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Observer Command Line

MyVMS Observer can be launched with command-line arguments to control its startup mode, server connection, camera selection, window position, and archive playback.

Default Observer executable paths:

  • Windows: C:\Program Files\MyVMS\observer.exe
  • Linux: /opt/myvms/bin/observer

Syntax

Windows

observer.exe [options] [modes]

Linux

/opt/myvms/bin/observer [options] [modes]

Modes

  • --simple — Opens Observer in simplified single-camera mode.
  • -a, --archive — Opens Observer in Archive Playback mode.
  • -m, --allow-multiple-instances — Allows multiple Observer instances to run simultaneously.
  • --safe-mode — Forces Observer to display the secondary camera stream.

Connection

  • -s, --server — Server address. Default: localhost.
  • -g, --connect-to-group — Connects to a specified server group or MyVMS Cloud account.
  • -p, --port — Server connection port. Default: 9780.
  • -l, --login — User name used to connect to the server. Default: guard.
  • --pwd — User password. Default: empty.

Connecting to a group

A server group can be specified by its group identifier. On Windows, the identifier is stored in: 

C:\ProgramData\Devline\MyVMS\groups.cfg

Windows

observer.exe -g 1cff07ad-dc71-498d-87e1-1ef69206d370

Linux

/opt/myvms/bin/observer -g 1cff07ad-dc71-498d-87e1-1ef69206d370

Connecting to a MyVMS Cloud account

Windows

observer.exe -g sample@example.com

Linux

/opt/myvms/bin/observer -g sample@example.com

Camera Selection

These options are available only when Observer is launched with --simple.

  • -c, --cam-index — Camera index to display. Default: 0.
  • --cam-stream — Camera stream to display. Default: -1.

Window and Startup

  • --window-pos X1,Y1,X2,Y2 — Sets the initial Observer window position and size using absolute screen coordinates. X1 Y1 define the top-left corner and X2 Y2 the bottom-right corner.
  • --tray — Starts Observer hidden in the system tray.
  • -h, --help — Displays command-line help.

If --window-pos is omitted, Observer opens at the position where it was last closed.

Archive Playback

-t, --time <YYYY-MM-DD> <hh:mm:ss>

Sets the initial playback position when Observer is launched for archive viewing. If omitted, the current date and time are used.

Windows

observer.exe --archive -s 192.168.1.10 -l admin --pwd password --time 2026-08-19 12:30:00

Linux

/opt/myvms/bin/observer --archive -s 192.168.1.10 -l admin --pwd password --time 2026-08-19 12:30:00

Examples

Open a specific camera

Windows

observer.exe --simple -s 192.168.1.10 -c 3

Linux

/opt/myvms/bin/observer --simple -s 192.168.1.10 -c 3

Open a specific camera in a new Observer instance

Windows

observer.exe --simple -m -s 192.168.1.10 -c 3

Linux

/opt/myvms/bin/observer --simple -m -s 192.168.1.10 -c 3

Connect to a server group

Windows

observer.exe -g 1cff07ad-dc71-498d-87e1-1ef69206d370

Linux

/opt/myvms/bin/observer -g 1cff07ad-dc71-498d-87e1-1ef69206d370

Connect to a MyVMS Cloud account

Windows

observer.exe -g sample@example.com

Linux

/opt/myvms/bin/observer -g sample@example.com

Start Observer in the system tray

Windows

observer.exe --tray

Linux

/opt/myvms/bin/observer --tray

Set the initial window position

Windows

observer.exe --window-pos 100 100 1380 820

Linux

/opt/myvms/bin/observer --window-pos 100 100 1380 820

Open a specific camera at a specific archive time

Windows

observer.exe --archive --simple -m -s 192.168.1.10 -c 1 --time 2026-08-19 12:30:00

Linux

/opt/myvms/bin/observer --archive --simple -m -s 192.168.1.10 -c 1 --time 2026-08-19 12:30:00