Help me solve the mystery of the magic black box!

[PeterFinderup]

Greetings!
My wife and I just bought a house. The previous owners had a small business thus had installed some security sensors along with a few cameras.
The previous owner used SmartPSS (a windows program to access the cameras through a magic black box in our garage. I call it magic because I know nothing about it. It might be a Dahua DVR (based on info inside SmartPSS) – but I’m not sure. There is no name, number or anything. See pictures (sorry about the bad quality). All cameras are wired into the magic black box, so they don’t have individual IP addresses.

Here comes my problem.

I don’t have a windows server running in my house. However, I do have a Synology server DS218+. It has an application called surveillance center, which solves all my needs. (schedule alarms, events, record 24/7 etc.).
Unfortunately, I can’t see the cameras from the Synology platform. It searches for feeds on an IP address, but when I provide the IP from the black box, it returns empty.
As I don’t know anything about the magic black box, I can’t confirm if it works together with my Synology server. So my options as I see them:

• Could it be a firewall issue? I would say no, as both server and black box is wired to the home network.
• Get a new magic box, which is supported by Synology.
• Run a virtual machine on my Synology, which then runs Smart PSS
• Get a windows server running – which is stupid as I already have a Synology.

Do any of you have an idea to point me in a direction. Any input is greatly appreciated

Regards
Peter

 

[bigredfish]

Would be helpful if we could see the back of the magic black box where the magic cables connect to it, but it looks to be a Dahua DVR. Most likely analog (HDCVI) cameras

If I’m correct the cameras aren’t IP based and won’t have individual IP addresses. All decoding is done by the magic box.

I have no experience with Synology but perhaps someone else can help from there.

Dahua makes a wide range of analog HDCVI cameras if you should decide to stay with that. Some are very good and rival IP cameras. However most will advise you to start over with IP cameras.

 

[mat200]

Greetings!
My wife and I just bought a house. The previous owners had a small business thus had installed some security sensors along with a few cameras.
The previous owner used SmartPSS (a windows program to access the cameras through a magic black box in our garage. I call it magic because I know nothing about it. It might be a Dahua DVR (based on info inside SmartPSS) – but I’m not sure. There is no name, number or anything. See pictures (sorry about the bad quality). All cameras are wired into the magic black box, so they don’t have individual IP addresses.

Here comes my problem.

I don’t have a windows server running in my house. However, I do have a Synology server DS218+. It has an application called surveillance center, which solves all my needs. (schedule alarms, events, record 24/7 etc.).
Unfortunately, I can’t see the cameras from the Synology platform. It searches for feeds on an IP address, but when I provide the IP from the black box, it returns empty.
As I don’t know anything about the magic black box, I can’t confirm if it works together with my Synology server. So my options as I see them:

• Could it be a firewall issue? I would say no, as both server and black box is wired to the home network.
• Get a new magic box, which is supported by Synology.
• Run a virtual machine on my Synology, which then runs Smart PSS
• Get a windows server running – which is stupid as I already have a Synology.

Do any of you have an idea to point me in a direction. Any input is greatly appreciated

Regards
Peter

Do you have the user / password to the magic box?

The Magic box clearly looks like a DVR, and from the software he used - SmartPSS, I would expect it to be a Dahua OEM DVR.

 

[PeterFinderup]

Thanks for the reply. I got a ladder and was able to produce a few pictures in better quality.

@mat200: I can attach a hdmi cabel to the black box, which gives me a 3x3 picture of the camera feeds. I might have the user / password but I'm not sure where I can log in. If I run to the localhost address I just get a blank screen. My network can clearly see the device - but it does not provide an login API. See picture

 

[bigredfish]

Clearly an analog DVR and as mentioned very likely Dahua.

Assuming the local network is 192.168.0.x and youre on that network, try using IE to hit that page.

 

[area651]

There is (typically) a serial number and model number somewhere on that box. I'm guessing you don't have enough slack in the cables to pull it out an look? It looks like its super close to the ceiling so its difficult to look on the bottom

 

[bp2008]

Yeah based on the error message in your javascript console, the DVR is most likely expecting to be accessed through Internet Explorer. You may even need to use IE's dev tools to choose IE 7 or 8 compatibility mode. And a plugin will need to be installed. HOPEFULLY the DVR gives you that plugin when you connect to it with IE.

I'd avoid paying synology money for camera licenses. Get a cheap used windows workstation from ebay (Choosing Hardware for Blue Iris has some good search links) and you can run smartPSS on it, and perhaps later Blue Iris.

 

[mat200]

Hook up a monitor and mouse to the system... if you know the use / password you should be able to login

 

[PeterFinderup]

#Update! - Partly success!

I tried to use Internet Explorer (not edge) and was promted by a script. It was denied due to security reasons, but with the help of Google, I managed to disable script security, and run it.
I was presented with a login screen - and with brute force (2 tries) did it accept me.

I now know the following:


There is a config menu:


Now the next problem. For instance - I can see that the HDD is full:


That doesn't sound so healthy.

Where do I find a manual for this API. I tried to search on the S/N number, but didn't find anything useful. I tried to search for dahua web api, but that doesn't resemble my own interface.

Does anyone have a great idea how I can find a manual for this web service? Can any of you point me in a direction?

 

[IAmATeaf]

Some NVRs initialise and then take over the entire disk, so it reporting that there is no feee space might be ok.

 

[bigredfish]

My HD's on my NVRs all show full. They continually write over top of the old data as they fill up.

 

[bigredfish]

Are you saying that Config menu is a snapshot from the IE browser interface of the DVR?

Show us a pic of the screen you get once logged in via IE

 

[PeterFinderup]

@bigredfish - here you go. If they are called Web Service they should consider changing their name

 

[bigredfish]

Is tat the Config tab?

 

[IAmATeaf]

What does the About tab tell you?

 

[looney2ns]

Bios date of 2011, That puppy is a certified antique by todays standards.

 

[jon2]

you probaly won't get much info the way your logging in using a web browser .i have one the same as you . mine is a older dahua dvr the web browsers gives the same info your seeing . you really need to plug the dvr into either a tv or monitor and use the same login details to get to the dvr menu properly. if its a dahua the username and password maybe one of these if the one you have does not work. other details might be on the bottom of the dvr,
admin...admin
888888...888888
666666..666666

 

[PeterFinderup]

Thanks for all the feedback! I ordered a few new cables which should enable me to hook up a monitor + keyboard to the box.

 

[jon2]

do you have cameras already connected to the dvr if yes what is the picture like. is it 1020p or 720p.