DahuaVTO – Home Assistant Integration

🇩🇪 Deutsche Dokumentation: README.de.md

Full Home Assistant integration for GOLIATH / Dahua VTO door stations (including OEM variants).

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Supported Devices

Manufacturer	Model	Tested
GOLIATH	AV-VTA05-22AV2 (Hybrid Modular)	✅
Dahua	VTO2202F, VTO2111D, VTO2000A	✅ (reported)
All Dahua VTO	with CGI API and HTTP Digest Auth	✅

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Features

Entities

Platform	Entity	Condition
event	Doorbell / Doorbell button N	Always
event	Fingerprint	Has fingerprint module
event	Card access	Has RFID reader
binary_sensor	Doorbell	Always (5 s auto-reset)
binary_sensor	Door contact	Always
binary_sensor	Missed call	Always
binary_sensor	Call active	Always
button	Open door	Always
lock	Door lock	Always (unlock triggers relay, 5 s auto-reset)
sensor	Last access	Always
camera	Door camera	Always (RTSP)
image	Door camera snapshot	Auto-update on ring
image	Access snapshot	Auto-update on granted card / fingerprint / face / PIN access

Services

Service	Description
dahua_vto.learn_card	Start card learning mode (next card scan is registered)
dahua_vto.stop_learn_card	Cancel card learning mode
dahua_vto.add_card	Register a card directly by number
dahua_vto.delete_card	Delete a card
dahua_vto.enroll_fingerprint	Start fingerprint enrollment
dahua_vto.cancel_enrollment	Cancel ongoing enrollment
dahua_vto.list_users	Load all users from device (fires dahua_vto_users_listed)
dahua_vto.call_room	Initiate a video call to a VTH indoor unit by room number
dahua_vto.stop_call	Hang up an active call
dahua_vto.trigger_alarm	Switch alarm output on/off (with optional auto-stop duration)
dahua_vto.get_logs	Fetch recent events (fires dahua_vto_logs_fetched)

Tip: For learn_card and enroll_fingerprint, providing only user_name is sufficient. The integration automatically finds the matching UserID or generates a new one.

HA Bus Events (for automations)

Event	When
dahua_vto_card_learned	Card detected in learning mode
dahua_vto_fingerprint_enrolled	Fingerprint enrollment successful
dahua_vto_fingerprint_failed	Enrollment failed / timed out
dahua_vto_doorbell_snapshot	Snapshot ready after doorbell press
dahua_vto_access_snapshot	Snapshot ready after granted access (card/fingerprint/face/PIN) – includes user_id, user_name, card_no, method
dahua_vto_users_listed	User list fetched
dahua_vto_logs_fetched	Log entries returned by get_logs service

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Installation

Option A: HACS (recommended)

1. HACS → Integrations → ⋮ → Custom repositories
2. URL: https://github.com/itsh-neumeier/dahua_vto | Category: Integration
3. Install integration → Restart HA
4. Settings → Devices & Services → + Add Integration → DahuaVTO

Option B: Manual

1. Copy folder custom_components/dahua_vto/ into your HA config directory
2. Restart HA
3. Settings → Devices & Services → + Add Integration → DahuaVTO

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Configuration

The config flow detects all modules automatically:

1. Step 1: Enter IP address, port (default: 80), username, password
2. Step 2: Verify detected modules and correct if necessary
   • Number of doorbell buttons
   • Fingerprint module installed
   • RFID / card reader installed

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Automation Examples

How to use: Each example below can be pasted directly into the HA automation YAML editor (Settings → Automations → New Automation → ⋮ → Edit in YAML). Replace av_vta05_22av2 with your actual device name and notify.mobile_app_my_phone with your notification service.

