Avigilon NVR4X User manual

User Guide
Avigilon NVR4X Workstation
NVR4X-WKS-8TB and NVR4X-WKS-4TB

©2021,Avigilon Corporation. All rights reserved. AVIGILON, the AVIGILON logo, AVIGILON CONTROL
CENTER, and ACC are trademarks of Avigilon Corporation. Other names or logos mentioned herein may be
the trademarks of their respective owners. The absence of the symbols ™ and ® in proximity to each
trademark in this document or at all is not a disclaimer of ownership of the related trademark. Avigilon
Corporation protects its innovations with patents issued in the United States of America and other
jurisdictions worldwide (see avigilon.com/patents). Unless stated explicitly and in writing, no license is
granted with respect to any copyright, industrial design, trademark, patent or other intellectual property
rights of Avigilon Corporation or its licensors.
This document has been compiled and published using product descriptions and specifications available at
the time of publication. The contents of this document and the specifications of the products discussed
herein are subject to change without notice. Avigilon Corporation reserves the right to make any such
changes without notice. Neither Avigilon Corporation nor any of its affiliated companies: (1) guarantees the
completeness or accuracy of the information contained in this document; or (2) is responsible for your use
of, or reliance on, the information. Avigilon Corporation shall not be responsible for any losses or damages
(including consequential damages) caused by reliance on the information presented herein.
Avigilon Corporation
avigilon.com
20210907
2

Table of Contents
Introduction 4
Before YouStart 4
Overview 5
Front View 5
Back View 6
Package Contents 7
Installation 8
Connecting Cables 8
Logging into Windows 10 for the First Time 8
Activate the ACC Software and Connect to Avigilon Cloud Services 9
Activate ACC Software and Feature Licenses 9
Connect to Avigilon Cloud Services 9
Reactivating aLicense 10
Troubleshooting 10
Network Configuration 10
Monitoring System Health 11
Operating System Recovery By Avigilon Recovery Partition 11
LED Indicators 13
Power Status Indicator 13
Hard Drive Activity Indicator 13
For More Information 14
3

Introduction
The AvigilonNetwork Video Recorder (NVR) 4X Workstation is preloaded with Avigilon Control Center
(ACC) software and is configured for exceptional performance and reliability. The NVR4X Workstation
offered in small form factor can be easily integrated into any existing Avigilon surveillance system or act as
the base of a new site.
Before YouStart
Avigilon recommends:
lThe use of an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) system to protect your video surveillance system
hardware. A UPS system is used to protect critical equipment from mains supply problems, including
spikes, voltage dips, fluctuations and complete power failures using a dedicated battery. It can also
be used to power equipment during the time it takes for a standby generator to be started and
synchronized.
If possible, the UPS connection should include configuration to shut down the operating system on
the appliance when battery power is low or there is 15 minutes of power remaining.
lCameras should not be connected to the appliance until after the appropriate network configuration
has been set up.
Introduction 4

Overview
Front View
Figure 1: Front view of NVR4X workstation (shown with dust filter accessory)
1. Power button
Controls the power supply to the recorder. For more information, see Power Status Indicator on
page13.
2. Optical drive
Accepts a CD or DVD.
3. SD card slot
Accepts an SD card.
4. Headset port
Accepts a headset connector.
5. USB 2.0 ports
Accepts USB connectors to external devices.
6. USB 3.2 Gen 2 port and USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port
Accepts USB connectors to external devices.
Overview 5

Back View
Figure 2: Rear view of NVR4X workstation
1. Audio port
Accepts a connector to an audio system — line in or line out.
2. DisplayPorts
Accepts DisplayPort connectors to display monitors.
To ensure optimal performance, use the mDP ports instead of these ports.
3. Serial connector
Accepts connections to serial devices.
4. Keyboard port and mouse port
Accepts connectors to a keyboard and mouse.
5. USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports
Accepts USB connectors to external devices.
6. USB 2.0 ports
Accepts USB connectors to external devices.
7. 1 Gigabit Ethernet ports
Accepts Ethernet connections to the network.
8. mDP connectors
Accepts miniDisplayPort connections to display monitors.
Back View 6

