Once you have the NAS setup you can come back to this post and follow the steps below:
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Step 1: Login to your Synology NAS via a browser​

Step 2: Click the Package Center icon​

Step 3: Search for and install the Surveillance Station software (it should be on the home page of the package center, if not you can use the search bar to find it)​

Step 4: Click the Synology main menu at the top left of your screen and open the newly installed Surveillance Station software​

Step 5: Click the IP Camera icon​

Step 6: Click the add button when the new window open and then click add camera from the drop-down​

Step 7: Select Quick Setup and then click the next button​

Step 8: Enter the camera details manually or click the Search icon next the IP Address box​

Step 9: Check both the Synology Supported Cameras and ONVIF lists (some camera models are not directly supported by Synology, but as long as the camera is ONVIF compliant you should be able to add it to the Surveillance Station software)​

Step 10: Select the camera you want to add from one of the lists and click OK​

Step 11: Check that all the camera details are filled in, including the cameras username & password (also give the camera a unique name to help you identify it from other cameras)​

Step 12: Click the Test Connection button and if the test is successful you’ll get a green tick and a live shot from the camera, you can then click Finish and the camera will be added to your Synology NAS​

If the test is not successful you will have to go back and check the camera’s settings are correct, the most common problem is that the camera has an IP address that is not on your network, after you have followed our instructions from a previous video on how to change the IP address you should get a successful connection and be able to add the camera.

How To Install Synology Surveillance Station

Read Also : Dahua NVR Troubleshoot All Series

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If you need more help with installing Surveillance Station and adding an IP Camera to your Synology NAS you can watch this video:

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Synology NVRs and VisualStation​

NVR1218, DVA1622, DVA3221, VS360HD

NVR’s (Network Video Recorders) are a neccessary part of any security setup.
They work to store, playback and support the live feed of security footage from connected IP Cameras, and with Synology, can offer even more.

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Offering a range of Network Video Recording solutions, from their energy efficient NVR1218, and compact VS360HD, to their deep learning, AI powered DVA series, Synology’s selection of NVRs were designed to appeal to a range of different users and applications.
At Use-IP you can now choose from these four Synology NVRs and decide which is best suited for your needs.
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NVR1218​

The Synology NVR1218 is a 2-Bay (Reaching a max. of 7 bays, with an Expansion unit) Network Video Recorder, able to support a max. of 12 IP camera channels.
Its design is also fit for a PC-less experiance (only needing to be connected to a monitor) and can be accessed remotely, via Synology’s Surveillance Station, or, DS cam mobile application (allowing for Live view, playback, adjustments, and notifications, on a mobile device).

Key Features:
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Deep Learning NVR (DVA) Series​

The Deep Learning NVR Series combines the Management features of Synology’s Surveillnace Station, with Advanced Analytics, designed to fit deployments of all sizes.
Intelligent Analytics – Included in DVA NVRs to strengthen on-premises security, offering deep learning algorithms and detection profiles
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Users can choose between the more compact design of the DVA1622, or the larger storage of the DVA3221, the key features of which are both listed below.
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DVA1622

DVA3221​

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The DVA Series NVRs also come equipped with the use of Dynamic Maps, allowing for improved situational awareness, and to help users to determine camera/event locations, and provide instant access to video feeds for more efficient site monitoring. This also includes the features listed below:​

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VisualStation

VS360HD
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Synology’s VisualStation offers a PC-less, live view and playback solution, for your surveillance footage, with the ability to work in mobile environments.
Designed to work as a companion system, the VisualStation also offers an ultra-compact design, and features Synology SurveillanceStation live view and management tools. It is a perfect alternative for a Video recording solution, for users facing budget or space constraints.

Key Features:
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How It Works:
Plug in an Ethernet cable, connect the VisualStation to a LCD-monitor or TV, log into the Synology SurveillanceStation – and its all set up, for quick and easy use.
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The VS360HD is also equipped for use in harsh and mobile environments. With a design free from mechanical moving parts, the VisualStation is more resistant against vibration and hardware failure, than other Network Video Recording solutions.
Its design also features a solid outer case, built to keep it running in industrial temperature ranges (-20°c ~ 50°c)
This is what makes the Synology VisualStation both a cost effective, and reliable system, for any user.

