Firmware

Upgrading Your HIKVision DVR Firmware using the API: A Step-by-Step Guide

 in HowTos  tagged api / Firmware / hikvision / ISAPI / upgrade by

Regularly updating the firmware of your HIKVision DVR (Digital Video Recorder) is crucial to ensure optimal performance and security. In this blog post, we will walk you through the process of upgrading your HIKVision DVR firmware using simple command-line tools like curl. We will also show you how to check the upgrade status to ensure a smooth and successful update.

Step 1: Preparing for the Upgrade

Before you begin, make sure you have the following information and files ready:

  • Your HIKVision DVR’s IP address (e.g., 10.20.30.1).
  • The username and password for accessing your DVR’s web interface.
  • The latest firmware file in DAV format (e.g., digicap.dav). Ensure you download this file from the official HIKVision website to guarantee its authenticity.

Step 2: Initiating the Firmware Upgrade

To start the firmware upgrade process, open your terminal or command prompt and use the curl command as follows:

curl -k --request PUT --data-binary "@digicap.dav" 'http://username:[email protected]/ISAPI/System/updateFirmware';

Explanation:

  • curl: This is a command-line tool for transferring data with URLs.
  • -k: This option tells curl to allow connections to SSL sites without certificates. It’s useful when connecting to devices with self-signed certificates.
  • --request PUT: This specifies the HTTP request method as PUT, which is used for updating the firmware.
  • --data-binary "@digicap.dav": Here, we provide the firmware file in DAV format as binary data.
  • 'http://username:[email protected]/ISAPI/System/updateFirmware': Replace username and password with your DVR’s login credentials, and 10.20.30.1 with your DVR’s IP address. This URL is where the firmware update request is sent.

Step 3: Checking the Upgrade Status

To monitor the status of the firmware upgrade and ensure everything is proceeding as expected, use the following curl command:

curl -k 'http://username:[email protected]/ISAPI/System/upgradeStatus';

Explanation:

  • curl: As before, this is the command-line tool for making URL requests.
  • -k: Again, this option allows connections to SSL sites without certificates.
  • 'http://username:[email protected]/ISAPI/System/upgradeStatus': Replace the placeholders with your DVR’s login credentials and IP address. This URL is where you can check the upgrade status.

Conclusion: Updating your HIKVision DVR’s firmware is essential for keeping it secure and running smoothly. By following these simple steps and using the curl commands provided, you can ensure that your DVR is up to date with the latest firmware. Remember to download firmware updates only from trusted sources like the official HIKVision website to avoid any security risks.

Sample Outputs

$ curl  -k  --request PUT --data-binary "@digicap.dav" 'http://username:[email protected]/ISAPI/System/updateFirmware';
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" ?>
<ResponseStatus version="1.0" xmlns="urn:psialliance-org">
<requestURL>/ISAPI/System/updateFirmware</requestURL>
<statusCode>7</statusCode>
<statusString>Reboot Required</statusString>
<subStatusCode>rebootRequired</subStatusCode>
</ResponseStatus>

# In another terminal as the above command blocks.
#Execute the status command.
$ curl  -k  'http://username:[email protected]/ISAPI/System/upgradeStatus';
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" ?>
<upgradeStatus version="1.0" xmlns="http://www.hikvision.com/ver20/XMLSchema">
<upgrading>true</upgrading>
<percent>98</percent>
</upgradeStatus>

$ curl  -k  'http://username:[email protected]/ISAPI/System/upgradeStatus';
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" ?>
<upgradeStatus version="1.0" xmlns="http://www.hikvision.com/ver20/XMLSchema">
<upgrading>false</upgrading>
<percent>0</percent>
</upgradeStatus>

Upgrade O.MG Cable Firmware in Ubuntu GNU/Linux

 in Bash / GNU/Linux  tagged bash / Firmware / flash / GNU/Linux / O.MG / O.MG Cable / ubuntu by

The O.MG Cable is a popular tool for security professionals and enthusiasts, offering a covert way to gain access to a target device. To ensure its optimal performance and take advantage of new features and security enhancements, it’s important to keep the firmware up to date. In this blog post, we will guide you through the process of upgrading the firmware of an O.MG Cable on a GNU/Linux Ubuntu system using a set of simple commands.

Step 1: Installing pySerial

The first step is to install the pySerial library, which allows communication with serial ports. Open a terminal and execute the following command:

sudo pip3 install pyserial;

This command will install pySerial and its dependencies on your system. You may be prompted to enter your password to proceed with the installation.

Step 2: Cloning the O.MG-Firmware Repository

Next, we need to obtain the O.MG-Firmware repository from GitHub. Change to the desired directory in the terminal and execute the following command:

git clone https://github.com/O-MG/O.MG-Firmware;

This command will create a local copy of the O.MG-Firmware repository on your machine.

Step 3: Navigating to the O.MG-Firmware Directory

Change into the newly created O.MG-Firmware directory by running the following command:

cd O.MG-Firmware/;

This command ensures that you are in the correct directory to proceed with the firmware upgrade.

Step 4: Plugging in the O.MG Cable

Before flashing the firmware, plug in the O.MG Cable to your computer’s USB port. Ensure that the cable is properly connected and recognized by the system.

Step 5: Flashing the Firmware

To initiate the firmware upgrade process, execute the following command:

sudo python3 ./flash.py;

This command triggers the firmware flashing script using Python 3 and grants it the necessary privileges to access the USB port. You may be prompted to enter your password.

You will see progress updates and notifications on the terminal during the flashing process. Do not disconnect or interrupt the cable while the firmware is being flashed.

Once the flashing process completes, the O.MG Cable will install the latest firmware, ensuring optimal performance and security.

Conclusion: In this blog post, we provided a step-by-step guide on upgrading the firmware of an O.MG Cable on a GNU/Linux Ubuntu system. By following these commands, you can keep your O.MG Cable up to date, benefit from new features, and enhance its security. Remember to exercise caution during the firmware flashing process and avoid interrupting it. Enjoy exploring the capabilities of your upgraded O.MG Cable!