Why Your Vivotek Storage is Full
A "Storage Full" error on your Vivotek camera or NVR is a critical alert. It means your system has stopped recording new footage, potentially leaving you without video evidence when you need it most. Understanding why this happens is the first step to fixing it and preventing it from occurring again. This guide will walk you through the common causes and solutions for managing your Vivotek storage effectively.
Common Causes of Storage Issues
In most cases, a full storage device isn't a sign of a fault, but rather a configuration issue. The primary reasons you'll encounter this problem are:
- Overwrite Disabled: The most common cause. Vivotek systems have a feature called "overwrite" or "cyclic recording". When enabled, it automatically deletes the oldest recordings to make room for new ones. If this is turned off, the system will simply stop recording once the disk is full.
- High Bitrate Settings: Recording at very high resolution, frame rate, and quality settings generates large files that fill up storage very quickly.
- Continuous Recording: Recording 24/7 uses significantly more space than recording only when motion is detected.
- Inadequate Storage Capacity: The installed SD card or hard drive may simply be too small for your recording needs and retention policies.
How to Fix a Full Vivotek Storage Device
Here’s how to get your system recording again and set it up for reliable, long-term operation.
Step 1: Enable and Configure Recording Overwrite
This should be your top priority.
- Log in to your Vivotek device's web interface using a browser.
- Navigate to the storage or recording settings. This location can vary slightly depending on your model, but it's typically found under "Configuration," "Setup," or "Recording."
- Look for an option named "Recycle," "Overwrite," or "Cyclic Recording."
- Enable this feature. You may also see options to reserve a certain amount of free space, which is a good practice to maintain system performance.
- Save your changes. The system should now automatically manage its storage space.
Step 2: Manually Delete Old Footage
If you need to free up space immediately before the overwrite feature kicks in, you can manually delete files.
- In the web interface, go to the "Playback" or "Storage" section.
- Browse the recorded files.
- Select the old, unnecessary video clips. There are usually options to select all files from a certain day or week.
- Click the "Delete" button to permanently remove them.
Step 3: Adjust Video Resolution and Frame Rate
If your storage fills up too quickly even with overwrite enabled (e.g., you only get a few days of recording), you need to reduce the size of the video files being created.
- Navigate to the "Video" or "Stream" settings.
- Consider lowering the Resolution. For many applications, 1080p (1920x1080) is more than sufficient, and using 4K will consume four times the space.
- Reduce the Frame Rate (FPS). For general surveillance, 15 FPS is very effective and uses half the storage of 30 FPS.
Step 4: Optimise Motion Detection Settings
Recording only when something is happening is the most effective way to save space.
- Go to the "Motion Detection" or "Event" settings.
- Set up your system to record only when motion is detected in specific areas.
- Fine-tune the sensitivity to avoid false triggers from things like moving trees or shadows, which can cause unnecessary recordings.
By enabling overwrite and optimising your recording settings, you can ensure your Vivotek system captures everything you need without running out of space.