ViewCast Niagara 4100 User manual

© 2011 ViewCast Corporation. All rights reserved.
ViewCast, GoStream, ViewCast logo, SimulStream, Niagara, SchedulStream, Niagara logo, Osprey,
and Niagara SCX are trademarks or registered trademarks of ViewCast Corporation or its
subsidiaries.
Microsoft, Windows XP, Windows, and Windows Media are trademarks or registered trademarks of
Microsoft Corporation.
QuickTime, iPhone, and iPod, are trademarks or registered trademarks of Apple Inc.
Adobe and Flash are trademarks or registered trademarks of Adobe Systems Inc.
Disclaimer
The information in this publication remains the property of ViewCast Corporation. Users may not use, reproduce, or disclose this information
without the implied consent and written approval of the company.
ViewCast Corporation makes no representations or warranties with respect to the contents or use of this manual and specifically disclaims any
express or implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for any particular purpose. Further, ViewCast Corporation reserves the right to
revise this publication to make enhancements in the products described in this manual, at any time, without obligation to notify any person or
entity of such revisions or changes. In no event will ViewCast Corporation be liable for direct, indirect, special, incidental, or consequential
damages arising out of the use or inability to use the product or documentation, even if advised of the possibility of such damages.
ViewCast Corporation is not responsible for any third-party license fees that may occur with the use of our products by an end user including
but not limited to creating or distributing content. The user is responsible for any fees the Multimedia Patent Trust may apply for creating and
distributing MPEG content.
Warranties
For complete warranty details, refer to the specific warranty included with each product. General warranty information includes the following:
Limited Warranty: ViewCast warrants its hardware products against defects in material and workmanship under normal use for the period of
one year (12 months) from date of sale. Where specific warranties exist that provide more substantial coverage, notwithstanding the warranty
provisions herein, such product warranties control and preempt or supersede the warranty provisions herein.
Reseller Pass Through of Standard Limited Warranties: Resellers pass the ViewCast standard limited warranties for the products through to
the customer without modification. Any modification of a product voids the ViewCast warranties or any other existing or available warranty.
Corporate Contact Information
ViewCast collaborates and partners with various clients to integrate products into their individual environments.
Niagara Technical Support: Phone: [phone], Fax: [phone] or submit the technical support online request from the ViewCast
website.
ViewCast USA Support: Monday through Friday: 9 a.m. –5 p.m. Central Time. Typical response time is within one business day for customers
without a Priority Support Agreement.
ViewCast Corporation 3701 West Plano Parkway, Suite 300, Plano, TX 75075-7840 USA
Toll Free (U.S. only): 800.540.4119 website: www.viewcast.com

Niagara 4100 User Guide
ViewCast iii
Contents
About This Guide.......................................................................................................... 1
Product description.............................................................................................................1
Audience .............................................................................................................................1
Conventions for this guide.................................................................................................. 2
Rack mount safety instructions .......................................................................................... 3
FCC notice ...........................................................................................................................4
Environmental notices........................................................................................................ 5
Warnings............................................................................................................................. 6
Overview....................................................................................................................... 9
Media appliance functions..................................................................................................9
Install overview.................................................................................................................10
Prerequisites .....................................................................................................................10
Package contents........................................................................................................10
System requirements........................................................................................................11
Specifications ....................................................................................................................11
Installing additional software ...........................................................................................11
Connecting to the Internet ...............................................................................................12
Niagara 4100 front panel diagram.................................................................................... 13
Niagara 4100 back panel diagram ....................................................................................14
Connecting the Niagara 4100 ........................................................................................... 15
Niagara 4100 system menu ..............................................................................................16
Niagara 4100 home page..................................................................................................17
Menu bar commands .................................................................................................17
Niagara 4100 browser windows flow ............................................................................... 19
Easy Setup...................................................................................................................21
Web interface ...................................................................................................................22
Easy first time set up......................................................................................................... 23
Connecting to an electrical power source.................................................................. 23
Performing the initial startup.....................................................................................24
Connecting to an IP network......................................................................................25
Changing the network settings...................................................................................25

