Hikvision NVR 4.0 Complete Setup Guide, Setting up a Hikvision NVR (Network Video Recorder) involves several steps, including hardware setup, network configuration, and camera configuration. Here’s a detailed guide to help you set up your Hikvision NVR 4
How do I add a Hikvision device to my NVR?
There are a couple of methods for getting your IP camera connected and recording to your NVR:
Plug and Play – This is the most popular and simplest method for smaller setups, as all you need to do is plug your camera straight into the PoE ports in a Hikvision NVR. The NVR will then do the rest of the work. Please note that for Plug and Play to work, the device will need to be inactive or activated with the same password as the NVR.
Remote connection via IP – If you can’t have a wired connection to the NVR, you can instead remotely add a camera on the same network as your NVR to it using the camera’s IP address. For this to work, you will need to make sure to do two things:
1. Replace the power supply that would normally come from the NVR’S PoE ports. Using a PoE switch or injector is usually the best way, as it means you can still add power to the device over the same ethernet cable used for everything else. If not, most will let you connect to a separate PSU.
2. You have connected the camera and NVR to the same LAN and that its network settings are correct for the LAN’s range.
The following steps will guide you through adding new devices using both of these methods. Part 1 covers doing this on the NVR’s local interface (GUI) and part 2 covers how to do this remotely using a web browser.
Hikvision NVR 4.0 Complete Setup Guide
Method 1 – Via the NVR’s GUI:
Step 1:
On the NVR 4.0 menu at the top of the screen, go to:
Camera → Hover over the desired channel → Click on ‘Edit‘ (small icon in the bottom-left corner of channel thumbnail)
Step 2:
An edit window should appear, fill out the fields to add your camera as follows:
Option 1 – Using “Plug and Play”
Connect the camera to the corresponding PoE port number on the NVR (I.e. D1 corresponds to port 1). Then, just select “Plug-and-Play” from the “Adding Method” dropdown, and then click OK to add the camera to that channel – the camera feed should appear after a few seconds to confirm that it’s been picked up.
Note – If you haven’t activated and set a password on the device in SADP, then the IP address should automatically work. The password will be the Activation Password set on your NVR in the initial setup.
Option 2 – Adding manually via IP
Change the “Adding Method” to “Manual”, which will let you alter the other fields.
Now edit the other fields to point your NVR to the camera’s location on the network, like below:
Adding Method – Select “Manual”.
IP Camera Address – Enter your camera’s IP address here (as explained in the introduction, this will need to match the range of your LAN).
Protocol – Select the device’s manufacturer if it is on the list, or “ONVIF” if it is an ONVIF conformant product.
Management Port – “8000” by default will work fine, or whatever you’ve set the device’s Server Port to if it’s been changed.
Channel Port – This refers to the channel that you want to add the camera to, so leave this as the corresponding number for the channel that you would like to edit.
Transfer Protocol – Set this to “Auto”.
Username – The username you set up when activating the device, usually “admin”.
Password – The camera’s password, which you will have set when it was first activated.
Use Channel Default Password – If you have assigned the NVR and camera the same password during their activation, then you tick this box. This will use the NVR’s password to add the camera and will save you from entering it again in the future.
Enable IP Camera Time Sync – Tick this, as it means the camera will synchronise with the time set on the NVR.
Use Default Port – You can leave this unticked, as you have specified the management port already.
Verify Certificate – Leave this box unticked too.
Click OK to save your changes, the NVR should pick the camera up after a few seconds and show the feed on that channel’s thumbnail to confirm this.
Step 3:
To rename the camera, go to:
Camera → Display
Then, select the camera’s channel from the dropdown, and use the field below to set a new name.
Click “Apply” to save your changes.
Step 4:
You may want to rearrange the Live View screen to show the new camera on a particular tile. To do this, first, go to:
System → Live View → View
Then, select the output port for your connected display that you would like to show the camera on, click on the selected tile and then double-click on the new camera to add it to that tile.
You can select different layout options, or create a customised layout using the toolbar at the bottom of the page.
Click “Apply” to save the new layout.
To check the new layout, launch “Live View” using the NVR’s main menu, and then select that layout using the toolbar in the bottom right-hand corner.
Method 2 – In a web browser:
Step 1:
Browse for NVR’s IP address in a web browser, and log in with your username and password for it.
Step 2:
Now, navigate to:
Configuration → System → Camera Management → IP Camera
You’ll be shown a table of all the NVR’s channels, showing which are occupied by cameras, and which aren’t.
These channels normally correspond to the same-numbered PoE ports on the back of the NVR.
Click on the channel that you want to add your device to, and then the “modify” button above the table.
Step 3:
A window titled “IP Camera” should appear allowing you to change the “Adding Method” and “IP Camera Address” set for that channel.
If you haven’t already, you will need to make sure that the camera has a valid IP address and correct network settings for your LAN’s range.