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🔔 Doorbell

Blueprint: push notification with snapshot photo

Import this blueprint into Home Assistant and create the automation from the UI: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/itsh-neumeier/dahua_vto/main/blueprints/automation/dahua_vto/doorbell_push_notification_snapshot.yaml

The blueprint lets you configure:

• the mobile app notification service
• custom title and message
• an optional doorbell button filter
• an optional click action and notification tag

Push notification with snapshot photo

alias: "Doorbell – Push notification with photo"
description: "Send push notification with doorbell snapshot"
mode: single
triggers:
  - trigger: event
    event_type: dahua_vto_doorbell_snapshot
conditions: []
actions:
  - action: notify.mobile_app_my_phone
    data:
      title: "Someone at the door!"
      message: "Doorbell was pressed"
      data:
        image: "/api/image_proxy/{{ trigger.event.data.entity_id }}"

Flash indoor lights on doorbell

alias: "Doorbell – Flash indoor lights"
description: "Flash living room lights when doorbell rings"
mode: single
triggers:
  - trigger: state
    entity_id: binary_sensor.av_vta05_22av2_doorbell
    to: "on"
conditions: []
actions:
  - action: light.turn_on
    target:
      entity_id: light.living_room
    data:
      flash: short

TTS announcement on doorbell

alias: "Doorbell – TTS announcement"
description: "Announce doorbell via smart speaker"
mode: single
triggers:
  - trigger: state
    entity_id: binary_sensor.av_vta05_22av2_doorbell
    to: "on"
conditions: []
actions:
  - action: tts.speak
    target:
      entity_id: media_player.echo_dot
    data:
      message: "Someone is at the front door!"

Turn on outdoor light at night on ring

alias: "Doorbell – Outdoor light at night"
description: "Turn on outdoor light for 5 minutes when doorbell rings at night"
mode: single
triggers:
  - trigger: state
    entity_id: binary_sensor.av_vta05_22av2_doorbell
    to: "on"
conditions:
  - condition: sun
    after: sunset
    before: sunrise
actions:
  - action: light.turn_on
    target:
      entity_id: light.outdoor_entrance
  - delay: "00:05:00"
  - action: light.turn_off
    target:
      entity_id: light.outdoor_entrance

Record a 30-second camera clip on ring

alias: "Doorbell – Record 30 s camera clip"
description: "Record a 30-second video clip when doorbell rings"
mode: single
triggers:
  - trigger: state
    entity_id: binary_sensor.av_vta05_22av2_doorbell
    to: "on"
conditions: []
actions:
  - action: camera.record
    target:
      entity_id: camera.av_vta05_22av2_door_camera
    data:
      filename: "/config/www/recordings/doorbell_{{ now().strftime('%Y%m%d_%H%M%S') }}.mp4"
      duration: 30

Auto-call indoor station on ring (ring-through)

alias: "Doorbell – Auto-call indoor station"
description: "Automatically ring through to VTH indoor unit when doorbell is pressed"
mode: single
triggers:
  - trigger: state
    entity_id: binary_sensor.av_vta05_22av2_doorbell
    to: "on"
conditions: []
actions:
  - action: dahua_vto.call_room
    data:
      room_no: "8020"

---

🔑 Access Control

Open door on granted fingerprint

alias: "Fingerprint – Open door (granted)"
description: "Automatically open door when fingerprint is accepted"
mode: single
triggers:
  - trigger: state
    entity_id: event.av_vta05_22av2_fingerprint
    attribute: event_type
    to: "granted"
conditions: []
actions:
  - action: button.press
    target:
      entity_id: button.av_vta05_22av2_open_door

Notification on access with user name

alias: "Access – Notification with user name"
description: "Notify when someone accesses the door, showing their name"
mode: single
triggers:
  - trigger: state
    entity_id: sensor.av_vta05_22av2_last_access
conditions: []
actions:
  - action: notify.mobile_app_my_phone
    data:
      title: "Door accessed"
      message: >
        {{ states('sensor.av_vta05_22av2_last_access') }}
        entered via {{ state_attr('sensor.av_vta05_22av2_last_access', 'method') }}
        at {{ now().strftime('%H:%M') }}.

