Configure HikVision Network Cameras for Cloud Recording, Backup, Monitoring and Playback

Contents

Step 1: Connect the camera to the network and find its IP address

Step 2. Access the Camera’s Web-based Configuration Tool

Step 3. Configure the video profile

Step 4. Configure FTP Settings

Step 5. Configure Motion Detection and Snapshots

5.1 Configure Motion Detection

5.2 Configure Image Snapshot Settings

6. Use CameraFTP VSS with HikVision IP Cameras / DVRs

7. CameraFTP Viewer

Hikvision is one of the largest security camera manufacturers. They have many different camera/DVR models similar to TRENDnet.
Many of their cameras are designed for out-door use. They support image/video resolutions of
2048×1536, 1920×1080 and 1280×720 or higher resolutions. All of their cameras can upload/backup image snapshots to a cloud FTP server.

It seems most of their cameras support CameraFTP VSS.
With the help of CameraFTP VSS software running on a PC,
they can upload/backup video clips to the cloud.

2CD2T42WD-I5, 4MP
2CD2032-I, 3MP
DS-2CD2432F-IW, 3MP
  DS-2CD3132, 3MP

Basic camera information

Video / image resolution
3MP, 4MP, 1920×1080 and 1280×720 dependent on the camera model

Audio recording
No

Image upload frequency
1 image/s, 1 image/N seconds (N: 1 to 65536)

Video frame rate

Night-vision
Up to 100 feet for outdoor models

Image snapshot recording
Supported, supports 1 image/s, 1 images/N seconds (N: 1 to 65536)

Video clip recording
Not Supported (Support with CameraFTP VSS)

Motion detection
Supported

Continuous recording
Supported

Supported video format
N/A (.mp4 with CameraFTP VSS)

Connection type
Ethernet cable

PoE (Power on Ethernet)
Yes

Indoor / outdoor
Outdoor

Lowest pricing (as of 6/1/2016)
$119.99 (Hikvision DS-2CD2032-I 3MP PoE Outdoor camera)

Note: This document is not designed to
replace the product manual from the manufacturer. The information provided is
based on our knowledge of the model Hikvision 2 Series network cameras. It may
not be accurate or completely up-to-date. We have not fully tested these cameras. Users shall contact the manufacturer
for all camera-related issues and contact us only for CameraFTP-related (cloud
service / FTP) issues.

The first two steps are camera related
and are very trivial. If you have finished these basic steps, you can skip Steps
1 and 2.

Insert the Setup CD, follow the instructions to connect your
camera. Many Hikvision outdoor models support PoE. So usually you need a PoE switch,
or you need a compatible power adaptor.

You will need to use the manufacturer’s software to find the camera’s IP address. After that, you need to launch a browser to access the camera’s configuration website.
For more detailed info, you can read Hikvision 2 Series Camera Manual.

This camera may require you to
change the default password as the first step. The default username and
password is admin / 12345. After logon, you will be asked to install the plugin for live viewing the video. (Usually you need to use Firefox or Internet Explorer.)

Now we have found the camera’s IP address. The first step is
to log on to the camera. Enter the camera’s username and password, click Ok. It
will go to the camera’s configuration website.

The CameraFTP service setup is generally not dependent on
any parameters in the System section of setup. You can quickly check this
section and see if you need to configure anything.

You can access the video settings screen from:

Configuration >Basic Configuration > Video / Audio > Video
Or
Configuration > Advanced Configuration > Video / Audio > Video
you can see the screenshot as follows:

The parameters to enter are dependent on your subscription
level. For most Hikvision cameras, the lowest resolution is 720P, so your plan
should not be lower than 1280×720. By default, this camera cannot upload video clips, so the frame rate is not used here. However, if you use CameraFTP VSS for video recording,
then you might want to set the frame rate based on your video subscription plan.

Similarly, the max bit-rate is not used for image snapshot uploading. If you use VSS for video recording, then the default
bit rate is designed for local network only. Setting it too high will slow down
your network connection and causing upload to fail. Please also make sure your
Internet connection has enough upload bandwidth. (ADSL type of connection is
usually too slow, you might need to set the bit rate even lower.) Assuming you
have enough upload bandwidth, you can set the maximum bit rate based on the
bandwidth calculator. (Visit www.cameraftp.com,
click on Pricing, and then customize a plan)

From Configuration –> Advanced Configuration –> Network –> FTP, you will
see the following screen.

