Install your system - XProtect Essential+

You can install a free version of XProtect Essential+. This version provides you with limited capabilities of the XProtect VMS for a limited number of cameras. You must have Internet connection to install XProtect Essential+.

This version is installed on a single computer, using the Single computer installation option. The Single computer option installs all server and client components on the current computer. The recording server is authorized, so you are ready to use the system directly after installation.

After initial installation, you can continue with the configuration wizard. Depending on your hardware and configuration, the recording server scans your network for hardware. You can then select which pieces of hardware to add to your system. Cameras are preconfigured in views, and you have the option to enable other devices such as microphones and speakers. You also have the option of adding users with either an Operators role or an Administrators role to the system. After installation, XProtect Smart Client opens and you are ready to use the system.

Otherwise, if you close the installation wizard, the XProtect Management Client opens, where you can make manual configurations such as add hardware and users to the system.

Microsoft^® IIS is automatically installed during the process. Afterwards, you may be prompted to restart your computer. Do so and after restart, depending on your security settings, one or more Windows security warnings may appear. Accept these and the installation completes.

Note: If you upgrade from a previous version of the product, the system does not scan for hardware or create new views and user profiles.

Download the software from the Internet and run the Milestone XProtect VMS Products 2018 R2 System Installer.exe file from the location where you saved it.
The installation files unpack. Depending on your security settings, one or more Windows^® security warnings appear. Accept these and the unpacking continues.
When done, the Milestone XProtect VMS dialog box appears,
1. Select the Language to use during the installation (this is not the language your system uses once installed, this is selected later). Click Continue.
2. Read the Milestone End-user License Agreement. Select the I accept the terms in the license agreement check box and click Continue.
3. Click Download free XProtect Essential+ license.
  The free license is downloaded and appears in the license file field. Click Continue.
Select Single computer.
A list of components to install appears (you cannot edit this list). Click Continue.
In the Specify recording server settings window, do the following:
1. In the Recording server name field, enter the name of the recording server. The default is the name of the computer.
2. The Management server address field shows the address and port number of the management server: localhost:80.
3. In the Select your media database location field, select the location where you want to save your video recording. It is recommended that you save your video recordings in a separate location from where you install the program. The default location is the drive with the most space available.
4. In Retention time for video recordings, define how long you want to save the video recordings. You can enter from between 1 and 999 days, where 7 days is the default retention time.
5. Click Continue.
In the Select file location and product language window, do the following:
1. In the File location field, select the location where you want to install the program.
2. In Product language, select the language in which your XProtect product should be installed.
3. Click Install.
  The software now installs.
When the installation is complete, a list shows the applications that are installed on the computer.
Click Continue to add hardware and users to the system.

Note: If you click Close now, you bypass the configuration wizard and the XProtect Management Client opens. You can make configurations such as add hardware and users to the system in the Management Client.
In the Enter user names and passwords for hardware window, enter the user names and passwords for hardware that you have changed from the manufacturer defaults.
The installation program will scan the network for these hardware as well as hardware with manufacturer default credentials.

Click Continue.
In the Select the hardware to add to the system window, select the hardware that you want to add to the system. Click Continue.
In the Configure the devices window, you can give the hardware useful names by clicking the edit icon next to the hardware name. This name is then prefixed to the hardware devices.
Expand the hardware node to enable or disable the hardware devices, such as cameras, speakers and microphones.

Note: Cameras are enabled by default, and speakers and microphones are disabled by default.

Click Continue.
In the Add users window, you can add Windows users and basic users. These users can have either the Administrators role or the Operators role.
Define the user and click Add.

When you are done adding users, click Continue.

When the installation and initial configuration are done, the Configuration is complete window appears, where you see:

A list of cameras and devices that are added to the system
A list of users who are added to the system
Addresses to the XProtect Web Client and Milestone Mobile server, which you can copy and share with your users

When you click Close, the XProtect Smart Client opens and is ready to use.