Troubleshooting

Solutions to common DracoCam issues

🎥 Camera Connection Issues

Camera Not Detected

Symptoms: Camera doesn't appear in discovery or shows offline

Solutions:

  1. Check camera power and network connections
  2. Verify camera and DracoCam are on same network
  3. Try manual IP address entry instead of auto-discovery
  4. Check firewall settings on camera and DracoCam system
  5. Restart camera and network equipment

Authentication Failures

Symptoms: "Login failed" or "Access denied" errors

Solutions:

  1. Verify username and password are correct
  2. Check if camera account is locked due to failed attempts
  3. Reset camera credentials to factory defaults
  4. Create a dedicated user account for DracoCam on camera
  5. Ensure user has sufficient permissions for video streaming

Poor Video Quality

Symptoms: Blurry, choppy, or low-resolution video

Solutions:

  1. Check network bandwidth availability
  2. Reduce recording resolution or frame rate
  3. Clean camera lens and check focus settings
  4. Adjust camera's compression settings
  5. Upgrade network infrastructure if needed

🔧 System Performance Issues

High CPU Usage

Symptoms: System slowdown, high CPU temperatures

Solutions:

  1. Reduce number of active cameras
  2. Lower recording resolution and frame rate
  3. Enable hardware acceleration if available
  4. Close unnecessary applications
  5. Consider upgrading system hardware

Storage Space Issues

Symptoms: "Disk full" warnings, failed recordings

Solutions:

  1. Configure automatic deletion of old recordings
  2. Reduce recording quality to save space
  3. Add additional storage drives
  4. Set up cloud storage backup
  5. Review and delete unnecessary recordings manually

Memory Leaks

Symptoms: Gradually increasing RAM usage, system crashes

Solutions:

  1. Restart DracoCam service daily via scheduler
  2. Update to latest DracoCam version
  3. Monitor specific cameras causing issues
  4. Check for corrupted video streams
  5. Add more system RAM if budget allows

🌐 Network Connectivity Problems

Remote Access Not Working

Symptoms: Cannot access dashboard from outside network

Solutions:

  1. Configure port forwarding on router (ports 80, 443, 8080)
  2. Check dynamic DNS settings if using DDNS
  3. Verify firewall rules allow incoming connections
  4. Test access using external IP address
  5. Consider VPN setup for secure remote access

Intermittent Disconnections

Symptoms: Cameras randomly go offline and reconnect

Solutions:

  1. Check network cable connections and quality
  2. Test with different network switch ports
  3. Update camera firmware
  4. Adjust camera power management settings
  5. Monitor network traffic for congestion

Slow Video Loading

Symptoms: Long delays when viewing live or recorded video

Solutions:

  1. Check available network bandwidth
  2. Reduce video quality for faster loading
  3. Use wired connections instead of WiFi where possible
  4. Optimize network QoS settings
  5. Consider upgrading internet connection speed

📱 Dashboard and Interface Issues

Login Problems

Symptoms: Cannot log into dashboard, password errors

Solutions:

  1. Clear browser cache and cookies
  2. Try different web browser
  3. Check if caps lock is enabled
  4. Use password reset feature
  5. Verify account is not locked or suspended

Dashboard Not Loading

Symptoms: Blank page, loading errors, timeout

Solutions:

  1. Check internet connection
  2. Disable browser extensions temporarily
  3. Try incognito/private browsing mode
  4. Clear browser cache completely
  5. Contact support if issue persists

Missing Video Thumbnails

Symptoms: Videos show but no preview images

Solutions:

  1. Wait for thumbnail generation to complete
  2. Check storage space for thumbnail cache
  3. Restart DracoCam service
  4. Verify video files are not corrupted
  5. Regenerate thumbnails manually if option available

🚨 Motion Detection Issues

False Motion Alerts

Symptoms: Too many motion notifications for normal activity

Solutions:

  1. Reduce motion sensitivity settings
  2. Ensure camera is positioned to minimize background movement
  3. Enable AI-based object classification to filter irrelevant motion
  4. Filter out small movements (leaves, shadows)
  5. Use AI-based person/vehicle detection if available

Missed Motion Events

Symptoms: Important movements not detected

Solutions:

  1. Increase motion sensitivity
  2. Ensure camera covers the full area of interest
  3. Check camera placement and angle
  4. Improve lighting in detection area
  5. Verify motion detection is enabled in the config file

Delayed Notifications

Symptoms: Motion alerts arrive minutes after event

Solutions:

  1. Check network latency and connectivity
  2. Reduce video processing delay
  3. Configure email/push notification settings
  4. Verify system clock is synchronized
  5. Update notification service configuration

🔄 General Troubleshooting Steps

Basic Diagnostic Steps

  1. Restart Services: Restart DracoCam and related services
  2. Check Logs: Review system and application logs for errors
  3. Test Connectivity: Ping cameras and verify network access
  4. Update Software: Ensure all components are up to date
  5. Monitor Resources: Check CPU, memory, and disk usage

When to Contact Support

  • Issues persist after following troubleshooting steps
  • Error messages that aren't covered in this guide
  • Hardware failures or suspected system corruption
  • Need assistance with complex network configurations
  • Questions about advanced features or integrations

Information to Gather Before Contacting Support

  • DracoCam version and system specifications
  • Camera models and firmware versions
  • Network configuration details
  • Screenshots of error messages
  • System and application log files