Prepare a Hikvision NVR or DVR
Create the Kepto user, turn on event pictures and set the substream to H.264.
Updated 9 October 2026
Do this once, on the recorder's screen or its web page (as the admin).
1. Create a user for Kepto
- Configuration → User Management → Add.
- User name
kepto, a strong password, level Operator (or a custom user). - Give it only Live View, Playback and Notify Surveillance Center / event rights, for all cameras. Don't give configuration, upgrade or shutdown rights.
2. Turn on smart events and event pictures
- For each camera, turn on the events you want (Motion Detection, Line Crossing or Intrusion Detection, with human/vehicle filters where your model has them).
- In the event's Linkage Method, tick Notify Surveillance Center and Upload to FTP/Memory card/NAS (event pictures to the hard disk).
- Keep recording on (continuous or event).
3. Substream
Configuration → Video/Audio → Sub Stream for each camera: Video encoding H.264.
Then go back to the app and continue with Recorder address. Menu names differ slightly between firmware versions.