Network Configuration (GigE Cameras)
This topic tells you how to configure a Basler
ace GigE camera in a Windows network.
Prerequisites
The pylon Camera Software Suite for Windows must be installed.
If you are using your GigE camera in a wireless LAN, also
read the Using
Basler GigE Cameras in a Wireless LAN topic.
Peer-to-peer Network Architecture
One option is to establish a direct peer-to-peer connection between
your cameras and your host computer.
The cameras can be connected to individual GigE network adapters or
to a multiport adapter in the host computer.

- Advantage: Each camera has an individual connection
to the host computer. Thus, each camera has the full connection bandwidth
available for transmitting acquired images. This means that you can
operate each camera at its full acquisition rate.
- Disadvantage: The number of cameras that can be
connected to a single computer is limited.
Connecting Via Network Switches
As an alternative, you can establish a connection between your cameras
and your host computer via network switches.
The example below shows a 1-port GigE network adapter connected to a
4-port network switch. You can also use multiport network adapters or
multiple switches.

- Advantage: Allows you to connect many cameras
to a single host computer.
- Advantage: Allows longer overall cable lengths
because the cables between devices can each be up to 100 meters long.
- Disadvantage: The switch only has a single
GigE connection to the computer. The cameras must share the bandwidth
available on this single path. The bandwidth available on the single
path is about 125 MByte/s.
- The switch 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 (earlier
Ethernet devices: 1.5 kB).
Basler GigE cameras and the recommended
network adapters can both handle jumbo frames. For maximum
network efficiency, your camera should be configured to use the
largest packet size that your network can handle.
- When multiple cameras are attached to a switch, the switch
must have sufficient buffer capacity. This allows the switch to
hold incoming data from the cameras while it transmits data on
the single outgoing line.
Configuring Network Adapters Using the Filter Driver
All network adapters using the pylon
GigE Vision filter driver must be configured before you can use them
with your camera.
Changing the Network Adapter Connections
For all network adapters using the pylon
GigE Vision filter driver, Basler recommends disabling protocols or
services that may interfere with the pylon driver.
To disable protocols or services:
- Open the Network Connections window in the Windows
Control Panel.
For quick access, press Windows + R,
type ncpa.cpl, and press Enter.
- Right-click the network adapter connection that is used with your
camera and select Properties.
The Properties window opens.
- Clear all check boxes except the pylon GigE
Vision Driver and the Internet Protocol
Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) check boxes:

- Repeat steps 2 to 4 for all applicable network adapters.
Changing the Network Adapter Properties
For all network adapters using the pylon
GigE Vision filter driver, Basler recommends optimizing the adapter
properties.
To optimize the adapter properties:
- Open the Network Connections window in the Windows
Control Panel.
For quick access, press Windows + R,
type ncpa.cpl, and press Enter.
- Right-click the network adapter connection that is used with your
camera and select Properties.
The Properties window opens.
- Click Configure.
The configuration window of the network driver opens.
- Click Advanced.
Adjust the following properties:
Depending on the network adapter model, the parameter
names of your network adapter may differ from the ones used below.
Also, the way to set the parameters may differ, and some parameters
may not be available.
- Set the Jumbo Frames (or Jumbo Packets) property to its maximum
value.
If there is no Jumbo Frames property,
select the parameter that relates to frame size and set it to
its maximum value.
- Select the parameter that relates to the number of receive
descriptors (e.g., Receive Descriptors)
and set it to its maximum value.
- Select the parameter that relates to the number of CPU interrupts
(e.g., Interrupt Moderation Rate)
and set it to a low value, e.g., 1000.
The way to set the number of CPU interrupts may differ for your
network adapter. You may have to use a separate parameter to enable
the interrupt moderation.
- Select the parameter that relates to speed and duplex mode
(e.g., Speed and Duplex Mode) and
set it to automatic (e.g., Auto Negotiation).
- Repeat steps 2 to 5 for all applicable network adapters.
Turning off Windows Firewall
You do not necessarily need to turn the Windows Firewall off. If you
leave the firewall on, the camera is fully operational, with the following
exceptions:
- The Event Notification feature
will not work.
- Whenever a program addresses a camera for the first time, a Windows
Security Alert will open asking you to allow incoming requests.
Therefore, Basler recommends turning the firewall off for the connections
with Basler cameras.
Turning off Windows Firewall via Windows Control Panel
This option allows you to turn off the firewall for all connections.
To turn off the firewall via Windows Control Panel:
- Open the Windows Firewall window in the Windows
Control Panel.
For quick access, press Windows + R,
type firewall.cpl, and press Enter.
- In the left pane, click Turn Windows Firewall
on or off.
The Customize Settings window opens.
- In the Customize Settings window,
find the network location section where you want to turn off firewall
protection.
Typically, this will be the Public network location
settings section. However, if you use a dedicated network card,
Basler recommends also disabling firewall protection for the other
network locations.
- In the desired sections, click Turn
off Windows Firewall (not recommended).

