MOBOTIX

Release Notes for MOBOTIX Camera Software

Document Information

Publisher:

MOBOTIX AG

Author:

Bernd Wilhelm
Thilo Schüller

Date:

2018-11-06

Document:

release-notes_en.html

Confidentiality:

public


Contents

These Release Notes contain a technical description of the most important changes in the software for the MOBOTIX network cameras.

Software Releases—Overview

Release Version

Creation Date

Publishing Date

MX-V5.1.0.99.r4 2018-10-24 2018-11-06
MX-V5.1.0.99.r3
(replaced by MX-V5.1.0.99.r4)
2018-07-11 2018-07-13
MX-V5.1.0.99
(replaced by MX-V5.1.0.99.r3)
2018-06-15 2018-06-15
MX-V5.0.2.14 2018-02-07 2018-02-14
MX-V5.0.1.53 2017-10-26 2017-11-20
MX-V5.0.0.133 2017-07-21 2017-08-08
MX-V5.0.0.130 2017-06-21 2017-07-14
MX-V5.0.0.127 2017-04-27 2017-05-05

Notes:


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Software Release MX-V5.1.0.99.r4 − for Mx6 Camera Models D16, M16, S16, V16, D26, M26, Q26, S26, c26, i26, p26, v26

Creation Date: 2018-10-24

Publishing Date: 2018-11-06

Notes on Releases MX-V5.1.0.99.r3/r4

Release 5.1.0.99.r4 closes a security flaw in the RTP server found in its predecessor release 5.1.0.99.r3 that would have allowed aggressors to execute malignant software on the camera.

Release 5.1.0.99.r3 is different from its predecessor release 5.1.0.99 only in an additional enhancement ("Thermal Reference Windows") and two bugfixes ("S26 with external sensors" and "Image generation with special combinations of MxActivitySensor and MxAnalytics").

Important Notes

Enhancements and Improvements

New Storage Method "Buffered MxFFS Archive"

In the Admin Menu > Storage > Storage on external file server dialog, the new option Buffered MxFFS Archive can now be selected as the Primary Target. SMB / CIFS and NFS File Servers can also be used here as an MxFFS Archive Target.  As a result, data in MxFFS format is no longer stored first on the SD card but directly on a connected file server (e.g. NAS device). The internal SD card is then used only for storing some administrative information. Only in the case of a detected file server failure (e.g. lost connection) will the storage be automatically switched to the SD card. Once the file server is available again, the data previously saved on the SD card will be transferred to the server. Due to the significantly reduced load on the SD card, its service life is considerably extended.

Important Notes:

Support of Mx6-B Camera Models With MxBus

This release supports the use of MxBus features in the new B variants of the Mx6 models.

Support of the Camera Configuration in MxManagementCenter (MxMC)

As of version 1.8 of the MxManagementCenter (MxMC), the most important settings on the camera can be made from this program. For Mx6 camera models, the current or a newer version of the camera firmware is required to support that function in MxMC.

Automatic Request for Password Change And Password Length

When you first log in to the camera, the user is automatically prompted to change the default password ('meinsm') for the admin user. The new password to be entered must also be at least 8 characters long.

Improved Dual-Core Support

This firmware version now better supports the dual-core processor architecture of the Mx6 camera model. As a result, more functions can be performed by the camera at the same time, without negatively affecting the frame rate.

Improved Online Help

The online help's layout has been improved and all pages now start with an index including links to the different chapters. Additionally the online help page for the Admin Menu > Storage > Storage on External File Server/Flash Device dialog has been completely redesigned and important notes and best practices, mainly for the MxFFS archive, have been added.

Other Improvements and Changes

Bugfixes

Known Limitations


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Software Release MX-V5.0.2.14 − for Mx6 Camera Models D16, M16, S16, V16, D26, M26, Q26, S26, c26, i26, p26, v26

Creation Date: 2018-02-07

Publishing Date: 2018-02-14

Important Notes

Enhancements and Improvements

ONVIF S Compatibility

With this release, cameras of the Mx6 product range are compliant to the ONVIF S standard. With respect to the predecessor release, the following functions have been added for ONVIF:

Support of the Optional POS Features in MxManagementCenter (MxMC) 1.7 and Higher

From this version on, Mx6 cameras can be integrated with Vectron cash point systems (POS = point of sale) in order to transfer the transaction data of a cash point (e.g., the items on a sales slip) to MxManagementCenter. You can then use MxMC to search and retrieve the transaction data in different views. In addition, MxMC can play back the video recordings for individual transactions.

