SADP (Search Active Device Protocol) is a Hikvision utility traditionally used by CCTV installers, network administrators, system integrators and support engineers to discover and perform basic configuration of compatible Hikvision devices connected to the local network.

Typical devices include:

• Hikvision IP cameras
• NVRs
• DVRs
• PTZ cameras
• Video intercom equipment
• Access-control devices
• Encoders and other supported network products

The traditional desktop SADP software automatically searches for compatible devices available on the local network and displays useful information such as IP address, device type, serial number and activation status. Hikvision documentation describes SADP as supporting device discovery, device activation, network-parameter editing and password-reset functions.

However, there is an important development for technicians in 2026:

Hikvision states that SADP stopped receiving updates starting in April 2026 and recommends migrating to HiTools Delivery.

HiTools Delivery integrates SADP's main functionality while adding batch firmware upgrades, parameter configuration, password changes, IP migration and other deployment features.

Therefore, SADP remains important to understand—especially because technicians will encounter it on existing systems—but HiTools Delivery is now the preferred desktop migration path for new Hikvision deployment work.

Hikvision HiTools / SADP information

What Does SADP Actually Do?

SADP is primarily a local-network discovery and initial-configuration utility.

Consider a typical installation:

IP Camera → PoE Switch → LAN → NVR / Router → Technician's Computer

If the camera is powered but you do not know its IP address, opening its web interface can be difficult.

This is where SADP has traditionally been extremely useful.

The software scans the network for compatible Hikvision equipment and shows detected devices.

For example, you might see:

Device	IP Address	Status
Camera 1	192.168.1.64	Inactive
Camera 2	192.168.1.101	Active
Camera 3	192.168.0.120	Active
NVR	192.168.1.200	Active

You can then determine why a device cannot communicate with your network.

Major Uses of SADP Tool

1. Discover Hikvision Devices on the LAN

This is probably SADP's best-known function.

Instead of manually trying different IP addresses, SADP can locate supported Hikvision equipment visible on the local network.

This is particularly useful when:

• You do not know the camera's IP address.
• A camera was previously installed somewhere else.
• A camera was configured by another technician.
• The device has a different subnet.
• You have multiple cameras to identify.
• You need the device serial number.
• You need to determine whether a camera is activated.

2. Find the IP Address of an IP Camera

Suppose your office LAN is:

192.168.0.x

but the camera is configured as:

192.168.1.64

Your PC may not be able to communicate normally with the camera because the devices are on different IP networks.

SADP can help identify the camera and show its configured network information.

This makes it very useful during new CCTV installations and troubleshooting.

3. Activate a New Hikvision Device

Many Hikvision network products must be activated before normal use.

Activation generally involves creating the administrator password.

A newly installed camera may therefore appear in SADP as:

Status: Inactive

The technician can select the device and activate it by setting the required credentials.

Hikvision's camera documentation specifically describes activation through SADP and notes that the detected-device list can show information including device type, IP address, activation status and serial number.

4. Change the Camera's IP Address

This is another major SADP function.

For example:

Camera:

192.168.1.64

Office network:

192.168.10.x

Required camera address:

192.168.10.50

You can configure appropriate parameters such as:

IP Address: 192.168.10.50
Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
Gateway: 192.168.10.1

After applying the correct settings, the camera becomes reachable from devices on the appropriate network.

5. Configure DHCP or Static IP

Depending upon the device and configuration, network parameters can be configured for automatic or manual addressing.

DHCP

The device obtains network information from a DHCP server, usually the router.

Advantages:

• Simple installation
• Minimal manual configuration

Disadvantage:

The device's IP address may change unless a DHCP reservation is configured.

Static IP

The technician manually assigns the address.

For CCTV installations, static addressing or properly managed DHCP reservations are generally preferable because the NVR and management systems need predictable device addressing.

6. Identify IP Address Conflicts

Suppose two cameras have accidentally been configured with:

192.168.1.110

An IP conflict can result in intermittent or complete communication failure.

The technician should ensure every network device has a unique IP address.

A properly planned CCTV network might look like:

Camera 1 → 192.168.1.101
Camera 2 → 192.168.1.102
Camera 3 → 192.168.1.103
Camera 4 → 192.168.1.104
NVR → 192.168.1.200
Router → 192.168.1.1

7. View Device Information

Depending upon device compatibility and SADP version, useful information may include:

• Device type
• IP address
• Port
• Subnet mask
• Gateway
• MAC address
• Serial number
• Firmware/software version information
• Activation status
• DHCP status

This makes the utility valuable for documenting CCTV installations.

8. Password Reset Assistance

SADP became particularly well known among CCTV technicians for Hikvision password-reset procedures.

Depending upon the device generation, firmware and reset mechanism, password recovery may involve supported reset workflows and verification information.