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Synology NAS/SAN Systems​

Synology’s Data Storage/Management Systems come in a range of styles and sizes, each designed to fit different user needs. Being able to appeal to a range of users and suitable for numerous applications, Synology’s NAS/SAN Systems are an ideal addition to any personal data management, business data management, or security setup.
Choose from Synology’s range of NAS types; RackStations, DiskStations, FlashStations, and more.​

What is a NAS?​

NAS = Network Attatched Storage.
A NAS is a device that provides users with a networked location to store their data, and are designed to be equipped for use at home or for businesses (or other applications).
But a Synology NAS has even more to offer, as they are designed to offer private cloud storage, backup systems, and secure file sharing.
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Benefits For Home Use

The DiskStation Manager 7.0​

The DiskStation Manager is the operating system for Synology NAS systems, it was designed with focus on reliability and impressive performance, and offers users a wide range of data management features.​

Users can also feel secure when using their Synology NAS, as the DiskStation Manager offers Secure Sign-in, with app-based login approval, hardware security keys, and 2-factor authentication options. Keep your data, and your data management, as secure as possible.

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Data Backup Solutions​

With the DiskStation Manager as its operating system, a Synology NAS will also offer users a selection of effective and reliable backup solutions, which include:
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Active Backup for Business
Expands user data protection with agent-based Linux backup, possible for five major distributions, and AES-256 encryption.

Active Backup for Microsoft 365 / Google Workspace
Maintain offsite copies and restart backup tasks in a different location.

Hyper Backup
Protect data with backup support for DSM settings and 12 additional software packages.

Synology C2
Synology’s Cloud Storage Solution
Back-up NAS data to the cloud (with Hyper backup), and, sync requested data between C2 storage and branch offices (with Hybrid share)
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Synology NAS Systems also include the Btrfs File System, that allows for even more backup solutions, so users can keep their data as secure as possible (keeping data safe even in the event of data corruption or system failure). These Solutions include:
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Synology’s NAS Lineup
Now Avaliable at Use-IP​

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RackStations​

A selection of Rackmount style NAS Systems.
Synology RackStations offer impressive performance and large storage space, all in a rackmount design.
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XS+/XS Series – RS4021xs+, RS3621xs+, RS3621RPxs, RS1619xs+
+ Series – RS422+, RS820+, RS820RP+, RS1221+, RS1221RP+, RS2421+, RS2421RP+, RS2821RP+
Value Series – RS819
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DiskStations​

A style of NAS perfect for a Desktop application.
Synology DiskStations range from being compact storage solutions for Business environments, to being an ideal starting point for Home users.
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XS+/XS Series – DS3622xs+, DS1621xs+
+ Series – DS220+, DS420+, DS620slim, DS720+, DS920+, DS1522+, DS1621+, DS1821+, DS2422+
j Series – DS220j
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FlashStations​

Synology’s FS Series, with an All Flash Array, Rackmount design.
Synology FlashStations offer uncomromising performance, and solid-state drives. Perfect for more demanding applications, and to accelerate Business operations.
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FS Series – FS6400, FS3600, FS3400, FS2500

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SA, HD, and, UC Series​

All in a Rackmount style, these NAS systems appeal to a range of storage requirements.​

SA Series – Offers a Scalable storage solution (ideal for enterprises) with high-performance and capacity requirements. – SA3600, SA3400, SA3200D
HD Series – Offers a High-density SAS Storage server, designed for Rapid data scaling, optimizing operational efficiency, and IT infrastructure.- HD6500
UC Series – Offers a dependable high-avaliability SAN Storage solution, fit for iSCSI and FC environments. – UC3200

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Expansion Units​

Synology NAS/SAN Systems can also be expanded, with compatible Synology Expansion Units.
Increase your storage space by adding additional drive bays, using a range of Expansion Unit models, also avaliable at Use-IP

FX2421 – Expansion for FS6400, FS3600, and, FS3400
RX6022sas – Expansion for HD6500
RXD1219sas – Expansion for SA3200D and UC3200
DX1222 – Expansion for DS3622xs+ and DS2422+
RX1222sas – Expansion for SA3600 and SA3400

<p>The post How To Install Synology Surveillance Station first appeared on NVR IPCAMERA SECURITY.</p>

Amazing Features, Top 2 Picks, Setup Steps & Hottest FAQs

Blue Iris Cameras is a smart tool used by a lot of people to access and control their security cameras. In this complete guide, you’ll get deep insights into Blue Iris software, the recommended Blue Iris compatible cameras, step-by-step setup guides, and troubleshooting.

If you have other questions about Blue Iris supported cameras, leave them in the comment below.

Table of Contents

• Blue Iris Cameras: Features & Compatible Cameras
• Blue Iris Compatible Camera Top Picks
• Set up Blue Iris Cameras: Step-by-Step Guide
• Troubleshooting for Blue Iris Cameras
• Frequently Asked Questions about Blue Iris
• Conclusion

Load more :

• Blue Iris IP Camera Software Setup Guide
• Troubleshooting Physical Cameras in 3 steps

Blue Iris: Software Features, Compatible Cameras, and Pricing

In order to help you get as many details as possible on Blue Iris webcam security cameras, we will break down this topic into 4 parts and every part will contain the points you want to learn about.

