User'S Manual
User'S Manual
User'S Manual
Notices
This manual is intended for administrators and users of the AXIS M31
Series, and is applicable for firmware release 5.11 and later. It includes
instructions for using and managing the camera on your network.
Previous experience of networking will be of use when using this
product. Some knowledge of UNIX or Linux-based systems may also be
beneficial, for developing shell scripts and applications. Later versions
of this document will be posted to the Axis Website, as required. See
also the product’s online help, available via the Web-based interface.
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.
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.
This product contains licensed third-party software. See the menu item
“About” in the product’s user interface for more information.
Contents
Key features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Overview. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
LED indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Unit connectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Accessing the Camera . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Access from a browser . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Setting the root password . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Access from the Internet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
The Live View page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Video . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
How to stream H.264 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Alternative methods of accessing the video stream . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Video Stream . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Stream Profiles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Camera Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Overlay Image . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Privacy mask . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Live View Config 16
PTZ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Preset Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Guard Tour . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Advanced . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Event Servers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Event Types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Camera Tampering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Motion Detection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
System Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Date & Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
LED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
About . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Resetting to Factory Default Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Checking the Firmware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Upgrading the Firmware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Technical Specifications for AXIS M3113-R/AXIS M3113-R M12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Technical Specifications for AXIS M3114-R and AXIS M3114-R M12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
General performance considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Glossary of Terms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
3
AXIS M31 Series - Key features
Key features
• Superior image quality
AXIS M31 Series offers superior image quality with progressive scan, providing crisp and clear images of both illumi-
nated and dark areas.
• Multiple H.264 and Motion JPEG streams
Multiple H.264 and Motion JPEG streams can be provided either in full frame rate or individually optimized for differ-
ent quality needs and bandwidth constraints.
• Wide dynamic range
The Wide dynamic range feature provides clear images even under back light circumstances where intensity of illumi-
nation can vary excessively. It corrects the exposure when the contrast between light and dark in an image is extreme.
• Easy to Mount
AXIS M31 Series is designed for quick and easy installation in demanding indoor and transport environments.
• Intelligent video capabilities
The AXIS M31 Series offers intelligent capabilities such as enhanced video motion detection, and detection of camera
tampering attempts like blocking or spray-painting. The camera also provides capacity for third party analytics mod-
ules. The Axis Camera Application Platform enables installation of additional applications such as Video Analytics.
• Improved security
AXIS M31 Series logs all user access, and lists currently connected users. This network camera also includes hardware
accelerated crypto, which means that full frame rate video can be provided over HTTPS.
• PoE (Power over Ethernet)
AXIS M31 Series is powered through PoE, which simplifies installation since only one cable is needed for carrying
power, as well as video controls.
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AXIS M31 Series - Key features
Overview
LED indicators
Lens holder Control button
Optic mount
Optic holder
Ethernet cable
Lens tool
Transparent side
(for image adjustment)
Lens tool for adjusting image Lens tool for adjusting focus
5
AXIS M31 Series - Key features
LED indicators
LED Color Indication
Network Green Steady for connection to a 100 Mbit/s network. Flashes for network activity.
Amber Steady for connection to 10 Mbit/s network. Flashes for network activity.
Unlit No network connection.
Status Green Steady green for normal operation.
Note: The Status LED can be configured to be unlit during normal operation, or to
flash only when the camera is accessed. To configure, go to Setup > System
Options > LED settings. See the online help files for more information.
Amber Steady during startup, during reset to factory default or when restoring settings.
Red Slow flash for failed upgrade.
Power Green Normal operation.
Amber Flashes green/amber during firmware upgrade.
Unit connectors
(AXIS M3113-R/AXIS M3114-R) Network connector - Female RJ-45 Ethernet connector for 10BaseT/100BaseTX. Supports
Power over Ethernet. Using shielded cables is recommended.
(AXIS M3113-R M12/AXIS M3114-R M12) Network connector - Rugged female, D-coded M12 connector. Supports
Power over Ethernet. Using shielded cables is recommended.
M12
Orange/white Green/white Data Power
RX+ TX+ TX+ DC+/DC-
TX- RX- RX+ DC-/DC+
Green Orange TX- DC+/DC-
RX- DC-/DC+
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AXIS M31 Series - Accessing the Camera
The network camera can be used with most standard operating systems and browsers. The recommended browser is Microsoft
Internet Explorer with Windows, Safari with Macintosh and Firefox with other operating systems. See Technical Specifications
on page 39 and page 41.
Notes:
• To view streaming video in Microsoft Internet Explorer, set your browser to allow ActiveX controls and install AXIS
Media Control (AMC) on your workstation.
• QuickTimeTM is also supported for viewing H.264 streams.
• If your computer restricts the use of additional software components, the camera can be configured to use a Java
applet for viewing Motion JPEG.
• H.264 is licensed technology. The network camera includes one viewing client license. Installing additional unlicensed
copies of the viewing client is prohibited. To purchase additional licenses, contact your Axis reseller.
Note:
The layout of the Live View page may have been customized to specific requirements. Consequently your own Live
View page may differ in some of the examples and functions featured here.
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AXIS M31 Series - Accessing the Camera
Note:
Before you enter your password at this point, you can secure configuration of the root password via HTTPS by creating
a self-signed certificate. To do so, click the Create self-signed certificate... button in the Create Certificate window,
and provide the requested information.
2. Enter a password and re-enter to confirm. Click OK. The
Enter Network Password dialog appears.
3. Enter the password set in step 2, and click OK. If the
password is lost, the camera must be reset to the factory
default settings. See page 34.
Notes:
• The default administrator user name ‘root’ is permanent
and cannot be deleted.
• While setting the root password, click Yes to install the
AXIS Media Control (AMC), if prompted to do so. You will
need administrator rights on the computer to do this.
For more information, please see NAT traversal (port mapping) for IPv4, on page 28. See also the AXIS Internet Dynamic DNS
Service at www.axiscam.net For Technical notes on this and other topics, visit the Axis Support web at www.axis.com/techsup
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AXIS M31 Series - Accessing the Camera
General controls
The Stream Profile drop-down list allows you to select a customized or pre-programmed stream pro-
file on the Live View page. Stream profiles are configured under Video > Stream Profiles.
The Action buttons can trigger an event directly from the Live View page. These are enabled under
Setup > Live View Config > Layout.
The Snapshot button saves a snapshot of the video image on display. Right-click on the video image
to save it in JPEG format on your computer. This button is primarily intended for use when the AMC
viewer toolbar is not available.
The Play button connects to the Axis product and starts playing a media stream.
The Snapshot button takes a snapshot of the current image. The location where the image is saved can be
specified using the AXIS Media Control (AMC).
Click the View full screen button and the video image will fill the entire screen. Press Esc (Escape) on the
computer keyboard to cancel full screen view.
The Record button is used to record the current video stream. The location where the recording is saved can
be specified using the AXIS Media Control toolbar.
The Set center mode button helps you control the camera view by clicking in the image.
Note: The click-in-image function will not be available when PTZ control queue is enabled and Java applet
has been selected as default viewer under Live View Layout.
9
AXIS M31 Series - Video
Video
The network camera provides several image and video stream formats. Your requirements and the properties of your network
will determine the type you use.
The Live View page in the network camera provides access to H.264, and Motion JPEG video streams, and to the list of
available stream profiles. Other applications and clients can also access these video streams/images directly, without going via
the Live View page.
Deciding the combination of protocols and methods to use depends on your viewing requirements, and on the properties of
your network. The available options in AMC are:
Multicast RTP This method (RTP over UDP) should be used for live multicast video. The video stream is always
up-to-date, even if some images are dropped.
Multicasting provides the most efficient usage of bandwidth when there are large numbers of cli-
ents viewing simultaneously. A multicast broadcast cannot however, pass a network router unless
the router is configured to allow this. It is not possible to multicast over the Internet, for example.
Note also that all multicast viewers count as one unicast viewer.
