HIK NVR and Cameras offline

[Chip]

Hi. I found invaluable help here previously and hope you can assist again. I have searched other threads but cannot find a solution (that I understand!)

I have 8 HIK cameras with 3 connected directly into the NVR and 5 that are connected via a remote PoE switch at the end of the garden. I cannot view any of them via the HIK Connect app - they are all showing as offline as is the NVR. However, I can view the 3 connected directly to the NVR via VGA/HDMI only.

We have recently changed ISP and the problem has arisen once the system was powered down for the first time since the switch, so I wonder if it is a IP address issue that's occurred with the reboot.

Attached are screenshots of the NVR and remote PoE switch IP config and SADP tool as well as pictures of the cameras config via the NVR VGA/HDMI.

Many, many thanks in advance

Chip

 

[sportster]

Yes, it appears there's a significant IP Addressing screw up, probably triggered by a router mis-configuration or change. e.g. some devices using DHCP and other devices using static IP addresses. Mixing the two strategies usually results in a headache whenever a router gets swapped out.

A few things need better understanding:

• I assume you want the router, NVR LAN port, and the external POE switch all inter-connected & all on the 192.168.1.xxx network. Correct ?
• it appears the NVR is NOT cabled via the LAN port to the external POE switch. You need to address/fix (or comment on) this.
• post a screenshot from the router's IP Address web page AND the DHCP Pool configuration web page. (might be the same web page or not) Router seems to be on the 192.168.68.xxx network, which seems odd. I'm guessing you really want the router on the 192.168.1.xxx network.

And eventually:

• the IPv4 Gateway on the 5 cameras is all over the map. When the above gets sorted, you should consider changing the Gateway address on the 5 cameras to 0.0.0.0 (thus no access to the external internet) or whatever final IP Address of the router is, such as 192.168.1.1

 

[Chip]

Yes, it appears there's a significant IP Addressing screw up, probably triggered by a router mis-configuration or change. e.g. some devices using DHCP and other devices using static IP addresses. Mixing the two strategies usually results in a headache whenever a router gets swapped out.

A few things need better understanding:

• I assume you want the router, NVR LAN port, and the external POE switch all inter-connected & all on the 192.168.1.xxx network. Correct ?
• it appears the NVR is NOT cabled via the LAN port to the external POE switch. You need to address/fix (or comment on) this.
• post a screenshot from the router's IP Address web page AND the DHCP Pool configuration web page. (might be the same web page or not) Router seems to be on the 192.168.68.xxx network, which seems odd. I'm guessing you really want the router on the 192.168.1.xxx network.

And eventually:

• the IPv4 Gateway on the 5 cameras is all over the map. When the above gets sorted, you should consider changing the Gateway address on the 5 cameras to 0.0.0.0 (thus no access to the external internet) or whatever final IP Address of the router is, such as 192.168.1.1

Hi @sportster

Many thanks for your reply - hopefully this will make sense!

Previously the cameras on the external POE switch were on the 192.168.1.xxx network and the cameras directly into the NVR were on the 192.168.125.x network. These were set up with the help of Dan a while ago on this forum (and everything then worked fine). I’m not sure what is best, but as long as they work I don’t have a preference as to what uses what (I’ll be guided by you)

The cabling set up is a complex one. Our ISP is Vodafone. From that we have a TP Link Deco mesh system for WiFi in the house, although the cabled connection to the NVR is from the Vodafone router. There is then also another cable from the Vodafone router that runs down to the garage and into the POE switch (there is also an AMPLIFI mesh network in the garage but the POE is cabled from the Vodafone house router.) I have attached screenshots from both (although i presume the Deco screenshots aren’t relevant?) This has always been the case and until the change of ISP and power-down, all worked without issue.

I’m really grateful for your help so please let me know (preferably as if you’re speaking to an idiot) as to what I need to do

Chip

 

[sportster]

I'll quickly concede you have me thoroughly confused as to what's going on.

I don't know the Vodaphone router, but it's seems it's a normal household class router.

