Exacq Blog

exacqVision Version 2.9 Released

Version 2.9 of exacqVision IP video surveillance software has been released.  This latest release, compatible with all hybrid and NVR exacqVision systems, continues the quest for rapid, incremental releases to roll out new features and enhancements quickly.

Version 2.9 can be downloaded here.  Key Features in the Version 2.9 Release:

• Megapixel Camera Cropping - save bandwidth and file size
• Soft Trigger Event Buttons - Create user-defined event buttons on the client.
• Linux Release - Now available in Linux or Windows across the entire product line, same feature set on each.
• 48-Camera View - For wide-screen monitors
• Right-Click Camera Properties - view/set camera properties with just one click
• IP Camera Enhancements - expanded functionality with Axis and Panasonic
• POS/ATM Enhancements - Definable in number of days up to two years

Here are some of these features in detail:

Megapixel Camera Cropping
The IP megapixel cameras from IQeye and Arecont Vision can produce spectacular images with great detail. With those increased-resolution images also comes increased file sizes and increased network bandwidth usage.

In many cases, there are areas in each megapixel camera image that are not necessary to view or record. For example, an exterior camera aimed at a parking lot may also include sky or buildings or landscaping in the view, which you do not need to record. With the new Cropping feature of exacqVision, you can crop out those areas you don’t wish to record, thereby maintaining the high-resolution for the areas you do want to see, but reducing file sizes and network bandwidth usage. This feature is particularly useful for systems that may have a large number of IP megapixel cameras connected.

Roger and Dan put together a video for this feature:

Soft Trigger Event Buttons
This is a feature that allows client buttons to be created that can perform any definable task, created through the exacqVision Event Linking feature. For example, on a client station monitoring a remote location, a soft trigger button can be created that lets the person monitoring that site unlock a door at the remote location to let someone in.  This is a powerful feature.  Roger and Dan put together this video to explain it:

Linux
The exacqVision Linux release is now out.  Beginning with Version 2.9, exacqVision software will be available in both Windows and Linux.  The Linux release, based on the Ubuntu 6.06 distribution, is identical in functionality and features to the Windows version.  The two releases are completely compatible: Windows clients can be connected to Linux servers, and Linux clients can be connected to Windows servers; you can have any mix of Windows and Linux clients and servers.

Ordering is easy: any exacqVision Hybrid server or exacqVision NVR server is available in either Windows or Linux; with a ‘-L’ added to the part number for the Linux version.  For software-only purchases to be installed on existing servers, the part numbers are the same; we generate a license key that is the same for either Windows or Linux.

Both the Windows software and the Linux software are now available on our Downloads page.

48-Camera View
A new 8×6 48-camera live view is available on all clients running on wide-screen monitors.  This is especially useful when running one or more large-screen monitors.

Right-Click Camera Properties
A long-requested exacqVision feature had been added: the ability to see camera properties without having to leave the Live View page.  A right-click in any camera window now has the added feature to show that camera’s properties: 

• system name
• manufacturer and model number
• IP address
• MAC address
• firmware version
• Current resolution and frame rate
• Direct link to camera’s setup page

Among other things, this feature is especially useful if you want to quickly change attributes or text overlay on a given camera.

IP Camera Enhancements
Panasonic: New support for the Panasonic NW-484S i-Pro Super Dynamic III Vandal Proof Network Fixed Dome Camera.  Version 2.9 also improves efficiencies and compatibilities across the Panasonic camera line.

Axis: exacqVision now controls unique PTZ cameras on each input of the Axis multi-input video servers: 240Q, 241Q and 241QA. 

POS/ATM Enhancements
Improved POS and ATM data retention, now definable in days from 1 to 730 days (2 years).

Recent Releases
We’ve made rapid progress in the last year, with incremental releases averaging about every 2 months.  Here are some highlights of the most recent releases:

exacqVision Version 2.8 release (October 31, 2007)
exacqVision Version 2.7 release (August 8, 2007)
exacqVision Version 2.6 release (June 19, 2007)
exacqVision Version 2.5 release (May 7, 2007)
exacqVision Version 2.4 release (March 27, 2007)

As always, the latest versions of exacqVision client and server software can easily and quickly be copied over existing versions while retaining all user settings.  The latest version can always be downloaded from our Downloads page, or you can click on ‘Check for Updates‘ within the ‘About‘ box in the exacqVision software.

