Back up a Uniview NVR, XVR or camera

Uniview (UNV) exposes FTP in the web UI on both cameras and recorders. One thing to know up front: a Uniview recorder's FTP uploads snapshots (JPEG) only — there is no video-clip option there. Standalone Uniview cameras can also upload video.

Applies to: Uniview NVRs, XVRs and IP cameras. menu labels move between firmware versions — verify the exact wording on your device.

1 · Get your login card

Field on the recorder	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 recorder 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 FTP screen

Recorder web UI: Setup → Network → FTP (local monitor menu: Menu → Network → Advanced → FTP). Standalone camera: Setup → Storage → FTP. Enter server ingest.cloudbox.biz, port 21, the card's user and password, remote path /. Test, then Save.

3 · The schedules and the Snapshot action

Heads upUniview needs THREE things per camera or nothing uploads: an Upload Schedule, a Snapshot Schedule, and the triggering event’s action set to Snapshot. And note: VCA / smart events cannot trigger NVR snapshots — use basic Motion.

Per camera, set an Upload Schedule and a Snapshot Schedule covering the hours you care about.
Enable basic Motion per channel and set its action to Snapshot.

NoteThe recorder’s on-disk upload tree — and exactly how it labels the channel (D1 vs camera IP vs name) — is not documented by Uniview. After the first uploads land, send us one real path from the Cameras-tab site log and we confirm the camera mapping.

4 · Confirm

Trigger motion, then press Test connection on the site card. Check the camera labels in the site log; if any look wrong, send us a sample path. More in troubleshooting.

Questions

Does a Uniview recorder upload video to FTP?

No — on Uniview NVRs and XVRs the FTP page uploads snapshots (JPEG) only; there is no video-clip option on the recorder's FTP. Standalone Uniview IP cameras can additionally FTP video. So from a Uniview recorder, expect a burst of stills per event, not clips.

Where is the FTP setting?

Recorder web UI: Setup → Network → FTP; local monitor menu: Menu → Network → Advanced → FTP. Standalone camera: Setup → Storage → FTP. menu labels move between firmware versions — verify the exact wording on your device.

Nothing uploads even though the FTP test passes.

Uniview needs, per camera: an Upload Schedule, a Snapshot Schedule, and the triggering event's action set to Snapshot. Note that VCA / smart events cannot trigger NVR snapshots — use basic Motion. Set all of these, then trigger motion.

How is the camera identified in the upload?

Uniview's path and filename elements are user-configurable (the camera default is [IP]/[yyyyMMddHH] and [IP]-[Date+HHMMSS]-[PhotoNo].jpg). The recorder's on-disk tree — and exactly how it names the channel — is not documented by Uniview. Send us one real upload path during onboarding and we confirm the mapping rather than assume it.

FTPS?

Supported on some Uniview NVR models; assume plain FTP on port 21 unless your model offers explicit TLS. Verify on device.