To set up such a system, a special script for MOBOTIX cameras needs to be installed and configured on the Vectron cash point. To set up the POS system on the camera, you need to follow the steps below:

After that, you need to license the feature in MxMC to be able to configure a new "Retail System" consisting of the cash point and the assigned camera. You can now search the transaction data of the cash point to retrieve the corresponding recordings in the special "Retail view" of MxMC.

For additional information about this new feature, please also see the Online Help of the camera.

Bugfixes

Known Limitations


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Software Release MX-V5.0.1.53 − for Mx6 Camera Models D16, M16, S16, V16, D26, M26, Q26, S26, c26, i26, p26, v26

Creation Date: 2017-10-26

Publishing Date: 2017-11-20

Important Notes

Enhancements and Improvements

MxPEG+ Video Codec

Together with the new Mx6 hardware, the proprietary MxPEG video codec by MOBOTIX has been improved to MxPEG+. This codec is now the default codec on Mx6 cameras, although the visible name has not changed. From this release onward, the "MxPEG" codec actually uses the much more efficient MxPEG+ variant, which uses significantly less bandwidth for displaying and storing the video stream than its predecessor. Using MxPEG+ instead of MxPEG typically saves about 25 % in bandwidth. In dark scenes or at night, the increased efficiency is much more significant – the required bandwidth drops by up to 50 %.

MxActivitySensor 2.1

MxActivitySensor 2.1 of this release uses a significantly improved strategy compared to its predecessor release 2.0. The main objective is to avoid false alarms that occurred in a scene due to changes in illumination or light shadows, for example. The basic functionality and the sensor settings have not changed from MxActivitySensor 2.0.

ONVIF Enhancements

This release contains some important enhancements regarding ONVIF:

Bitrate Control for H.264 Streaming

You can now set H.264 streaming to maintain image quality and to reduce the frame rate instead, if required. This happens only if the defined bit rate (bandwidth) is exceeded. Open the Admin Menu > Camera Administration > Integration Protocols dialog, go to the H.264 Settings section and activate the new Constant Quality Mode option.

Support of the New MxIOBoard-IC Module for x26 Indoor Cameras

Thanks to the new MxIOBoard-IC Module, the c26, i26, p26, and v26 camera models can use two signal inputs and two signal outputs (isolated relay or 12 V self-powered). The module is to be wired fully before it is plugged onto the powered-off camera's mainboard. After finishing the installation and starting the camera, the module is recognized automatically and listed in the Camera Status dialog in the System section.

You can immediately use the signal inputs to define signal event profiles in Setup Menu > Event Overview. Likewise, you can immediately use the signal outputs to define signal output profiles in Admin Menu > Hardware Configuration > Signal Out Profiles. In addition, the signal inputs and outputs are automatically listed in the Admin Menu > Assign Wires dialog so you can use them immediately for door and light features. Input 1 is assigned to the door sensor, Input 2 to the lock sensor, Output 1 is assigned to the door opener and Output 2 to a light switch.

If you want to use one or both signal outputs not as isolated relay outputs, but as self-powered 12 V outputs, you set this mode for the desired outputs in the Admin Menu > Hardware Configuration > Manage Hardware Expansions dialog, MxBus/IO Board section.

Other Enhancements

Bugfixes

Known Limitations


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Software Release MX-V5.0.0.133 − for Mx6 Camera Models D16, M16, S16, V16, D26, M26, Q26, S26, c26, i26, p26, v26 − With Thermal Sensors as well as 6MP and 5MP Image Sensors

Creation Date: 2017-07-21

Publishing Date: 2017-08-08

Important Notes

Enhancements and Improvements

Support of FTPS (TLSv1, TLSv1.1 and TLSv1.2)

This software release supports file transfers of the camera using FTPS (FTP via Transport Layer Security). The supported TLS versions are TLSv1, TLSv1.1 and TLSv1.2.

