Best Practices for Implementing a Single-Camera System with 10GigE Connectivity
Guidelines for host system configuration, cabling, and settings pertaining to industrial cameras.
Whether you're exploring the usage of 10GigE or seeking advice on crucial considerations, this document presents recommended practices to facilitate the seamless setup and optimal operation of a single industrial camera 10GigE vision system. We outline our recommendations for host system configuration, cabling, and industrial camera settings.
Best practices for host system configuration
CPU
Modern PCs typically allocate a small portion of their CPU processing power to reassemble ethernet packets into image data. However, given that most vision applications entail more than mere image capture and storage, it's imperative to ensure adequate processing power for real-time image data analysis. FLIR recommends utilizing an Intel® Core™ i7 CPU or higher for this purpose.
Mass storage
For seamless streaming to disk from an Oryx industrial camera, substantial mass storage is indispensable to keep pace with the 10GigE interface. The widely-used SATA 3.0 mass storage interface boasts a maximum bandwidth of 6 GBit/sec. To facilitate streaming at full bandwidth using SATA Hard Disk Drives or Solid State Drives (SSDs), a RAID array comprising two or more SATA 3.0 disks is necessary.
Most contemporary motherboards are equipped with M.2 SSD support. The M.2 standard utilizes a PCIe 2.0 x4 or PCIe 3.0 x4 interface, theoretically capable of providing sufficient bandwidth to match the requirements of a 10GigE industrial camera. However, sequential write speed remains constrained by flash memory technology. As of early 2018, the Samsung NVMe SM951 series stands out for its sequential write speed of 5.2 Gbit/sec.
Memory bandwidth
Adequate memory bandwidth is crucial for ensuring the reliable operation of 10GigE industrial cameras, considering the substantial data flow of 10 Gbit/sec. A dual-channel memory configuration guarantees ample bandwidth to handle incoming packets, assemble them into images, and facilitate their manipulation within a vision application.
Figure 1 illustrates that a dual-channel memory configuration offers superior performance compared to a single-channel setup.
Instead of utilizing a single large DIMM, employing two smaller DIMMs whose cumulative capacity meets the desired memory requirements is recommended. This configuration effectively doubles memory bandwidth. Motherboards typically feature color-coded memory channels for simplified setup. It's advisable to ensure that the speed and capacity of memory modules used in dual-channel configurations are compatible. Many memory manufacturers offer dual-channel kits for this purpose.
Figure 2 Showcases valid configurations for dual-channel memory.
While systems supporting triple and quad-channel configurations are available, their additional memory bandwidth may not directly enhance the performance of 10GigE industrial cameras. However, they may accelerate memory and CPU-intensive vision processing applications. The current DDR4 memory standard is preferred for its superior memory bandwidth compared to older technologies.
Depending on your computer type and requirements, upgrading from DDR4 RAM to DDR5 RAM could be an option.
DDR5 RAM represents the latest in RAM technology and offers several advantages over DDR4 RAM. This upgrade might be beneficial for avid gamers or professionals who need more data storage options for their work.
Compared to DDR4 RAM, DDR5 RAM provides greater capacity, lower latency, and faster data transfer rates. It also requires less energy and generates less heat.
However, the higher cost of DDR5 RAM could make the switch expensive, particularly if the benefits do not justify the expense.
Assessing your system's performance, especially for AMD processors, and determining whether you need the extra performance that DDR5 RAM can offer are key factors in deciding whether to upgrade.
SDK
Utilizing the latest version of Spinnaker is advisable as it ensures access to the latest features and performance enhancements.
Increasing the Stream Default Buffer Count generates additional software buffers, thereby enhancing system performance at the expense of consuming additional system memory. It's important to note that buffer size is proportional to image size, necessitating larger stream buffers for higher-resolution industrial cameras.
PCIe slot configuration
The choice of PCIe slot for installing the Network Interface Card (NIC) significantly influences system performance. Ideally, the 10GigE network interface card should be plugged into the PCIe slot closest to the CPU. However, not all motherboards can deliver full bandwidth to every PCIe slot. Some PCIe slots may share bandwidth with other peripherals such as USB ports or additional PCIe slots. Detailed specifications regarding PCIe slot bandwidth allocation can be found in the motherboard's user guide.
Figure 3 shows the typical locations of PCIe, memory, and storage connectors on an ATX form factor motherboard
The Nuvo-10000 series rugged industrial PCs offers a versatile, rugged solution designed to meet a variety of industrial needs. Featuring a range of I/O ports and flexible 7-slot PCIe/PCI expandability, the Nuvo-10000 series is tailored for the demands of the fifth industrial revolution.
Network Interface Card settings
Jumbo frames reduce CPU load by minimizing the number of packets requiring reassembly into an image. Network interface cards and switches used for connecting
10GigE industrial cameras should support 9K jumbo frames.
With the increasing adoption of 10GBASE-T in consumer products, a wide array of network interface card is available. Third-party testing has revealed that not all 10GBASE-T network interface card can deliver the full 10GigE bandwidth.
The ACC-01-1106 or ACC-01-1107, offered by FLIR IIS, has undergone rigorous testing and validation for compatibility with our Oryx industrial camera.
Best practices for cabling
Coiling ethernet cables longer than necessary may result in connectivity issues or downgrade the link between the industrial camera and the host from 10GigE to GigE. This interference arises due to interactions between adjacent coils. This effect is more pronounced with CAT5e cables compared to CAT6A due to the superior shielding of CAT6A. Tight bends in CAT5e cables may also lead to signal quality degradation. It's advised to refrain from using RJ45 couplers.
For distances less than 30 meters, CAT5e suffices to support a 10GigE link speed. However, for distances exceeding 30m, CAT6A is recommended. CAT6A cables feature robust shielding, making them better suited for short distances in environments susceptible to electromagnetic interference.
Best practices for FLIR industrial camera settings
Oryx is compatible with multi-camera systems comprising other Oryx 10GigE industrial cameras or GigE industrial cameras like the FLIR Blackfly S and Forge 5GigE.
To ensure consistent performance, interface bandwidth must be judiciously allocated among industrial cameras. Exceeding the interface bandwidth between the switch and the host will result in packet loss and dropped frames.
Figure 4 illustrates the process of setting the Device Link Throughput Limit to allocate interface bandwidth.
Setting industrial camera bandwidth limits via the Device Link Throughput Limit control is recommended. Once set, the industrial camera will cap the maximum frame rate to prevent exceeding its allocated bandwidth.
Figure 5 depicts the device link throughput setting in the Spinview GUI.
In the SpinView GUI, the Device Link Throughput Limit setting can be accessed under the Device Control section in the feature browser or via the search bar.
For further information on how we can address your specific application, please contact us.