Network video technology relies on standardization to ensure compatibility, security, and efficiency. For developers, system integrators, and security professionals working with Axis communications devices, understanding how to interact directly with hardware is crucial. One of the most reliable methods for video retrieval and camera control involves Axis VAPIX CGI (Common Gateway Interface) commands, specifically for streaming MJPEG (Motion JPEG) video.
For multi-channel devices or encoders, use the camera argument (e.g., camera=1 ) to specify the source. Authentication and Security
It is important to note that Axis has introduced more modern APIs. The endpoint provides media in matroska (MKV) or MP4 container formats, supporting audio streams alongside video, and is generally preferred for new development. axis cgi mjpg
: Defines the width and height of the video frame. Common values include 640x480 , 1280x720 , and 1920x1080 .
http://<servername>/axis-cgi/mjpg/video.cgi Network video technology relies on standardization to ensure
: This is the "gold standard" for developers. It explains the video.cgi request structure, including parameters for resolution, compression, and frame rate .
For web developers building a one-off surveillance dashboard, HTML’s <img src="http://camera-ip/axis-cgi/mjpg/video.cgi"> works immediately. By refreshing the image every 100ms via JavaScript (or using the native multipart/x-mixed-replace MIME type), you get a live video wall without needing WebRTC or RTSP proxies. For multi-channel devices or encoders, use the camera
1.0 Last Updated: 2024 Target Audience: System Integrators, Embedded Developers, Security Professionals
The Axis CGI implementation typically uses a small internal ring buffer (1-3 frames). This results in:
GET /axis-cgi/mjpg/video.cgi?resolution=320x240&fps=10 HTTP/1.1 Host: 192.168.1.100 Authorization: Basic YWRtaW46cGFzc3dvcmQ= User-Agent: MyMJPEGClient/1.0