Adding a Site to C3™ CMS

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Affected Roles: Administrator, All Users

Related Digital Watchdog VMS Apps: C3™ CMS

Complexity: Low

Last Edit: July 29, 2024

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C3™ CMS

The C3™ CMS program allows users to remotely view and manage their standalone DVR or NVR systems. From the application, Users can view live and recorded video, export video, upgrade firmware, and more.

However, before a user can utilize these features, the recording device will need to be added to the C3™ CMS program.

This article will outline how to connect a new site to C3™ CMS with a direct connection (IP address) and also how to connect with PathFinder.

**NOTE: If you have not already done so, please install C3™ CMS before continuing.

Supported/Affected Devices

VMAX® A1 Series (2.1 MP)
VMAX® A1 Plus™ Series (5 MP)
VMAX® IP Plus™ Series
VMAX® IP G4™ Series
VMAX® A1 G4™ Series

Adding a New Site to C3 CMS

**Accessing the Site List Add/Edit Menu**

When adding a site to C3™ CMS:

Launch the C3™ CMS application and log in as the Administrator.

Default Username: admin
Default Password:

In the Site List within the left-panel of the C3 CMS viewer, right-click and select “Add/Edit Site” from the context menu.

The Site List Add/Edit window will display.

Click the “Refresh” button. If the recorder is on the same local network as your computer, it will automatically display in the Sites Found list if detected by C3 CMS.

Otherwise, you can enter the recorder site information manually.

The instructions for automatic detection and manual addition are below.

Scanning (automatic) and Registering Sites

C3 CMS will scan the local network (LAN) for VMAX standalone recorders.

Click the “Refresh” button to have C3 scan again.

If a recorder is detected, the recorder (referred to as a ‘site’) will appear in the Sites Found list on the left-side of the Site List Add/Edit window.

Select the desired recorder from the Sites Found list, then click the “Add” button to begin the site registration.

A pop-up will display. Configure the following:

Site Name – enter a label/name to identify the site
User Name – enter the login ID to the VMAX recorder (default ID – admin)
Password – enter the login password to the VMAX recorder
IP Address – lists the IP address of the detected site
Port – lists the TCP/IP Port value that belongs to the VMAX recorder
Web Port – lists the Web Port value that belongs to the VMAX recorder
Channel – enter the channels that will be available to view for C3 CMS. For example, to view all 16-channels of a unit, you would use “1-16”.

After verifying that the detected site information is correct, click the “OK” button in the pop-up. The site will then appear listed in the Registered Sites list.

Repeat Step 1 and Step 2 for any additional detected sites that you wish to add.

When finished, click the “OK” button to close the Site List Add/Edit window and return to the main C3 CMS viewing area. The sites that you have added will appear listed in the left-panel under the My Sites section.

Manually Registering Sites

To manually add a new site:

In the Site List Add/Edit menu, click on the “New Site” button that appears in the Group/Sites area of the window.

The New Site window will display.

Configure the following for the new recorder site:

Use P2P – [optional] enable this setting to use a PathFinder ID to connect with a site instead of using a direct connection (IP address, DDNS). When enabled, the Model, Port, and Web Port settings will not be necessary for a P2P connection and will be disabled in C3 CMS for the site registration. For more information on this connection option, please see the section below, titled “Registering Sites with PathFinder (P2P)”.
IP/Domain Address – manually enter the IP address or DDNS URL that is assigned to the VMAX recording unit. Keep in mind that when using a direct connection with a computer that is outside of the local network (LAN) of the recorder, port forwarding may be required.
Model – select the VMAX series that best represents your standalone recording unit
- For a VMAX A1 Plus or VMAX IP Plus model, please select “VMAX Plus Series”
- For a VMAX A1 (2.1 MP) or older/legacy VMAX (960H) models, please select “VMAX Series” to add the recorder to C3 CMS (limited support available). Not all legacy units can be added.
Port – enter the TCP/IP port value that is assigned in the recorder’s Network settings
Web Port – enter the Web port value that is assigned in the recorder’s Network settings
User ID – enter the username that is used to log in to the VMAX recorder (default ID – admin)
Password – enter the login password that is used to log in to the VMAX recorder (password is created during initial recorder setup).

**NOTE: Digital Watchdog does not provide port forwarding services. If router assistance is required, please contact your company’s IT department, network administrator, or your contracted alarm company.

When done, click the Verify button. C3 CMS will validate the information and will add the new site if the connection information passes. If validation fails, a failure message will display. Ensure that the connection information and login information is entered correctly, including case-sensitivity.

If the connection information, model series, and login credentials were entered correctly, the Site Name and Channel boxes will become enabled.

Enter a Site Name [optional]. This determines how the site will be labeled in the C3™ CMS program.

Enter the Channels that you would like to monitor from C3™ CMS (e.g., 1-16 is for all 16 channels from the selected DVR).

The MAC address and firmware version of the VMAX unit will automatically generate if validation is successful.

Click the OK button to close the site setup window and proceed.

If the site is added successfully, it will display in the Registered Sites list.

Click the “OK” button in the confirmation pop-up, then click the “OK” button to close the Site List Add/Edit window.

The sites that you have added will appear listed in the left-panel under the My Sites section in the main viewing area.

To view your cameras, drag and drop the site into the viewing area.

Alternatively, you may drag and drop each camera separately into the viewing area, as they display in the Devices list.

Registering Sites with PathFinder (P2P)

To manually add a new site using a PathFinder ID:

In the Site List Add/Edit menu, click on the “New Site” button that appears in the Group/Sites area of the window.

The New Site window will display.

Configure the following for the new recorder site:

Use P2P – enable this setting to use a PathFinder ID to connect with a site instead of using a direct connection (IP address, DDNS). When enabled, the Model, Port, and Web Port settings will not be necessary for a P2P connection and will be disabled in C3 CMS for the site registration.
P2P Address – enter the PathFinder ID of the VMAX recording unit.
Model – disabled when “Use P2P” is enabled
Port – disabled when “Use P2P” is enabled
Web Port – disabled when “Use P2P” is enabled
User ID – enter the username that is used to log in to the VMAX recorder (default ID – admin)
Password – enter the login password that is used to log in to the VMAX recorder (password is created during initial recorder setup)

When done, click the Verify button. C3 CMS will validate the information and will add the new site if the connection information passes. If validation fails, a failure message will display. Ensure that the connection information and login information is entered correctly, including case-sensitivity.

If the connection information, model series, and login credentials were entered correctly, the Site Name and Channel boxes will become enabled.

Enter a Site Name [optional]. This determines how the site will be labeled in the C3™ CMS program.

Enter the Channels that you would like to monitor from C3™ CMS (e.g., 1-16 is for all 16 channels from the selected DVR).

The MAC address and firmware version of the VMAX unit will automatically generate if validation is successful.

Click the OK button to close the site setup window and proceed

If the site is added successfully, it will display in the Registered Sites list.

Click the “OK” button in the confirmation pop-up, then click the “OK” button to close the Site List Add/Edit window.

The sites that you have added will appear listed in the left-panel under the My Sites section in the main viewing area.

To view your cameras, drag and drop the site into the viewing area.

Alternatively, you may drag and drop each camera separately into the viewing area, as they display in the Devices list.

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