1. Meaning

2. Compatible cameras

3. Pricing

1. What is Blue Iris software

Blue Iris, or BI for short, is a popular video security and webcam software that enables people to remotely access and control their security cameras on personal computers, iPhones, or Android smartphones.

Blue Iris has many configurable options, including remote live view, playback, PTZ control, motion detection, audio recording, E-mail alerts, and many other functions.

With Blue Iris compatible cameras, you can keep tabs on your home and business, watch your kids & pets, and monitor your valuables via this professional software.

The advantages of Blue Iris mainly include:

• You can control multiple security cameras & systems simultaneously from various brands on Blue Iris.
• As an open platform, Blue Iris welcomes all companies and organizations.
• Blue Iris captures videos in various formats, including standard MP4, AVI, advanced DVR, and Windows Media.

Keep in mind that not every security camera is completely compatible with Blue Iris, you need to check the compatibility details or ask the security camera manufacturer before making a purchase.

2. Blue Iris compatible cameras

Most security camera types in the market are compatible with Blue Iris, including webcams, analog cords, and network IP cameras.

According to the test done by the Blue Iris team, there are thousands of tested security cameras that are compliant with Blue Iris, so it’s hard to give a full list.

But there are some clues for you to know whether your camera is compatible with Blue Iris. If your camera belongs to any of the following ones, it can work with Blue Iris. If not, you can contact the camera manufacturer to find the answer.

• Any camera that supports JPEG images
• Any camera that supports MJPEG streaming
• Any camera that supports MPEG4 over RTSP streaming
• Any camera that supports ONVIF protocol

Here are several popular Blue Iris compatible camera brands:

• Reolink (except its battery security cameras, add-on cameras, E1, and Lumus)
• Amcrest
• Hikvision
• Dahua

Sometimes not all the functions of a compatible camera can be used on Blue Iris. So you need to check the details of Blue Iris compatibility from the security camera brand.

Reolink team has tested the compatibility of their cameras with Blue Iris. The result is that Reolink security cameras can “communicate” with Blue Iris in almost every way. In other words, you can make full use of Reolink cameras on Blue Iris software.

3. Blue Iris license & tech support fees

You’ll need to pay for the license and tech support when using Blue Iris software, which is licensed per PC for a lifetime.

Before purchasing the Blue Iris license, you can get a free 15-day trial. After that, you’ll need to pay for the usage of Blue Iris.

There are two versions of the Blue Iris license for you to choose from:

• The LE version only supports a single camera at a price of $34.95.
• The Full version supports multiple security cameras (up to 64 cameras), at a price of $69.95.

If you want to manage multiple security cameras at one time or plan to expand more cameras in the future, the full version would be a much more cost-saving option in the long run.

Also, you’ll need to pay for the tech support of Blue Iris. You’ll get 1-year basis support plan for free. When your basic support plan expires, you’ll need to upgrade it to an Extended Plan ($29.95/year) or a Priority Plan ($59.95/year).

Blue Iris Support Plan Details & Prices

Support Plans & Features	Basic	Extended	Priority
Current Version Updates	Yes	Yes	Yes
Major Version Upgrade Protection	—	Yes	Yes
Email Support	Yes	Yes	Yes
Prioritized Email Support	—	Yes	Yes
Highest Priority Email Support	—	—	Yes
Phone Support (Limited & By Appointment)	—	—	Yes
Remote Desktop Support (Limited & By Appointment)	—	—	Yes
Price	Free	$29.95	$59.95
Duration	1 Year	1 Year	1 Year

Note : The information in the chart above is quoted from Blue Iris official website.

For people who don’t want to pay so much for using Blue Iris software, the customized software of the security camera manufacturer (such as Reolink App) would also be a good choice.

You can use the software without any charges and get free tech support. More importantly, there is no need to worry about the compatibility of your cameras and the software at all.

Best Cameras for Blue Iris Recommendations

We pick two popular Blue Iris compatible cameras, including a PoE and a wireless type, for your reference. Both of these two security cameras are highly praised by professional tech reviewers and customers.

This camera features 4K 8MP ultra HD, enabling you to see details in the picture clearly. 5X optical zoom lets you check anything you like freely. Besides, RLC-811A can detect any person & vehicle and send instant alerts to your phone.

You can make use of almost all the functions of RLC-811A on Blue Iris software. Once you enter the IP address/port, Blue Iris can instantly pick up the camera.

This PoE camera can save you from messy hassles and bring solid security to your home. With rich features, it’s at a reasonable price. If you want a 4K PoE camera for Blue Iris, give it a try.

