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Enabling ONVIF On Hikvision Cameras

Updated

Enabling ONVIF On Hikvision Cameras

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Affected Roles: Administrator, Power User

Related DW Products: DW Spectrum Professional

Last Edit: January 22, 2026

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Third Party Additions

When ONVIF compliant cameras are added to a network, DW Spectrum Servers and VMAX IP Plus Series NVRs will attempt to automatically detect and add them using an Auto Discovery feature. However, if the camera is a third-party device and is using its factory default features, issues may arise during this process.

Hikvision cameras, for example, can be discovered within the camera network, but will often be unable to be automatically added due to their default security settings. Following Hikvision’s v5.5.0 firmware update, the ONVIF function is disabled by default.

This article will outline how to activate the ONVIF protocol and how to create an ONVIF profile for a Hikvision camera.

 

**NOTE: Please use the Digital Watchdog camera compatibility lists for DW Spectrum or for the VMAX IP Plus if you are unsure if the camera will be supported by your Server or NVR.

 

Detecting the Camera

When configuring an IP camera, the user must know the camera’s networking information to connect with the camera’s web interface, add it to a Server, or for general network awareness.

Most third-party camera manufacturers will provide a detection software tool that can be used to locate the camera on the network, identify its IP address, or to identify its model information.

To acquire this type of software, you can visit the Hikvision Tools Web Page and download either the SADP Tool or Batch Configuration Tool (varies depending on Hikvision camera model).

Alternatively, if you know the camera’s default login information, ONVIF Device Manager (ODM) is another detection tool that can be used to locate and identify ONVIF compliant devices within the camera network.

 

NOTE: If you are unsure which tool to use or require further assistance, please contact Hikvision Support for more information regarding their product.

 

Configuring the Hikvision Camera

Part 1 – Logging In and Enabling ONVIF

If you are encountering issues with adding a Hikvision camera:

  1. Open a web browser and use the camera’s IP address to access the camera’s web client UI.

    If you do not know the networking information of the camera, use either ODM or the Hikvision discovery tools to locate the camera on the network.

  2. Log into the camera using the Administrator credentials. Refer to your Hikvision camera’s User Manual to obtain the default information.

NOTE: If the camera is connected to the integrated PoE switch of a VMAX IP Plus NVR, please read Connecting With Cameras Through Virtual Ports (VMAX IP Plus) to connect with the camera. Otherwise, you must connect the camera to a PoE switch that is separate from the VMAX IP Plus to continue with this setup.

 

  1. After logging in as an administrator, navigate to Configuration > Network > Platform Access > Open Network Interface and configure the following:
    • Enable – enable/check this setting to activate the ONVIF protocol in the camera.
    • Open Network Video Interface – select the preferred authentication mode. If you select “Digest&ws-username token”, the device will support Digest Authentication and/or token-bearing authentication. If you select “Digest”, the device will only support Digest Authentication.
  2. Click the Save button to apply the changes.

 

**NOTE: In older HikVision cameras in, addition to enabling ONVIF, it is recommended to also enable the “Enable Hikvision-CGI” setting.

 

Part 2 - Create an Additional ONVIF Profile

If the HikVision camera does not transmit an ONVIF signal after enabling the ONVIF integration setting (Part 1 – Logging In and Enabling ONVIF), you can create an additional user profile within the camera to attempt a resolution.

  1. Click the Add button to create an ONVIF profile.

 

  1. To create an ONVIF profile for use with Digital Watchdog products, we recommend the following settings:
  • Username: name as “onvif”.
  • Password: assign an authentication password for the ONVIF profile; use the same password that was assigned as the login for the camera’s web interface.
  • Confirmation: reenter the password.
  • Level: set as “Administrator”.
  1. Click the OK button to add the new ONVIF profile.

 

**NOTE: These login settings are the same Username and Password that will be used when adding the camera to DW Spectrum or to a VMAX IP Plus.

 

  1. The new ONVIF profile will display in the User List.

    Click the Save button at the bottom of the window to apply the changes.

 

 

Part 3 – Disable Illegal Login Lock

While not a requirement, it may be helpful to disable the Hikvision camera’s Illegal Login Lock setting. While using the auto-discovery feature of DW Spectrum, the Spectrum Server will repeatedly attempt to access the camera using default credentials. This may cause the Hikvision camera to auto-lock itself for 30 minutes. Even if the rest of the steps in this guide have been performed correctly, the camera will appear as “unauthorized” in DW Spectrum.

You can find this setting by navigating to Configuration > Security > Security Service.

 

Part 4 – Synchronize Time Settings

You will want to have the camera set to synchronize its time settings with the DW Spectrum Server computer’s time settings. If the time of the camera is offset by more than 10 minutes, in comparison to the DW Spectrum Server, the ONVIF connection may not authenticate correctly.

To synchronize the camera with the DW Spectrum Server:

  1. Navigate to Configuration > System Settings > Time Settings.
  2. Select “Manual Time Sync” and enable the “Sync with Computer Time” setting.
  3. Click the Save button to apply the changes.

 

Part 5 – Adjust Security Authentication Settings (Digest Auth)

In some cases, you may need to change the security authentication method of the camera.

To switch to using digest/basic authentication:

  1. Navigate to Configuration > Security > Authentication.
  2. Change the RTSP Authentication setting to “digest/basic”.
  3. Change the Web Authentication setting to “digest/basic”.
  4. Click the Save button to apply the changes.

 

Guide Summary

This concludes the recommended settings for enabling ONVIF on a Hikvision camera, for use with DW Spectrum IPVMS.

If necessary, you can test if ONVIF is working by using the ONVIF Device Manager (ODM) detection tool to confirm that the camera’s ONVIF output is detected.

For more information on troubleshooting IP camera streams, you can refer to the article DW MEGApix - Camera Stream Troubleshooting Guide.

 

 

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Rev: 06/25                              Copyright © DW. All rights reserved. Specifications and pricing subject to change without notice.                            

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