Creating a Video Surveillance System Based on SmartVision

SmartVision is a comprehensive software solution for modern video surveillance systems, offering advanced features to enhance security and monitoring efficiency. Supporting unstable streams and budget-friendly cameras, it implements load balancing for optimal performance. Compatible with any IP cameras that support RTSP or HTTP broadcasting, SmartVision enables efficient image viewing and processing.

Video Surveillance SmartVision

After installing and launching the program, the main window will appear, displaying images from the surveillance cameras. At the top, you will find the main menu, which duplicates the buttons on the toolbar below.
You can hide the button panel and use the program’s main menu instead.

On the right, select the desired tile layout for displaying images from the surveillance cameras.
Options include layouts with 1, 4, 8, 9, or 16 tiles.
The selected layout will be saved when you exit the program.

Initially, the tiles in the main window will be empty. To connect your IP cameras, click on the camera icon on the main toolbar. A form with a list of IP cameras will appear.
Cameras can be added either automatically or manually. The first icon on the camera list panel is used for automatically searching for IP cameras in the local network.

Automatic Camera Search via ONVIF

To automate the detection and addition of IP cameras, follow these steps:

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Adding IP Cameras Manually

To add cameras manually, use the “Add Camera” button. A form for adding a new camera will appear.
All you need to do is enter the correct RTSP (Real-Time Streaming Protocol) or HTTP stream URL.
Typically, an RTSP URL looks like this:
rtsp://admin:password@ipaddress:port/text
Where:
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After entering and saving the correct RTSP URL, the main window will display an image from the IP camera. Note that default passwords vary by manufacturer. A list of default passwords can be found in the documentation.

The camera settings form provides a wide range of options and features. Some of these options require significant computational resources. Therefore, for a large number of cameras, you need to select appropriate hardware that supports advanced capabilities for real-time detection and recognition of objects.
For more information about these features, refer to the sections on motion detection, face recognition, and vehicle license plate recognition.

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General Software Settings

Cloud Records (Cloud Storage for Files)
On the first page of the settings, you can enter your login and password for the cloud service. To do this, you need to create an account on the website and confirm it via email. Enter:
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Click Save. If the option “Connect and enable cloud recording” is enabled, you can upload events to the server for secure storage and remote viewing. Additionally, you can access your cameras through the cloud service in your personal account. To enable this feature, you will need to configure the appropriate settings in the camera options. For more details, refer to the section on IP Camera configuration.

Local Records (Local Storage for Files)

In the general settings, you can select a directory for the “videos” archive where video files will be saved during recording.

By default, the “videos” folder is created in the same directory where the SmartVision program is installed.

This folder contains three subdirectories:

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Inside each subdirectory, files are saved in folders named by the current date. The entire video archive is immediately saved in a compressed MP4 format, requiring no further transcoding. This means you can simply copy any video file and open it in any media player that supports MP4, which includes virtually all players.

Video Retention Settings
In the general settings, you can also define the maximum retention period for video recordings in days. After this period, files will be automatically deleted.

IP Camera Configuration

The IP camera settings are divided into several sections:
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Device – General IP Camera Settings

This section allows you to input the camera’s name and the RTSP or HTTP stream address.
“Display the video stream on the main form”: Specifies whether the camera’s video stream should be displayed on the main interface.
For example, on one computer, you can record video without viewing it, while on another, you can only view the video without saving it to the hard drive. If you use a low-performance computer for viewing only, it is recommended to use a secondary stream with a lower resolution.
Advanced Options:
Here, you can configure automatic reconnection to the camera after a set number of seconds.
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Recording – IP Camera Recording

This section allows you to configure continuous recording settings for creating a video archive.
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Advanced Options:
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For time-lapse recording, you can set the number of frames per minute. The default is 2 frames per second. Time-lapse recording significantly reduces disk space usage. The fewer frames per minute you record, the less disk space is required.
Parallel Recording of Events: Continuous or time-lapse recording does not restrict you from recording events simultaneously. For instance, when motion is detected, you can have a high-quality video recording with a high FPS while also capturing a low-motion time-lapse recording.
To save disk space, all streams are automatically transcoded and saved in compressed MP4 format. This recording process requires a certain level of CPU/GPU load, unlike saving to an AVI file.

Detection – Motion Detection

If you need video surveillance in areas with minimal movement, it makes sense to use motion detection. For example, this could include an elevator lobby, an office during off-hours, or a home or apartment in your absence. In such cases, continuous recording of an empty space is unnecessary. However, if you have installed surveillance in a shopping mall or on a busy street, continuous recording is recommended to reduce CPU load. It’s important to understand that both detection and recording place a certain load on the processor and hard drive. For systems with a large number of cameras, it is essential to pre-calculate the computer and network configuration to ensure sufficient resources for your requirements.

