The DS-96128NXI-S16R is part of Hikvision’s Ultra / S-Series NVR lineup, engineered for high capacity, advanced AI, and enterprise reliability. It’s tailored for medium to large surveillance systems—such as campuses, municipal surveillance, critical infrastructure, and commercial complexes—where the capacity to connect 128 cameras, perform analytics at the edge, and maintain data integrity is essential.
Key strengths include:
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Support for 128 IP camera channels
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On-board AI features including facial recognition, perimeter protection, video structuralization, and leveraging AcuSearch
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Multiple HDMI outputs including up to 8K, plus redundant video output modes
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Flexible RAID storage architectures with hot spare support
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Redundant power supply and industrial design for high uptime
Features & Technical Highlights
| Feature |
Detail |
| IP camera support |
Up to 128 channels, up to 32 MP resolution |
| Video compression |
H.265+, H.265, H.264+, H.264 |
| Incoming / outgoing bandwidth |
1280 Mbps incoming, 1024 Mbps outgoing (in RAID: 640 / 512 Mbps) |
| HDMI & VGA outputs |
HDMI1 & HDMI2: up to 4K; HDMI3: up to 8K; HDMI4: 1080p; VGA outputs 1080p |
| Decoding capability |
2 ch @ 32 MP, 2 ch @ 24 MP, 4 ch @ 16 MP, 8 ch @ 8 MP, 16 ch @ 4 MP, 32 ch @ 2 MP |
| Synchronous playback |
16 channels |
| Analytics (on NVR) |
Facial recognition, perimeter protection, video structuralization |
| Analytics (on camera) |
Face recognition, perimeter protection, video structuralization, AcuSearch, motion detection 2.0, ANPR, people counting, VCA |
| Face library |
Up to 64 libraries; up to 300,000 face images (≤ 10 GB total) |
| RAID & Storage |
16 SATA slots, supports RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, 10; supports N+M hot spare; each HDD up to 20 TB |
| Interfaces & I/O |
4 × RJ-45 (10/100/1000/2500 Mbps), 1 eSATA, RS-232 / RS-485, 2 × USB 2.0 (front), 4 × USB 3.0 (rear), 32 alarm inputs / 16 outputs, audio I/O |
| Remote & network |
Supports 256 remote connections; protocols including TCP/IP, IPv4, IPv6, ONVIF, RTSP, HTTP/HTTPS |
| Power & operating conditions |
100–240 VAC, redundant power option; ≤ 100 W (without HDDs); –10 °C to 55 °C; humidity 10–90% non-condensing |
| Dimensions & weight |
442 × 497 × 146 mm; ≤ 12 kg (without HDDs) |
| Certifications |
CE, CB, IC, RCM, UKCA, RoHS, WEEE and more |
Use Cases & Deployment Scenarios
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Corporate / University Campuses
Centralised security control for multiple buildings, parking lots, outdoor perimeters, and internal hallways. Use facial recognition for access and analytics to filter false alarms.
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City Surveillance / Smart City Roll-outs
Deploy across city streets, public transport hubs, and public squares. Use analytics to detect crowd movement, perimeter intrusions, and rapid incident localization via AcuSearch.
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Utilities & Critical Infrastructure
Power stations, water treatment plants, telecom facilities, and substations demand high reliability. The RAID options and redundant power help ensure video data integrity and continuous operation.
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Large Retail / Malls / Shopping Complexes
Oversee multiple zones across floors, entrances, corridors, car parks. Analytics can detect loitering, abnormal crowding, or theft behavior, while IP speakers can broadcast alerts.
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Residential Estates / Gated Communities
Monitor entrances, common areas, amenities, and boundary fencing. Facial library capabilities assist in differentiating residents vs unknown visitors.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What is AcuSearch and when can I use it?
AcuSearch is a search engine feature that allows fast content-based querying of recorded video by indexing motion/object events. To use it, connected cameras must support the AcuSearch function.
Q: How many and what capacity HDDs can this unit accept?
It supports 16 SATA drives. Each drive can be up to 20 TB, giving up to 320 TB raw capacity (before RAID overhead).
Q: Which RAID modes are supported and what does N+M hot spare mean?
Supported RAID modes are 0, 1, 5, 6, 10. The N+M hot spare mode allows some drives to act as standby spares that automatically take over for failed drives, minimizing downtime.
Q: What is the decoding capacity and why does it matter?
Decoding capacity refers to how many video streams (at resolutions and frame rates) can be processed for live viewing or playback. This model can decode up to 32 channels at 2 MP (30 fps) or scale down from higher resolution streams accordingly.
Q: What video output formats are supported?
The unit supports multiple HDMI and VGA outputs. One HDMI channel can output up to 8K; others support up to 4K or 1080p depending on selected mode. VGA outputs support up to 1080p.
Q: Can I integrate my existing IP cameras?
Yes, as long as they are ONVIF compliant (profile S/T) or supported by Hikvision. To use advanced AI analytics features, the cameras themselves must support those features.
Q: What environmental conditions is the device rated for?
It is designed to run in temperatures from –10 °C to 55 °C, with humidity from 10% to 90% (non-condensing).
Q: Is this too much for smaller systems?
Yes — for smaller deployments (e.g. under 32 cameras or lower resolution streams), this model may exceed your needs. A smaller or mid-tier NVR might be more cost-effective and easier to manage.