• 192.168.1.xxx appears to be the primary network.... and the Vodaphone serves DHCP Clients with 192.168.1.2 --> 200
• any WiFi devices connected to the SSID of the Vodaphone would get an IP Address in the 192.168.1.xxx network
• 192.168.125.xxx appears to be the network for the NVR POE ports
• all ok so far

Outstanding questions:

• why does the NVR NOTsee the 5 cameras connected to the external POE switch ? Is there something cabled wrong here ?
  • I'd suggest - plug a laptop/PC into a Vodaphone ethernet port & run the SADP Tool again. SADP should find the NVR + the 5 cameras on the external POE switch. This needs to be sorted before proceeding further.
  • if this reveals nothing, the post clear pictures of:
    • screenshot from SADP Tool
    • cables plugged into Vodaphone
    • cables pluggerd into NVR
• then the 192.168.68.xxx network is a question mark, since I'm unaware how that network plays into your scenario. Where's the router for the 192.168.68.xxx network ? With no router, 192.168.68.xxx is an isolated network. Is there some other device doing NAT & thus double NAT to get to the external internet ? Maybe the 192.168.68.xxx network is irrelevant & I can ignore this network..... but color me confused on this one. !

 

[Chip]

I'll quickly concede you have me thoroughly confused as to what's going on.

I don't know the Vodaphone router, but it's seems it's a normal household class router.

• 192.168.1.xxx appears to be the primary network.... and the Vodaphone serves DHCP Clients with 192.168.1.2 --> 200
• any WiFi devices connected to the SSID of the Vodaphone would get an IP Address in the 192.168.1.xxx network
• 192.168.125.xxx appears to be the network for the NVR POE ports
• all ok so far

Outstanding questions:

• why does the NVR NOTsee the 5 cameras connected to the external POE switch ? Is there something cabled wrong here ?
  • I'd suggest - plug a laptop/PC into a Vodaphone ethernet port & run the SADP Tool again. SADP should find the NVR + the 5 cameras on the external POE switch. This needs to be sorted before proceeding further.
  • if this reveals nothing, the post clear pictures of:
    • screenshot from SADP Tool
    • cables plugged into Vodaphone
    • cables pluggerd into NVR
• then the 192.168.68.xxx network is a question mark, since I'm unaware how that network plays into your scenario. Where's the router for the 192.168.68.xxx network ? With no router, 192.168.68.xxx is an isolated network. Is there some other device doing NAT & thus double NAT to get to the external internet ? Maybe the 192.168.68.xxx network is irrelevant & I can ignore this network..... but color me confused on this one. !

Many thanks again for the reply and suggestions - apologies for the delay, I have put my back out and have been laying on a hard floor dosed up to the eye balls with morphine since Sunday - so I'm hoping this is at least coherent!

I have only done point one of the above (mainly because I am in agony / semi delirious and with you suggesting only doing the further points if nothing was found) but plugging a laptop into the main Vodafone router and running the SADP tool finds the attached, - which I believe are the 5 cameras connected via the external POE switch. So, as I understand it, these are the same 5 it finds when I run the SADP tool in the external POE switch itself.

The NVR and the 3 cameras connected directly into that are only found on the SADP tool when I plug the laptop into the NVR itself.

Once again, any help, guidance or suggestions is very welcome and thank you for your patience. It is very appreciated.

Chip

 

[Chip]

Apologies, I couldn't seem to edit the last post to attach the screenshot

 

[sportster]

Sorry to hear you're laid up. Fingers crossed you have a quick recovery.

I'm bad, in my earlier post, I should have used the phrase --> if this reveals nothing NEW.... <-- Anyway, no problem. We continue to work the problem.

ok.... this smells like a networking 101 issue. As best I can tell:

• SADP is working fine and doing a normal multicast "broadcast" looking for HIK devices.
• SADP is not listing (or finding) the NVR and the 5 cameras at the identical time. This tells me the NVR LAN port & the 5 cameras are not in the same broadcast domain.
• the 5 cameras are inter-connected with the Vodaphone router via some cabling and the external POE switch. This is business as usual, and appeas to be a-ok.
  • the gateway on each of the 5 cameras still needs to be fixed, but that can be done much later in this troubleshooting process

I suspect:

• the NVR LAN port is (or at least appears to be) cabled incorrectly, or
• the cable is outright faulty, or
• the NVR LAN port is dead
• failing any of the above, then the Vodaphone is doing something unusual..... to be determined.