AMC negotiates with the camera to determine the transport protocol to use in the order listed above. This order can be
changed and the options disabled, to suit specific requirements.
Important!
H.264 is licensed technology. The network camera includes one viewing client license for each technology. Installing
additional unlicensed copies of the viewing client is prohibited. To purchase additional licenses, contact your Axis reseller.
10
AXIS M31 Series - Video
The AMC control panel can be used to configure various video and audio
settings. Please see the AMC user manual included in the tool for more
information.
The AMC control panel is automatically installed on first use, after which
it can be configured.
Open the AMC Control Panel from:
• Motion JPEG server push (if supported by the client, Firefox, for example). This option maintains an open HTTP con-
nection to the browser and sends data as and when required, for as long as required.
• Still JPEG images in a browser. Enter the path - http://<ip>/axis-cgi/jpg/image.cgi
• Windows Media Player. This requires AMC and the H.264 viewing client to be installed. The paths that can be used are
listed below in the order of preference:
• Unicast via RTP: axrtpu://<ip>/axis-media/media.amp?videocodec=<codec>
• Unicast via RTSP: axrtsp://<ip>/axis-media/media.amp?videocodec=<codec>
• Unicast via RTSP, tunnelled via HTTP: axrtsphttp://<ip>/axis-media/media.amp?videocodec=<codec>
• Multicast: axrtpm://<ip>/axis-media/media.amp?videocodec=<codec>
• To access the video stream from QuickTime™ the following paths can be used:
• rtsp://<ip>/axis-media/media.amp?videocodec=<codec>
• rtsp://<ip>/axis-media/media.3gp?videocodec=<codec>
Notes:
• The network camera supports QuickTime 6.5.1 and later.
• QuickTime adds latency to the video stream (up to 3 seconds).
• It may be possible to use other players to view the H.264 stream using the paths above, although Axis does not
guarantee this.
• <ip> = IP address
• <codec> = h264. The default codec is H.264.
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AXIS M31 Series - Video
Video Stream
The video stream settings appear under three tabs:
• Image
• H.264
• MJPEG
Image
Image Appearance
Use these settings to modify the image resolution
and compression. Changing the compression level
affects the image quality, and the bandwidth; the
lower the compression, the higher the image quality
with higher bandwidth requirements.
Rotate image - The image can be rotated by selecting one of the available values.
Video Stream
You can limit the frame rate allowed to each viewer to avoid bandwidth problems on the network. Select the Unlimited radio
button option to allow the highest available frame rate; or select the Limited to radio button option and enter a value (1-30)
fps in the field.
To set the size of the rectangle enter the number of pixels to show and click Apply. Check Show pixel counter to enable the
box in the image.
12
AXIS M31 Series - Video
H.264
GOV Settings
The GOV structure describes the composition of the video stream and setting the GOV-length to a higher value saves
considerably on bandwidth but may have an adverse effect on image quality.
VBR adjusts the bit rate according to the image complexity, using more bandwidth for increased activity in the image, and less
for lower activity in the monitored area.
CBR allows you to set a fixed Target bit rate that consumes a predictable amount of bandwidth. As the bit rate would usually
need to increase for increased image activity, but in this case cannot, the frame rate and image quality are affected
negatively. To partly compensate for this, it is possible to prioritize either the frame rate or the image quality whenever the bit
rate needs to be increased. Not setting a priority means the frame rate and image quality are equally affected.
Note: To determine a reasonable bit rate, go to Setup > Video > Video Stream > Image, check the Include text checkbox
and enter the code #b in the Include text: field. The current bit rate is displayed as a text overlay on the Live View page.
To view the image stream while configuring the GOV settings and Bit rate control, select Open... under Preview.
MJPEG
Sometimes the image size is large due to low light or complex scenery. Adjusting the Maximum frame size helps to control
the bandwidth and storage used by the Motion JPEG video stream in these situations. An Unlimited frame size provides
consistently good image quality at the expense of increased bandwidth and storage usage during low light. Limiting the frame
size optimizes bandwidth and storage usage, but may give poor image quality. To prevent increased bandwidth and storage
usage, the maximum frame size should be set to an optimal value.
Stream Profiles
There are four pre-programmed stream profiles available for quick set-up. These settings can be adjusted and new customized
profiles can be created. Each profile has a descriptive name, describing its use and purpose. The profiles can be accessed from
the Live View page.
• To add a new stream profile, click Add to bring up the Stream Profile Settings dialog.
• Enter a descriptive name for your profile.
• Choose the form of Video encoding you wish to use from the drop-down list:
H.264 - Also known as MPEG-4 Part 10. This is the new generation compression standard for digital video. This
function offers higher video resolution than Motion JPEG at the same bit rate and bandwidth, or the same quality
video at a lower bit rate.
Motion JPEG - Delivers a high quality video stream, from which individual images can be extracted and saved.
• Copy an existing stream profile to your system and rename the copy
• Modify an existing stream profile based on the light situation and motion to be captured by your camera.
• Highlight the stream profile (custom created profiles only) you wish to remove, then click Remove to remove it from
the list.
13
AXIS M31 Series - Video
Camera Settings
This page provides access to the advanced image settings for the AXIS M31 Series Network Camera.
Image Appearance
Color level - Select an appropriate level by entering a value in the range 0-100. Lower values mean less color saturation,
whilst the value 100 gives maximum color saturation.
Brightness - Image brightness can be adjusted in the range 0-100, where a higher value produces a brighter image.
Sharpness - Controls the amount of sharpening applied to the image. A sharper image might increase image noise especially
in low light conditions. A lower setting reduces image noise, but the image would be less sharp.
Contrast - Adjust the contrast of the image by raising or lowering the value in this field.
White balance - This is used to compensate for the different colors present in different light sources, to make the colors in
the image appear the same. The AXIS M31 Series Network Camera can be set to automatically identify the light source and
compensate for its color. Alternatively, the type of light source can be manually selected from the drop-down list. Please see
the online help files for a description of each available setting.
Wide dynamic range - Corrects the exposure when the contrast between light and dark in an image is extreme. Test the
different levels to find the one that works best for your light conditions. Wide dynamic range is only possible when the
Exposure control setting is set to Automatic.
Exposure Settings
Configure the exposure settings to suit the image quality requirements in relation to lighting, frame rate and bandwidth
considerations.
Overlay Image
An overlay image is a static image superimposed over the video image. An overlay can be used to provide extra information, or
to mask a part of the video image. To use an overlay image in the AXIS M31 Series Network Camera, it must be selected from
the drop-down list of available images. The overlay (a logo, for example) is then displayed in the video image.
To use your own image, first upload it to the AXIS M31 Series Network Camera. To do this enter the name of the file in the
field provided, or click the Browse button, locate and click the Upload button.
Image Overlay Placement - To place the overlay image at specific coordinates in the live view image, check Include overlay
image at the coordinates and enter the X and Y coordinates.
Click View to view the overlay image in the video stream. Once satisfied, click Save.
Note: Using a large overlay may negatively affect the frame rate.
14
AXIS M31 Series - Video
Privacy mask
Privacy masks are up to three configurable areas of solid color that allow concealment of parts of the image that are not to be
viewable. Privacy masks cannot even be bypassed via the VAPIX® Application Programming Interface (API). The Privacy Mask
List shows all the masks that are currently configured in AXIS M31 Series Network Camera and indicates if they are enabled.
To define a new mask:
15
AXIS M31 Series - Video
Stream Profile
From the Stream Profile drop-down list, select the stream profile to be used for the Live View page. The stream profiles listed
are the standard ones as well as those created under Video > Stream Profiles. See the online help files on this page for
more information.
Default Viewer
From the drop-down lists, select the default method for viewing video images for your browser. The camera attempts to show
the video images in the selected video format and viewer. If this is not possible, the camera overrides the settings and selects
the best available combination.
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AXIS M31 Series - Video
Viewer Settings
Check the Show viewer toolbar box to display the AXIS Media Control (AMC) or the QuickTime viewer toolbar under the video
image in your browser.
