Vbrick Encoder

vbrick encoder v4.x

Getting Started Guide

Vbrick 2018
Copyright
© 2018 Vbrick Systems, Inc. (d/b/a Vbrick), all rights reserved.
This publication contains confidential, proprietary and trade secret information. No part of this document may copied,
altered or shared without prior written permission from Vbrick. This document is subject to change without notice.
Vbrick, the Vbrick logo, Rev, and all Vbrick products are trademarks of Vbrick. All other trademarks are the property
of their respective owners.

FCC Part 15
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for Class A digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of
the FCC rules, Class A for OC-3C Interface, Class A for the SDI Interface. These limits are designed to provide
reasonable protection against harmful interference when the equipment is operated in a commercial environment. This
equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the
instruction manual, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. Operation of this equipment in a
residential area is likely to cause harmful interference in which case the user will be required to correct the interference
at their own expense. This Class A digital apparatus meets all requirements of the Canadian Interference-Causing
Equipment Regulations. Cet appareil numerique de la Classe A respecte toutes les exigences do reglement dur le
materiel brouilleur du Canada.

Vbrick declares that this product conforms to the following certificate standards for electromagnetic
emissions when installed according to the manufacturer's specifications: EN 55022:2006; EN 55024:1998,
A1:2001, A2:2003; EN 61000-3-2:2005; EN 61000-3-3:1995, A1:2001, A2:2005.
 Contents
1. Getting Started Guide
Chapter and Topic Organization. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vii

2. Introduction
Encoder Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Encoder Features and Benefits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Decoder Features and Benefits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Device Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Encoder Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Decoder Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

3. Quick Start Installation

Environmental Considerations for Encoder Installation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Mounting Best Practices for Encoder Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Quick Start Installation Steps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Step 1: Connect Audio and Video Connectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Step 2: Connect to the IP Network. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Step 3: Power-on the Encoder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Step 4: Find or Set an IP Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Step 5: Verify Streaming Video and Audio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Install Blade Encoders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Front Panel LCD Display Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

4. Rack Mount Shelf and Blade Setup

Rack Mount Shelf Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Vbrick 9000 Blades . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Blade LCD Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Vbrick 9000 Blade Installation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Unpack and Inspect. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Install the Blades . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Software Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Shelf Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Power Supplies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Fan Tray . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Air Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Blade Safety Precautions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

5. Management Tools
Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
VBAdmin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Vbrick Encoder Getting Started iii

 VBDirectory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Command Line Interface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
SNMP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Web Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Auto Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

6. Software Upgrade
Install a Software Upgrade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Configure VBDownload Folders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

7. VBAdmin
Using VBAdmin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

8. Command Line Interface

Connection Modes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Connect through the COM Port with HyperTerminal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Connect with Telnet or SSH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Use the Management Information Base (MIB) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Find Encoder Parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
MIB Files. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Set Encoder Parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Begin or End an Edit Session . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Get or Set a Variable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Get or Set a Table Variable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Apply Changes to Parameter Configuration Updates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Save Changes to Parameter Configuration Updates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Error Handling in the CLI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Reset the Encoder in the CLI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
CLI Examples . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

9. Web Services
Web Services Interface. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

10. Streaming Video Basics

Video Basics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Getting the Best Video . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Network Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Assigning Multicast Addresses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Vbrick Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Serial Port Passthrough . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
How Passthrough Works . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Serial Port Passthrough Using Telnet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

iv © 2018 Vbrick Systems, Inc.

11. Vbrick iPhone App
App Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Get the iPhone App . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Monitor an Encoder with the iPhone App . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Run a Script . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Create a Script File . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Change the Function Key Labels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

12. Vbrick 9000 Series Reference

Device Interfaces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Video-In . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Audio-In . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
COM 1/COM 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Ethernet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
External Event Triggering. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

Vbrick Encoder Getting Started v

vi © 2018 Vbrick Systems, Inc.
Getting Started Guide
Getting Started documentation topics explain initial set up and installation of a Vbrick 9000
Encoder. Management tools and descriptions of some of the fundamental concepts behind
encoder technology are available. How to launch the VBAdmin management interface to
configure the encoder and control encoder functions is also covered.

Chapter and Topic Organization

Online help may be used as reference material or how-to materials for specific use cases.
For best results, please familiarize yourself with the way the information is organized.
If you find errors or omissions, click the e-mail icon in the upper-right corner of this window
or send your feedback to [email protected]

Introduction Lists specifications and describes features and functions

of the encoder.
Quick Start Installation Provides general configuration recommendations as well
as how to cable the encoder and connect it to the
network.
Rack Mount Shelf and Blade Explains how to set up and configure a Rack Mount Shelf
Setup that houses from 1 to 11 blade encoders.
Software Upgrade Explains how to upgrade the encoder’s software when a
new version is released.
Management Tools Overview of the management configuration tools
available for the encoder. These include the VBAdmin
Web interface, Telnet, SNMP, and the command line.
VBAdmin How to access the VBAdmin application to manage
Vbrick configuration from an external Web browser.
Command Line Interface How to configure an encoder from the command line
using Telnet or HyperTerminal (when an Internet
connection is not available).
Web Services How to use the standards-based SOAP interface to
programatically interface to the encoder.
Streaming Video Basics Explains some of the fundamentals behind encoder
technology including compression techniques, network
concepts, serial port passthrough, and other video basics.
Vbrick iPhone App How to use an iPhone application to check parameters
and run scripts.
Vbrick 9000 Series Reference Provides back panel drawings, COM port pinouts, LED
descriptions, and other miscellaneous information.

Vbrick Encoder Getting Started vii

viii © 2018 VBrick Systems, Inc.
 Chapter 1

Introduction
Encoder Overview
The Vbrick 9000 Encoder/Decoder enables anyone to encode video from an uncompressed
source—such as a camera or TV broadcast—and stream it live onto a network for viewing on
PCs, MACs, tablets, televisions, or smartphones. The encoder is the first portable device that
streams 1080p60 HD video from multiple sources at the same time—and the first line of
encoders to support up to four channels of HD video. The Vbrick 9000 Decoders deliver
high-quality, low latency video with exceptional performance, ease-of-use, and flexibility. The
decoder is fully compatible with encoders and supports single or dual channel HD decoding
at either 1080p or 720p resolutions (or decodes up to D1 resolution at lower data rates).
Building upon more than a decade of experience in engineering the most widely deployed
enterprise encoders, the Vbrick encoder sets a new benchmark in H.264 encoding
performance. Based on purpose-built hardware and running a real-time operating system,
this unique encoder approach combines encoding, networking, stream serving and recording
functions to deliver unmatched price-performance and ease-of-use.

Applications
• Television Distribution – Deliver selected television channels—including news and
financial programming—to an unlimited number of desktops and displays across your
existing LAN, WAN or IP network. There is no need for extra cabling or a dedicated
network and you can reduce TV headend rack space by 75%.
• Telemedicine – Use the most advanced encoding standards, highest resolution, and
highest frame rate available to watch intricate operations and other medical procedures—
applications where image quality cannot be compromised.
• Surveillance and Monitoring – Oversee roadways, seaports, factory floors and security
borders; survey battlefield situations and maintain situation awareness with an
unprecedented level of video quality ensuring access to detailed and accurate
information.
• Digital Signage – Deploy signage economically by encoding the content once and
distributing over your network to cost-effective set-top boxes. Feed an unlimited number
of digital signs with four different HD sources using a single encoder.
• Meeting and Event Broadcasts – Deliver high-impact, rich media event broadcasts. Reach
a large audience of customers, constituents, employees and others over the corporate
network and the Internet to communicate a uniform message.

Vbrick Encoder Getting Started 1

 • Extending Videoconferencing – If you already have a videoconferencing solution,
Vbrick's encoder can leverage your investment by extending its reach. Your
videoconferencing suite, combined with our streaming technology, becomes a mini-
broadcast studio, enabling you to reach a much wider audience.
• Broadcasting Live to the Internet – Combine the flexibility and reliability of Vbrick's
encoder with the global reach of Vbrick's Online Streaming Services (OSS).

En c o d e r Fe a t u re s a n d B e n e f i t s
• Capture High Definition Video – Encode and stream HD 720p and 1080p video at 60
frames-per-second, the highest frame rate available from standard video sources. This
provides incredible video quality at bandwidths of 1 Mb/sec and up.
• Capture Multiple Video Sources on a Single Encoder – Dual-channel and quad-channel
models simultaneously encode and stream HD video from multiple sources in a single
encoder, leading to economical deployments and space savings of up to 75%.
• Manage the Encoder Easily and Securely – Control and monitor the encoder with
Vbrick’s iPhone application. Integrate into any IT infrastructure with a rich set of
management protocols and options that let you manage, configure and lock down the
encoder. Use Vbrick’s VBAdmin tool to configure and monitor the encoder. Use
command line interface over Telnet, SSH, or serial port to configure the encoder.
• Transport Video Over a Wide Variety of Network Transport Protocols – Video streams
are compatible with Adobe Flash™ Player, Microsoft Silverlight, Microsoft Windows
Media™ Player, Apple QuickTime and other players. Network friendly operation –
meaning everything from streaming with the most appropriate bit rates to the inclusion
of advanced features like persistent push – allows Vbrick encoder streams to tunnel
through firewalls and traverse any network.
• Note: Windows Media Player will play streams from the 9000 if both H.264 codec
(for video) and AAC codec (for audio) are installed. Currently, Vbrick does not
provide this codec.
• Integrate into a Complete Enterprise IP Video Platform – Vbrick’s encoder works
seamlessly with our VEMs Mystro™ media management solution and the entire Vbrick
Enterprise Video Architecture (VEVA). By making video accessible, personal and
scalable, VEMS Mystro eliminates multiple barriers to the adoption of enterprise IP
video.
• Multicast, Unicast and Serve from the Same Device – Use multicast technology to reach
an unlimited number of users on your LAN or push video over point-to-point unicast
connections to reach remote locations and CDNs. Serve and support hundreds of players
that request video directly from a single encoder.

D e c o d e r Fe a t u re s a n d B e n e f i t s
• Dependable embedded operating system and dedicated decoding hardware delivers
highest reliability for mission-critical applications.
• HD video output is ideal for large displays and video backhaul applications.
• Flexible networking and bandwidth options allow placement anywhere in the network.
• Create high density installation using decoder blades in a rack mount chassis.
• Efficient H.264 codec delivers the highest video quality at the lowest bandwidth.
• Low latency enables near real-time applications and two-way video.

2 © 2018 VBrick Systems, Inc.