Alert on denied access attempt

alias: "Access – Denied access alert"
description: "Alert when an unknown card or fingerprint is rejected"
mode: single
triggers:
  - trigger: state
    entity_id: event.av_vta05_22av2_card_access
    attribute: event_type
    to: "denied"
conditions: []
actions:
  - action: notify.mobile_app_my_phone
    data:
      title: "⚠️ Access denied"
      message: "An unknown card or fingerprint was rejected at the door."

Auto-open door for a specific person

alias: "Access – Auto-open door for Timo"
description: "Automatically unlock when a specific user accesses"
mode: single
triggers:
  - trigger: state
    entity_id: sensor.av_vta05_22av2_last_access
conditions:
  - condition: template
    value_template: >
      {{ state_attr('sensor.av_vta05_22av2_last_access', 'user_name') == 'TimoNeumeier' }}
actions:
  - action: lock.unlock
    target:
      entity_id: lock.av_vta05_22av2_door_lock

Start card learning mode (service call)

This is a service call, not an automation. Run it via Developer Tools → Services or trigger it from another automation.

action: dahua_vto.learn_card
data:
  user_name: "John Doe"
  timeout: 30

---

📸 Access Snapshot

These automations use the dahua_vto_access_snapshot bus event. The entity_id in the event data points to the image.av_vta05_22av2_access_snapshot entity which holds the current snapshot – usable in push notifications as a photo.

Push notification with photo on access

alias: "Access – Push notification with photo"
description: "Notify with snapshot photo when someone opens the door"
mode: single
triggers:
  - trigger: event
    event_type: dahua_vto_access_snapshot
conditions: []
actions:
  - action: notify.mobile_app_my_phone
    data:
      title: "Door opened – {{ trigger.event.data.user_name }}"
      message: >
        Method: {{ trigger.event.data.method }} at {{ now().strftime('%H:%M') }}
      data:
        image: "/api/image_proxy/{{ trigger.event.data.entity_id }}"

Separate notification per access method

alias: "Access – Notification per method (card vs fingerprint)"
description: "Different notification text for card and fingerprint access"
mode: single
triggers:
  - trigger: event
    event_type: dahua_vto_access_snapshot
conditions: []
actions:
  - action: notify.mobile_app_my_phone
    data:
      title: >
        {% if trigger.event.data.method == 'fingerprint' %}
          🖐️ Fingerprint access
        {% elif trigger.event.data.method == 'card' %}
          💳 Card access
        {% else %}
          🚪 Door opened
        {% endif %}
      message: >
        {{ trigger.event.data.user_name }} opened the door
        at {{ now().strftime('%H:%M') }}.
      data:
        image: "/api/image_proxy/{{ trigger.event.data.entity_id }}"

Alert on access by unknown user (no user name)

alias: "Access – Alert for unknown user"
description: "Alert when door is opened by an unregistered card/fingerprint"
mode: single
triggers:
  - trigger: event
    event_type: dahua_vto_access_snapshot
conditions:
  - condition: template
    value_template: "{{ trigger.event.data.user_name == '' }}"
actions:
  - action: notify.mobile_app_my_phone
    data:
      title: "⚠️ Unknown access"
      message: >
        The door was opened by an unregistered identity
        (method: {{ trigger.event.data.method }}).
      data:
        image: "/api/image_proxy/{{ trigger.event.data.entity_id }}"

Arrival notification for household members

alias: "Access – Arrival notification (Timo)"
description: "Notify when a specific household member arrives"
mode: single
triggers:
  - trigger: event
    event_type: dahua_vto_access_snapshot
conditions:
  - condition: template
    value_template: >
      {{ trigger.event.data.user_name in ['TimoNeumeier', 'AnnaNeumeier'] }}
actions:
  - action: notify.mobile_app_my_phone
    data:
      title: "🏠 {{ trigger.event.data.user_name }} arrived"
      message: "Opened door at {{ now().strftime('%H:%M') }}"
      data:
        image: "/api/image_proxy/{{ trigger.event.data.entity_id }}"

---

📞 Calls

Missed call notification

alias: "Call – Missed call notification"
description: "Notify when someone rang and no one answered"
mode: single
triggers:
  - trigger: state
    entity_id: binary_sensor.av_vta05_22av2_missed_call
    to: "on"
conditions: []
actions:
  - action: notify.mobile_app_my_phone
    data:
      title: "📞 Missed call at the door"
      message: "Someone rang the doorbell and no one answered."