For those who are looking for a PTZ (pan-tilt-zoom) camera for Blue Iris, E1 Outdoor can be a great choice.

This wireless outdoor security camera is packed full of features and at a nice price. It offers you 5MP high resolution at 2560 x 1920 pixels, person/vehicle detection for accurate alerts, and color & clear night vision with 12 IR LEDs and 4 extra spotlights.

More importantly, it has the amazing PTZ function. You can view nearly everything with 355° pan & 50° tilt, and check details closely with 3X optical zoom. This camera can also track the moving person/car automatically.

This PTZ security camera is fully compatible with Blue Iris, which has a PTZ/Control dialog for you to customize settings. If you want to know more, here is a thorough guide to BI’s PTZ/Control for your reference.

Blue Iris Camera Setup: Step-by-Step Guide & Videos

Some people may have trouble adding a new security camera to Blue Iris. You can follow this step-by-step guide on adding IP cameras to Blue Iris and control your cameras like a breeze.

Here we’ll take the compatible OEM cameras as an example, and the steps apply to other types of cameras that are compatible with Blue Iris.

Step 1. Initialize the camera settings

1). Add the camera to Reolink Client. You can add it by entering UID or IP/Domain address. Also, it will show you devices in the same LAN and you can click the “+” button to add it.

2). Set up User Name (the default user name is admin) & Password. Click Login.

3). If you’re going to use ONVIF or RTSP later on Blue Iris, you need to set the port first on Reolink Client.

Click Device Settings -> Network Settings -> Advanced. Find Port Settings and click Set Up. Enable RTSP and ONVIF, and then click Save.

Step 2. Add Reolink cameras to Blue Iris.

This step is done on Blue Iris software, so you should launch Blue Iris on your PC or Mac first.

1). Click the “+” button at the top right, or right-click and select Add new camera.

2). Input the camera name and choose Network IP as the connection type. Check Enable audio and Enable motion detector in the Options menu. Click OK to continue.

3). Input the IP address, the correct User Name, and Password. Click the Find/inspect… button to search the camera in LAN.

In the current window, you are gonna need to do several setup steps:

• Set Make to Reolink and choose the corresponding model.
• Change the Discovery/.. ort into 8000. (If you ever change RTSP or ONVIF port number, you should input the current value.)
• Click OK to finish adding the camera to Blue Iris.

If the connection fails (there is a striped video signal), you can change the Make option to Generic/ONVIF and the Model will automatically change to RTSP H.264. Still, make sure the ONVIF port is 8000 (default number) or the current value if you ever changed it.

Here is a video to show you how to add Reolink cameras (exclude some cameras) to Blue Iris from the beginning to the end.

4). Configure PTZ security camera on Blue Iris.

If you use Reolink PTZ security cameras, such as RLC-823A or E1 Outdoor, you can enable the PTZ function on Blue Iris by clicking the PTZ/Control tab and checking Enable Pan/Tilt/Zoom and other controls (focus. Brightness, etc.).

Don’t forget to set Network IP. Click OK to save settings.

Bonus tip: You can follow this step-by-step guide to call PTZ IP camera preset on Blue Iris.

If you have any questions about adding Blue Iris cameras, you can leave them in the comment below.

Blue Iris Cameras Troubleshooting

Some of you, especially the beginners, may encounter various problems while using Blue Iris software. So we list the issues you care about most and offer the solutions that can help you use Blue Iris cameras better.

Blue Iris cameras recording issues

Here are some of the most typical recording issues that may happen to you when using Blue Iris.

– Issue 1. Blue Iris won’t record videos, both motion-triggered and continuous videos.
You can try the following methods.

• Upgrade your Blue Iris to the latest version.
• Make sure you’ve enabled the motion detection or 24/7 recordings on Blue Iris.
• Turn on direct-to-disc recording.

– Issue 2. Blue Iris not creating new recordings for hours? What settings do I need to fix?

If you expect each motion-triggered video recording to be stored separately, please follow the below simple steps:

On the camera properties, please click Record tab, and then uncheck Combine or cut video each.

– Issue 3. How to record 24/7 with Blue Iris?

You can make your security camera record 24/7 on Blue Iris with the following steps.

• Right-click the camera.
• On the camera properties, click Record tab.
• Select Continuous under Video.

How to set up motion detection and video recording on Blue Iris?

After you’ve added your camera to Blue Iris, you can follow the instructions below to set up motion detection.

Step 1. Click the camera icon  at the top/left of the Blue Iris window, and then click the Motion/Trigger tab.

Step 2. Check the required boxes, including Enable under Motion sensor, Object detection, Use zones and hot spot, High definition, Cancel shadows and Trigger using cameras’ digital input or motion, and then click OK.

