Contera VMS Setup and User Guide

Contera VMS and User , The Contera VMS offers Standard (16 ), Premium (64 cameras), and Professional (128 cameras) licence choices with a range of advanced features. Arecont Vision systems integrators can download a Contera 30 day free trial licence. End users can obtain a trial license through their systems integrator.

ConteraVMS: Thick client installation

The ConteraVMS thick client needs to be installed on a customer’s workstation.

Resolution:

Download the ConteraVMS Thick Client here: https://sales.arecontvision.com/software.php

Note: The thick client requires a Windows x64 bit OS.

  1. Right click on the installer and select Run as Admin. Click Yes if prompted by UAC.
  2. Accept the license agreement and click Next.

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  3. Click Install.
    • If this is an upgrade you can choose to wipe out all settings by putting a check mark next to Perform a clean installation.

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  4. Click Close.
  5. Login with [Username: admin : 1234]
    • Note: This is a local account on the workstation used to initially configure the client. This is not the login you will use for viewing the video.
    • Note: If you log in with your conteraWS account, your site will load automatically.

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  6. Enter a new password and click Save.

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  7. Click Setup.

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  8. Provide a name for the server and the IP address. Click Save then click Close.
    • If you want the system to automatically connect you can supply the username and password provided by your ConteraWS under Authentication.
    • If no ConteraWS is used, Enter the “Client” IP address from the ConteraCMR.
    • Port 80 and 443 must be open.

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  9. Double click the server and enter the username and password provided by your ConteraWS Administrator. Click Login.

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  10. Click on a camera to populate the view.

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Contera VMS: Feenics Integration WS Alert Configuration

Issue:

Contera VMS and Feenics Integration WS Alert Configuration

Procedure:

*Note: You will need an AV-CWSP#Y License applied in order for integration functions to start.

 

1. Create a New Intrusion Alert Rule

2. Select a Door Access or Access Control Alert Rule Type when creating a new rule.

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3. When creating an Alert Rule, Event Types further define when an event notification will be sent. More than one type can be added when creating a rule.

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4. Add Users to an Alert Rule – Click Users / Notifications on the navigation sidebar.

5. Click Add User or Add Group.

6. Check the box next to each User or User Group who will receive emails and/or push notifications when the alert is triggered.

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7. Click Add when finished.

NOTE: To receive email alerts, push alerts or client alerts, the Email Alert, Push Alert or Client Alert boxes must be checked. Simply adding a user only gives them access to see this alert’s history.

8. Updating, Disabling, or Deleting an Alert Rule – Click General Info on the navigation sidebar.

9. Edit the Name and Description as desired.

10. Click Disable to turn the Alert Rule off without deleting it.

11. Click Delete to permanently remove the Alert Rule and delete all history associated with it.

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12. Click Save when finished.

13. Alert History – In WS – Select Alerts > Alert History. Here you will find all Alert events created by associated recorders that have rules assigned.

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14. Email Alerts – Any User or User Group checked to receive email alerts for an event, are notified with Account, Recorder, Camera, Zone, Date and Time  as well as a thumbnail image and links that allow additional Event monitoring.

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15. Push Notifications – A User or User Group that has Push Notifications enabled in an Alert Rule and has the Contera app installed will receive notifications on their mobile device with information, a screenshot, and associated video whenever an alarm condition is detected.

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Contera VMS : How to Activate Camera Licenses

Issue:

• No camera license displaying in the setup menu.
• Appling a camera upgrade license.

Environment:

• Contera NVR Appliance
Contera NVR Server
• ConteraVMS Channel Recording license (One per camera is needed )
AV-CST1 – ConteraVMS Standard 1 Channel Recording License
AV-CPM1 – ConteraVMS Premium 1 Channel Recording License
AV-CPR1 – ConteraVMS Professional 1 Channel Recording License

Note: Pre-loaded Channel Recording license:

If the Contera recorder and Channel recording license were on the same purchase order. The label will have printed on it “Upgrade with the License part #(AV-CxxXx)and the ConteraWS Part# (AV-CWxY)
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To activate:

