DECRO Advanced solution (New generation, 2026): composition, installation and connection

DECRO Advanced solution (New generation, 2026): composition, installation and connection

Notes
This article explains what the new generation of ADVANCED DECRO solution (ADV) is, and provides instructions on how to install and connect it to the user's laptop.

The new ADVANCED solution consists of an Analysis Server (SRV) coupled with one or more Acquisition Units (ACQ). This configuration features a reduced footprint while maintaining high performance and increasing flexibility for both analysis and connectivity.

1. ADVANCED solution – Introduction about the ADV4 and ADV8 solution

System Overview : The ADV4 and ADV8 systems consist of one or more lightweight Data Acquisition Units (ACQ) specifically designed for signal recording, coupled with a dedicated Analysis Server (SRV). While these two components communicate seamlessly, they fulfill distinct roles within your workflow.
Legacy Versions : If you are using an older generation of the hardware, please refer to the following documentation:

  • ADV V1 (2024 and older, box format): Packaged in a flight case for "plug-and-play" operation, requiring only a single power supply and network connection.
  • ADV4 only (2025): Designed so that the computer connects directly to the ACQ rather than the ADV interface found in the current version.

Analysis Server (SRV). This SRV is your hub for data processing. It can be located within the animal facility or in a separate office connected to your internal network.

InfoNote: The server has no native acquisition capabilities. Without antennas, no data recording can take place on this unit. Once data is received from the ACQ , you can use the full LASA software suite to explore, analyze, and export your results.

Acquisition Unit (ACQ). the ACQ is dedicated solely to data collection and does not contain analysis tools. It is designed to be placed directly within the animal facility next to the subjects. You can access signal previews immediately after acquisition to verify data quality and then easily transmit them to the analysis server for more in-depth inspection of signals and data. 

Key Advantage = functional dissociation :  By separating Acquisition from Analysis, the system allows you to process existing data sets while new acquisitions are running in parallel. This eliminates the risk of data loss during heavy processing tasks and significantly optimizes your laboratory's time.

Installation Configurations : The connection between units depends on your facility's layout:

  • Local Setup (Direct): The SRV and the ACQs (x1 = ADV4, x2 = ADV8) communicate via a DIRECT Ethernet connection in the animal room. You can control all software interfaces from a single laptop plugged into the SRV.
  • Network Setup (Remote): The SRV and ACQs (x1= ADV4, x2= ADV8) communicate via your internal NETWORK, allowing them to be placed in entirely different rooms.

2. ANALYSIS SERVER – Installation

To access the Analysis Server (SRV) software, please follow these installation steps in order:

1. Power Supply and Startup

Connect the power cable to a nearby electrical outlet. The Power button will illuminate in BLUE. If the server does not boot automatically, press the power button once.
The startup process takes approximately 5 minutes. The system is fully operational only when the blue light remains steady. Please wait for this stable signal before attempting to connect.


2. Choose Your Connection Mode

Connect your Ethernet cable to the appropriate designated port. Select the configuration that best suits your infrastructure:



  • Local Mode (Direct): Connect the SRV directly to the ACQ units via the LAN3 port using USB-to-Ethernet adapters. Additionally, connect an Ethernet cable between the SRV LAN1 port and a computer. This configuration allows a single workstation direct access to both the SRV and ACQ software suites within the animal facility. 
  • Network Mode (Remote): Connect the LAN2 port to your internal network (NET). This allows all components to communicate across your infrastructure and enables server access from any computer on the network.
Info
In the LOCAL mode, the ADV system is restricted to local use. Data analysis must be performed on-site unless the server is later disconnected and moved.

3. IT Configuration

If using the Network Mode, please contact your IT department to:

  • Define the Hostnames and IP addresses for all system components.
  • Open the required network ports (refer to this section for the specific port list).
Once these steps are finalized, you can log in to the Analysis Server software and begin your work.

3. ACQUISITION UNIT – Installation

To perform data acquisition, the ACQ units must be correctly installed and configured. Follow these steps for each unit:

1. Power Supply and Startup

  • Location: Place the unit in the same room as the animals. To ensure signal integrity, avoid placing the unit near metal or thick walls that could interfere with emitter signals.
  • Antennas:  Screw the four antennas onto their designated supports. Position the antennas at a 45° angle as shown in the photo below for optimal coverage.



  • Power supply : Connect the power cable to a nearby electrical outlet. The power button will illuminate BLUE. If the unit does not power on automatically, press the button manually.
  • Startup Time: Initialization takes approximately 5 minutes. The system is only fully operational when the green lights remain lit (next to the LAN2 port). 
2. Connection Mode Selection

Choose the configuration that best suits your facility's infrastructure:

  • Local Mode (Direct): Connect the ACQ units directly to the server (SRV) using Ethernet cables via the ACQ LAN1 and the SRV LAN 3 port. 
  • Network Mode (Remote): Connect each unit to your facility's internal network via the LAN2 (NET) port. Allows the ACQ units and the SRV to communicate over the network. You can start recordings and synchronize data from any authorized company computer without a physical cable between components. Contact your IT department to assign Hostnames/IP addresses and open the required ports (see this section for details).