The administrator can disable the installation of the H.264 decoder included with AMC. This is used to prevent the installation
of unlicensed copies. Further decoder licenses can be purchased from your Axis dealer.
The Show crosshair in PTZ joystick mode shows up a cross that indicates the center of the image when viewing the video
stream in PTZ joystick mode.
You can set the PTZ mode to joystick. Check the Use PTZ joystick mode as default option.
Check the Enable recording button to enable recording from the Live View page.
Action Buttons
The Show manual trigger button can be used to manually trigger and stop an event from the Live View page. See Events, on
page 20.
Check the Show snapshot button to save a snapshot from the video stream. This button is mainly intended for use with
browsers other than Internet Explorer, or when not using AXIS Media Control (AMC) to view the video stream. AMC for
Internet Explorer provides its own snapshot button.
To set up a web link, select the Use as web link radio button,
enter a descriptive name and enter the URL in the field. Click Save
and the link appears in the Live View page.
User defined CGI links can be used to issue VAPIX API requests.
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AXIS M31 Series - PTZ
PTZ
Under Pan Tilt Zoom Settings you can enable digital PTZ and create the PTZ preset positions.
Check the Enable digital PTZ box and click Save to enable digital pan/tilt/zoom and PTZ controls in Live View.
Max zoom - Set the maximum possible zoom rate in Live View. Note that by increasing the maximum zoom rate you will be
decreasing the maximum possible resolution in the Live View Image.
Preset Positions
A preset position is a pre-defined camera view that can quickly and easily be viewed, simply by selecting the preset's name. To
create a preset position:
1. Using the Pan, Tilt and Zoom (PTZ) controls, move the camera view to the required position.
2. When satisfied with the camera’s view, enter a descriptive name for the position in the Current position field.
3. If required, select the Use current position as Home box option.
4. Click Add. This camera position is then saved as a preset position in the camera. The position can be assumed at any
time, by selecting it from the drop-down list of available positions. Presets can be selected in from the Live View
window, from Events, from the Guard Tour, and in Sequence mode.
You can set a position as the Home position, which is readily accessible by clicking on the Home button in both the
Preset Position Setup page and the Live View page. The position's name will have (H) added. For example, Office
Entrance (H).
You can return the AXIS M31 Series Network Camera to the overview image after a set time of viewing a preset position. The
interval is configurable from 0 seconds (i.e. disabled) to 300 seconds. The default interval is 30 seconds.
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AXIS M31 Series - PTZ
Guard Tour
A Guard Tour displays the video streams from different preset positions, one-by-one, in a pre-determined order or at random,
and for configurable time periods. Once the preset position has been set, and added to the guard tour, you can decide the
viewing time in seconds or minutes in the Guard Tour Setup window. You can also decide the order in which you will view
these presets, or you can choose a Random view order in this same window.
Advanced
The Control Settings enable managing the different controls provided for PTZ.
The Panel Shortcut Command Buttons are controls for creating and saving Panel Shortcut Command Buttons. These buttons
provide direct access to various built-in auxiliary commands provided by the PTZ driver. The buttons are displayed in the PTZ
Panel, which can be viewed in the Live View page by clicking the Ctrl panel button.
19
AXIS M31 Series - Events
Events
• Event Type - A set of parameters describing how and when the AXIS 214 PTZ should perform certain actions. An event
type may result in a single event, or it may result in many, all depending on how often the conditions governing its
behavior are met.
• Triggered Event Type - An event that is activated by a specific internal or external trigger condition; for example by
motion detection or by an external device such as a door switch or a sensor.
• Scheduled Event Type - An event that runs at a pre-programmed time.
• Action - What occurs when the event triggers, e.g. the upload of video images to an FTP server, or email notification.
Event Servers
Event Servers are used to receive uploaded image files and/or notification messages. To set up Event Server connections in
your camera, go to Setup > Events > Event Servers and enter the required information for the required server type.
For details on each setting, see the online help available from each web page.
When the setup is complete, the connection can be tested by clicking the Test button (the connection test takes
approximately 10 seconds).
Event Types
An Event Type describes how and when the camera performs certain actions.
Example: If an event has been configured to detect and respond to motion and somebody passes in front of a camera,
the camera can record and save images to an FTP server, and send a notification to an e-mail address. Images can be sent
as e-mail attachments.
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AXIS M31 Series - Events
Triggered Event
A triggered event could be activated by:
• a manually activated action, such as from an action button in the web interface
• detected movement in a configured motion detection window
• on restart (reboot), after power loss
• camera tampering
1. Click Add triggered... on the Event Types page. The Triggered Event Type Setup page appears.
2. Enter a descriptive Name for the event, such as Motion Detection. To configure motion detection see page 23.
3. Set the Priority - High, Normal or Low (see the online help).
4. Set the Respond to Trigger... parameters to define when the event is active, for example, after office hours.
5. Select the trigger alternative from the Triggered by... drop-down list.
6. Set the When Triggered... parameters, that is what the camera will do if motion is detected; for example, upload
images to an FTP server or send an e-mail notification.
7. Click OK to save the event in the Event Types list.
Please see the online help for descriptions of each available option.
Note:
Up to 10 event types can be configured in the camera, and up to three of these can be configured to upload images.
File names can be formatted according to specific requirements. See File Naming & Date/Time Formats in the online
help .
Include pre-trigger buffer - images stored internally in the server from the time immediately preceding the trigger. This
option appears when you check the Save stream checkbox under Event Types> Add Triggered...>When Triggered. Check the
box to enable the pre-trigger buffer, enter the desired length of time and specify the required image frequency.
Include post-trigger buffer - contains images from the time immediately after the trigger. Configure as for pre-trigger.
Notes
• Pre-trigger and Post-trigger buffers will be lost if the connection to the event server fails.
• The maximum length of the pre-/post-buffer depends on the video image size and selected frame rate.
• If the pre- or post-buffer is too large for the camera’s internal memory, the frame rate is reduced and no images will
be uploaded. If this occurs, an entry is created in the unit's log file.
Continue image upload (unbuffered) - enables the upload of video images for a fixed length of time. Specify the length of
time for the uploaded recording, in seconds, minutes or hours, or for as long as the trigger is active. Finally, set the desired
image frequency to the maximum (the maximum available) or to a specified frame rate. The frame rate will be the best
possible, but might not be as high as specified, especially if uploading via a slow connection.
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AXIS M31 Series - Events
Scheduled Event
A Scheduled event can be activated at pre-set times, in a repeating pattern on selected weekdays.
Configuration example:
1. Click Add scheduled... in the Event Types page.
2. Enter a descriptive Name for the event, such as Scheduled e-mail upload.
3. Set the Priority (High, Normal or Low).
4. Set the Activation Time parameters (24h clock) for the event - start on Sundays at 13.00 with a duration of 12 hours.
5. Set the When Activated... parameters, (what the camera would do at the specified time) for example, send uploaded
images to an e-mail address.
6. Click OK to save the Event in the Event Types list.
Please see the online help for descriptions of each available option.
Camera Tampering
The camera tampering application generates an alarm whenever the camera is repositioned, or when the lens is covered,
sprayed, or severely defocused.
You must create an event - see How to set up a triggered event, on page 21 - for the camera to send an alarm.
Settings
The Minimum duration parameter sets the minimum tampering period, that is an alarm will not be triggered until this period
has lapsed, even if the tampering conditions are otherwise met. This can help prevent false alarms for known conditions that
affect the image.
If the camera lens is sprayed or covered so that the camera live view becomes dark, it will not be possible to distinguish this
situation from other situations where the same effect is seen, such as when lighting conditions change.
When the Alarm for dark images parameter is enabled, alarms are generated for all cases where the lights are either dimmed
or turned off, or if the lens is sprayed, covered, or rendered severely out of focus. If not enabled, no alarm will be sent.