1.If the NVR is connected to the internet: Click the refresh button under Setup > System Settings > Licensing tab, the license info should apply.
2.If the NVR is not connected to the internet(offline activation):  Click on the article Link: How to add ConteraCMR licenses without an internet connection
3.If you have a Contera Web Service account you can upgrade or activate the camera license. Click on the link to log in:  https://arecontvision-ws.com/

Contera VMS: How to Convert a Multisensor Device from a Single Channel to a Native Multi-Sensor/Encoder Integration

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

1.Go to Setup . > Cameras.
2.Click Multi-Camera Edit . above the camera list.
3.Check which cameras to update or select Select All.
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4.Click Update Thumbnails ..
5.To disable multiple cameras at the same time, click Next . in Multiple-Camera Edit and use the dropdown and select Disable.
6.Click Save ..
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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).
2.Under General Configuration, click Cameras.
3.Click Add Cameras.
4.Under the Discovery tab, click Discover Cameras.
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5.Check the appropriate boxes to select the camera(s) to be added.
6.Enter the appropriate credentials (username and password) for the cameras to be added, and then click Add Selected Cameras.

How to completely uninstall ConteraVMS (missing modules).

Issue:

The clients install of ConteraVMS is not operating correctly or has missing modules (i.e. Maps).

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Resolution:

1.Uninstall ConteraVMS from Programs and Features.
2.Delete the below directories.
• C:\Program Files\Arecont\Contera VMS
• C:\ProgramData\Arecont\ConteraVMS
a.This is a hidden directory. To un hide it go to Control Panel > File Explorer Options > Show hidden files, folders and drives.
3.Reinstall ConteraVMS thick client: https://sales.arecontvision.com/software.php

ConteraVMS: Contera Server application opens to IIS windows

Issue:

Contera Server application opens to IIS windows

Environment:

Contera VMS on windows (OS)

Procedure:

1.When the Contera Server application on the desktop directs you to IIS windows, refer to diagram 1
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2.To fix the issue, Search for the services mention “Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager”
3.Once open Press the Stop icon located on the right side of the menu, refer to diagram 2
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ConteraVMS: How to Enable/Disable Channel Partner Support Remote Support

Issue:

For security reasons, a Contera administrator can enable and disable the Channel Partner Support Service if/when needed.

With newer firmware, this cannot be enabled indefinitely. There is a 6-month maximum duration before it needs to be re-enabled.

Resolution:

1. Log into your Contera VMS Account. https://www.arecontvision-ws.com

2. Click on the gear icon in the upper right-hand corner.
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3. Go to Remote Support Options.

• To enable remote support check the box.
• To disable remote support uncheck the box.

4. Click Save.

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ConteraVMS: Feenics Access Control Integration Configuration

Issue:

Contera VMS and Feenics Integration

Note: The current integration supports a max of 1000 cards.

Procedure:

*Note: You will need an AV-CWSP#Y License applied in order for integration functions to start.

*Note: All equipment must have the proper timezone / time set or else there will be sync issues.

1. From the Cloud Portal, select the Management tab.

2. Choose Integrations from the drop-down menu.

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3. Click on Add New Integration.

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4. Choose Feenics and click Next.

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5. The Feenics Integration will be added to the Manage Integration list.

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6. Click Edit to enable or disable the Feenics Integration in General Settings.

7. In General Settings, enter the Access Control Account Name and Access Control Username from your Feenics Keep account

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8. Click Save. Once you click Save, OWS will sync with Keep by Feenics and download available readers.

NOTE: Last Successful Sync shows the last time and date OWS successfully synced with the linked account.

NOTE: Last Event Received shows the last time and date OWS received an event from the account.

NOTE: Validate Account manually resends the account credentials to confirm the linking is still valid.

NOTE: To access all cardholders, accounts, and readers, enter an Access Control Account Name, Username and Password associated with a Feenics user associated with the Enterprise Layer. Otherwise, only the cardholders, accounts and readers associated with a user below the Enterprise Layer will be accessible.
NOTE: If there is a sync issue check the Feenics portal: https://keep.feenicshosting.com. Use the information in Step 7. Check for disconnects/reconnects as shown below. If it shows this, Feenics support will need to be involved.

