--- title: "Tracker system architecture" canonical: "https://help.vicon.com/space/Tracker42/258311390/Tracker%20system%20architecture" format: markdown --- In the following topology diagram, Tracker is installed on the host PC. This section also lists the typical components of a Tracker system. ## Tracker system architecture The following diagram shows an example of a Tracker system with up to 80 Vicon Valkyrie cameras and a Vicon Lock Lab for connecting analog devices. > Macro (scroll-landscape) > Macro (include) > Macro (scroll-portrait) > Macro (scroll-pagebreak) In a system that requires more than one Ethernet switch: - To ensure correct synchronization of your system, you must either: - Connect a Lock to the switch that is connected to the PC, known as the *primary switch*. (This can be via a Lock power switch, as shown in the above example.); or - Ensure that a camera connected to the primary switch is selected in the Vicon application software to be the **Sync Source**. In the above example, the Lock is the sync source and is connected via a Lock power switch to a data switch. For more about the switches in a Valkyrie system see *Switches in Valkyrie systems* in the [Valkyrie documentation](https://help.vicon.com/space/Valkyrie). - If a camera is the sync source (the one that outputs the Vicon Ethernet sync packet), ensure it is connected to the primary switch. - Up to 8 Valkyrie cameras can connect to the power switch and up to 10 power switches can connect to the data switch. > ℹ️ **Note** > ℹ️ With Firmware 808 or later, to make it easy to identify the Sync Source, it is displayed in bold in the System panel list. Remember that, when you connect switches, one port is taken on each switch in connecting the two, as shown in the above example. > Macro (scroll-ignore) > > For further examples of Vicon system topology, see [Vicon system configuration and connection examples](https://vicon-help.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/Connect/pages/1620332). > Macro (scroll-only) > > For further examples of Vicon system topology, see *Vicon system configuration and connection examples* in the [Setup and connectivity](https://help.vicon.com/space/Connect) documentation. > Macro (scroll-pagebreak) ## Tracker system components > Macro (excerpt) > > > ℹ️ **Note** > > ℹ️ Except where noted, references to Vicon Lock, Lock devices, and Lock apply to all current models of the Vicon Lock (at the time of publication, this includes Lock Studio and Lock Lab). You can include the following components in a Vicon Tracker system architecture: > Macro (scroll-tablelayout) | Component | Description | | --- | --- | | Valkyrie cameras | Valkyrie cameras (VK26, VK16 and VK8) can be used with Tracker 4.2. You can use Valkyrie cameras with Vero, Vantage, and Viper (including ViperX) cameras in systems running Tracker 4.1 and later. See also the [Vicon Valkyrie documentation](https://vicon-help.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/Valkyrie). | | Vicon Viper and ViperX cameras | Viper cameras and ViperX cameras can be used with Tracker 4.2. You can use Viper and ViperX cameras in systems running Tracker 3.8 and later. See also the [Viper documentation](https://vicon-help.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/ViperDoc), [Connect cameras](https://vicon-help.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/Tracker42/pages/258310570) and [Configure Vicon cameras](https://vicon-help.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/Tracker42/pages/258310239). | | Vicon Vero cameras | Vicon Vero cameras (v1.3 and v2.2) can be used with Tracker 4.2. You can use Vicon Vero cameras in Vicon Valkyrie and Vantage systems. See also the [Vero documentation](https://vicon-help.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/VeroDoc), [Connect cameras](https://vicon-help.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/Tracker42/pages/258310570) and [Configure Vicon cameras](https://vicon-help.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/Tracker42/pages/258310239). | | Vicon Vantage cameras | Vantage cameras (V16, V8, and V5) can be used with Tracker 4.2. See also the Vicon [Vantage documentation](https://vicon-help.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/Vantage), [Connect cameras](https://vicon-help.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/Tracker42/pages/258310570) and [Configure Vicon cameras](https://vicon-help.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/Tracker42/pages/258310239). | | Vicon connectivity units | Vicon Lock devices facilitate the integration of synchronous third-party equipment with Vicon cameras by providing or receiving synchronization and/or timecode. Lock Lab also provides connectivity for third-party analog capture sources, such as force plates and EMG equipment. Connect to a PoE switch to which the host PC is connected. Vicon Lock Lab and Vicon Lock Studio are RoHS-compliant. See also [Configure Vicon connectivity devices](https://vicon-help.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/Tracker42/pages/258312147) and [Configure analog devices](https://vicon-help.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/Tracker42/pages/258312304). | | Switches | Switches obtained from Vicon that may provide PoE, PoE+, UPoE, and SFP+ connectivity | | Host PC | The main PC in the Vicon system, with at least one dedicated Ethernet port to enable Vicon system communications (in addition to any other network ports on the PC). Vicon Tracker application software is installed on this PC. Remote PCs may be used for other Vicon application software or third-party applications connected to the host PC via Ethernet. | | Vicon cables | Proprietary Vicon cables plus commercially available Ethernet cables and transceivers connect Vicon system components, providing a combination of power, Ethernet communication, synchronization signals, and data. | | Vicon calibration device | Specialized device used to accurately calibrate the Vicon system. See also [Calibrating Vicon cameras](https://vicon-help.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/Tracker42/pages/258311911). | | Vicon accessories | Supplies for the Vicon system, including markers, tape, and Velcro. | | Vicon engineering software | Vicon Tracker software, DataStream SDK and Vicon Virtual System. | | Analog devices | Your Vicon system may also include one or more analog devices, such as LVDTs, accelerometers, and load cells. See also [Configure analog devices](https://vicon-help.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/Tracker42/pages/258312304). | > Macro (scroll-ignore) > > For further details of these components, see the [Vicon Systems Setup Guide](https://vicon-help.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/Connect/pages/1613723). > Macro (scroll-only) > > For further details of these components, see the *Vicon Systems Setup Guide* in the [Setup and connectivity](https://help.vicon.com/space/Connect) documentation. Vicon Tracker checks for supported Vicon devices before allowing a connection. If your system contains non-supported devices, when you start Tracker, it displays a message alerting you to the incompatibility and asks you to disconnect incompatible devices. > ⚠️ **Before you begin, ensure that:** > ⚠️ > ⚠️ > ⚠️ - Any analog devices you want to use are connected to a Vicon Lock device. > ⚠️ - The correct switch has been designated as the primary switch (ie, the switch that is directly connected to the PC that runs Tracker). > ⚠️ - Vicon Lock devices are connected to the primary switch. > ⚠️ - Your firmware is up to date (see [Update system firmware](https://vicon-help.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/Tracker42/pages/258311617)).