Step 3. Click the Record tab, and then check the required boxes including Video, JPEG snapshot each & Create Alert list images when triggered, and then click OK.

Now you can get motion detection recordings with the Blue Iris.

Blue Iris requirements and setup questions

According to Blue Iris’ team, the minimum requirements for your computer are:

• A dual-core or equivalent 2 GHz processor or better
• More than 2 GB RAM
• At least Microsoft XP SP3 or newer version, such as Window 7 & 10, or a server OS
• 1 or more cameras with DirectShow drivers

If you use multiple Blue Iris security cameras, such as 12, 16, 30, or even a maximum of 64 cameras, you need a much more robust computer. Recommendations include:

• Intel core i7 with QuickSync for hardware decoding
• More than 8 GB RAM
• Microsoft Windows 8.1 or 10, 64 bit
• NVIDIA graphics adapter for efficient screen display
• 7200+ RPM drives and/or SSD drive

In order to minimize your computer CPU consumption, you may set up the video frame rate to 15-20 fps.

NVR system V.S. Blue Iris + PC, which is better?

If you only need 2 or 3 IP cameras to run 24/7, and/or happen to have an extra computer, you can opt for Blue Iris + PC option.

Your computer storage space can handle several IP cameras recording continuously.

But if you want 4 or more cameras, a dedicated NVR would be the way to go.

Typically, the cameras and NVRs from the same brands can work seamlessly. All the videos will be stored on the hard disk of the NVR for your later playback.

If the storage space of the NVR is running out, it would automatically overwrite the oldest video footage, so you don’t need to delete the videos manually.

You can check more details on NVR vs PC for security camera video storage.

Frequently Asked Questions about Blue Iris

Here are some questions often asked by Blue Iris users. Now you can find the answers quickly.

How many cameras can Blue Iris support?

As mentioned above, Blue Iris can support multiple (up to 64) cameras with the full version license.

But don’t forget that Blue Iris LE version license only supports 1 camera. So if you want to manage multiple cameras, you’d better have a full version of Blue Iris.

How to solve Blue Iris CPU usage problem?

When you use Blue Iris to control your surveillance cameras, BI’s motion detection and transcoding would consume much CPU power of your computer.

You can try the below 5 useful tips to minimize the CPU consumption caused by Blue Iris.

1. Turn on Direct-to-disc recording. It records the cam streaming without re-encoding. However, it has downsides. Blue Iris won’t be able to add its own overlays (time and camera name).

2. Turn the video frame rate down to 15-20 fps.

3. Reduce pre-event capture to 40 frames.

4. Turn down the sensitivity level of the motion-triggered setting.

5. Shorten the pre-recorded time in motion detection setting.

What if Blue Iris camera has no signal?

If you encounter security camera signal loss when using Blue Iris, you may try the below solutions to troubleshoot the issue.

• Update Blue Iris to the latest version.
• Lower the camera’s frame rate.
• Reboot your security cameras & Blue Iris software.

How to rearrange cameras on Blue Iris?

If you cannot change your security camera layout on Blue Iris, you may follow the below 2 simple steps to fix it.

1. Right click the blank space in the Blue Iris window.

2. Uncheck drag lock.

Now you can change the security camera group layout on Blue Iris.

Which cameras does Blue Iris support?

Most cameras in the market are compatible with Blue Iris, including Webcams, Network IP cameras, and others. The most popular security camera brands include Reolink, Amcrest, Hikvision, Dahua, etc.

But remember not all of the functions of the compatible cameras can be used on Blue Iris. So you’d better confirm the compatibility issues with the manufacturer.

Does Blue Iris connect to a WiFi camera?

Yes, Blue Iris works with most network IP cameras, including WiFi cameras, PoE cameras, or USB IP cameras. You need to set up the WiFi camera first with the software of the manufacturer. After you’ve initially set it up, you can add the WiFi camera to Blue Iris quite easily.

For more details on adding cameras to Blue Iris, click here >>

Conclusion

Blue Iris is one of the best professional software for security camera recording and monitoring. The best part of it is that it allows you to manage and control different models of various brands. Apart from that, the rich features of Blue Iris are another reason why so many homeowners love it.

If you have any problems with Blue Iris software or Blue Iris compatible cameras, feel free to discuss them in the comment below!

As one of the most popular and best 4K PoE cameras, RLC-811A can work seamlessly with Blue Iris software.

<p>The post Blue Iris Cameras 2022 Complete Guide first appeared on NVR IPCAMERA SECURITY.</p>

Blue Iris is extremely powerful and customizable. It will let you capture motion recordings, snapshots, and you can even send Deepstack Blue Iris images to Telegram to keep a history of all objected-detected events in place.