Sensitivity Settings
The sensitivity of the motion detector is configured in Advanced Options.
Sensitivity can range from 0 to 1:
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You can also define specific areas for motion detection within this configuration.

Motion-Triggered Recording
When the motion detector is triggered, recording will begin for a specified duration. By default, this is set to 15 seconds, but you can adjust this parameter in Advanced Options. All recorded events can be reviewed in the Events section.

Detection – Object Detection

If you have enabled motion detection on the previous tab, you can also use object detection powered by computer vision.
On this tab, select the option “Use object detection”.
Object detection is triggered when motion is detected. By default, the interval for object detection is set to 300 milliseconds (Advanced Options).
This means that frames for object detection will be processed every 300 milliseconds.

Object detection places a load on the CPU, so it is not recommended to set this interval below 150 milliseconds. The shorter the interval, the higher the processor load. This feature is only supported on 64-bit computers.

Enable Face Recognition
Enable this option to use face recognition.
Face recognition can be used independently of object detection.
This feature requires a computer with sufficient computational power and is only supported on 64-bit systems.

Enable License Plate Recognition
Enable this option to automatically detect vehicle license plates.
License plate recognition can be used together with or separately from object detection.
This feature also requires a computer with sufficient computational power and is only supported on 64-bit systems.

Enable Smoke and Fire Detection
Enable this option for automatic detection of smoke and fire in the frame.
It is recommended to use smoke and fire detection separately from other options.
This feature requires a computer with sufficient computational power and is only supported on 64-bit systems.Shorten with AI

Cloud Storage and Online Camera Viewing via the Internet

SmartVision allows you to view your cameras with an RTSP stream online without a dedicated IP address and without port forwarding.
To do this, you need to enable 3 options:
In the general settings, enter your email and password at cloud service, and in the camera settings, select the option “Stream camera online to cloud server.”
To record events to the cloud server, enable the option “Upload Events to Cloud Server.”
It is also recommended to enable “Upload events to the server only in case of object detection” to reduce false triggers.

You can then use the mobile app or the mobile version of the website for online camera and event viewing.

Advanced – Additional Object Detection Settings

This tab configures probabilities for identifying specific types of objects and the number of object detections with a given probability.

Object detection in the frame occurs based on these parameters.

Here you set the detection probabilities and the number of repetitions in the frame for the following objects/subjects:
person, car, bus, bicycle, cat, dog, bird.

It is recommended not to change these settings.

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List of Surveillance Cameras

The second button on the main form calls up the list of cameras connected to the SmartVision CCTV software.

The camera list form also contains a toolbar with buttons.

The buttons allow you to move cameras up and down, thus changing their position on the main program form.

You can also edit or delete unnecessary cameras.

Surveillance Events

The first button on the main form is Events.

Here you will see all motion detector activations, as well as object detection of faces and car license plates, smoke and fire detector triggers.

You can also apply filters and find the events you need through the search form (the very first button on the form).

The events form also shows the status of file uploads to the cloud server if video transmission to the server is set up for the selected camera.

On this form, you can also view the video of the recorded event. All uploads to the server are done securely with encryption.

Face Recognition Database

You can use photographs to train the neural network and create a face database for online recognition.

Manual training for a single face takes about 30 seconds.

The system also allows you to automatically create a face database based on video streams from surveillance cameras.
To do this, the system needs to receive 5 images of the same face.

Adding new faces for recognition to the database

To add a new face to the database, enter the person’s name and click Add.

Then select at least 5 photographs and save the result for processing. Click Save & Update.

Wait for the system’s training process to complete.

The database does not store the actual photographs but their “digital weights” necessary for recognition by the neural network.

When face recognition is enabled, new faces will automatically be added to the database during the processing of video streams from IP cameras.

How many cameras can the system handle?

Currently, the program has a limit of 16 cameras. However, you can install the program on multiple computers for different cameras and connect them all to a single account in our cloud service.

For online camera viewing, a powerful computer is not required. You can even use an old 32-bit computer. For face recognition, license plate recognition, and object detection, you should select the computer/server’s power based on the number and resolution of your cameras.

It is recommended to use Windows 10 or higher for this purpose. Resource consumption also depends heavily on the model of the IP camera, FPS, and resolution. The CPU load for cameras with approximately the same specifications can vary greatly between different manufacturers. Therefore, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. The optimal load can be determined experimentally based on the tasks being solved and the camera parameters.

The advantage of our system is that it is versatile and can work with cameras from various manufacturers, including very budget-friendly and unstable models. We constantly optimize the program to reduce CPU/GPU load, so keep an eye out for new versions.Shorten with AI

SmartVision User’s Video guide

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What is DMSS APP?