22
AXIS M31 Series - Events
Motion Detection
Motion detection is used to generate an alarm whenever movement occurs (or stops) in the video image. It is possible to
configure a total of 10 windows (Include and Exclude) for motion detection.
• Included windows target specific areas within the whole video image
• Excluded windows define areas within an Include window that should be ignored (areas outside Include windows are
automatically ignored)
Once configured, the motion detection windows appear in the list of available triggers, for triggering events. See How to set
up a triggered event, on page 21.
Note:
Using the motion detection feature may decrease the camera’s overall performance.
To exclude parts of the Include window, select the Exclude option and position the
Exclude window as required, within the Include window.
Please see the online help for descriptions of each available option.
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AXIS M31 Series - Events
Tips!
• Avoid triggering on small objects in the video image by setting the object size level to high.
• Use several small Motion Detection windows rather than one large window, if triggers on small movements or
objects are desired.
• To reduce the number of triggers if there is a lot of movement during a short period of time, select a high history
level.
• To only detect flashing light, select low sensitivity. In other cases, a high sensitivity level is recommended.
24
AXIS M31 Series - System Options
System Options
Security
Users
User access control is enabled by default. An administrator can set up other users, by giving them user names and passwords.
It is also possible to allow anonymous viewer login, which means that anybody may access the Live View page, as described
below:
The user list displays the authorized users and user groups (levels):
Viewer Provides the lowest level of access, which only allows access to the Live View page.
Operator An operator can view the Live View page, create and modify events, and adjust certain other
settings. Operators have no access to System Options.
Administrator An administrator has unrestricted access to all menus for configuration and can determine the
registration of all other users.
HTTP/RTSP Password Settings - Select the type of password. You may need to allow unencrypted passwords if there are
viewing clients that do not support encryption, or if you recently upgraded the firmware and the existing clients support
encryption, but need to log in again, and be configured to use this functionality.
User Settings - Check the relevant box to enable anonymous viewer login - allows any viewer direct access to the Live
View page.
The Enable anonymous PTZ control login option allows anonymous users to join a queue for gaining control of the PTZ
controls provided by the AXIS M31 Series Network Camera.
Enable Basic Setup - Before using the AXIS M31 Series Network Camera, there are certain settings that should be made,
most of which require Administrator access privileges. To quickly access these settings use the Basic Setup in the menu. All
settings are also available from the standard links in the menu. Basic Setup is enabled by default but can be disabled and
removed from the menu.
IP Address Filter
Enable IP Address Filtering to allow or deny access to the network cameras. Once enabled, the IP addresses in the list are
allowed or denied access according to the choice made in the drop-down list Allow/Deny the following IP addresses.
The administrator can add up to 256 IP address entries to the list (a single entry can contain multiple IP addresses). The users
from these IP addresses need to be specified in the user list with the appropriate access rights. This is done from Setup >
System Options > Security > Users.
HTTPS
The network cameras support encrypted browsing using HTTPS.
A self-signed certificate can be used until a Certificate Authority-issued certificate has been obtained. Click the Create
self-signed Certificate button to install a self-signed certificate. Although self-signed certificates are free and offer some
protection, true security is only implemented after the installation of a signed certificate issued by a certificate authority.
A signed certificate can be obtained from an issuing Certificate Authority by clicking the Create Certificate Request button.
When the signed certificate is returned, click the Install signed certificate button to import the certificate. The properties of
any certificate request currently resident in the camera or installed can also be viewed by clicking the Properties... button. The
HTTPS Connection Policy must also be set in the drop-down lists to enable HTTPS in the camera.
25
AXIS M31 Series - System Options
New Server Time - Select your time zone from the drop-down list. If you want the server clock to automatically adjust for
daylight savings time, select the Automatically adjust for daylight saving time changes option.
From the Time Mode section, select the preferred method to use for setting the time:
• Synchronize with computer time - sets the time from the clock on your computer.
• Synchronize with NTP Server - the camera will obtain the time from an NTP server.
• Set manually - this option allows you to manually set the time and date.
Note:
• If using a host name for the NTP server, a DNS server must be configured under TCP/IP settings.
See Network > Basic TCP/IP Settings below.
• To maintain accurate time after a reboot, synchronizing time with an NTP server is recommended as the network
camera does not have a battery.
Date & Time Format Used in Images - Specify the formats for the date and time (12h or 24h) displayed in the video streams.
Use the predefined formats or use your own custom date and time formats. See Advanced File Naming & Date/Time Formats
in the online help for information on how to create your own date and time formats.
26
AXIS M31 Series - System Options
Network
Network Settings - Click the View button for an overview of the IP configuration of the network camera.
IPv4 Address Configuration - Check the Enable IPv4 box option to enable IPv4.
Obtain IP address via DHCP - Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) is a protocol that lets network administrators
centrally manage and automate the assignment of IP addresses on a network. DHCP is enabled by default. Although a DHCP
server is mostly used to set an IP address dynamically, it is also possible to use it to set a static, known IP address for a
particular MAC address.
Note:
DHCP should only be enabled if your DHCP server can update a DNS server, which then allows you to access the AXIS
M31 Series Network Camera by name (host name). If DHCP is enabled and you cannot access the unit, run AXIS IP
Utility to search the network for connected Axis products or reset the network camera to factory default settings and
then perform the installation again.
Use the following IP address - To use a static IP address for the AXIS M31 Series Network Camera, check the radio button
and then make the following settings:
• IP address - Specify a unique IP address for your AXIS M31 Series Network Camera. (To check if the IP address you
intend to use is available or not, click the Test button)
• Subnet mask - Specify the mask for the subnet the AXIS M31 Series Network Camera is located on
• Default router - Specify the IP address of the default router (gateway) used for connecting devices attached to differ-
ent networks and network segments.
IPv6 Address Configuration - Check the Enable IPv6 box option to enable IPv6. Other settings for IPv6 are configured in
the network router.
Services - Enable ARP/Ping setting of IP address - The IP address can be set using the ARP/Ping method, which associates
the unit's MAC address with an IP address. Check this box to enable the service. Leave disabled to prevent unintentional
resetting of the IP address.
Notes:
• The ARP/Ping service is automatically disabled two minutes after the unit is started, or as soon as an IP address is set.
In order to reset the IP address, the camera must be restarted to activate ARP/Ping for an additional two minutes.
• Pinging the unit is still possible when this service is disabled.
Enable AVHS - Enabled by default, if AVHS is not to be used this option can be disabled.
One-click enabled - Press the camera’s control button (see Overview, on page 5) to connect to an AVHS service over the
Internet. Once registered, Always is enabled and the camera stays connected to the AVHS service. If the camera isn’t
registered within 24 hours after the button is pressed, the camera will disconnect from the AVHS service.
27
AXIS M31 Series - System Options
Always - The camera will constantly attempt to connect to the AVHS service over the Internet. Once registered the camera
will stay connected to the service. This option can be used when the camera is already installed and it is not convenient to use
the one-click installation.
Click Settings... to register the camera with the Axis Internet Dynamic DNS service, or to modify the existing settings (requires
access to the Internet). The domain name currently registered at the Axis Internet Dynamic DNS service for your product can
at any time be removed.
DNS Configuration - DNS (Domain Name Service) provides the translation of host names to IP addresses on your network.
Obtain DNS server address via DHCP - Automatically use the DNS server settings provided by the DHCP server. Click the View
button to see the current settings.
Use the following DNS server address - Enter the desired DNS server by specifying the following:
Domain name - Enter the domain(s) to search for the host name used by the network cameras. Multiple domains can be
separated by semicolons (;). The host name is always the first part of a Fully Qualified Domain Name, for example, myserver is
the host name in the Fully Qualified Domain Name myserver.mycompany.com where mycompany.com is the Domain name.
Primary and Secondary DNS servers - Enter the IP addresses of the primary, and secondary DNS servers.
Note:
This is not mandatory with regard to secondary DNS servers.
NTP Configuration - Obtain NTP server address via DHCP - Check this radio button to automatically look up and use the
NTP server settings as provided by DHCP. Click the View button to see the current settings.