 Introduction

Device Specifications
En c o d e r Sp e c i f i c a t i o n s
Table 1. Encoder Specifications
Video Encoder • H.264 Encoding
(Standard Definition) - Input format: 1080p50/60, 1080i50/60, 720p50/60, 576i/p, 480i/p, many
PC resolutions.
- Encoded resolutions: 4:3 Aspect Ratio Resolutions: D1 (720x480, 720x576),
SIF (NTSC), QSIF (NTSC), CIF (PAL), QCIF (PAL), 400x304, 384x288
(PAL), 640x480, 320x240, 128x96, 192x144
- 16:9 Aspect Ratio Resolutions: 656x368, 512x288 (PAL), 256x144
- Video Frame Rates: 2, 3, 5, 6, 7.5, 10, 15, 30 fps (NTSC), 2.5, 5, 12.5, 25, 50
(PAL)
- Constant Bit Rate / Constant Frame Rate
- User-defined key frame interval
- Rates: 32Kbps – 20Mbps
- Baseline, Main, and High profile
• Inputs: HDMI/Component, HDMI/VGA, or SD/HD/3G-SDI/Composite/
HDMI/Component
• Rate control
• Deblocking filter
• Entropy Coding: CAVLC, CABAC
Video Encoder • H.264 Encoding
(High Definition) - High Definition input formats: 1080p50/60, 1080i50/60, 720p50/60, 576i/
p, 480i/p, many PC resolutions.
- Encoded resolutions: 16:9 Aspect Ratio Resolutions: All standard definition
resolutions listed above, plus 960 x 544, 720p (1280 x 720p), 1080p (1920 x
1080)
- Video Frame Rates: 2, 3, 5, 6, 7.5, 10, 15, 30 fps (NTSC), 2.5, 5, 12.5, 25
(PAL), 50, 60 fps
- Constant Bit Rate / Constant Frame Rate
- User-defined key frame interval
- Rates: 32Kbps – 20Mbps
- Baseline, Main, and High profile
• Inputs: HDMI/Component, HDMI/VGA, or SD/HD/3G-SDI/Composite/
HDMI/Component
• Rate control
• Deblocking filter
• Entropy Coding: CAVLC, CABAC
Audio Encoder • AAC-LC and AAC-HE Encoding
- Sample Frequency 8 Khz to 48 Khz
- Rates: 8 Kbps to 256 Kbps
- Audio Modes: Stereo, Mono
- Inputs: Stereo Unbalanced at line, microphone or high headroom input
levels, and microphone via analog audio inputs. Digital audio can also come
through the HDMI input. Stereo Balanced through optional XLR cable on
SDI/Composite/HDMI/Component models
• Audio Processing:
- Automatic Volume Control (AVC) with configurable attack and release rates
and minimum/maximum levels
- Noise Gate with configurable threshold
- Configurable gain from -96dB to 10dB

Vbrick Encoder Getting Started 3

Push • IIS Smooth Streaming to Microsoft IIS Server
• 25 concurrent unicast and multicast destinations
• Automatic Unicast/RTSP Announce
• RTP
• Transport Stream
• RTMP
Server • Live multicast server
• Live streaming server—up to 200 concurrent live streams
Ethernet Network • 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet via RJ-45, Static, or DHCP
• Auto sense Full / Half duplex
Protocols Unicast / Multicast, DiffServ (QoS), UDP / IPv4 and IPv6 / RTSP / RTCP / RTP
/ HTTP / RTSP Interleave / IGMP / MPEG-2 Transport Stream / Automatic
Unicast (RTSP ANNOUNCE) / HTTPS Management / SSH / RTMP / IIS
Smooth Streaming / FEC
Traffic Shaping • RTP Metering
• CBR Transport Stream
• VBR Transport Stream with configurable latency
KLV Metadata • LDS received over the serial port or IP and multiplexed into transport stream
(one channel over IP, up to two channels over serial)
• CoT over serial port or IP converted to LDS and multiplexed into transport
stream (one channel over IP, up to two channels over serial)
Management • Two serial ports for local maintenance and data transport
• Management Web Pages over HTTP or HTTPS
• SNMP, ssh, telnet
• soap/xml Web Service
• iPhone application
• Front panel display on Enterprise Models
Dimensions Encoder: 1.75” x 8.1” x 8.75”
Weight 2 pounds
Temperature Range • Industrial Encoder: 0 to +70 degrees Celsius
• Enterprise Encoder: 0 to +50 degrees Celsius
Power Input: 100 to 240 VAC, 50 / 60 Hz, Output: 24V DC, 5A
Regulatory FCC Part 15, CE

4 © 2018 VBrick Systems, Inc.

 Introduction

D e c o d e r Sp e c i f i c a t i o n s
Table 1. Decoder Specifications
Transport and • H.264 in RTP
Networking Protocols • Receive streams: 32Kbps to 20Mbps
• Unicast or Multicast over RTP/UDP
• IGMP
• Autotune streams from Vbrick Encoders
Video Decoder • H.264 Baseline, Main, and High Profile
• Streaming resolution and frame rates up to 1080p60
• Scaling from any input resolution and frame rate to match output resolution
and framerate
• Configurable letter box or stretch to screen aspect ratio
• 4:3 and Widescreen 16:9 Frame Aspect Ratios
• Output Resolutions: 1080p, 1080i, 720, 576p, 576i, 480p, 480i
• Output frame rates: 60, 59.94, 50, 30, 29.97, 25
Audio Decoder AAC-LC, AAC-HE
Video Outputs • Analog: Composite and YPbPr component video
• Digital: SD/HD/3G-SDI, HDMI
• HDMI, SDI connectors mounted directly on encoder/blade
• Breakout cable to BNC connectors for Analog Audio, Composite Video, and
Component Video
Audio Outputs • Analog: Stereo Line Level Unbalanced BNC, Balanced XLR (through optional
XLR cable)
• SDI audio
• HDMI Audio
Network Connectivity • 10/100/100 Ethernet
• Auto senses Full/Half Duplex
• Static IP address or DHCP
Management • Management Web Pages over HTTP or HTTPS from integrated Web server
• SNMP
• soap/xml Web Service
• ssh
• telnet
• iPhone app
• RS-232/422
• Front panel display on Enterprise Models
Dimensions Decoder: 1.75” x 8.1” x 8.75”
Power Supply Input 100 to 240 VAC, 50 / 60 Hz, Output: 24V DC, 5A
Regulatory Approvals FCC Part 15, CE
Protocols Unicast/Multicast, DiffServ (QoS), UDP, IPv4 and IPv6, RTP, SAP, IGMP,
HTTP/HTTPS Management, SSH
Maintenance/Control Two serial ports for local maintenance and data transport
Port
Weight 2 pounds
Operating • Industrial Decoder: 0 to +70 degrees Celsius
Temperature Range • Enterprise Decoder: 0 to +50 degrees Celsius

Vbrick Encoder Getting Started 5

Options XLR audio cable

Table 2. Rack Mount Chassis Specifications

Rack Mount Chassis • Height: 14”, 8 rack units
• Depth: 11”, Allows for two rack mount chassis mounted back-to-back
• Weight: 46.7 pounds fully loaded
• Maximum Channel Density: 88 channels in 8U of rack space with back to back
chassis mounting
• Operating Temperature Range: 0 to 40C
• Storage Temperature Range: -20 to 70C
• Regulatory Compliance UL: FCC Part 15 Class A, CE, RoHS (5 of 6)
• Cooling Capacity: 50W per blade with one failed fan
• Hot Swap: Power Supplies, Fan Tray, Encoder Blades, Air Filter Media
• AC Power: 485 watts per power supply, 47 to 63Hz, 8 amps at 90-132VAC, 4
amps at 180-264VAC
Grounding • ESD wrist strap included with ground connection to chassis for user blade
insertion/removal
• Chassis ground connection lug
LEDs • - Power Supply Failure LED (for each supply and for enclosure)
• - Fan Status LED
• - Fan Tray Hot Swap LED
Alarm Audible Alarm on Power Supply Failure

Table 3. Supported Browsers

Browser (Using VBAdmin) Version
Microsoft Internet Explorer 9.0 or higher
Mozilla Firefox 26.0 or higher
Chrome 31.0 or higher
Safari 6.1 (mac) or higher

Table 4. Recommended Encoder Players

Player † Vendor Notes
QuickTime 7.0 Apple If not installed, download application from Apple Website.
VLC 1.0.1 VideoLAN Not fully tested or supported by Vbrick.

† Use version shown or higher.

6 © 2018 VBrick Systems, Inc.

 Introduction

Table 5. Recommended Desktop Requirements

• Ethernet LAN with Multicast IGMP Version 2
• Windows XP (SP3), Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8
• Mac OS X 10.3 (Power PC)
• Mac OS X 10.4 (Intel-based PC)
• 750 MHz Pentium III processor (Windows)
• 128 MB RAM
• SVGA video card 640x480, 256 colors or better
• Windows or Macintosh-compatible sound device
• Minimum 5 MB hard disk space for installation
• Microsoft DirectX Media 8.1 or higher
• Microsoft Windows Media Player 9.0 (Windows XP), 11 (Vista, Windows 7)
- Note: Windows Media Player will play streams from the 9000 if both H.264 codec (for
video) and AAC codec (for audio) are installed. Currently, Vbrick does not provide
this codec.
• Vbrick StreamPlayer 5.2 or Apple QuickTime 7.0
• Vbrick VBDirectory 5.4

Vbrick Encoder Getting Started 7

8 © 2018 VBrick Systems, Inc.
 Chapter 2

Quick Start Installation

The following topics explain how to quickly set up and configure the Vbrick 9000 Encoder.
The information here is also contained and is interchangeable with the Quick Start Guide that
comes packaged with the encoder. Either may be used.
Before proceeding, open the box and inspect the components. Each shipment comes with
the components in the table below.

Vbrick 9000 Encoder Number

Vbrick 9000 Encoder 1 per order
Quick Start Guide 1 per order
Power supply and cable 1 per encoder
Serial cable and adapter 1 per encoder
Ethernet cable 1 per encoder
HDMI cable and adapters 1 per channel
A/V breakout cables 1 per slot
The encoder is shipped with all appropriate cables and connectors. The encoder(s) you
purchased may vary slightly from the illustration(s) depicted below but the basic elements are
common to all encoders regardless.

Figure 1. Quad Channel Encoder (no SDI)

Figure 2. Dual Channel Encoder (with SDI)

Part Description
HDMI High Definition Multimedia Interface that transmits uncompressed
digital data.

Vbrick Encoder Getting Started 9

 Part Description
A/V Attach Vbrick "breakout" cable with color-coded (Y, Pb, Pr)
component connectors.
SDI Serial Data Interface typically used for broadcast-grade streaming
video.
Power In 24 VDC Power input. LED illuminates when power is applied.
Ethernet RJ-45 connector. Connect to the network.
COM1/COM2 • COM1 is used with HyperTerminal for encoder configuration.
• COM2 is used for Serial Port Passthrough or KLV metadata.
USB Use to attach an external storage device.

Environmental Considerations for Encoder Installation

Airflow and ventilation are primary concerns when considering where to install an encoder.
Each encoder has slots and openings to guard against overheating and guarantee reliable
performance.
Keep in mind the following:
• Never block encoder slots or openings or cover them when placing it in a cabinet, rack,
or shelf.
• Never place an encoder inside a built-in enclosure such as a bookcase; unless proper
ventilation and airflow is available.
• In all cases, the encoder must be separated from other products by at least two inches on
each side and at least four inches above and below in order to provide maximum airflow
and circulation.
• The encoder should never be placed on top or near any heat-radiating product or
equipment.
• The encoder should not be used near water sources or high-humidity areas. Side
ventilation provides the best air circulation. There are vents on each side of the encoder
and a fan that provides circulation.
• If encoders are rack-mounted in a cabinet and air flow is blocked, you may need to
provide a vent hole or a notch on the side of the rack that is roughly equal in size to the
vents on the encoder.
• You need to make sure there is at least two inches of space between the encoder and the
edge of the rack if it is rack-mounted.

Note: If you are mounting the device on a wall or ceiling, the best option is
an open shelf or an open mount. Poor ventilation can affect performance
and may cause the encoder to fail prematurely.

Mounting Best Practices for Encoder Installation

In general, encoders are designed for rooms that are comfortable for humans (approx. 70°F
or 21°C) with adequate airflow and ventilation as noted. Wall mounting will typically block
the side vents and is not recommended. Mounting above a drop ceiling is also discouraged.
Ceiling spaces have little protection against heat, cold, dust, etc.
Some common practices to avoid include:

10 © 2018 VBrick Systems, Inc.

 Quick Start Installation

• Attempts to "hide" encoders in enclosed areas.

• Closed cabinets with poor air circulation or no air circulation.
• Encoders mounted too close to other heat sources or other electrical devices.

