Hikvision Ultra Series · 256 CH · 24 SATA · Dual PSU · 4U Enterprise
The Hikvision DS-96256NXI-S24R is the largest single-chassis NVR Hikvision builds — a 256-channel 4U enterprise recorder with 24 SATA bays for up to 480 TB of internal storage, dual hot-swappable redundant power supplies, and quad 2.5 Gbps Ethernet ports for the highest sustained network throughput in the range. This is the recorder you specify when one box has to replace a stack of four or eight smaller NVRs.
Built for Australia's largest mission-critical sites — major ports, mining operations, prisons, large hospitals, government facilities, transport hubs, casinos, university campuses, multi-tenant high-rises and enterprise retail chains. The DS-96256NXI-S24R combines AcuSense smart detection, AcuSearch image-based search, facial recognition, perimeter protection, video structuralisation and ANPR across all 256 channels — managing what would otherwise require a whole rack of recorders. Ships as a chassis only — choose your HDD configuration at checkout up to a full 480 TB enterprise RAID stack.
Channels
256 CH · Up to 32 MP
Network
4 × 2.5 Gbps Ethernet
Storage
24 × SATA · Up to 480 TB
One recorder. 256 cameras. Half a petabyte of footage.
Most enterprise CCTV systems running 100+ cameras end up with a stack of three or four 64-channel NVRs — three rack units of hardware, three power feeds, three firmware update cycles, three user databases, three separate footage archives that have to be cross-referenced when an incident spans multiple cameras. The DS-96256NXI-S24R replaces all of that with one 4U chassis, one login, one timeline, one search interface. Combined with dual redundant PSUs and N+M hot-spare RAID, it's purpose-built for sites where downtime isn't measured in hours — it's measured in dollars per minute.
256-Channel IP Input
Connect up to 256 IP cameras at resolutions up to 32 MP per channel — mix PanoVu, fisheye, ColorVu, AcuSense and PTZ cameras across one recorder without throttling resolution or framerate.
480 TB Maximum Storage
Twenty-four internal SATA bays accept enterprise drives up to 20 TB each — delivering year-round 4K retention across hundreds of cameras without external SAN or extra licensing.
Dual Redundant PSU
Two hot-swappable power supplies — if one fails or a circuit drops, the second keeps the NVR running with zero downtime. Critical for data centres, government and 24/7 mission-critical sites.
Quad 2.5 Gbps Ethernet
Four self-adaptive 2.5 Gbps RJ45 ports — 2.5× the bandwidth of standard Gigabit. Configure for redundancy, load balancing, or VLAN segregation across camera + viewing + management networks.
RAID + N+M Hot Spare
Full RAID 0/1/5/6/10 across the 24 SATA bays plus N+M hot-spare drives that automatically replace failed disks — zero operator intervention, zero footage at risk.
AcuSense + AcuSearch + ANPR
On-board deep-learning analytics — human/vehicle classification, facial recognition, AcuSearch image-based search, ANPR, perimeter protection and video structuralisation across all 256 channels.
Recommended AI-ready cameras
To get the most out of the NVR's AcuSense, AcuSearch and facial recognition stack, pair it with cameras from our verified Hikvision AcuSeek Cameras collection. Every model on the list runs the latest AcuSense Gen 2H or ColorVu Gen 3 platform — the high-quality structured video the AI engine needs for sharp face crops, accurate ANPR and reliable perimeter alerts. Browse the full collection or start with these enterprise favourites:
ColorVu 3.0 Turret — DS-2CD2387G3-LIS2UY/SL
8MP, true 24/7 full-colour night vision, Smart Hybrid Light, built-in mic, speaker and strobe. The ideal partner for face capture at entrances and counters in any light. View this camera →
ColorVu 3.0 Bullet — DS-2CD2T87G3-LIS2UY/SL
Long-range 8MP bullet with active strobe and audio deterrence — perfect for driveways, gates, loading docks and perimeters where vehicle and person classification matters most. View this camera →
AcuSense G2H Turret — DS-2CD2366G2H-IU
6MP AcuSense Gen 2H with DarkFighter low-light sensor and built-in mic — the value choice for high camera counts where sharp face capture has to stay reliable in dim light. View this camera →
Smart Hybrid Light Bullet — DS-2CD2087G3-LI2UY/SL
8MP ColorVu 3.0 with Smart Hybrid Light — switches automatically between IR (stealth) and white light (deterrent) based on what it sees. Ideal for driveways and perimeter gates. View this camera →
Browse the full Hikvision AcuSeek Cameras collection for every verified-AI-compatible turret, bullet and dome — all in Australian stock with full warranty.
Enterprise-class display, network & redundancy
The DS-96256NXI-S24R is built for 24/7 control-room operation. True 8K HDMI output drives a wall-mounted overview display while additional HDMI and VGA outputs feed independent operator workstations. Four 2.5 Gbps Ethernet ports deliver the network headroom needed when hundreds of cameras stream high-bitrate footage simultaneously, and dual hot-swappable PSUs ensure the recorder stays online through power-feed failures, UPS swaps, and circuit maintenance.
