Problems upgrading firmware

[busterboy]

Can anyone shed any light as to why this firmware upgrade is failing please.

 

[wittaj]

It could be anything, from a non-genuine camera or a hacked region camera or the chipset is different (yes the same model camera may have different chipsets and firmware works on one and not another).

You really need to be asking yourself why are you updating? If it is just for grins and giggles or OCD behavior to be running the latest firmware, think twice.

A common theme around here is don't fix what ain't broke. If the unit is working and meets your needs, in many instances an update breaks what you had working and provides you with something you didn't need or bricks the camera. In most instances, updates are simply security vulnerability patches (usually years after the breach was found), but since we do not give our cameras internet access, the update is useless to us.

Unless the release notes specifically mention it fixing a problem you are experiencing, more than likely it won't fix an issue and may make the camera worse by removing functionality.

I am not sure about that camera firmware, but Hikvision has been preventing some firmware from being downgraded, so if it removes something you want, you will be out luck.

Here are issues I have seen people report here where they were upgrading just for the sake of upgrading:

• A Dahua Z12E that someone updated and then constantly reboots comes to mind.
• The Dahua 49225 and 49425 PTZ that loses autotracking with an update come to mind.
• The Hikvision DS-2DEA425IW-DW PTZ that loses autotracking with an update comes to mind.
• A Hikvision ANPR camera losing half the FPS and loses the ability to read US plates - those are big deals to have happen.
• A Hikvision ANPR DS-2CD4A26FWD camera that lost all ability to read plates - kinda makes the camera useless.
• A Hikvision camera that the user lost ability to control the LED light function at night.
• Hikvision DS-7616NI-Q2 NVR that has the APIs changed.
• A Hikvision wifi camera that loses the ability to use wifi after a firmware update.
• DH-DB61 Doorbell that loses API functionality.
• Hikvision iVM4200 v3.8 - loses the free ability to use the computer as storage.
• Dahua IPC-HFW1320S that started phoning home using 60MB/hr and costing someone thousands of dollars in data overages.
• Dahua 5442 that will not allow playback of the SD card.
• Countless other instances where the camera or NVR simply bricked and became useless.
• Countless examples where the camera or NVR went into Chinese.

Don't do it unless it is fixing a problem you are experiencing or adds a feature you really need.

Further, it is best to obtain any firmware updates from the vendor you purchased it from so that you do not run into issues. Any firmware you find here or elsewhere is obviously proceed at your own risk. We have many threads here where someone tried an update with a firmware they found on the internet and bricked their unit.

Many units being sold are Chinese hacked units into English that will either brick or go into Chinese upon updating. Some vendors will be upfront and tell consumers that as part of their website, but many do not or the consumer forgets

 

[busterboy]

It could be anything, from a non-genuine camera or a hacked region camera or the chipset is different (yes the same model camera may have different chipsets and firmware works on one and not another).

You really need to be asking yourself why are you updating? If it is just for grins and giggles or OCD behavior to be running the latest firmware, think twice.

A common theme around here is don't fix what ain't broke. If the unit is working and meets your needs, in many instances an update breaks what you had working and provides you with something you didn't need or bricks the camera. In most instances, updates are simply security vulnerability patches (usually years after the breach was found), but since we do not give our cameras internet access, the update is useless to us.

Unless the release notes specifically mention it fixing a problem you are experiencing, more than likely it won't fix an issue and may make the camera worse by removing functionality.

I am not sure about that camera firmware, but Hikvision has been preventing some firmware from being downgraded, so if it removes something you want, you will be out luck.

Here are issues I have seen people report here where they were upgrading just for the sake of upgrading:

• A Dahua Z12E that someone updated and then constantly reboots comes to mind.
• The Dahua 49225 and 49425 PTZ that loses autotracking with an update come to mind.
• The Hikvision DS-2DEA425IW-DW PTZ that loses autotracking with an update comes to mind.
• A Hikvision ANPR camera losing half the FPS and loses the ability to read US plates - those are big deals to have happen.
• A Hikvision ANPR DS-2CD4A26FWD camera that lost all ability to read plates - kinda makes the camera useless.
• A Hikvision camera that the user lost ability to control the LED light function at night.
• Hikvision DS-7616NI-Q2 NVR that has the APIs changed.
• A Hikvision wifi camera that loses the ability to use wifi after a firmware update.
• DH-DB61 Doorbell that loses API functionality.
• Hikvision iVM4200 v3.8 - loses the free ability to use the computer as storage.
• Dahua IPC-HFW1320S that started phoning home using 60MB/hr and costing someone thousands of dollars in data overages.
• Dahua 5442 that will not allow playback of the SD card.
• Countless other instances where the camera or NVR simply bricked and became useless.
• Countless examples where the camera or NVR went into Chinese.

