Ceptory

Camera setup guide

Connect Analog CCTV, DVRs and NVRs to Ceptory

Analog cameras can't stream on their own, but the DVR they plug into can. Recorders serve each channel over RTSP, so Ceptory Edge can watch an older analog system, or a whole NVR, through one device.

Connect a cameraHow it works

Also covers: Analog and HD-TVI/CVI/AHD cameras, Hybrid recorders.

Recorder formats

RTSP formats by recorder brand

Connect analog CCTV through its DVR, or every camera through one NVR, to Ceptory.

RecorderSub stream of channel N
Hikvisionrtsp://<username>:<password>@<host>:<port>/Streaming/Channels/<channel>02
Pramartsp://<username>:<password>@<host>:<port>/Streaming/Channels/<channel>02
Dahuartsp://<username>:<password>@<host>:<port>/cam/realmonitor?channel=<channel>&subtype=1
CP Plusrtsp://<username>:<password>@<host>:<port>/cam/realmonitor?channel=<channel>&subtype=1
Lorexrtsp://<username>:<password>@<host>:<port>/cam/realmonitor?channel=<channel>&subtype=1
Reolinkrtsp://<username>:<password>@<host>:<port>/h264Preview_<channel, 2 digits>_sub
XMEye / NetSurveillance recordersrtsp://<host>:<port>/user=<username>&password=<password>&channel=<channel>&stream=1.sdp?real_stream
Uniview NVRrtsp://<username>:<password>@<host>:<port>/unicast/c<channel>/s1/live

On the camera

Prepare the stream

  1. 1

    Find the recorder's RTSP format

    Most recorders use their maker's camera format with a channel number: Hikvision recorders use /Streaming/Channels/<channel>02, and Dahua XVRs and NVRs use /cam/realmonitor?channel=<channel>&subtype=1. Open the matching brand guide for the exact URL.

  2. 2

    Add one camera entry per channel

    In edge.toml add a [[cameras]] block for each channel you want Ceptory to watch, with the recorder's IP and that channel number.

  3. 3

    Check the sub stream settings on the recorder

    Set each channel's sub stream to H.264 at about 640×360 and 10 to 15 fps in the recorder's encoding settings.

In Ceptory Edge

Add the camera to edge.toml

Or let the Connect a camera page in your dashboard build this file, including the stream URL, and check each step live.

edge.toml
[ceptory]
url = "https://www.ceptory.com"
api_key = "${CEPTORY_API_KEY}"   # a WRITE key from Dashboard → API keys

[defaults]
index_id = "your-index-id"        # from /dashboard/indexes/<index_id>
upload_mode = "motion"

[[cameras]]
id = "front-entrance"
name = "Front entrance"
url = "rtsp://viewer:${CAMERA_PASSWORD}@192.168.1.64:554/stream"
Check the camera, then start
ceptory-edge check
ceptory-edge run

check opens every stream and reports the codec, resolution and frame rate, so a wrong URL or password shows up before anything is uploaded.

Good to know

Analog CCTV, DVRs and NVRs notes

  • Older recorders can struggle to serve many RTSP streams at once. If channels drop, connect to the IP cameras directly or watch fewer channels per recorder.
  • Connecting through the recorder keeps cameras on their own isolated network (the recorder's PoE ports) while Ceptory Edge sits on the main network.

FAQ

Troubleshooting

Still stuck? Email us your Analog CCTV, DVRs and NVRs model and the error you see, and we'll help you get it streaming.

Contact support

ceptory-edge check says it could not open the stream

Open the same URL in VLC (Media → Open Network Stream) from the edge box. If VLC fails too, the URL, username, password or port is wrong, or RTSP is turned off on the camera. If VLC works, check that nothing on the box blocks outbound connections to port 554.

The camera shows online but no clips arrive

Clips are only sent when something moves. Walk in front of the camera, or lower motion_sensitivity (for example to 0.01) in edge.toml. If the camera's on-screen clock is counted as motion, add it to ignore_regions.

Do I need to open ports on my router?

No. Ceptory Edge runs inside your network, reads the cameras locally, and only makes outbound HTTPS connections to Ceptory. Nothing on the internet can reach your cameras through it.

Does all my footage go to the cloud?

No. Ceptory Edge watches every frame locally and uploads only short clips with activity, with a few seconds of context either side. Still footage stays on your cameras or recorder. You can also set upload_mode to off to send health and snapshots only.

Are camera passwords sent to Ceptory?

No. Stream URLs and passwords stay in edge.toml on your edge box. Ceptory only receives the camera's name, health, an occasional snapshot and the activity clips.

Get started

Search your Analog CCTV, DVRs and NVRs footage in plain language

Connect a camera in a few minutes. Only activity clips are uploaded and indexed.

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