Older Hikvision documentation also describes mechanisms such as GUID/security-question based recovery on supported products.

The exact reset method varies significantly between product generations.

Important: Password-reset functions should only be performed on equipment that you own or are authorized to administer.

9. Troubleshoot an Offline Hikvision Camera

SADP can be extremely useful when an NVR reports:

Camera Offline

or:

Network Unreachable

or:

No Link

If SADP detects the camera, you immediately know something important:

The camera has power and some level of network connectivity to the local network.

You can then investigate:

• Incorrect camera IP
• Wrong subnet mask
• Wrong gateway
• IP conflict
• Incorrect NVR credentials
• Camera/NVR protocol settings
• NVR channel configuration

If SADP cannot detect the camera at all, investigate more fundamental issues:

• Camera power
• PoE output
• Ethernet cable
• RJ45 termination
• Network switch
• PoE switch
• VLAN configuration
• Network adapter
• Physical camera failure

SADP Is Not a Cable Tester

This distinction is important.

SADP is a network/device configuration utility, not a physical Ethernet cable-testing instrument.

If a camera is not detected, you should not immediately conclude that the camera is defective.

Check:

Camera → RJ45 → Cable → Patch Panel/Connector → PoE Switch → Network → Computer

Use an RJ45/network cable tester to verify:

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8

For gigabit networking and reliable PoE operation, correct termination of all required pairs is particularly important.

Typical SADP Troubleshooting Workflow

A useful field workflow is:

Step 1: Verify camera power.

Check the camera LEDs/IR response and PoE switch indicators.

Step 2: Check the Ethernet link.

Look for link/activity LEDs on the switch.

Step 3: Test the cable.

Use a proper network cable tester.

Step 4: Open SADP.

Check whether the device is detected.

Step 5: Check activation status.

Activate a new device if required.

Step 6: Check IP configuration.

Verify IP address, subnet mask and gateway.

Step 7: Check for duplicate IP addresses.

Every camera should have a unique address.

Step 8: Ping the camera where applicable.

For example:

ping 192.168.1.101

Step 9: Open the camera's management interface if supported.

For example:

http://192.168.1.101

Step 10: Add or verify the camera on the NVR.

SADP vs NVR Camera Management

These should not be confused.

SADP primarily helps discover and configure devices on the network.

The NVR is responsible for functions such as:

• Adding camera channels
• Recording
• Live view
• Playback
• Motion/event recording
• Storage management
• Camera credentials
• Recording schedules

Therefore:

SADP = discovery/configuration/troubleshooting utility

NVR = video-management and recording system

Can SADP Upgrade Camera Firmware?

Traditionally, firmware upgrading was not a primary SADP function.

Hikvision's support documentation explicitly stated that SADP did not perform device firmware upgrades and recommended the Batch Configuration tool for that purpose.

This limitation is one reason the newer HiTools Delivery approach is important.

Has Anything Succeeded or Replaced SADP?

Yes — HiTools Delivery Is Now Hikvision's Recommended Migration

This is the most important current information for technicians.

Hikvision states that starting in April 2026, SADP will no longer receive updates and recommends migrating to HiTools Delivery.

HiTools Delivery incorporates the main SADP functions and expands them.

Hikvision HiTools Delivery

According to Hikvision, HiTools Delivery provides:

• Device discovery
• One-click activation
• Network configuration
• Password reset
• Batch firmware upgrades
• Batch parameter configuration
• Batch password changes
• IP migration
• Broader device support
• More streamlined device-deployment workflows

Hikvision describes HiTools Delivery as integrating SADP functionality and adding these batch operations.

SADP vs HiTools Delivery

Feature	SADP	HiTools Delivery
Device discovery	Yes	Yes
Device activation	Yes	Yes
Network configuration	Yes	Yes
IP configuration	Yes	Yes
Password reset	Yes	Yes
Batch firmware upgrade	Limited/No traditional SADP support	Yes
Batch parameter configuration	Limited	Yes
Batch password change	Limited	Yes
IP migration	Limited	Yes
Modern deployment workflow	Basic	Advanced
Future updates	No longer planned from April 2026	Current recommended platform

The practical conclusion is simple:

Existing technicians

Keep knowledge of SADP because you will continue encountering it on installed Hikvision systems.

New installations

Start learning and deploying HiTools Delivery as your primary desktop provisioning utility where supported.

What About Hikvision Batch Configuration Tool?

Before HiTools Delivery, Hikvision also provided the Batch Configuration software.

It offered more advanced management than SADP, including batch device configuration and management functionality. Older documentation describes device configuration, device management and online device search through SADP functionality.

But this tool is also being phased out.

Hikvision states that the Batch Configuration tool stopped receiving feature updates starting in August 2025 and is scheduled for official discontinuation on December 31, 2026, with HiTools Delivery recommended as the migration platform.

