Adding and Managing Cameras for a VMAX IP Plus

Adding and Managing Cameras for a VMAX® IP Plus

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Affected Roles: Administrator

Last Edit: August 13, 2024

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Adding Cameras

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:

PoE camera connection
Camera connection through Network
Manually add cameras

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.

Supported/Affected Devices

VMAX® IP Plus Series

PoE Camera Connection

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:

Connect the camera to an available PoE port in the rear panel of the VMAX® IP Plus.

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.

The camera will be assigned to a viewing channel on the NVR, depending on the port that the camera was connected to. For example, a connection through PoE Port 4 will result in camera assignment to Channel-4.

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.

While the camera can be easily added to the NVR by connecting through the NVR’s PoE switch, the camera’s configuration settings will be operating under a temporary user login. This should not interfere with the NVR’s regular operation.

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).

Camera Connection through Network

When connecting cameras through the local network, the VMAX® IP Plus can search and register cameras in three ways:

Auto Configuration
Drag & Drop Configuration
Advanced Search

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.

Auto Configuration

The Auto Configuration feature allows you to easily scan and add cameras with a few mouse clicks.

Right-click with the mouse, then select Menu.

Click on the Record icon.

Under the Camera Management tab, locate the Auto Configuration feature.

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.

Right-click with the mouse, then select Menu.

Click on the Record icon.

Under the Camera Management tab, locate the Drag & Drop Configuration feature.

Click the Start button to begin searching for cameras on the network.

The discovered cameras will display in the IP Camera Search list.

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.

Advanced Search

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.

Right-click with the mouse, then select Menu.

Click on the Record icon.

Under the Camera Management tab, locate and click on the Advanced button.

The Advanced Camera Management menu will display.

Click the Search button to scan the network for connected cameras.

The discovered cameras will display their Protocol, IP Address, and Model information.

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.

Manually Add Cameras

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:

Right-click with the mouse, then select Menu.

Click on the Record icon.

Under the Camera Management tab, locate and click on the Advanced button.

The Advanced Camera Management menu will display.

Click the Add Cameras Manually button.

The Add New IP Camera Manually menu will display.

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.

Deleting Cameras

If you must delete a camera from the VMAX® IP Plus:

Right-click with the mouse, then select Menu.

Click on the Record icon.

Under the Camera Management tab, locate and click on the Advanced button.

The Advanced Camera Management menu will display.

Cameras that are no longer connected will display in gray text.
Cameras that are added through the network will display in white text.
Cameras that are added through the NVR’s PoE switch connection will display in green text.

To delete a camera, click on the Delete box to the right of the camera.

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.

Adding Cameras Through the NVRs Web Client

To search for new IP cameras:

Open a web browser and enter the IP Address and Web Port of the VMAX IP Plus into the address bar.
Log in to the NVR's web interface using your user ID and password credentials.
Navigate to the SETUP menu.
Select the RECORD option.
Choose the REGISTRATION menu.
Enter the ID and Password of the camera in the upper right corner.
Click the SEARCH button.

To manually add IP cameras to the device:

Choose the MANUAL REGISTRATION option.
Enter the ID and Password of the camera in the upper right corner.
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 Manual ADD button.