Port Forwarding: Setup

Port forwarding tells a router which device on the internal network to send external traffic to. When port forwarding is set up on a router, traffic is taken from an external IP address and the data is sent to an internal IP address.

To set up port forwarding, all DVR / NVR systems have specific ports that need to be open. Refer to your user manual for model specific ports. Click here for downloads and documentation for your product.

Prerequisites:

• Ensure you have the IP address of your DVR / NVR, available in the Network menu or System Information in the DVR / NVR.
• Ensure you have your routers Gateway IP address. To find this IP address, open the Start menu on your PC. Open the Command Prompt (CMD) and type ipconfig to display your Gateway IP address.
• Ensure you have your router login information; a username and password are required to access the router. Refer to the router user manual for details.
• Ensure that you have connected your DVR / NVR to the same router as your computer.
• Ensure you have the MAC address of your DVR / NVR, available in the Network menu or System Information in the DVR / NVR. Depending on the DVR / NVR model, the MAC address can be found on the QR code sticker.

To set up port forwarding on your router:

1. In an web browser on your computer, enter your router’s Gateway IP address to log in to your router.
2. Locate your router's port forwarding settings. Depending on your router, these can be found under different menu options such as:
   • Pinholes and DMZ
   • Virtual Ports
   • Advanced
   • NAT Gaming
   • Port Forwarding

IMPORTANT: Port forwarding is not the same as port triggering.

1. Once you have access to port forwarding settings on your router, configure rules for your ports.

   • Rule Name: Enter a preferred name for the rule.
   • Port: Input the IP address of the DVR / NVR, and the specific ports needed.
   • Protocol: Select TCP / UDP, or both if it is available, then click Enable.

2. Click Save to save your settings.

   TIP: You can use an online port checker to ensure you have configured your port forwarding properly on your router.

3. Locate the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) reservation settings in your router. Set up DHCP reservation using the IP address and MAC address of your DVR / NVR. This method ensures the IP address of your system does not change if there is network or power loss.

REMINDER: If you do not have this option in your router, you can set up a static IP address on your DVR / NVR. Click here for more information on the differences between DHCP and static IP addresses.

Once you successfully set up port forwarding, you can set up a DDNS and login to your system remotely. If you lose remote connection with your DVR / NVR, click here for instructions to troubleshoot your port forwarding settings.