How to Apply DW Spectrum v4.1 SO Plugin for MEGApix® IVA/IVA+™ Cameras (Ubuntu/Linux)

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Affected Roles:  Administrator, Owner

Related Digital Watchdog VMS Apps:  DW Spectrum® IPVMS (Ubuntu/Linux)

Complexity:  Medium

Software Version:  DW Spectrum® IPVMS v4.1.0.31401 or newer

Last Edit:  August 2, 2024

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Upgrade to IVA+™

Digital Watchdog’s MEGApix® IVA+™ (Intelligent Video Analytics) IP Camera Series comes preloaded with robust video analytic tools, ready for use upon installation.  However, in order to utilize these intelligent features, a plugin must be added to DW Spectrum® Servers first.

This article will outline how to add the analytic plugin to the Ubuntu/Linux version of the DW Spectrum® IPVMS platform.

 

**NOTE:  If you are using a “headless server”, such as a DW Blackjack® Mini, the DW Spectrum® ARM firmware is presently not compatible with the IVA analytics function.

**IMPORTANT:  If this plugin is being applied to a merged DW Spectrum System, you will need to add the .dll plugin to each server that is part of the merged array.

 

Additional Resources

• Applying DW Spectrum v4.1 SO Plugin for MEGApix IVA/IVA+ Cameras (Ubuntu/Linux)
• Download Spectrum v4.1 SO Plugin (Ubuntu/Linux)
• Download Spectrum v4.2 SO Plugin (Ubuntu/Linux)

 

**NOTE:  DW Spectrum® IPVMS v4.2 and newer, the IVA™ plugin is included in the DW Spectrum® Server software. 

 

Supported/Affected Devices:

• DW Blackjack Servers (Ubuntu/Linux)
• MEGApix® IVA/IVA+™ Camera Series

 

Analytic Options

The MEGApix® IVA™ and MEGApix® IVA+™ models feature analytic features that can be used to detect when people cross into a designated area, keep count of how many times a drawn line is crossed, and more.

It is worth knowing the difference between the IVA™ and IVA+™ options.  Cameras can be purchased pre-loaded with options of either IVA™ or IVA+™. 

The difference between the two options has to do with the types of analytic events that can be used.

See the table below for the difference between IVA™ and IVA+™.

 

Applying DW Spectrum® 4.1 SO Plugin

To add the DW Spectrum 4.1 SO plugin file to DW Spectrum IPVMS (Ubuntu/Linux):

1. Download the Spectrum 4.1 SO plugin file to the desktop of your computer from the DW Spectrum® IPVMS product page.
   • The file can be found under the Software tab, then under Plug-in

 

2. Once the plugin file has been copied to the desktop, open the Command Terminal (CTRL+ALT+T).

 

3. In the Terminal, switch to the super user by using the following command:

When prompted, enter the root password of:

 

**NOTE:  For older DW Blackjack units that were purchased prior to June 18, 2021, the previously utilized default Linux OS login was "admin/admin".

 

4. Next, stop the DW Spectrum® mediaserver process by using the following command:

 

5. After stopping the mediaserver, navigate to the desktop by using the command:

 

6. The file libdw_edge_analytics_plugin.so should be saved to the computer’s desktop at this time.  If so, copy the file to the plugins folder of the mediaserver by using the following command:

 

The libdw_edge_analytics_plugin.so will now be found within the plugins folder for the Digital Watchdog mediaserver.

 

7. Next, start the mediaserver process by using the following command:

 

If you open the Camera Settings menu of an added IVA/IVA+™ camera, in an instance of the DW Spectrum® Client, you can select the Plugins tab to check the current Version of the plugin.

 

This completes the upgrade process for IVA™ support for DW Spectrum® IPVMS.