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Affected Roles: Administrator
Complexity: Low to Medium
Last Edit: August 6, 2020
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The VMAX® IP Plus Series can connect with ONVIF Profile S compliant IP cameras for easy user access to monitor camera video streams, record camera video, and review video that was previously recorded to the NVR.
When making camera additions to the VMAX® IP Plus, users can register cameras in three different ways:
This article will outline the different ways to register cameras to the VMAX® IP Plus.
IMPORTANT: Digital Watchdog recommends that you avoid connecting an external PoE switch directly to the VMAX® IP Plus. Instead, connect the PoE switch to the router, which can then be connected to the NVR’s LAN/WAN port.
You can Click Here to download a diagram of the recommended configuration.
Note: If you are adding a MEGApix® camera to the VMAX IP® Plus and would like to know how to manage the camera password, check out MEGApix Camera Password Policy and the VMAX® IP Plus.
When connecting cameras directly to the NVR’s PoE switch, cameras are automatically assigned to channels, assigned an IP address, and assigned to a Virtual Port.
Note: The connecting camera must be set to DHCP before connecting the camera to the NVR. If the camera is using a Static setting, change the camera to DHCP or default the camera.
To register a camera through the NVR’s PoE switch:
The camera should power (each PoE port supports up to 15.4W), then begin to stream video through the NVR after it completes the registration process.
Each camera connected by the NVR’s PoE switch will display the channel title in green text.
Note: If a camera is connected to a PoE port and the matching viewing channel is already assigned to another camera through the network, the previously assigned camera will be moved to another available viewing channel.
However, if a user tries to connect with the camera through a Virtual Port, the login for the camera may need to be changed.
To learn more, please read Connecting With Cameras Through Virtual Ports (VMAX IP Plus).
When connecting cameras through the local network, the VMAX® IP Plus can search and register cameras in three ways:
To use these registration options, the cameras will require the use of a PoE switch that is separate from the VMAX® IP Plus and to share a connection with the same local router.
Note: The VMAX® IP Plus must be registered to the local network to use this method. If you still need to configure the network settings for the NVR, please read Network Setup For A VMAX IP Plus.
The Auto Configuration feature allows you to easily scan and add cameras with a few mouse clicks.
Click on the Record icon.
Set the desired Recording Mode (Motion, Continuous, Continuous + Motion). All cameras discovered during the Auto Configuration process will be set to this recording mode.
Click the Start button.
The Auto Configuration function will search for cameras under the same local network and register them to the available viewing channels in the order that the cameras are discovered.
Drag & Drop Configuration
The Drag & Drop Configuration feature allows you to scan for cameras on the network, then easily assign them to viewing channels by dragging and dropping from a list of discovered devices.
Click on the Record icon.
Click the Start button to begin searching for cameras on the network.
Select a camera from the list and drag it to the viewing channel that you want to assign that camera to.
The camera will begin to stream video through its assigned viewing channel.
Repeat this step for any additional cameras that you want to add.
Note: You may use the Search button to scan the network for cameras again.
The Advanced Search function allows you to search for cameras with advanced configuration options, manage assigned cameras, and to manually add cameras using individual URLs.
Click on the Record icon.
Click the Search button to scan the network for connected cameras.
Under the Channel drop-down, select which viewing channel that you want to assign the camera to.
Select a camera from the list, then click the Get Stream button to obtain the stream information.
Click the Apply button to register the camera to the NVR and assign it to the selected viewing channel.
Repeat this step for any additional cameras that you want to add.
Note: To simultaneously add more than one camera to the NVR, enable the Camera Multi-Select feature, click on each listed camera that you want to simultaneously add, then click the Apply button.
If an IP camera is in a different network than the NVR, the Add Cameras Manually feature allows users to add the device by manually entering either the cameras ONVIF stream URL or RTSP URL(s).
To manually add a camera:
Click on the Record icon.
Click the Add Cameras Manually button.
Enter the ID and Password of the camera.
Select the Channel that you want to assign the camera to.
Select the Protocol (ONVIF or RTSP) that you will be using to add the camera manually.
Enter the RTSP URL(s) or ONVIF URL of the camera, then click the Get Stream button.
Click the Apply button to assign the camera to the selected viewing channel.
If you must delete a camera from the VMAX® IP Plus:
Click on the Record icon.
If you are deleting a camera that was added through the NVR’s PoE switch connection, the camera must be disconnected from the PoE switch before the delete button will be enabled.
Note: The Delete Page button will delete the current group of added cameras (CH 1-8 or CH 9-16).
The Delete All button will delete all cameras from the VMAX® IP Plus.
