NI software won't detect Multiple Ethernet Cameras

[JohnW242424]

I have two identical Ethernet cameras which have been assigned unique static IPs. NI software  (MAX, Vision assistant) will only detect one of them. Is there some special setup that needs to be done so that both are visible to NI software?

[MoviJOHN]

What kind of ethernet cameras?  GigE machine vision cameras using GENiCAM protocol should show up fine, but I'm not sure about IP cameras.  They may behave differently.

Let me know, and I can proceed to assist.

[JohnW242424]

Thanks for the quick response.

They are not GigE cameras, they are actually IP Frame grabbers. I can access both of them with no issues using DirectShow.

[MoviJOHN]

NI Vision only support connecting to one DirectShow device at a time.  You could try using one of the virtual camera drivers out there, like IP Camera Adapter.

http://ip-webcam.appspot.com/

[JohnW242424]

OK Thanks. The Direct Show Dll works well enough, just a bit more code vs. starting a session with one line of code.

[BlueCheese]

IMAQdx has no such limitation of the number of DirectShow cameras in use at one time. If only one shows up it may be a limitation of the camera's drivers.

Eric

[MoviJOHN]

Yeah, let me clarify.

When using certain IP cameras with DirectShow drivers, MAX will treat the DRIVER as the camera, and not the device itself, and will therefore only show one device available.  One workaround is to use a different driver, like the one I mentioned, to allow the second camera to be connected.

There may be ways of installing a second instance of the IP camera driver, but I am not aware.

This does not apply to USB cameras, which also use DirectShow.

[JohnW242424]

I'm just going to use the DirectShow dll. I just thought there was some obvious setting I was missing.