Converting Hikvision NVR to Linux server to allow installation of alternative VMS
 

Hi all,

This is my first post, the forum looks very active and useful!

We have a client with a few new 9 series Hikvision NVRs installed. However they are considering an alternative Video Management Server that needs to be installed on a Linux based server.

I'm curious to know if there is any way to reuse the Hikvision hardware by formatting and converting them to a Linux server.

Is this feasible or a nonstarter?

Thanks in advance

While we can try to help you, there isn't much we can tell you about the Hikvision NVR's specifically...can you post their hardware specs? What they're running now??

Member response
 

Hi,

Welcome to LQ!
Please consider reading http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...#faq_lqwelcome so in the future you can create a post that will help us to help you. Pointing to your hardware specs via a link or posting here would be helpful.

Hope this helps.
:hattip:

Welcome to LinuxQuestions! :)

The Hikvision NVR looks like a stand-alone video recorder. I found the Website for a DS-9632/64NI-I16 model, you don't specify which one(s) your client has. No idea what the underlying OS is, it doesn't say, so I'd assume some sort of Linux proprietary one possibly? This one has a couple of 10/100/1000 network ports so It looks like you can access the video streams. Built in RAIDed disk storage for up to 16 x 6Tb disks, heavy stuff!!

Is your client just looking to float some sort of cheaper Linux video server as these boxes look like they do it all but cost about £2K a piece? <Ouch!>

Play Bonny!

:hattip:

Hi Guys,

Thanks for the replies, sorry I didn't post more info.

There are a number of models but one of them is indeed the DS-9664. It isn't a case of wanting to wipe them to add a cheaper system, quite the opposite, these units are already considered cheap. We want to wipe them to add a paid for licence based linux VMS.

I would also be interested if anyone knows of a suitable box with dual LAN, RAID, HDMI outputs etc that we could consider installing our Linux VMS to?

Thanks again for your input.

Hi Linuxcctv,

I am just curious did you manage to wipe the Hikvision NVR clean and install a fresh Linux on it?
If so, I would also be quite curious about that since I would like to maybe repurpose one Hikvision NVR to use it as Linux server. :cool:

Thx!

Good Day

I managed to reload a Hikvision Blazer Pro NVR with Windows and Linux, but I ran into an issue. When the NVR boots up with the original Hikvision OS (Firmware) the device works fine but when I load it with Windows/Linux it keeps rebooting after a few minutes even inside of the BIOS it reboots. What could be the issue?

As the original poster was told, no idea at all. You don't say what version/distro of Linux or version of Windows, what you did to load it, or the model number; all things the original thread (that had been closed for *SEVEN YEARS* before you reopened it), asked.

Open your own thread with relevant details, including HOW you managed to load a different OS on a device that has an embedded OS, and we can try to help.

If I have to guess I would assume that there is some sort of hardware watchdog and since it is not getting some expected heartbeat from the HikVision OS it reboots the device to try to recover it.
I would love to hear some more details on what exact NVR model you are working with and what was the complete process you used to install the new OS, please share as much details as you care.

Hi Maaaruuu

I would also like to use the Hikvision Blazer Pro NVR as a storage server for a different VMS.

By just tipping the ESC key the moment it powers up until the boot menu comes up. From there I can enter the bios settings and navigate to what device it needs to boot from. That how I install Ubuntu and Windows.

I think you might be right that there ais some kind hardware watchdog which waits from the Hikvision OS to tell it it's here. Now it reboots looking for that signal or heartbeat.