For now, I'll assume the NVR LAN port is cabled incorrectly. Thus the fix is:

• the NVR LAN port must be cabled "directly" into either:
  • a spare port in the external POE switch, or
  • a spare port in the Vodaphone router.
• your choice which one, but I assume the preference would be --> cable the NVR LAN port to a spare port on the Vodaphone router.
• do NOT disconnect the external POE switch from the Vodaphone router

Should my comments not match whatever cabling you have going on..... then I'd suggest:

• post clear pictures of:
  • all cables plugged into Vodaphone
  • all cables pluggerd into NVR
• and be sure to identify which cable is plugged into what device

 

[Chip]

Thanks for the reply and suggestions - hopefully I can explain what is now what. Before I do however, the way the system and house is cabled hasn't been changed so even though, obviously, there are issues now everything worked fine previously.

The NVR is situated quite some distance from the Vodafone router. Over the years we have added 2 extensions so cabling and networking has been a bit of a challenge. As it stood, a very long cable was run from the router into a switch that is situated in a "media cupboard" at the other end of the house (see photo). This switch then fed ethernet points in every room. A cable then ran from one of the switch ports into the LAN port in the NVR. As mentioned, this has worked fine for the last 7 years with no problems.

The picture of the router - the cables plugged into it are the DSL cable in, the landline cable out and in the ports are

1) the cable into a TP Link Deco extender
2) the cable that runs down the garden into the POE switch in the garage
3) the cable that runs the length of the house which previously went into the ethernet switch but now goes directly into the NVR

Following your suggestions above, I have now plugged the cable from the router into the NVR LAN port (and have run a cable from a spare NVR port into the ethernet switch box so the ethernet points throughout the house still work).

This has resulted in me now being able to view the 3 cameras connected into the NVR via the HIK connect app and the SADP tool is now showing the attached 6 items (which I presume is the NVR itself and the 5 cameras connected to the POE switch?)

Even though the 5 cameras that are connected to the POE switch still aren't viewable via the HIK connect app, if I try to open one of them to view, although there is an error message saying the device is offline, the date and timestamp in the top left corner is that of when I have tried to view it (see attached)

Again, many thanks for your time and I welcome any more advice (and apologies again for any mistakes, omissions or misunderstandings from my medicated state!)

 

[sportster]

Based off those pictures, I'm surprised (shocked) that those household Ethernet ports still work ! My guess is they don't.... but I'm not there to see what else is going on.

ok.... so there's another Ethernet switch in the "media cupboard". We can deal with it.

Step 1 - NVR's POE ports

• ONLY the 3 cameras should be plugged in the NVR's POE ports.... I assume you're using ports 1,2, & 3.
• therefore NVR POE ports 4-16 should be blank (aka NOT populated). Get rid of those cables in ports 8 and 16. (unless you're using Port 16 for a temporary laptop connection so you can run the SADP Tool)

Step 2 - NVR LAN port

I'm seeing 2 options:

• plug the NVR LAN port directly into a Vodafone "yellow" port

OR

• plug the NVR LAN port directly into this "media cupboard" Ethernet switch. If this option fails, either the cabling is bad (between the Vodafone & this switch) OR the switch is bad.

Step 3 - Media Cupboard switch

• there should be a cable from this switch that is plugged directly into a "yellow" port on the Vodafone
• normally most switches have a dedicated uplink port. Use that port if there is one. What brand & model is this switch ?

Step 4 - Vodafone

• what's plugged into that RED port ?
• the Vodafone manuals I see online don't talk about this RED port, so I don't know exactly how Vodafone treats this port. Looks like a WAN port, but ?
• I'd suggest this RED port be left blank.
• your path to the Internet is via the DSL cable, isn't it ?

Hopefully, the above addresses the issues you're dealing with..... and I haven't overlooked anything.

When done, a laptop (with the SADP Tool) connected to the Vodafone network should still see the NVR + the 5 cameras connected to the garden POE switch.

And if you (temporarily) plug a laptop into a NVR POE port, you should only see the NVR + the 3 other cameras.

 

[Chip]

Ok - hopefully I can address and make sense to the points you raise

All of the Ethernet ports in the house do currently work - is there a reason you think they wouldn’t?