So the evolution can roughly be understood as:

SADP
↓
Device discovery + activation + basic network configuration

Batch Configuration Tool
↓
More advanced bulk management

HiTools Delivery
↓
Modern consolidated device discovery + configuration + deployment + batch-management platform

What About Hik-Partner Pro?

There is another important development.

Hikvision also provides SADP functionality through Hik-Partner Pro Mobile for installers.

Hikvision's current documentation describes using the SADP Tool within the Hik-Partner Pro Mobile Client to search LAN devices, initialize devices, configure networking and perform other installer operations.

This can be particularly useful when a technician is standing beside an NVR or PoE switch without a laptop.

The phone must be appropriately connected to the same LAN as the equipment.

Desktop vs Mobile Approach

A modern Hikvision technician may therefore use:

HiTools Delivery on Windows

for comprehensive desktop deployment and batch configuration.

and

Hik-Partner Pro Mobile

for convenient on-site device discovery, initialization and installer workflows.

Traditional SADP remains useful knowledge but should no longer be considered Hikvision's long-term standalone desktop platform.

Example: New Camera Is Not Appearing on NVR

Suppose you install a Hikvision camera.

The NVR says:

Offline

First check the PoE switch.

If the port LED is active, run HiTools Delivery or SADP.

Suppose you discover:

Camera IP:

192.168.0.64

NVR LAN:

192.168.1.200

Gateway:

192.168.1.1

The camera is on a different subnet.

Change the camera to something like:

192.168.1.101

Subnet:

255.255.255.0

Gateway:

192.168.1.1

Then verify connectivity and add/reconfigure the camera in the NVR.

A problem that initially appeared to be a faulty camera may simply have been an IP-addressing problem.

Important: NVR PoE Networks Can Be Different

Technicians should also remember that an NVR with built-in PoE ports may maintain an internal camera network separate from the NVR's normal LAN interface.

For example:

Office LAN:

192.168.1.x

NVR internal PoE camera network:

192.168.254.x

A laptop connected to the office LAN may therefore not communicate with those cameras in exactly the same way as cameras connected to an external LAN PoE switch.

Understanding the network architecture is essential before changing camera addresses.

Security Recommendations

When deploying Hikvision equipment:

1. Change default or temporary credentials immediately.
2. Use strong, unique passwords.
3. Do not reuse the same administrator password across unrelated customer installations.
4. Maintain documentation of camera IP addresses.
5. Keep firmware appropriately updated.
6. Restrict unnecessary internet exposure.
7. Avoid directly forwarding management ports to the public internet unless there is a specific, secured design requirement.
8. Segment CCTV networks using VLANs where appropriate.
9. Back up important NVR/device configuration.
10. Use official Hikvision tools obtained from official sources.

Recommended CCTV IP Address Documentation

For professional installations, maintain a table similar to:

Device	Location	IP	MAC	Model	Channel
Camera 01	Main Gate	192.168.10.101	XX...	Hikvision	CH1
Camera 02	Reception	192.168.10.102	XX...	Hikvision	CH2
Camera 03	Warehouse	192.168.10.103	XX...	Hikvision	CH3
NVR	Server Room	192.168.10.200	XX...	Hikvision	—

This saves significant troubleshooting time later.

Common Reasons SADP Does Not Detect a Camera

If SADP or another discovery utility cannot find the device, investigate:

1. Camera has no power

Check PoE or the external power supply.

2. Damaged network cable

Test the cable and connectors.

3. Incorrect RJ45 crimping

Verify conductor order and continuity.

4. Failed PoE switch port

Move the camera temporarily to another known-good port.

5. Windows firewall/security software

Temporarily troubleshoot whether endpoint security is interfering with discovery.

6. Wrong network adapter

A laptop may simultaneously have Ethernet, Wi-Fi, VPN and virtual network adapters.

7. VLAN isolation

The camera and workstation may be separated by VLAN/network boundaries.

8. Faulty camera network interface

Test the camera with a short known-good cable and known-good PoE source.

Important Technician Test

When troubleshooting a suspected camera/cabling problem, perform this isolation test:

Camera → short factory-made Ethernet cable → known-good PoE switch → technician laptop/network

If the camera is detected:

The camera is probably functional, and the installed cable path, RJ45 termination, patch panel or switch infrastructure requires investigation.

If it is still not detected:

Investigate the PoE source, camera power, camera hardware and network configuration more deeply.

This simple test can prevent hours of unnecessary troubleshooting.

SADP, HiTools Delivery and Hik-Partner Pro — Which Should You Use?

For technicians working in 2026 and later:

Use SADP knowledge for supporting existing systems and older technician workflows.

Use HiTools Delivery as the modern desktop deployment/configuration platform recommended by Hikvision.

