Setting up IP Camera

[mccoady]

Even though this pertains to setting up an IP Camera it's just as much of a computer question. Let me first say when it comes to networking I'm not that knowledgeable I really need step by step directions... running Windows 10.

I bought a Dahau IP Camera and it comes with a fixed IP Address of 192.168.1.108 and my home network is on 192.168.0.xxx. The camera is connected to a POE switch (to both power & transmit the signal) which in turn is connected to my router.


Here's some things I read on line:

"So what you will need to do is temporarily set your computer to use an IP on the same subnet as the camera (for example, 192.168.1.109 - the first three numbers have to be the same and the fourth different), and then you will be able to access the camera at 192.168.1.108 using a web browser. You then set the camera to use an IP address on the same subnet as your network, reset your computer's IP settings, and then the camera is visible to your network."


Another Guy says:

"Say your LAN runs on a 192.168.123.x subnet and your computer is set to static IP4 192.168.123.99 but you need to access your new camera which sits on the 192.168.0.x subnet at 192.168.0.168.

Simply navigate (in Win10) to...

Control Panel > Network & Sharing Center > Change Adapter Settings > Active Ethernet Adapter (Right Click > Properties) > Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) > Properties > Advanced

Then click the "Add" button and add (assign) IP address 192.168.0.99 and subnet mask 255.255.255.0 and then save your chances.

Your computer will now be able to access both the 192.168.123.x and the 192.168.0.x subnets so you will be able to access your new camera by plugging 192.168.0.168 into your web browser. Log into your new camera and assign it a 192.168.123.x static address and you'll be good to go with no fuss and no muss."


And finally another possible solution:

"You can also just change your subnet mask to 255.255.0.0 so you'll see everything 192.168.x.x instead of just 192.168.0.x"



None of the above makes a lot of sense to me except I understand what the goal is. Could someone walk me through the easiest/best way to achieve this? Should it matter if the router is in the chain, and if other devices are connected to the POE switch while changing the IP Address?

My main fear is I will change something on my computer and then won't be able to connect to the internet or access my router settings. Hopefully you guys help me reverse anything I do.

[Cornucopia]

Do the first option, but remember your original settings. As soon as you set it to the camera-friendly setting, you won't be able to see anything else but the cam - no internet, nothing.
Once the cam is changed, you won't be able see it either, until you set your PC back to its original setting.

Scott

[mccoady]

Thanks Scott but are you saying to follow the instructions below? When I get to the screen where there is an "Add" button high-lighted there is only setting available to change... the Gateway. His instructions says to assign IP address & subnet mask?

You said to remember the original settings are you talking about my computer's IP address?

Simply navigate (in Win10) to...

Control Panel > Network & Sharing Center > Change Adapter Settings > Active Ethernet Adapter (Right Click > Properties) > Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) > Properties > Advanced

Then click the "Add" button and add (assign) IP address 192.168.0.99 and subnet mask 255.255.255.0 and then save your chances.

Your computer will now be able to access both the 192.168.123.x and the 192.168.0.x subnets so you will be able to access your new camera by plugging 192.168.0.168 into your web browser. Log into your new camera and assign it a 192.168.123.x static address and you'll be good to go with no fuss and no muss."

[Nelson37]

Look at the IP address. Note there are 4 (four) sets of numbers, separated by periods. The first three must be the same for everyone on the network. The last set must be different for each individual device on the network. Each set of numbers is called an octet, four octets make up an IP address.

Rather than add, I would change the third number on the PC to be the same as the camera, to allow communication, then change the number on the camera to the old number on the PC, then change the PC back to the way it was. But you could do the add, whichever is easier.

Note that the "123" octet is fictional and does not apply in this example, all you are dealing with is the "1" and the "0" on your network.

Another way that might actually be easier and possibly more reliable with such cameras would be to change the network setting on your router to agree with the camera. This is in case the camera, for whatever reason, such as power outage, etc, resets itself to the original network setting, and you would have to go thru the whole change process all over again. Making the change on the router will eliminate such potential hassle. Any networked devices such as printers will need changed if you go this way.

[Cornucopia]

...unless they are dhcp also like the pc is.

Nelson37 said it all better than I was going to.

Scott

[mccoady]

Yeah I do understand about IP addresses but it was the specific procedure on how to change it on my computer is what's tripping me up.

Specifically on the snapshot I posted where the last screen lets you put in the Gateway is this going to change my computer's IP address? If so then since the camera's IP address is 192.168.1.108 if I enter 192.168.1.109 as the Gateway setting then they should talk to each other correct?

[JVRaines]

No. The gateway is a device on the local area network that controls access to another network. Usually, this device is a router connected to the Internet. It provides a service called Dynamic Host Control Protocol (DHCP) which automatically assigns IP addresses to local devices. This is how your computer appears to be configured, with an automatic address. So you need to temporarily add a static address on the same subnet as the camera per mccoady's advice.

[mccoady]

Ok totally confused now since I posted the original question with two ways I had read online on how to change my computers IP Address. I decided to try the first method (snapshots I posted) but you guys seem to be saying that's not the way to do it.

So you're saying to forget about changing my computer's IP address and instead go into my router's online settings and change its IP Address to say 192.168.1.109 to match my camera at 192.168.1.108?



Edit: Thanks for trying to help I found a video to walk me through it https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJe7facsxxE

[Nelson37]

Yes, change the router, as a power outage will cause the camera to revert to it's standard setting, which is not on your network as current. Pc will get new address automatically on next reboot. Router typically ends in ".1", but not mandatory.