Amcrest Installation

[RJ74]

We recently brought on a new client that has a existing Amcrest install by another company\person. They reached out to us due to all the issues they were having with the system (cams going down, and other odd things) and the current provider. We have been able to correct issues here and there but the install is a mess and seeking some more experienced insights and suggestions based on the current state of the setup.

What we know:
Amcrest is Dahua OEM
Total Cam count: 29
NVR #1: Amcrest NV5232E-16P (up to 32 Ch)
NVR #2: Amcrest NV4108-2TB (8 Ch)
Cams: Amcrest IP5M-T1179E (Majority) and 2-3 IP8M-2779E-AI
Switch: TP-Link TL-SL1226P
*Between the 5232 and the Switch, 25 are active. the remaining 4 are active on the 4108
*Camera cable runs are within 295'
*Found a couple Cameras utilizing external power injectors, but the 5232 power budget is well suited for the installed camera models


What we found is rather confusing and is not recommended by the manufacturer. There are two NVRs with only about half of their camera ports populated, the NVRs are uplinked via camera ports, and then some cameras are populated onto the Switch. There is no original installation documentation and the original installers couldn't provide any real dialog on to why or what issues they had leading to setting up the system this way.

Part of me wants to tear this down, default the NVR(s) and cams and redo it using the NV5232 and the switch as it it intended, for the current 29 cameras. But if I don't have to go that far, I prefer not to if possible. Would prefer to just migrate all 29 to the NV5232 and the Switch and clean things up from there.

What is your take on this setup? What would you do as a Integrator\Installer in this take-over situation? Interested in any setup suggestions as well.

 

[wittaj]

It could be anything from the NVR only supports 16 POE cameras to they are using additional NVR analytics that crippled the NVR so they needed two NVRs, or they are over the MP limit.

 

[RJ74]

It could be anything from the NVR only supports 16 POE cameras to they are using additional NVR analytics that crippled the NVR so they needed two NVRs, or they are over the MP limit.

Thanks. Yeah we had a theory that perhaps they ran into some kind of performance issue somewhere, and did this off loading thing, but, its not a good thing. With some adjustments you can probably use the single 5232 NVR with the 32 Channels it can allegedly handle.

 

[Revo2Maxx]

As I said on the first site you posted this to, There is a lot of things going on in that setup. Asked what the second NVR was and wasn't posted? Last you mentioned that you were going to the site and would know more.

If the NVR you are talking about is the 4108-2tb that is a much older NVR and only supports lower value MP cameras. Where the 5232E-16P is a newer 4k NVR and with that info my guess is they setup the first NVR years ago and was going to move all the cameras over to the 32ch NVR.. However if the 4108 2tb is really a 4108-A2 2tb then that is a newer NVR and would have support for AI cameras. Then the cameras you mention here and didn't there. could be AI and that is why they are on the A2 if in fact that was an A2 NVR.. Then that would be the 2 reasons that there might be multi NVR setup.. I mean I have 5 NVRs running in my network but then I am not normal lol.. Used to be on some of my NVRs Ai was one way or the other. meaning if I wanted IVS I could not run face Detection. So had to have more then 1 NVR or Recorder for different reasons..

Then the 1179 it will depend on what version of that your client has. Or if they had installed a Different FW on it and it is now working as the newer version 1179 in AI mode.. The Older 5232 wasn't Ai and the newer E1 is.. So if the 4108E is an older non HS or non A2 then it is only 5mp max and would have to look at mine as they might have been 4mp.. been a while.. If it was an HS or A2 then is 4k for HS and 4k for A2 with Ai support.. The older 5232E-16P does have Bridge mode if enabled in the Network page of the NVR.. Then it don't even need a pass around cable..

 

[RJ74]

As I said on the first site you posted this to, There is a lot of things going on in that setup. Asked what the second NVR was and wasn't posted? Last you mentioned that you were going to the site and would know more.

If the NVR you are talking about is the 4108-2tb that is a much older NVR and only supports lower value MP cameras. Where the 5232E-16P is a newer 4k NVR and with that info my guess is they setup the first NVR years ago and was going to move all the cameras over to the 32ch NVR.. However if the 4108 2tb is really a 4108-A2 2tb then that is a newer NVR and would have support for AI cameras. Then the cameras you mention here and didn't there. could be AI and that is why they are on the A2 if in fact that was an A2 NVR.. Then that would be the 2 reasons that there might be multi NVR setup.. I mean I have 5 NVRs running in my network but then I am not normal lol.. Used to be on some of my NVRs Ai was one way or the other. meaning if I wanted IVS I could not run face Detection. So had to have more then 1 NVR or Recorder for different reasons..

Then the 1179 it will depend on what version of that your client has. Or if they had installed a Different FW on it and it is now working as the newer version 1179 in AI mode.. The Older 5232 wasn't Ai and the newer E1 is.. So if the 4108E is an older non HS or non A2 then it is only 5mp max and would have to look at mine as they might have been 4mp.. been a while.. If it was an HS or A2 then is 4k for HS and 4k for A2 with Ai support.. The older 5232E-16P does have Bridge mode if enabled in the Network page of the NVR.. Then it don't even need a pass around cable..

