Hikvision DS-96256NI-H24R(STD) - 256 Channel 24 Bay Super NVR

The Hikvision DS-96256NI-H24R(STD) is a 256-channel Super NVR in a 4U chassis, with twenty-four SATA bays, RAID and 1280 Mbps of bandwidth. It is the largest recorder Hikvision makes, and the flagship of this catalogue.

The bandwidth is what sets it apart

Most large recorders are limited by throughput long before channel count. This one is not. 1280 Mbps incoming and outgoing — more than three times the 400 Mbps of the 64 and 128-channel models — and crucially, the same figures in RAID mode.

Across 256 channels that works out at roughly 5 Mbps per camera, better per-camera headroom than the 128-channel DS-96128NI-M16/R manages across half the cameras. If you have been told a large system will need several recorders because of bandwidth, this is the machine that changes the arithmetic.

Twenty-four bays and N+M hot spare

Twenty-four SATA bays at up to 20 TB gives 480 TB raw. RAID 0, 1, 5, 6 and 10 are supported, and so is N+M hot spare — spare disks sit idle in the chassis and take over automatically when one fails, so the array rebuilds without anyone attending site.

On a system of this size that matters more than it sounds. With twenty-four disks running continuously, failures are a question of when, not if, and an unattended rebuild is the difference between a maintenance ticket and an emergency.

Built for a control room

• Dual 8K DisplayPort outputs plus dual 4K HDMI — four displays, independently driven
• Four gigabit LAN interfaces, so camera traffic can be spread across separate network segments rather than funnelled through one port
• Double verification for playback and download — two-person authorisation before footage leaves the machine, which matters where evidence handling is audited
• 16-channel synchronous playback, and support for ANPR, heat map and people counting cameras

Specification

• Channels: 256-ch IP video input, cameras up to 32 MP
• Bandwidth: 1280 Mbps incoming / 1280 Mbps outgoing — unchanged in RAID mode
• Storage: 24 SATA bays, up to 20 TB per disk (480 TB), plus 1 eSATA. Drives are not included.
• RAID: RAID 0, 1, 5, 6 and 10, plus N+M hot spare
• Compression: H.265+/H.265
• Video out: dual HDMI up to 4K, dual DisplayPort up to 8K, independent outputs
• Playback: 16-ch synchronous, with double verification for playback and download
• Network: 4 × RJ-45 10/100/1000 Mbps
• Analytics: multiple VCA events — motion, line crossing, intrusion — plus ANPR, heat map and people counting with compatible cameras
• PoE: none — cameras powered by switches
• Remote access: Hik-Connect and DDNS
• Chassis: 4U rack-mounted

What you'll need with it

• Hard drives — none are supplied. Twenty-four bays at up to 20 TB. At this scale RAID 6 with hot spares is the sensible configuration. Talk to us about sizing rather than using a calculator — a system this size deserves a conversation.
• Substantial PoE switching for 256 cameras, and a network design that uses all four LAN ports properly.
• 4U of rack space, proper cooling and ideally a UPS. Twenty-four spinning disks generate serious heat and draw real power.

Frequently asked questions

Can it really record 256 cameras?

Yes — and unlike most large recorders, the bandwidth supports it. 1280 Mbps across 256 channels is about 5 Mbps each, which is workable for 4 MP cameras at sensible frame rates. Send us the camera list and we will confirm.

What is N+M hot spare?

Spare disks held in the chassis that take over automatically when a drive fails, so the array rebuilds without a site visit.

Does RAID reduce the bandwidth?

No. Hikvision quotes 1280 Mbps in and out in both normal and RAID modes.

Does it come with hard drives?

No. Twenty-four SATA drives up to 20 TB each, supplied separately — surveillance-rated, and worth buying from the same batch for a consistent array.

Is this available from stock?

Ask us. A recorder at this level is normally ordered in rather than shelf stock, so check lead time before committing to a project date.

Browse the full NVR range, IP cameras, PoE switches or surveillance hard drives. Specifying a system at this scale? Contact us, call 01902 902251, or visit the Wolverhampton trade counter.