How to Confirm if Your External IP is Open for our Cloud VMS to access your CCTV Cameras via Port Forwarding

Confirming if Your External IP Address is Open for Cloud VMS Access

When adding a CCTV camera to our cloud-based service, it is essential to verify that your network’s external IP address is open and accessible. This allows the camera to communicate with the cloud VMS, enabling remote access and monitoring. Here’s how you can confirm if your external IP is open:

1. Check Your External IP Address

Your external IP address is the public-facing address that your internet service provider (ISP) assigns to your network. To find your external IP address, you can use online tools like WhatIsMyIP or simply search “What is my IP address” in Google. This will give you the address that external devices use to communicate with your network.

2. Test Port Availability

Once you know your external IP address, you need to check if specific ports are open on your router to allow external traffic to reach your CCTV camera system. You can use our port checker tool to test if the relevant ports for your CCTV system (usually HTTP, HTTPS, or RTSP ports) are open.

Enter your external IP address and the port number required for your camera to see if the port is open. If the test shows the port is closed, you may need to enable port forwarding.

3. Verify Router Settings

Log into your router’s admin panel (usually accessible by typing the router’s IP into a web browser) and look for the port forwarding settings. Ensure that the relevant ports are forwarded to the local IP address of the camera or system. If the ports are not forwarded, remote access via our cloud VMS will be blocked, preventing the camera from connecting to the cloud.

The Role of Port Forwarding for Non-Direct Cloud P&P Cameras

For cameras that are not direct-to-cloud P&P (Plug & Play) devices, or if you are not using a camera gateway to facilitate P&P connections, port forwarding becomes essential. Here’s why:

1. Non-Direct P&P Firmware Cameras

Our Cloud VMS support a range of camera via our custom firmware. However, if we dont have firmware to support your camera , you’ll need to enable port forwarding manuall or use cour camera gateway.

Without port forwarding, external services like our cloud VMS cannot communicate with your camera, as the router will block incoming connections by default for security reasons. By forwarding the necessary ports, you allow these external services to access your camera’s feed, enabling cloud-based remote viewing.

2. Using a Camera Gateway for P&P Connections

In cases where cameras don’t support direct cloud connection, a camera gateway can bridge the gap. A camera gateway device typically enables P&P functionality by managing the connection between your camera and the cloud. These gateways handle the network communication, including the opening of ports and managing security protocols.

If you aren’t using a camera gateway, port forwarding ensures that your CCTV cameras can communicate with the cloud through specific ports

Make sure to configure port forwarding for the correct port numbers associated with your camera or security system.