Quick Start Installation Steps

Use the topics listed below, in the order shown, to quickly set up your encoder. This
information may also be found on the Quick Start Guide that is provided with your encoder.

Step 1: Connect Audio and Video Connectors

The audio and video connectors allow the encoder to receive audio and/or video from an
input source such as a video camera or a DVD player. (If you have a rack mount shelf, be sure
to install any encoder blades before performing this step. See: Install Blade Encoders)
1. Connect the video. On the back panel, connect one end of the Vbrick-provided
“breakout” cable to the Micro-D15 A/V connector in Slot 1.

2. Connect the Channel 1 component video cables. Using the labeled component
connectors on the other end of the cable, connect the three “channel 1” component
video cables (YPbPr) to the three source video connectors on your video camera or
DVD player.

Note: There are two channels on each breakout cable for a maximum of
four video channels. For quick start purposes, you only need to connect one
set of three component connectors.

3. Connect the audio. Connect the “channel 1” (left and right) audio cables on the breakout
cable to the source audio connectors.

Note: The previous steps explain how to setup a 9000 Series encoder
or a blade using “component” connections. If you will be using the
Vbrick-provided HDMI (or SDI) cable, you will need to change the
How is Video Connected parameter in the VBAdmin management
application (Encoder Configuration > Video) after connecting to the
network.

Step 2: Connect to the IP Network

Step 3: Power-on the Encoder
Step 4: Find or Set an IP Address
Step 5: Verify Streaming Video and Audio

Vbrick Encoder Getting Started 11

 Install Blade Encoders

St e p 2: C o n n e c t t o t h e I P N e t w o rk
Use the provided Ethernet cable to connect the encoder to your IP network.
1. Plug one end of the Ethernet cable into the Ethernet port (to the left of the COM ports)
on the encoder.
2. Plug the other end of the Ethernet cable into a network port or switch.

Step 1: Connect Audio and Video Connectors

Step 3: Power-on the Encoder
Step 4: Find or Set an IP Address
Step 5: Verify Streaming Video and Audio
Install Blade Encoders

St e p 3: P o w e r- o n t h e En c o d e r
Attach the provided power cable to the encoder or rack mount shelf (which has two cables)
and to an appropriate AC power source(s) as explained below. When powered-on, the
encoder will automatically run a power-on self-test sequence.

1. For standalone encoders, insert the power connector that comes with the encoder into
the 24 VDC power receptacle in the lower left corner of the back panel.
2. For a rack mount shelf, insert the two power connectors into the dual power supplies on
the back panel.
3. Connect the other power connector end(s) to a conventional 110/220 VAC power
source.
4. Wait until the encoder or blade completes the boot sequence before continuing. This may take 1–3
minutes and the unit will self-test while displaying status messages on the optional LCD
display on the front panel.
5. The encoder will then search for a DHCP server and display the IP address on the LCD
panel (if present). If this process completes successfully, note the IP address and skip to
step five. See: Step 5: Verify Streaming Video and Audio.
6. If you do not have an LCD display, and/or your network is not DHCP-enabled, you will
need to connect an ASCII terminal to the serial port to find or set the IP address. This is
explained in step four. See: Step 4: Find or Set an IP Address.

Step 1: Connect Audio and Video Connectors

Step 2: Connect to the IP Network
Step 4: Find or Set an IP Address
Step 5: Verify Streaming Video and Audio
Install Blade Encoders

12 © 2018 VBrick Systems, Inc.

 Quick Start Installation

St e p 4: Fi n d o r Se t a n I P Ad d re s s
All encoders are configured by default with DHCP enabled. This means that when you power
on the encoder, if a DHCP server is present on your network, the encoder will automatically
obtain its IP Address and Subnet mask from the DHCP server. If the encoder cannot find a
DHCP server, you will need to set a static IP address manually using the serial (COM) port.
Similarly, if your network requires a Gateway IP Address, and this is not provided by the
DHCP server, you will also need to enter this address manually.
 To Find or set an IP address manually using the serial port:
1. Connect an ASCII terminal from the RJ-45 serial port (COM1) on the encoder to the
COM port of the computer or terminal device (usually COM1), using the provided serial
cable.
2. From the Windows Start menu, go to: Start > All Programs > Accessories >
Communications > HyperTerminal and press Enter to display the login prompt.
Configure the Port Settings for 9600 baud, 8 Data bits, no Parity, 1 Stop bit (8N1).
3. Login to the encoder using "admin" (case-sensitive) for both User Name and Password.
4. When the Command Line Interface is displayed, type nt to display the Ethernet Network
Options. This will let you set IP Address, Subnet Mask, and other options.
5. When finished, type apply and press Enter to save your changes.

Step 1: Connect Audio and Video Connectors

Step 2: Connect to the IP Network
Step 3: Power-on the Encoder
Step 5: Verify Streaming Video and Audio
Install Blade Encoders

St e p 5: Ve ri f y St re a m i n g Vi d e o a n d Au d i o
The last step is to verify the encoder is running properly and streaming audio and video.
Assuming you connected a video source in step one, you can use the VBAdmin management
application or a Vbrick StreamPlayer to verify that video is streaming from the encoder.

Vbrick Encoder Getting Started 13

  To Verify Operation with VBAdmin (Windows or Macintosh)
You can verify operation on Windows or Macintosh desktops by playing the stream directly
from the encoder using the VBAdmin management application. This method requires the
Apple QuickTime plugin.
1. Open a browser and launch VBAdmin with the encoder IP Address (step 3 or step 4) in
the following format:
http://<encoder_ip_address>
Then login with admin as both the username and password credentials.

Note: These steps assume that the video source you connected in step 1 is
streaming at 1080i/60. If not streaming at 1080i/60, go to the Encoder
Configuration > Video page in VBAdmin and set Video Format to match
your actual video source.

2. Navigate to Encoder Configuration > Servers > Edit button. Then click "Click Here to
Play Stream." This will launch the stream using the QuickTime plugin. QuickTime 7.0 or
higher is required. If QuickTime is not installed, you will be prompted to download it
from Apple.

Note: If you have streaming problems with Quicktime 7.0, go to Edit >
Preferences > QuickTime Preferences > Advanced > Video > DirectX and
uncheck "Enable Direct3D video acceleration."

 To Verify Operation with StreamPlayer (Windows only):

You can verify operation on Windows desktops by playing the stream directly from the
encoder with StreamPlayer 5.3. Vbrick's StreamPlayer application lets you receive and play
streaming video originating from the encoder on a PC. You can download and install
StreamPlayer 5.3 from the Vbrick Support Services Downloads Website. Once StreamPlayer
is installed:
1. Launch the StreamPlayer application. Go to Start > All Programs > Vbrick >
StreamPlayer.
2. In the IP Address field (near bottom of player) type the following text and press Enter:
vbrtsp://<encoder_ip_address>/vbstream1s1
(type vbstream1s2...1s3...1s4 to test other channels)
3. This will launch the stream in your configured media player. If you hear audio and see
video, you are successfully streaming from the Vbrick encoder to your local PC.

Step 1: Connect Audio and Video Connectors

Step 2: Connect to the IP Network
Step 3: Power-on the Encoder
Step 4: Find or Set an IP Address
Install Blade Encoders

14 © 2018 VBrick Systems, Inc.

 Quick Start Installation

I n s t a ll B la d e En c o d e rs
The Vbrick 9000 Encoder Rack Mount Shelf is a customized enclosure for Vbrick 9000
blades that lets you mix and match 7000 encoder blades and 9000 encoder blades on the same
shelf. It provides common redundant power sources and common cooling, and supports up
to 11 H.264 blade encoders. In general, the blades are fully-functional encoders housed
within a shelf rather than as standalone encoders. Each blade is configured independently of
the others and has its own network connection and IP address. If you purchased blades with
your order they will be packaged separately and not installed in the shelf prior to shipment.
Like the encoder, each blade is configured by default for DHCP. Each blade is connected and
configured in the same manner as a standalone encoder. If you have a rack mount shelf, the
first thing you will need to do is install the blades.
 To install the blades:
1. Find the anti-static wrist strap that was shipped with your order and attach the banana
pin to the receptacle in the upper right corner of the shelf.
2. Unpack and inspect each blade. Remove and save as many blank filler panels as
necessary.
3. Install blades from left to right beginning in Slot 1. Be sure each blade is properly seated
in its guides before connecting to the backplane. (The Slot 1 blade will report backplane
data to VBAdmin if service is ever required.)
4. Each encoder slot has top and bottom card guides. Work carefully and be sure the encoder
card is properly seated in the guides before connecting to the backplane.
5. When properly seated, hand-tighten top and bottom spring-loaded screws.
6. Repeat for each blade and then proceed to standard quick start steps, beginning with step
one (See: Step 1: Connect Audio and Video Connectors).

Note: Before installing blades, you may want to install ground screws (not
included) in the unpainted area on each side of enclosure. Use #10-32
machine screws to attach earth ground. When rack-mounting, you can also
adjust the mounting ears on each side of the unit if necessary.
See: Rack Mount Shelf and Blade Setup

This completes the initial installation and verification. If you can stream and hear video and
audio you are ready to configure your encoder for the real-world streaming video
requirements at your site.
The next step is to review the Vbrick Encoder v4.8 Admin Guide. This document explains all
of the possible video and audio configuration options you are likely to use.

Step 1: Connect Audio and Video Connectors

Step 2: Connect to the IP Network
Step 3: Power-on the Encoder
Step 4: Find or Set an IP Address
Step 5: Verify Streaming Video and Audio

Vbrick Encoder Getting Started 15

Front Panel LCD Display Messages
The encoder (and blade) has a read-only 2 line x 20 character LCD screen for informational
messages about the encoder and its configuration. When first powered on, it runs through a
power on self-test sequence during which a series of messages are displayed. During normal
operation (when the self tests are complete) the encoder will cycle through a series of
messages as outlined in Table 1 below. As noted, the display is read-only and cannot be used
to set configuration parameters. The first two messages are user-configurable and can be
modified on the System Configuration > General page in VBAdmin. The backlight color of
the LCD display will alert you to configuration errors or warnings.

Vbrick Systems
Release: x.x.x

Figure 1. Front Panel LCD (with Default Data)

Table 1 shows the sequence of messages displayed on the LCD panel. Note that on
encoder-only models, you will see messages relevant to the encoder. On decoder-only models
you will see those relevant to the decoder. On combination models you will see messages for
the encoder followed by messages for the decoder. The LCD display scrolls at the rate of one
new message every three seconds.

Tip: The first two messages in the front panel display are user-configurable
and can be modified (or hidden) on the System Configuration > General
page in VBAdmin. See the Front Panel Settings topic for details.

Table 1. LCD Message Sequence

Sequence Message Description
1 Vbrick Systems Basic information (including user description, IP
Release x.x.x
address, host name/MAC address) is enabled by
IP xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx
Host Name/MAC Address default and always present unless disabled in
VBAdmin.
2 Edit Mode An Edit message is displayed when an Edit session is
in progress.
3 Limited Run Mode Warning messages are displayed if present.
Video Input Problems

4 Program x (1–4) Encoder messages are displayed if an encoder is

Multicast
present. They show program information for each
Unicast
Served configured transmitter and server.

5 RX x Connected Decoder messages are displayed if a decoder is

Program Name
present. They show receiver connected, program
Output Format/Frame Rate
name, and output format/frame rate.
6 POST Errors Error messages, if present, are shown last.

Table 2. Backlight Color Definitions

State Backlight
Normal Light Blue

16 © 2018 VBrick Systems, Inc.

