Avigilon Premium NVR5 Series User manual

Installation Guide
Avigilon NVR5 Premium
NVR5-PRM-96TB-S19, NVR5-PRM-128TB-S19,
NVR5-PRM-160TB-S19

©2022,Avigilon Corporation. All rights reserved. AVIGILON, the AVIGILON logo, AVIGILON CONTROL
CENTER, and ACC are trademarks of Avigilon Corporation. Microsoft and Windows are trademarks of the
Microsoft group of companies. Dell is a trademark of Dell Inc. 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.
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
20220429
2

Table of Contents
Introduction 5
Before YouStart 5
Overview 5
Front View (96TB - 160TB) 5
Back View (96TB, 128TB, 160TB) 7
Package Contents 8
Installation 9
Connect Cables 9
Install the Sliding Rack Rails and Cable Management Arm 9
Install the Bezel 10
Log into Windows Server for the First Time 11
Activate the ACC Software and Connect to Avigilon Cloud Services 12
Activate ACC Software and Feature Licenses 12
Connect to Avigilon Cloud Services 12
Reactivating aLicense 12
Troubleshooting 13
Network Configuration 13
Monitoring System Health 13
Operating System Recovery By Avigilon Recovery Partition 13
Operating System Recovery By External USB 15
Maintenance 16
Checking System Health 16
ACC Client Site Health 16
Server Administrator Software System Health 16
Replacing Hard Drives 17
Guidelines 17
Replacing a Hard Drive Blank 18
Replacing Front or Back Hard Drives 20
Replacing Center Hard Drives 20
LED Indicators 23
Diagnostic Indicators 23
iDRAC Direct LED Indicators 24
Power Status Indicators 24
Network Link Status Indicators 25
3

Hard Drive RAID Status Indicators 26
System Health and Identification Modes 27
Resetting the iDRAC System 27
For More Information 29
Product User Guides 29
4

Introduction
The Avigilon Network Video Recorder (NVR5 Premium FIPS Series) is preloaded with Avigilon Control Center
(ACC) software and is configured for exceptional performance and reliability. The Network Video Recorder
offered in higher data storage capacities 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.
Overview
Front View (96TB - 160TB)
Introduction 5

1. Bezel
Protects against unauthorized physical access to the hard drives.
For more information, see Install the Bezel on page10.
2. Power button
Controls the power supply to the recorder.
3. Video connector
Accepts a VGA monitor connection.
4. USB 2.0 port
Accepts USB connectors to external devices.
96TB, 128TB and 160TB recorders include one port.
5. iDRAC Direct micro USB port and iDRAC Direct LED indicator
Connects a laptop or desktop computer on the same network as the Integrated Dell™ Remote Access
Controller (iDRAC) version 9.
For more information about the iDRAC web interface, see the information tag on your recorder and the
Enabling iDRAC Enterprise Features Setup Guide (link).
6. Diagnostic indicators
Provides information about system operations.
For more information about the above LED indicators, see LED Indicators on page23.
7. System health and system identification button
Displays the system health. Also identifies a recorder deployed in a rack with other equipment.
For more information, see System Health and Identification Modes on page27.
8. Twelve (12) Hard drives
Provides access to hot-swappable hard drives. There are LED indicators on each hard drive.
Some drives may contain an empty hard drive tray.
9. Information tag (top and bottom views are not shown)
Slides out to provide the serial number, system information, and iDRAC account credentials for initial
login to the iDRAC web interface.
Front View (96TB - 160TB) 6

Back View (96TB, 128TB, 160TB)
Figure 1: Back view of NVR5 Premium 96TB, 128TB and 160TB recorder
1. Two (2) 1 Gbps Ethernet ports
Accepts Ethernet connections to multiple networks and includes LEDindicators of the connections.
2. Out-of-Band Management (OOBM) port
Accepts an OOBM RJ-45 connection and includes an LEDindicator of the connection.
3. Keyboard port and mouse port
Accepts connectors to a keyboard and mouse.
4. Two (2) 10Gbps SFP+ Ethernet ports
Accepts Ethernet connections to multiple networks and includes LEDindicators of the connections.
5. Video connector
Accepts connections to serial devices.
6. Two (2) Power supply connectors
Accepts a power supply connection.
7. Four (4) 1 Gbps Ethernet ports
Accepts Ethernet connections to multiple networks and includes LEDindicators of the connections.
8. System identification button
Identifies a recorder deployed in a rack with other equipment. Also resets the iDRAC web interface
without rebooting the operating system.
For more information about the iDRAC reset, see the Enabling iDRAC Enterprise Features Setup
Guide (link).
For more information about the above LED indicators, see LED Indicators on page23.
Back View (96TB, 128TB, 160TB) 7

Package Contents
Ensure the package contains the following:
lAvigilon NVR5 Premium Recorder
lRack sliding rail assembly kit
lCable management arm assembly kit
lBezel and key
lPower cables
l2 x C13 / C14
l2 x region specific
NA: NEMA 5-15P / C13
UK: BS 1363 / C13
EU: SCHUKO / C13
AU: AS3112 / C13
Package Contents 8

