Updating Hikvision Firmware?

It seems the USB thumb drive is the best way to update this manufacturer's firmware. I go to Hik's North American Tech Support Portal, then to Download, and find the firmware for the particular device I'm updating. I see four or five revisions of the firmware for the device I'm updating. Since you have to update in order, and cannot skip a revision, I download each revision onto the thumb drive. The problem is the file name, they're all the same so you can't have four or five update files with the same filename on your thumb drive. Your OS will add an identifier for you in parenthesis. I tried to add my own identifier instead, in parenthesis, next to "digicap" but the device will return an error message that the file name is incorrect. Your device wants to see "digicap" only, nothing else.

So, if you want to update to the latest, and are 3 or 4 revisions behind, once you update the firmware you need to remove the thumb drive, rename the next revision to "digicap" and reinsert the thumb drive to update to the next revision. Does this sound right, or am I doing something wrong? Is there a more efficient, streamlined, way to do this?

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Undisclosed #2

IPVMU Certified

I see four or five revisions of the firmware for the device I'm updating. Since you have to update in order, and cannot skip a revision...

Where do you see the requirement to apply multiple firmware images instead of just the latest?

Not saying you’re are wrong, just that I’ve never had to do that and can’t locate that instruction in the doc.

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Ethan Ace

In reply to Undisclosed #2

Hik mentions it on the tech portal downloads page:

That being said, it's on the IP camera firmware page, too, and I just updated a camera from 5.3.0 to 5.4.5 without any issues. We're going to test this out and report back.

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Bas Poiesz

Ever tried renaming the files? As long as the keep the .DAV you can use the file. Just number or name them however you like.

Also not all updates are need, depends on the jump.

From 5.3.0 to 5.4.5 is easy, you dont need 5.3.1 and 5.3.1 etc.
From 5.2.0 to 5.4.0 is not possible, they gap in the second number can only be one.

Of course its best to keep the FW handy, if an upgrade doesn't work making a middle step solves it most of the time.

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Donald Gordon

IPVMU Certified

In reply to Bas Poiesz

UI1,

I just create a separate directory for each version and select that file during the upload. I use the firmware version as the directory name.

Don

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Undisclosed Integrator #1

In reply to Donald Gordon

Don,

Your method solves the problem. Before my original post, I made a separate directory for camera updates and one for NVR updates, but wanted all revisions for a selected camera under that camera's directory and the same with the NVR. To differentiate the revisions, I added the revision number to each file and, when trying to update, it failed due to the incorrect filename.

Thank you.

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Undisclosed Integrator #1

Don,

I spoke too soon, and assumed your method would solve my problem. I thought you were referring to the USB thumb drive, but what your post most likely refers to is a directory on your PC. The problem I'm having is transferring all the revisions to a thumb drive. I don't think it's possible to do because the filename "digicap.dav" and "digicap.mav" seem to be the only filenames/types allowed.

It seems quite cumbersome to unzip a .dav or .mav revision to a thumb drive, then insert the thumb drive into the NVR, update, remove the thumb drive, reboot, install a new revision onto the thumb drive, reinsert, update, reboot, remove, repeat, repeat, repeat, etc.,etc. That's a lot of handling of the thumb drive.

Unless I'm missing something, this seems to be the only way to update with the thumb drive.

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Undisclosed #2

IPVMU Certified

So why exactly can’t you create different directories on the thumb drive with just the one digicap.dav file, (as suggested by D.G.)?

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Undisclosed Integrator #1

In reply to Undisclosed #2

I admit, I'm not the most proficient in networking and file management, but I get by with my limited knowledge.

When you write "create difference directories", are you referring to creating "New Folder" on a thumb drive?

I tried creating a New Folder for each revision, and then unzipped the digicap.dav and digicap.mav revisions to their respective folders on the thumb drive.

I inserted the thumb drive into the NVR and I see each folder. I select a folder and click "upgrade" which returns an error message about the filename.

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Undisclosed Integrator #1

Sorry, I meant "create different directories".

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Undisclosed #2

IPVMU Certified

You have it right, except maybe that after you select the folder, you still need to select the digicap file from the directory list (in this case just the one file should be listed).

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Undisclosed Integrator #1

In reply to Undisclosed #2

The problem here is that you'll see the folders listed in the NVR maintenance screen, but you can only select the folder. It does not work like a file management system on a PC where you select the folder then the file(s) become visible. If you have a Hik NVR you can see for yourself what I'm trying to describe.

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Rob Kilpatrick

IPVM • IPVMU Certified

I looked at this in a Hik NVR (9632NI-I8). After I selected the folder it did show me the Digicap.dav file. My suggestion would be to make sure it is looking for the .dav or .mav files, this is located in a dropdown menu to the right of the drive drop down menu. I pointed it out here:

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Undisclosed Integrator #1

In reply to Rob Kilpatrick

Rob,

Yes, this works!! I'm not sure what I did wrong yesterday, but I tried again today it works. I made individual folders with each revision, I loaded these onto a thumb drive and tried it out on one of my NVR's. I was able to update the NVR just fine.

Thanks for your help.

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Rob Kilpatrick

IPVM • IPVMU Certified

Since you have to update in order, and cannot skip a revision, I download each revision onto the thumb drive.

I just tested this on a Hikvison DS-7204HQHI-SH. I Upgraded the DVR from 3.1.12 to 3.1.17 skipping two other firmware revisions and the upgrade worked fine.

I've never ran into a problem where I couldn't upgrade a camera to the latest firmware no matter how old the firmware is.

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Undisclosed Integrator #1

In reply to Rob Kilpatrick

Rob,

That's not the problem, I can upgrade fine from revision to revision. The problem is doing it from a thumb drive and avoiding a cumbersome procedure. Try loading all the revisions for a specific NVR or camera onto a thumb drive. Usually, there are 4 or 5 revisions for a NVR or camera series posted on their site. Load all of those onto a thumb drive. Then put that thumb drive into the NVR as if you're upgrading the firmware and try to select a file to upgrade. The problem should become apparent.

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Ethan Ace

I'm confused, why do you need to load all the revisions for a specific device if you can upgrade directly from oldest to newest (according to our tests)? Why don't you just load the newest and be done with it?

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Undisclosed Integrator #1

In reply to Ethan Ace

I was following the manufacturer's instructions, that you should not skip a revision. In your previous post you mentioned you upgraded from 5.3.0 to 5.4.5 without issue, and that you'd conduct further test and report back. And Jonathan reports something similar. So, I'm not sweating it now.

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Undisclosed #2

IPVMU Certified

In reply to Ethan Ace

...you can upgrade directly from oldest to newest (according to our tests)?

Though according to Jonathan above:

Also not all updates are need, depends on the jump.

From 5.3.0 to 5.4.5 is easy, you dont need 5.3.1 and 5.3.1 etc.
From 5.2.0 to 5.4.0 is not possible, they gap in the second number can only be one.

Have you been able to test the second case?

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Undisclosed #2

IPVMU Certified

It seems the USB thumb drive is the best way to update this manufacturer's firmware.

Why not use the web interface?

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Undisclosed Integrator #1

I installed this system last year and I tried to do that, but for whatever reason this NVR or the customer's network would not cooperate. Got on the phone with Hik Tech Support and they seemed to understand that the web interface may not let you update occasionally, and they were quick to suggest using a USB thumb drive. They tried a remote connect and were also unable to get it to update. So, I used the USB thumb drive and it updated just fine.

To avoid snags like that in the future, I want to pre load firmware revisions on my thumb drive and not have any hiccups.

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Undisclosed Integrator #1