Accessing The recording token and recording block token through the open API

[cnickle222]

Hi All,

I'm currently trying to access the recording token and recording block token of my video recordings saved on my video share file.

As you can see I can get the recording id and I can use that to reconstruct most of the file path minus the last 4 characters boxed in the second picture. [This is called recording block token in the XML file]

Does anyone know the API call to access this information? I've looked through all the documentation on network shares and cant seem to find anything to pull this information.

Thank you,

Cam

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[vivekatoffice]

Hi @cnickle222
Do you want to export it or play using RTSP?

Export recording API

RTSP Pull

[cnickle222]

Hi @vivekatoffice,

I would like to be able to play the video in a browser (more or less over HTTP)

Would you happen to know how to make this call in Python? Generally I use the 'urlib2' library for things of this nature and I'm uncertain how to make a request as show in example 7 via the urlib2 library and python in general.

Also, if its not to much to ask would you happen to know if Axis cameras more or less run their own web-servers or is all OS and HMI masking?

[cnickle222]

P.S.

Sorry for the late reply I ended up going down a rabbit hole for a few other things.

[vivekatoffice]

Hi @cnickle222 ,
Please check this:
Play recording

Note:
The record/play.cgi has been deprecated and will no longer receive updates.

[vivekatoffice]

Regarding:
Would you happen to know how to make this call in Python? Generally I use the 'urlib2' library for things of this nature and I'm uncertain how to make a request as show in example 7 via the urlib2 library and python in general.

My Input:
Maybe this will help: 636

Regarding:
Axis cameras more or less run their own web-servers or is all OS and HMI masking?

My Input:

Apache server is hosting the Axis device webpage.

[cnickle222]

Hi @vivekatoffice,

Thank you very much for your suggestion of the "record/play.cgi" call. However, even after confirming my video files were MJPEG I could not successfully make this call and kept receiving 404 errors from the camera server. I think this may be because my firmware simply does not have this functionality as the firmware is the most up-to-date and this call as you said is 'depreciated'.

Here are screen shots of the last attempt.

I took a look at the 636 link you sent but I am still confused as to how that would help make a call of the form example 7 took.
Would you be able to explain how to make, for example, this call in detail from start to finish on a very simple level?

I think this type of call would be what I need as it it RTSP tunneling through HTTP. The only issue is I have no idea how to make this call or anything of this type.

Would you be willing to expressly show me how to make a call like this using something like Postman or any tool at all? I just need to see how its done.

Also thank you for explaining that it is run on an Apache server. I should have been able to figure that out but I appreciate your patience.

Thank you,

Cam

[vivekatoffice]

HI @cnickle222 ,

Yes, you are correct. "/axis-cgi/record/play.cgi?recordingid=20240517_095209_A10E_20240517_095209_A10E_ACCC8EXXXXXX&resolution=640x480" is not working.

RTSP tunneling through HTTP is the solution:

"http://root:pass@10.176.12.50/axis-cgi/media.cgi?resolution=1920x1080&fps=30&videocodec=h264&container=mp4&recordingid=20240517_095209_A10E_ACCC8EXXXXXX" worked with Browser and following code and "ffmpeg.exe" in same folder:

import os
import requests
import subprocess
import time

def capture_video(url, duration, output_file):
    # Start capturing the video stream
    command = f'ffmpeg -i "{url}" -t {duration} -c:v copy -c:a copy "{output_file}"'
    process = subprocess.Popen(command, shell=True, stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stderr=subprocess.PIPE)
    
    # Wait for the specified duration
    time.sleep(duration)
    
    # Terminate the ffmpeg process
    process.terminate()

if __name__ == "__main__":
    # URL of the Axis Camera stream
    camera_url = "http://root:pass@10.176.12.50/axis-cgi/media.cgi?resolution=1920x1080&fps=30&videocodec=h264&container=mp4&recordingid=20240517_095209_A10E_ACCC8EXXXXXX"
    
    # Duration of the video capture in seconds (e.g., 60 seconds for 1 minute)
    capture_duration = 60
    
    # Output file path
    output_file = "captured_video.mp4"
    
    # Capture the video
    capture_video(camera_url, capture_duration, output_file)

[cnickle222]

Hi @vivekatoffice,

This solution helps with a different issue I was having with my project so that is wonderful, thank you :D. (Also what you've given me would be really helpful when I want to make a manual record option or something like it. So thank you for that as well.)

However, when I go to access a different video recording I am presented with the same live stream feed every time. I'm not sure if this would cause an issue or not but I am using a network share as my storage for all my video feeds at the moment.

When I went and double checked the function it does not appear to have a 'recordingid' parameter and I think that is its issue.

https://www.axis.com/vapix-library/subjects/t10175981/section/t10188469/display

But this is good news because the RTSP over HTTP tunneling is working properly so that means the server is working as it should. We just need to find a way to access it properly.

I'm still thinking using the RTSP API is the way to go about it but I have no idea how to utilize this portion of the API.

Do you know how I could go about making this type of call to just play a recording I already have stored in my browser? (As the play function dosent work anymore :( )

[vivekatoffice]

Hi @cnickle222,
For RTSP you can use OpenCV library for RTSP URLs.
rtsp-stream-and-opencv-python

[vivekatoffice]

I tried recording videos using Action and rules in the camera and was able to find the recording IDs for NAS.