You need to set the following parameters:

• Server address:

  ftp.cameraftp.com, or 66.220.9.45

• Port:

  21

• Username, password and confirm password:

  The username on CameraFTP.com; you can still use your CameraFTP password, but it is recommended using one of your camera license keys as the password. You will need to add a camera on cameraftp.com website first.

• Directory structure:

  Save in directory

• Directory:

  With Camera Name

• Upload type:

  Upload pictures

If you ordered a plan with motion detection enabled, then
you must configure motion detection with your camera. Click Configuration –> Advanced Configuration –> Events –> Motion Detection.
You will see the screen as shown below:

• Enable Motion Detection:

  Enabled

• Draw a motion area in Area Settings; set the sensitivity level;

You also need to set Motion Detection arming schedule. See the screenshot below:

This camera can only upload image snapshots and not video
clips. CameraFTP has viewer apps that can play the recorded image
snapshots just like video clips. If you ordered a video plan, you need to: (1) order
a new image plan and cancel the old video plan; or (2) Run CameraFTP VSS on a PC. Do not configure FTP in the camera. VSS can upload video clips to CameraFTP.

The snapshot image resolution is set in the Video section (Video resolution).

If you ordered a continuous image recording plan, you
need to click Events à Snapshot. See the screen below:

In the Timing section:

• Enable Timing snapshot:

  Check it

• Format:

  JPEG

• Resolution:

  1280×720 (based on your CameraFTP service level)

• Quality:

  Medium

• Interval:

  1 second (based on your subscription level)

If you ordered a motion-triggered recording plan, in the EVENT-TRIGGERED section, please set:

• Enable Event-Triggered Snapshot:

  Check it

• Format:

  JPEG

• Resolution:

  1280×720 (based on your CameraFTP service level)

• Quality:

  Medium

• Interval:

  1000ms (based on your subscription level). If you ordered 1 image/2s, then enter 2000ms.

• Capture Number:

  10

Click Save to save the settings.

CameraFTP VSS software
can use a PC as a CCTV DVR system. It can display live camera videos on your computer screen, while
also recording the video/image to the cloud (and the local disk). HikVision IP Camera / DVR is compatible with CameraFTP VSS software.
Using CameraFTP VSS with HikVision IP Camera is easier to setup than uploading directly from the camera; also, CameraFTP VSS supports both
image recording and video recording. The disadvantage is it requires
a PC and CameraFTP VSS Software must be always running. (The PC cost is low. You can use an old spare PC, or buy a new one for less than $200, and it can support multiple
cameras).

Hikvision IP Cameras support the standard ONVIF protocol. However, you need to manually enable it, and you need to add an ONVIF user account for it
to work. To add an ONVIF user account, click the Configuration tab, then click Network -> Advanced Settings,
then click Integration Protocol. Please check the checkboxes of “Enable Hikvision-CGI” and “Enable ONVIF”.
For Hikvision-CGI Authentication, please select “digest/basic”.
Now, click the “Add” button to add an ONVIF user as
shown below. You can name the user as “onvifuser”.

If an ONVIF user is created, you can use CameraFTP VSS software to scan the network and find the Camera’s IP address.
CameraFTP VSS can scan the camera IP for the video stream URLs.

For more detailed info about using CameraFTP VSS, please visit
CameraFTP VSS manual.

You are all done. For safety, you can
reboot the camera to make sure it still works fine. If you need to make
changes, you can run the setup program again to find the camera’s IP address
(as it may change with DHCP), and then access the camera’s Advanced Configuration
pages.

After your camera is setup, you can visit www.cameraftp.com to monitor or
play back your recorded footage from anywhere. You can also download
CameraFTP Viewer App for iOS and Android.

Note: Hikvision cameras cannot upload video clips to FTP server directly. To upload video clips, you can use CameraFTP VSS on a PC. These cameras are compatible with VSS-based Live View, Cloud Recording and Local Recording.
If you use VSS for video recording, it is important to set the correct video frame rate and bit rate in Video Profile Settings.

Cannot get it to work? Please read our

Cannot get it to work? Please read our Trouble-shooting Guide