Hardware

Hardware represents either:

• The physical unit that connects directly to the recording server of the surveillance system via IP, for example a camera, a video encoder, an I/O module
• A recording server on a remote site in a XProtect Interconnect setup

You have several options for adding hardware to each recording server in your system.

If your hardware is located behind a NAT-enabled router or a firewall, you may need to specify a different port number and configure the router/firewall so it maps the port and IP addresses that the hardware uses.

The Add Hardware wizard helps you detect hardware like cameras and video encoders on your network and add them to the recording servers on your system. The wizard also helps you add remote recording servers for XProtect Interconnect setups. Only add hardware to one recording server at a time.

Hardware pre-configuration

Certain manufacturers require that credentials be set on out-of-the-box hardware before adding the hardware to a VMS system for the first time. This is referred to as hardware pre-configuration, and is done through the Pre-configure hardware devices wizard that appears when such hardware is detected by the Add hardware wizard.

Some important information regarding the Pre-configure hardware devices wizard:

• Hardware that requires initial credentials before being added to a VMS system cannot be added using the typical default credentials, and must be configured through the wizard or by connecting to the hardware directly
• You can only apply credentials (user name or password) to fields that are marked as not set
• Once the hardware status is set to configured, you cannot change the credentials (user name or password)
• Pre-configuration applies to out-of-the-box hardware and needs to be done only once. Once pre-configured, hardware can be managed like any other hardware in Management Client
• After you close the Pre-configure hardware devices wizard, pre-configured hardware will appear in the in the Add hardware wizard, and can now be added to your system

It is highly recommended that you add the pre-configured hardware to your system by completing the Add hardware wizard after you close the Pre-configure hardware devices wizard. Management Client will not retain the pre-configured credentials if you do not add the hardware to your system.