How to Configure Hikvision Network IP Camera to Record to FTP Server/Cloud Storage (Setup Guide)

Hikvision IP cameras and DVRs support FTP and cloud recording. In this video, we will show you how to configure Hikvision IP cameras to upload images to a cloud FTP server.

First, create an account on your FTP server. We will use CameraFTP as an example. For a different FTP server, you just need to change the FTP server name.

Visit https://www.CameraFTP.com, sign up for a free trial and then log in, click Add Camera to add a camera. You can then click the Settings icon below the camera thumbnail to find the FTP account info which you will need later.

Now you need to find the camera’s IP address. Please make sure your PC and the camera are connected to the same network. You can use the manufacturer’s setup program to find the camera’s IP address. You can also use CameraFTP’s VSS software to find it.

Launch a web browser and connect to the camera at the IP address. It will ask you to set a new password for the camera. After that, you can optionally answer a few security questions, or click Cancel to skip them. It will then display the live view window. Click Configuration, it will display the main Setup screen.

The Hikvision camera uses a default static local IP address, which may not work with your router/gateway. Usually you need to change it, or you can enable DHCP. After enabling DHCP, the camera will reboot to get a new dynamic IP address. Wait for a while, then find the camera’s IP address again. Connect to the camera at the new IP address, log in and visit the main setup screen again. Now you need to configure the following settings:

(1) Image Resolution. Click Video/Audio, then click Video. Select a resolution for the Main Video Stream. It will be the recorded image resolution. Click Save to save it. If you use CameraFTP service, then the image resolution should not exceed the service plan’s image resolution.

(2) FTP Settings. Click Network, then Advanced Settings, and then click FTP. Enter the FTP info from the Camera settings page on CameraFTP.com. (Advanced users can use SFTP and set the port to 22.)

For the directory structure, select “Save in the parent directory”, then select Custom, and enter the camera name as the directory name.
Set the Picture Filing Interval to 1 day. It will create 1 subfolder per day.
Click Save and then click Test to check if the FTP settings work.

(3) Motion Detection Settings. This step is required for motion-triggered recording only.

Click Event, then click Motion Detection. Enable Motion Detection, then draw a motion detection area and set motion sensitivity based on your needs. Save it.

Then click Arming Schedule. Usually you want to select all times. Click Save.

Then click Linkage Method, check “Upload to FTP”. Click Save to save it.

(4) Image recording settings.
For continuous recording, click Storage, then click Schedule Settings. Click the Capture tab, then click Capture Schedule. Usually you want to select all times. Save it.

Then click Capture Parameters and Enable Timing Snapshot. Enter the Interval based on your image recording service plan.

For motion-triggered recording, check “Enable event-triggered snapshot”, enter the interval based on your image-recording service plan.

If you use CameraFTP service, please don’t configure both continuous and motion-triggered recording. Hikvision cameras cannot upload video clips to FTP. But the recorded images can be played like video. To record video clips to FTP, you can use CameraFTP VSS software to view the live video on a PC; VSS can record video clips to CameraFTP cloud or a local folder. Otherwise, you can use Amcrest, Foscam, Reolink, Wansview, Axis or D-Link IP cameras.

That’s all. Your camera will upload footage to the FTP server now. You can check the files in the FTP folder to verify whether it is configured correctly.
To view the camera footage, you need to download the files from the FTP server and play them locally. With CameraFTP service, you can install CameraFTP Viewer app for iOS and Android, or simply log in to CameraFTP.com website.

Based in U.S., https://www.CameraFTP.com is a leading cloud recording service provider with very broad business features.
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Hikvision camera setup guide document:
https://cameraftp.com/CameraFTP/Support/HikVision_FTP_Cloud_Recording.aspx

CameraFTP supported cameras:
https://cameraftp.com/CameraFTP/Support/SupportedCameras.aspx

CameraFTP VSS software download page:
https://cameraftp.com/cameraftp/software/Download_Virtual_Security_System.aspx

CameraFTP is a division of https://www.DriveHQ.com/, a leading cloud IT service provider founded in 2003 and based in U.S.