable, and manageable
networked video appliances. These ground breaking appliances allow organizations to deliver
video in a wide range of quality—over any IP network infrastructure. The new H.264
appliances promise vastly improved quality for a given bit rate, allowing organizations to
deliver a better customer experience for any given bandwidth.
Figure 1. VBrick H.264 Network Video Appliance
Capabilities
VBrick’s H.264 appliances are the first in a line of products that will be delivered on VBrick’s
new architecture. These appliances provide the following capabilities:
• High Definition Video – For the first time, the new appliances support high definition
video resolution allowing unsurpassed quality video at bandwidths of 1 Mb/sec and up
(requires HD version).
• Standard Definition Video – For lower bandwidth applications, video can still be
delivered in standard definition with resolutions up to D1.
• Encoding – Digitizing and compressing a video signal for delivery over an IP network in
the H.264 video format.
• Multicasting – Multicast a live video directly from the appliance.
2© 2009 VBrick Systems, Inc.
• Serving – Serve live unicast streams via RTSP Low Delay – VBrick's appliances can
deliver video to Windows PCs and Macintosh PCs.
• Front Panel Display and Management – For easy configuration and parameter changes.
• Remote Management – Complete remote configuration and management via web-based
interface, web services, command line interface, or SNMP.
Features and Specifications
Table 1. Supported Browsers (VBAdmin)
Table 2. Recommended H.264 Players
† Use version shown or higher.
Table 3. Features and Specifications
Browser Version
Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0 or higher
Mozilla Firefox 2.0 or higher
Player †Vendor Notes
QuickTime 7.0 Apple If not installed, download application from Apple website.
VLC 1.0.1 VideoLAN Not fully tested or supported by VBrick.
Video Encoder • H.264 Encoding: Main and Baseline Profile
• SD Inputs: Composite or S-Video
• SD Input Formats: NTSC, PAL
• HD Inputs: SD-SDI, HD-SDI, 3G-SDI, HDMI, and Component
• HD Input Formats: 480i, 480p, 576i, 576p, 720p50/60, 1080i50/60,
1080p50/60
• Aspect Ratio: 4:3 and 16:9
• Encoded Resolutions see Table above.
• Video Frame Rates: NTSC (0.5, 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7.5, 10, 15, 30 fps), PAL (0.5, 1,
2.5, 5, 12.5, 25 fps)
• Constant Bit Rate / Constant Frame Rate, user defined key frame interval,
rate control, deblocking filter
• Rates: 32 Kbps – 10 Mbps
Audio Encoder • AAC-LC and AAC-HE Encoding
• Sample Frequency 8 Khz – 48 Khz
• Rates: 8 Kbps – 256 Kbps
• Audio Modes: Stereo, Mono, Dual
• Inputs: Unbalanced, balanced, and microphone via minijack. Audio inputs
can also come through the HDMI, HD-SDI, or SDI inputs. (HDMI and
SDI input available on High Definition models only.)
Push Multiple concurrent unicast and multicast destinations
Server Live streaming server – up to 200 concurrent live streams
Introduction
VBrick H.264 Appliance Getting Started Guide 3
Ethernet Network • 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet via RJ-45. Static or DHCP
• Auto sense Full / Half duplex
Protocols Unicast / Multicast, DiffServ (QoS), UDP / IP / RTSP/ RTCP / RTP /
HTTP / RTSP Interleave / IGMP
Additional Ports One serial port for local maintenance or data transport; one USB port
Dimensions 7101 models: W 7.8" x H 1.75" x D 9.2"
7102 models: W 8.1" x H 3.0" x D 9.5"
Weight Approx. 1.5 – 3 lb. depending on model
Temperature Range Operating Temperature: 0° – +70° Celsius
Power Input: 100 to 240 VAC, 50 / 60 Hz, 45 Watts, 12V DC, 4A
Regulatory FCC Part 15, UL, CE
LCD 80-character backlit display (20 characters x 4 lines)
Compatibility • Windows Media® Player (via VBrick player plug-in)
• QuickTime Player (Windows and Macintosh)
• IGMP v3 / SNMP v3
4© 2009 VBrick Systems, Inc.
VBrick H.264 Appliance Getting Started Guide 5
Chapter 2
Appliance Setup
Topics in this chapter
Setup Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Environmental Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Appliance Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
This chapter explains how to set up and configure VBrick H.264 network appliances. The
information here is basically the same as that in the Quick Start Guide that came with the
appliance. You can use this document or the Quick Start Guide set up and configure an
appliance. Before you do anything else, be sure to open the box and inspect the components.
Each shipment comes with:
• H.264 network appliance
• H.264 Quick Start Guide
•H.264ProductCD
• Power supply and cable
• Serial cable and adapter
• Cable and adapter kit
Setup Overview
Your VBrick H.264 appliance is shipped with all appropriate cables and connectors. The
appliance(s) you purchased may vary slightly from the illustration in Figure 2 but the basic
elements are common to all H.264 appliances. See VBrick H.264 Appliance Models on
page 61 for more model information.
