FileZilla is open-source software distributed free of charge under the terms of the GNU General Public License and is compatible with Helix cameras. For more information on how to set up FileZilla with your camera, please refer to the information provided below.
Step 1: Visit https://filezilla-project.org/ and download FileZilla.
Note: There are 2 options listed on this page, one for all platforms and one that supports only Windows. In this example, we will be using Windows.
Step 2: Follow the on-screen instructions for the software and complete the installation. Once the installation is complete you will be taken to the "Enter server to administrate" menu. You do not need to set any settings in this menu, click Connect to continue.
Step 3: A red error message will appear, do not worry this is normal and will be resolved in the setup process. Click on Edit in the top menu bar and select "Users" from the dropdown menu.
Step 4: Click on "Add" in the Users menu.
This menu allows you to create a user account for your server. As a recommendation, enter "admin" in the user account field and click "OK" when done.
The user name created will be entered into the Users menu. As a reminder, this will be the user account name for your FTP server.
Step 5: Make sure the "Enable Account" checkbox is marked as well as the "Password" checkbox. Once the Password checkbox has been enabled, enter a password for your user account.
Step 6: Click on the "Shared folders" option located in the "Page" menu. This menu allows you to assign a path directory for your camera. If you do not have a folder set up for your recordings please do so at this time. For this example, I have created a folder labeled "FTP" on the desktop. Click the "Add" button to set the directory.
Step 7: Select the directory folder you just created from the menu and click "OK" when you are done.
Step 8: The folder will then be added to the "Shared folders" menu. In the "Files" menu, make sure to enable all listed options to give your camera all read/write/append access, etc. Click "OK" when ready.
The software will then display that the software is done sending account settings to the computer.
IMPORTANT You will have to modify your firewall settings to let Filezilla interact with your computer without interruptions. To modify your firewall settings go to your Windows search bar and type "Windows Firewall". Click on "Windows Defender Firewall".
In the Windows Defender Firewall menu, click on "Allow an app or feature through Windows Defender Firewall.
Click on "Change settings" and then click on "Allow another app...".
Click on Browse to search for the FileZilla application. To locate the FileZilla application path right-click on the FileZilla app on your desktop and click on "Properties" to display its details. In the details menu, locate the "Target" field, this is the path for the FileZilla application.
Copy and paste this information into the File Name field of the Browse menu and press Enter to enter the application into the menu. Click on Browse in the "Add an app" menu and select "FileZilla Server Interface" from the menu. Click Open when ready.
The FileZilla Server Interface.exe is now added to the Windows Defender Firewall. Click on Add to proceed.
Additionally, click on Browse again and add the FileZilla Server app as well to the menu. Both the interface and server apps should be added to the list. Please verify both have been added and the Private and Public checkboxes have been enabled.
Click on OK to proceed. You can close the Firewall menu from this point. Next, we will need to add the FTP connection from your camera to the FTP server we just created.
You will need your camera hooked up to your network and accessible via your computer. The camera will be accessed using the camera's web user interface (Web UI).
Step 9: Log in to the web UI for your camera and go to, Settings,>>Storage>>Destination and enable the FTP option in the Record menu. Click Apply.
Step 10: Click on the FTP tab. This is where you will need to enter the credentials for the FTP server you just created. The Server Address will be the IPv4 address of the computer. To locate the IPv4 address go to the Windows search bar, type in cmd to access the command prompt. Click on Command Prompt.
In the Command Prompt menu, type in ipconfig to display the Windows IP Configuration credentials for your computer. Locate the IPV4 Address information shown on the screen.
Step 11: Go back to the web UI for your camera and Enable the FTP function. Type in the IPv4 Address information in the FTP Directory field. Type in the username for your FTP server (admin) and the password that was created. In the Password field. Enter the name of the folder used for FTP retention we created in FileZilla (FTP) into the FTP Path field. Click on Apply.
In the FileZilla app, you will notice the software and the camera are now communicating and recordings are being stored in the selected folder.
Step 12: Click on the Test button in the Web UI to verify connectivity as well.
If you access the Shared folder created (FTP) you will notice the recordings are being saved properly to the folder. All recordings should be saved in .mp4 format.
IMPORTANT Both the computer and the FileZilla application must always be on to continue recording. If the software is closed the recordings will not be retained. The application can be minimized on the screen however it should not be closed to avoid this issue.