Set up port forwarding (and why you may not need it)
Open a door on your router so Silarius Cloud can reach an ONVIF camera, and check that it works.
By the end you will know how to set up port forwarding for a camera and test it. You will also know when to skip it and use a safer way.
What you need
- Admin access to the router at the camera's site
- The camera's local IP address (its number on your network, like a house number)
- The camera's port numbers
Every open port is a door into your network. Use strong camera passwords.
Step by step
- Open your router's settings
Open a web browser. Type your router's IP address in the address bar. Common ones are 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1. Sign in with the router's admin user name and password.
- Find port forwarding
Look for the port forwarding page. It may be under Advanced, NAT, Virtual Server or Firewall, depending on your router.
- Make a new rule
Give the rule a name, like "Cam 01". Enter the outside (external) port you want to open. You can use a series, such as 5001 for the first camera, 5002 for the next, and so on.
- Point it at the camera
Enter the camera's local IP address, for example 192.168.1.100. Enter the inside (internal) port the camera uses. Set the protocol to TCP/UDP. Some routers call this Both or Dual.
- Save and restart
Save and apply the settings. Restart the router if it asks you to.
- Check that the port is open
Use an online port checker. Enter the port number and run the check. It should say the port is open.
- Check your public IP address
Search "what is my IP" in your browser to see your public address. Compare it with the address on your router's status page.
What is port forwarding?
Port forwarding opens a door in your router. It lets something on the internet reach one device inside your network, like a camera.
If the two addresses don't match
If your router shows a different public address than the web search, your internet company may not give you a real public address. Many customers may share one address. This is called CGNAT (carrier-grade NAT).
Port forwarding won't work then. Ask your internet company for a true public IP address.
If your public address keeps changing
Some internet plans change your public address now and then. A dynamic DNS service (DDNS) fixes this. It gives you a name that always points to your current address. Set your router to keep the DDNS name up to date. You can also ask your internet company for a static (fixed) IP address.
The easier, safer way: skip port forwarding
Silarius X cameras (plug and play) and the Silarius Gateway connect out to the cloud through a locked tunnel. No doors need to be opened. This is safer, and it keeps working even if your public address changes. See Connect cameras safely without port forwarding.
Good to know
- If these steps don't match your router, check your internet company's guide for your modem.
Still stuck? We'll do it with you, free.
Silarius customers can get free remote help: sign in, click one button, and a Silarius technician joins your computer.