Option 1 – using “Plug and Play”:
You just need to make sure that:
Note – If you haven’t activated and set a password on the device in SADP prior to connecting it to the NVR, then the IP address should automatically work and the password will be the “Channel Default Password” set on your NVR in the initial setup (see step 7 here)
Option 2 – Adding manually via IP:
Change the Adding Method to Manual, which should let you alter the other fields.
Now alter the other fields to point your NVR to the camera’s location on the LAN, like below:
IP Camera Address – Insert the camera’s IP address
Protocol – Select the brand of your camera here, or ONVIF if it is ONVIF conformant and the manufacturer doesn’t appear in this list.
Management Port – This is the camera’s network port, which is usually 8000 by default.
Username – The username that you set for the camera, which is usually “admin”.
Password – The password assigned to the camera upon activation in SADP. If you have automatically activated the camera by plugging it into your NVR’s PoE ports, this will the the “Channel Default Password” set during the NVR setup.
Confirm: Retype this password.
Transfer Protocol: This is fine for you to leave as “Auto”.
Green ticks should appear beside each field to indicate that what’s inside is valid. Once completed, you can click “OK”:
The “Security” column should be “Strong” and “Status” should change to “Online” on the “IP Camera” page – If they do, then you’re finished, just return to the Live View page to check that the camera’s feed is now visible.
Note – Clicking the “Start All Live View” button in the toolbar at the bottom of this page will show all of your working cameras feeds at the same time.
How do I complete the basic setup of my Hikvision NVR?
You now need to configure the NVR so that it’s ready to connect to your network. Don’t worry – this is simpler than it sounds. This initial setup is simplest when done on the local GUI, using a directly connected monitor. The following steps walk you through this initial setup process:
Note – Avoid plugging anything into the back of the NVR until instructed to do so in this tutorial.
Firstly, you’ll need to look at the back of your NVR and make sure you can identify the following parts that are needed for this stage:
[1] – PoE (Power over Ethernet) ports (Most Hikvision NVRs have PoE ports which will power any camera via the network cable. Those that do not will require you to connect the camera across remotely, using a separate PoE injector or switch for power.)
[2] – VGA display port
[3] – HDMI display port
[4] – USB port(s) (and mouse – one should come included with the NVR)
[5] – LAN port (and ethernet cable – Cat5e or Cat6 is fine)
[6] – Kettle power socket (the power lead is included with the NVR)
Now, follow these steps. It is easier if you leave your cameras disconnected until prompted later in this guide:
Step 1:
Plug the kettle plug into the power inlet to connect the NVR to a power supply.
Step 2:
Connect your NVR to a display (this can be any monitor or television) by connecting either an HDMI or VGA cable from the monitor to the corresponding port in the back of the NVR.
Step 3:
Plug your USB mouse into one of the NVR’s USB ports.
Step 4:
Use an ethernet cable to connect your NVR to your local network – Plug one end of the cable into the RJ45 ports into a network access point (such as an ethernet port on your router), and the other into the LAN port in the back of your NVR.
Step 5:
Turn the NVR on and let it boot up. Ignore the beeping noise, it’s completely normal and just the NVR telling you that it isn’t properly configured yet.
You may get a prompt to adjust the NVR’s resolution to match the connected display, click “yes” to view everything in the best resolution supported by your display.
Step 6:
Set your language when prompted.
Step 7:
Set a password for the NVR , as well as a “Channel Default Password”, which will be passed onto any inactive device that is directly connected to the NVR’s PoE ports. We recommend keeping these passwords the same for simplicity’s sake. It’s key that you set a password that the NVR defines as strong and that you remember this password, as resetting the passwords on Hikvision devices can be a hassle that you want to avoid, if possible.
Note – If you have lost your password then please see our guide on How to Reset the Password of your Hikvision Camera/NVR in 5 steps using the SADP Tool
Step 8:
Now set a valid “reserved email” address for the NVR, which Hikvision will use for verification if you need to reset your password.
Step 9:
Next, set an unlock pattern of your choice by using your mouse to draw any shape you like – you will be asked to do this twice to confirm the pattern. This will be used to quickly login to your NVR in the local GUI.
Step 10:
Now, set your time zone, your preferred date format, and date/time.
Step 11:
On the Network Setup page:
Leave the “NIC Type” as it is.
Either leave the “Enable Obtain DNS Server” box ticked, or untick it and use one these recommended public DNS servers.
It is best to leave the “Enable DHCP” box unticked here. Instead, set the “IPv4 Address” of the NVR to an unused IP address on your network, which is within your gateway’s range. Your Gateway will typically be the IP address of your router. E.g. if your router’s IP address is “192.168.1.1”, you’ll want to give the NVR an IP address within the range of “192.168.1.x”, where “x” is any unused address between “2” and “254”.
Note – DHCP can be left on during this stage of the setup to automatically assign your NVR an open IP address if you like, just be sure to turn it off again once your system up and running. To disable it again once set up, just go to:
System/Configuration→ Network → TCP/IP → DHCP Off → Apply
Input the Subnet Mask of your network (typically it’s “255.255.255.0”) and “IPv4 Default Gateway”. If you’re unsure of these, see the below articles which explain how to check what they are and if a particular IP address is available:
How-to: How do I find my router and PC’s IP address using a Windows PC?