Contents
iv ViewCast
Basic Operations.........................................................................................................29
Starting up.........................................................................................................................29
Shutting down................................................................................................................... 30
Starting an encoder...........................................................................................................31
Checking CPU usage..........................................................................................................33
Stopping an encoder.........................................................................................................34
Connecting an external storage device ............................................................................ 35
Exporting captured video files ..........................................................................................35
Advanced Operations .................................................................................................37
Logging in..........................................................................................................................37
Viewing all encoders .........................................................................................................39
Creating an encoder..........................................................................................................40
Starting an encoder...........................................................................................................41
Stopping an encoder.........................................................................................................42
Editing an Adaptive Apple HTTP encoder .........................................................................43
Video tab ....................................................................................................................44
Audio tab ....................................................................................................................46
Apple HTTP Live Streaming Output tab......................................................................47
Apple HTTP Live Streaming Security tab via FTP ........................................................ 49
Editing an Adaptive Adobe Flash encoder........................................................................50
Video tab ....................................................................................................................51
Audio tab ....................................................................................................................54
Adobe Flash Dynamic Streaming Output tab.............................................................55
Adobe Flash Dynamic Streaming Security tab ...........................................................57
Editing an Adobe Flash H.264 encoder.............................................................................58
Video tab ....................................................................................................................59
Audio tab ....................................................................................................................62
Output tab.................................................................................................................. 63
H.264 Presets tab ....................................................................................................... 65
Editing an MPEG-4 encoder..............................................................................................66
Video tab ....................................................................................................................67
Audio tab ....................................................................................................................71
Output tab.................................................................................................................. 73
H.264 Presets tab ....................................................................................................... 75
Editing a Windows Media encoder...................................................................................76
Video tab ....................................................................................................................77
Audio tab ....................................................................................................................79
Output tab.................................................................................................................. 80
DRM tab......................................................................................................................83

Niagara 4100 User Guide
ViewCast v
Viewing encoder groups ...................................................................................................84
Creating encoder groups ..................................................................................................85
Starting an encoder group ................................................................................................86
Stopping an encoder group ..............................................................................................86
Editing encoder groups.....................................................................................................87
Configuring the Preset ABC buttons .................................................................................88
Using Preset ABC buttons to start an encoder group....................................................... 90
Viewing all encoders .........................................................................................................91
Editing preset encoders ....................................................................................................91
Configuring machine properties .......................................................................................92
Changing the computer name.................................................................................... 93
Changing the login password from the factory default .............................................94
Restoring the login password to the factory default .................................................94
Configuring Alerts .............................................................................................................95
Configuring network properties .......................................................................................96
Configuring network cards .........................................................................................96
Configuring the IP address .........................................................................................97
Configuring advanced network settings.....................................................................97
System configuration settings ..........................................................................................99
Setting current system configuration.......................................................................100
Configuring email/SMTP settings............................................................................. 101
Configuring idle screen information.........................................................................102
Configuring default directory setting .......................................................................103
Setting CPU thresholds.............................................................................................104
Restoring Niagara 4100 factory defaults..................................................................104
Viewing the activity log...................................................................................................106
Viewing alerts .................................................................................................................107
Connecting an external storage device .......................................................................... 108
Using the Niagara SCX web interface ............................................................................. 108
Appendix A: DRM for Windows Media.....................................................................109
Importing a DRM profile .................................................................................................110
Appendix B: H.264 Advanced Settings....................................................................115
CBR –Newscast...............................................................................................................117
CBR –Sports....................................................................................................................118
CBR –Action.................................................................................................................... 119
Mobile.............................................................................................................................120
VBR –Newscast...............................................................................................................121
VBR –Sports.................................................................................................................... 122

Contents
vi ViewCast
VBR –Action....................................................................................................................123
Settings ...........................................................................................................................124
Other settings .................................................................................................................127
Appendix C: Mapped Network Drive Setup .............................................................129
Appendix D: System menu .......................................................................................139
Encoder menu................................................................................................................. 140
Encoder start ............................................................................................................140
Encoder stop.............................................................................................................140
Encoder status..........................................................................................................140
Access Health menu........................................................................................................ 141
CPU status ................................................................................................................141
Memory available..................................................................................................... 141
Setup system menu ........................................................................................................142
Network link status ..................................................................................................142
Network MAC address..............................................................................................142
View network settings.............................................................................................. 143
Enable DHCP.............................................................................................................143
Set static IP addresses ..............................................................................................144
Set gateway address.................................................................................................145
Set date and time .....................................................................................................146
Set video standard....................................................................................................146
Factory restore .........................................................................................................147
Export files menu............................................................................................................148
Export to USB drive ..................................................................................................148
Shutdown Niagara 4100........................................................................................... 148
Index...........................................................................................................................149