Lower TV volume when call is active

alias: "Call – Lower TV volume when call active"
description: "Reduce TV volume during a door call"
mode: single
triggers:
  - trigger: state
    entity_id: binary_sensor.av_vta05_22av2_call_active
    to: "on"
conditions: []
actions:
  - action: media_player.volume_set
    target:
      entity_id: media_player.living_room_tv
    data:
      volume_level: 0.1

Restore TV volume when call ends

alias: "Call – Restore TV volume when call ends"
description: "Restore TV volume after door call ends"
mode: single
triggers:
  - trigger: state
    entity_id: binary_sensor.av_vta05_22av2_call_active
    to: "off"
conditions: []
actions:
  - action: media_player.volume_set
    target:
      entity_id: media_player.living_room_tv
    data:
      volume_level: 0.5

Auto-hang up after 60 seconds

alias: "Call – Auto-hang up after 60 s"
description: "Hang up automatically if call stays active for more than 60 seconds"
mode: single
triggers:
  - trigger: state
    entity_id: binary_sensor.av_vta05_22av2_call_active
    to: "on"
    for: "00:01:00"
conditions: []
actions:
  - action: dahua_vto.stop_call

Call indoor station when a helper button is pressed

alias: "Announce – Package delivery"
description: "Call indoor station when the announcement button is pressed"
mode: single
triggers:
  - trigger: state
    entity_id: input_button.announce_package
conditions: []
actions:
  - action: dahua_vto.call_room
    data:
      room_no: "8020"

---

🚨 Alarm

Trigger alarm on night-time doorbell

alias: "Security – Alarm on doorbell at night"
description: "Trigger alarm output when doorbell rings between 23:00 and 06:00"
mode: single
triggers:
  - trigger: state
    entity_id: binary_sensor.av_vta05_22av2_doorbell
    to: "on"
conditions:
  - condition: time
    after: "23:00:00"
    before: "06:00:00"
actions:
  - action: dahua_vto.trigger_alarm
    data:
      channel: 1
      active: true
      duration: 30
  - action: notify.mobile_app_my_phone
    data:
      title: "🚨 Night alarm!"
      message: "Someone rang the doorbell at night – alarm triggered."

Stop alarm when a helper button is pressed

alias: "Security – Stop door alarm"
description: "Turn off alarm output when the stop button is pressed"
mode: single
triggers:
  - trigger: state
    entity_id: input_button.stop_alarm
conditions: []
actions:
  - action: dahua_vto.trigger_alarm
    data:
      channel: 1
      active: false

---

🚪 Door Contact

Notify when door is open longer than 5 minutes

alias: "Door – Alert if open more than 5 minutes"
description: "Notify when door has been open for more than 5 minutes"
mode: single
triggers:
  - trigger: state
    entity_id: binary_sensor.av_vta05_22av2_door_contact
    to: "on"
    for: "00:05:00"
conditions: []
actions:
  - action: notify.mobile_app_my_phone
    data:
      title: "🚪 Door still open"
      message: "The front door has been open for more than 5 minutes!"

