Supported devices
Guardian ingests from a device's own “upload to FTP” feature. What differs by device is where that setting is and what it sends. This is the honest per-family picture — including where FTP is snapshots-only, local-menu-only, or absent.
| Family | FTP is configured in… | Uploads | Works with Guardian | Caveat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hikvision / HiLook Turbo HD DVR | No FTP — use the Email tab (Network → Advanced Settings → Email) | Event snapshots (.jpg) by email | Yes — by email (snapshots) | Verified: DS-7104HQHI-K1 has no web FTP; Hikvision's DVR manuals list FTP only for firmware upgrade. See the email guide. |
| Hikvision / HiLook / Annke-Vision IP camera or NVR | Web UI (Network → Advanced → FTP; ~V5.8.4 under Event) | Snapshots (.jpg) | Yes (snapshots only) | NVRs often have no FTP page — set FTP per camera instead. |
| Dahua / Lorex / Amcrest | Web UI (Storage → FTP or Network → FTP) | Snapshots (.jpg) + video (.dav + .idx) | Yes | .dav needs Dahua SmartPlayer; channel is the NNN folder in a deep tree. |
| Reolink cameras & NVRs | Web / Client / app (Device Settings → Surveillance → FTP) | Video (.mp4) + snapshots (.jpg) | Yes | Remote Directory: no leading/trailing slash. FTPS yes, SFTP no. Video can be flaky. |
| Uniview (UNV) recorders | Web UI + local menu (Network → FTP) | Snapshots (.jpg) only | Yes (snapshots only) | No video on recorder FTP; VCA can't trigger NVR snapshots. Its IP/date/D<n> tree is documented and files by channel. |
| Uniview cameras | Web UI (Storage → FTP) | Snapshots + video | Yes | Path/filename are user-configurable. |
| Foscam cameras | Web UI / app (Settings → Network → FTP) | Snapshots (.jpg) + video (.mkv) | Yes | No FTPS or SFTP on any line, so the FTP hop is plain; its email screen does support TLS. Only FTP carries video. Uploads to <Model>_<MAC>/snap/ and /record/, filed per device. |
| Foscam NVRs (FN3108E, FN7108E) | Local menu (Menu → Settings → Network → FTP) | Event pictures (.jpg) only — video stays on the HDD | Yes (pictures only) | FTP Address takes ftp://host/dir. Channels separate only if the upload path carries CH01/CH02; capture one real upload to confirm. |
| Foscam NVRs (FN8108H/HE, FN9108H/HE, FNA108H/HE) | No FTP — Email screen only | Event pictures by email | Yes — by email | Foscam removed FTP from this generation; alarm actions are Record Channel, Tour, PTZ Activation, Send Email, Buzzer. |
| Xiongmai / XMeye (older Swann/Annke) | Local menu (NetService → FTP) | .jpg (+ .h264 on some) | Yes, via the local menu (verify on device) | Strip special chars from user/pass/path. No confirmed samples — capture on device. |
| Swann in-house (newer) | Often Dropbox/cloud, FTP may be absent | varies | Verify per model | If no FTP option, cannot ingest natively. |
| Generic / ONVIF / white-label | Vendor-specific; ONVIF defines no FTP | Usually snapshots (.jpg) | Probably — capture one real upload | “ONVIF compatible” says nothing about FTP. No universal path. |
The honest fallback for unknown gear
There is no universal FTP path — “ONVIF compatible” tells you nothing about FTP, and white-label recorders vary. If your device isn't listed, set it up as whichever stack its interface resembles, let the first files arrive, then send us one real upload path from the Cameras-tab site log. We tune the camera mapping from a real sample rather than assuming one.
Questions
Is my recorder supported?
If it has an 'upload to FTP' option, almost certainly — the table on this page shows where FTP lives and what it sends for each family. The exceptions are devices with no FTP at all (some newer Swann push only to Dropbox, and parts of the Hikvision Turbo K/K1 line omit FTP).
Does 'ONVIF compatible' mean it will work?
No. ONVIF is about live video and discovery; it defines nothing about FTP upload. A camera can be fully ONVIF and have no FTP, or have FTP in a vendor-specific place. Check the device's own settings for an FTP or 'upload' option.
My white-label recorder isn't listed.
Set it up as whichever stack its interface resembles (Hikvision, Dahua or a local NetService menu), let the first files land, and send us one real upload path from the site log. We derive the camera mapping from a real sample rather than guessing.