Technical Document for Compac Technicians Only

Gig-E Camera Network Configuration

Written by: James Kinniburgh-White Wiki URL: (Not yet incorporated)
Authorised by: Ken Moynihan, R&D Model: PCR-NC1000PCIE
Published to: <RT insert pathname – hal
Manual: (Not determined)
and FTP>
Active Date: 22 February, 2012 Revision Number: 1.0

In this document:
1. Hardware Configuration
2. Software Configuration Tasks
3. Configuration Scenarios
4. Troubleshooting

1. Hardware Configuration

1.1 4 or fewer cameras in a single computer

• The InVision Computer must contain one additional Gig-E network adaptor (PCR-
NC1000PCIE). This adaptor will be used for communication with the camera network. The
onboard network adaptor will be used for network communication between the InVision and
Sizer computers.
• Configure the network linking the InVision computers and Sizer computers as normal.
• Camera configuration will be as follows:

• Each camera must be connected to a Camera Hub (ATR‐CH). The Camera Hub will supply
power and image acquisition signals to the cameras.
• The Camera hub must be connected to a power supply.

InVision Tech Doc - Gig-E Camera Network Configuration Revision: 1.0 Page 1 of 10
V1.0.doc
©2012 Compac Sorting Equipment Ltd Active Date: 22/02/12 Date Printed: 22-02-12
Technical Document for Compac Technicians Only

• Each camera must be connected to a network switch with a CAT6E patch cable. A maximum
of 4 cameras may be connected to a single switch.
• The network switch must be connected to the additional Gig‐E network adaptor in the
InVision PC with a CAT6E patch cable.

1.2 More than 4 cameras in a single computer (up to 8 cameras)

• The InVision Computer must contain TWO additional Gig-E network adaptors (PCR-
NC1000PCIE). These adaptors will be used for communication with the camera networks.
The onboard network adaptor will be used for network communication between the InVision
and Sizer computers.
• Configure the network linking the InVision computers and Sizer computers as normal.
• Camera configuration will be as follows:

• Each camera must be connected to a Camera Hub (ATR-CH). The Camera Hub will supply
power and image acquisition signals to the cameras. Up to 8 cameras can be connected to a
single Camera Hub.
• Jumper JP1 on the underside of the Camera Hub must be connected.
• The Camera hub must be connected to a power supply.
• The network should include two network switches. Each camera must be connected to a
network switch with a CAT6E patch cable. A maximum of 4 cameras may be connected to a
single switch.
• Each network switch must be connected to a separate Gig-E network adaptor in the InVision
PC with a CAT6E patch cable.

InVision Tech Doc - Gig-E Camera Network Configuration Revision: 1.0 Page 2 of 10
V1.0.doc
©2012 Compac Sorting Equipment Ltd Active Date: 22/02/12 Date Printed: 22-02-12
Technical Document for Compac Technicians Only

2. Software Configuration Tasks

2.1 Installing InVision

• Install InVision as normal.
• As part of the InVision setup you will now be asked to install the GigEFilter. It is important for
the functionality of the camera network that the filter is installed. You will be asked to confirm
installation of the filter for each network adaptor on the computer; ensure you select Continue
Anyway each time.
• InVision installation will then continue as normal.

2.2 Manual network configuration tasks

The camera network is a high performance network. To ensure it operates correctly there are
some manual configuration steps required.
1. Open Windows Device Manager and expand the Network Adaptors category.

2. Perform the following steps for each PCI Gig-E adaptor to be used for a camera network.
These will be shown as Intel(R) PRO/1000 PT Server Adapter.

3. Right click on the adapter and select Properties:

4. Select the ‘Advanced tab’ on the Adapter Properties dialog.

5. In the Settings area, select the Jumbo Frames setting, and set the value to 9014 Bytes:

InVision Tech Doc - Gig-E Camera Network Configuration Revision: 1.0 Page 3 of 10
V1.0.doc
©2012 Compac Sorting Equipment Ltd Active Date: 22/02/12 Date Printed: 22-02-12
Technical Document for Compac Technicians Only

6. Select the Performance Options setting and click Properties.

7. In the Performance Options dialog, in the Settings area, select Interrupt Moderation Rate
and set the value to Extreme:

8. Select Receive Descriptors and set the value to 2048:

InVision Tech Doc - Gig-E Camera Network Configuration Revision: 1.0 Page 4 of 10
V1.0.doc
©2012 Compac Sorting Equipment Ltd Active Date: 22/02/12 Date Printed: 22-02-12
Technical Document for Compac Technicians Only

9. Select Transmit Descriptors and set the value to 256:.

10. Click OK twice to exit both dialog windows.

11. Return to step 1 and repeat all these steps until EVERY Intel(R) PRO/1000 PT Server
Adapter to be used on this camera network is configured.
Then continue with step 12.

