16-camera configuration

important When using a 16-camera configuration, we recommend to use Contour-based tracking, not Deep learning. This because Deep learning is so resource-demanding that it is unlikely to work with 16 arenas on a typical PC.

Setup

Hardware and settings

▪PC: Dell Precision 3680, CPU i7-14700K 3.4 GHz, RAM memory 32GB, GPU NVIDIA T1000 8 GB; Windows 11 Pro 25H2.

▪16 Basler GigE cameras acA1300-60gm.

▪PCIe Ethernet interface board: FS X550-AT2, 10GBase-T Dual-Port, PCIe 3.0 x4.

▪Network switch: FS S3100-16TMS-P, 16-Port Gigabit Ethernet L2+ PoE+, 8x PoE+ Ports@125W, 2x 5Gb RJ45, with 2x 10Gb SFP+ Uplinks.

▪For this switch you need an adapter (SFP+ 10GBASE-T Copper 30m RJ-45 Transceiver module) for the network cable that goes to the PC.

▪We recommend to use CAT6+ network cables.

▪Video resolution: single camera view 640 x 480, merged view in EthoVision XT 2560 x 1920.

▪Image binning: 2. See Binning

▪Video frame rate: 30 fps. Trial duration: 72 hours.

▪Video source: Live tracking; Number of subjects per arena: 1; Tracked features: Center-point, nose-point and tail-base detection; Body Point Detection Technique: Contour-based. Detection method: Dynamic Subtraction or Differencing. Acquisition mode: Track + Save video.

Connection scheme

Follow this scheme also for PhenoTyper 2. Note that in the S3100-16TMS-P network switch, the RJ45 ports marked in yellow are powered, so eight cameras do not need PoE injectors. Connect the remaining eight cameras through PoE injectors.

Connect the cameras as follows:

Assign the IP addresses

The figure above shows an example of IP addresses that worked. See also Assign IP addresses

Connect the cameras to the switch using the ports as in the figure above. For a good overview of the IP addresses we recommend to use pylon IP Configurator.

Start pylon IP Configurator.

For the port of the Ethernet board of the PC connected to the switch, specify the address 192.168.1.51. To do so, locate the Ethernet row in IP Configurator, that is, the row with the board symbol connected to the cameras. Note that the name of the Ethernet row may vary between PCs.

Right-click and select Properties, then double-click Internet Protocol Version 4, select Use the following IP address, and enter the IP address in the IP Address field.

For the cameras (1 to 16), specify the following addresses: 192.168.1.101 to 192.168.1.116.

Note that the third number must be the same as that for the Ethernet port connected to the network switch. To assign the IP addresses to a camera, select the camera row, then in the panel at the bottom of the screen choose Static IP and enter the IP address.

For all Ethernet ports and cameras, leave 255.255.255.0 as Subnet Mask.

For more schemes of multiple camera configurations, see also the PhenoTyper - EthoVision XT 19 - Reference Manual.

Using network switches

▪The network switches must be of type PoE (Power over Ethernet), that is, they must provide power to the cameras. Mind that the maximum power provided by a switch, measured in Watt (W), must be greater than that the total requirements of the cameras (one Basler camera requires about 2.5 W).

▪The network switches must be able to handle large packets (known as jumbo packets or jumbo frames). With jumbo frame-capable devices, the maximum packet size can be up to 16 KB. For maximum network efficiency, your camera should be configured to use the largest packet size that your network adapters and switches can handle.

▪Refer to the user guide of the network switch for how to set it up.