Thanks for the reply.

What would be your suggestion?

 

[Revo2Maxx]

What I would do?
Confirm what the 8-channel NVR is.
Determine which cameras are currently working on that NVR.
Once this is known, we can better assess the next steps.

Regarding the 5232 NVR
I am not currently local to my 5232 NVR, as I move my NVRs around in the winter.
The current firmware does support Bridge Mode, which essentially turns the Amcrest 16 PoE ports into standard PoE ports.
This means the ports will adopt the regular network IP scheme, but power output remains unchanged.
While this allows the NVR to power non-camera PoE devices, that’s not the intended use case here.

Understanding Pass-Through Configurations
Some users set up a VLAN where cameras connect via a star topology instead of direct home runs to the NVR.
Instead of running multiple cables back to the NVR, a switch is used to consolidate multiple camera feeds over a single cable.
I didn’t experiment with this on the 5232, but it could work similarly—e.g., a single cable into NVR Port 5 supporting cameras on Ports 5-8.
If the switch is dedicated to cameras only, it allows direct access to the cameras' web UI without needing the NVR’s Virtual Host feature.

Confirming the 4108 NVR and Camera Setup
Identify whether the NVR is a 4108E-A2 or an older 4108E model.
If it’s the older version, consider removing it from service (or keeping it as a backup).
If it’s the newer A2, determine its current role in the setup.

Camera Model Considerations
The 2779 is an excellent budget AI camera, great for Person Detection and NVR-based recognition when properly mounted. This camera is UNDER PRICED IMHO!
The 1179 cameras need verification:
Many older models were flashed with Dahua firmware to enable AI.
Newer versions from Amcrest have AI natively.
Need to check firmware/version to confirm capabilities.

Testing & Mapping the Cameras
Determine if the cameras are wired in a home run setup (direct to the NVR) or through a switch.
Test the NVR’s PoE ports to ensure they provide power.
If any PoE ports are damaged, they may still receive data but won’t provide power.
This could explain why some cameras are rerouted through an external switch instead of directly connected to the NVR.
This keeps everything structured while keeping your original intent and key details intact.

 

[RJ74]

What I would do?
Confirm what the 8-channel NVR is.
Determine which cameras are currently working on that NVR.
Once this is known, we can better assess the next steps.

Regarding the 5232 NVR
I am not currently local to my 5232 NVR, as I move my NVRs around in the winter.
The current firmware does support Bridge Mode, which essentially turns the Amcrest 16 PoE ports into standard PoE ports.
This means the ports will adopt the regular network IP scheme, but power output remains unchanged.
While this allows the NVR to power non-camera PoE devices, that’s not the intended use case here.

Understanding Pass-Through Configurations
Some users set up a VLAN where cameras connect via a star topology instead of direct home runs to the NVR.
Instead of running multiple cables back to the NVR, a switch is used to consolidate multiple camera feeds over a single cable.
I didn’t experiment with this on the 5232, but it could work similarly—e.g., a single cable into NVR Port 5 supporting cameras on Ports 5-8.
If the switch is dedicated to cameras only, it allows direct access to the cameras' web UI without needing the NVR’s Virtual Host feature.

Confirming the 4108 NVR and Camera Setup
Identify whether the NVR is a 4108E-A2 or an older 4108E model.
If it’s the older version, consider removing it from service (or keeping it as a backup).
If it’s the newer A2, determine its current role in the setup.

Camera Model Considerations
The 2779 is an excellent budget AI camera, great for Person Detection and NVR-based recognition when properly mounted. This camera is UNDER PRICED IMHO!
The 1179 cameras need verification:
Many older models were flashed with Dahua firmware to enable AI.
Newer versions from Amcrest have AI natively.
Need to check firmware/version to confirm capabilities.

Testing & Mapping the Cameras
Determine if the cameras are wired in a home run setup (direct to the NVR) or through a switch.
Test the NVR’s PoE ports to ensure they provide power.
If any PoE ports are damaged, they may still receive data but won’t provide power.
This could explain why some cameras are rerouted through an external switch instead of directly connected to the NVR.
This keeps everything structured while keeping your original intent and key details intact.

Thanks for the awesome reply!

NV4801E-2TB (V4.000, Build 2022)
NV5232E-16P (V4.002, Build 2022)

The 4 cameras connected to the 4801 are all 5M-T1179E
The 25 Cameras on the 5232\+ the TP Link Switch are mainly 1179s but there are 2 or 3 that are 8M-2779E-AI

Ultimately, we want to map this all out for them, create some documentation, label the cabling and connections, use up the 32 channels on the 5232E with the single NVR and the switch, and remove the 4108E or use it on something else or for expansion. Then drop two 10Tb drives in the single NVR and hopefully call it a day

 

[Revo2Maxx]

Thoughts on the NVR Setup
Based on the build dates you provided, you're working with an older 5232E-16P (same model I have) running the 2022 firmware. The 4108 you mentioned appears to be the A2 model, which does have AI capabilities.