This is a very thorough guide, but I’m going to break it down in a step-by-step for beginners. Even if you’ve never use Blue Iris, Deepstack, or any other local NVR security camera software, you can get this up and running quickly and easily.

Let’s get started!

Prerequisites:

Before you get started, you will need the following items:

• A Windows 10 or Server 2019 computer, preferably an Intel Core i7 with QuickSync (I’m using an AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 2700)
• A couple security cameras setup on your network (I’m using an indoor Amcrest IPM2 and an outdoor Amcrest IP5M turret)
• A copy of the Blue Iris software (lifetime $69.00 cost)

Once you have those 3 items setup and ready to go, you can begin the Blue Iris installation process below.

Step 1: Download and Install Blue Iris

The first step is to purchase a copy of Blue Iris. Once purchased, you can download the full version.

Double-click the blueiris.exe to start the installation.

It will prompt to install any missing prerequisites. Click Next.

Agree to the ToS to install the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable.

Once complete, it’ll bring you back to the Welcome screen. Click Next again and accept the Blue Iris terms and conditions.

Install Blue Iris in the default folder. Then click Install.

Installation only takes a few seconds. Check the Launch Blue Iris 5 box and then click Finish.

A product activation box will popup. If you are using the 15-day free trial, you can just click Demo. Otherwise, enter a product activation code you received after purchasing by clicking Next.

Note: If you don’t want to setup Deepstack for object detection (which is free and open source), you can skip Step 2 and go directly to Step 3. If you do want to install Deepstack, follow Step 2.

Step 2: Install Deepstack

Navigate to this URL: https://docs.deepstack.cc/windows/

Click the Download CPU Link for Windows. There is also a Download link for Nvidea GPU’s, if you’d like to offload the AI detection on your graphics card instead.

Once downloaded, double-click the .exe to run it.

Install Deepstack with all defaults. Click Finish once complete. To launch Deepstack, open Powershell from the Window Start menu.

deepstack --VISION-DETECTION True --PORT 80

Step 3: Launch Blue Iris

Search your computer or server for Blue Iris from the Windows Start button. You can launch either Blue Iris Admin or Blue Iris.

On the top left corner, click the gear to enter the Global settings screen.

For the rest of step 3, I’m going to refer to each section as “tabs”.

About Tab

In the About tab, give your system a name (i.e. – Blue Iris)

In the Software Support and Updates section, it should default to “no automatic updates” by default. If not, you’ll want to turn automatic updates off.

Clips and Archiving tab

For this section, we’ll need to create a few Windows folders where we want the Blue Iris clips and recording footage to be stored. Ideally you’ll want to choose a harddrive with a decent amount of storage.

I’m using my S:\ drive as the target, which is a 690gb SSD array.

Create a new parent folder on your target drive called “BlueIris” (i.e. S:\BlueIris).

Click into your BlueIris folder and create 4 new folders:

• db
• New
• Stored
• Alerts

Next, we need to map the 4 new folders to the “Folders” section in Blue Iris.

“New” Folder

Click the New folder in Blue Iris. Change the path to the path of your “New” Windows folder. Set a limit, uncheck limit clip age, and set to delete. This is basically going to continually record and store footage until your 300gb is reached and then delete the oldest clips. If you have a large NAS or external drive, you could also click the Move to Folder option and archive them there instead of deleting.

Note: The more cameras you have and the higher resolution they are, the more storage space you’ll need.

“Stored” Folder

Since I have my clips set to delete once it hits the 300gb limit, I’m not really going to be using the Stored folder, so I’m setting it to 20gb, unchecking Limit Clip Age, and setting it to Delete. Down the road I may use this folder for exported clips.

“Alerts” Folder

The “Alerts” folder is where all pictures will be stored (including the Deepstack analyzed snapshots).

I set the limit size to 1gb, checked the box to limit the age to 7 days, and set it to Delete.

“db” folder

You will also need to set the path for the Blue Iris database(db).

IMPORTANT: Your “New” and “db” folders should be on a fast, local storage drive (like an internal SSD), but the Stored folder can be on anything you want. The warning in the above screenshot reminds you of that as well.

Users tab

The Blue Iris users tab is is where you can create and limit access. For example, you can non-admin users, limit access to camera groups, set access times, restrict logins on your local network or configure login schedules.

I recommend leaving these as default for now. You can always come back and adjust these later. For now, just create a new user with a secure password, grant it Administrator access, and restrict access to LAN only (since I’m only ever going to access my cameras on my local network or across my WireGuard VPN). If you do plan on accessing your cameras from a remote network, you’ll need to open a firewall port and uncheck the LAN Only box.