1) previously only the 3 ports were used on the NVR for the 3 cameras connected directly. In the picture one of the additional cables was into the laptop for the SADP tool

2) there is only one cable that runs from the yellow Vodafone port to that end of the house (it’s probably a 30m run) and so previously the cable from the yellow Vodafone port connected into the switch and then there was a cable from the switch into the LAN port. This was always the set up and that had worked fine for the last 8 years or so. It was only this afternoon that I plugged the Vodafone yellow cable directly into the NVR LAN port (and then needed a cable from one of the POE ports into the switch to power the Ethernet ports around the house. It was at this point that on the HIK connect app that the NVR showed as online and 3 cameras became viewable.

3) as above, the Vodafone yellow port cable is (and always was) plugged into the media cupboard switch. I will double check the make / model (I’m not in a fit state to climb into the cupboard at the moment so will need someone’s assistance) but attached is a screenshot of the listing from when I bought it

4) the red port on the Vodafone router is the cable that travels down to the garage that goes directly into the external POE switch. I vaguely remember this was the only port that would get the switch to work and there were, previously, no other spare ports to use. But again, once the other half is home I will get help moving that across if you think that would help. The connection into the router from the wall socket is via the DSL cable

So, if I’m correct, the only thing that needs to be done differently is the moving of the cable in the red port? But as that is just the connection down to the garage and has always worked before, I’m confused as to why it would cause an issue now?

I will let you know the make of the switch and whether moving the cable from the red port makes any difference once I have assistance but thought I’d send this in the meantime in case it helps with anything else you can think of

Thank you so much again for your ongoing help, kindness and patience!

 

[Chip]

I should also have said that as per my previous post and screenshots of the SADP tool, I DO see the NVR and 3 cameras when temporarily plugged into an NVR port and also see the NVR and 5 cameras when plugged into the Vodafone router. The issue now is I can only view the 3 that are directly plugged into the NVR on the HIK app. The other 5 show as offline although as per the screenshot earlier, the date and time I try to view them is correct in the top lefthand corner.

 

[sportster]

All of the Ethernet ports in the house do currently work - is there a reason you think they wouldn’t?

In the altered pic I've attached...... the cable marked in RED is a problem. That RED marked cable forms an inter-switch link between the Vodafone network and the NVR's POE network. You don't want this. If the ports were active (yes I see the ports seem inactive in the pic) IP traffic would transverse from the NVR POE ports to the Vodafone network and vice versa. Not a good thing. A problem just waiting to happen. Get rid of that cable.

But you indicate there's another cable, which is the inter-link connection between the Vodafone and the media cupboard Ethernet switch...... which is why the household ports continued to work. I hadn't anticipated this 2nd inter-link connection when I claimed I didn't think those ports were working. My mistake.

The cable marked in "yellow" is (as I understand it) the temporary cable used by your laptop & SADP Tool to see the 3 cameras on the NVR's POE ports. That cable is ok.

It's going to take awhille to digest & answer your other 4 questions / comments.

 

[sportster]

1) previously only the 3 ports were used on the NVR for the 3 cameras connected directly. In the picture one of the additional cables was into the laptop for the SADP tool

ok, we are on the same page.

2) there is only one cable that runs from the yellow Vodafone port to that end of the house (it’s probably a 30m run) and so previously the cable from the yellow Vodafone port connected into the switch and then there was a cable from the switch into the LAN port. This was always the set up and that had worked fine for the last 8 years or so.

I think this is precisely where we want to get back to.

It was only this afternoon that I plugged the Vodafone yellow cable directly into the NVR LAN port (and then needed a cable from one of the POE ports into the switch to power the Ethernet ports around the house. It was at this point that on the HIK connect app that the NVR showed as online and 3 cameras became viewable.

As I said in my earlier post, that RED marked cable I highlighted must be removed. I'm not proficient enough in HIK-Connect to comment on it's behavior. I'm just trying to get your networks working. If your networks work correctly, then HIK-Connect should fall into place.

3) as above, the Vodafone yellow port cable is (and always was) plugged into the media cupboard switch. I will double check the make / model (I’m not in a fit state to climb into the cupboard at the moment so will need someone’s assistance) but attached is a screenshot of the listing from when I bought it

ok, we are on the same page. If I know the make & model I can look up the specs & confirm there isn't other BS going on in the switch that I'm not anticipating.