DMSS is a mobile surveillance app with functions like video playback, remote monitoring, device initialization, push notifications, and remote configuration. Devices like IPC, NVR, XVR, VTO, doorbells, alarms and access controllers can be added. After logging into the account, you can use cloud services like cloud upgrade and so on. The app supports iOS 9.0 and Android 5.0 or later systems and can be used with 3G/4G/Wi-Fi.

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What are the benefits of DMSS Camera App?

Remote operations

Before talking about DMSS Camera application on Alexa, let’s see what is DMSS? DMSS app can work in an environment with various internet connections. It connects Dahua CCTV products through both Internet and Ethernet. P2P-enabled internet connection shows great simplicity, while IP or domain name-enabled Ethernet connection guarantees strong stability.

DMSS can be operated remotely to immediately and stably control specific devices all around the world through its global network coverage. many functions including PTZ controlling, video preview and playback, video image adjustment (such as White Balance, focus, etc.), alarm subscription, voice intercom and etc. can be done remotely.

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increased data security

DMSS adopts multiple layers of data encryption protection to supply better data security to users.

From a product to the platform and then to the mobile client, DMSS uses multiple layers of data encryption protection to provide better data security to users. DMSS camera has also been certified by TÜV Rheinland, meaning the product complies with the GDPR and meets the TÜV Rheinland 2PfG 2624/06.17 standards, offering state-of-the-art information security and privacy protection.

Featuring a more detailed interaction design, DMSS provides a smoother user experience.

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Supports thermal products

To prepare the best support for the global efforts in pandemic prevention and control, DMSS CCTV also supports thermal products (supported by CCTV Suppliers), including access control, thermal cameras, and temperature monitoring terminals. It lets the operators control thermal products remotely and perform their duty in a safer manner.

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Setup DMSS App on Alexa amazon

Amazon Alexa is a virtual assistant AI technology developed by Amazon. It is able to voice interaction, music playback, make to-do lists, stream podcasts, set alarms, play audiobooks, and provide weather, traffic, sports, and other real-time information, such as news. Using itself as a home automation system, Alexa can also control your home security camera and even we can set up DMSS application on Alexa. Users are able to increase the Alexa capabilities by installing “skills” (additional functionality developed by third-party vendors, in other settings more commonly called apps) like weather programs and audio features.

Most devices with Alexa let users activate the device using a wake-word (like Alexa or Amazon); other devices (like the Amazon mobile app on iOS or Android and Amazon Dash Wand) require the user to click a button to activate Alexa’s listening mode, although, some phones also let a user say a command, such as “Alexa” or “Alexa wake”.

In September 2019, Amazon launched many new devices achieving many records while competing with the world’s smart home industry. The new Echo Studio became the first smart speaker with 360 sound and Dolby sound. Other new devices included an Echo dot with a clock behind the fabric, a new third-generation Amazon Echo, Echo Show 8, a plug-in Echo device, Echo Flex, Alexa built-in wireless earphones, Echo buds, Alexa built-in spectacles, Echo frames, and Alexa built-in Ring, and Echo Loop.

How to use Alexa for your home security camera?

Using Alexa with a home security camera adds comfort. You can use a smart display screen in your house to immediately and easily review past footage and see who’s at the door right now. Just make sure you have compatible devices and you’ll be using Alexa to check in on your camera (or cameras) in no time. One of the utilities of Alexa is setting up the DMSS application on Alexa. Let’s we how we can do it.

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DMSS application on Alexa: How does Alexa work with DMSS?

To add your Dahua device using the Amazon Alexa app:

Let’s assume that you’ve installed and configured your Alexa-compatible home security camera already and you have an Alexa-enabled smart speaker.

Now you need to log in to your Alexa app or make an account if you don’t already have one. Simply download the Alexa app and follow the prompts to sign in/register a new account.

Open the Alexa app and choose “Skills & Games” in the menu. Type “Ring” in the search box, open the skill, and choose “Enable.”

You’ll be asked to enter your Ring account credentials to pair your Ring account to the Alexa app.

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How to Download the DMSS Application?

The prefix “g” or “i” differentiate the applications intended for Android and iPhone/iPad and thus we will find them in the official Google Play and App Store:

Before, DMSS Plus was paid while you could get the Lite version for free. There are some differences between DMSS Lite and Plus such as E-Map (visual and functional installation plans), alarm management, and push notifications. Currently, there is no need to choose since Dahua has released the Plus version for free. In addition, this publication is already adapted to the new GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation).

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Download Dahua DMSS software

View DMSS APP User Manual

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What Functions Do These Apps Offer?