9. Power supply connector
Accepts a power supply connection.
Package Contents
Ensure the package contains the following:
lAvigilon NVR4X Workstation
oPower cable
oKeyboard and mouse
o2 x mDP to DP adapters
o2 x mDP to HDMI adapters
Package Contents 7

Installation
Connecting Cables
Refer to the diagrams in Overview on page5 for the location of the different connectors. Make any of the
following connections as required:
1. Connect the keyboard and mouse to the USB connectors on the recorder.
2. Connect the monitors to the dedicated graphics processor on the recorder.
3. Connect the recorder to your network using an Ethernet network cable.
4. Connect the power cable to the power supply at the back of the recorder.
5. Press the power button on the front of the recorder.
The NVR4X Workstation turns on and loads the Windows operating system.
Logging into Windows 10 for the First Time
After the workstation starts, you will need to configure the Windows operating system for the first time.
1. On the first screen, the MICROSOFT SOFTWARE LICENSE TERMS and AVIGILON CONTROL
CENTER™ SOFTWARE END USER LICENSE AGREEMENT are displayed. Review the terms and click
Accept.
2. Select Join a local Active Directory domain.
Note: This prompt appears only if an Active Directory is present on the network. See the
Windows Help and Support files for more information.
3. Enter a user name for the Windows administrator account.
4. Enter a password and password hint for the Windows administrator account and click Next.
Note: Remember the Windows Administrator password. If the Windows Administrator
credentials are lost, you may need to reinstall the operating system again. It is highly
recommended to create a second Administrator user as a backup.
5. Once logged in, the recorder will go through initial system setup, and ask to select the version of
Avigilon Control Center to use:
Installation 8

lUse ACC 7.x.x (recommended). Select this option to use the latest version of the ACC
software.
lDowngrade to ACC 6.x.x. Select this option to downgrade your NVR to version 6.x.x. This
older version of the ACC software will not support newer features such as facial recognition
and the Focus of Attention interface.
You are logged in to the Windows environment. The Avigilon Control Center Admin Tool and the
ACC Client automatically start up.
Note: If you are performing operating system recovery, the ACC Client does not
automatically start up. For more information about running the local ACC installer, see
Operating System Recovery By Avigilon Recovery Partition on page11.
Proceed to activate the license for the Avigilon Control Center software on your Network Video Recorder
Workstation.
Activate the ACC Software and Connect to Avigilon Cloud
Services
After you have deployed your NVR4X Workstation, activate your ACC software and feature licenses and
connect to Avigilon Cloud Services.
Activate ACC Software and Feature Licenses
You can activate, deactivate, and reactivate product or feature licenses. Licenses are called Product Keys in
the ACC system, and Activation IDs in the licensing portal.
Important: When a new server is added to or removed from a multi-server site, the existing site
licenses become inactive and must be reactivated to confirm system changes. See Reactivating
aLicense on the next page
lInitial ACC™ System Setup and Workflow Guide
lACC 7 Help Center
Printable versions of these guides are available on the Avigilon website: avigilon.com/support/software/.
Once your license is activated, you can immediately use the new licensed features.
Connect to Avigilon Cloud Services
After activating your ACC software, you can connect your ACC site to the cloud, which may require a
subscription, and take advantage of the capabilities and features that provide centralized access across
distributed systems.
Activate the ACC Software and Connect to Avigilon Cloud Services 9