After your new admin user has been created, disable the local_console user.

Web Server tab

To access Blue Iris, you can either open it from the desktop app or from a web browser. I primarily use the Blue Iris Admin desktop app to manage or adjust Blue Iris settings and the web server to view my cameras.

Blue Iris will autofill your server’s network information, including IP address and port. This will allow you to log into Blue Iris from an IP address like 192.168.68.137:81 from any browser on your network. Super handy for accessing from your phone. (I recommend going to this URL on your phone, then click your browser settings > Send to Home Screen. This will give you a shortcut on your phone for quick access)

You can leave everything as default here and just delete the remote access URL and uncheck “refresh external IP. Remote Access can configured later on and would be used for sending snapshots as phone push notifications, but I won’t be going over that in this guide.

Startup tab

The only thing you need to change in this tab is checking the box for “Run As A Windows Service”. This will allow Blue Iris to automatically start up after your computer starts and should reduce system resources.

After checking the box, a popup will prompt you for your username and password:

Cameras tab

Ideally, a 6th generation Intel processor or better is recommend. This allows you to use the QuickSync feature to decode footage more efficiently than raw processing. My AMD CPU is more than powerful enough for my two cameras but I still set this option anyways.

For most users, you’ll want to choose Intel + VPP.

AI tab

Check the Use Deepstack server on IP/port option. If you installed Deepstack, then make sure to check the box Auto start/stop with Blue Iris also.

If you didn’t start Deepstack earlier with the Powershell command, click Start Now (Mine shows Stop Now because it’s already running).

I leave everything else with their default settings.

Other Tabs

You’ll probably notice a bunch of other tabs in Blue Iris as well. Those are a little more advanced than I want to go over in this basic installation guide, but in future I will be setting up the Digital IO and IoT tab to configure with my MQTT broker in Home Assistant. That will be a separate guide and I’ll edit this post once I have that setup.

Adding Cameras to Blue Iris

Now comes the fun part: Adding your cameras to Blue Iris local NVR!

As I said earlier, I’m using two Amcrest cameras.

Launch the Blue Iris Admin desktop app if it’s not already open. Right-click the large black box to add a new camera. I’m using the name “drivewaycam” for both the full name and short name.

For the type, choose Network IP.

For the Options, choose Enable Motion Detector and Direct to disc recording. If you’d like your footage to capture audio, you can check the Enable Audio box if you’d like.

After clicking OK, you’ll be brought to a camera configuration screen. This setup will vary slightly depending on your camera manufacturer.

The easiest way to setup the initial configuration is by entering your cameras’ IP address, user, and password in the http:// field.

Then click Find/Inspect. This will autofill the stream profiles for you. (Note: For Reolink and Hikvision cameras, you have to log into the camera and enable the ONVIF option. See The Hook Up’s video for more info on it.)

Under the Advanced section, the only thing I changed is checking the box for Decoder Compatibility Mode.

If you are using an Amcrest like I am, then Amcrest has also put together a handy wiki page I referenced here. Once you click OK, you’ll be brought to the camera customization page, where you can configure things like triggers and alerts.

Video Tab

Here are my settings for the Video tab.

Set your framerate equal to the FPS in your camera (You can view the current FPS logging into your camera using it’s IP address in a web browser).

Then, uncheck Display overlays live and set your Hardware Decode to default.

Audio Tab

If you enabled Audio in the previous step, just make sure to check the box in this tab to enable it. If not, disable it.

Trigger tab

On the main page of the Trigger tab, set yours to match mine.

Click Configure next to Motion Sensor checkbox. Set your options just I like did. Since we are using Deepstack for object detection, you can uncheck object detection on this screen.

Under the When Triggered section, click Artificial Intelligence. For this part, I’m just telling Deepstack to look for “person” with a confidence level of 60%. Deepstack will be analyzing 3 images to determine whether or not it’s a person. There’s a ton of objects you could detect, such as car, truck, boat, bicycle, dog, etc. A full list of detectable objects can be found here. If detecting multiple objects, separate them with a comma and no spaces.

Make sure the Fire “On Alert” box is checked as well as the “Auto-flag confirmed alerts“. I also turned off Burn Label.

Record tab

We are going to configure this tab to use Continuous Recording + Alerts, splitting video into 1 hour files. I am also using a Pre-trigger buffer to record 5 seconds prior to motion being detected. This means Blue Iris will continually record footage until the “New” folder reaches it’s limit (configured to 300gb in the “New” tab section above)

Alerts tab

The only thing you need to change in this tab (for now) is setting the Fire when: to This camera is triggered. You can leave everything else as default.