 Quick Start Installation

State Backlight
Error Red
Warning Yellow

Vbrick Encoder Getting Started 17

18 © 2018 VBrick Systems, Inc.
 Chapter 3

Rack Mount Shelf and Blade Setup

Rack Mount Shelf Overview
The Vbrick 9000 Encoder Rack Mount Shelf is a customized enclosure for Vbrick blades. It
lets you mix and match 7000 encoder blades and 9000 encoder blades on the same shelf. It
provides a common redundant power source/common cooling and supports 11 Vbrick 9000
encoder blade encoders in a standard 19 inch rack.
It has hot-swappable, redundant AC input power supplies and LED and audible failure
alarms. It also has a common, hot swappable cooling unit and a replaceable air filter. The
chassis for a rack mount shelf has a removable cable management panel (not shown) and card
rails that make it easy to insert or remove individual blade encoders.

Figure 1. Vbrick 9000 Encoder Rack Mount Shelf

Vb ri c k 9000 B la d e s
In general, the Vbrick 9000 Blades are fully-functional encoders and decoders housed within
a rack mount shelf rather than as standalone encoders. Each blade is configured
independently of the others and has its own network connection and IP address.
The blades can have Standard Definition connectors or Standard and High Definition
connectors (depicted in the image below). In most respects, the blade models operate in the
same manner as the 1RU Industrial models without a front panel but there are some
important exceptions:

• The blade has a scrolling 8x1 character mini LCD on the face plate.
• The blade displays their shelf slot position (1–11) in the VBAdmin management
program.
• The blade in Slot 1 will read and display shelf manufacturing data from an EEprom on
the backplane.

Vbrick Encoder Getting Started 19

 Figure 1. Vbrick 9000 Blade
Table 1. Rack Mount Shelf Specifications
Specification Description
Dimensions • 8U height
• 19 in. EIA rack mount
Fan Tray Unit • Slides out for easy replacement
• Hot swappable
• Visual LED failure indicator
Air Flow • Intake – front bottom
• Output – rear top
Encoder Blades 1–11 Vbrick 9000 encoder blades.
Power Supplies • Redundant AC Input
• Hot-swappable
• Visual LED failure indicator and audible alarm
Cable Panel Removable cable management panel allows for easy routing and
management of cables (video, audio, Ethernet, etc.).
Environmental • Standard operating temperature: 5° to 40° C
• Storage temperature: -45° to 85° C
• FCC Part 15 Class A, CE, UL
• EIA Compliant
• RoHS Compliant

B la d e LC D D i s p la y
Each blade has an 8x1 character, mini LCD on the faceplate panel that displays eight
characters at a time and scrolls through informational messages. During boot and POST
processing, the LCD will display appropriate messages. Once the encoder is running
normally, the encoder will cycle through the IP address and various other messages for five
seconds each.

20 © 2018 Vbrick Systems, Inc.

 Rack Mount Shelf and Blade Setup

Table 1. Mini LCD Color and Messages

Color Message Description
Green Release x.x.x.x Blade is good.
IP:xxx.xx.xxx.x

Yellow Warning Blade in warning mode. This can include a DHCP failure, a
video input problem, a temperature problem, or an encoder
in limited run mode.
Red Failure Blade in failure mode. This can include a POST failure, a
hardware failure, or a hardware mismatch.

Vbrick 9000 Blade Installation

Un p a c k a n d I n s p e c t
Before proceeding, open the box and inspect the components. Each shipment comes with
the components shown in the table below. If anything is missing or damaged, contact Vbrick
or your reseller at once. Otherwise, install the shelf in a standard 19 in. EIA rack mount
chassis.

Tip: Since the encoder blades are removed from the front, Vbrick rack
mount units can be mounted back-to-back (on the same shelf) without
consuming additional vertical rack space. This effectively doubles the
density in installations where rack space is an issue.

Vbrick 9000 Encoder Number

Blade †
9000 encoder blades 1–11 per shelf
Quick Start Guide 1 per order
Anti-static wrist strap 1 per order
Serial cable and adapter 1 per order
Ethernet cable 1 per blade
HDMI cable and adapters 1 per channel
A/V breakout cables 1 per slot

† The 9000 rack mount shelf must be purchased separately. It includes a cable management panel and
2 AC power supply cords.

I n s t a ll t h e B la d e s
Note that if you purchased blades with your order they will be packaged separately and not
installed in the rack mount shelf prior to shipment. Each blade is configured by default for
DHCP.
Keep in mind:
• Blade encoders are set up and connected in the same manner as a standalone encoder
(See: Quick Start Installation Steps).

Vbrick Encoder Getting Started 21

 • The only difference is that, if necessary, you must use the serial port to set a static IP
address since there is no front panel. (See: Step 4: Find or Set an IP Address for details.)
Use the provided anti-static wrist strap by attaching the banana pin to receptacle in upper
right corner of the shelf. Ten blank filler panels are included. If you remove a blade, be sure
to install a filler panel to maintain proper air flow.
Before installing blades, be sure to read the Blade Safety Precautions.
Install Blade Encoders

So f t w a re C o n f i g u ra t i o n
All blades are independently configurable using the IP address and the VBAdmin
management program. In all respects, blade software configuration is identical to encoder
software configuration. See the Vbrick Encoder v4.8 Admin Guide for details about all
configurable parameters.
To identify the blade by slot number, launch VBAdmin, go to the Monitor > System page,
and note the Slot ID (see below). The blades are numbered 1–11 from left to right. If service
is ever required, scroll down to the Add-on Boards table (Slot 1 only) for manufacturing data
associated with the backplane.

Shelf Maintenance
P o w e r Su p p li e s
The Rack Mount Shelf has dual, hot-swappable AC input power supplies (seen in the image
below) with LEDs that will indicate a failure. As explained below in Table 2, each individual
power supply has an LED that will illuminate red if there is a failure. There is also a master
LED that shows the combined state of both power supplies. Any power supply failure will be
accompanied by an audible alarm which can be silenced by pressing the button.

22 © 2018 Vbrick Systems, Inc.

 Rack Mount Shelf and Blade Setup

If a power supply fails, contact Vbrick for a replacement as soon as possible. Do not attempt
to repair a power supply as this will invalidate the warranty. Although the shelf will operate with
a failed power supply, a redundant power supply will ensure there is no downtime. Each supply can
handle a full load of 500W if the other supply has failed or been turned off. There will be no
loss of service time if only one supply fails. If both are active, they will load share (50/50) to
support the rack.
Table 1. AC Input Voltage and Frequency (iStarUSA Model IS-500R8P)
Parameter Minimum Nominal Maximum Max. Current
Voltage (115V) 90 VAC 100–120 VAC 132 VAC 8A
Voltage (230V) 180 VAC 200–24 VAC 264 VAC 4A
Frequency 47 Hz 50/60 Hz 63 Hz

Table 2. Power Supply LEDs and Controls

Item Color Description
Individual Power Green Power supply is good.
Supply LED
Red The power supply has been turned off or has failed.
Master Power Green Both power supplies are operating normally.
Supply LED †
Red One or both of the power supplies has been turned off or has
failed.
Alarm Button †† Press to silence alarm.

† Located above both power supplies on the right.

†† Located above both power supplies on the left.

If a power supply fails, the LED will turn red and an alarm will sound. Push the alarm reset
button (the small black bubble button to the left of the left power cord receptacle) to silence
the alarm.
 To remove/replace the power supply:
1. Turn off power to the power supply with switch at bottom and unplug power cord.
2. Pull unit out with handle while pressing the red release lever.
3. When replacing a power supply, push in firmly to seat firmly in backplane.

Figure 1. Dual Power Supplies

Vbrick Encoder Getting Started 23

 Fa n T ra y
The shelf has a common fan tray with four fans and a replaceable air filter. There are no
user-serviceable components in the fan tray. If an individual fan fails, you must replace the
entire unit or you will invalidate the shelf warranty. Contact Vbrick for a replacement fan tray
as soon as possible. The Status LED will turn red if any of the fans has failed. To avoid
damaging the blades, do not run the shelf if more than one fan has failed. When you pull out the fan
tray, you can see the fans slowly spinning down. Any fan not spinning down has likely failed.
Table 1. Fan Tray LEDs
Color Description
Green Fan tray is good.
Red The fan tray has failed and should be replaced as soon as possible. Do not run
the shelf if more than one fan has failed or the tray been removed.

 To remove/replace the fan tray:

1. Loosen the screws on each side of unit.
2. Press the REQ (Request) button. This will power down the fan tray. The status LED will
go from green to red and the OK LED will illuminate blue.
3. Remove the tray and determine how many fans have failed (see above). Do not run the
shelf if more than one fan has failed.
4. Contact Vbrick for a replacement fan tray as soon as possible.
5. When powering down the fan tray to install a replacement, work quickly to avoid
overheating the blades.

Figure 1. Fan Tray Controls and Indicators

Ai r Fi lt e r
The air intake unit at the bottom of the enclosure has a replaceable filter element. Inspect
and replace the filter element every 90 days—more often in challenging environments. For
best results, use replacement filters from Vbrick. You need not power off the shelf to replace
the filter element.
 To remove/replace the filter element:
1. Loosen the screws on each side and remove the entire unit.
2. Replace the filter with a Vbrick-supplied replacement element.

Blade Safety Precautions

Use common sense when installing the blade server. Do not expose the unit to direct
sunlight, high humidity or wet conditions. Do not block the air vents or impede the airflow in
any way. Before you rack mount the blade server, please take a moment to read the following
important safety precautions.

24 © 2018 Vbrick Systems, Inc.

 Rack Mount Shelf and Blade Setup

Restricted Location. Because of hazardous energy circuits on the backplane that are
exposed when the fan tray or the blades are removed, this equipment must be installed
in a restricted location with limited access for authorized users who are familiar with
the electrical hazards and required safety precautions. It should not be used in a home,
school, or other area accessible to the public. To be installed only in restricted access
areas (dedicated equipment rooms, equipment closets, or the like) in accordance with
Articles 110-26, 110-27 or the National Electric Code ANSI/NFPA70, or per the
applicable code in the country of installation.

Operating Temperature. If installed in a closed or multi-unit rack, the operating

ambient temperature may be greater than the room ambient. Install the equipment in
an environment compatible with the maximum ambient temperature (Tma) specified
by the manufacturer.

Reduced Air Flow. Do not restrict air flow in any way. Rack mount the equipment so
that the amount of air flow required for safe operation is not compromised.

Mechanical Loading. Avoid uneven mechanical loading. When rack-mounting the

equipment, be sure that the devices are evenly balanced.

Circuit Overloading. Do not overload the supply circuits. Be aware of the effect that
overloading the circuits can have on overcurrent protection and supply wiring. Refer to
the equipment nameplate ratings for details.

Reliable Earthing. The rack-mounted equipment must be reliably earthed. This

particularly applies to power strips and other indirect connections to the branch
circuit.

Replaceable Battery. Do not attempt to replace the battery since it may explode if
replaced incorrectly. Return to Vbrick Support Services for replacement with the same
or equivalent type of battery. Vbrick will dispose of used batteries in accordance with
manufacturer recommendations.

Vbrick Encoder Getting Started 25

26 © 2018 Vbrick Systems, Inc.
 Chapter 4

Management Tools
Overview
The VBAdmin configuration tool is an intuitive GUI-based management tool and Vbrick
recommends using VBAdmin as the primary means of managing Vbrick encoders. The table
below details the tools available that may be used to manage an encoder.

