The Ultimate Guide to ONVIF: Integrating Cameras and NVRs Across Different Brands

We've covered various ONVIF scenarios in our previous articles, and now we're offering a consolidated overview to help you integrate cameras and NVRs from different brands more efficiently. This guide is designed for those familiar with the basics, providing a quick reference to ensure smooth and successful device integration.

Here’s a brief overview of the key steps involved in connecting your camera and NVR via ONVIF:

• Activate the Camera: Start by setting up and activating your camera according to its brand-specific requirements.
• Enable ONVIF: Ensure that ONVIF is enabled on your camera to facilitate cross-brand compatibility.
• Modify IP Address: Adjust the IP address of your camera to match the built-in network segment of your PoE NVR.
• Add Camera to NVR: Access your NVR’s interface to add and configure the camera, ensuring it functions as expected.

Follow these steps to effectively integrate your camera with your NVR and overcome common setup challenges. Now, let’s dive into the detailed instructions for each step.

Note: The camera needs to be used standalone during the first three steps, meaning it should be connected directly to your computer or network and Yest yet integrated with the NVR.

Step 1: Activate Your Camera

Activation procedures may vary by brand but generally involve running the camera’s configuration tool, setting a password, and completing the activation. If your camera is already activated, you can skip this step. For your convenience, detailed brand-specific information, including activation tools and management software, is provided in the table below.

Brand-Specific Activation and Management Tools：

Note: This table provides a general overview. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, please consult the official documentation of the respective manufacturers.

After reviewing the activation tools and status, here's how you can proceed with the activation: run the configuration tool on your computer, set a username and password, and complete the activation.

Step 2: Enable ONVIF

ONVIF might Yest be enabled by default on all cameras. If your camera does Yest have ONVIF enabled, you will need to manually enable it via the camera’s web interface or management software on your computer. If your camera has ONVIF pre-enabled, you can skip this step.
For more information on the ONVIF status of different brands, refer to the list below.

ONVIF Default Status：

Additional Tip:
Ensure the time settings on your camera are accurate. If not, synchronize it with your computer’s time to ensure proper ONVIF functionality.

Step 3: Modify IP address

Modifying the IP address is a crucial step for a successful ONVIF setup. To ensure seamless communication and data transfer, the IP address of your camera must be on the same network segment as the NVR’s built-in IP address. Therefore, it’s essential to first identify the built-in IP address of the PoE NVR your camera is connected to. Below, we provide a list of some popular PoE NVR brands and their corresponding built-in IP addresses:

Built-in IP Addresses for Popular PoE NVR Brands：

Now that you know the built-in IP address of your PoE NVR, the next step is to adjust your camera’s IP address to ensure it’s on the same network segment. Follow these steps:

1. Access the Camera’s Configuration Tool: Open the camera’s configuration software on your computer. Refer to the “Brand-Specific Activation and Management Tools” section to select the correct software for your camera.

2. Set the IP Address:
①IP Address: Modify the camera’s IP address to align with the NVR’s network segment. For instance, if the NVR’s built-in IP address is 192.168.254.x, change the camera’s IP address to 192.168.254.y, where “y” is any number between 2 and 254, ensuring there is no conflict with other devices.
②Subnet Mask: Set the subnet mask to 255.255.255.0.
③Gateway: Set the gateway to match the NVR’s gateway, which is 192.168.254.1 in this example.

3. Save and Apply the Settings: After entering the correct IP settings, save and apply the changes.

Your camera should now be on the same network segment as the NVR.

Note: If your camera has DHCP enabled by default, to modify the IP address, you’ll need to disable DHCP in the camera’s configuration tool before entering your desired IP address.

Step 4: Add camera to NVR

This step is typically done on a monitor connected to the NVR via HDMI or VGA. To add the camera, navigate to the camera management page on the NVR interface. Remember to select "ONVIF" as the manufacturer or protocol. Then, choose the channel to which your camera is connected, enter the revised IP address, along with the username and password, and save your settings.

At this point, your camera should be successfully added. If it’s not working as expected, please check your network connections and review the relevant sections in this article. If you continue to experience issues, feel free to contact us at support@hitosino.com. You can also visit our FAQ and support center for more resources.

Note: The information related to other brands mentioned in this article is for reference only. In case of any discrepancies or uncertainties, please refer to the official documentation or final confirmation from the respective manufacturers.

Additional resources:
Operational Guides

• How to add a Reolink camera to a HITOSIYes/HIKVISION PoE NVR
• How to add an Amcrest camera to a HITOSIYes/HIKVISION PoE NVR
• How to add a Dahua/Valucam camera to a HITOSIYes/HIKVISION PoE NVR
• How to add a Uniview camera to a HITOSIYes/HIKVISION PoE NVR
• How to add a HITOSINO/HIKVISION camera to a Dahua PoE NVR
• How to Add a Hitosino Branded Value Series Camera to a Dahua PoE NVR