Hey guys. I installed a DVR to record security camera at a customers location. I am setting it up to view remotely over the internet. In the past I have plugged the DVR into the router. Configured the router for port forwarding to the specified port of the the DVR. This works but poses somewhat of an issue for me as I am a security integrator and not an IT guy. I am not real comfortable messing with clients routers and really do not want the responsibility of any network issues that this may cause. Also I run into passwords that people don't know or remember, many different routers that have different configurations. What I would like to do is install a four port switch off of their modem and plug their router into one port and the DVR into another, thus having the DVR off of their network. Can I do this? I tested it this way and It seemed like I could only get either the router to work or the DVR, not both at the same time. the connection went like this Modem to switch input. DVR into switch output port, and Router input into switch output. I used the DHCP option on the DVR to get the IP settings. Any ideas. Thanks.

Hi, what does the instructions recommend for this setup, can you just plug the DVR recorder in a network jack? And then configure the device via IP tool? I can see you plugging it in a hub not directly to the router. Sounds like this device will need to hidden in a computer room?

Jeff G
69 Verts

I am a security integrator and not an IT guy. I am not real comfortable messing with clients routers and really do not want the responsibility of any network issues that this may cause.

Where is your customers IT guy? As a security integrator you should be insisting that the customer not allow you more access than necessary to his network. The person responsible for the customers network should be working with you to get your system through the firewall properly without creating any other security risks... Even in small mom and pop shops where the brother in law set up the network and you are handed the keys to the network you should not be accepting them to protect your own interests! You know if someone gets hacked and you were the last one with the keys you will get blamed. Sorry this doesn't answer the tech question you asked...

Chris,

Most likely the Modem (I am assuming its a DSL modem) will only provide one IP on the LAN side, so if you plug an unmanaged switch into it and then plug in two devices which ever device finishes the handshake first will get that one IP. Now if they contact their internet provider and ask for more than one static IP you can do it the way you described. You will just have to config both devices to use a static IP instead of DHCP, they can still use DHCP or what ever is the current method on the LAN side of the router. The static IP will also make it easier for them to connect to the DVR as the IP will not refresh when the DHCP lease is up from the provider.

These are small businesses, not the kind of outfit that has an IT manager.

Calpantera what your saying is what I suspected that the two devices are fighting over the same IP address.
I have some units set up so they are just plugged into a modem and set to DHCP and forget them,they work fine.As soon as there is a router in the mix it causes headaches. I have this one I'm working with now set up behind a router with port forwarding configured and using a DDNS server. It works fine for a few days then goes down. I'm guessing when the IP address changes. The DDNS is supposed to take care of the IP changes but is not. In this case the DVR is 192.168.200 and port 100 is forwarded. I have DHCP off on the DVR because the tech support guy said to do that so it stays at .200, if DHCP changed it changed it would mess up the port forwarding. Does that sound right or should DHCP be on? I had it running for two days now I can't access it anymore. I may just tell them they have to get a static IP address.

Even in small mom and pop shops where the brother in law set up the network and you are handed the keys to the network you should not be accepting them to protect your own interests! You know if someone gets hacked and you were the last one with the keys you will get blamed.

These are small businesses, not the kind of outfit that has an IT manager.



I got that... I just felt it worth bringing up as you could be held responsible for losses do to hackers.

Yes you need to set it as Static not DHCP, add Gateway and DNS entries....

Dennis made a good point....

Jeff G.

There are multiple reasons why this will not work, and explaining them without benefit of a whiteboard would be a difficult proposition.

What you are trying to accomplish is not as simple as it sounds, for reasons of performance, reliability, interference with other applications, security (security!!!), etc.

All the advice you have received from the other members is quite sound, especially the part about the last guy being responsible for anything that happens. Insist on someone being there. They will still blame you, but you will at least have someone to blame back!

Good luck.

I got that... I just felt it worth bringing up as you could be held responsible for losses do to hackers.

I understand that. That's why I am trying to stay off their network.

As far as the DDNS goes I asume the local machine has to connect to the DDNS server every so often to update the DNS record with the new IP from the providers DHCP server (I am not familiar with DDNS as I have always work with static IP's and just used regular DNS) If that is not happening then yes the DNS record goes stale and you will not be able to connect to the system using a hostname. I like the idea of staying off of the network. I would see about getting more than one IP from the network provider so you can assign one to the DVR and one to the clients network. This would be a good method for you to use going forward.

Thanks.

Dennis makes more than a good point...
I admin /set up Small business /school type networks..these are my bread and butter

No one touches my routers , managed switches or have access to any of the Admin pws or user names....If I get hit by a bus, I have an arrangement with them and my wife who has that info.

If u get into their routers that easy, the person who set up the network should take up needle point.
And in your own interests, u should refuse to accept any user names, pws and insist that the IT person.contractor to be present and log u in if needed.
Insist on someone being there. They will still blame you, but you will at least have someone to blame back

Even that situation can be messy and very expensive....best to advoid at all costs...espec if the IT person or the staff member that has been 'delegeted' the responsablitry when there is no IT person.
you can start messing with ports, ips etc and all works fine..till a week or so later , alsorts of conflicts can start to appear....who carries the can then?