Other Improvements

Bugfixes

Known Limitations


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Software Release MX-V5.0.0.130 − for Mx6 Camera Models D16, M16, S16, V16, D26, M26, Q26, S26, c26, i26, p26, v26 − With Thermal Sensors as well as 6MP and 5MP Image Sensors

Creation Date: 2017-06-21

Publishing Date: 2017-07-14

Important Notes

Enhancements and Improvements

Support of Mx6 Indoor Camera Models

This software release also supports the new Mx6 indoor camera models i26, c26, p26 and v26. As a consequence, the new features of the Mx6 camera line are also supported on these models (noticeably higher frame rates, H.264 video streaming, ONVIF etc. In addition, the design and the handling of the i26, c26, p26 and v26 cameras does not differ from their predecessor models of the P3 camera line.

Factory Default Settings changed

The following factory default settings have been changed in this version:

Note: If you do not want the ONVIF services to be activated automatically you have to deactivate them explicitely in the dialog mentioned above.

Event Stream Group Right for Integrating Cameras into MxManagementCenter

To integrate a MOBOTIX camera into MxManagementCenter (MxMC), you had to use the access credentials of a user with admin rights on the camera.

This software release provides a better solution: In the Admin Menu > Security > Group Access Control Lists, you can now add a new group with the new Event Stream right. If you are using the credentials of such a user to integrate the camera into MxMC, you can use all features of MxMC (except updating the camera software). In addition, the user cannot make any configuration changes in the browser-based user interface of the camera.

Separating the rights in such a manner has significantly increased the system security, especially where larger installations are concerned.

Enhanced Security Thanks to Special Characters in Passwords

Firmware release MX-V5.0.0.130 (just like MX-V5.0.0.127) allows using special characters to create more complex passwords (Admin Menu > Security > Users and Passwords). This again increases the protection against unwanted camera access. To prevent problems when logging in from different browsers, all printable special characters from the US ASCII character set are allowed:
! " # $ % & ' ( ) * +, −. /:; < = >? @ [ \ ] ^ _ `{ | } ~.

ONVIF Description

The online help for the ONVIF integration has been extended.

Bugfixes

Known Limitations


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Software Release MX-V5.0.0.127 − for Mx6 Camera Models D16, M16, S16, V16, D26, M26, Q26, S26 − with Thermal Sensors as well as 6MP and 5MP Image Sensors

Creation Date: 2017-04-27

Publishing Date: 2017-05-05

Important Notes

The following list describes the new features, enhancements and improvements as compared to the P3 models (software releases V4.x).

Enhancements and Improvements

Higher Frame Rates

As mentioned above, the Mx6 models display noticeably higher frame rates with less variation as in the P3 camera models. This is mainly due to the higher computational power of the dual-core processor. The frame rate can reach 42 fps when using HD image size (1280x720), the MxPEG video codec and Normal image quality:

Note: Select the Fast image program from the Quick Controls to automatically apply all settings that result in the highest possible frame rate.

RTP Streaming, H.264 and Genetec Integration

To integrate these camera models into other video management systems, you can use RTP streaming, H.264 and a special Genetec integration interface. Open the Admin Menu > Camera Administration > Integration Protocols dialog and activate the RTP Server and/or Genetec options to use these features.

Notes:

ONVIF Integration

This is the first software release to support the ONVIF standard; it complies with many basic features of this global and open communication standard. Currently, the following ONVIF features or codecs and protocols are supported: Discovery Service, Digest Authentication, Scope Management, Profiles with Reset via Web UI, H.264, M-JPEG, RTP, TCP, HTTP.

Open the Admin Menu > Camera Administration > Integration Protocols dialog and activate the ONVIF option to activate the integrated ONVIF support. If you activate the ONVIF Discovery Service in this dialog, you can also define ONVIF Scopes and show or delete the ONVIF Profiles created by an ONVIF video management system.

Bugfixes

The bugfixes described in the following refer to the software releases prior to release V5.0.0.127 that had been delivered with the first Mx6 camera models.

Known Limitations


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