When attempting to limit access to an NDI® source, such as an NDI®|HX camera, there are a few methods that can be deployed currently and a few methods that will be available relatively soon that we will cover below.
Direct Connection(s)
Overview: PTZOptics NDI®|HX cameras are capable of supporting a direct connection between the camera's network port and an available network port on a PC.
Pros: It is extremely simple to set up, requiring an easily assigned static IP address on the camera and the assigned to the PCs network port.
Cons: It is only available to that one PC... unless that PC is connected to another network and then the camera can be shared using free tools such as NDI® Studio Monitor.
VLAN(s)
Overview: Utilizing VLANs on your network allows you to enable an NDI®|HX camera to be available to specific PCs that are also a part of the same VLAN.
Pros: This can be very flexible from a deployment point of view where you can use MAC based VLANs, Port-based VLANs and even WiFi AP based VLANs to ensure only the stations you want to have access can have access.
Cons: This is a more technical deployment than the direct connection method and may require involvement of an IT department or possibly an upgrade to your networking equipment.
NDI® Access Manager
Overview: NDI® Access Manager is a free application that allows you to place NDI sources into a “GROUP” and other stations with NDI® Access Manager installed, but are not joined to the same group, will be unable to see the source(s).
Pros: This is a very easy to deploy solution that can greatly limit access to NDI® sources, especially when used as a gateway between networks. In the coming months you will begin to see NDI®|HX cameras allowing you to define the “GROUP”(s) on the cameras. This will allow you to limit the video to only those who have Access Manager and are joined to the same “GROUP”
Cons: This can quickly scale from simple to complex as you begin routing NDI® content and may require the involvement of an IT department when it becomes more complex.