Use the following NTP server address - To create manual settings, check this radio button and enter the host name or IP
address of the NTP server.
Host Name Configuration - The network cameras can be accessed using a host name, instead of an IP address. The host
name is usually the same as the assigned DNS Name.
Link-Local IPv4 Address - This is enabled by default and assigns the network cameras an additional IP address for use
with UPnP™. The camera can have both a Link-Local IP and a static/DHCP-supplied IP address at the same time - these will
not affect each other.
HTTP and HTTPS - The default HTTP/HTTPS port numbers (80 and 443 respectively) can be changed to any port within the
range 1024-65535. This is useful for simple security port mapping, for example.
NAT traversal (port mapping) for IPv4 - A broadband router allows devices on a private network (LAN) to share a single
connection to the Internet. This is done by forwarding network traffic from the private network to the “outside”, that is, the
Internet. Security on the private network (LAN) is increased since most broadband routers are pre-configured to stop attempts
to access the private network (LAN) from the public network/Internet.
28
AXIS M31 Series - System Options
Use NAT traversal when your network cameras are located on an intranet (LAN) and you wish to make it available from the
other (WAN) side of a NAT router. With NAT traversal properly configured, all HTTP traffic to an external HTTP port in the NAT
router is forwarded to the camera.
Broadband
(NAT) ISP
router
Notes:
• For NAT traversal to work, this must be supported by the broadband router.
• The broadband router has many different names: “NAT router”, “Network router“, Internet Gateway”, “Broadband
sharing device” or “Home firewall” but the essential purpose of the device is the same.
Enable/Disable - when enabled, the network cameras attempt to configure port mapping in a NAT router on your network,
using UPnP™. Note that UPnP™ must be enabled in the camera (see System Options > Network > UPnP).
Use manually selected NAT router - select this option to manually select a NAT router and enter the IP address for the router
in the field provided.
If a router is not manually specified, the network cameras automatically search for NAT routers on your network. If more than
one router is found, the default router is selected.
Alternative HTTP port - select this option to manually define an external HTTP port. Enter the port number in the field
provided. If no port is entered here a port number is automatically selected when NAT traversal is enabled.
Notes:
• An alternative HTTP port can be used/be active even if NAT traversal is disabled. This is useful if your NAT router does
not support UPnP and you need to manually configure port forwarding in the NAT router.
• If you attempt to manually enter a port that is already in use, another available port is automatically selected.
• When the port is selected automatically it is displayed in this field. To change this enter a new port number and click
Save.
FTP - The FTP server running in the network cameras enables the upload of new firmware, and user applications. Check the
box to enable the service.
RTSP - The RTSP protocol allows a connecting client to start an H.264 stream. Check the box to enable the server and enter
the RTSP port number to use. The default setting is 554. Note that H.264 video streams will not be available if this service is
not enabled.
SOCKS
SOCKS is a networking proxy protocol. The Axis network camera can be configured to use a SOCKS server to reach networks
on the other side of a firewall/proxy server. This functionality is useful if the network camera is located on a local network
behind a firewall, and notifications, uploads, alarms, and such need to be sent to a destination outside the local network (such
as the Internet). See the online help for more information.
29
AXIS M31 Series - System Options
• The ability to prioritize traffic and thus allow critical flows to be served before flows with lesser priority.
• Greater reliability in the network, thanks to the control of the amount of bandwidth an application may use, and thus
control over bandwidth races between applications.
The QoS in Axis network video products marks the data packets for various types of network traffic originating from the
product. This makes it possible for network routers and switches to reserve a fixed amount of bandwidth for these types of
traffic. The network cameras mark the following types of traffic:
• video
• event/alarm
• management network traffic
QoS Settings - For each type of network traffic supported by your Axis network video product, enter a DSCP
(Differentiated Services Codepoint) value. This value is used to mark the traffic’s IP header. When the marked traffic reaches a
network router or switch, the DSCP value in the IP header tells the router or switch the type of treatment to apply to this type
of traffic, for example, how much bandwidth to reserve for it. Note that DSCP values can be entered in decimal or hex form,
but saved values are always shown in decimal.
For more information on Quality of Service, please see the Axis support web at www.axis.com/techsup
SMTP (email)
Enter the host names (or IP addresses) and port numbers for your primary and secondary mail servers in the fields provided, to
enable the sending of notifications and image email messages from the camera to predefined addresses via SMTP.
If your mail server requires authentication, check the box for Use authentication to log in to this server and enter the
necessary information. See the online help for more information.
SNMP
The Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) allows remote management of network devices. An SNMP community is
the group of devices and management station running SNMP. Community names are used to identify groups.
Depending on the level of security required, select the version of SNMP to use. The three levels of security are:
SNMP v1/v2
Select either SNMP V1 that includes no security, or SNMP V2c that uses very simple security.
The community name can be specified as a password for read or read/write access to all supported SNMP objects. The
community is the group of network devices using SNMP. The default password for the Read Community is public and the
default password for the Write community is write.
If Enable traps is selected, enter the email address where the trap message is to be sent as well as the Trap community that
should receive the message.
30
AXIS M31 Series - System Options
There are four types of traps available for the AXIS M31 Series Network Camera.
• Cold start
• Warm start
• Link up
• Authentication failed
SNMP v3
SNMP V3 - provides encryption and secure passwords. HTTPS must be enabled. To use traps with SNMP v3 an SNMP v3
management application is required.
If the Enable SNMP v3 option is enabled, provide the Initial user password. Note that the initial password is activated only
when HTTPS is enabled and can only be set once.
When SNMP configuration is ready, click Save to use the new settings or Reset to return to the default values.
UPnP™
The network camera includes support for UPnP™. UPnP™ is enabled by default, and the network camera then is automatically
detected by operating systems and clients that support this protocol.
RTP
RTP/ H.264 - These settings are the port range, IP address, port number (video), and Time-To-Live value to use for the video
stream(s) in multicast H.264 format. Only certain IP addresses and port numbers should be used for multicast streams. For
more information, please see the online help .
Bonjour
The network cameras include support for Bonjour. When enabled, the camera is automatically detected by operating systems
and clients that support this.
LED
For a listing of all LED behavior, see page 6, or the online help .
Maintenance
• Restart - the camera is restarted without changing any settings.
• Restore - the unit is restarted and most current settings are reset to factory default values. The settings that do not
reset are:
• the boot protocol (DHCP or static)
• the static IP address
• the default router
• the subnet mask
• the product interface language
• the system time
• Default - the default button should be used with caution. Pressing this returns the camera's settings to the factory
default values (including the IP address).
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AXIS M31 Series - System Options
Support
The Support Overview page provides valuable information on troubleshooting and contact information, should you require
technical assistance.
System Overview provides an overview of the camera’s status and settings. Information that can be found here includes the
camera’s firmware version, IP address, security, event and image settings and recent log items. Many of the captions are also
links to the proper Setup page to conveniently make adjustments in the camera’s settings.
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AXIS M31 Series - System Options
The default information level for the Access Log is set to Critical & Warnings, i.e. failed connections. However, in an error
situation and when requesting support, set it to the highest information level - Critical & Warnings & Info.
For the Log Level for Email, select from the drop-down list the level of information to send as email and enter the destination
email address.
Advanced
Scripting - is an advanced function that enables you to customize and use scripts. This function is a very powerful tool.
Caution!
Improper use may cause unexpected behavior or even cause loss of contact with the unit. If a script does cause problems,
reset the unit to its factory default settings.
Axis recommends that you do not use this function unless you understand the consequences. Note that Axis support does
not provide assistance for problems with customized scripts.
File Upload - To use your own files as custom settings, upload the files first to the AXIS M31 Series Network Camera. Browse
to select the file. Select the User level for the uploaded file. When the file is displayed correctly in the text field, click the
Upload button.
Plain Config - this function is for the advanced user with experience of Axis Network Camera configuration. All parameters
can be set and modified from this page. Help is available from the standard help pages.
