Changing Passwords

Maintaining robust cybersecurity is crucial. The Boring Toolbox enhances this aspect by efficiently managing and updating passwords in bulk for your Milestone XProtect surveillance system.

The Boring Toolbox provides two levels of password-changing capabilities:

1. Syncable

For users seeking a seamless update process, the syncable option is a boon. This feature allows you to change the password in Milestone XProtect and the camera hardware simultaneously without needing a reboot. Supported brands under this category include:

• Axis
• Hanwha
• Bosch
• Sony
• Samsung
• Arecont

The Boring Toolbox updates the camera hardware first, followed by Milestone XProtect. If the password update in the camera hardware fails, then Boring Toolbox will not update the password in Milestone. This will avoid potential password mismatches once the camera becomes accessible again.

2. Not Syncable

However, not all camera brands are compatible with the syncable feature. This includes any brands not previously mentioned and the Axis Body Worn Camera specifically. In such cases, The Boring Toolbox can only update the password within Milestone XProtect. To maintain connectivity and avoid password mismatches, we recommend a two-step process:

1. Manual Password Update on Camera Hardware: Begin by manually changing the password on each camera, following the manufacturer's prescribed process. For managing multiple cameras, utilizing the camera manufacturer's bulk management tools for the initial password change is highly advisable.
2. Bulk Password Update in Milestone XProtect: After updating the passwords manually on the camera hardware, use The Boring Toolbox to implement a bulk password update within Milestone XProtect.

This streamlined approach saves time and ensures consistency across your security system while avoiding disconnection due to password mismatches.

How To:

For Syncable Brands:

• In the Password Manager, select the hardware you wish to update by checking the box beside each.
• Choose the Change Password option in the right action menu.
• Choose a new password by applying a custom password or a unique auto-generated password to all the selected hardware. You will see an error if the password you chose is not the camera's stated password complexity.
• By default "sync password on Milestone & physical device (where available)" is checked.  This means that Boring Toolbox will attempt to sync the password to supported camera hardware by default. Uncheck this if you do not want to sync passwords to the physical hardware.
  • The green circle and white check beside the hardware name denote that the hardware is Syncable.
• Click Next > to continue to the preview.

• There is no undo button, so this preview screen allows you to confirm that all the changes that will be made are intentional.  Please carefully review this information.
• Click Save Changes to start the process

• If all cameras are successfully updated, you will see a notification that the process has been completed successfully.  You will also see the new passwords when you toggle the password visibility in the password manager.
• If some of the updates return errors, a modal will be presented with the hardware information and a description of the error. You can download this into Excel for your records.

For Non-Syncable Brands

For non-syncable brands the process is the same, with the following differences.

• The green circle with a white check next to the hardware name, which typically denotes syncable hardware, will be missing from the grid.
• The box "sync password on Milestone & physical device (where available)" will remain checked but will be ignored, and passwords will not sync to the physical hardware.