Remote Access and Port Forwarding FAQ

This FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) article on Remote Access and Port Forwarding is designed help provide support for users who are attempting to configure remote access to a network camera (IP camera) or video encoder (video server) device. This article also discusses, in brief, how remote access to network video surveillance software (NVR software) and DVR (Digital Video Recorder) devices is accomplished. A series of common questions have been posed along with answers to these common questions. This article can be used as a starting point for remote access configuration and will help you to understand some of the common terminology and how remote access in actually configured. If you require specific information or details and have any further questions then we recommend that you contact the manufacturer of the products you have purchased or the application/software developer of the software you are using in order to receive the proper information you require.

What do I need to do if I want to view my camera over the Internet?

Once you have configured your IP camera or video encoder (also known as a video server) for local access and you are able to access the device within a local area network by its assigned private IP address, you will then need to proceed through the steps of forwarding the access of the camera through the local network and out through the Internet. The most common method would be to forward the necessary network ports that the IP camera or video encoder use for video, audio and communication. This is also known as Port Forwarding and requires manual configuration of remote access to your camera. Manual configuration has remained the common way of configuring remote access to an IP camera or video encoder due to the relation of these devices to other networking devices and due to most applications preferring a static route to the these devices. However, an alternative option which will allow for a more automated approach to configuration is possible through UPnP port forwarding.

With Port Forwarding, what Ports need to be forwarded?

The first step will be to determine what port numbers specifically require forwarding. This information may be found within certain product documentation or even directly on the IP camera or video encoder device. On the device itself the port information can usually be found by viewing the Network configuration page. These ports typically make reference to video, audio, device control or communication ports such as those of HTTP, TCP, UDP, RTSP, RTP, among others.

How do I configure Port Forwarding through my network?

Port forwarding tends to be configurable on the network router, network firewall or network gateway device that is responsible for bridging your internal network to the Internet and vice versa. However, port forwarding may also be configured through specific network configuration on a computer. This FAQ will focus on port forwarding through a network router due to firewall and gateway functionality also being included within a router.

Once you have established what ports you need to forward, you will then need to log into your router and browse to the section where network ports and traffic can be forwarded. Depending on the router you are using, the configuration section for forwarding network ports may be easily distinguishable with the section referencing port forwarding directly. However, some routers do not clearly label these sections as the section for “Port Forwarding”. If you run into this issue, please review the product documentation or contact the product manufacturer directly for details as to the section to which network ports and port forwarding can be configured.

When you have found the section on your router that allows for port forwarding to be configured you may then proceed with setting up port forwarding. Typical configuration consists of entering in the private IP address of your network camera or video encoder, entering the required ports that need to be forwarded or opened, selecting the communication protocol (typically TCP and/or UDP) and assigning an application name to the settings you have just entered. This may also be referred to as creating a “rule” for access to your camera. Once the necessary ports have been properly forwarded you should then be able to access your camera over the Internet.

What is UPnP?

UPnP stands for Universal Plug and Play and is a set of networking protocols that are designed to allow devices to connect seamlessly in a simplified manor. UPnP is derived from the term “plug and play” with UPnP compatible devices allowing for easy access once these devices are connected within a network.

How do I configure UPnP port forwarding?

UPnP port forwarding will allow a UPnP compatible network camera or video encoder to communicate with a UPnP compatible network router for simplified local network device access as well as remote access via the Internet. In order to allow for UPnP port forwarding you will first need to ensure that UPnP is supported and working on your router. Once this has been confirmed you will then need to enable UPnP port forwarding on your network camera or video encoder device. Most network video surveillance devices, if they support UPnP port forwarding, will notify you if the defaults ports used are free for port forwarding or if you will need to change the network ports that are in use to allow for proper UPnP port forwarding. After the proper network ports have been assigned to your network camera or video encoder you should then be able to access your camera over the Internet.

Remote Access has been configured, how do I access the camera over the Internet?

Once you have properly configured Port Forwarding or UPnP port forwarding, you are then able to access your network camera or video encoder device remotely over the Internet by entering in the Public IP address of your Internet connection as was assigned by your Internet Service Provider (ISP) followed by the network port to which you will access your camera on. You may determine what the current Public IP address is by contacting your ISP, by checking the Internet connection status on your network router or by using an Internet service designed to provide you with such details. IP address checking services are easily found via online search.

However, most ISPs provide Dynamic IP addresses to their customers unless you specifically subscribe to a service that includes a Static IP address. A dynamic IP address is designed to periodically change whereas a static IP address remains fixed and does not change. It can be inconvenient to always have to check what the latest IP address is if you subscribe to an Internet service with a dynamic IP address. It can also be more expensive to have to subscribe to an Internet service with a static IP address. The solution to this would be to utilize a dynamic IP address in conjunction with a Dynamic DNS (DDNS) service.

What is DDNS? How will it benefit my application?

DDNS or Dynamic DNS will allow you to reference and browse to your camera, which has been forwarded for remote access, by an easy to remember domain name instead of by its IP address. The DDNS service can be used in conjunction with a dynamic IP address in that it will periodically probe for information as to what the latest public IP address is that has been assigned to your Internet connection by your ISP (Internet Service Provider). The DDNS service helps avoid the annoyance of having to manually check to see what the latest public IP address is if you subscribe to an Internet subscription that utilizes a dynamic IP address. Many DDNS services are available from various DDNS service providers with free or relatively inexpensive service options available.

How do I access my Network Video Surveillance software application over the Internet?

Accessing a network video surveillance software application over the Internet is configured very similarly to a network camera or video encoder. Network video surveillance software applications, also known as IP network video management software or NVR software, can be configured for remote access by port forwarding. Network surveillance software requires specific ports be forwarded and included software options may allow port changes to be made for custom configuration.

Can I access my DVR (Digital Video Recorder) over the Internet?

Depending on the features available on your DVR device, there is a good chance that you can configure remote access to the DVR for access through the Internet. As with network video surveillance software, remote access to your DVR can be configured by port forwarding. If the DVR supports remote access configuration then there will be specific ports that requiring forwarding and included software options may allow for port changes to be made for custom configuration.