About
Here you can find basic information about your network camera. You can also view third party software licenses.
33
AXIS M31 Series - System Options
Note:
For other methods of setting the IP address, please refer to the product’s Installation Guide that accompanies the
product, or download a copy from www.axis.com
34
AXIS M31 Series - Troubleshooting
Troubleshooting
Checking the Firmware
Firmware is software that determines the functionality of the network cameras. One of your first actions when
troubleshooting a problem should be to check the current firmware version. The latest version may contain a correction that
fixes your particular problem. The current firmware version in your camera is displayed on the page Setup > Basic Setup or
under About.
Note:
Preconfigured and customized settings are saved when the firmware is upgraded (providing the features are available
in the new firmware) although this is not guaranteed by Axis Communications AB. Always read the instructions and
release notes available with each new release, before upgrading the firmware.
Notes:
• After starting the upgrade process,
always wait at least 5-10 minutes before restarting the camera, even if you suspect the upgrade has failed.
• Your dealer reserves the right to charge for any repair attributable to faulty upgrading by the user.
• The AXIS Camera Management software tool can be used for multiple upgrades. Please see the Axis website at
www.axis.com for more information.
35
AXIS M31 Series - Troubleshooting
Axis Support
If you contact Axis support, please help us to help you solve your problems by providing the server report, the log file and a
detailed description of the problem.
Server Report - go to Setup > System Options > Support > Support Overview. The server report contains important
information about the server and its software, as well as a list of the current parameters.
The Log file is available from Setup > System Options > Support > Logs & Reports. The Log file records events in the unit
since the last system restart and can be a useful diagnostic tool when troubleshooting.
36
AXIS M31 Series - Troubleshooting
37
AXIS M31 Series - Troubleshooting
Poor rendering of H.264 images Color depth set incorrectly on clients. Set to 16-bit or 32-bit color.
In the case of blurred text overlays, or other rendering problems, you may need to
enable Advanced Video Rendering from the H.264 tab in the AMC control panel
applet.
Ensure that your graphics card is using the latest device driver. The latest drivers can
usually be downloaded from the manufacturer's web site.
Color saturation is different in H.264 Modify the settings for your graphics adapter. Please see the adapter's documenta-
and Motion JPEG tion for more information.
Lower frame rate than expected Reduce number of applications running on the client computer.
Limit the number of simultaneous viewers.
Check with the system administrator that there is enough bandwidth available. See
also the online help.
Check in the AMC control panel applet (H.264 tab) that video processing is not set to
Decode only I frames.
Lower the image resolution.
Why do I not get 30 frames per second? See the section General performance considerations, on page 43.
Image degeneration Decrease the GOV length, see the online help for more information.
The Power indicator is not constantly lit
Faulty power supply Check that you are using the same indoor power supply that came with the product.
The Network indicator LEDs are flashing red rapidly
Hardware failure Contact your Axis dealer.
No images displayed on web page
Problem with AMC. To enable the updating of video images in Microsoft Internet Explorer, set your
(Internet Explorer only) browser to allow ActiveX controls. Also, make sure that AXIS Media Control (AMC)
component is installed on your computer.
Installation of additional ActiveX com- Configure your camera to use a Java applet for updating the video images under
ponent restricted or prohibited Live View Config > Layout > Default Viewer for Internet Explorer. See the online
help for more information.
Video/Image problems, general
Image too dark or too light Check the video image settings. See the online help on Video and Image Settings.
Missing images in uploads This can occur when trying to use a larger image buffer than is actually available. Try
lowering the frame rate or the upload period.
Slow image update Configuring pre-buffers, motion detection, high-resolution images, or high frame
rates, will affect the performance of the camera.
Poor performance Poor performance may be caused by heavy network traffic, multiple users accessing
the unit, low performance clients, use of features such as Motion Detection, Event
handling, Image rotation other than 180 degrees.
Poor quality snapshot images
Screen incorrectly configured on your In Display Properties, configure your screen to show at least 65000 colors, that is, at
workstation least 16-bit. Using only 16 or 256 colors will produce dithering artifacts in the image.
Overlay/Privacy mask is not displayed
Incorrect size or location of overlay or The overlay or privacy mask may have been positioned incorrectly or may be too
privacy mask. large. Refer to Overlay Image Requirements and Limitations in the online help for
more information.
Browser freezes
Netscape 7.x or Firefox 1.4 (or later) can Lower the image resolution.
sometimes freeze on a slow computer
Problems uploading files
Limited space There is only limited space available for the upload of your own files. Try deleting
existing files to free up space.
Motion Detection triggers unexpectedly
Changes in luminance Motion detection is based on changes in luminance in the image. This means that if
there are sudden changes in the lighting, motion detection may be triggered mistak-
enly. Lower the sensitivity setting to avoid problems with luminance.
For further assistance, please contact your reseller or see the support pages on the Axis website at www.axis.com/techsup
38
AXIS M31 Series - Technical Specifications for AXIS M3113-R/AXIS M3113-R M12
39
AXIS M31 Series - Technical Specifications for AXIS M3113-R/AXIS M3113-R M12
40
AXIS M31 Series - Technical Specifications for AXIS M3114-R and AXIS M3114-R M12
41
AXIS M31 Series - Technical Specifications for AXIS M3114-R and AXIS M3114-R M12
42
AXIS M31 Series - Technical Specifications for AXIS M3114-R and AXIS M3114-R M12
• High image resolutions and/or lower compression levels result in larger images. Bandwidth affected.
• Access by large numbers of Motion JPEG and/or unicast H.264 clients. Bandwidth affected.
• Simultaneous viewing of different streams (resolution, compression) by different clients. Effect on frame rate and
bandwidth.
• Accessing both Motion JPEG and H.264 video streams simultaneously. Frame rate and bandwidth affected.
• Heavy usage of event settings affects the camera’s CPU load. Frame rate affected.
• Heavy network utilization due to poor infrastructure. Frame rate affected.
• Viewing on poorly performing client PCs lowers perceived performance. Frame rate affected.
43
AXIS M31 Series - Glossary of Terms
Glossary of Terms device used in many digital cameras is a large integrated circuit
that contains hundreds of thousands of photo-sites (pixels)
that convert light energy into electronic signals. Its size is
ActiveX - A standard that enables software components to measured diagonally and can be 1/4", 1/3", 1/2" or 2/3".
interact with one another in a networked environment,
regardless of the language(s) used to create them. web CGI (Common Gateway Interface) - A specification for
browsers may come into contact with ActiveX controls, ActiveX communication between a web server and other (CGI)
documents, and ActiveX scripts. ActiveX controls are often programs. For example, a HTML page that contains a form
downloaded and installed automatically as required. might use a CGI program to process the form data once it is
submitted.
Angle - The field of view, relative to a standard lens in a 35mm
still camera, expressed in degrees, e.g. 30°. For practical CIF (Common Intermediate Format) - CIF refers to the analog
purposes, this is the area that a lens can cover, where the angle video resolutions 352x288 pixels (PAL) and 352x240 pixels
of view is determined by the focal length of the lens. A (NTSC). See also Resolution.
wide-angle lens has a short focal length and covers a wider
angle of view than standard or telephoto lenses, which have Client/Server - Client/server describes the relationship
longer focal lengths. between two computer programs in which one program, the
client, makes a service request from another program, the
ARP (Address Resolution Protocol) - This protocol is used to server, which fulfils the request. Typically, multiple client
associate an IP address to a hardware MAC address. A request programs share the services of a common server program. A
is broadcast on the local network to discover the MAC address web browser is a client program that requests services (the
for an IP address. sending of web pages or files) from a web server.
