Articles on: Networking

NVR Direct Connection


NVR Direct Connection


For customers with legacy networks or limited access to their network settings, a direct camera connection to the NVR is a much faster and seamless route to getting the camera system online. With a direct connection, there is no need to adjust any network IP settings. As long as firewall rules are set, the LiveReach AI system is completely plug and play. If the cameras are configured to DHCP, moving the cameras from legacy NVRs to LiveReach is now plug and play without any setting adjustment needed.


Setup with 8 or Fewer Cameras

4 Camera Direct Connection

  1. Ensure your LiveReach AI NVR is powered on correctly and you have access to your LiveReach AI Dashboard.
  2. Using the ethernet ports pictured above, connect your cameras.
  3. On your Dashboard, go to the "Configuration" page, and click on "Cameras" to see your all of your cameras' settings. Your directly connected cameras should show on this table.
    Camera Configuration Table
  4. You can check which cameras are connected directly by looking at the "Direct" column. Under the "Authenticated" column in the table, you will be able to see whether your camera is authenticated or not.
  5. If your camera is "Not Authenticated," edit your camera settings by clicking on the Edit icon next to that camera's name.
  6. You will need to change your Username and Password to ensure the camera credentials are correct.
  7. Repeat steps 5 & 6 for all other cameras that are "Not Authenticated"
  8. Your cameras are now added to your LiveReach AI Dashboard for unified cloud surveillance.


Setup with More Than 8 Cameras (Up to 31 Cameras)


31 Camera Direct Connection


The cameras must be on DHCP for this direct connection to work. The NVR will act as a router and assign IP addresses to the directly connected cameras as shown above. Ensure that there are no other routers or equipment attempting to provide the cameras an IP along with the NVR as this will result in a conflict.


If your cameras are ONVIF profiles compliant, LiveReach NVR will try to get the RTSP URL automatically. If they are not, you will need to manually update the RTSP URL for the cameras; otherwise, they will not work.


  1. Ensure your LiveReach AI NVR is powered on correctly and you have access to your LiveReach AI Dashboard.
  2. Using the ethernet ports pictured above, you can connect up to 7 cameras.
  3. On the last open ethernet port, you can connect a 24 port PoE switch. Be sure that the Uplink Port on the PoE switch is the one that connects directly to the NVR.
  4. On your Dashboard, go to the "Configuration" page, and click on "Cameras" to see your all of your cameras' settings. Your directly connected cameras should show on this table.
    Camera Configuration Table
  5. You can check which cameras are connected directly by looking at the "Direct" column. Under the "Authenticated" column in the table, you will be able to see whether your camera is authenticated or not.
  6. If your camera is "Not Authenticated," edit your camera settings by clicking on the Edit icon next to that camera's name.
  7. You will need to change your Username and Password to ensure the camera credentials are correct.
  8. Repeat steps 5 & 6 for all other cameras that are "Not Authenticated."
  9. Your cameras are now added to your LiveReach AI Dashboard for unified cloud surveillance.


Visit here to get more details about the PoE switch recommendations


Troubleshooting Most Common Issues with Direct Connection


Connected cameras are not displaying in the LiveReach app


  • Ensure that the camera is properly powered up and connected by checking the LED link lights on the port. If there are no lights, the camera is not powered up or there is no link to the camera.
  • Make sure your camera's power requirements match the port's power capacity.
  • Ensure the camera is set to DHCP. This is one of the __most common reasons __why cameras don't show up.
  • Always initialize the cameras and set basic parameters like login credentials and network, port settings before using them. Uninitialized cameras may not work. Follow your supplier/manufacturer's documentation & support to get them initialized.
  • If all steps are properly checked and set up, power cycle the camera to see if it shows up in the LiveReach app.
  • Reach out to LiveReach support for further assistance.


If you intend to have your cameras on a static IP, you can change it from the camera's Configuration page. Click on Remote Config and then you will be able to access the native camera web page. From there, you can change it to a static IP. Alternatively, you can reach out to us and we can do it on your behalf.

Updated on: 27/03/2025

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