Configure system settings
Pearl Minis use the current date and time in naming recorded files and when synchronizing and timestamping inputs from multiple sources (i.e. when synchronizing an audio and a video source). The Admin panel lets you specify date and time settings to ensure they are correctly configured for your time zone and your network. You can also add information like a unique device name, description, and location.
Configure date and time
Pearl Mini uses the current date and time in naming recorded files and when synchronizing and timestamping inputs from multiple sources (i.e. when synchronizing an audio and a video source). The Admin panel lets you specify date and time settings to ensure they are correctly configured for your time zone and your network.
View the current date and time settings
There are two ways to view the current date and time settings:
From the Date and Time page using the Admin panel.
From the Settings menu using the touch screen on Pearl Mini.
You can also set up a local Network Time Protocol (NTP) server on all Pearls.
View the current Date and Time settings using the Admin panel
Log in to the Admin panel as admin.
From the Configuration menu, select Date and Time. The Date and Time configuration page opens.
Table 23 Date and Time configuration options
| Label | Description/Options |
|---|---|
| Time Zone | The currently selected time zone. |
| Enable local NTP server | Select to enable local NTP server. |
| Enable time synchronization | Whether or not a time synchronization protocol is being used for setting time. If not selected, time is set manually. |
| Protocol | The time synchronization protocol. |
| Service IP Address | The time synchronization server address. |
| Set time manually | Whether or not time is set manually. If time is not being set manually, a time synchronization protocol is used. |
| Date | The current date. This is the current date even if the radio button Set time manually is not selected. |
| Time | The current time. This is the current time even if the radio button Set time manually is not selected. |
View the current date and time settings using the touch screen on Pearl Mini
Tap the gear icon to open the System settings screen. If the control icons aren't showing, tap anywhere on the touch screen.
Tap **System Status **to see the System Status page.
Tap Back to return to the System Settings screen, or the Home icon to return to the channel view.
If the system settings control icon won't appear when you tap the touch screen, it may be disabled.
Configure a time server
Pearl Mini uses the Network Time Protocol (NTP) server from the National Research Council of Canada by default. You can change to a different time server using the Admin panel. Contact your system administrator for the time synchronization server settings you should use.
The following table lists the time server types that Pearl Mini supports.
Table 24 Supported time server types
| Label | Description/Options |
|---|---|
| NTP | Network Time Protocol (NTP) servers are used to synchronize system time. Many NTP servers are available on the Internet. Pearl can also act as a local NTP server. All you need is the IP address of the NTP server and network access to the server to use that as the time synchronization source for Pearl Mini. For more information about NTP and to find NTP servers, refer to http://support.ntp.org/bin/view/Servers/WebHome. A local Windows NTP server is not supported. |
| PTP v1 | The Precision Time Protocol (PTP) is used for clock synchronization over the Internet. It has clock accuracy in the sub-microsecond range, making it more granular than NTP. |
NTP sends UDP packets over port 123 on Pearl Mini and PTP sends UDP packets over ports 319 and 320. If the Pearl Mini is behind a firewall, you must open these ports to allow traffic when the Pearl Mini is configured to use either an NTP or a PTP server to obtain its time and date information.
Set the time synchronization method using the Admin panel
Log in to the Admin panel as admin.
From the Configuration menu, click **Date and Time **. The Date and Time configuration page opens.
To use Pearl as a NTP server and provide timing to other NTP clients like IP cameras, check Enable local NTP server. Otherwise, skip this step.
Select Enable time synchronization and choose the time synchronization protocol from the **Protocols **drop down.
If **NTP **is selected, enter the IP address or server name for the NTP server in the **Server IP Address **field.
If **PTP v1 **is selected, choose a multicast address for the PTP v1 server from the PTP domain field.
Table 25 PTP multicast addresses
| PTP Domain | Description |
|---|---|
| Default | PTP at multicast address 224.0.1.129 |
| Alternative 1 | PTP at multicast address 224.0.1.130 |
| Alternative 2 | PTP at multicast address 224.0.1.131 |
| Alternative 3 | PTP at multicast address 224.0.1.132 |
- Click Apply.
Manually set the date, time, and time zone
Pearl Mini uses NTP for time synchronization by default. You can manually set the date, time, and time zone. Pearl Mini uses the Eastern (Canada) time zone by default.
Set the date, time, and zone manually using the Admin panel
Log in to the Admin panel as admin.
From the Configuration menu, click Date and Time. The Date and Time configuration page opens.
Enter the current date in the **Date **field using the format yyyy-mm-dd and enter the current time in the **Time **field using the format hh:mm:ss.
Select a time zone from the **Time Zone **field.
Click Apply.
Configure device info, name, description, and location
You can assign a unique device name to the Pearl Mini using the Admin panel and add information such as a description and location. Alphanumeric characters and hyphens are supported. The serial number of Pearl Mini is the default device name.
For AFU and USB file transfers that are configured to create a folder upon file upload, the device name you set for the Pearl Mini is used for the folder name instead of Pearl's serial number.
For CMSs, the device name you set here for the Pearl Mini appears as the registered name for this device.
Configure the device name, description, and location using the Admin panel
Log in to the Admin panel as admin.
From the Configuration menu, click Info. The system information page opens.
Under Device info, do any of the following and then click Apply:
Enter a name using alphanumeric characters including hyphens up to a maximum of 64 characters.
Enter a description using alphanumeric characters including hyphens up to a maximum of 50 characters.
Enter a location using alphanumeric characters including hyphens up to a maximum of 50 characters.