Question for NVR Manufacturers?

[Keyboard]

Question & Suggestion to NVR manufacturers: Why don't NVRs have a special NIC Ethernet port that allows you to access the cameras web interface directly? For example, it would be nice if my HikVision DS-7608NI-I2/8P had:

• 8 POE camera ports;
• 1 LAN Ethernet port; and
• 1 NIC Ethernet port.

This would sure make it a lot easier to login to my cameras connected to the NVR to fine tune configurations not available through the NVR's GUI.

Right now I must unplug a camera then use that POE port to connect my computer to access the remaining cameras via its internal NIC addresses. This is pain-in-the-you-know-what! Especially if your NVR is not easily accessible.

EDIT: See @fenderman and @alastairstevenson virtual host solution to this below.

 

[fenderman]

With newer hikvision nvr's/firmware this can be done with virtual host.

 

[Keyboard]

Hmm ... I'll have to look into and learn about virtual hosts.

 

[alastairstevenson]

Hmm ... I'll have to look into and learn about virtual hosts.

Just enable it via the tickbox under (web GUI) Network | Advanced Settings | Other and use the hyperlinks in the Connect right hand column of System | Camera Management.
And if you have Virtual Host enabled you can also access the PoE-connected cameras directly from the LAN at their native addresses, after you add a suitable static route to your router/gateway.

 

[Keyboard]

Just enable it via the tickbox under (web GUI) Network | Advanced Settings | Other and use the hyperlinks in the Connect right hand column of System | Camera Management.
And if you have Virtual Host enabled you can also access the PoE-connected cameras directly from the LAN at their native addresses, after you add a suitable static route to your router/gateway.

Thanks a bunch @alastairstevenson!!! I just tried it and it worked perfectly. Using my NVR's static route also worked. No more hacking the NVR and laptop to access my cameras.

And thanks to @fenderman for the initial lead to this solution.