Hik-Connect & Hik-Central Pro
Free remote viewing on Hik-Connect, or integrate into a Hik-Central Pro VMS for centralised management across multiple sites, multiple NVRs and unified operator workflows.
ONVIF Compatible
Works with the full Hikvision IP range and most third-party ONVIF cameras — flexibility for hybrid, multi-vendor enterprise sites that mix Hikvision with legacy or specialty cameras.
IP Speaker Integration
Up to 8 IP speakers connectable for site-wide audio warnings, scheduled announcements or live talk-down from the control room — turning the NVR into a complete security platform.
N+M Hot Spare
Designated spare drives automatically replace failed working drives and rebuild the array — no operator intervention, no downtime, no footage at risk. Critical for enterprise compliance.
Full technical specifications
Hikvision Ultra Series NVR — DS-96256NXI-S24R
| Model |
DS-96256NXI-S24R |
| Series |
Hikvision Ultra Series (Enterprise NVR) |
| Form Factor |
4U Rack-Mount (19" rack-mount ears included) |
| Video Inputs |
256-channel IP, up to 32 MP per channel |
| Video Compression |
H.265+ / H.265 / H.264+ / H.264 |
| Decoding Capability |
Up to 32-ch @ 1080p (30 fps) · multi-stream 4K decoding |
| Recording Resolution |
32 MP / 24 MP / 12 MP / 8 MP / 6 MP / 5 MP / 4 MP / 3 MP / 1080p / UXGA / 720p / VGA |
| AI Functions |
AcuSense · AcuSearch · Facial Recognition · Perimeter Protection · Video Structuralisation · ANPR |
| AcuSearch |
Image-based target search across recorded footage |
| HDMI 1 / 3 Output |
8K (7680 × 4320) @ 30 Hz · 4K @ 60 Hz · 2K · 1920 × 1080 @ 60 Hz |
| Additional HDMI & VGA |
Multiple independent outputs for multi-monitor control rooms |
| Audio In / Out |
1-ch RCA in · 2-ch RCA out · Two-way audio |
| IP Speaker Support |
Up to 8-ch IP speakers connectable |
| Network Interface |
4 × RJ45 2.5 Gbps Self-Adaptive Ethernet |
| Network Protocols |
TCP/IP, DHCP, IPv4, IPv6, DNS, DDNS, NTP, RTSP, SADP, SMTP, SNMP, NFS, iSCSI, ISUP, UPnP, HTTP, HTTPS, ONVIF, OTAP |
| HDD Bays |
24 × SATA, up to 20 TB per drive (480 TB total capacity) |
| eSATA |
1 × eSATA for additional storage expansion |
| RAID |
RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, 10 supported · N+M hot spare |
| USB Interfaces |
2 × USB 3.0 (front and rear) |
| Alarm In / Out |
16 in / 8 out |
| Power Supply |
Dual hot-swappable redundant PSU · 100–240 V AC, 50/60 Hz |
| Working Temperature |
−10 °C to 55 °C |
| Working Humidity |
10% – 90% |
| Mobile Apps |
Hik-Connect, Hik-Central Pro, iVMS-4200 |
| Australian Warranty |
5 Years — CCTV Guru / Hikvision Australia |
Downloads & resources
Download official Hikvision documents for setup, specifications, and recorder details.
Frequently asked questions
Is this really 256 channels in one recorder?
Yes — the DS-96256NXI-S24R is Hikvision's largest single-chassis NVR. It supports up to 256 IP cameras and replaces what would otherwise be a stack of three or four 64-channel recorders. Designed for ports, mining sites, hospitals, casinos, prisons and major commercial properties.
Does it come with hard drives?
The recorder ships as a chassis only. CCTV Guru offers pre-fitted enterprise surveillance drives — Seagate SkyHawk Enterprise, WD Purple Pro or Exos — from 8 TB up to 20 TB per bay. For full 480 TB capacity, fit 24 × 20 TB drives in RAID 6 configuration.
How does the dual PSU work?
Two redundant power supplies run in parallel. If one fails (or a circuit drops), the second instantly takes the full load — the NVR doesn't reboot, drop a frame or miss any footage. Failed PSUs are hot-swappable while the NVR keeps running.
Why 2.5 Gbps Ethernet instead of 10 GbE?
2.5 Gbps NICs deliver 2.5× the throughput of standard Gigabit while remaining compatible with standard Cat6 cabling and most managed enterprise switches — no fibre infrastructure required. Configure all four ports for aggregate throughput or use them for network segregation.
What AI features does it run?
AcuSense smart detection, facial recognition, AcuSearch (image-based search), perimeter protection, video structuralisation, ANPR and people counting — all running on-device across all 256 channels. For text-based AcuSeek search, see the DeepinMind Pro range (iDS-9632/9664NXI-P series).
Do you ship and install Australia-wide?
We ship Australia-wide from our local warehouse, and enterprise customers can request white-glove delivery and installation support via our local team. Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide and major regional centres covered. Contact us for an enterprise quote.