The aforementioned applications have undergone several updates that improve their operation and increase their capabilities so sometimes it is difficult to follow all the news. Therefore, let’s see a summary of what they offer us for the management of our video surveillance devices:

Integration of Other Security Devices

The main novelty is managing DMSS CCTV devices, access control devices, and alarm systems from the manufacturer Dahua in a single app.

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Device Management

Among other options, they can be located within a local network (WiFi or LAN), and add devices via IP/Domain, DDNS, and P2P (Easy4IP and Lechange). This last option allows you to add devices by scanning the QR code and even a complete list of devices, very useful for migrating from the Lite app to the Plus version in a single operation.

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Live View and Playback of Recordings and Stored Clips

Live, to access and capture live video from added devices, combining channels and cameras. Playback, to consult, capture, cut, and extract the recorded videos. In addition to that, clips and captures can be viewed from the smartphone’s memory.

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Channel Configuration

It allows you to modify the coding (image resolution and ratio), image adjustments, PTZ or motorized zoom camera movement control, two-way audio communication with the device, and quadrant display, as more interesting functions.

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Notifications and Events

Detection events generated by devices are listed and notified in the app through push notifications. These consist of instant and free alerts supported by the devices and to which we can easily subscribe, depending on the type of detection selected.

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Cloud Recording, Cloud Storage Services

Upcoming updates will enable cloud video recording under a subscription service, with per-channel rates for 3, 7, or 30-day recording, and only for cameras that support such functionality.

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You can also check:

Best CCTV Brands in the UK

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How to See Your Dahua DMSS Security Cameras from the Cell Phone

DMSS is Dahua ‘s free software to connect to your equipment from smartphones. It is used to connect to all current Dahua manufacturer equipment: DVR recorders, HDCVI, NVRs, IP cameras, etc.

This App can be downloaded for free in both the Play Store and the App Store. The Android version is called gDMSS and the iPhone iOS version is called iDMSS.

To connect your Dahua device via P2P on your cell phone, you are going to need:

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How to Configure Your Dahua Security Cameras in DMSS

Enter the SN of the device and touch the “Next” button.

Once all the boxes are completed, tap the “Save” button that is located at the top right.

If you followed the steps correctly, it should start viewing your security cameras live. By tapping the back button at the top left, you can return to Start.

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How to View Your Dahua Cameras in DMSS

If you followed the steps correctly, you should start viewing your security cameras live.

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The red numbered buttons:

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The Yellow numbered buttons:

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Conclusion

As we saw, you know about DMSS App & can set up Alexa on your camera easily, just you need to go to the menu and tap Skills. Find the relevant skill (some cameras have specific apps for the cameras, outside of their main smart home apps). Enable the skill and link the account with Alexa. It’s a simple thing to set up and it means that you can create a security monitor without ever firing up your smartphone or tablet. All you need is one of the three Amazon devices noted in the intro and a compatible DMSS camera.

GV-Cloud VMS is suitable for businesses of all sizes. The cloud solution is easily scalable to meet the increasing need for more cameras and storage capacity. User and camera permissions can be grouped to align with the structure of a corporation. Overall, the cloud solution streamlines video surveillance while increasing infrastructure flexibility and scalability.

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GV-Cloud VMS is a cloud-based video surveillance and data center solution. Thousands of on-site cameras, alarm devices, motion triggers and AI events can be efficiently monitored from a single cloud-powered platform. With GV-Cloud VMS, you can effortlessly access live streams, review playbacks, and query events from anywhere using a web browser.

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GV-Cloud VMS is suitable for businesses of all sizes. The cloud solution is easily scalable to meet the increasing need for more cameras and storage capacity. User and camera permissions can be grouped to align with the structure of a corporation. Overall, the cloud solution can streamline video surveillance while increasing infrastructure flexibility and scalability.

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Local Devices

Cloud Features

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GV-Cloud Bridge for

ONVIF and GV-IP cameras

GV-VMS

Live View

Event Snapshot

Cloud Backup

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GV-Cloud Camera

GV-AI Guard

GV-Cloud VMS (cloud-based SW)

Local Playback

System Health

Share Link

Archive

Mobile App

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The following browsers are compatible with GV-Cloud VMS.

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Note: The WS player is not supported by Safari.

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GV-Cloud VMS has the following types of licenses. For details, please contact our sales representatives.

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Chapter 2 Getting Started

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To get started, you must acquire a GV-Cloud VMS license and a series number from GeoVision.

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IMPORTANT: Keep your account ID number, which is required each time you log into GV- Cloud.

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.Note: The mobile phone number can be used for the two-factor authentication if needed. See 5.3 Two-Factor Authentication.

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For first-time users, you need to add a license to start the services.