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9. Press Readers / Camera Mapping.

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10. Select Reader.

11. Press  and select the desired camera to link to the reader.

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12. Press Account / Recorder Mapping.

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13. Select desired Feenics account.

14. Press Add Recorder and select the recorder to link to the Feenics account.

 

ConteraVMS: Feenics WS Alert Configuration Procedure

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ConteraVMS: “Unable to record” error is displayed on Contera cameras

Issue:

Camera(s) are displaying the error “Unable to record”. The below is displayed in the recording log for that camera:

2019-09-19 15:52:00.259 NOTICE [rtspreceiver] rtsp://10.6.0.27:554/stream1: Describe failed with code BadSdpFormat

Resolution:

1.Login to the camera WebUI.
2.Click .
3.Scroll down to RTSP.

4.If someone enabled the metadata streams, disable them as shown below.

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5.Back on the ConteraVMS web page click on the camera and click Synchronize on the upper right.
6.Click Save.
7.The camera should begin recording.

Synchronize Rate Types and Values with a VMS / NVR

Objective

Synchronize bit rate controls between a camera and VMS.

Procedure

To ensure stable rate controls, you want to synchronize the following settings across both your VMS/NVR and the camera’s interface:

• Bit Rate Control (Variable, Constant or Maximum)
• Bit Rate Value
• Resolution
• Key Frame Interval aka GOP, etc

To synchronize rate controls across your VMS/NVR and camera:

1.Review or modify bit rate, resolution, and other settings in your VMS/NVR platform.
2.Open a web browser and login to your camera’s interface.
3.Match the settings from your VMS/NVR on the camera:
1.Go to the H264 to set Bit Rate Control type and values.
2.Go to the Video tab to set the camera’s Resolution (full, half, or crop)
3.Go to the System or Administration tabs and click Save All to save your settings.
4.To get or set your GoP / iFrame / Key frame interval:
• Enter http://camera_ip/get?keyframeinterval in your web browser to GET your current setting. The default `keyframeinterfal` is 50; if you get a different value, it was likely changed by your VMS/NVR.
• Enter http://camera_ip/set?keyframeinterval=”0-65535″ to change the setting.

For more information about camera bitrates, see:

ConteraVMS: How to view when a ConteraWS subscription will end or has Expired

Issue:

• The Contera administrator has received a message stating one of their sites is nearing the end of their ConteraWS subscription and wants to check the status of their remaining sites.
• The Contera server lists no cameras in the live or General Configuration menu.

Resolution:

1.Go to https://www.arecontvision-ws.com/login# and log in with valid ConteraWS credentials.
2.Click Reports on the main navigation bar.
3.Next to the Asset Report, click View.
4.To export the report, click Export to automatically download a .csv version of the report.
5.The columns below show when it was activated and when it will expire.

6.If the Contera WS has expired follow the Article to renew the license. ConteraVMS: How to renew your ConteraWS subscription

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ConteraVMS: Documentation

The official ConteraVMS documents are now located at: https://sales.arecontvision.com/manuals.php

3 MB Download

200 KB Download

10 MB Download

8 MB Download

Troubleshooting VMS integrations with ONVIF Device Manager

Issue:

A problem is seen in a particular model connected to the Video Management System.

Resolution:

1.Verify both the camera and VMS are at the latest software revisions.
2.A third-party tool called ONVIF Device Manager (ODM) (https://sourceforge.net/projects/onvifdm/) will be installed on the VMS. This tool will be used to identify if the issue is camera or VMS related.

3.Install ODM and launch the program. It will begin auto discovering cameras. If your camera is not populated you can manually add it on the lower left.

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4.Enter the username (admin) and the password for the camera.

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5.Once logged in, select the camera. There are links to view the live video from each sensor(s) depending on the camera model.

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6.Monitor the live video from here to see if the symptoms experienced in the VMS can be replicated. For example, if there’s an issue with motion events not being recorded/picked up in the VMS, click on the camera in ODM, then click Events. If you see motion events populate as shown below, the camera is passing motion events properly. The VMS manufacturer must be consulted next.

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