Management Tool Description

VBAdmin The VBAdmin management interface allows quick and secure
control through the encoder’s IP interface.
See Using VBAdmin topics.
VBDirectory The Vbrick Support Downloads site contains VBDirectory, an
application that facilitates finding, accessing, and upgrading all
encoders on a network.
Command Line Interface The Command Line Interface provides management through the
encoder’s COM port. See the Connect through the COM Port
with HyperTerminal or Connect with Telnet or SSH topics.
SNMP SNMP commands through encoder’s IP interface, including
SNMP Traps.
Web Services You can set any configuration parameter in the MIB using an
industry-standard Web Service.
Auto Configuration See System Configuration > Manage Configuration in the Vbrick
Encoder v4.8 Admin Guide.

Note: There is only one active editing session allowed at any

time in a single encoder. In VBAdmin it is possible to exit a
session which still in Edit mode. Other users then must
determine whether or not to log off the previous editor. For best
results, click Finish Edit before you exit the VBAdmin page.
Note that Telnet, CLI and SNMP automatically log you out when
you exit the program.

VB Ad m i n
The encoder has an embedded Web server that lets you manage the configuration from an
external browser. This allows network managers to remotely configure and monitor the
encoders from virtually anywhere in the world. VBAdmin is compatible with Internet
Explorer and Firefox (other browsers may not give acceptable results). For best results,
Vbrick Systems recommends Internet Explorer or Firefox.
Connect to VBAdmin by pointing to the IP Address (e.g. http://172.17.5.5 ) of the encoder and
logging in. VBAdmin is one of several ways to manage an encoder. There are other methods

Vbrick Encoder Getting Started 27

 but VBAdmin's graphical user interface is the easiest to use. VBAdmin is described in detail
in VBAdmin topics.

VB D i re c t o ry
A management application called VBDirectory provides quick reference and access to all
Vbrick encoders on a network. VBDirectory v4.4 or higher is compatible with encoders.
VBDirectory is automatically installed with a software upgrade and is also available on the
Vbrick Support Downloads site.
The VBDirectory User Guide is also included on the Vbrick Documentation site.

C o m m a n d Li n e I n t e rf a c e
Vbrick encoders can be configured using a standard ASCII terminal or terminal emulator
program connected to the serial port (COM 1 ) on the rear of the encoder. The MIB-based CLI
can be used to access all Vbrick parameters. (Keep in mind that all parameters that are
available in the MIB-based CLI are also available in the Web-based VBAdmin application.
Always use VBAdmin unless you have a compelling reason to use the command line.)

28 © 2018 Vbrick Systems, Inc.

 Management Tools

You can use HyperTerminal or the industry-standard Telnet to manage the Command Line
Interface (CLI). The same suites of menus that are displayed on a local terminal are instantly
available over an IP network.
Vbrick uses the standard Telnet port (23). Telnet uses the same commands as Command Line
Interface (CLI). The Telnet and HyperTerminal applications are both referred to as CLI or
Command Line Interface. For more information see Command Line Interface topics.

SN M P
The Vbrick encoder can also be configured and managed through its MIB which is available
on the Vbrick Support Downloads site. Various SNMP (Simple Network Management
Protocol) management tools are available to issue SNMP based commands to the encoder.
The command structure is similar to CLI and Telnet. It is necessary to become the active
editor and apply the changes before they take effect in the encoder. Note that the SNMP
community strings are the usernames. The image below shows a typical, freeware MIB
browser.

Vbrick Encoder Getting Started 29

 We b Se rv i c e s
For customers who want to build custom applications, the Vbrick 9000 Encoder SDK
provides a standards-based SOAP architecture to programmatically interface to the encoder.
It includes detailed documentation that explains how to configure and control encoders via
command line scripts. The SDK is sold separately and is not bundled with other Vbrick
products. Contact a Vbrick sales representative or your certified Vbrick reseller to purchase
the SDK.

Au t o C o n f i g u ra t i o n
Auto Configuration lets you perform a configuration via a URL script file. It is typically used
for remote configuration and troubleshooting or to configure Vbrick encoders that are
behind a firewall. To configure a parameter on an encoder (or more likely a set of parameters)
you simply point the URL to a server with an .xml configuration file. This is useful, for
example, to change a transmitter destination address, set the audio and video rates, and so
forth when the encoders are behind a firewall and cannot be accessed remotely.
See System Configuration > Manage Configuration in the Vbrick Encoder v4.8 Admin Guide
for complete details.

30 © 2018 Vbrick Systems, Inc.

 Chapter 5

Software Upgrade
Note: When you purchased your encoder from Vbrick, it was shipped with
the latest software already installed and no additional software installation is
necessary. If you ever need to reinstall the software, you can get it from the
Downloads page on the Vbrick Website.
Use the software upgrade instructions in the following topics only when upgrading the
software.

Vbrick encoders are shipped with PC applications that allow for easy upgrade. Once the
release is installed, the upgrade tools become available in the Vbrick program group, located
under Start > All Programs > Vbrick. The upgrade procedure can be invoked by using either
the VBDownload application or the VBDirectory application. Either application can be used
as the starting point for updating the encoder's flash memory (TCP/IP FTP transport
services are used for this). Using VBDirectory is an easier method since it lets you choose the
encoders by name instead of IP address. When Vbrick encoders are not accessible to
VBDirectory, the VBDownload application must be used. Also keep in mind the following
considerations:

• All saved configuration parameters are saved when you upgrade your encoder and there
is no need to reconfigure the unit after an upgrade. The upgrade process requires a unit
reset, so be sure to save your configuration prior to the upgrade.
• Part of the install process occurs during the first reboot after the upgrade. Do not power
off the unit during this time. The process may take 5 minutes and include an automatic
reboot of the unit. The encoder is ready for operation when you are able to login via
VBAdmin or CLI.
• Vbrick strongly recommends against loading a earlier version of code. As a general rule,
never downgrade a unit to a code version older than what was originally installed at the
factory. If you do load an earlier version of code, reset all parameters to the factory
defaults and remove the external USB drive (if present) before the downgrade.
• 3.x or higher builds cannot be loaded on units that are running 1.0.x software. The
workaround is to download 2.0.x first and allow it to come up then download 3.x.x.
VBdownload will warn if this download is attempted. If you load 3.x over 1.0.x, the
encoder will become inoperable and will have to be returned to Vbrick.

I n s t a ll a So f t w a re Up g ra d e
 To upgrade an encoder:
1. Double-click on the release executable (SetupVB9000_x_x_x.exe ) to install the release on
your PC. It is recommended that you accept the default destination folder which is:
Program Files\Vbrick\VB9000\download\ReleaseVx_x_x.

Vbrick Encoder Getting Started 31

 2. The setup programs for VBDownload and VBDirectory will automatically run after the
files have been extracted. Click Next , follow the instructions, and use the default folders
if possible.
3. When the Maintenance Complete page is displayed, click Finish .
4. Go to Start > All Programs > Vbrick > VBDirectory to start the management utility. The
VBDirectory program will show all Vbrick encoders available for upgrade.

5. Select the device to be updated by highlighting the name and then click the Upgrade
button. (If the user name and password are not set, a dialog box will appear and you will
need to configure the encoders's username and password (default for both = admin ).
6. In the VBDownload window, if you installed the release to the default directory, that
directory will be auto-selected in the Revision Folder . If not, Browse to the directory
that contains the unzipped files from the release package.
7. Select a Revision and click OK to start the download. Since the default mode of
VBDownload is Intelligent Download the utility will query the Vbrick to determine
which release components need to be downloaded. When prompted, press OK to allow
VBDownload to upgrade the suggested components. This may take several minutes.
8. When the download completes, reboot the encoder using the Reset Unit radio button
and follow the prompts.
9. Note that part of the upgrade takes place during the first boot after the download and
may take up to 5 minutes. The upgrade is complete when you can login via VBAdmin or
CLI, or when its name is refreshed in VBDirectory.
10. When done close the window or click Exit .

Tip: To verify the download has successfully installed, check the

Application Code Revision field on the VBAdmin "Welcome"
page.

C o n f i g u re VB D o w n lo a d Fo ld e rs
The VBDownload application is used to upgrade Vbrick encoders. When you click on the
setup executable, the application files are automatically installed in Program
Files\Vbrick\Vbrick 9000 .

32 © 2018 VBrick Systems, Inc.

 Software Upgrade

If you have a mixture of 6000, 7000, and 9000 devices present, the application will default to
the Vbrick 9000 folder. Experienced Vbrick users can modify this default behavior by creating
a new shortcut for VBDownload that uses VB6000 as the default folder.
 To configure the VB6000 folder as the default folder:
1. Go to Start > All Programs > Vbrick.
2. Highlight VBDownload then right-click and select Create Shortcut . Then highlight the
new shortcut and select Rename .
3. Enter a meaningful name, highlight it, then right-click and select Properties .
4. In the Target field, append the following text, beginning with a space, to the existing
path. (Note that question marks are required for any spaces in the path.)
-i "" -f C:\Program?Files\Vbrick\VB6000\Download\ReleaseVx_x_x

5. Replace ReleaseVx_x_x with the actual version number of the setup file and click OK
when done.

Vbrick Encoder Getting Started 33

34 © 2018 VBrick Systems, Inc.
 Chapter 6
VBAdmin
Using VBAdmin
The Vbrick encoder has an integrated management interface (VBAdmin) that lets you
manage configuration from an external browser. This allows network managers to remotely
configure and monitor the encoders from virtually anywhere. You can launch VBAdmin in
Internet Explorer or Firefox (other browsers are not supported by Vbrick). Connect to
VBAdmin by pointing to the IP Address (for example: http://192.168.5.5 ) of the Vbrick
encoder and logging in. (Note that passwords passed between client and server are
encrypted.) VBAdmin is one of several ways you can manage the Vbrick encoder (for
example you can also use Telnet or the Command Line Interface) but VBAdmin is the easiest
to use.
To login to an encoder with Microsoft Internet Explorer, you must have Session Cookies and
Active Scripting enabled. Depending on your browser version, these settings are in the
Security or Privacy tabs in Internet Options . If either option is disabled, a correct username
and password will refresh the screen without login. If Active Scripting cannot be enabled,
check with your system administrator to see if it was disabled at the server level. To avoid
having the VBAdmin window automatically close when accessing a different Vbrick encoder,
go to Tools > Internet Options > Advanced and uncheck the Reuse windows for launching
shortcuts .

For details on using VBAdmin, see: Vbrick Encoder v4.8 Admin Guide

Vbrick Encoder Getting Started 35

36 © 2018 Vbrick Systems, Inc.
 Chapter 7

Command Line Interface

Although VBAdmin is the preferred management interface you can also access the encoder’s
configuration using the Command Line Interface (CLI). Some users prefer to use the
command line.

Connection Modes
This topic explains how to access encoder parameters using the COM serial port or over an
IP network. You can use HyperTerminal or ProComm with the serial port for example, or
Telnet or PuTTY over an IP network.
To send input commands to an encoder, you can use ProComm, Telnet, scripts,
cut-and-paste, or any program that supplies text-based input via the get and set commands.

Connect through the COM Port with HyperTerminal

 To access the encoder using HyperTerminal:
1. Connect the included cable (which provides a standard 9-pin serial connection) from the
serial port on your computer to the encoder’s COM RJ-45 connector.
2. Navigate to Start > Programs > Accessories > Communication > HyperTerminal .
3. Connect through your computer's COM Port (usually COM1) with the following
settings.

Bits per second 9600

Data bits 8
Parity None
Stop bits 1
Flow control None

4. When you connect to a terminal, a prompt for login (username) and password will be
displayed. Login and password are case sensitive (admin ). Once logged in, the main menu
will appear by typing a question mark (? ) at the vbrick> prompt.

Connect with Telnet or SSH

Vbrick encoders can be managed remotely via industry-standard Telnet or an SSH client such
as PuTTy. With Telnet, the same commands that are displayed on a local terminal are

Vbrick Encoder Getting Started 37

 instantly available over an IP network. Vbrick uses the standard Telnet port. See the CLI
Shortcut Commands topic for a list of the commands that are available.

