Uniview NVR — Telnet / TFTP Firmware Recovery
Recovery procedure for a Uniview NVR that will not update normally or will not boot — the firmware is pushed over the network from a TFTP server on your PC.
Recovery use only. This is a last-resort procedure for a recorder that cannot be updated from the menu or over USB. Interrupting it can leave the unit unbootable. If the recorder still boots, use the normal firmware update instead. Contact our support team if you are unsure.
Set up a TFTP server on your PC
Install and run a TFTP server (Tftpd32 or similar) on a PC connected to the same network as the recorder. Confirm the PC and NVR can reach each other before continuing.
Example used below: NVR at 192.168.0.13, PC at 192.168.0.112.
Extract the firmware into the TFTP folder
Decompress the upgrade file and place its contents in the folder the TFTP server is serving.
Telnet to the recorder
Open a telnet session to the NVR's IP address and log in with the service account.
Run the upgrade command
Point the recorder at your PC's IP address:
update -tftp 192.168.0.112 all -f
Replace the address with your PC's actual IP.
Wait for the reboot
Let the process finish and the recorder restart on its own — do not power it off. When it comes back up, log in through the web interface to confirm the new firmware.
Need the firmware file? Get it from the Uniview firmware downloads. The original manufacturer document is available here: NVR telnet upgrade (DOCX).