Save snapshot when door relay fires

alias: "Door – Snapshot on door open"
description: "Save a camera snapshot when the door relay fires"
mode: single
triggers:
  - trigger: state
    entity_id: binary_sensor.av_vta05_22av2_door_contact
    to: "on"
conditions: []
actions:
  - action: camera.snapshot
    target:
      entity_id: camera.av_vta05_22av2_door_camera
    data:
      filename: "/config/www/snapshots/door_{{ now().strftime('%Y%m%d_%H%M%S') }}.jpg"

---

🛠️ Management

Notification when card learning completes or times out

alias: "Management – Card learned notification"
description: "Notify when card learning succeeds or times out"
mode: single
triggers:
  - trigger: event
    event_type: dahua_vto_card_learned
conditions: []
actions:
  - choose:
      - conditions:
          - condition: template
            value_template: "{{ trigger.event.data.status == 'learned' }}"
        sequence:
          - action: notify.mobile_app_my_phone
            data:
              title: "✅ Card registered"
              message: >
                Card {{ trigger.event.data.card_no }}
                assigned to user {{ trigger.event.data.user_id }}.
      - conditions:
          - condition: template
            value_template: "{{ trigger.event.data.status == 'timeout' }}"
        sequence:
          - action: notify.mobile_app_my_phone
            data:
              title: "⏱️ Card learning timed out"
              message: "No card was presented within the time limit."

Notification when fingerprint enrollment succeeds

alias: "Management – Fingerprint enrolled"
description: "Notify when fingerprint enrollment completes successfully"
mode: single
triggers:
  - trigger: event
    event_type: dahua_vto_fingerprint_enrolled
conditions: []
actions:
  - action: notify.mobile_app_my_phone
    data:
      title: "✅ Fingerprint enrolled"
      message: >
        Fingerprint for {{ trigger.event.data.user_name }}
        (finger {{ trigger.event.data.finger_index }}) registered successfully.

Notification when fingerprint enrollment fails

alias: "Management – Fingerprint enrollment failed"
description: "Notify when fingerprint enrollment fails or times out"
mode: single
triggers:
  - trigger: event
    event_type: dahua_vto_fingerprint_failed
conditions: []
actions:
  - action: notify.mobile_app_my_phone
    data:
      title: "❌ Fingerprint enrollment failed"
      message: >
        Enrollment for user {{ trigger.event.data.user_id }}
        failed: {{ trigger.event.data.reason }}.

Load user list on HA startup

alias: "Management – Load users on HA start"
description: "Refresh user list from device when HA starts"
mode: single
triggers:
  - trigger: homeassistant
    event: start
conditions: []
actions:
  - delay: "00:00:30"
  - action: dahua_vto.list_users

---

📋 Logs

Fetch access log every hour

alias: "Log – Fetch access log hourly"
description: "Fetch in-memory event log every hour"
mode: single
triggers:
  - trigger: time_pattern
    hours: "/1"
conditions: []
actions:
  - action: dahua_vto.get_logs
    data:
      count: 50
      source: memory

Show last 20 log entries as persistent notification

alias: "Log – Show last 20 entries"
description: "Show the last 20 access entries as a persistent notification with translated method names"
mode: single
triggers:
  - trigger: event
    event_type: dahua_vto_logs_fetched
conditions: []
actions:
  - action: persistent_notification.create
    data:
      title: "Last {{ trigger.event.data.count }} entries"
      notification_id: dahua_vto_logs
      message: >
        {% set records = trigger.event.data.records %}

        {% set methoden = {
          '0':           'Card',
          '1':           'PIN',
          '6':           'Fingerprint',
          '128':         'Face',
          'card':        'Card',
          'pin':         'PIN',
          'fingerprint': 'Fingerprint',
          'face':        'Face',
          'button':      'HA Button',
          'lock':        'HA Lock',
          'ha':          'HomeAssistant'
        } %}

        {% set codes = {
          'AccessControl':  'Access',
          'DoorStatus':     'Door status',
          'DoorUnlock':     'Door opened',
          'CallNoAnswered': 'Doorbell',
          'RingBell':       'Doorbell',
          'VideoTalk':      'Call',
          'AlarmLocal':     'Alarm'
        } %}