12. Open Control Panel, then Network Connections.

13. For each local area connection with the device name ‘Intel(R) PRO/1000 PT Server
Adapter’ right click the connection and select Properties:

14. Uncheck the following items (see picture below):

• Client for Microsoft Networks
• File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks
• QoS Packet Scheduler

InVision Tech Doc - Gig-E Camera Network Configuration Revision: 1.0 Page 5 of 10
V1.0.doc
©2012 Compac Sorting Equipment Ltd Active Date: 22/02/12 Date Printed: 22-02-12
Technical Document for Compac Technicians Only

15. Click OK to close the dialog box.

2.3 Running the Compac Camera Network Configurator

All versions of InVision compatible with Gig-E cameras will be supplied with a copy of the Compac
Camera Network Configurator. The purpose of this software is to assign the correct IP addresses
to all Network Adaptors and Cameras that are part of a Gig-E camera network. To run the Camera
Configurator:
1. Run the file GigECameraConfigurator.exe from your InVision directory.

2. The top (Network Adapter Configuration) pane will show all the network adaptors installed
on the computer. The lower (Camera Configuration) pane will show all the cameras found
attached to the computer.

3. In the Network Adapter Configuration pane, place a tick in the Update checkbox beside
each Network Adapter that will have cameras attached to it.
Important:
Do not check the update box beside any Network Adaptors that are part of the InVision/Sizer
computer network. Doing so will change their configuration and you will lose communication
between these computers.

4. Click the COMPAC-ify button in the lower right of the screen.

5. The Camera Configurator will cycle through all Network Adapters and Cameras, and
configure them with the correct IP addresses. This process will take between a few seconds
and a minute.

InVision Tech Doc - Gig-E Camera Network Configuration Revision: 1.0 Page 6 of 10
V1.0.doc
©2012 Compac Sorting Equipment Ltd Active Date: 22/02/12 Date Printed: 22-02-12
Technical Document for Compac Technicians Only

6. When this process has completed, you should see the same number of cameras in the
Camera Configuration tab as there are cameras attached to your computer, and they
should all have a tick in the Reachable check box. This indicates that they have been
configured correctly and are communicating with the computer.

If you cannot see all the cameras, or they are not showing as Reachable, please see the
Troubleshooting section at the end of this document.

3. Configuration Scenarios
Below are the most common scenarios where the Camera Network may need to be reconfigured.
For each scenario, the tasks you will need to perform (as detailed above) are described.

3.1 Setting up a new machine (Production):

Hardware:
• Perform full configuration as described under ‘Hardware Configuration’ above.
Software:
• Install InVision.
• Perform Manual Network Configuration tasks.
• Run the Compac Camera Network Configurator.
• Perform all necessary calibrations in InVision.

3.2 Replace a camera or multiple cameras

Hardware:
• Perform ‘like-for-like’ replacement of camera(s).
Software:
• Run the Compac Camera Network Configurator.
• Perform all necessary calibrations in InVision.

3.3 Replace a Network Card

Hardware:
• Perform ‘like-for-like’ replacement of network cards.
Windows:
• Perform Manual Network Configuration tasks.
• Run the Compac Camera Network Configurator.

4.4 Replace a Network Switch

Hardware:
• Perform ‘like-for-like’ replacement of network switch.
Software:
• No software changes should be necessary.

InVision Tech Doc - Gig-E Camera Network Configuration Revision: 1.0 Page 7 of 10
V1.0.doc
©2012 Compac Sorting Equipment Ltd Active Date: 22/02/12 Date Printed: 22-02-12
Technical Document for Compac Technicians Only

4.5 Install a hot spare computer

Hardware:
• Ensure the hot spare computer has at least as many additional Network Adaptors installed as
the computer to be replaced.
• Remove the old computer.
• Replace with the new computer.
Software:
• Ensure all the settings described in ‘Manual Network Configuration tasks’ have been applied
to the hot spare computer.
• Run the Compac Camera Network Configurator.