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You must create a Host for each GV-VMS, GV-AI Guard, or GV-Cloud Bridge that you want to connect to. To create a host on GV-Cloud VMS, follow the steps below.

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1.Select Hosts in the left menu, and click  at the top right. This dialog box appears.

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The message “Host has been added” will be displayed. Keep the Host Code and Password

for configuring the connection to GV-Cloud on the host.

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Note: To reset the password, select a host in the Hosts list, and click the Edit Info icon next to the Info tab. See [Info], 4.1 Hosts.

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Follow the steps below to connect GV-VMS or GV-AI Guard to GV-Cloud VMS for cloud central monitoring.

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Note: The support for GV-AI Guard is coming soon.

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In GV-VMS / GV-AI Guard:

1.Click Home > Toolbar > Network > Connect to GV-Cloud. A dialog box appears.

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In GV-Cloud VMS:

When the GV-Cloud VMS connection is established, the host will be displayed, with a yellow icon or a green icon , on the GV-Cloud VMS Home page.

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Without a license, you can view live streaming from the host.

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By adding a license, you can receive snapshots or back up video to GV-Cloud VMS. For details, see 2.2 Adding Licenses.

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Note:

1.If the GV-Cloud VMS connection fails in GV-VMS / GV-AI Guard, check to see if

WebCam Server and Mobile Service are enabled alongside Connect to GV-Cloud.

2.The yellow icon indicates that some of the host’s cameras are disconnected, while the green icon indicates that all of the host’s cameras are connected.

3..For camera events, only motion and video lost will be sent to GV-Cloud VMS by default. To send additional camera event types to GV-Cloud VMS, see 2.4.1 Configuring Advanced Settings.

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To specify which events should be sent to GV-Cloud VMS, click the Configure button on the Connect to GV-Cloud dialog box. Three types of settings are available: General, Camera, and I/O Device.

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[General]

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Figure 2-6

[Startup]

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[Connection Broken]

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[Notify GV-Cloud when the following events occur] Select which events to notify GV- Cloud VMS about. Click Modify to adjust the threshold for sending notifications when the free storage space or keep days falls below the threshold.

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[Temp Folder] The path to store logs and recordings to be sent to GV-Cloud VMS.

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[Camera]

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[Notify GV-Cloud of the monitoring status] Notify GV-Cloud VMS whenever camera monitoring is enabled or disabled.

[Notify GV-Cloud when the following events occur] Select a camera from the list, and then select the type of event or data to be sent to GV-Cloud VMS. By double-clicking the following two fields, you can specify the alarm conditions for specific events.

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Tip: To apply the same settings to all cameras in the list, click the Apply All button .

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[I/O Device]

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Figure 2-8

[Notify GV-Cloud of the monitoring status] Notify GV-Cloud VMS whenever I/O monitoring is enabled or disabled.

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[Input] Select an Input device from the list.

[Output] Select an output device the list.

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You can connect up to four ONVIF cameras, through GV-Cloud Bridge, to GV-Cloud VMS for cloud central monitoring.

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In GV-Cloud Bridge:

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In GV-Cloud VMS:

When the GV-Cloud VMS connection is established, the host will be displayed, with a yellow icon or a green icon . on the GV-Cloud VMS Home page.

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Without a license, you can view live streaming from the host.

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By adding a license, you can receive snapshots or back up video to GV-Cloud VMS. For details, see 2.2 Adding Licenses.

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Note:

1.To ensure a smooth playback on GV-Cloud VMS, it is suggested to connect a maximum of 2 cameras for the 4 MP license plan, 3 cameras for 2 MP license plan, and 4 cameras for 720p and SD license plan.

2..The yellow icon indicates that some of the host’s cameras are disconnected, while the green icon indicates that all of the host’s cameras are connected.

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Chapter 3 Home Page

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3.1 Video Window

By clicking an event snapshot on the Home page, you can access the event playback, live view or snapshot, depending on the licenses you purchased.

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.Note: When you click Playback and no video is displayed, the video clip may not have been created yet. The maximum length of a video clip created in GV-Cloud Bridge is 30 seconds, while the default length of a video clip created in GV-VMS / GV-AI Guard is 5 minutes, you may have to wait until the specified length has elapsed after an event begins to view the video playback.

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Chapter 4 Cloud VMS Settings

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The Hosts page allows you to create host accounts and view the status of the host’s cameras, I/O devices, and storage. Click a created host in the list to access the following functions.

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[Info]

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This page allows you to edit the information of a host. Click  next to Info to start editing. You can also reset the host’s login password from this page.

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[Cameras]

You can view the camera’s connection, monitoring status, applied license plan, plan expiration date, camera resolution, and monitoring type on the Cameras page.