Figure 2. H.264 Enterprise Encoder (rear)
S-Vid S-Video cable in.
Comp In Composite video cable in.
Main Audio connector. Use for microphones and other input devices.
Aux Audio connector. Use (in addition to Main) for consumer devices that
support two-jack stereo.
6© 2009 VBrick Systems, Inc.
Figure 3. H.264 Enterprise Encoder (front)
Using the Quick Start Guide
An 11x17 in. Quick Start Guide that explains how to set up the appliance is shipped with each
device. The Quick Start Guide explains how to setup the appliance to quickly verify that you
can stream audio and video over your local network. (Your actual production setup may be
different.) The information is included here for your convenience.
COM RS-232/RS-422/485. Used with HyperTerminal for appliance
configuration or as a dedicated serial port for Serial Port Passthrough.
Ethernet RJ-45 connector. Connect to the network.
USB Not functional. Reserved for future use.
Power In 12VDC Power input. LED illuminates when power is applied.
Component Three color-coded connectors (Y, Pb, Pr) with BNC connectors.
HDMI High Definition Multimedia Interface that transmits uncompressed
digital data.
SD-SDI/HD-SDI Accepts Standard Definition SDI, High Definition SDI, or High
Definition 3G-SDI.
Keypad Used to change modes, navigate through menus, or select
configuration parameters. See Front Panel Edit on page 39 for more
information.
LCD Display Depending on how it is configured in VBAdmin, shows IP Address,
system status, error and warning messages, and transmitter data on a
20 char x 4 line display panel.
F1–F4 The function keys are used to run scripts that have been associated
with each key in VBAdmin, or to advance to the Previous (F1) and
Next (F4) screen in Configuration mode.
Appliance Setup
VBrick H.264 Appliance Getting Started Guide 7
Click to enlarge
Figure 4. H.264 Appliance Quick Start Guide
Environmental Considerations
Airflow and ventilation are primary concerns when installing VBrick appliances. Each
appliance has slots and openings to guard against overheating and guarantee reliable
performance. Never block these openings or cover them when placing equipment in a
cabinet, rack, or shelf. Never place an appliance inside a built-in enclosure such as a bookcase
unless proper ventilation and airflow is available. In all cases, the equipment must be
separated from other products by at least two inches on each side and at least four inches
above and below in order to provide maximum airflow and circulation.
The equipment should never be placed on top or near any heat-radiating product or
equipment. The equipment should not be used near water sources or high-humidity areas.
Side ventilation provides the best air circulation. There are vents on each side of the
appliance and a fan that provides circulation. If appliances are rack-mounted in a cabinet and
air flow is blocked, you may need to provide a vent hole or a notch on the side of the rack
that is roughly equal in size to the vents on the appliance. You need to make sure there is at
least two inches of space between the appliance and the edge of the rack.
Best Practices
In general, VBrick appliances are designed for rooms that are comfortable for humans
(approx. 70 F or 21 C) with adequate airflow and ventilation. Wall mounting will typically
block the side vents and is not recommended. Mounting appliances above a drop ceiling is
also discouraged. Ceiling spaces have little protection against heat, cold, dust, etc. and you
will not be able to use the IR remote control. Some common practices to avoid include:
• Attempts to "hide" appliances in enclosed areas.
• Closed cabinets with poor air circulation or no air circulation.
• Appliances mounted too close to other heat sources or other electrical devices.
Note If you are mounting the device on a wall or ceiling, the best option is an open shelf or
an open mount. Poor ventilation can affect performance and may cause the appliance
to fail prematurely.
8© 2009 VBrick Systems, Inc.
Appliance Setup
Use the steps listed below, in the order shown, to setup your appliance. Table 4 shows the
recommended end user environment needed to play H.264 streams on Windows and
Macintosh desktops. These recommended requirements vary depending on whether you are
using a Windows or Macintosh desktop.
Table 4. Recommended Desktop Requirements
Step 1. Connect the Audio and Video
The audio and video connectors allow the H.264 video appliance to receive audio and/or
video from your input source, for example a video camera, VCR, DVD, etc.
TTo connect the audio and video inputs
1. From the video input source (for example, a camera, DVD, or VCR), connect the
vendor-provided cable to the default Composite (COMP IN) connector on the rear of the
appliance.
2. Connect the cable from the audio source to the MAIN audio connector. (If you have two
audio source cables, connect the left cable to MAIN and the right cable to AUX.)
Step 2. Connect to the IP Network
Use the provided Ethernet cable to connect the appliance to your IP network.
TTo connect to the IP network
1. Plug one end of the Ethernet cable into the Ethernet port (to the right of the COM port)
on the H.264 appliance.