Installation
Connect Cables
Refer to the diagrams in the Overview section for the location of the different connectors. Make the following
connections as required:
1. Connect a KVM switch or separate keyboard, mouse and monitor to the recorder.
lThe keyboard and mouse can be connected to any USB port on the recorder.
lThe monitor can be connected to any video connector at the front or back of the recorder.
2. Connect the recorder to your network by plugging an Ethernet cable into one of the Ethernet ports.
3. For out-of-band management access and functionality, connect Ethernet cable to the OOBM
connector.
4. Connect a power cable to each power supply at the back of the recorder.
5. Press the power button on the front of the recorder. Check that the recorder LED indicators display the
correct status. For more information on the different LED status indicators, see LED Indicators on
page23.
Install the Sliding Rack Rails and Cable Management Arm
If the recorder will be mounted in a server rack, install the Sliding Rack Rails and the Cable Management Arm
(CMA) provided in the recorder package. Follow the procedures outlined in the Rack Installation Instructions
and the CMA Installation Instructions provided in the assembly kits.
Note: When rack-mounting the recorder, ensure no interference occurs from the sliding arms of
adjacent equipment in the rack. Every sliding rack rail on the server rack must be aligned before you
insert the recorder into the rail for a smooth installation. For more information, refer to the
dimensions in your server rack design documentation.
Installation 9

Install the Bezel
The bezel can be installed on the front of the recorder to help protect the hard drives against unauthorized
access.
1. Align and insert the right end of the bezel until it clicks into place.
2. Push the left end of the bezel into the front of the unit until it clicks into place.
Install the Bezel 10

Log into Windows Server for the First Time
Windows Server 2019
After the recorder powers up, you will need to configure the Windows operating system for the first time.
1. On the first screen, scroll through the list and select your preferred language.
Figure 2: The language selection screen during initial Windows software set up. (Used with permission from Microsoft.)
2. Select the country/region, preferred app language and keyboard layout, and then click Next.
NOTE: If a language other than English is selected, the server will restart. This is normal Windows
behavior. Proceed with step 3 once the server has finished restarting.
3. Select the Desktop Experience version of the operating system and click Next.
4. The End User License agreements are displayed. Review the terms and click Accept.
5. On the Customize settings screen, set a password for the local administrator account.
The password should:
lHave a minimum length of 7 characters.
lMeet complexity requirements. See https://technet.microsoft.com/en-
ca/library/cc956977.aspx for details.
You cannot reuse your last 24 passwords.
The password will expire in 42 days.
6. Press Ctrl+Alt+Delete to unlock and type in the credentials created in the previous step.
7. Once logged in, the recorder will go through initial system setup.
8. The Setup dialog will start configuring the system storage. This process may take up to 5- 10 minutes
depending on the size of the storage volume.
9. Once the setup procedure is complete, the system will restart.
Proceed to activate the license for the Avigilon Control Center software on your Network Video Recorder.
Log into Windows Server for the First Time 11

Activate the ACC Software and Connect to Avigilon Cloud
Services
After you have deployed your NVR5 Premium recorder, 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 below.
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.
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.
Activate the ACC Software and Connect to Avigilon Cloud Services 12

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 NVR5 Premium 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.
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 NVR5 Premium 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.
Troubleshooting 13

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 NVR5 Premium 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.
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.
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.
For more information about setting up a Windows Server 2019 operating system, see Log into
Windows Server for the First Time on page11.
Note: During the Windows setup steps, you will not be asked to choose a version and install
Operating System Recovery By Avigilon Recovery Partition 14

the ACC software. The ACC software installation is covered in the following step.
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.

Operating System Recovery By External USB
If you need to recover the Windows operating system on the Network Video Recorder and you have access
to the internet, download the latest Avigilon Recovery Image from avigilon.com/recovery and refer to
Support and Downloads for the following information:
lMinimum size of the USB recovery device
lCreating an external USB recovery device
lRecovering the operating system from an external USB recovery device
The general steps are:
1. Load the Avigilon Recovery Image onto a USB recovery device.
For the instructions on creating a USB recovery device, see the Windows Upgrade and Recovery
Guide for Avigilon Systems (link).
2. Plug the USBrecovery device into the recorder.
3. Press the F11 key while booting the recorder.
4. On the UEFI Boot menu, select the USB recovery device.
Operating System Recovery By External USB 15