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Note: When the camera’s resolution does not match the applied license plan, the following 2 icons will appear:

1.The yellow exclamation mark icon : Move your cursor to the icon and a tooltip of The resolution does not match will appear. This means the camera’s main or sub stream resolution is lower than the applied license plan, and the followings will occur:

(1)The recordings will be uploaded onto GV-Cloud VMS using the closest resolution;

(2)The “Resolution does not match” event will be included in GV-Cloud VMS event log.

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[Modules]

The Modules page displays which inputs and outputs on the host are being triggered.

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[Storage]

On the Storages page, you can view the host’s storage information such as the recycle threshold, Keep Day, storage path, and remaining storage space.

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On the Live Streaming page, you can access the camera’s live view.

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Host List

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Screen Division

Event Snapshot

Frame Rate

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When motion or AI events occur, snapshots of them will appear on the left side of the Live Streaming window. By clicking an event, you can view the live view or play it back. For details, see 3.1 Video Window.

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Note:

1.You can install the WS player from the GeoVision download page or the download icon on the upper right corner on the Live Streaming / Playback pages for a better live view and playback experience. The smoothness of videos played with the WS player depends

on the capabilities of your computer.

2..PTZ control function is supported for GV-Cloud Bridge hosts (firmware V1.05 or later) using WS Player.

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You can play back events directly from a host (Local Streaming), or from GV-Cloud (Cloud Streaming).

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Local Streaming / Cloud Streaming

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Event Marks

Play

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Note:

1.You can install the WS player from the GeoVision download page or the download icon on the upper right corner on the Live Streaming / Playback pages for a better live view and playback experience. The smoothness of videos played with the WS player depends

on the capabilities of your computer.

2.The WS player is not supported by Safari.

3..Cloud Streaming does not support colors in the timeline to differentiate between event types.

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On the Query Events page, you can search for events by category, including I/O Event, System Abnormal, Camera Event, I/O Alert, System Status, Connection, Access Control, Storage, and AI Event.

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By clicking an event snapshot, you can view the live view or play it back. For details, see 3.1 Video Window.

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Note: The event query can display up to 10,000 results.

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On the Shared Links page, you can see a list of shared links you created through the video window. To create a shared link, see No. 8 in 3.1 Video Window.

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Note: The note for a shared recording is editable. However, once a note is deleted, it cannot be added back to the recording.

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On the Archives page, you can see a list of archived recordings you created through the video window. To archive a recording, see No. 7 in 3.1 Video Window.

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Double-click an archived recording to play it back.

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Note:

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When an event occurs, you can be alerted via push notifications on your mobile device.

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On the Groups page, you can specify which account users have access to which hosts by creating groups. A group named “default” has been created with access to all hosts.

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To create a group:

1.Click at the top right.

2.Name the group, and click Send. The group is created.

3.Click the newly created group.

4.To assign hosts and users to the group, click the Edit icon  besides Group Info.

5.Select all Available Hosts or desired hosts, and click to add.

6.Select all Available Users or desired users, and click to add.

7.Click Save. The results may appear as follows:

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To sort cameras:

After assigning hosts and users to a group, you can configure how camera channels from the hosts are arranged across different screen divisions.

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IMPORTANT: The default group has been created to allow all users to access all hosts. Therefore, to specify an account user to view only limited hosts, remove the user from the default group.

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Chapter 5 Account Management

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You can add account users to monitor different hosts on GV-Cloud VMS. GV-Cloud VMS supports two types of account users:

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To add an account user:

1.At the top of the left menu, click the GV-Cloud Apps icon > Account Management.

2.At the top right, click  . The Create User page appears.

3.Type the user’s name, email address, and mobile phone number (optional).

4.Click Send. A confirmation e-mail is sent to the operator.

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After clicking the activation link to confirm the e-mail account, the account user will receive another e-mail confirming the success of GV-Cloud registration, along with a temporary login password.

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The account user can now log into GV-Cloud using the registered e-mail address and the temporary login password. To change the login password, click the Account icon at the bottom of the left menu and select Account Setting.

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To assign host permissions:

See 4.7 Groups for details on how to specify which account users have monitoring access to which hosts. Only the hosts assigned to the account user will be displayed when the user logs in.

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To change a non-master user to a master user, follow the steps below:

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By default, GV-Cloud accounts log in using their e-mail and password. 2-Factor Authentication (2FA) adds an extra layer of security to your account by requiring you to retrieve a code via SMS or e-mail in order to login.

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To enable 2FA on the GV-Cloud account:

1.At the bottom of the left menu, click the Account icon > Account Setting.

2.Click Security .

3.Toggle the Enable 2FA option.

