EmpireTech web interface questions.

[EagleEye7]

I just installed my first EmpireTech camera, a B54IR-Z4E-S3. Below are a couple of questions regarding the web interface, which I am obviously still familiarizing with.

1. How do I (or can I?) install a HTTPS TLS certificate into the camera? On Hikvision's which are I am slightly more familiar with, I was able to load a self-signed certificate into the web interface, which was signed by a CA trusted by my PC. I know that this does not add much security, considering the cams are on a separate network, never accessed remotely directly (except over VPN), etc, but all the browser security warnings annoy me. Hence I like to pop my certificate in where possible, and get a nice green padlock . However, I cannot find the option anywhere in the web interface.

2. Further to the above, am I likely to be missing a load of web UI config options by not using the plugin? I am using Chrome browser, and I like to avoid plugins where possible. The web interface seems perfectly functional, however occasionally the following notice shows up:

Although everything I can see seems to work OK. After not being able to find any HTTPS options, I wondered if my web UI could actually be missing some elements due to lack of the plugin? Attached are various screenshots of what the web UI currently looks like.

And a note question 1 above: Despite the HTTPS port being defined as 443 (can be seen in one of the attachments), the camera is not even listening on port 443 at all. Strange?

 

[wittaj]

Do not waste your time time with HTTPS - that is just giving you a false sense of security. It causes people more trouble than it is worth. Isolate your cameras from the internet and it is a mppt point.

You could be missing something by not having the plugin. Everyone system is different.

Personally I use Internet Explorer as that is what the firmware was designed around and it is still native to Windows. I only use IE for cameras and nothing else so any risk is remote.

 

[EagleEye7]

Thanks @wittaj. Cams properly setup on their own VLAN, strict hardware firewall between the camera LAN and everything else (internet and other local resources). HTTPS is not for security, I just like to have it, and for the sake of slapping the cert of the Hikvision, it was worth it to get rid of the warnings.

Presumably EmpireTech cams simply do not support it (for the reason you state)? Just seems odd there is a HTTPS port config option which does nothing.

I tried using IE (IE mode in Edge, which pretty much runs IE 'under the hood'), and this was actually worse than Chrome when running without the plugin. Perhaps I should install the plugin and explore the WUI to see if anything is there that wasn't before? If not, I can ditch the plugin and go back to Chrome.

 

[bigredfish]

Ignore the plugin nag message. i do

I tend to use Edge and on some cameras Edge in IE mode.

The only place I've found super sensitive to this is the IVS rules setup and associated global rules. If you're able to draw tripwires and Intrusion zones, and get settings like sensitivity to stick, you're fine and not likely missing any controls.Also check the Live tab abd zoom controls. Those for me seem to be the two areas that are browser sensitive

 

[EagleEye7]

OK - I will try IVS rules at some point, after I have got the basics right. Zoom controls in the WUI are functional, so hopefully I am fine!

 

[Ri22o]

OK - I will try IVS rules at some point, after I have got the basics right. Zoom controls in the WUI are functional, so hopefully I am fine!

Do make sure to take note of your Day/Night exposure settings prior to assigning an IVS rule. For some reason when you set a rule it will change your exposure to shutter priority and you will lose your custom/manual settings.

 

[EagleEye7]

Crumbs, that's good to know! Thanks.

 

[Ri22o]

After you apply the first rule, you’re fine. It’s just the initial rule that messes up your settings. I’ve found it’s good practice to throw a random rule on, to get it out of the way, before I start messing with the other settings.

 

[bigredfish]

And Shutter Priority makes your night image nice and bright and you think “this is awesome” until you see something indescribable move because of the motion blur

 

[steve1225]

I just installed my first EmpireTech camera, a B54IR-Z4E-S3. Below are a couple of questions regarding the web interface, which I am obviously still familiarizing with.

1. How do I (or can I?) install a HTTPS TLS certificate into the camera? On Hikvision's which are I am slightly more familiar with, I was able to load a self-signed certificate into the web interface, which was signed by a CA trusted by my PC. I know that this does not add much security, considering the cams are on a separate network, never accessed remotely directly (except over VPN), etc, but all the browser security warnings annoy me. Hence I like to pop my certificate in where possible, and get a nice green padlock . However, I cannot find the option anywhere in the web interface.

This function is very hidden in latest 5.0 UI...

You must go to main screen (home icon in top bar), rotate to second screen with icons (two dots on bottom), there should be Security icon...

In security module You have system service -> https where you can enable https, enable redirection from HTTP to HTTPS and manage SSL certs (it will switch to CA Certificate option)...

ps. I don't understand why all camera modules are NOT listed in top menu as one menu list.. the separation between top menu (with some modules there) and main screen icons (two pages with other modules) is huge problem for users...

 

[EagleEye7]

Good grief, I had no idea there was a 2nd page to the 'Home' menu! The two dots on the bottom were nicely obscured by the 'Please install plugin' prompt, making it even less obvious!

Thanks for pointing that out, I will now explore the Security menu...

 

[EagleEye7]

That's done it.

 

[tigerwillow1]

Good grief, I had no idea there was a 2nd page to the 'Home' menu!

For a lot of people, they didn't know there was even a first page because of the live view coming up by default.