Back up a Dahua NVR or DVR to the cloud
Dahua recorders upload recordings and snapshots to an FTP server on a per-channel schedule. Point it at CloudBox Guardian and motion clips are stored off-site in the UK, sealed on arrival.
Applies to: Dahua NVRs, XVRs/DVRs and IP cameras with the web interface, and Dahua-made brands such as Lorex and Amcrest. Menu wording differs slightly between firmware versions; the fields are the same.
1 · Get your login card
In your CloudBox dashboard → Cameras, add a site and write down the 24-word recovery kit. The login card looks like this:
| Field on the DVR | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Server / Host / Server Address | ingest.cloudbox.biz |
| Port | 21 |
| User name | the site's site_… login from your Cameras tab |
| Password | the password shown once when you created the site (issue a new one from the site card if you lost it) |
| Directory / Remote path | / — any directory structure the DVR wants to create is fine |
| Mode | Passive (PASV), if asked. No inbound ports are opened on your network. |
| Encryption | FTPS / explicit TLS if your model offers it; otherwise plain FTP |
2 · Enter it on the recorder
Open the recorder's web interface and go to Setting → Storage → FTP (older firmware: Setup → Network → FTP; on the local menu: Main Menu → Storage → FTP).
- Tick Enable. Where the screen offers a protocol, choose FTP (not SFTP).
- Server Address (or Host IP)
ingest.cloudbox.biz· Port21 - User Name / Password: from the card. Remote Directory:
/. The recorder will create device / date / channel folders by itself, which is exactly what Guardian expects. - File Length: 2–5 minutes. Shorter files upload sooner after an event and are quicker to restore.
- Image Upload Interval: leave the default unless you specifically want snapshots.
Press Test: it should report success. Then Save (or Apply).
3 · Choose what gets uploaded
The lower half of the FTP screen is a schedule table. For each Channel, pick the Weekday (or All) and a Time Period, then tick what to upload:
- MD (motion detection) and Alarm under Record — the recommended setting, and what the free tier is sized for.
- General uploads continuous recordings: roughly 650 GB per camera per month. Only with a large plan.
- Snapshot columns upload pictures at the interval above.
Motion detection itself must be on for each channel: Setting → Event → Video Detection → Motion Detection, enable, set the region and schedule, save.
.dav container on most models (some offer .mp4). After Decrypt & save in CloudBox, .dav files play in Dahua Smart Player (free) or VLC.4 · Trigger motion and confirm
Walk in front of a camera and wait for the File Length to elapse. In CloudBox, press Test connection on
the site card: it shows the login, the first clip and the cameras detected. Dahua files land in folders like
/NVR-Shop/2026-09-09/3/…; Guardian reads the channel folder, so that one is camera-3.
If something does not work
- Test fails: check the recorder's DNS (Setting → Network → TCP/IP), that the protocol is FTP not SFTP, and that outbound port 21 is not blocked.
- “Login failed” in the CloudBox Test loop: re-enter the password, or issue a new one from the site card.
- Logged in but nothing arrives: the schedule table has nothing ticked for the current weekday and time, or motion detection is off for the channel.
- More in Why has my DVR stopped uploading?
Questions
Does a Dahua recorder upload video to FTP, or just pictures?
Both. On the FTP screen you choose, per channel and time period, whether Alarm, MD (motion detection) and General (continuous) recordings and snapshots are uploaded. File Length sets how long each uploaded recording is; 2–5 minutes keeps uploads quick.
What format are Dahua clips in?
Usually Dahua's own .dav container; some models can upload .mp4. After Decrypt & save, .dav files open in Dahua's free Smart Player or in VLC. Guardian seals and stores either without caring about the format.
Should I choose FTP or SFTP?
FTP. Guardian speaks FTP and explicit FTPS (AUTH TLS); SFTP is a different protocol and is not supported yet. If your model has an encryption option on the FTP protocol, turn it on; if not, plain FTP is fine, because footage is sealed the moment it reaches CloudBox.
Does this work with Lorex, Amcrest and other Dahua-made recorders?
Yes. They run Dahua firmware and have the same FTP screen, sometimes under Setup → Network → FTP on older versions.
How does Guardian know which camera a clip came from?
Dahua uploads into folders named device / date / channel number. Guardian reads the channel folder, so channel 3 files under camera-3.