If the current four cameras are already configured for AI on the 4108-A2, then it makes sense to keep it in play rather than moving them elsewhere. The only alternative would be upgrading the 5232E-16P to the 5232E-16P-E1, but that’s not necessarily a great option. While the E1 model does introduce AI support, it only allows limited AI channels, so the benefit might not outweigh the cost.

Recommended Approach
Keep the 4108-A2 handling AI cameras as AI.
If AI is enabled, the 2779 is likely used for Face Detection, while the 1179 might be set up for IVS.
With a clearer picture of what the NVRs are doing, the best course is to leave them as they are unless a specific issue arises.
Camera & NVR Capacity Considerations
The setup includes 29 cameras, which is a fairly large number for a non-business environment. Not many people run that many cameras—except for those of us who are a little more… dedicated!
My AI hardware setup includes:
DVRs: 7108-AI, 5108-I3 (both 8MP analog AI)
NVRs: 4108-A2, 4216E-AI, 4216-E1 (all AI-capable Amcrest models)
Other Amcrest NVRs: 4108E-HS, 4116E-HS
Currently in use at home: 4216-E1, 4116E-HS, 4108-A2, 5108-I3, and my 16-channel Alibi AI PoE NVR
Other locations: A mix of Amcrest DVRs/NVRs and some Hikvision/OEM DVR & devices
At this point, the focus should be on verifying the camera configurations/Map and ensuring each NVR is handling the right functions efficiently.

Cameras going offline could be caused by network issues, such as cabling problems or switch failures. However, it could also be related to the hard drive.
Since the 5232 is an older model, it’s important to check the HDD’s age and health. If the status doesn’t show “Good”, it should be replaced. Also, it’s best not to let the hard drive reach full capacity and enter overwrite mode, as this can lead to potential issues.
As a precaution, I always format my HDD when it reaches 90% full to avoid problems. The only NVR I’ve had run for four years without HDD issues is the 4116E-HS, which was set to overwrite in a remote location. Other systems have experienced some form of HDD trouble over time, so regular maintenance is important.

 

[RJ74]

Thoughts on the NVR Setup
Based on the build dates you provided, you're working with an older 5232E-16P (same model I have) running the 2022 firmware. The 4108 you mentioned appears to be the A2 model, which does have AI capabilities.

If the current four cameras are already configured for AI on the 4108-A2, then it makes sense to keep it in play rather than moving them elsewhere. The only alternative would be upgrading the 5232E-16P to the 5232E-16P-E1, but that’s not necessarily a great option. While the E1 model does introduce AI support, it only allows limited AI channels, so the benefit might not outweigh the cost.

Recommended Approach
Keep the 4108-A2 handling AI cameras as AI.
If AI is enabled, the 2779 is likely used for Face Detection, while the 1179 might be set up for IVS.
With a clearer picture of what the NVRs are doing, the best course is to leave them as they are unless a specific issue arises.
Camera & NVR Capacity Considerations
The setup includes 29 cameras, which is a fairly large number for a non-business environment. Not many people run that many cameras—except for those of us who are a little more… dedicated!
My AI hardware setup includes:
DVRs: 7108-AI, 5108-I3 (both 8MP analog AI)
NVRs: 4108-A2, 4216E-AI, 4216-E1 (all AI-capable Amcrest models)
Other Amcrest NVRs: 4108E-HS, 4116E-HS
Currently in use at home: 4216-E1, 4116E-HS, 4108-A2, 5108-I3, and my 16-channel Alibi AI PoE NVR
Other locations: A mix of Amcrest DVRs/NVRs and some Hikvision/OEM DVR & devices
At this point, the focus should be on verifying the camera configurations/Map and ensuring each NVR is handling the right functions efficiently.

Cameras going offline could be caused by network issues, such as cabling problems or switch failures. However, it could also be related to the hard drive.
Since the 5232 is an older model, it’s important to check the HDD’s age and health. If the status doesn’t show “Good”, it should be replaced. Also, it’s best not to let the hard drive reach full capacity and enter overwrite mode, as this can lead to potential issues.
As a precaution, I always format my HDD when it reaches 90% full to avoid problems. The only NVR I’ve had run for four years without HDD issues is the 4116E-HS, which was set to overwrite in a remote location. Other systems have experienced some form of HDD trouble over time, so regular maintenance is important.

Thanks - I also should mention this is a Business location and not a home. So that leads to a downtime issue if things are moved around or changed as well. They do want to add additional cameras to the building.

I also thought about just leaving it the way it is, since all the Cameras are up and running on both NVRs, now. Mysteries still exist...

 

[Revo2Maxx]

Well the 1179-AI-V3 for the cost is hard to beat. I mean the 2779 at just a few dollars over 100 is as I said Under priced for what it offers.. Seeing a business I am sure there will be some added needs and other cameras might be needed that will cost much more then the 2 already in play. However maybe crowd data or other needs are not found on the 2 cameras you mentioned. So yeah mapping out the cameras and use case would be next best steps. Get an idea of what other features they want and that will give better idea of what cameras they would need.. Even if you were to offer them some other Dahua or Empiretech brand that will work on the Amcrest NVRs just the same.