Niagara 4100 User Guide
ViewCast 1
About This Guide
Thank you for purchasing the ViewCast Niagara 4100 streaming media appliance. This user guide
provides step-by-step instructions for installing and using your new streaming media appliance. For the
latest ViewCast product information and news, visit our website at www.viewcast.com.
Product description
The Niagara 4100 is designed with a combination of simplicity, portability and power to quickly and
easily stream your high-definition (HD) content to broadband and mobile networks including live
Adapative streaming to Adobe® Flash Media Server and Apple® (iPhones® and iPads®), Adobe Flash®
H.264, MPEG-4, H.263, H.264, and Windows Media (Silverlight® compatible) SD and HD, as well as
container support for 3GPP and 3GPP2. With the ability to ingest HD video, the Niagara 4100 is ideal for
live sports, live newsgathering, webcasting or any streaming application where you need rock-solid HD
performance on the go.
This rugged, portable streaming appliance can ingest standard- or high-definition video sources through
its SDI input, and accommodates a variety of audio input formats, including embedded SDI, AES/EBU,
and balanced or unbalanced stereo.
Figure 1. ViewCast Niagara 4100
Audience
The audience for this publication includes anyone who uses or administers the Niagara 4100. They
should have a basic technical understanding of streaming media. This user guide provides information
on the Niagara 4100 only.

About This Guide
2 ViewCast
Conventions for this guide
This guide uses the document conventions specified below to help you identify different types of
information.
Convention
Description
Example
Bold text
Characters to enter when
referenced in a procedure. The
name of fields or keys to press.
Enter DTMF as the group type.
Press Enter to save all your
changes.
Note:
Provides supplemental
information.
Note: The prompt may not
display if …
IMPORTANT!
Provides important data that
affects how the system or
software responds.
IMPORTANT! You must install
Niagara SCX prior to
configuring SCX options…
WARNING!
Provides information to ensure
you avoid potential injury,
death, or permanent system
damage.
WARNING! Do not touch
exposed wires.
CAUTION!
Provides information to help
avoid possible damage to
hardware or a system crash
(without data loss).
CAUTION! Use case sensitive
commands to keep from
destroying…

Niagara 4100 User Guide
ViewCast 3
Rack mount safety instructions
Operating Temperature
The operating ambient temperature of a rack environment may
be greater than room ambient if installed in a closed or multi-unit
rack assembly. Therefore, you should install the equipment in an
environment compatible with the maximum ambient
temperature of 40° C.
Reduced Air Flow
You must not compromise the airflow required for safe
equipment operation when you install the equipment in a rack.
Mechanical Loading
Mounting of the equipment in the rack should be such that you
do not cause a hazard due to uneven mechanical loading.
Circuit Overloading
Consider the connection of the equipment to the supply circuit
and the effect that the overloading of the circuits might have on
current protection and supply wiring. You must also consider and
use the equipment nameplate ratings when you address this
concern.
Reliable Earthing
You must maintain reliable earthing of rack-mounted equipment.
Pay particular attention to supply connections other than direct
connections to the branch circuit (such as using power strips).

About This Guide
4 ViewCast
FCC notice
WARNING! You must connect this device and peripherals using shielded cables to comply with FCC
radio emission limits.
WARNING! Modifications to this device not approved by ViewCast Corporation could void the FCC-
granted authority for you to operate the device.
WARNING! The Niagara 4100 complies with the limits for a Class A digital device pursuant to Part 15
of the FCC Rules. These limits provide reasonable protection against harmful interference when you
operate the equipment in a commercial environment. This equipment generates, uses, and may
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 will likely cause harmful interference. In this case you must correct the interference
at your own expense.
To CATV Installer: Pay special attention to Section 820-40 of the NEC that provides guidelines for
proper grounding. It particularly specifies that you must connect the cable ground to the grounding
system of the building as close to the point of cable entry as practical.
WARNING! Equipment installation must comply with local and national electrical codes.