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How to Covert a Multisensor Device from a Single Channel to a Native Multi-Sensor/Encoder Integration

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NOTE: If any multi-sensor devices were added as a single channel ONVIF device before updating to OWS Server Software version 2.6, the device may display the same video on all sensors.

To change multi-sensor device from a single channel to a native multi-sensor/encoder integration:

Using Multi-Camera Edit to Update Camera Thumbnails and Disable Cameras

Before Disabling and Adding devices, updating camera thumbnails to have as a visual reference when associating cameras is recommended:

 

NOTE: The Camera list can be sorted by IP Address by using the Sort By dropdown. Settings Sort IP Address.png This will display all of the sensors/cameras with the same IP together.

  1. Go to Setup Options Gear.png > Cameras.
  2. Click Multi-Camera Edit Multi-Camera Edit button.png above the camera list.
  3. Check which cameras to update or select Select All. 

Settings Cameras Check Cameras.png

  1. Click Update Thumbnails Update Thumbnails.png.
  2. To disable multiple cameras at the same time, click Next Next Button.png in Multiple-Camera Edit and use the dropdown and select Disable.
  3. Click Save Save Button.png.

Edit Multiple Cameras State Enabled.png

Disabling a Single Multi-Sensor Device
  1. Go into the Setup Options Gear.png menu.
  2. Select the Cameras option on the side menu.
  3. Select the camera from the list.
  4. Use the dropdown to change the state of the camera from Enabled to Disabled.

Camera State Disabled Dropdown.png

Adding the Multi-Sensor Device via Discovery

NOTE: Discovery will only work on a newly installed device. For disabled devices, see Manually Add the Multi-Sensor Device.

  1. Click Setup (Gear Icon).

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  1. Under General Configuration, click Cameras.
  2. Click Add Cameras.

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  1. Under the Discovery tab, click Discover Cameras.

Apex Add Cameras Discover Cameras.png

  1. Check the appropriate boxes to select the camera(s) to be added.
  2. Enter the appropriate credentials (username and password) for the cameras to be added, and then click Add Selected Cameras.

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Manually Add the Multi-Sensor Device

NOTE: ONVIF or Hanwha devices have to be added manually.

  1. Click Setup (Gear Icon).

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  1. Select Cameras under General Configuration.
  2. Click Add Cameras. 

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4. On the Add Cameras page, click the Manual tab.

5. Enter the appropriate connection information including IP Address, Port, Manufacturer, Model, Username, Password, and Camera Name.

  1. Use the Protocol dropdown menu to select the native integration of the multi-sensor camera.

Settings Camera Protocols.png

  1.   Click Save or Save and Add New to add another camera.  
Associating Disabled Cameras with the Multi-Sensor Device

NOTE: Associating a disabled device with a newly added device will associate previously recorded video.

Associating a camera, in simple terms, is linking an old camera with its replacement.

Items of Note:

  • To avoid issues that can occur with camera association, please make sure the replacement camera is fully functioning and recording before completing the camera association.
  • Merging the cameras will create a duplicate of the new camera that is disabled and be called <camera name>_Temporary. This duplicate will contain any video that was recorded between when the new camera was added to the software and when the old and new cameras were merged. The option to create this duplicate is selected by checking the box for ‘Save current video for this camera.’
  • There may be gaps in video from the time the target camera stopped recording and when the camera association takes place. This can occur for many reasons such as the camera failed and could not be replaced for a few days, the stream settings are not being detected by Apex from the new camera, or the new camera's login is incorrect. 
  • If the same camera is associated with itself, it will pull in all the video and previous stream settings from the target camera. 
  • If the target camera's profile is broken, the camera association may corrupt the newly added camera's profile. If this ends up being the result of the merger, disable the camera added as the result of the merger to keep the previous video. Then add the new camera under a unique name. Once the video from the failed camera is no longer needed, delete the disabled camera. 

*** Note: this process cannot be undone. ***

  1. Once added, select the new camera and click the Associate Camera button.

NOTE: This will tie the old footage with the new camera.

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  1. On the Associate Camera pop-up for Merge this camera, select the new camera you just added selected.
  2. Select the original camera that is disabled under the Into this camera field.
  3. If you have recordings from the new camera that overlap with the camera you are replacing, you can check the Save current recorded video for this camera.

NOTE: This will generate a new disabled camera entry that will have all the recorded video from that new camera before it was merged.