Remaining tabs

The Webcast, Schedule, PTZ/Control, Watchdog, and Post tabs can be left alone for now.

Your camera is now setup!

Click OK. You should now see the Live Feed of your first camera in Blue Iris.

Testing Object Detection

Now, it’s time to test your Blue Iris + Deepstack NVR. To test, simply walk in front of your camera for a few seconds.

On the left tab, click the dropdown for “Alerts”. I have 5 alerts displayed so far which correspond to the 5 times I walked in front of my camera and Deepstack has detected that I am a “person”.

Basic Blue Iris Usage

Like I said earlier, Blue Iris is now recording 24/7. Once your limit has been reached, it will start to overwrite the old footage. If you’d like to see all recorded footage, change the dropdown to New. Then, double-click a segment to view it. They will be broken up into 1-hour segments as specified in camera settings > Record tab.

At the bottom, you’ll see a flag at the point in time when “person” object was detected:

However, since we are using Deepstack, we’ve configured these events to go into the Alerts folder so we don’t have to manually search through hours of video. So, you can also just switch to the Alerts dropdown, double-click a recording, and view just that clip.

I think it’s also important to explain how Deepstack works in the Alerts folder. If you sit and watch the “Alerts” dropdown, you’ll see it occasionally add an image and then delete it. This is because Deepstack has determined that the image processed isn’t a person. You will still see all images in your S:\BlueIris\Alerts folder. If you want to view just the images Deepstack has detected as a person, you’ll have to view those from within Blue Iris, not your Windows “Alerts” folder.

Remember: We set a 1gb limit on the Alerts folder, so once it hits 1gb, it’ll start deleting the older images.

Motion Rectangles

If you would would like to see motion rectangles around your motion detections and jpeg’s, here’s what you’d change:

Right click a camera > Camera Settings > Trigger tab. Check motion sensor and click Configure. Under Advanced, check Object detection and make sure to highlight “Show object rectangles”.

To see live motion squares on playback, double-click a recorded clip. Right click > Overlays > Add Motion Overlays.

Troubleshooting Deepstack/Blue Iris Detections

During initial setup, Deepstack might not detect the object correctly.

You might get false positives (i.e. – snapshots taken of things other than person, or nothing at all), or it may not trigger person detection. I recommend editing your AI confidence level by clicking the gear on your camera > Trigger tab > Artificial Intelligence:

Then, edit your confidence level here:

Adding Additional Cameras to Blue Iris

At this point, you may be dreading adding extra cameras. However, this is actually super easy. You can basically “copy” the existing settings from your first camera and apply it to any new ones! Really the only things you’ll need to change is the IP address of the extra cameras.

Right-click the black space next to your existing camera. Then click Add New Camera.

Give it a name and choose Copy from Another Camera:

Backup and Export Blue Iris Configuration

Now that you’ve got things setup and working, I highly recommend exporting your Blue Iris configuration. Just on the offchance your computer crashes or you need to reinstall Blue Iris at some point, it would be very useful to not have to setup this up from scratch again.

I recommend backing up to a different drive than where you installed Blue Iris or your recordings, such as a flash drive up uploading to Google Drive.

Click the gear at the very top of Blue Iris Admin. On the General tab, click Export.

Wrapping Up

Hopefully this tutorial helps you setup Blue Iris 5 and Deepstack quickly and easily! I wanted to give a shoutout to The Hook Up’s Youtube video which is where I got a lot of my inspiration and insight on how to set this up properly, so definitely check out his video as well.

I was hoping to setup a local NVR solution using Frigate in Home Assistant, but unfortunately every time I add cameras to my Home Assistant configuration.yaml, my zwave and zigbee networks stop responding correctly. I’m still not sure why. I even setup a 2nd HA instance, connected it to a different switch port, and didn’t use a zwave/zigbee dongle on the 2nd instance.

I’m not even upset that Frigate didn’t end up working for me, as Blue Iris is extremely customizable and works perfectly in my environment.

If you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave them below and I’d be happy to help you out if I can!

<p>The post Blue Iris IP Camera Software Setup Guide first appeared on NVR IPCAMERA SECURITY.</p>

Before you start: Before installing the hard drive disk, please power off the system.

Steps:

1. Loose the five screws, which are fixing the box cover.

2. Push forward the cover to the end and remove it.

3. Connect the hard drive to the DVR System

4. Turn on the DVR and check if it detects the hard drive.
Then, power off the system.

5. Fix the hard drive inside the box.

6. Put screws on to fix the hard drive inside the box.

7. Put the cover back to position and install the screws.

<p>The post All Solutions – How to Install the Hard Disk Drive (HDD)? first appeared on NVR IPCAMERA SECURITY.</p>