Why does the Dahua firmware upgrade process suck?

[MacFun]

The procedure for Dahua firmware upgrades really sucks. Jumping through the hoops..... 1) locate the firmware and DL; 2) Log into cam GUI; 3) save config; 4) reboot cam; 5) install new firmware; 6) factory reset; 7) find your cam on a subnet you are not normally using; 8) update settings.... WHEW! Now do that for a dozen cams.... now do that for a dozen clients...... Really?!?!?

Now, I know that some other cameras like UNIFI, the firmware updates are a delight. Are all Chinese cams equally difficult?

I look forward to your reply. Yes, there must be a better way. With this setup almost no one will be upgrading firmware.

R

 

[giomania]

The procedure for Dahua firmware upgrades really sucks. Jumping through the hoops..... 1) locate the firmware and DL; 2) Log into cam GUI; 3) save config; 4) reboot cam; 5) install new firmware; 6) factory reset; 7) find your cam on a subnet you are not normally using; 8) update settings.... WHEW! Now do that for a dozen cams.... now do that for a dozen clients...... Really?!?!?

Now, I know that some other cameras like UNIFI, the firmware updates are a delight. Are all Chinese cams equally difficult?

I look forward to your reply. Yes, there must be a better way. With this setup almost no one will be upgrading firmware.

R

Agreed it is a challenge, but set up your network properly and resign yourself to the fact that you just don’t need to update. I know it is hard I always want to update things but for cameras I just don’t bother.

If you have your network properly set up with your cams segregated and unable to reach the Internet and the Internet unable to reach cameras, there is no need to apply those security patch updates.

Mark


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

 

[MacFun]

Agreed it is a challenge, but set up your network properly and resign yourself to the fact that you just don’t need to update. I know it is hard I always want to update things but for cameras I just don’t bother.

If you have your network properly set up with your cams segregated and unable to reach the Internet and the Internet unable to reach cameras, there is no need to apply those security patch updates.

Hi Mark, I understand, but I might want to update to the latest official release. Why are we jumping through these hoops, because we are using international cams in North America? I just spent hours reminding myself how to get access to the cams, read the cliff notes, downloaded a document from Andy in Word format that was converted to Pages (I don't use MS products), then the links failed to work. It turns out there are 9 pages of discussion regarding various recent firmware versions, one guy reports that is autofocus no longer works... So I just burned hours on this.... I still don't know which firmware I can depend upon. And, again, why are we getting the firmware from a guy in a back alley in China? Is there no official Dahua distribution? And if that's not enough, the firmware for Dahua labeled VS non labeled cams are different? Do you know the significance of this difference. The more I think about this whole situation, it seems to be not sustainable.

Thanks, I look forward to your thoughts.

Robert

 

[samplenhold]

the firmware for Dahua labeled VS non labeled cams are different?

The difference is that the non-labeled cams do not say 'Dahua' they just say 'IP Camera' in the firmware/web GUI.

 

[dahukvision]

why are we getting the firmware from a guy in a back alley in China? Is there no official Dahua distribution?

Dahua, like Hikvision, is an OEM for white label and other distributors and they seem perfectly happy in that role. They don't need to interact with customers directly... so they don't.

We use the most reliable sources we have, and Andy is one of those sources.

Again it boils down to not bothering to do firmware upgrades, certainly not brand new ones, unless they contain a fix for something you can't do without.

Most of the rebranding companies don't issue updates at all, or do so only when absolutely necessary, and only for newer models.