Security Camera

How to configure a security camera

This guide is just useful when the security camera provider is HikVision. When using devices from other manufacturers, the internal configuration of the security camera might not be the same that the explained below.

Common configuration

First of all, we need to ensure the security camera has an internal SD card. The internal SD card must be class 10, otherwise, it might lose data. If the camera has not an internal SD card the camera will not be able to pair with the advansafe/advanguard.

After checking the last point, if the camera doesn't provide the factory settings we need to restore to, the way to do it is:

• • Unplug the ethernet cable.

  • While the camera is off we need to press the reset button on the camera, and while we are pressing the button we have to connect the ethernet cable to the camera. Then keep holding the reset button 30 seconds and the camera will be reset to factory settings.

  • With a web browser (using internet explorer is mandatory) go to 192.168.1.64 all security cameras from HikVision has this IP as default. The username will be admin and then the firmware will pop up a message that forces us to set a password for the camera, this password will be sent to the client, we recommend to choose a strong password. In case that the camera has a password we will have to reset the factory setting, and then enable a new password.

  • Then go to configuration/Store Management and click on  SD format button. If SD status is "Uninitialized" we will need to Format the SD, then Status will change to "Normal".

Maybe it's necessary to update the firmware. If the firmware version is older than 5.4.0_160530 follow these steps;

• • Locate the appropriate firmware by clicking this link

  • Click on the firmware, then click download.

  • Agree to the license terms and conditions when prompted.

  • Locate the downloaded firmware file (this typically will be in the default download folder, unless prompted for a download location, then choose Desktop) and extract it by right-clicking on the file and selecting extract all or unzip. When prompted for an extract location, choose Desktop to extract the final file to. A file labeled DIGICAP will appear on the desktop.

  • After the file is extracted, log into the camera using Internet Explorer or Firefox web browsers. If prompted to install the plugin (or to allow the plugin to run), follow the prompt to proceed with the upgrade procedure.

  • Log into the camera using the administrator username and password, then go to the Configuration tab. In this tab, go to Basic Configuration then System, and then click on the Maintenance tab.

  • On the bottom of the page under Remote Upgrade, press the Browse button to locate and choose the firmware file, which was previously saved on the Desktop. After selecting the file, click Open, then click Upgrade.

  • The camera will display a prompt that a reboot is necessary to complete the upgrade. Click OK. The camera will reboot when the firmware is successfully upgraded.

Restart web browser to continue.

• • Now we need to set camera schedule, so we will set when the camera will be allowed to take shots or not. So go to Configuration/Schedule Settings/Capture Schedule. We will see a week schedule. We will see all schedule in white, so for each time zone, we want a continuous working state, for that we need to select the operative time for the camera selecting the desired hours. To do that we need to left-click on the hour where the camera will start working and drag to the hour where the camera will stop working. At the moment that we start to drag the mouse over the hour bar, we will see how the color changes to blue. If we click on the green icon at the final of the schedule we can copy that schedule to the other days of the week. An example of the schedule camera working 24/7:

• • We need to change the resolution to 1280*720. If the lowest resolution of the camera is higher than 1280*720 then set as the minimum of the camera. Example: the lowest resolution of the new models is 1920*1080. To do that go to Configuration/Video/Video and change the resolution box.

• • Then we need to go to Configuration/Schedule Settings/Capture Parameters and set Enable Timing Snapshot that we already configured in the latest point. We can also configure the resolution of the shots. Finally set the interval parameters to 1000 milliseconds. Note that the Resolution box can't be changed, it is because we set it in another point.

• • It is also required to adjust the authentication

• • Finally, we need to set the percentage of SD memory that will be used for PIctures and for videos. This parameter will be 95% image and 5% video. To  do that go to Configuration/Store Management same place where we format the SD card.

TIPS:

It could be useful to download the following software: SADPTool

It is a free software that shows the HikVision devices that are connected to the network, basically is a software that shows the IPs from the different security cameras.

Specific configuration (Service manager)

• • If the client asks us to set a concrete IP camera we need go to Configuration/Basic Settings and set the camera IP, and the gateway IP. Otherwise, we will let the default IP camera that is 192.168.1.64. As follows there is an example of the IP configuration interface.

• HTTP Port should be 80

• • Finally is recommended to set the camera time. Go to Configuration/System Settings/Time Settings and select the desired Time Zone.

AdvanCloud configuration

After this point, we will have finished with the camera configuration. Now we need to configure advanCloud to allow the advanSafe take shots through the camera. First, we need to go to the application configuration (or shop level configuration), where the advanSafe/Guard is created, and write these parameters in application configuration (or shop level configuration:

"cameraEnable": true,

"cameraHost": "camera's IP",

"cameraUsername": "usually admin"

"cameraPassword": "XXXXX",

"cameraCaptureMaxPhotos": 6,

After that go to infrastructure, open the configuration of the advanSafe/Guard, open AdvanSafe/Guard profile, click on Advanced Configuration and in AdditionalParameters box write the following configuration:

defaultLanguage=en&postToViewers=true&postCameraToViewers=true

Then reboot the Device and the camera will work properly.

TIPS:

It could be useful to download the following software: SADPTool

It is a free software that shows the HikVision devices that are connected to the network, basically is a software that shows the IPs from the different security cameras.