Note: Telnet (as well as FTP, VBAdmin, SNMP, and front panel data) can
be disabled on the encoder for security purposes. If you cannot login to the
encoder via Telnet, check that the External Telnet Server is enabled. Open
VBAdmin and go to System Configuration > Advanced Configurations
> Security.

 To login using Telnet:

1. Navigate to Start > Run and type telnet to open a Telnet window.
2. Type open <ip_address> using the IP address of the Vbrick encoder. This will launch the
Command Line Interface.
3. Enter the Login name and Password. Default is admin for both.
4. At the Vbrick prompt, type ? to display the top-level commands.

Us e t h e M a n a g e m e n t I n f o rm a t i o n B a s e ( M I B )
All encoder parameters are accessible through an industry-standard SNMP Management
Information Base (MIB). The CLI is a syntactically simple interface which is suitable for
scripting. The syntax for each parameter is documented in the SNMP MIB for the encoder.

 To find and set encoder parameters with the CLI:

1. Find the parameter you want to set or change. See Find Encoder Parameters.
2. Set the parameter using valid values obtained from the MIB. See Set Encoder Parameters.
3. Apply the changed value(s) using the ApplySet command for that group as specified in
the MIB. See Apply Changes to Parameter Configuration Updates.
4. Optional. Save the configuration file. See Save Changes to Parameter Configuration
Updates.

The Get and Set commands are shown in the following table. All CLI commands are shown
in the Command Line Interface topics. You will need to login to the encoder and begin an
Edit session before you can make any changes.
Once the parameters have been set to the correct values, you must do an ApplySet . If the
response to any ApplySet does not match the value of the set, an error message is displayed.
Use care when typing commands. All commands and parameter names are case sensitive. All
parameter names must be prefixed by "vbrick".

Command Response
GVAR vbrickMIBNAME $!MIBNAME=value or $!ERROR=errorstring
SVAR vbrickMIBNAME=value $!MIBNAME=value or $!ERROR=errorstring

38 © 2018 Vbrick Systems, Inc.

 Command Line Interface

Note: The serial port is also used by the Vbrick encoder to emit
system messages. In order to allow the script writer to
distinguish between direct responses to commands and other
output, all CLI response messages have $! as leading characters.
Any responses that do not begin with these characters can be safely ignored.

It is important to note that some commands also cause a reboot of the Vbrick. In order to
notify the command initiator when this happens, the string $!Rebooting is emitted from the
encoder. In this case the commanding entity must be prepared to wait before continuing the
editing session. In practice, it is unlikely that any automated program will be tasked with
initiating any tasks that will cause a spontaneous reboot.

Fi n d En c o d e r P a ra m e t e rs
The best way to find a parameter name is by viewing the Configuration Log. Once you find
the parameter name, you can check the MIB using a MIB browser to verify the definition and
usage.

 To locate a parameter name using the Configuration Log:

1. Use VBAdmin to set or change a parameter and click Apply .
2. Navigate to Monitor > System Logs > Configuration Log and examine the log. You will
see a configuration log message reporting the exact name of the parameter you just
changed.
3. Verify the definition and usage of the parameter by examining the MIB file with either a
standard MIB browser or a text editor.
4. You can use this parameter name in a script. Make sure you prefix the parameter name
with vbrick , for example:
vbrickProgramTransmitterName

The following example shows how the Transmitter Name in VBAdmin is associated with
vbrickProgramTransmitterName in the MIB.

First find the Transmitter Name parameter name using the Configuration Log. Then open the
appropriate MIB file (see MIB Files) in a MIB browser. The valid value for this variable is
DisplayString . If the syntax calls for an integer, use a numeric value; if the syntax calls for a
string, use an alpha value.
 To find the encoder parameter name and syntax:
1. Find and change the parameter in VBAdmin. Navigate to Encoder Configuration >
Transmitters > Transmitter Name.

Vbrick Encoder Getting Started 39

 2. Navigate to Monitor > System Logs > Configuration Log and find the name of the
parameter you just changed.

3. Open the appropriate MIB file in a MIB browser and view the syntax. Once you know
the syntax, you can use the correct variable name and value on the Command Line.

40 © 2018 Vbrick Systems, Inc.

 Command Line Interface

M I B Fi le s
The MIB files provide read-only access to all configurable encoder parameters and are
organized as shown in the table below. To access any MIB variable, open the appropriate file
in a MIB browser. The easiest way to visualize Vbrick's control structure is to understand the
relationship between the VBAdmin and the MIB.
To get started, open a MIB file in a text editor or a MIB browser. For the most part,
parameters are grouped according to where they appear on the VBAdmin pages. Once you
find the parameter, other related parameters are usually contained in the same group. Each of
the top-level groups comprises a page in VBAdmin. Note that valid values for the selected
parameter are shown next to the Syntax column in the lower left area of the window in the
MIB browser example above.

MIB Description
vbrick_reg.mib This file is used as a reference by the MIB browser.
vbrickEncoder.mib Contains encoder parameters including video, audio, configuration,
and status parameters.
vbrickProgram.mib Contains transmitter, server, and SAP parameters.
vbrickSystem.mib Contains IP address, network traps, auto-config, front panel
configuration, etc.
vbrickDecoder.mib Contains decoder parameters including receiver IP address, jitter queue
settings, etc.

Se t En c o d e r P a ra m e t e rs
Log In
The first step is to connect to the encoder using whatever method is appropriate at your site
(e.g. Telnet, HyperTerminal, etc.). When logging in, you are prompted for a login name and
password. These credentials give you access to the encoder and are typically provided by an
administrator. When the vbrick> prompt is displayed, you are successfully logged in.
Regardless of whether you access the CLI through HyperTerminal (shipped with Windows)
or Telnet, the command structure is the same. The CLI interface is launched as soon as you
enter a valid Login name and Password. The table below describes the “shortcut” commands
that are available using the ? command. You can use these shortcuts at any time during an
editing session.

CLI Shortcut Commands

The CLI shortcut commands are described below.
Login: <username>
Password: <password>
Vbrick#

Command Description
BE Begin edit session
DEBUG Generate a debug file if requested by Vbrick Support Services.
EE End edit session

Vbrick Encoder Getting Started 41

 Command Description
ERRORS Show configuration errors
GVAR Get parameter
NT Ethernet Network Configuration
QUIT Logoff the CLI session
REBOOT System reboot
SAVE Save configuration
SD Set defaults
SFD Set factory defaults
SVAR Set parameter
WAIT Delay for specified time

B e g i n o r En d a n Ed i t Se s s i o n
To begin a CLI edit session, first login and then enter the first two commands shown below
using the same username you used to login to the encoder. You only need to do this at the start of an
Edit session or if someone has ended your Edit session. Also, you only need to begin an Edit
session to set variable and table parameters—not to get parameters. You can get parameters
without starting an Edit session. When your Edit session is done, and after you have applied
or saved your changes, do an End Edit. You can also use the Begin Edit (BE ) and End Edit
(EE ) shortcut commands shown in the CLI shortcut commands table. See: CLI Shortcut
Commands).
 To begin an edit session:
Vbrick# SVAR vbrickEditName=
Vbrick# SVAR vbrickEditName=<admin>

 To end an edit session:

Vbrick# SVAR vbrickEditName=

Ge t o r Se t a Va ri a b le
Use the following format to get or set a variable. This command shows how to read the
encoder’s MAC address but is only an example. Use the actual parameter name and value as
shown in the Find Encoder Parameters topic. All parameter names must be prefixed by "vbrick".
Vbrick# gvar vbrickManufacturingInfoMacAddress

Valid system commands display a response in the following format:

$!vbrickManufacturingInfoMacAddress=00:07:df:01:07:8e

Invalid system commands display an error response in the following format:

$!ERROR=SNMP GET failure

42 © 2018 Vbrick Systems, Inc.

 Command Line Interface

Note: Double quotes (" ") may be used for any strings but they
must be used if the string contains spaces.
For example, you can use the following syntax to create a blank
space in the ManagementSAPGroupName:
svar "vbrickManagementSapGroupName=Madrid Vbrick"

Ge t o r Se t a T a b le Va ri a b le
Table variables can be single-indexed where there is only one instance of a variable (for
example an IP address) or double-indexed where there are multiple instances (for example
TransmitterName).
As shown below, when viewing the Configuration Log, single-indexed table variables will be
appended with “.n” .
Double-indexed table variables will be appended with “.n.m ”

Single Index Example

This example shows how to read and change the Brightness parameter on Channel 1.
Vbrick# gvar vbrickEncoderVideoCommonBrightness.1
$!vbrickEncoderVideoCommonBrightness.1=50
Vbrick# svar vbrickEncoderVideoCommonBrightness.1=75
$!vbrickEncoderVideoCommonBrightness=75

Double Index Example

This example shows how to read and change the Rate 1 Resolution parameter on Channel 1.
Vbrick# gvar vbrickEncoderVideoH264Resolution.1.1
$!vbrickEncoderVideoH264Resolution.1.1=15
Vbrick# svar vbrickEncoderVideoH264Resolution.1.1=2
$!vbrickEncoderVideoH264Resolution=2

Ap p ly C h a n g e s t o P a ra m e t e r C o n f i g u ra t i o n Up d a t e s
The ApplySet command is used to apply changes to configuration updates. There is one
ApplySet command per program group in the MIB and the syntax varies slightly according to
the group.
Use this command, for example vbrickProgramTransmitterApplySet , to actually apply the
change(s) you made with a SVAR or a STAB . An ApplySet is always written in the following
format with the trailing =2 .
Vbrick# svar vbrickEncoderVideoCommonApplySet.1=2

It is important to note that some ApplySets can cause the encoder to send unsolicited
messages. For example, the encoder may reboot with the following message:
$!Rebooting …

Sa v e C h a n g e s t o P a ra m e t e r C o n f i g u ra t i o n Up d a t e s
Once you are done, you must save to persistent storage if you want your edits saved in the
configuration file. Unless you save the configuration, any changes you have made will be lost
if the encoder reboots.

Vbrick Encoder Getting Started 43

 A save is always written in the following format with the trailing =2 . Note that some changes
to the configuration will reboot the encoder in which case you must wait for it to reset. Note
that you can also use the SAVE command as a shortcut.
Vbrick> svar vbrickSysSaveConfiguration=2

Erro r H a n d li n g i n t h e C LI
Programming errors, for example syntax errors, illegal values, and so forth display
informational messages in the CLI; for example $!ERROR=Value out of range . Other system
or network issues, for example a dropped connection or a failed save (see below) are shown
in the System Log (VBAdmin > Monitor > System Logs > Configuration Log).
You can also see all configuration errors using the ERRORS command. Potential errors may
be detected in advance by getting the value of various status parameters in the encoder. For
example, if you are writing a script, you might want to check Transmitter State or FTP Status
before you set parameters for a related task.

R e s e t t h e En c o d e r i n t h e C LI
Use the following command (or the RESET shortcut) to reset the encoder. A reset is simply a
reboot. It does not change or reset any configured parameters.
vbrick> svar vbrickSysReset=2

C LI Exa m p le s
The following examples show two common configuration tasks. Remember that you only
need to begin an Edit session at the start of an Edit session or if someone has ended your
Edit session. You only need to end an Edit session when you are done, and after you have
applied or saved your changes. Also remember that an ApplySet command is always required
and comments are not allowed on the same line as a command.