4.Select which way to retrieve a code for login: SMS or Email.

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Note: If multiple users are created under the same GV-Cloud account, each user must log in to configure their own two-factor authentication.

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Chapter 6 Audit Log

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Audit logs are records of events and changes made by your GV-Cloud accounts that provide a complete record of account activities. Therefore, audit logs are a valuable resource for administrators investigating suspicious network activities and diagnosing problems.

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You can conduct a log search by specifying a time range, service, and user behavior. The Audit Log will return the following information:

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Note: The Audit Log can store 60-day data, and overwrite it with new data on a daily basis.

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Chapter 7 E-Map

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You can place the icons of connected cameras on Google Maps or on a map you uploaded to GV-Cloud. The map will help you quickly pinpoint the location of an event or the devices you have installed.

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4.Click the Pin to open the map.

5.Click Edit at the top of the map

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8.Click Edit at the top of the map again when you are finished.

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Tip: By clicking the 3D button, the created map can be displayed in 3D view, which you can zoom in and out of a map with the mouse wheel, and rotate it as desired.

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You can enable the Event List on the right side of the map to display real-time events, and select which events should appear on the list. When an event occurs, the corresponding map with a flashing icon of a triggered camera will also pop up on the screen.

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1.To specify which events should appear on the Event List, click Filter at the top right, select the desired event messages, and click Save.

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2.To enable the map popup function, select Auto Select Newest Event at the top right. When the specified events occur, the relevant map with the flashing camera icon will pop up.

3.To view the live view of a triggered camera, click its icon.

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Appendix

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Basic Network Settings

In most cases, no network configuration is required to access the GV-Cloud services. Only when your firewall or ISP restricts outbound connections do you need to open the following default ports for remote connections.

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The GV-Cloud services also use the IP addresses listed below. If outbound connections are restricted, add the three IP addresses to the whitelist of your network for remote access.

*.gvaicloud.com

*.ccrelay.mygvcloud.com relay.vsm.mygvcloud.com,

The  Zavio IP camera software that is included with Zavio cameras includes the following apps: main console recording software, remote live camera viewer, remote playback, remote backup, and video file verification tool. The above screenshot shows the main console recording software with 4 IP cameras at CCTV Camera Pros office. Each Zavio IP camera includes a license code in the box that enables it to be added to the recording software. For customers that prefer a standalone NVR instead of a PC based, you can learn more about Zavio stand-alone NVRs here.

This article will familiarize customers with the user interface, functions, and controls built into Zavio IP camera software.

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Software Installation

When installing the Zavio software users can choose a complete or custom installation. Please note that this software will only run on Windows. Macintosh users can follow these instructions to view Zavio IP cameras and control their NVR from Mac, but there is currently no Mac recording software available. Mac users can perform all other functions except using a Mac as an NVR.

If you choose the custom installation option, you are presented with the following options.

Load More : Viewtron Security Camera Mobile Apps & Software.

Main Console / Recording Software

The Main Console is the recording software that runs on a Windows PC. It supports recording up to 64 Zavio IP cameras.

These are the main controls / function built into the user interface. You can read the complete Zavio software user guide here.

Video Display Options

Users can select from a variety of camera displays / grid based on the number of IP cameras they are using.

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Recorded Video Search & Playback

The playback software is installed on a Windows PC that can be used to access you NVR(s) remotely to search and playback video surveillance footage that has been recorded to the NVR hard drive.

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When a user selects the Playback button, the screen displayed above appears. Here the user will be able to select the exact date and time they wish to playback. The saved video will be color-coded based on the type of recording. Always record will be represented in red, record on event is represented in blue, record on motion will be represented in green and boosting recording is represented in purple.

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After the user has selected the desired date and time, the video playback player appears as shown above. Here the user will be able to play, fast forward and reverse the recorded video. The controls on the right will allow the user to do various things such as exporting the video, printing a snapshot and viewing the recorded video log to name a few.

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Remote Live View

The live software can be installed on a Windows PC to access live video views of the Zavio IP cameras connected to PC based and stand-alone Zavio NVRs.

Here is a screenshot of the live view software running on a laptop computer. The software is viewing one IP camera live.

These are the main controls available in the live view application.

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Remote Backup

The backup application allows users to log in to a Zavio NVR remotely, select a time-frame of recorded video, and backup the video to the remote PC.

To backup video, a simple-to-use interface is used to select the time-frame and the cameras to backup from. When the user clicks OK, they are given the option to also export that backup player. This allows the user to distribute both the video and player to other viewers if needed.

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Learn more about Zavio NVRs

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Click here to learn more about the latest Zavio NVRs.