Maintenance
Checking System Health
You can check your system health through the ACC Client Site Health or with the Server Administrator
software.
ACC Client Site Health
You can check on the health of the system components in the Site Health in the ACC Client software. See
Site Health in the ACC Client User Guide for more information.
Server Administrator Software System Health
The Server Administrator software is pre-installed on the recorder. The software provides information about
the recorder’s system operation status, and gives you remote access to the recorder for recovery operations.
If one of the LED indicators on the recorder is flashing an error warning, the Server Administrator will display
details about the problem. For more information about the LED indicators, see LED Indicators on page23.
1. Open the Server Administrator.
lTo open the Server Administrator locally, double-click the Server Administrator shortcut icon
on the desktop.
lTo open the Server Administrator remotely, open a web browser and enter this address:
https://<recorder IP Address>:1311/.
For example: https://192.168.1.32:1311/ or https://localhost:1311/.
If you are using an intranet connection, your browser may display an error message. Allow the browser
to ignore the certificate warnings.
2. If asked to log in, enter the Windows software administrator username and password that was
configured for the recorder.
3. On the Server Administrator home page, the health of the system components are displayed in the
workspace on the right.
lTo see the health of other system components, expand and select a different component from
the System Tree on the left.
lThe table displayed in the workspace lists system components and their status:
The system component is running normally.
The system component has a non-critical warning.
The system component has a critical failure.
The system component status is unknown.
lTo see the details of a system component, select the system component from the workspace.
The Server Administrator is also used to customize the Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID)
Maintenance 16

settings, assign a hot spare and remotely monitor the system health. For more information about the features
in the Server Administrator, see the Help system provided in the software.
Replacing Hard Drives
Note: Before powering down the recorder for any upgrade, recovery or maintenance, back up
critical recorder data and programs. For more information, see the Windows™ Upgrade and Recovery
Guide for Avigilon Systems (link).
The operating system and the Avigilon Control Center software are mirrored on two hard drives at the back of
the recorder. If one of the hard drives fail, you can replace the failed drive while the recorder continues to run
from the other.
If your recorder is still under warranty, contact Avigilon Technical Support to replace the failed hard drive.
If more than two hard drives fail at the same time, contact Avigilon Technical Support immediately for
recovery instructions.
Only replace a hard drive if the hard drive LED indicator and the Server Administrator displays an error.
1. Open the Server Administrator.
2. Check which hard drive has failed, then disconnect the drive through the Server Administrator
software.
Hard drives are installed at the front, back and in the middle of the recorder. Be sure you can identify
which hard drive needs to be replaced.
3. If you are replacing a hard drive at the center of the recorder, shut down the recorder then disconnect
all cables.
Note: Skip this step if you plan to hot-swap a hard drive at the front or back of the recorder.
4. Remove the bezel.
5. Depending on where the hard drive is located, perform one of the following procedures:
Guidelines
When replacing hard drives, observe the following general guidelines:
lIf only one drive is used, install the drive in the drive bay with the lowest device number. For example:
Replacing Hard Drives 17

WARNING — Opening or removing the system cover while the system is powered on may expose you
to a risk of electric shock.
CAUTION — Do not operate the system without the cover for a duration exceeding five minutes.
Operating the system without the system cover can result in component damage.
CAUTION — To ensure proper operation and cooling, all bays in the system and system fans must be
always populated with a component or a blank.
Replacing a Hard Drive Blank
The hard drives on the Network Video Recorder are set up in a RAID configuration. This allows information to
be recorded across several hard drives.
If one or two hard drives fail, there is enough information on the other hard drives for the recorder to continue
recording video.
Depending on the recorder model, there may be hard drive blanks at the front of the recorder. You can
replace the blanks with hard drives as required.
1. Remove the bezel.
a. Unlock the bezel.
b. Push the release button next to the lock.
c. Pull the left end of the bezel then unhook the right end to remove the bezel.
Replacing a Hard Drive Blank 18

2. Press the release button and slide the blank out of the hard drive slot.
3. Insert the hard drive all the way into the recorder then push the handle against the hard drive to lock it
into place.
4. Open the Server Administrator application and expand the System Tree.
The new hard drive should be automatically added to the Physical Disks list. The list is typically
available here:System > Storage > PERC H740P Mini (Embedded) > Connector 0 (RAID) >
Enclosure (Backplane) > Physical Disks.
5. Assign a task to the new hard drive or allow it to exist as an extra storage drive.
It is recommended to use the new hard drive as a hot spare. Hot spares are hard drives that are
available on standby in the event of a hard drive failure in the RAID. If that occurs, you can configure
the system to automatically redirect recording to the unused hard drive.
To assign the new hard drive as a hot spare:
a. In the Task list, select Assign and Unassign Global Hot Spare.
b. Click Execute.
If the new hard drive is not displayed in the Server Administrator, try one of the following:
lRefresh the browser.
lReboot the recorder.
Replacing a Hard Drive Blank 19

Replacing Front or Back Hard Drives
1. Locate the failed hard drive at the front or back of the recorder.
2. Press the release button on the front left of the hard drive.
3. When the handle is released, pull the hard drive out of the recorder.
4. Remove the four screws from the side of the hard drive carrier.
5. Lift the failed hard drive out of the carrier.
6. Insert a new hard drive into the carrier then screw it into place. The hard drive connectors should face
the back.
7. When the hard drive is secured in the carrier, insert the hard drive back into the recorder.
8. Once the hard drive is inserted all the way in, push the handle against the hard drive to lock it into
place.
The recorder immediately starts rebuilding the hard drive. The progress is displayed in the Server
Administrator. This may take several hours.
Replacing Center Hard Drives
To replace a hard drive stored in the middle of the recorder, complete the following steps:
Replacing Front or Back Hard Drives 20