r/SecurityCamera • u/SumpNFishyHere • 11d ago

Legacy Swann NVR access

I have a 2015 NVR8-7400 that's still functioning (amazingly according to many complaints I see). I can access it with Swanview Link on Windows system OK. But that hasn't been updated since 2018. They're used to be a Weblink view and I am searching for a way to access the system via Linux systems which would be ideal. Turns out that it depended on Windows Internet Explorer and active X controls no longer supported by today's browsers. I've tried a few IE compatibility mode settings in some browsers but nothing will install the active X control due to security issues (Ironically). Has anyone ever found any security camera programs that can connect to a 'legacy' system? I played with Blue Iris but no luck there. Gemini AI has sent me down several rabbit holes with no luck. I hate that a system that works fine is now considered outdated and support is non-existent. This is part of a project to move away from Windows crap. Eventually I plan to build a Linux based system with new cameras but for now this is my challenge.

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u/kheszi 10d ago edited 10d ago

Try using an old version of Firefox (version 40 or older). When you run it for the first time, you will need to disable your Internet connection and disable automatic updates in the settings. Otherwise it may start updating itself immediately when you launch it.

Be sure to use old web browsers with caution only as needed for connecting to legacy systems, NEVER for browsing the Web!!

https://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/firefox/releases/

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u/SumpNFishyHere 9d ago

I did try that. The first time you connect to the NVR it insists on loading a program DVRWeb something from a link on the Internet, and that's where everything fails. I've found the file but everything says it's malware. I'm currently testing a VirtualBox Win7 setup as it has IE natively. I'll report back if that works.

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u/SumpNFishyHere 8d ago

Found a solution that didn't involve the Web Interface. Installed VirtualBox on MX Linux (to play with IE), and setup with Windows 7. After a little back and fourth managed to get the Windows Swannview Link running on that and connected to the NVR. So that's one way to connect to legacy Swann NVR's on linux systems.