How-to: How do I find my router and Mac’s IP address using a Mac?
The “Internal NIC IPv4 Address” can be left as it is, this just refers to the NVR’s own LAN address (so Plug and Play cameras will use IP addresses on this range).
Step 12:
You can now stop the annoying bleeping! Select your hard drive(s) from the list and click “Init” to format it, and then “Next” when the formatting has completed.
Note – This will completely wipe the drive, so please make sure that any that are being reused to not have data that you might need on them.
Step 13:
The next page is for the Camera Setup. As mentioned earlier, we recommend connecting any cameras after the NVR setup process has completed, so you can skip this page.
Note – Please see part 4 for the instructions for adding cameras to your NVR after the initial setup.
Step 14:
You will now be taken to the platform access page. Again, skip through and leave this for now.
Note – Please see part 12 for adding the NVR to the Hik-Connect app, which revisits this page.
Step 15:
Finally, you’ll be taken to the Change Password page and given the option to set a new admin password. Ignore this, unless you actually want to change your password. Remember, your admin password is different from your activation password, which you’ll need to use when activating individual cameras on your network.
Click “Exit” and “Yes” on the “Exit Wizard” popup.
That’s the initial setup of your NVR complete. You should now be taken to the NVR’s live view page (you won’t see your cameras until these are connected in Part 4), with your main navigation menu at the top of the screen.
How do I reset the password of my Hikvision device?
There is a good chance that you will need to reset the password on one of the devices in your Hikvision setup at some point. The best advice we can offer to prevent this is to use a password manager tool or keep a safe record of your passwords, and to keep the passwords across your devices consistent.
If you do need to set a new password on a device, then you have a few options. Which one of these you take depends on whether you still know the existing password, and whether you have extracted the GUID password reset file or set security questions during the device’s initial setup. A few of these methods are covered below:
I need to reset my password and still know my existing password:
Step 1:
Connect to your device in a web browser, and go to:
Configuration → System → User Management
Note – If you are changing a password that is directly connected to your NVR, you will need to use the NVR’s Virtual Host feature to connect to the camera.
Step 2:
You’ll be shown a list of all the user profiles that have been created on the device. Choose the one that you need to change the password for from the list, and then click on “Modify” at the top of this list:
Step 3:
Enter your current password in the popup, and then set your new password in the fields below – you will need to retype this to avoid you setting it incorrectly before you can continue, green ticks will appear when these passwords match. When they do, click “OK”:
Note – If you would like to change the NVR’s “Default IP Camera” password to this also, which is the password assigned to any inactive Plug and Play cameras, then tick the “Use as Default IP Camera Password” box.
If you would like to change the password of the already directly connected cameras to this new one as well, tick the “Sync IPC Password” box below as well.
Your password has now been changed, which will be confirmed with a “Save succeeded” message. You may need to log back into the device after this step.
I need to reset my password and have forgotten my existing password:
You have a few options here. The two methods below cover how you can do the reset yourself provided you have exported a GUID file or set security questions on an NVR in advance. You can set your security questions and set up a password recovery email address by connecting to the NVR in a web browser and then going to:
Configuration → System → User Management (select user) → Modify → Account Security…
If you don’t have the any of this set, then you can use the SADP tool with the help of the supplier to reset the password. For this method, please see our guide on how to reset the password of your Hikvision device in 5 steps using the SADP tool. Please note that this method will only work if you purchased the device from an Authorised Hikvision Wholesaler or Reseller.
If none of these options work for you and your device has a physical reset button, then you can use this pushbutton to reset the device to its factory state. This will allow you to activate the device again and set a fresh password.
Method 1: Reset the password in the SADP tool with a GUID file (NVRs only)
Step 1:
Find the NVR in the SADP tool and select it by ticking the box at the start of its row, and then click on “Forgot Password” in the right-hand “Modify Network Parameters” flyout:
Step 2:
This should open a “Reset Password” popup window with a dropdown for the reset mode, select “GUID Mode” from this dropdown:
Step 3:
Now, simply click on the folder button beside the “Import GUID” field to locate and upload it from your PC or memory stick. Once this is uploaded, set your new password, and then click “Confirm”.
If the GUID file is correct, the password reset should be successful.
Note – Only tick “Reset Network Cameras‘ Passwords” if you want the NVR to pass this new password on to all of the cameras directly connected to it.
Method 2: Reset the password with previously set security questions:
Step 1:
Find your device in the SADP tool and select the Forgot Password option from the Modify Network Parameters window.
Step 2:
Select “Security Question Mode” from the “Mode” dropdown.
Step 3:
This will bring up your security questions – answer all of these (the answers are case-sensitive), and then set your new password in the bottom two fields. Click “Confirm” when done – If all of the answers are the same as the ones that were originally set, the password will be changed.