Once your mode is selected, plug the Ethernet cable into the corresponding port, you can then connect to the acquisition unit software.

4. ADV solution – Software connection instructions

Once the SRV and the ACQs have been correctly installed, you can connect to both elements using the same process. 
The access is made through a web browser. Browser compatibility is indicated in the following table.


Each element and connection mode has its own URL and IP address, which you can find on the label of your acquisition unit, USB adapter or analysis server.
SRV label : 


ACQ label: 

Open your web browser and enter each previous address into a specific web tab. Use the search bar to enter it and log in.

Info
You can open both the acquisition unit interface and the analysis server interface on the same Laptop. Each will have its own browser tab. With an ADV4, you can access both software interfaces simultaneously, as shown in the screenshot below. If you are using an ADV8, simply open an additional browser tab to control the second ACQ unit.


The homepage banner differs between the ACQ = GREEN and the SRV = PURPLE, as well as the design of the data transfer button (left corner) and the unavailability of the ACQUISITION button for each study. 


When you first connect, your browser may display an alert because it does not recognize the system as a 'trusted website' due to the browser's security certificate. Simply click on ‘advanced settings’ and ‘continue to the site’.

The connection is established between your computer and one of the elements when the ETISENSE logo appears.

A User Authentication and permission module (UAP) is installed on the system. The welcome page requires a login (email format) and a password to proceed... Default login credentials are configured on the system for a first connection.

Login = ACQ: acq-nano-00XXX.admin@etisense.com and SRV: adv-srv-00XXX.admin@etisense.com (XXX = system number available on their label)
Password = decroAdmin
authentication mode = LOCAL

For security reasons, use these credentials for your first connection, then create a personal administrator account and deactivate the default account.

Please refer to these steps to disable the default administrator account:

On the connection’s page, click on the "CONNECT" button to access the system. The connection may take a few seconds if you have just switched on the system. If it doesn't work, check that your system is properly connected and/or that the Ethernet cable is correctly inserted in the right port depending on the configuration.

Once the connection is successful, you will gain access to this page:

Note also that the homepage banner differs between the ACQ and the SRV, as well as the design of the data transfer button.
Acquisition unit header:

Analysis server header:


Info
Please note that once connected, a loading wheel on the ACQUISITION button of each study may be present as well as a notification at the bottom left of the page. This information is present to specify that the acquisition slots are being activated one by one and that you must wait for the complete start-up before recording.

Warning
To synchronize the system's clock, a pop-up window may appear offering to adjust the time after the slots have started. Be aware that realigning the clocks of each slot may take some time, but it is necessary. Wait for the update wheel to disappear.

5. ADV solution – Default Network Ports (LAN2)

To enable the acquisition unit and the analysis server to be networked and send data to each other (LAN2), you must check with your IT department that the following ports are open

- Port 443 (HTTPS)
- Port 22 (SSH - rsync)

These ports must be opened on the acquisition unit and on the analysis server.
If the acquisition system and the analysis server communicate via a wired connection (Direct mode), simply check that the ethernet cable is connected to the correct ports on both systems. 
Info
Even if the previous ports have been opened, it is possible that some internal firewalls prevent the two systems from being paired. If this is the case, please contact your IT department. We will be happy to answer any questions you may have. 

6. ADV solution – Pairing and data transfer between ACQ and SRV

Even when physically connected by cable or network, you must "pair" the components to allow data transfer. The pairing of the two elements is not initially configured and depends on the connection mode (LOCAL vs NETWORK)

To do this, from each acquisition system, click on the data transfer button (see below) to access the configuration interface.  



A form called ‘Pair to ... ’ should appear. It contains the following fields that you must complete:


-         Enter the LOGIN and PASSWORD used to enter the analysis server. As before, you can use the default identifiers (Default login = adv-srv-00XXX.admin@etisense.com, default password= decroAdmin)

-         and the connection URL or IP addresses used to access the server from the web browser (DIRECT connection = addresses on the SRV label, NETWORK = address provided by IT)

Repeat the process for each acquisition system you wish to pair with your analysis server. Once validated, this information enables the ACQ to connect to the SRV. Once the two elements are linked, this page appears:


Use the buttons on the right to send or synchronise data between systems. Data transfer must be initiated from the Acquisition Unit (ACQ). This pairing page is not available on the Analysis Server (SRV).

If pairing with the SRV fails, the ‘Retry’ button can be used to restart the connection attempt. 

InfoInfoIn this case, try to open a new web tab and enter the Analysis Server's URL/IP address to manually accept the browser's security warning (click 'Continue to site'). Once the security block has been bypassed, return to the first tab, click the RETRY button again, and the DATA TRANSFER page should load.

If you would like to know more about data transfer, please refer to this article.

To dissociate the two elements, simply click on the information button on your storage space:



And click on UNPAIR.

7. ADV solution – Powering off from the software

We recommend that you power off both elements by following this procedure: 
> Click on the gear icon located in the top right corner of the header


> Click on the “SHUT DOWN” button on the settings popup that appears


Allow the system to shut down completely (all power diodes should turn off within a few minutes).