ARTPEC (Axis Real Time Picture Encoder) - This chip is used CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) - A
for image compression, and image processing such as CMOS is a widely used type of semiconductor that uses both
conversion of raw image sensor data, color correction, negative and positive circuits. Since only one of the circuit
sharpening, noise filtering etc. types is on at any given time, CMOS chips require less power
than chips using just one type of transistor. CMOS image
ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) - A circuit sensors also allow processing circuits to be included on the
designed for a specific application, as opposed to a general same chip, an advantage not possible with CCD sensors, which
purpose circuit, such as a microprocessor. are also much more expensive to produce.
Aspect ratio - A ratio of width to height in images. A common Codec - In communications engineering, a codec is usually a
aspect ratio used for television screens and computer monitors coder/decoder. Codecs are used in integrated circuits or chips
is 4:3. High-definition television (HDTV) uses an aspect ratio of that convert e.g. analog video signals into a digital format for
9:16. transmission. The codec also converts received digital signals
back into analog format. A codec uses analog-to-digital
Autoiris (DC-Iris) - This special type of iris is electrically conversion and digital-to-analog conversion in the same chip.
controlled by the camera, to automatically regulate the amount
of light allowed to enter. Codec can also mean compression/decompression, in which
case it is generally taken to mean an algorithm or computer
program for reducing the size of large files and programs.
Bitmap - A bitmap is a data file representing a rectangular grid
of pixels. It defines a display space and color for each pixel (or
Compression - See Image compression.
‘bit’) in the display space. This type of image is known as a
‘raster graphic.’ GIFs and JPEGs are examples of image file types
that contain bitmaps. DC-Iris (Autoiris) - This special type of iris is electrically
controlled by the camera, to automatically regulate the amount
Because a bitmap uses this fixed raster method, it cannot easily of light allowed to enter.
be rescaled without losing definition. Conversely, a vector
graphic image uses geometrical shapes to represent the image, DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) - DHCP is a
and can thus be quickly rescaled. protocol that lets network administrators automate and
centrally manage the assignment of Internet Protocol (IP)
Bit rate - The bit rate (in kbit/s or Mbit/s) is often referred to addresses to network devices in a network.
as speed, but actually defines the number of bits/time unit and
not distance/time unit. DHCP uses the concept of a ‘lease’ or amount of time that a
given IP address will be valid for a computer. The lease time can
vary, depending on how long a user is likely to require the
Bonjour - Also known as zero-configuration networking,
Bonjour enables devices to automatically discover each other network connection at a particular location.
on a network, without having to enter IP addresses or configure DHCP also supports static addresses for e.g. computers running
DNS servers. Bonjour is a trademark of Apple Computer, Inc. web servers, which need a permanent IP address.
Broadband - In network engineering terms, this describes Digital PTZ - A technique to emulate traditional PTZ in a fixed
transmission methods where two or more signals share the camera that does not have any moving part. The PTZ is
same carrier. In more popular terminology, broadband is taken accomplished by generating a video resolution by cropping
to mean high-speed data transmission. and/or scaling the sensor resolution.
CCD (Charged Coupled Device) - This light-sensitive image DNS (Domain Name System) - DNS is used to locate and
44
AXIS M31 Series - Glossary of Terms
translate Internet domain names into IP (Internet Protocol) example, a computer server acting as a gateway often also acts
addresses. A domain name is a meaningful and as a proxy server and a firewall server. A gateway is often
easy-to-remember name for an Internet address. For example associated with both a router, which knows where to direct a
the domain name www.example.com is much easier to given packet of data that arrives at the gateway, and a switch,
remember than 192.0.34.166. The translation tables for domain which furnishes the actual path in and out of the gateway for a
names are contained in Domain name servers. given packet.
Domain Server - Domains can also be used by organizations GIF (Graphics Interchange Format) - GIF is one of the most
who wish to centralize the management of their (Windows) common file formats used for images in web pages. There are
computers. Each user within a domain has an account that two versions of the format, 87a and 89a. Version 89a supports
usually allows them to log in to and use any computer in the animations, i.e. a short sequence of images within a single GIF
domain, although restrictions may also apply. The domain file. A GIF89a can also be specified for interlaced presentation.
server is the server that authenticates the users on the network.
GOV (Group Of VOPs) - A group of VOPs is the basic unit of
Ethernet - Ethernet is the most widely installed local area an H.264 video stream. The GOV contains different types and
network technology. An Ethernet LAN typically uses special numbers of VOPs (I-VOPs, P-VOPs) as determined by the GOV
grades of twisted pair wires. The most commonly installed length and GOV structure. See also VOP.
Ethernet systems are 10BASE-T and 100BASE-T10, which
provide transmission speeds up to 10 Mbps and 100 Mbps GOV length - The GOV length determines the number of
respectively. images (VOPs) in the GOV structure. See also GOV and VOP.
ETRAX (Ethernet Token Ring AXIS) - Axis' own GOV structure - The GOV structure describes the composition
microprocessor. of an H.264 video stream, as regards the type of images (I-VOPs
or P-VOPs) included in the stream, and their internal order. See
Factory default settings - These are the settings that also GOV and VOP.
originally applied for a device when it was first delivered from
the factory. If it should become necessary to reset a device to H.264 - Also known as MPEG-4 Part 10. This is the new
its factory default settings, this will, for many devices, generation compression standard for digital video. H.264 offers
completely reset any settings that were changed by the user. higher video resolution than Motion JPEG at the same bit rate
and bandwidth, or the same quality video at a lower bit rate.
Firewall - A firewall works as a barrier between networks, e.g.
between a Local Area Network and the Internet. The firewall HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) - HTML is the set of
ensures that only authorized users are allowed to access the "markup" symbols or codes inserted in a file intended for
one network from the other. A firewall can be software running display in web browser. The markup tells the browser how to
on a computer, or it can be a standalone hardware device. display the page's words and images for the user.
Focal length - Measured in millimeters, the focal length of a HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) - HTTP is the set of rules
camera lens determines the width of the horizontal field of for exchanging files (text, graphic images, sound, video, and
view, which in turn is measured in degrees. other multimedia files) on the web. The HTTP protocol runs on
top of the TCP/IP suite of protocols.
FTP (File Transfer Protocol) - An application protocol that
uses the TCP/IP protocols. It is used to exchange files between Hub - A (network) hub is used to connect multiple devices to
computers/devices on networks. the network. The hub transmits all data to all devices
connected to it, whereas a switch will only transmit the data to
Frame - A frame is a complete video image. In the 2:1 the device it is specifically intended for.
interlaced scanning format of the RS-170 and CCIR formats, a
frame is made up of two separate fields of 262.5 or 312.5 lines Image compression - Image compression minimizes the file
interlaced at 60 or 50 Hz to form a complete frame, which size (in bytes) of an image. Two of the most common
appears at 30 or 25 Hz. In video cameras with a progressive compressed image formats are JPEG and GIF.
scan, each frame is scanned line-by-line and not interlaced;
most are also displayed at 30 and 25 Hz. Interlacing - Interlaced video is video captured at 50 pictures
(known as fields) per second, of which every 2 consecutive
Frame rate - The frame rate used to describe the frequency at fields (at half height) are then combined into 1 frame.
which a video stream is updated is measured in frames per Interlacing was developed many years ago for the analog TV
second (fps). A higher frame rate is advantageous when there is world and is still used widely today. It provides good results
movement in the video stream, as it maintains image quality when viewing motion in standard TV pictures, although there is
throughout. always some degree of distortion in the image.
To view interlaced video on e.g. a computer monitor, the video
Gain - Gain is the amplification factor and the extent to which
must first be de-interlaced, to produce progressive video, which
an analog amplifier boosts the strength of a signal.
consists of complete images, one after the other, at 25 frames
Amplification factors are usually expressed in terms of power.
per second. See also Progressive scan.
The decibel (dB) is the most common way of quantifying the
gain of an amplifier.
IP (Internet Protocol) - The Internet Protocol is a method
transmitting data over a network. Data to be sent is divided
Gateway - A gateway is a point in a network that acts as an into individual and completely independent "packets." Each
entry point to another network. In a corporate network for
computer (or host) on the Internet has at least one address that
45
AXIS M31 Series - Glossary of Terms
uniquely identifies it from all others, and each data packet Monitor - A monitor is very similar to a standard television set,
contains both the sender's address and the receiver's address. but lacks the electronics to pick up regular television signals.