4. Troubleshooting

4.1 Tools
In order to assist in troubleshooting without using the full InVision software package, the following
tools are available.
Both these tools are available on the Compac FTP server under /SUPPORT/AVT/GigE Tools.
• SampleViewer – A simple camera viewer to determine if images are arriving at the computer.
When launched, the SampleViewer will show a list of all the cameras attached to the
computer. To view an image from the camera, click on the cameras ID, and then click on the
‘eye’ icon.

• IPConfig – A simple IP configuration tool to allow manual configuration of camera addresses.

When launched, the IPConfig tool will show a list of all the cameras attached to the computer.

InVision Tech Doc - Gig-E Camera Network Configuration Revision: 1.0 Page 8 of 10
V1.0.doc
©2012 Compac Sorting Equipment Ltd Active Date: 22/02/12 Date Printed: 22-02-12
Technical Document for Compac Technicians Only

To change the IP address of a camera, click on the cameras ID, and click on ‘Change’

4.2 Scenarios
Problem Description Possible Troubleshooting Steps
The Camera Configurator can’t Check the hardware configuration
see any of the cameras • Ensure the network switch is plugged into the PCI Ethernet
adaptor, not the onboard adaptor.
• Ensure there are power lights showing on the network switch and
Camera Hub.
• Ensure there is a link light showing for each port on the network
switch that is connected to the computer or to a camera, investigate
the cabling on any port that is not showing a link light.
Check the software configuration
• Ensure that each network adaptor with cameras connected to it is
showing in the Network Connections screen of the windows control
panel. If they are not try reinstalling the drivers for the Network
Adapter.
• Ensure ‘Internet Protocol’ is ticked in the properties page of each
Network Adapter.
The Camera Configurator can Check the hardware configuration
see some but not all of the • Ensure there is a link light showing on the Network Switch on the
cameras. port the missing camera is connected to.
• Ensure there is power to the camera.
• Try changing the cable between the Network Switch and the
missing camera.
• Try changing the port on the Network Switch that the camera is
connected to.
• Try swapping all cabling between the missing cameras and a
camera that was being recognized, and see if the camera is now
recognized.
Try configuring networks separately
• If you are using 2 Network Adaptors (i.e. more than 4 cameras), try
configuring the 2 networks separately.
• Unplug one of the camera networks (the cable from the Network

InVision Tech Doc - Gig-E Camera Network Configuration Revision: 1.0 Page 9 of 10
V1.0.doc
©2012 Compac Sorting Equipment Ltd Active Date: 22/02/12 Date Printed: 22-02-12
Technical Document for Compac Technicians Only

Problem Description Possible Troubleshooting Steps

Adapter to the Network Switch).
• Run the Camera Configurator and configure one set of cameras.
• Unplug that network, plug in the other and configure the second set
of cameras.
• Plug in both sets of cameras and see if InVision can receive
images.
The Camera Configurator can • Try using the IPConfig tool to change the IP address of the camera
see all the cameras, but some that was marked as unreachable to an address on the same subnet
are not marked as reachable. (i.e. change the last three digits of the address). Rerun the Camera
Configurator and see if the camera is now marked as reachable.
All the cameras are marked as Check the software configuration
‘reachable’ in the Camera • Check the Help -> About screen in InVision, make sure the correct
Configurator, but InVision is cameras are listed.
not receiving images.
• Check all the settings listed under Manual Network Configuration
Tasks above have been applied to each adaptor on your computer.
• Check that the AVT Prosillica GigE Vision Filter Driver is installed
on each Network Adapter in your computer. If it is not, reinstall it
from the \InVision\Camera\GigE Driver directory.
• Check whether the SampleViewer program can receive images
from all cameras. If it cannot then the problem is likely with the
hardware or software configuration of the computer, rather than
with InVision itself.

InVision Tech Doc - Gig-E Camera Network Configuration Revision: 1.0 Page 10 of 10
V1.0.doc
©2012 Compac Sorting Equipment Ltd Active Date: 22/02/12 Date Printed: 22-02-12