Turning off Windows Firewall via Command Prompt
This option allows you to turn off the firewall for all connections.
To turn off the firewall via command prompt:
- Press Windows + R.
- In the Run window, make sure that
the message This task will be created with
administrative privileges is displayed.

- Press Enter.
The command prompt window opens.
- Type netsh advfirewall set allprofiles state
off.
- Press Enter.
The firewall is turned off for all profiles. It is not possible to use
netsh to turn off the firewall for selected connections only.
Turning off Windows Firewall via Advanced Security Settings
This option allows you to turn off the firewall for selected connections.
To turn off the firewall on selected network adapters:
- Press Windows + R, type wf.msc,
and press the Enter key.
The Windows Firewall with Advanced Security window
opens.
- Click Windows Firewall Properties.

The Windows Firewall with Advanced Security
on Local Computer Properties... window opens.
- Click the tab of the profile where you want to turn off firewall
protection.
Typically, this will be the Public Profile
tab. However, if you use a dedicated network card, Basler recommends
also disabling firewall protection for the other profiles.
- Click Customize.

The Protected Network Connections for the Public
Profile window opens. The window lists connections where the
firewall is turned on.

- Clear the connections where cameras are attached. This turns off
their firewall protection.
- Repeat steps 3 to 5 for all profiles where you want to turn off
firewall protection.
Network Adapter IP Configuration
These are the two most common ways to configure the IP addresses of
network adapters:
- Assigning a fixed
(also "static" or "persistent") address
- Configuring automatic
addressing via DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) or Auto
IP (Automatic Private IP Addressing, based on link-local addresses
(LLA)).
To assign a fixed IP address to a network adapter:
- Open the Network Connections window in the Windows
Control Panel.
For quick access, press Windows + R,
type ncpa.cpl, and press Enter.
- Right-click the network adapter connection that is used with your
camera and select Properties.
The Properties window opens.
- Double-click Internet Protocol Version 4
(TCP/IPv4).
The Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) Properties
window opens.
- Click Use the following IP address.
- In the IP address, Subnet
mask, and Default gateway fields, type the IP address, subnet mask,
and default gateway addresses.
- In the Preferred DNS server and Alternate DNS server fields,
type the primary and secondary DNS server addresses. (Normally, a
domain name server is not needed.)

- Repeat steps 2 to 6 for all applicable network adapters.
- During camera design-in, you can use the following settings
to establish a network connection very quickly:
- Configure a fixed address for your network adapter in the
automatic IP address range (169.254.0.1 to 169.254.255.254)
with a subnet mask of 255.255.0.0.
- Configure Auto IP address assignment for your cameras.
- If your computer has multiple network adapters, each adapter
must be in a different subnet.
- The recommended range for fixed IP addresses is from 172.16.0.1
to 172.32.255.254 with a subnet mask of 255.255.0.0 and from 192.168.0.1
to 192.168.255.254 with a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0. These
address ranges have been reserved for private use according to
IP standards.
- If you are assigning fixed IP addresses to your cameras, keep
in mind that for a camera to communicate properly with a network
adapter, it must be in the same subnet as the adapter to which
it is attached.
When an adapter is configured to receive its IP address via DHCP / Auto
IP, it operates as follows:
- The adapter tries to obtain an IP address from a DHCP server. If
a DHCP server is available, it receives an IP address from the server
and uses it.
- If no DHCP server is available, the adapter uses the Auto IP routine
to assign itself an IP address.
The default setting for most network adapters is DHCP / Auto IP. In
most cases, the adapter used with your cameras will not have a DHCP server
available. So with the default settings, the adapter will end up using
automatic IP addressing to assign itself an IP address.
Only one adapter can be set to use Auto IP. If DHCP / Auto IP is
configured on more than one adapter, the Auto IP assignment will not
work correctly and the cameras will not be able to connect to the
network via Auto IP.
If you have multiple network adapters in your computer, Basler recommends
installing a DHCP server in your network or assigning static IP addresses
to the adapters and to the cameras.
To assign an IP address using DHCP / Auto IP:
- Open the Network Connections window in the Windows
Control Panel.
For quick access, press Windows + R,
type ncpa.cpl, and press Enter.
- Right-click the network adapter connection that is used with your
camera and select Properties.
The Properties window opens.
- Double-click Internet Protocol Version 4
(TCP/IPv4).
The Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) Properties
window opens.
- Make sure that Obtain an IP address automatically
is selected.
This makes the adapter check for a DHCP server as its first choice.
- Click on the Alternate Configuration
tab.
The settings on this tab are used to configure the Auto IP address
assignment that the adapter will use if no DHCP server is found.
- Make sure that Automatic private IP address
is selected.

Next Steps