VMAX IP Plus - MEGApix Camera Password Policy

MEGApix® Camera Password Policy and the VMAX® IP Plus

-----------------------------------

Affected Roles:  Administrator

Complexity:  Low to Medium

Firmware Version:  VMAX IP Plus v1.4.1.1

Last Edit:  November 6, 2020

-----------------------------------

Adding MEGApix® Cameras

In an effort to increase security, Digital Watchdog’s MEGApix® cameras now feature a mandatory password creation when first connecting with a camera.  The VMAX® IP Plus Series allows users to easily add a camera by simply connecting it to the NVR’s PoE (Power-over-Ethernet) switch, but does not allow users to initially apply a custom password to the camera.

This article will outline how to connect a new MEGApix® camera to the VMAX® IP Plus, then how to change the camera’s password.

**NOTE:  For more information regarding changing camera passwords separately from the VMAX® IP Plus, please read Assigning Passwords To IP Cameras.

**NOTE:  For more information regarding the different methods for adding cameras to the VMAX® IP Plus, please read Adding Cameras To A VMAX IP Plus.

Supported/Affected Devices

• VMAX® IP Plus Series
• DW MEGApix® Camera Series

Plug n’ Play

By default, when connecting a new MEGApix® IP camera to the built-in PoE switch of the VMAX® IP Plus unit, the NVR will automatically attempt to register the camera to its camera list.

To add a camera using the built-in PoE switch:

1. Connect the camera to the onboard PoE switch (see diagram below) with an Ethernet cable.

The camera should power, then begin to stream video through the NVR after it completes the registration process.

2. If the camera fails to register, use the manual Reset button located inside of the camera housing. 

Hold down the Reset button down for 10 seconds.  The camera will reboot and factory default its settings.

The camera should then automatically be added to the NVR.

3. If prompted to enter a login for the camera, you may use the following:

• Default ID:  admin
• Default Password:  admin

Changing Camera Passwords Using Virtual Ports

By default, the VMAX® IP Plus is permitted to use the original default login (admin/admin) for the camera after the initial addition to its camera list.  However, if a user were to try to connect with the camera through the NVR’s virtual ports, they would not be able to use the camera’s default login.

To change the camera’s password when connecting through a virtual port:

1. Open a web browser on a local computer.

2. Connect with the camera, through the VMAX® IP Plus’s virtual port with the following information:

VMAX® IP Plus	Virtual Ports
Camera Channel – 1	18001
Camera Channel – 2	18002
Camera Channel – 3	18003
Camera Channel – 4	18004
Camera Channel – 5	18005
Camera Channel – 6	18006
Camera Channel – 7	18007
Camera Channel – 8	18008
URL Structure	http://<NVR_IP>:<Virtual_Port>

Example:

VMAX® IP Plus IP Address:  192.168.100.51

Camera Connection:  Channel – 3

URL:  http://192.168.100.51:18003

3. After connecting with the camera through the virtual port, you will be met with a login screen for the camera.

You will need the MAC address of the NVR to proceed.  This information can be obtained from the System Information menu of the VMAX® IP Plus.

Log in with the following information:

Username:  admin

Password:  !A<MAC Address of NVR> (lower case)

**NOTE:  If the IP camera was registered to the VMAX® IP Plus while the NVR was using firmware version v1.3.7.0 and then updated to version v1.4.1.1, the Password structure will be “!<MAC Address of NVR>”.  Factory reset the camera and move it to a different PoE port or re-add the camera to the system to use the updated virtual port password structure of v1.4.1.1.

4. To change the password after logging into the camera, select the System menu, then select User Management.

Select the admin (Administrator), then click Modify.

5. Enter the new Password.

Enter the new password again in the Retype Password field.

Add a Password Hint (optional).

Click Apply to save the setting changes.