Camera setup and configuration

Introduction

The information published on these pages is intended to supplement the document published elsewhere on this site, focusing suggestions to resolve issues that are sometimes encountered during the setup and configure of cameras.

The working assumption is that you are working with a camera that is on the Supported Camera list ( Camera Integration )

Time Synchronisation between camera and Witness

Witness will regularly (and frequently) check that the cameras configured in the system are alive by checking their time. Witness also authenticates with the camera every it communicates with the camera and time synchronisation between the camera and the Witness system forms part of the authentication process.

If the camera supports synchronising its date time with an NTP service, then the recommendation is that this is setup; and that the Witness server also synchronises its time with the same NTP service. If no existing NTP service is available, then software could to be installed on the Witness server to provide this.

Onvif is generally enabled by default but good to check

It is a reasonable assumption that Onvif support is enabled by default on the camera, but best to check before adding the camera using the Onvif Device Manager.

The Onvif Device Manager software will need to be downloaded and installed separately.

Axis Cameras

Our experience is that Axis Cameras do not have Onvif enabled by default. These cameras also require that a specific Onvif user is setup and it is this user that will need to be used when setting up the Axis camera in Witness.

VLC Media Player

Witness makes use of the functionality provided by the VLC Media Player to display video from the camera within the Witness UI.