Use Hik-Partner Pro Mobile when mobile/on-site discovery and device initialization are more convenient.

This provides a much more future-ready Hikvision toolkit.

FAQ

1. What does SADP stand for?

SADP is commonly expanded as Search Active Device Protocol and is associated with Hikvision's local-network device discovery and configuration utility.

2. Is SADP made by Hikvision?

Yes. SADP is a Hikvision utility used with supported Hikvision network devices.

3. Is SADP free?

Hikvision provides SADP as a support/installer utility.

4. What is SADP mainly used for?

Its major uses include discovering devices, viewing device information, activating devices, configuring network parameters and assisting with supported password-reset procedures.

5. Can SADP find the IP address of my Hikvision camera?

Yes. This is one of its most useful functions.

6. Can SADP detect an inactive camera?

Yes, supported unactivated devices can be discovered and activated.

7. Can SADP change a camera IP address?

Yes, supported device network parameters can be modified.

8. Can SADP change the subnet mask and gateway?

Yes, network configuration is one of SADP's core functions.

9. Can SADP reset a forgotten Hikvision password?

SADP supports password-reset workflows for compatible devices, although the exact process depends on the model, firmware and security mechanism.

10. Can SADP upgrade firmware?

Traditional SADP was not intended as the firmware-upgrade platform. Hikvision historically directed users toward Batch Configuration for firmware upgrading. HiTools Delivery now provides batch firmware upgrade capabilities.

11. Has SADP been discontinued?

Hikvision states that starting in April 2026 SADP will no longer receive updates and recommends migration to HiTools Delivery.

12. What has replaced SADP?

For the desktop workflow, Hikvision recommends HiTools Delivery, which integrates SADP functionality and provides additional deployment and batch-management capabilities.

13. Should I uninstall SADP immediately?

Not necessarily. It may remain useful for existing environments, but technicians should start becoming familiar with HiTools Delivery.

14. What is HiTools Delivery?

It is Hikvision's newer hardware-delivery and configuration utility incorporating device discovery, activation, network configuration, password reset and multiple batch operations.

15. Is HiTools Delivery better than SADP?

For modern deployment work, generally yes. It retains the essential SADP functionality while adding broader batch-management capabilities.

16. Can HiTools Delivery perform firmware upgrades?

Yes. Hikvision specifically lists batch firmware upgrading among its functions.

17. What happened to Hikvision Batch Configuration Tool?

Hikvision says feature updates stopped starting in August 2025 and the tool is scheduled to be officially discontinued on December 31, 2026, with migration to HiTools Delivery recommended.

18. Is there a mobile SADP option?

Yes. Hikvision documentation describes SADP functionality within the Hik-Partner Pro Mobile Client for LAN device discovery and initialization.

19. Can SADP detect cameras through the internet?

SADP is primarily a local-network discovery tool, not a general internet camera scanner.

20. Why can SADP detect my camera but I cannot open it?

Common reasons include incorrect PC subnet configuration, routing restrictions, VLAN separation, firewall settings or incorrect network parameters.

21. Why is my camera visible in SADP but offline in the NVR?

Possible reasons include incorrect camera credentials, incorrect IP/subnet configuration, IP conflict, protocol/configuration issues or an NVR channel configuration problem.

22. Does SADP test Ethernet cables?

No. Use an Ethernet cable tester or network qualification tool for physical cabling diagnostics.

23. Does detecting a camera in SADP prove the cable is perfect?

No. It confirms some network communication exists, but it does not certify cable quality, PoE performance, pair integrity or long-term reliability.

24. Should CCTV cameras use DHCP or static IP?

For managed CCTV networks, predictable addressing through static IPs or properly configured DHCP reservations is usually preferable.

25. What tool should a Hikvision CCTV technician learn today?

A technician should understand SADP because of its large installed base, but should also learn HiTools Delivery and Hik-Partner Pro, as Hikvision's current documentation positions these tools for modern installation and deployment workflows.

Conclusion

Hikvision SADP has been one of the most useful utilities in an IP CCTV technician's toolkit. It simplified device discovery, activation, IP-address configuration and password-recovery workflows and made troubleshooting unknown or incorrectly configured cameras considerably easier.

However, the Hikvision tool ecosystem is changing.

As of 2026, Hikvision says that SADP will no longer receive updates starting from April 2026 and explicitly recommends migration to HiTools Delivery. HiTools Delivery integrates the core SADP functions while adding batch firmware upgrades, parameter configuration, password changes, IP migration and other deployment features.

For CCTV engineers, the practical progression is therefore:

Traditional SADP → Advanced Batch Configuration → HiTools Delivery

while Hik-Partner Pro Mobile provides an increasingly useful mobile/on-site workflow.

Understanding all of these tools is valuable because CCTV technicians will continue encountering older Hikvision installations even as newer deployment platforms become standard.

 

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