Dahua NVR5216-4KS2 setup for newbies

I don't see a thread on this, though I've seen a bunch of hints in other threads. Just received my 5216 and 2 turrets from EMPIRETECANDY on recommendations posted here (thank you for sharing your knowledge u/nayr )

And quick set up guides (think I saw reference). I have some network knowledge (minor), excellent structural knowledge (happy to help out anyone who needs contractor level advice, I have seen stuff here I'd be happy to tell people how to do if they are interested).

I'm running Ubiquiti edgerouter lite, Toughswitch POE. Happy pulling cat 6 to anywhere necessary, and I'm in the sad habit of making my own cables, thanks to deadlines and poor planning.

I would commend @EMPIRETECANDY for his prompt shipping. Look forward to opening the box.

I second something like this. A setup tutorial or a pointer to a good one. I am about in the same boat.

Hi @charlesaf3 and @Blue65 - there are tons of setupvideos of DAHUA materials online (maybe not the exact model/type), but there are tons of similarities
(eg this one: )

In brief, you can follow these steps:

1. open up the NVR and install the HDD (5216 had potential space for 2 hdds)
2. close the NVR
3. connect screen (I suggest to start with old-skool VGA screen, some TVs have difficulties with the OOTB HDMI resolution) - you can always change this through OSD or network, but for that, the network must be configured
4. connect power and turn on
5. On screen configure the network settings (eg IP stack, NTP etc)
6. Once all is up and running, you can change configuration towards your PC/laptop instead of working through the OSD
7. Connect your IPC ONE BY ONE. It is of utmost importance NOT TO CONNECT MORE THAN ONE CAMERA AT THE SAME TIME
8. (the reason why: each IPC is pre-configured with a fixed IP address (192.168.1.108), and everybody knows what happens if more than one IP device is running around with the same IP)
9. Go into the device configuration, your NVR should be able to find the newly connected device (immediately if connected to internal POE ports), otherwise you'll have to do an additional step through ConfigTool on your PC to change the .108 to something in the range of your IPC network/subnet/vlan
10. repeat step 7 for the next camera's.
11. Once you have your wall with all your feeds, you can enter into "advanced" configuration mode: setup smart plans/IVS/motion detection, but these topics are for some later posts ;-)

In any case, as mentioned beforehand: lots of videos exist for each of these steps!
Good Luck!
CC

catcamstar said:

Hi @charlesaf3 and @Blue65 - there are tons of setupvideos of DAHUA materials online (maybe not the exact model/type), but there are tons of similarities
(eg this one: )

In brief, you can follow these steps:

1. open up the NVR and install the HDD (5216 had potential space for 2 hdds)
2. close the NVR
3. connect screen (I suggest to start with old-skool VGA screen, some TVs have difficulties with the OOTB HDMI resolution) - you can always change this through OSD or network, but for that, the network must be configured
4. connect power and turn on
5. On screen configure the network settings (eg IP stack, NTP etc)
6. Once all is up and running, you can change configuration towards your PC/laptop instead of working through the OSD
7. Connect your IPC ONE BY ONE. It is of utmost importance NOT TO CONNECT MORE THAN ONE CAMERA AT THE SAME TIME
8. (the reason why: each IPC is pre-configured with a fixed IP address (192.168.1.108), and everybody knows what happens if more than one IP device is running around with the same IP)
9. Go into the device configuration, your NVR should be able to find the newly connected device (immediately if connected to internal POE ports), otherwise you'll have to do an additional step through ConfigTool on your PC to change the .108 to something in the range of your IPC network/subnet/vlan
10. repeat step 7 for the next camera's.
11. Once you have your wall with all your feeds, you can enter into "advanced" configuration mode: setup smart plans/IVS/motion detection, but these topics are for some later posts ;-)

In any case, as mentioned beforehand: lots of videos exist for each of these steps!
Good Luck!
CC

Click to expand...

Thanks for the information. I have read several manuals, Cliff Notes and watched some films but still have a very basic question about point 5. Instead of showing how to modify the IP (a child can do that!) I need to know why the IP should be modified and what IP should be used. Why modify the IP if the cameras work anyway? Dahua Wiki has something on this in the trouble shooting section but I think that they suggest having same IP for two devices. I am trying to install cameras with the NVR and without PC (No Windows) or router.

In my case 7 of the 8 cameras appear without any action (Smart add without choosing it?) but some of them suffer from "black outs" of some seconds and number 8 clearly has wrong IP and does not connect. Number 8 needs a modified IP.

Is there a manual about the secrets of IP stuff somewhere?

Dahua HFW5231E-Z12
Dahua 4431
NVR4108HS-8P-4KS2

I'm stuck on items 5 & 6.

How do I know what numbers to put in for the NVR IP address?

How do I connect to my PC? Smart PSS?

Joe

As I wrote above I also do not know what IP I should use for item 5. Why modify it when the cameras and the NVR work anyway?

Item 6 (You can find this in, for instance, your camera manual or Dahua Wiki.
Open IE and input network camera address in the address bar. (The factory default IP address is
192.168.1.108).

You should get a web interface where you can set up your cameras. A lot of the set up can not be done with the NVR or not with the one I have. I have had 8 cameras working without using the Web Interface.

You can use for instance PSS or Blue Iris but I suggest that you start with the Web Interface.