CLI Example 1
This example shows how to read and set the Target Bit Rate for the first video rate on
Channel 2. User input commands are shown in bold text.
Vbrick# gvar vbrickEncoderVideoH264TargetBitRate.2.1

$!vbrickEncoderVideoH264TargetBitRate.2.1=750000

Then it sets and applies the Target Bit Rate to 800K.

Vbrick# svar vbrickEncoderVideoH264TargetBitRate.2.1=800000

$!vbrickEncoderVideoH264TargetBitRate=800000

Vbrick# svar vbrickEncoderVideoCommonApplySet.1=2

$!vbrickEncoderVideoCommonApplySet=2

CLI Example 2
This example shows how to set the unicast Destination IP Address and enable the transmitter
for Program1 and Transmitter1.
Vbrick# svar vbrickProgramTransmitterInetAddrType.1=1

Vbrick# svar vbrickProgramTransmitterInetAddr.1=172.22.118.105

44 © 2018 Vbrick Systems, Inc.

 Command Line Interface

Vbrick# svar vbrickProgramTransmitterEnable.1=2

Vbrick# svar vbrickProgramTransmitterApplySet.1=2

CLI Scripting Syntax

• Script commands must start in column 1.
• svar (set variable) must precede the variable name.
• Wait time is defined milliseconds. A value of 1000 = 1 second.
• Most variable changes require an ApplySet .
• There is no clear command.
• There is no chaining of scripts.
• Comments are not allowed on the same line as a command.
• Comments start with // in column 1.
• Blank lines are not allowed.
• All scripts are executed in a strictly serial manner by a single task.
• While executing a script it is possible to miss a double change of any event.

Vbrick Encoder Getting Started 45

46 © 2018 Vbrick Systems, Inc.
 Chapter 8

Web Services
Web Services Interface
The Vbrick encoder provide a standards-based SOAP architecture to programmatically
interface to the encoder. The Web Service interface allows the user application to Get/Set
MIB parameters in the encoder. The methods supported by the service are listed below.

Method Description
getNewSessionId (device) Used to get a new session id from the encoder. It allows the
Web service to maintain session with the encoder.
test (echoString) Used as a test Web service method to test if the interface to
the encoder is working. It returns the input string as an echo.
login (sessionId, loginName, Used as method to allows the user to login into the box as a
hashedPassword) particular user with appropriate privileges. Returns OK if
successful, ERROR otherwise.
beginEdit (sessionId, editName) Used as a method to begin the edit session to become editor
of parameters. Returns editName if successful, ERROR
otherwise.
endEdit (sessionId) Used as a method to end the editor session. Returns OK if
successful, ERROR otherwise.
endOtherEdit (sessionId) Used as a method to forcefully end another editor session.
Returns OK if successful, ERROR otherwise.
logout (sessionId) Used to logout of a Web session. Returns OK if successful,
ERROR otherwise.
getParameterValue (sessionId, Used as a parameter to get a parameter value. Returns
parnName, parmIndex) parameter value as a string if successful, ERROR otherwise
setParameterValue (sessionId, Used as a method to set a parameter value. Returns OK if
parmName, parmIndex, parmValue) successful, ERROR otherwise.
setMultipleParameterValue (sessionId, Used as a method to set multiple parameter values, where
parmName, parmValue, count) parmName is a string array of names, parmValue is a string
array of values to the corresponding array of names, and
count is the number of items in the array. Returns OK if
successful, ERROR otherwise.

The WSDL file for the Web service methods can be obtained by calling the following URL
where <encoder_ip_address> is the IP address of the encoder or a host name that can be
resolved to an IP by the local DNS server.
http://<encoder_ip_address>/VbrickWebSrvc/VbrickWebSrvc.wsdl

All methods return ERROR as the response if the request cannot be fulfilled. OK is returned
for methods that complete successfully. GetNewSessionId returns a new SessionId if it

Vbrick Encoder Getting Started 47

 succeeds; test returns the input string as an echo. In order to set parameters, the user must be
authenticated and must also be an active editor (by calling beginEdit ). A typical sequence of
calls to the methods is shown below.

Note: There are multiple ways to locate and verify Vbrick parameters. See
Set Encoder Parameters for more information.

 To Get a parameter value:

1. Get a new SessionId by calling getNewSessionId .
2. Login into the encoder by calling the login method and supplying the login name and
hashed password value. The algorithm to hash the password is provided as "C" code and
also as a VBCrypt package for the Microsoft .NET and C# environments.
3. Get the parameter value by calling the getParameterValue method supplying the MIB
name and parameter Index (if any). Note: Some parameters may require the user to be
the active editor. More parameters can be retrieved by calling the method several times.
4. Logout of the session by calling the logout method.
 To Set a parameter value:
1. Get a new SessionId by calling getNewSessionId .
2. Login into the encoder by calling the login method and supplying the login name and
hashed password value. The algorithm to hash the password is provided as "C" code and
also as a VBCrypt package for the Microsoft .NET and C# environments.
3. Call the beginEdit method to become the active editor in the box.
4. Set the parameter value by calling the setParameterValue method supplying the MIB
name, parameter Index (if any), and parameter value. More parameters can be set by
calling the method several times, or by calling the setMultipleParameterValue method.
5. End the edit by calling endEdit
6. Logout of the session by calling the logout method.

Note: If you successfully login to the encoder, you must logout when your
session completes or subsequent users will be unable to access the encoder.
You should end edit and logout if login or begin edit were successful
regardless of the success or failure of your Get or Set call.

48 © 2018 Vbrick Systems, Inc.

 Chapter 9

Streaming Video Basics

Video Basics
It is important that the source of the video being encoded and streamed is of the highest
possible quality in order to avoid using unnecessary bandwidth to transport source video
artifacts, distortion, etc. If using a camera, exercise common sense: good lighting and a steady
camera will improve overall performance. Cameras, DVD players, and live television
broadcast feeds from a TV tuner can all be used as video sources. Vbrick supports standard
video via BNC connectors, or HDMI via mini-DIN connectors. BNC-to-RCA adapters are
readily available if RCA-type cables are used.

Getting the Best Video

Video quality is a subjective concept that depends on a variety of factors. Vbrick's philosophy
is to make our network encoders as flexible as possible so they can be used effectively in
different applications on a wide variety of networks. This means you can configure an
encoder for maximum performance but you can also configure it in such a way that it will
only work well in a very limited environment. Video quality is also relative. What is
acceptable quality for a surveillance application on a low-bandwidth network is most likely
unacceptable for a corporate presentation or a two-way video conference on a high-speed
LAN. Much depends on your network, the bandwidth you have available, and the audience
you are trying to reach.
For best results, start with the default values and then adjust the bit rate, frame rate,
resolution, and other parameters with care. Experiment with different settings to see the
trade-offs in quality and performance. You can track your changes by periodically saving the
configuration file using the Read and Restore options on the Manage Configuration page in
VBAdmin. If the audio and video quality is still less than you would expect, re-apply your
saved configuration and try again. Keep in mind that the Vbrick is stable, reliable and
flexible. In most cases a small amount of experimentation will help you find the
configuration settings that will deliver the best audio and video your network can support.
For more information, or help configuring your encoder, contact Vbrick Support Services.

Network Considerations
As s i g n i n g M u lt i c a s t Ad d re s s e s
Many factors must be considered when designing a multicast address infrastructure since
Ethernet switch implementations can significantly vary between vendors. Furthermore,
multicast addressing techniques rely on an Ethernet to IP Address mapping rule, which does
not guarantee a unique physical address. In fact, it is possible to create multicast addresses
that differ from an IP perspective, but overlap when presented to the Ethernet network.
Addresses created in this situation can cause significant network and operational problems.
Specifically, multiple IP Addresses are mapped into the same physical layer address. For
example, all IP multicast addresses with the same or differing first octet, and the second octet

Vbrick Encoder Getting Started 49

 differing by exactly 128, map to the same physical address (226.5.5.4, 227.5.5.4, and
228.133.5.4 all map to the same physical address). Another factor to keep in mind when
assigning multicast addresses is that 224.x.x.x is a range containing reserved addresses,
particularly in the range 224.0.0.x. For example, 224.0.0.1 is the 'all hosts' multicast address
and 224.0.0.2 is the 'all routers' reserved address. Other 224.0.0.X numbers are reserved for
RIP, OSPF, DVMRP, etc. Here are some recommended rules for multicast IP Address
assignment:
1. Do not use 224 in the first octet since many of these are reserved. (Vbrick encoders
enforce this rule.)
2. Use a digit between (225–239) for the first octet and standardize on it for each network.
3. In the second octet, either use numbers from 1–127, or 129–255, do not mix ranges on a
given network.

Vbrick Accessories
Vbrick encoders have various optional hardware accessories. These work directly with Vbrick
encoders or through the use of ActiveX control software, also available from Vbrick. For
information about microphones, cameras and other Vbrick hardware accessories, please
contact Vbrick directly. ActiveX controls for cameras and other software accessories are also
available from Vbrick.

Serial Port Passthrough

When configured properly, Vbricks provide full duplex, end-to-end transparent passthrough
of user data from one Vbrick to another, or to other IP devices. You can use COM1 or
COM2 for passthrough. When COM1 Passthrough is enabled, the management port and CLI
are not available. The serial ports operate at the configured baud rate (e.g. 110 to 115.2K
bps). See the Encoder Admin Guide for passthrough configuration details. Some common
applications include:

• Remote control of a camera, pan-tilt-zoom.

• Remote control of a security door lock.
• Low speed data transport.
• Data collaboration between PCs.

Note: Passthrough mode is used to send control information

from one Vbrick to another and may not support sustained
data at higher data rates.

50 © 2018 Vbrick Systems, Inc.

 Streaming Video Basics

How Passthrough Works

Vbrick encoders are able to receive data on a particular TCP/IP port and transparently
output that data to a serial port. Conversely, any data input to a serial port can be passed
through to other devices connected to that TCP/IP port. Devices include other Vbricks or
special applications connected to the appropriate TCP/IP port. This feature is called "Serial
Port Passthrough." COM is assigned port 4439. A typical application is for two Vbricks
connected to each other's TCP/IP port 4439. In this case, characters typed into a terminal
program attached to one Vbrick's serial port appear on a terminal program attached to the
other Vbrick's serial port. In this case, the TCP/IP network serves as an intermediary
between the serial ports of two Vbrick encoders.
You must select configuration settings to enable Serial Port Passthrough. First it is necessary
to decide if the encoder will be designated as an Initiator or Responder of Passthrough
connections. If configured as an Initiator it will continuously attempt to setup a Passthrough
connection to other devices. When configured as a Responder it will accept up to 64
connections from Initiator encoders. It is possible to Disable Passthrough Mode, so that the
Vbrick neither initiates nor responds to Passthrough requests. If a Vbrick is set to be an
Initiator , a Destination must be selected. The encoder will use the destination information
when trying to establish a connection. The destination can be configured as follows:

Dedicated Means that the initiator will attempt to make a Passthrough connection
to the configured Dedicated Destination and Port. The Dedicated
Destination can either be configured using IP Address or Host Name. If
set to Host Name, the Resolved Destination IP Address is derived from
the Host Name parameter. If set to IP Address, the Resolved
Destination IP Address is derived from the IP Address parameter.

Since the medium used for setting up Passthrough connections is a generic TCP/IP port, any
IP device that is prepared to connect to a Vbrick's port can be considered as a Passthrough
Initiator. The Vbrick Responder encoder will not know the exact nature of the device at the
other end of the port. For example, a generic Telnet client configured to connect to a Vbrick
on port 4439 will cause a Vbrick Responder to start sending data from it's serial port, using
the connection it accepted from the Telnet client. If the encoder is configured as an Initiator
and the Responder encoder has Passthrough disabled or is not on the network it will continue
to try to establish a connection.A Vbrick encoder must be configured as a Responder to
accept Passthrough connections initiated by other devices. In addition to the Initiator versus
Responder selection, the serial port operation settings must be entered to establish a
connection, baud rate, stop bits etc.

