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Recovery Firmware for the VMAX IP Plus

Updated

Recovery Firmware for VMAX® IP Plus

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Affected Roles:  Administrator

Last Edit:  March 6, 2025

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System Recovery

If your system is experiencing system errors, software corruption, or display issues, you can use the Recovery Firmware as a last resort to restore functionality. Running the recovery process will reset the NVR to factory defaults and roll back the firmware to an older version, resolving most operational issues. Once the recovery is complete, you can update the NVR to the latest firmware version.

 

This article will guide you through the recovery process for the VMAX IP Plus Series.

 

Supported/Affected Devices

  • VMAX® IP Plus™ Series
    • DW-VP16xT16P
    • DW-VP16xT8P (Discontinued)
    • DW-VP12xT8P
    • DW-VP9xT4P

 

Required Equipment 

 

✅ USB Flash Drive (16GB–32GB, formatted as FAT32)
✅ Monitor (connected to the NVR)
✅ USB Mouse (connected to the NVR)

 

⚠ Important Notes:

 

  •  Avoid using Kingston and SanDisk USB drives, as they may cause issues during the recovery process.
  • The USB drive must only contain the recovery firmware files and must not be placed inside a folder. The files should be in the root directory of the USB.

Downloading Recovery Files

Identify Your NVR Model

Use the table below to determine the correct firmware for your device. If you're unsure about your model number or generation:

 

✅ Check the sticker on top of your NVR for the model and serial number.
✅ Navigate to the System Information menu on your NVR to find the current firmware version.
 

Important Notes

⚠ Only the recovery firmware files should be stored on the USB flash drive.
⚠ Do NOT place the files inside a folder—they must be in the root directory of the USB stick.
⚠ Avoid using Kingston or SanDisk USB drives, as they may cause issues during the recovery process.

 

Model

S/N Starts With

Firmware Filename

1st gen

2nd gen

3rd gen

1st gen

2nd gen

3rd gen

DW-VP9-4P

VP****

NPK09****

FPK09-

HN-6209_dw_v1.xxx

HN-6509_DW_v1.x.x.x

HN6009 vx.x.x.x

DW-VP12-8P

VP****

NPK12****

FPK12-

HN-6212_dw_v1.xxx

HN6512_DW_v1.x.x.x

HN6012 vx.x.x.x

DW-VP16-8P

VP****

N/A

N/A

HN-6216_dw_v1.xxx

N/A

N/A

DW-VP16-16P

VP****

NPE16****

FPE16-

HN-6316_dw_v1.xxx

HN-6616_DW_v1.x.x.x

HN6016 vx.x.x.x

 

For 2nd and 3rd generation models, Click here to download the DW_1.5.1.9 recovery firmware.

 

First (1st) Generation VMAX® IP Plus Series Recovery (Old/Discontinued Model)

For older models (S/N begins with "VP"), download the appropriate recovery firmware below:

 

Recovering the System

The following instructions cover the Firmware Recovery steps for 2nd and 3rd Generation NVRs. 

Step 1: Extract the Recovery Files

  1. Locate the downloaded file (e.g., .DW_1.5.1.9_recovery.zip).

  2. Extract the contents of the file to your computer.

Step 2: Prepare the USB Drive

  1. Use a USB drive (32GB or smaller) and format it to FAT32.

  2. Copy the extracted recovery files for your specific NVR model onto the USB drive.

 

Important:

  • Do not rename any files.
  • Below is an example of the correct folder structure for the 2nd Generation 9-channel NVR (HN-6509_DW), showing how it should be organized on your USB drive.

Step 3: Start the Recovery Process

  1. Power off the NVR completely.

  2. Insert the USB drive into one of the rear USB ports (avoid using the front ports).

  3. Power on the NVR while keeping the USB drive plugged in.

Step 4: Recovery Process

  • The NVR will not produce any beeping sounds during the recovery process.

  • The recovery process will take approximately 5 minutes.

  • Once completed, the NVR will reboot automatically.

                                             

Final Steps

✅ Once the recovery process finishes, the NVR will reboot automatically.
✅ Remove the USB drive after the system has fully restarted.

✅ Ensure the NVR is updated to the latest firmware version before proceeding with normal operations.
✅ If the issue persists, contact Digital Watchdog Support for further assistance.

 

 

Upgrading Firmware

After running the recovery program, your NVR is now using an older firmware version. To restore full functionality and security, you need to upgrade to the latest firmware.

For detailed instructions on the upgrade process, refer to Upgrading Firmware for a VMAX IP Plus.

 

Method 1: FTP
If your NVR is properly connected to the network and online, follow these steps:

  1. Access the main menu on your NVR.
  2. Select System Information, then click on Upgrade.
  3. Choose FTP as the update method.
  4. Click Check to search for any available firmware updates.
  5. Once a new version is found, click Start to begin the update.

 

Method 2: USB

  1. Download the latest firmware:

    • Visit the Digital Watchdog website at digital-watchdog.com.
    • Click on the magnifying glass in the top-right corner and search for your NVR model.
    • On the product page, click the Software tab to find the latest firmware version.

 

Alternatively, you can obtain the latest firmware file from the Digital Watchdog Resource Library.

                                          

 

  • First Generation VMAX® IP Plus Series (Discontinued/Replaced)
    • (S/N begins with “VP”)
    • Last Firmware Version – v1.4.1.1

 

  • Second Generation VMAX® IP Plus Series
    • (S/N begins with “NP”)
    • Last Firmware Version – v1.5.2.4

 

  • Third Generation VMAX® IP Plus Series
    • (S/N begins with “FP”)
    • Up-to-date Firmware Version – v1.5.5.7

Steps to Update Your NVR Firmware:

 

  1. Copy the Latest Firmware to a USB Stick:

    • Transfer the updated firmware file to a USB stick.
    • If using the same USB stick from the firmware recovery process, make sure to replace any old recovery firmware files with the new version.
    • Once the firmware is copied, safely eject the USB stick.
      Note: Do not store the firmware file inside a folder on the USB stick.

  2. Insert the USB Stick into the NVR:

    • Plug the USB stick into either the front or rear USB port on the NVR.

  3. Log in to the NVR:

    • If you haven't already, log in to the NVR as an Admin or with Administrator privileges.

  4. Access the System Information Menu:

    • Right-click the mouse and select Menu.
    • Navigate to the System Information menu.
    • Click the Upgrade button, located next to the current firmware Version.

    • Set the update method to USB, then click the Scan button.

    • The NVR will detect the USB stick and display the model information in the Device box.

    • Next, click the Start button. The upgrade progress will be shown in the Progress bar. Allow the NVR to download and install the update. Once the process is complete, the NVR will automatically reboot and start using the new firmware.

    • After the unit has rebooted, safely remove the USB stick.

 

 

This completes the Firmware Recovery process.  Please note that user and system settings have been reset to their default values during the recovery.

If you continue to experience operational or system issues, please contact Digital Watchdog Technical Support for further assistance.

 

 

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For More Information or Technical Support

DW Technical Support: https://www.digital-watchdog.com/contact-tech-support/

DW Sales: sales@digital-watchdog.com | www.digital-watchdog.com

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

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