        {% for r in records | reverse %}
        {{ r.timestamp }}
        {{ codes.get(r.code, r.code) }}
        {%- if r.user_name and r.user_name != 'HomeAssistant' %}  –  {{ r.user_name }}{% endif %}
        {%- set m_raw = r.data.get('Method', r.data.get('source', '')) | string %}
        {%- set methode = methoden.get(m_raw, '') %}
        {%- if methode %}  |  {{ methode }}{% endif %}
        {%- if r.card_no and methode != 'Fingerprint' %}
        Card: {{ r.card_no }}{% endif %}
        -----------------
        {% endfor %}

---

Technical Details

Protocol

• Authentication: HTTP Digest Authentication (RFC 2617)
• Event stream: GET /cgi-bin/eventManager.cgi?action=attach&codes=[...] Persistent multipart/mixed connection with automatic exponential-backoff reconnect
• User management: Dahua RPC2 API (/RPC2_Login → /RPC2)
• Door unlock: GET /cgi-bin/accessControl.cgi?action=openDoor
• Camera: RTSP rtsp://user:pass@ip:554/cam/realmonitor?channel=1&subtype=0

Security Notes

⚠️ HTTP only – The device does not support HTTPS. Communication runs unencrypted on the local network. HTTP Digest Auth protects the password from direct interception, but event data is transmitted in plain text.

🔒 Recommendation: Operate the device in a separate IoT VLAN and restrict access to Home Assistant.

• Credentials are stored in HA's encrypted config entry storage
• RTSP URL contains credentials – secure your HA instance (authentication, VPN)
• Access control services (card, fingerprint) should only be available to trusted HA users

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Known Quirks

Firmware	Doorbell event	Note
GOLIATH Hybrid	CallNoAnswered;action=Start	Standard doorbell events not present
Standard Dahua VTO	BackKeyLight;action=Start	Common
Some VTO	RingBell;action=Pulse	Alternative

• Multi-line JSON: The device sends event data split across multiple lines – the integration buffers them correctly.
• Button indexing: Some firmware uses 0-based, others 1-based – both are recognised.
• Door contact: GOLIATH sends DoorStatus;action=Pulse;data={"Relay":true} when the relay fires. The sensor shows OPEN for 8 seconds since no physical contact sensor is connected.
• Call active sensor: On GOLIATH firmware VideoTalk events may only appear when a SIP client actually connects. The sensor turns OFF immediately on CallNoAnswered.

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Changelog

Version	Changes
1.14.1	Add importable Home Assistant blueprint for doorbell push notifications with snapshot photo and document it in the README
1.14.0	New image entity access_snapshot: auto-fetches camera snapshot on every granted access (card/fingerprint/face/PIN), fires dahua_vto_access_snapshot with user_id, user_name, card_no, method – usable in push notification automations with inline photo
1.13.0	Fix device log retrieval: correct RecordFinder API (factory.create → object-based calls, record types AccessControlCardRec / VideoTalkLog). New log_type param for get_logs service (access / call / all). HAR analysis confirmed 887 call logs + 1000 access logs on device.
1.12.0	Door unlock logging: lock.unlock and button.open_door now write an explicit DoorUnlock entry (with source lock/button) to the in-memory log – visible in get_logs output
1.11.0	New lock entity (door relay as HA lock, 5 s auto-reset), new services: call_room, stop_call, trigger_alarm (with auto-stop duration), get_logs (in-memory + RPC2 log, fires dahua_vto_logs_fetched)
1.10.0	Fix snapshot (CallNoAnswered in image.py), door contact via Relay=true (8s auto-reset), new "Call active" binary sensor, UserID auto-resolution by name for card/fingerprint services
1.9.0	Bilingual DE/EN via HA translation system, HACS documentation, security improvements (URL sanitisation), NumberSelector BOX instead of slider
1.8.0	Multi-line JSON stream parser, DoorStatus Pulse handling
1.7.0	CallNoAnswered as doorbell event, VideoTalk in EVENT_CODES, typo fix
1.6.0	UserID→UserName mapping (user_map), sensor shows user names
1.5.0	Initial public release

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License

MIT License – Copyright (c) 2026 Timo Neumeier – see LICENSE