2. Plug the other end of the Ethernet cable into a network port or switch.
• Ethernet LAN with Multicast IGMP Version 2
• Windows 2000, Windows XP (SP3), Vista
• Mac OS X 10.3 (Power PC)
• Mac OS X 10.4 (Intel-based PC)
• 750 MHz Pentium III processor (Windows)
•128MBRAM
• SVGA video card 640x480, 256 colors or better
• Windows or Macintosh-compatible sound device
• Minimum 5 MB hard disk space for installation
•MicrosoftInternetExplorer 6.0 or Safari 3.1.1
• Microsoft DirectX Media 8.1 or higher
• Microsoft Windows Media Player 7.1 (Windows 2000), 9.0 (Windows XP), 11 (Vista)
• VBrick StreamPlayer 4.5 or Apple QuickTime 7.0
• VBrick VBDirectory 4.4
Note If you are not using a composite cable, you will need to set "How is Video Connected"
in the VBAdmin management application after connecting to the network.
Appliance Setup
VBrick H.264 Appliance Getting Started Guide 9
Step 3. Power-on the Appliance
TTo power-on the appliance
1. Insert the power connector that comes with the appliance into the 12 VDC power
receptacle on the right side of the back panel.
2. Connect the other end to a conventional 110/220 VAC power source.
3. Wait until the appliance completes its boot sequence before continuing. This may take 1–3
minutes.
4. The green Power In LED on the back of the appliance will illuminate and the unit will
self-test while displaying status messages on the LCD panel. This can take several
minutes. When done the appliance will search for a DHCP server, display the IP address
on the LCD panel, and you can go to Step 5. If your network is not DHCP-enabled, you
will need to set a Static IP Address as explained in Step 4.
Step 4. Set the IP Address
All VBrick appliances are configured by default with DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration
Protocol) enabled. This means that when you power on the appliance on, if a DHCP server is
present on your network, the VBrick will automatically get its IP Address and Subnet Mask
from the DHCP server. If the appliance cannot find a DHCP server, you will need to set a
static IP address manually using (1) the front panel (if available) or (2) the serial port. Once the
IP address is set, you can use the management interface (VBAdmin) to configure all other parameters.
If the appliance cannot connect to a DHCP server, it will wait two minutes and then start in
Limited Run Mode using the default IP Address of 172.17.5.5. After 15 minutes, it will
automatically reset and again try to obtain a DHCP address. The LCD screen on the front
panel will display a DHCP failed message and then read VBrick Systems and continue to cycle
through various messages. If you want to configure a static IP address, you must do it while
the unit is operating in Limited Run Mode. You cannot access the appliance while it is searching for
DHCP server.
Set IP Address Using the Front Panel
1. Press the Mode button on the front panel and advance to Configuration mode.
2. Enter a valid PIN (default = 0000) and press Select. This will allow you to change
configuration parameters.
3. Press the F4 button three times to advance to the IPAddr page. Using the keypad arrows
and the Select button, enter a valid IP address.
4. If necessary, configure a Subnet mask and a Gateway in the same manner. The appliance
will automatically reboot when done.
Set IP Address Using the Serial Port
1. If you have an industrial model (or a blade) without a front panel, connect an ASCII
terminal from the RJ-45 serial port (COM) on the appliance to the COM port of the
computer or terminal device (usually COM1), using the provided cable.
Note If the appliance cannot find a DHCP server, you will need to set a static IP address
manually using (1) the appliance front panel (if present) or (2) the serial (COM) port.
Similarly, if your network requires a Gateway IP Address, and this is not provided by
the DHCP server, you will also need to enter this address manually.
10 © 2009 VBrick Systems, Inc.
2. From the Windows Start menu, go to: Start > All Programs > Accessories >
Communications > HyperTerminal and press Enter to display the login prompt.
3. Login to the appliance using "admin" (case-sensitive) for both Login and Password.
4. When the Command Line Interface is displayed, type "nt" to display the Ethernet
Network Options. This will let you set IP Address, Subnet Mask, and other options.
5. When done, type "apply" and press Enter to save your changes.
Step 5. Verify Streaming Video
The last step is to verify the appliance is running properly and streaming audio and video.
Assuming you connected a video source as explained in Step 1, you can use the VBAdmin
management application or VBrick StreamPlayer to verify that video is streaming from the
appliance.
Verify Operation with VBAdmin (Windows or Macintosh)
You can verify operation on Windows or Macintosh desktops by playing the stream directly
from the appliance using the VBAdmin management application. This method requires the
Apple QuickTime plugin.
1. Open a browser and launch VBAdmin with the IP Address from Step 4 in the following
format and Then login with "admin" and "admin"
http://<appliance_ip_address>
2. Using the left navigation panel, click on Program Configuration > Servers.
3. On the Servers page click the Edit button. Then click on the link labeled Click Here to
Play Stream.
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