Add comment January 7th, 2008

exacqVision Ver 2.9 Preview: Mpixel Camera Cropping

Continuing the exacqVision Version 2.9 new feature preview: Another of the major new features in Version 2.9 is Megapixel Camera Cropping.

The IP megapixel cameras from IQeye and Arecont Vision can produce spectacular images with great detail.  With those increased-resolution images also comes increased file sizes and increased network bandwidth usage.

In many cases, there are areas in each megapixel camera image that are not necessary to view or record.  For example, an exterior camera aimed at a parking lot may also include sky or buildings or landscaping in the view, which you do not need to record.  With the new Cropping feature of exacqVision, you can crop out those areas you don’t wish to record, thereby maintaining the high-resolution for the areas you do want to see, but reducing file sizes and network bandwidth usage.

This feature is particularly useful for systems that may have a large number of IP megapixel cameras connected.

Dan and Roger created a YouTube video for this feature as well:

A full Blog post on all of the Version 2.9 features will hit when we release the new version.

Add comment December 31st, 2007

Megapixel IP Video Surveillance at Diamond Pet Foods

Security Sales & Integration magazine for December, 2007 has a feature story entitled Mega-Pixel Help Ensure Fido’s Well-Being by editor Rodney Bosch.  It chronicles the installation of a megapixel IP video surveillance system at Diamond Pet Foods for both security as well as quality control, the latter a key issue after the recent contaminated pet food scare.    The article is certainly interesting, as it is both a successful installation story as well as a focus on the business opportunities that exist for security integrators with IP video security.

Rodney writes:

In June, Diamond — which has been at the epicenter of the contaminated pet food story — contracted with American Digital Security (ADS) of Liberty, Mo., to install a state-of-the-art IP-based video solution to strengthen its quality control initiatives, and bolster the security and safety of its facility and employees.

How the company came to choose the services of ADS is a testament to the superior images offered by mega-pixel cameras, and also how the systems integrator is finding success in its effort to catch the Convergence Wave.

Buddy Mason of American Digital Security chose exacqVision for the IP video surveillance software:

During its research preparing for the new frontier, ADS elected to employ exacqVision client/server software for its IP systems. Engineered by Indianapolis-based Exacq Technologies, the platform provides a common user interface for video surveillance that appealed to Mason.

“They bring me a decent cost and real ease of use. That has been key for us. Their GUI looks like Outlook™ so people feel comfortable with it. You can play back video on the live screen and burn it right there. They made it very simple,” Mason says.

Later in the article, Buddy highlights the opportunities that moving into IP-based systems brings to security integrators:

Mason suggests the many dealers/integrators waiting on the sidelines as IP-based systems become more prevalent are missing out on onsite learning experiences similar to his at Diamond Pet Foods.

It’s high time to jump right in, Mason says. “For Diamond Pet Foods, we were the answer at that right time for them,” he says. “A year from now, there might be four or five answers out there.”

The article is a great read, well written, on a timely subject.  You can read the full article here.

Add comment December 20th, 2007

exacqVision Load Testing With Megapixel IP Cameras

We’re always testing the network loading and throughput on our exacqVision NVR servers.  It is important that when large numbers of megapixel IP cameras are connected to either a single server or to an enterprise that we can maintain our specified throughput and frame rates.  There are a variety of ways for testing, including virtual camera software, but nothing is more accurate in a real-world scenario than connecting actual cameras and running the servers in a worst-case scenario: continuous free-run at 100% motion on all cameras.

Last week, TJ and Matthew traveled to California to perform just such qualification and testing at the Arecont Vision headquarters.  Using our stock exacqVision server, used in our rackmount NVR systems and rackmount Hybrid systems, Arecont furnished more than 64 megapixel cameras which TJ and Matthew connected to the server through standard NETGEAR Smart Switches.  The cameras were primarily AV2100 2-Mpixel (1600×1200) IP cameras, but there were also a mixture of other cameras, including AV3100 3-Mpixel (2040×1530) cameras and AV8360 360-degree panoramic IP cameras.

Our real-world testing once again confirmed our virtual testing.  The exacqVision system achieved expected frame rates and network throughput, while maintaining a low processor load.  We were able to specifically and definitively qualify a number of pending installations in which large numbers of megapixel cameras have been specified by our resellers for use with our NVR video surveillance systems.

Our thanks to Arecont Vision for hosting us at their facility and for providing all of the cameras and lenses we used for testing.  Below are some pictures from the testing.

Add comment December 10th, 2007