4) the red port on the Vodafone router is the cable that travels down to the garage that goes directly into the external POE switch. I vaguely remember this was the only port that would get the switch to work and there were, previously, no other spare ports to use. But again, once the other half is home I will get help moving that across if you think that would help. The connection into the router from the wall socket is via the DSL cable

the initial problem, as I understood it, the NVR wasn't seeing the 5 cameras. The 5 cameras are connected to the RED port. The NVR was connected via a switch to the YELLOW port. SO........ is the Vodafone isolating multicast broadcast traffic, such that all IP traffic is not flowing between the YELLOW & RED ports and vice versa ???? This is the mystery question. If I had the unit in my hands, give me 5 minutes and I'd know.... but I don't have that unit in house. Thus I'm attempting to have you NOT use the RED port and only use the YELLOW ports on the Vodafone...... and see what changes, if anything.

If nothing improves, then my next thought is the media cupboard switch is just too slow in forwarding IP traffic..... but I don't wish to go there yet.

So, if I’m correct, the only thing that needs to be done differently is the moving of the cable in the red port?

Correct, move the cable from the RED / WAN port to an empty YELLOW port...... plus one other thing....... you need to get rid of that extra cable I highlighted in RED in the earlier pic.

But as that is just the connection down to the garage and has always worked before, I’m confused as to why it would cause an issue now?

you swapped out the router for a new router, didn't you ? Did the old router behave differently ? I don't know. That's what I/we are trying to figure out.

 

[Chip]

Afternoon

That cable marked in red was only there as a temporary measure to see if that worked. Usually the Vodafone cable went into the switch and then from the switch a cable went into the NVR LAN port. I also did what you suggested re the ports / cables in the router but still had the same issue.

However, all that being said I decided to try plugging the cable from the Vodafone router directly into the NVR LAN and bypassing the switch (basically leaving it redundant). After a few hours, every camera has come back online. I am still confused because when I do plug the router cable back into the switch (the set up that has worked fine for the last 8 years) all the Ethernet points around the house work but the cameras go offline - implying the switch itself is fine.

So for the time being I will leave the switch uncabled / unconnected so the cameras work and will buy another one next week.

Thanks again for all your help, it really is appreciated and should the new switch cause the same issue I may call upon your expertise again (if I may)!

 

[sportster]

No problem. It's your system. You got to do what works for you.

From my remote location, until proven otherwise, I'm still of the opinion that the RED/WAN port on the Vodafone is messing with us, and for a DSL installation like yours, this RED/WAN port is not to be used. But hey what do I know I'm just trying to work the problem.

Vodafone's documentation (that I could find online) provides zero information on how this port "really" works.... so here we are.

One scenario you might consider:

Test Case 1

• with the NVR cabled to a YELLOW port and the 5 external cameras cabled to the RED/WAN port, are all 5 cameras showing a LIVE VIEW correctly ?
• login to the NVR via your web browser on your laptop to verify that LIVE VIEW is working on all 5 cameras.

Test Case 2

• if Test Case 1 worked perfectly, swap the cables.
• cable the NVR to the RED/WAN port and the 5 external cameras to the YELLOW port.
• then re-boot the NVR.
• if all is well, < 5 minutes all 5 cameras should be back online.
• again, login to the NVR via your web browser on your laptop to verify that LIVE VIEW is working on all 5 cameras.

If LIVE VIEW works perfectly in both test cases, I'll concede & suggest the problem is NOT with the RED/WAN port.
If either test case fails, then I think I have confirmation the RED/WAN port is filtering some (maybe not "all") IP packets in one or both directions & you need to avoid using this RED/WAN port.

Of course, up to you how you wish to proceed. I'll leave it there.

 

[Chip]

Apologies, I probably didn’t make myself clear in my last post. I am no longer using the red / WAN port on the router but still encountered the issue of the cameras not working if the router cable went into the switch and then a cable from the switch into the NVR LAN (despite the Ethernet ports throughout the house working fine). I’ve ordered a new switch and hopefully this will solve the issue. Many thanks again.

 

[sportster]

ok, understood. Hope that gets it sorted for you.

As an aside, be certain your new switch has at least 2 x 1000mbps capable ports to match the highest speed of your Vodafone ports as well as the NVR's LAN port. No point running those links at 100mbps. My guess is that old switch is a 10/100mbps only switch. Cheers & good luck.