The Internet Protocol ensures that the data packets all arrive at
Motion JPEG - Motion JPEG is a simple
the intended address. As IP is a connectionless protocol, which
compression/decompression technique for networked video.
means that there is no established connection between the
communication end-points, packets can be sent via different Latency is low and image quality is guaranteed, regardless of
movement or complexity of the image. Image quality is
routes and do not need to arrive at the destination in the
controlled by adjusting the compression level, which in turn
correct order.
provides control over the file size, and thereby the bit rate.
Once the data packets have arrived at the correct destination,
High-quality individual images from the Motion JPEG stream
another protocol - Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) - puts
are easily extracted. See also JPEG.
them in the right order. See also TCP.
46
AXIS M31 Series - Glossary of Terms
Protocol - A special set of rules governing how two entities Server - In general, a server is a computer program that
will communicate. Protocols are found at many levels of provides services to other computer programs in the same or
communication, and there are hardware protocols and software other computers. A computer running a server program is also
protocols. frequently referred to as a server. In practice, the server may
contain any number of server and client programs. A web server
Proxy server - In an organization that uses the Internet, a is the computer program that supplies the requested HTML
proxy server acts as an intermediary between a workstation pages or files to the client (browser).
user and the Internet. This provides security, administrative
control, and a caching service. Any proxy server associated with Sharpness - This is the control of fine detail within a picture.
a gateway server, or part of a gateway server, effectively This feature was originally introduced into color TV sets that
separates the organization’s network from the outside network used notch filter decoders. This filter took away all high
and the local firewall. It is the firewall server that protects the frequency detail in the black and white region of the picture.
network against outside intrusion. The sharpness control attempted to put some of that detail
back in the picture. Sharpness controls are mostly superfluous
A proxy server receives requests for Internet services (such as
in today's high-end TVs. The only logical requirement for it
web page requests) from many users. If the proxy server is also
a cache server, it looks in its local cache of previously nowadays is on a VHS machine.
downloaded web pages. If it finds the page, it is returned to the
SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) - SMTP is used for
user without forwarding the request to the Internet. If the page
is not in the cache, the proxy server, acting as a client on behalf sending and receiving e-mail. However, as it is ‘simple,’ it is
limited in its ability to queue messages at the receiving end,
of the user, uses one of its own IP addresses to request the page
and is usually used with one of two other protocols, POP3 or
from another server over the Internet. When the requested
page is returned, the proxy server forwards it to the user that IMAP. These other protocols allow the user to save messages in
a server mailbox and download them periodically from the
originally requested it.
server.
P-VOP - See VOP. SMTP authentication is an extension of SMTP, whereby the
client is required to log into the mail server before or during the
Resolution - Image resolution is a measure of how much detail sending of email. It can be used to allow legitimate users to
a digital image can hold: the greater the resolution, the greater send email while denying the service to unauthorized users,
the level of detail. Resolution can be specified as the number of such as spammers.
pixel-columns (width) by the number of pixel-rows (height),
e.g. 320x240. SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) - SNMP
forms part of the Internet Protocol suite, as defined by the
Alternatively, the total number of pixels (usually in megapixels)
in the image can be used. In analog systems it is also common Internet Engineering Task Force. The protocol can support
monitoring of network-attached devices for any conditions
to use other format designations, such as CIF, QCIF, 4CIF, etc.
that warrant administrative attention.
RTCP (Real-Time Control Protocol) - RTCP provides support
Sockets - Sockets are a method for communication between a
for real-time conferencing of groups of any size within an
client program and a server program over a network. A socket is
intranet. This support includes source identification and
support for gateways like audio and video bridges as well as defined as ‘the endpoint in a connection.’ Sockets are created
and used with a set of programming requests or ‘function calls’
multicast-to-unicast translators.
sometimes called the sockets application programming
RTCP offers quality-of-service feedback from receivers to the interface (API).
multicast group as well as support for the synchronization of
different media streams. SSL/TSL (Secure Socket Layer/Transport Layer Security)
These two protocols (SSL is succeeded by TSL) are cryptographic
RTP (Real-Time Transport Protocol) - RTP is an Internet protocols that provide secure communication on a network. SSL
protocol for the transport of real-time data, e.g. audio and is commonly used over HTTP to form HTTPS, as used e.g. on the
video. It can be used for media-on-demand as well as Internet for electronic financial transactions. SSL uses public
interactive services such as Internet telephony. key certificates to verify the identity of the server.
RTSP (Real Time Streaming Protocol) - RTSP is a control Subnet/subnet mask - A subnet is an identifiably separate
47
AXIS M31 Series - Glossary of Terms
part of an organization's network. Typically, a subnet may remote computer to the corporate network, via e.g. a direct
represent all the machines at one geographic location, in one phone line or via the Internet.
building, or on the same local area network (LAN). Having an
organization's network divided into subnets allows it to be VOP (Video Object Plane) - A VOP is an image frame in an
connected to the Internet with a single shared network address. H.264 video stream. There are several types of VOP:
The subnet mask is the part of the IP address that tells a - An I-VOP is complete image frame.
network router how to find the subnet that the data packet
- A P-VOP codes the differences between images, as long as it
should be delivered to. Using a subnet mask saves the router
is more efficient to do so. Otherwise it codes the whole image,
having to handle the entire 32-bit IP address; it simply looks at which may also be a completely new image.
the bits selected by the mask.
WAN (Wide-Area-Network) - Similar to a LAN, but on a
Switch - A switch is a network device that connects network larger geographical scale.
segments together, and which selects a path for sending a unit
of data to its next destination. In general, a switch is a simpler
Web server - A web server is a program, which allows web
and faster mechanism than a router, which requires knowledge browsers to retrieve files from computers connected to the
about the network and how to determine the route. Some
Internet. The web server listens for requests from web browsers
switches include the router function. See also Router.
and upon receiving a request for a file sends it back to the
browser.
TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) - TCP is used along with
the Internet Protocol (IP) to transmit data as packets between The primary function of a web server is to serve pages to other
computers over the network. While IP takes care of the actual remote computers; consequently, it needs to be installed on a
packet delivery, TCP keeps track of the individual packets that computer that is permanently connected to the Internet. It also
the communication (e.g. requested a web page file) is divided controls access to the server whilst monitoring and logging
into, and, when all packets have arrived at their destination, it server access statistics.
reassembles them to re-form the complete file.
Zoom lens - A zoom lens can be moved (zoomed) to enlarge
TCP is a connection-oriented protocol, which means that a the view of an object to show more detail.
connection is established between the two end-points and is
maintained until the data has been successfully exchanged
between the communicating applications.
48
AXIS M3113 - Index
A Pre-trigger Buffer 19
Action Buttons 9, 16
Alarm 21 Q
AMC 7 QoS (Quality of Service) 27
ARP/Ping 25 QuickTime 11, 15
B R
Bit Rate 13 Recovery 32
Bonjour 7, 29
Buffer Size 19
Buffers 19
S
Scheduled Event 20
Server Time 24
C SNMP 28
Camera tampering 20 Support 29
Control Button 31
T
D TCP Server 18
Date & Time 23 Time Mode 24
Default Viewer 15 Troubleshooting 32
DNS Configuration 26
DNS Server 26
Domain Name 26
U
Upgrade Server 29
UPnP 26, 28
E Users 23
Emergency Recovery 32
Enable ARP/Ping 25
Event Servers 18
V
Video Stream 12
F
FTP Server 18
G
GOV Settings 12
H
H.264 12
Host Name 26
HTTP Server 18
HTTPS 23, 26
I
IP Address Filtering 23
L
Live View 9
Live View Config 15
Logs & Reports 29
M
Motion Detection 21
N
NAT traversal 8, 26
P
Post-trigger Buffer 19
49