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Adding 3rd Party Cameras with ONVIF Discovery Issues to a VMAX IP Plus

Updated

Adding 3rd Party Cameras with ONVIF Discovery Issues to a VMAX® IP Plus

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Affected Roles:  Admin, Owner

Last Edit:  August 13, 2024

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Third Party Registration Issues

This article explains how to troubleshoot situations where a third-party ONVIF camera is not automatically discovered by a VMAX IP Plus NVR. In most cases, the issue is related to the camera's network configuration, DHCP settings, or ONVIF compatibility. Follow the steps below to identify and resolve the issue

 

**NOTE:  Although the VMAX IP Plus supports most ONVIF-compliant IP cameras, some third-party cameras may not be automatically detected. Common causes include:

  • Static IP addresses that do not match the NVR's PoE network
  • DHCP compatibility issues
  • ONVIF disabled on the camera
  • Outdated camera firmware

Before continuing, verify that the camera is powered on, connected properly, and running the latest available firmware.

 

Related Articles

 

Supported/Affected Devices:

  • VMAX IP Plus Series

Resolving Camera DHCP Addressing Issues

As the VMAX IP Plus features a UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) function, when an IP camera is connected to the built-in PoE switch of the VMAX IP Plus, the NVR will automatically attempt to assign an IP address to the camera that matches the unit’s IP address scheme (10.0.0.x). However, if the camera is already assigned to a static IP address that does not match the IP scheme of the NVR’s PoE switch network, if the camera’s firmware is preventing DHCP compatibility with the recorder, etc., the VMAX IP Plus will be unable to automatically detect and add the camera to the NVR’s device registry.

 

When encountering this obstacle, here are a few things that you can try for adding the camera:

 

Assign a Static IP Address to the Camera for PoE Connection

  1. Access the camera's web interface.
    • Connect a PC to the same PoE network as the camera.
    • Use DW IP Finder (for DW cameras) or the manufacturer's discovery tool.
  2. Configure the camera with a static IP address that matches the NVR's PoE network.
  3. Verify the PoE Gateway address on the NVR:
    • To verify the current built-in PoE switch IP address directly on the unit, access the Main Menu, navigate to Network, and select PoE Setup. The PoE Default Gateway address will be displayed on this screen.
      • Firmware version v1.5.4.3 or later: 200.0.0.254
      • Earlier firmware versions: 10.0.0.254
  4. Save the changes.
  5. Manually add the camera to the VMAX IP Plus

 

Use an External PoE Switch and Connect Through LAN

In addition to the UPnP benefits of the integrated PoE switch that is built into the VMAX IP Plus, cameras that are connected to the local network (LAN) and stem from a router connection may also be added to the NVR. When using this method, the camera will likely need to be powered and connected through the use of a different PoE switch that is external to the VMAX IP Plus. As long as both the VMAX IP Plus and the external PoE switch are connected over the LAN and use the same IPv4 address scheme (example schemes - 192.168.x.x, 172.16.x.x, etc.), then the devices will be able to communicate.

 

**NOTE:  When using a PoE switch that is external to the NVR, be aware of whether the switch is a “dummy switch” or a “smart switch”. A smart switch will require additional configuration and setup for proper networking practices, while a dummy switch will default to the router’s DHCP settings.

 

Additional Recommendations

  • Check with the third-party camera’s manufacturer for any firmware updates. Firmware patches and releases typically include security updates, networking updates, bug fixes, compatibility upgrades, etc.
  • Practice good camera management by documenting camera network information and addresses. If cameras are left on a DHCP setting and not set to a static IP address, the IP address may be likely to automatically change if the router deems it to do so. This can create unnecessary difficulty if the camera has been manually added to the VMAX IP Plus through the LAN connection.
  • Be familiar with the third-party camera’s capabilities and features. DW Support is trained to troubleshoot and work with DW products specifically. Some third-party camera manufacturers (ex., HikVision, AXIS, etc.) have subtle security features that automatically disable ONVIF discovery, preventing auto-discovery by DW Spectrum Servers.

 

 

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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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