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Works with Zavio IP Cameras & 3rd Party IP Cameras

Zavio NVRs work with all Zavio IP cameras and thousands of third party IP camera models.

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Request a Demo

If you do not currently have a Zavio NVR and would like to log in to the demo unit at our office, please request a demo login below. You will be able to log in from iPhone, iPad, and Android mobile devices. You can also log in from Macintosh and Windows computers. Please click here to request a demo login.

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Complete IP Camera Systems

Did you know? CCTV Camera Pros can provide a complete IP camera system quote that includes a stand along Zavio NVR or a custom PC based NVR build using the 64 channel IP camera software included with all Zavio IP cameras. We can also include any number and model of cameras, CAT-5 cables, PoE switches, and monitors. Let us customize a system based on your project requirements.

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Zavio NVR – Network Video Recorder for IP Cameras

Zavio network video recorders (NVRs) work with Zavio IP cameras and are also compatible with many 3rd party IP cameras. You can see a compatibility list here and also contact us to see if there are any updates. CCTV Camera Pros can provide a custom IP camera system quote using a Zavio NVR and any number and type of cameras that you require. You can also request a live demo here. Zavio NVRs are available in 8 and 16 camera models. Click here to view see features included.

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Important Update!

CCTV Camera Pros now highly recommends these Viewtron IP camera NVRs. They are by far our best selling NVRs. Viewtron NVRs are compatible with Zavio IP cameras. Viewtron includes the best mobile apps and desktop software for Mac and Windows.

IP Camera Setup for Zavio NVR Software

Zavio IP Cameras include NVR software for Windows PCs that supports up to 64 cameras. The Zavio NVR software allows users record surveillance video from their IP cameras to the Windows PC hard drive. The software supports remote access and camera viewing from mobile apps and desktop software. iPhone and Android apps are available for free. Windows and Mac remote access are also supported. All apps support live camera viewing and recording video playback.

The NVR software has a built-in camera locator that scans your network for all Zavio cameras. This makes it very easy to add your cameras to the software. These instructions will show you how this is done. If you have not already installed the software on your PC, please do that before starting these instructions.

IP Camera Setup

CamGraba PTZ Camera Setup

The Zavio CamGraba NVR surveillance software gives users the ability to manage and record their Zavio IP cameras on a local network. Another great feature of CamGraba is the option to control PTZ cameras. Users can manually control the PTZ or set up a preset tour to run automatically. The camera used in this article was the Zavio-P5110 (Wireless Version – Zavio-P5115).

CamGraba PTZ Camera Setup

The instructions below explain how to set up a Zavio PTZ camera on the CamGraba surveillance NVR software.

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1. Make sure the Zavio IP PTZ camera is connected to the same network as the PC you have CamGraba installed on. Then launch the CamGraba program.
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2. On the main CamGraba screen, click the General Settings icon. (Shown Below)

3. Then go to the Camera tab and click Search.

4. Then select the PTZ camera and enter the Username and Password. (By default the Username is – admin and the Password is – admin)

5. Now click OK, followed by OK again. (Step 3 – 5 Shown Below)

6. You should now see your Zavio PTZ camera on the live grid display. Click on the PTZ’s grid and use the PTZ controls to the right to control it. (Shown Below)

Zavio CamGraba Password Reset Instructions

The instructions below explain how to reset the password for the Zavio CamGraba surveillance NVR software.

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1. Download the RegEx.exe and save it to your desktop. (RegEx is the application used to remove the password from CamGraba)
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2. Now click the Start button in the lower left corner of the screen and navigate to Computer. Once inside Computer, double-click Local Disk (C:) and then double-click Program Files (The Zavio CamGraba may be in the Program Files (x86) folder). (Shown Below)

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3. In the Program Files (or Program Files (x86) folder, locate the Zavio CamGraba IP System folder and double-click it. (Shown Below)
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4. Now drag the RegEx.exe file from your desktop and move it to the Zavio CamGraba IP System folder. (Shown Below)
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5. Once RegEx.exe is in the Zavio folder, go ahead and double-click RegEx.exe. The application should appear, once it does click Invalidate Password. Then click Yes to confirm the reset. (Shown Below)
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6. Now launch the Zavio CamGraba Main Console, you will be prompted to enter a new password. (Shown Below)

Zavio CamGraba Password Reset Instructions

The instructions below explain how to reset the password for the Zavio CamGraba surveillance NVR software.

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1. Download the RegEx.exe and save it to your desktop. (RegEx is the application used to remove the password from CamGraba)
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2. Now click the Start button in the lower left corner of the screen and navigate to Computer. Once inside Computer, double-click Local Disk (C:) and then double-click Program Files (The Zavio CamGraba may be in the Program Files (x86) folder). (Shown Below)