To connect your site to Avigilon Cloud Services, see help.avigilon.com/cloud.
For information about the cloud services, see Avigilon Cloud Services Support.
You can start to back up the system settings for your new site in the ACC Client software after it is
configured. These settings include the ACC password, and the settings for the camera connections. For
more information on backing up the site and server configurations, see the Avigilon ACC Client User Guide.
Reactivating aLicense
FOR ENTERPRISE EDITION
When servers are added to or removed from a site, the site licenses become inactive and must be
reactivated to confirm system changes.
If you do not reactivate the affected licenses, the site will stop normal operations.
1. In the New Task menu , click Site Setup.
2. Click the site name, then click .
3. Click Reactivate Licenses….
If you have Internet access:
1. Click Reactivate Licenses.
2. Click OK to confirm your changes.
If you do not have Internet access:
1. Select the Manual tab.
2. Click Save File… and choose where you want to save the .key files.
3. Copy the .key files to a computer with internet access:
1. Go to activate.avigilon.com.
2. Click Choose File and select the .key file.
3. Click Upload. A capabilityResponse.bin file should download automatically.
If not, allow the download to occur when you are prompted.
4. Complete the product registration page to receive product updates from Avigilon.
5. Copy the .bin file to a computer running the ACC Client software.
4. In the License Management dialog box, click Apply….
5. Select the .bin file and click Open.
6. Click OK to confirm your changes.
Troubleshooting
Network Configuration
By default, the NVR4X Workstation acquires an IP address on the network through DHCP. If you need to set
up the workstation to use a static IP address or any specific network configuration, see the Windows Help
and Support files for more information.
Reactivating aLicense 10

Monitoring System Health
You can monitor the health of the system components in the Site Health in the ACC Client software. See the
Help files provided with the ACC Client software, or the Avigilon ACC Client User Guide available from the
Avigilon website for more information.
Operating System Recovery By Avigilon Recovery Partition
If you need to recover the Windows operating system, the NVR4X Workstation includes an onboard Avigilon
recovery partition that is separate from the operating system partition. The advantage of using the Avigilon
recovery partition is that you do not need an internet connection to download the recovery image and you
do not need to create a bootable USB recovery device.
Important: Your operating system drive will be erased and restored to factory settings. Before you
proceed with operating system recovery, complete any necessary backups of custom ACC
configuration and video recordings. For more information about ACC software backups, see
avigilon.com/recovery.
Note: After operating system recovery, you need to reinstall the previously installed ACC software.
Depending on when your NVR4X Workstation was shipped, it is recommended that you connect to
the network when possible to install updates for Windows and ACC Client software after system
recovery is completed. For more information about ACC software installations, see
avigilon.com/recovery.
1. Start operating system recovery in one of the following ways:
lOn your Windows desktop, select and then hold down the Shift key and select Restart.
lOn your locked Windows screen, select and then hold down the Shift key and select
Restart.
lDuring direct boot of the operating system, repeatedly press the down-arrow key and select
the partition.
2. On the Choose an option screen, select Use another operating system.
3. Select the OS Recovery partition.
Monitoring System Health 11

4. On the Avigilon Recovery window, select Recover.
Allow up to half an hour for the recovery to complete.
5. After system reboot, complete the Windows setup process.
6. Navigate to C:\Avigilon\Control Center Installation Files, and run the ACC installer
for the version of ACC software in use at your site.
If needed, connect to the internet and download the required ACC installers.
7. After reinstalling the ACC software, reactivate the ACC licenses.
For more information about reinstalling and reactivating the ACC software, see
avigilon.com/recovery.
Operating System Recovery By Avigilon Recovery Partition 12

LED Indicators
The following table describes what the LEDs on the recorder indicate. For more information on the location
of the indicators, see Overview on page5.
Power Status Indicator
The power button indicator on the front of the recorder provides power and system state information. The
following table describes what the power button LED indicates:
LED Indicator Description
Off Power supply is not connected or the recorder is off.
Flashing white Power is being supplied and the recorder is in sleep state.
Flashing green There is a known problem with the power supply unit.
Steady green There is an unknown problem with the power supply unit.
Steady white The power supply unit is working and the recorder is powered on.
Hard Drive Activity Indicator
The hard drive activity indicator on the front of the recorder functions to provide information on the status of
the hard drive. The following table describes what the hard drive activity LED indicates:
LED Indicator Description
Off Hard drive is not being used.
Flashing white Data is being read or written.
Limited Warranty
Avigilon warranty terms for this product are provided at avigilon.com/warranty.
LED Indicators 13

For More Information
For additional product documentation and software and firmware upgrades, visit avigilon.com/support.
Technical Support
Contact Avigilon Technical Support at avigilon.com/contact.
For More Information 14