Cannot successfully connect to an Axis camera

Technical Issues

Cannot successfully connect to an Axis camera

When you click the Control tab in the ViewWatch Camera Definition window, ViewWatch opens an Axis webpage instead of displaying the controls.

After connecting to an Axis camera with the Camera Configuration Utility on the "Using Server" tab, there are no options in the drop-down controls in the Configuration section.

After connecting to an Axis camera with the Camera Configuration Utility on the "IP Address" tab, the program displays the message "Axis camera profile not found" and does not populate the Configuration section.

The problem is caused by a missing Axis camera profile file. Axis camera profile files are named <axis model>.xml and are stored in the e-Watch executables folder, typically
"C:\e-watch\exe". Profile files for several supported Axis cameras are provided when SiteWatch is installed, and additional Axis camera profile files can be downloaded from the e-Watch FTP site at ftp://www.e-watch.com/Axis. The name of the Axis camera profile file must exactly match the Axis camera model stored in the camera.

Determine the Axis camera model stored in the camera by opening a web browser and entering the following URL where <cameraip> is the IP address of the Axis camera.

http://<cameraip>/axis-cgi/admin/param.cgi?action=list&group=Brand.ProdShortName

You can also determine the Axis camera model stored in the camera by connecting to the Axis camera with the Camera Configuration Utility on the "IP Address" tab, and noting the displayed value of "Model" on the Properties tab in the Connected Camera section.

If the Axis camera model is not one of the models supported by e-Watch, you can contact e-Watch to find out when whether your Axis camera model can be supported.

The Axis camera model can be supported by e-Watch but differ from the the name of any of the existing Axis camera profiles files. For example, the Axis camera model stored in the camera might be "Axis 206 Rev 2". Axis 206 cameras are supported by e-Watch and there is an Axis camera profile file named "Axis 206.xml" in the e-Watch executables folder. The problems described above occur because there is not a file named "Axis 206 Rev 2.xml" in the e-Watch executables folder.

To resolve this problem:

Make a copy of the Axis camera profile file that matches your camera model and rename it to the Axis camera model stored in the camera. In the example above, make a copy of "Axis 206.xml" and rename it to "Axis 206 Rev 2.xml".
Save the new file in the e-Watch executables folder, typically "C:\e-watch\exe".
Stop and re-start the e-Watch Service.