Don't do it unless it is fixing a problem you are experiencing or adds a feature you really need.

Further, it is best to obtain any firmware updates from the vendor you purchased it from so that you do not run into issues. Any firmware you find here or elsewhere is obviously proceed at your own risk. We have many threads here where someone tried an update with a firmware they found on the internet and bricked their unit.

Many units being sold are Chinese hacked units into English that will either brick or go into Chinese upon updating. Some vendors will be upfront and tell consumers that as part of their website, but many do not or the consumer forgets

Thank you for your detailed reply.

Firstly I am in the camp of if manufacturers go to the trouble of developing new firmware for their product helping with the future of the said product then why not upgrade for many reasons.

I take on board your take on "If it isn't broke don't fix it" but as my camera is not a "Chinese Hacked" product and was purchased through a certified Hikvision retailer I presume there is no reason not to upgrade.

The camera is working without issues so as I quoted I don't know why I am getting this warning when trying to upgrade.

Thanks for your input though, all taken on board.

 

[wittaj]

Like I said even with same model they could have different firmware for different chipsets used during the life of that model.

Here is an example - the HFW3549T1-AS-PV is available in 2 versions of firmware across 3 different chipsets:

• HFW3549T1-AS-PV-S4 uses HX3XXX-Taurus firmware.
• HFW3549T1-AS-PV and IPC-HFW3549T1-AS-PV-S3 use HX5XXX-Volt firmware CMOS is OS05A

Ok, keep in mind that Hikvision had a PTZ camera with autotracking that they removed autotracking from the firmware because that cheaper camera was taking sales away from their higher costs PTZ...

Hikvision had a wifi camera that they removed wifi capability from it because of too many complaints that the wifi was iffy (well yeah if users are trying to go to far with wifi).

Hikvision had a license plate reader camera that they removed the ability to read USA plates because they were getting too many complaints that it wasn't accurate for US plates.

Just because they issued a firmware update doesn't mean it makes sense to employ...sometimes it is to remove functionality to stop getting complaint calls or to sell a higher priced product...

Maybe you update and you are fine, or maybe it updates and removes functionality that you were using...

It is best to obtain any firmware updates from the vendor you purchased it from so that you do not run into issues.

 

[trempa92]

You have non-C model of camera and trying to update to C-model firmware, its entirely different hardware due to last chip shortages.

New firmware structure is G5 while old camera model is G3.

If your camera model is 2047G2-LU NON-C, then firmware should be in G3 folder

5.5.800 Firmware that is a fix for RCE from last year. And its highly advisable to update if your camera is in the list of vulnerable devices from that CVE06-2021

https://www.hikvisioneurope.com/eu/portal/?dir=portal/Technical%20Materials/00%20%20Network%20Camera/00%20%20Product%20Firmware/G3%20platform%282XX6G2%203XX6G2%202XX7G2%202XX6G0%29/DS-2CD2XX6G2%2C2XX7G2%20Models/V5.5.800%20build210628

Hope it helps. Cheers

 

[wittaj]

^ Or conversely, if his camera is not touching the internet, then the vulnerability is a moot point.

 

[trempa92]

Regarding if its touching internet or not. His camera might not be an entrance to his network. But if someone get inside might exploit that RCE.

 

[wittaj]

If someone got that far, not sure they would even need to exploit that RCE?

 

[toastie]

Then there's the current shortage of chips coming out of China, because of covid itself and their response with lock downs in their attempt to contain the outbreaks.
It could be that they are using alternative chips in Chinese made cameras because all these shortages, and different chips can mean different firmware needed and released for download.

 

[trempa92]

That is something we do not want to assume in security branch. But rather prevent the possibility.

 

[Flintstone61]

 

[Flintstone61]

or this version

 

[DanDenver]

“why not upgrade”

Thoughts that in general do not apply to this particular area of concern. Broad sweeps of this philosophical approach do not necessarily apply to all things technical.

I know as I am technical and have learned this to be a valid point.