How to setup DDNS for cameras?

How to install IP camera without Internet?

I want to install IP camera without Internet connection.

How can I do that? You could use this method of installing the camera (as it is in the list on the first page of the link above): Install your camera on a USB powered computer (note that it needs to be connected to the same computer). Connect your camera to the computer using the supplied USB cable and PowerOn the camera. Make sure that the camera is set to allow communication with the computer (by default, it should be set to do so). Connect the camera to your WiFi router, and leave the camera set to allow communication with the router. Open your web browser and enter the IP address of your camera into the address bar (it will look like 192.168.2)
Make sure that you have your router's wireless security set to allow connections from computers using the IP address of the camera (usually this is found under "Wifi Settings" on the router's web interface). Click on the name of the camera in the list of cameras on your router's home page. If the camera is set to allow communication with the router, you will be prompted to download a software update. If you have not downloaded the update, click on "Download Now" and then "Install Now".

The camera will start downloading the update, and when it is complete, it will automatically install the update. When the update is complete, the camera will reboot and a new web page will appear. If you want to do it manually, see the manual here (it is in Spanish, but it is fairly straightforward). It is also possible to update the firmware of the camera, but this is generally not necessary, as new versions are usually released with newer cameras.

How to setup DDNS for cameras?

I have a set of 4 IP cameras which I would like to be accessible via a url and also receive email alerts when a camera detects motion.

I have been looking at Zoneminder and some other options but need some advice. The ideal solution would be one which is easy to setup, relatively cheap and simple to maintain.

We want to use an embedded linux box (we run a small webserver on a single pc) with a hard drive connected via USB for storage. We have about 6 of these devices which are only used for IP surveillance.

Do you have any suggestions as to how we can setup our network so that they are accessible via a URL and receive email alerts? We want to use an embedded linux box (we run a small webserver on a single pc) with a hard drive connected via USB for storage. Thanks in advance. -

The more you know, the less you know. A little knowledge can be a dangerous thing. The first rule of any system is to protect it from you. The second rule of any system is to protect it from itself. If you are in doubt, assume the worst and take precautions. I would suggest setting up an openVPN server running on the embedded linux box. You can have the openVPN server act as the central access point for the cameras, and then have each camera log into the server to access the camera feeds.

You can then use your favorite mail client on the server to alert you of any changes in camera feeds.

What is a DDNS camera?

DDNS stands for Dynamic DNS Service.

It is a service in which the clients can subscribe to a domain name instead of IP address to receive the internet traffic using their existing DHCP IP. DDNS services provide an alternative to ISP's by providing a public viewable IP for devices. It provides a better user experience. All you need to do is, enter the domain name in your browser and the DDNS service will assign a public IP address that is relevant to the sub domain you have entered. For example if your domain name is something.com, the DDNS service will assign you a public IP address say: 64.34.44.32

DDNS is a feature that many ISPs enable by default, without informing it's users and the users end up wasting their own time and money subscribing to a dynamic IP service when they were using it for free from their ISP. While most of the time, users still have their ISPs IP address because they have some sort of business relationship with their ISPs and they are locked into their network.

For those customers who are not locked in to their ISP, DDNS providers make things easy for them by assuring the customer a new free public address. This way, they could easily switch between one DDNS provider to another without spending more than a few minutes.

How to Use DDNS? If you are paying to an ISP then you do not have to worry about it. You are already paying for an IP address anyway and your DDNS is free! In fact, they are getting paid by your ISP for the use of your public IP addresses. They get paid by your ISP for your use of their services. Most of the time the IP address that is assigned to you is just an IP address assigned by the router on your ISP's network. It is not something really unique that is assigned to your device by them, it is just a copy of that IP. That is the reason why you always have the same IP address at your home and your device at work, because it is the same IP.

If you are not locked in to an ISP then you should not care about it. All you need to do is, visit the URL of a DDNS provider's website and follow the instructions. Once you have submitted your user account information, after that you can access all the IP addresses that they assign to all their customers who use their services.

What is the DDNS service for DVR?

As I mentioned in my previous post, I've been enjoying the functionality of the DDNS service from DynDNS.

DDNS works by using a Domain Name Server (DNS) to resolve the IP address of a device when a user enters the domain name or IP address in their web browser. When a visitor to your website uses a domain name you own, your website name is displayed as www.example.com, or when an IP address is typed, the DNS is contacted to find out the IP address associated with the IP address typed, and your website name is displayed as 192.168.0.

This seems to work great for my applications. My websites don't need to be configured to do a DNS update, and my applications can automatically have their IP address changed. This seems very convenient.

However, there is a big downside to this kind of service. If your hostname is taken, your application will not work anymore.

In order for DDNS to work, the Dynamic DNS service needs to know the IP address that your server has on all the time. So, it stores the last IP address that was used for the server in case the IP address changes.

My first thought was to use an external static IP address. However, if my ISP ever wanted to change my external IP address, it would require me to reconfigure the DDNS service.

How can I use an external static IP address but still use DDNS? There are two ways to get around this problem: Use a Dynamic DNS service that also provides the Dynamic DNS functionality, so your application does not need to do a DNS update. You can also configure your server to keep track of it's own internal IP address. A better solution is to use a Dynamic DNS service that also provides DDNS functionality. These services store your IP address to prevent the loss of your service. You can also change your IP address with one click.

I've been using the free version of DynDNS for over a year. I've found it to be very easy to use, and very reliable.

The DDNS service from DynDNS has a free version called DynDNS Free. It is limited in features. They don't offer DDNS for mobile devices.