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Lookup channels

This guide shows you how to read parameter information about a video channel.

Prerequisites​

You need:

  • An Axis camera: <ip> to replace in commands
  • Camera user credentials: <user> and <pass> to replace in commands
  • curl

For the how-to cases below that change values, the camera user credential needs either admin or operator privileges. For details of authentication, see Authentication. You can find definitions of acronyms used in this guide in Terminology.

How to read the number of video channels​

curl -s --anyauth -u '<user>:<pass>' "http://<ip>/axis-cgi/param.cgi?action=list&group=Image.NbrOfConfigs"

Example output:

Image.NbrOfConfigs=8

How to read the available codecs​

curl -s --anyauth -u '<user>:<pass>' "http://<ip>/axis-cgi/param.cgi?action=list&group=Properties.Image.Format"

Example output:

Properties.Image.Format=av1,jpeg,mjpeg,h264,h265

How to read the available resolutions for a codec​

Replace:

curl -s --anyauth -u '<user>:<pass>' "http://<ip>/axis-cgi/param.cgi?action=list&group=Properties.Image.I0.JPEG.Resolution"

Example output:

Properties.Image.I0.JPEG.Resolution=3840x2160,3072x1728,2880x2160,2688x1512,2592x1944,2560x1920,2560x1600,2560x1440,2432x1824,2304x1728,2048x1536,2016x1512,1920x1440,1920x1200,1920x1080,1440x1080,1280x960,1280x800,1280x720,1024x768,1024x640,1024x576,800x600,640x480,640x400,640x360,480x360,320x240,320x200,160x120

How to get the default resolution​

Replace:

curl -s --anyauth -u '<user>:<pass>' "http://<ip>/axis-cgi/param.cgi?action=list&group=Image.I0.Appearance.Resolution"

Example output:

Image.I0.Appearance.Resolution=3840x2160

How to set the default resolution​

Replace:

curl -s --anyauth -u '<user>:<pass>' "http://<ip>/axis-cgi/param.cgi?action=update&Image.I0.Appearance.Resolution=1920x1080"

Example output:

OK

Always verify that the new default resolution is set: How to get the default resolution.

How to read the FPS​

Replace:

curl --anyauth -u '<user>:<pass>' "http://<ip>/axis-cgi/param.cgi?action=list&group=Image.I0.Stream.FPS"

Example output:

Image.I0.Stream.FPS=0

0 = Unlimited.

How to read the type of a video channel​

Replace:

curl --anyauth -u '<user>:<pass>' "http://<ip>/axis-cgi/param.cgi?action=list&group=Image.I0.Type"

Example output:

Image.I0.Type=Source

How to disable a video channel​

Replace:

curl --anyauth -u '<user>:<pass>' "http://<ip>/axis-cgi/param.cgi?action=update&Image.I0.Enabled=no"

Example output:

OK

How to enable a video channel​

Replace:

curl --anyauth -u '<user>:<pass>' "http://<ip>/axis-cgi/param.cgi?action=update&Image.I0.Enabled=yes"

Example output:

OK

How to read the RTSP timeout​

curl --anyauth -u '<user>:<pass>' "http://<ip>/axis-cgi/param.cgi?action=list&group=Network.RTSP.Timeout"

Example output:

Network.RTSP.Timeout=60

How to set the RTSP timeout​

Replace:

  • 120 with the desired timeout in seconds
curl --anyauth -u '<user>:<pass>' "http://<ip>/axis-cgi/param.cgi?action=update&Network.RTSP.Timeout=120"

Example output:

OK

How to disable the RTSP timeout​

curl --anyauth -u '<user>:<pass>' "http://<ip>/axis-cgi/param.cgi?action=update&Network.RTSP.Timeout=0"

Example output:

OK

How to explore an image snapshot​

Browse to https://<ip>/axis-cgi/jpg/image.cgi?camera=1&resolution=328x328

The specified resolution is outside the resolution list, see How to read the available resolutions for a codec. Compare the image with the default resolution in https://<ip>/axis-cgi/jpg/image.cgi?camera=1 — cropping and scaling may be applied.

For exploring other available HTTP stream parameters, see Image request arguments.

How to explore live video​

Browse to https://<ip>/axis-cgi/media.cgi?camera=1&container=mp4&resolution=328x328 and press play.

The specified resolution is outside the resolution list, see How to read the available resolutions for a codec. Compare the video with the default resolution in https://<ip>/axis-cgi/media.cgi?camera=1&container=mp4 — cropping and scaling may be applied.

For exploring other available HTTP stream parameters, see API specifications.

Use ffplay to display live video:

ffplay 'https://<ip>/axis-cgi/media.cgi'

How to download a 5–second video clip​

curl --anyauth -u '<user>:<pass>' --output file.mp4 --max-time 5 "https://<ip>/axis-cgi/media.cgi?camera=1&container=mp4"

For exploring other available HTTP stream parameters, see API specifications.