Note: Once a Passthrough connection is established between

Vbricks, the actual flow of data is symmetric between the ends
of the connection. That is, the behavior of the serial ports with
respect to typed characters will appear to be the same at both
ends.

Se ri a l P o rt P a s s t h ro u g h Us i n g T e ln e t
As mentioned in the previous section, either serial port can be accessed over Ethernet via a
Telnet client. A Vbrick encoder configured as a Passthrough Responder will accept a
connection request to TCP port 4439 (COM). The request can come from a Telnet client or
other PC application. Any data sent by the PC to TCP port 4439 will be delivered out of the

Vbrick Encoder Getting Started 51

 Vbrick serial ports and any data present on the Vbrick serial port will be sent to the
connected PC.

If multiple Telnet sessions are active on one Vbrick (each Vbrick supports up to 64 sessions),
the data from the Vbrick will be sent to all connected PC's, and the data received by the
Vbrick from the PC's will be delivered on the serial port. If multiple Telnet sessions are active
and each is sending data to the Vbrick, the data delivered by the RS-232 port will be a mix of
characters presented in the order they were received (e.g. the data from all the senders is
bridged together). This feature provides a method to broadcast alarm status or other
information to multiple locations.

52 © 2018 Vbrick Systems, Inc.

 Chapter 10

Vbrick iPhone App

App Overview

Note: The Vbrick iPhone app is used to monitor the status of 7000/9000
encoders only. It provides limited support 9000 decoders.

Vbrick provides an iPhone app which you can use to monitor the status of 7000/9000
encoders. This app lets you perform basic configuration tasks by running predefined scripts.
You cannot modify configuration parameters except by running a script. You can create and FTP
script files that perform common tasks like changing the bit rate or starting a transmitter.
These scripts are associated with the four function keys (F1–F4) on the iPhone interface. F1
runs script 1, F2 runs script 2, etc. You cannot change the script file names (e.g.
event1Script.txt ) nor can you add more scripts. After you create the scripts, you will need to
FTP them to the scripts folder on the encoder.
If you need help creating scripts, see the Command Line Interface topics. This topic explains
how to find and set encoder parameters. These are the actual MIB object names you will need
to identify in your scripts.

Figure 1. iPhone App Home Page

Get the iPhone App

The Vbrick iPhone app is available from the Apple App Store. To get the app simply click on
the App Store icon on your iPhone home page and search for "Vbrick" apps. There is no
charge for the Vbrick iPhone app.

M o n i t o r a n En c o d e r w i t h t h e i P h o n e Ap p
Be aware that to use the iPhone app, your iPhone must be on the same wireless network as
the 7000/9000 encoder.

Vbrick Encoder Getting Started 53

  To launch the Vbrick iPhone app:
1. Tap on the Vbrick icon to launch the app. The page will show any 7000/9000 Series
devices that have manually added or discovered.
2. Click on the icon to manually add devices. You will be prompted for Name, IP
Address, and login credentials. When done select a Default Device (if desired).
3. Tap on any available device to see the home page for the device.

4. Click on the Monitor button to display a list of Channels and then select any available
Channel. This will display (below right) the relevant status values for the selected
Channel. These values are read-only and cannot be changed.

R u n a Sc ri p t
The iPhone app supports four predefined scripts that you can use to modify encoder
configuration parameters. (This is the only way you can modify parameters using the iPhone
app.) After you create and FTP these scripts (to the scripts folder on the encoder), you can
use them to modify configuration parameters on the encoder. You run the script by tapping
the Control icon. F1 is associated with script1, F2 with script 2, etc. You can also change the
label names (below the buttons) as desired (see below Change the Function Key Labels). If
the script runs successfully you will see a confirmation message.

54 © 2018 Vbrick Systems, Inc.

 Vbrick iPhone App

C re a t e a Sc ri p t Fi le
Script files are simply .txt files with a list of one or more commands. For a detailed
description of how to create scripts that will change encoder parameters, see the CLI
Examples topic.
As noted, you can create and FTP script files that will perform common configuration tasks.
For example the following script sets the Target Bit Rate for the first video rate on Channel 2
to 800K.
Vbrick# svar vbrickEncoderVideoH264TargetBitRate.2.1=800000
Vbrick# svar vbrickEncoderVideoCommonApplySet.1=2

Script files have explicit, predefined names that cannot be changed. There are also specific
syntax rules that must be observed (See: CLI Scripting Syntax). In particular make sure that
every configuration element in the script is followed by an appropriate applyset command.
The script file names include:
event1Script.txt
event2Script.txt
event3Script.txt
event4Script.txt

FTP a Script File

After creating a script, it must be FTPed to the encoder before you can use it. You can use an
FTP program or you can use the FTP functionality in VBAdmin:
 To FTP scripts using VBAdmin:
1. Open VBAdmin and go to System Configuration > Advanced Configurations > Event
Triggering.
2. Click on Edit and again on FTP Scripts .
3. When the FTP directory page is displayed, click Page , and then click Open FTP Site in
Windows Explorer .
4. When the Windows Explorer page is displayed, drag the new script file(s) into the
window.

Vbrick Encoder Getting Started 55

 C h a n g e t h e Fu n c t i o n K e y La b e ls
You can use CLI (or a script) to modify Function key labels (F1–F4). Each of the following
commands is associated with a specific function key. Replace the bolded text below with a
meaningful label that describes the script. Do not exceed 20 characters including spaces.
svar "vbrickFrontPanelUserFunctionDescription.1=F1 label"

svar "vbrickFrontPanelUserFunctionDescription.2=F2 label"

svar "vbrickFrontPanelUserFunctionDescription.3=F3 label"

svar "vbrickFrontPanelUserFunctionDescription.4=F4 label"

svar vbrickFrontPanelApplySet=2

56 © 2018 Vbrick Systems, Inc.

 Chapter 11

Vbrick 9000 Series Reference

Device Interfaces
Video-In
Table 1. Support Video Inputs
Interface Description
Component The component connectors (YPbPr ) on the A/V cable support high
definition video and audio.
Composite The yellow jack with an RCA connector is used for composite video
input.
HDMI The HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) connector supports
both digital audio and video.
SDI The Serial Digital Interface supports both SD-SDI typically used for
broadcast-grade video (meets SMPTE 259M) or HD/3G-SDI which
processes 1080p at bit rates of 2.97 Gbits/sec (meets SMPTE 424M)
and digital audio.
VGA The Video Graphics Array connectors support most of the common
analog output videos from a PC or laptop.

Au d i o - I n
Each channel on the encoder can accept digital audio via the HDMI port (Digital L+R 1/2 ) or
analog audio using the A/V breakout cable (Unbalanced ). The HDMI port (High Definition
Multimedia Interface) carries high-quality multichannel audio. It moves the audio across the
TMDS lanes using a packet structure. The audio can be sampled at rates of 32, 44.1, or 48
KHz.
Table 1. Supported Digital Audio Formats
Format Description
HDMI HDMI 1.1 compatible audio interface (basic audio).
SDI User selected digital audio stereo channel 1, 2, 3, or 4.

C O M 1/ C O M 2
RS-232/422/485 COM Port Pinouts
The encoder has two COM ports. COM 1 is generally used for management (9600 8N1)
although it can also be used for passthrough; COM 2 is used for passthrough. When COM1
Passthrough is enabled, the management port and CLI are not available. The COM
Passthrough Port is used to pass control information between Vbrick encoders over the
network. The COM port presents a standard DTE interface on an RJ-45 connector. The serial

Vbrick Encoder Getting Started 57

 port operates at a default rate of 9.6 Kbps, Async, 8-Bit, No Parity, Controls = None. The
pins on the passthrough port can be set for RS-232 or RS-422-485 (see below) using the COM
Interface Type parameter on the Passthrough page in VBAdmin.

Note: See System Configuration > Passthrough in the Vbrick

Encoder v4.8 Admin Guide for detailed information about
Passthrough configuration.

Table 1. RS-232 Pinouts

Pin Function Direction
1 RTS Request to Send Output
2 DTR Data Terminal Ready Output
3 TXD Send Data Output
4 Ground Common
5 Ground Common
6 RXD Receive Data Input
7 DSR Data Set Ready Input
8 CTS Clear to Send Input

58 © 2018 Vbrick Systems, Inc.

 Vbrick 9000 Series Reference

Table 2. RS-232-422/485 Pinouts

Pin Description
1 TD(+)
2 N/C
3 TD(-)
4 Optional gnd/common or n/c (GND
connected to cable shielded)
5 Optional gnd/common or n/c (GND
connected to cable shielded)
6 RD(-)
7 N/C
8 RD(+)

Et h e rn e t
The Ethernet port is used to connect the encoder to your network. It uses a standard 10/
100/1000 cable.

Po w e r
The power entry interface supplies 24VDC to the encoder from an external 110/220 VAC
power source.

Ext e rn a l Ev e n t T ri g g e ri n g
The 9000 Series event triggering feature lets you use an external switch to control the
function of the encoder. This section provides some examples of how to use this feature. In
all the examples, a high event is triggered when the switch is closed and a low event is
triggered when the switch is opened.
The event trigger inputs on the encoder recognize a high voltage anywhere above +8 volts
DC with an upper limit of +12 volts. A low voltage is anything at or below 0 volts DC with a
lower limit of -12 volts. The event can also be configured to run a script on Pin 7. See System
Configuration > Advanced Configurations > Event Triggering in the Vbrick Encoder v4.8
Admin Guide for configuration details and RS-232/422/485 COM Port Pinouts for pinout
details.

Note: You cannot execute a script using an event trigger if

VBAdmin is currently running in Edit mode. If you run a script
directly from VBAdmin, it automatically exits Edit mode and
terminates the active editing session.

The 9000 Series encoder has two COM ports and supports a total of four external events.
Note that Pin8 is used for UART control and cannot be used as a trigger.

Vbrick Encoder Getting Started 59

 Table 1. Input Event and Associated Scripts
Input Event Runs This Script
COM1 pin7 High to Low event1Script.txt

COM1 pin7 Low to High event2Script.txt

COM2 pin7 High to Low event3Script.txt

COM2 pin7 Low to High event4Script.txt

A total of four trigger voltage outputs are available for generating trigger inputs. The outputs
can be forced high or low (the voltage depends on whether you select RS232 or RS422/485)
and are configured on the Passthrough page. (Note that passthrough is only supported on
COM 2 so COM 1 outputs cannot be forced). The outputs are:
COM1 pin1 RTS
COM1 pin2 DTR
COM2 pin1 RTS
COM2 pin2 DTR

Example 1
This example uses an external power source. Connect an external power supply (+8V to
+12V) and a switch directly to the ground pin and an event pin of the COM 2 port on the
encoder.

Example 2
This example uses the Vbrick COM port output. Connect the COM output pin (COM2 pin1
RTS or COM2 pin2 DTR) through a switch to a COM event pin. For this method to work,
you must force the desired output pin (RTS or DTR) to On using VBAdmin:
 To force the desired output pin to On:
1. Go to the System Configuration > Advanced Configurations > Passthrough page in
VBAdmin.
2. Change Passthrough State to Responder and click Apply.
3. Change RTS/DTR Control to Force On and click Apply.
4. Change Passthrough State to Disabled and click Apply.
5. Click Save Config when done.

60 © 2018 Vbrick Systems, Inc.

 Vbrick 9000 Series Reference

Vbrick Encoder Getting Started 61

62 © 2018 Vbrick Systems, Inc.