Do I need a static IP address?

T

Tengu

Young grasshopper
Mar 24, 2018
37
13
Australia
Hi,

I should be getting a new internet connection in the next month or so and I'm not sure if I need to spend the extra on a static ip address?... about $10/month

My setup is all Dahua cameras with a Dahua NVR without built in POE.
The goal is to be able to view the cameras remotely via a VPN Server setup on a router.

So, the question is will a static ip make this easier? Is it essential?
 
Tengu said:
Hi,

So, the question is will a static ip make this easier? Is it essential?
Click to expand...

It's not essential, you can use a dynamic DNS (DDNS) service. Lots of routers usually have a DDNS client built in that you could configure. In my opinion, it's a little easier with a static IP but the extra cost does add up over time. The advantage I see is that the VPN connectivity would be a little more reliable.
 
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It would be cheaper to use a DDNS (like no-ip.com free-ip.com, etc.). Many are free and some of those require a monthly visit to renew, a PITA, I think. I pay no-ip.com $25 USD per year to have 24 hostnames (like "myfrontyardcam.noip.net" or the like.

My router automatically tells no-ip if and when my dynamic WAN IP changes and I just access my home when away by using the hostname mentioned above and it knows what my current WAN IP is.
 
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Tengu said:
Hi,

I should be getting a new internet connection in the next month or so and I'm not sure if I need to spend the extra on a static ip address?... about $10/month

My setup is all Dahua cameras with a Dahua NVR without built in POE.
The goal is to be able to view the cameras remotely via a VPN Server setup on a router.

So, the question is will a static ip make this easier? Is it essential?
Click to expand...
It's a complete waste of money with zero benefit.
 
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Thanks you Fenderman, always to the point.

Valiant, that is pretty much what I was thinking.... easier and possibly more reliable

TonyR I haven't set up a VPN server before, but do you need to have different hostnames? Or can you just use one to access all the cameras?

Another question - if i were to run a VPN client on the router, I take it that would make the static ip useless?
 
Tengu said:
Thanks you Fenderman, always to the point.

Valiant, that is pretty much what I was thinking.... easier and possibly more reliable

TonyR I haven't set up a VPN server before, but do you need to have different hostnames? Or can you just use one to access all the cameras?

Another question - if i were to run a VPN client on the router, I take it that would make the static ip useless?
Click to expand...
Its not easier after the initial setup which takes 5 min or more reliable. Aside from the one time in 2016 that dyndns was being attacked I dont recall any issues. You can pay for 2 different ddns services and it would still be cheaper than static.
You need a single host name all it does is point to your ip.
 
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If you use an asus router and openVPN asus provides a DynDns service. A no brainer to setup and use.


The only time i think a static ip address is necessary is when your home internet provider is a Cell service.
 
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Thanks fenderman & SouthernYankee

So, no static IP required, now to choose a new router/mesh system and Asus are near the top of the list
 
DDNS isn't 100% dependable, sadly. My parents recently went from a static to dynamic address for about a week, during which it changed several times and no-ip had a lot of trouble updating their hostname. Once it took over 8 hours for no-ip's own DNS servers to pick up the change; like literally the no-ip management interface said one address but their DNS servers were stuck reporting the previous one. This situation is unusual, but things like that DO happen and are less likely to happen if you have a static IP.
 
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"Need?" I don't know about need. But it can make certain things easier. A couple of my best friends run their own business, each working out of their homes, and I've had this debate with them many times. They argue they get by just fine with residential grade service and DDNS. But I note that they occasionally run into issues I never have with my business class service and a static IP. (E.g.: What @bp2008 wrote.)

Our home is 100% dependent upon our Internet connection. Besides the usual Internet-y things (browsing, email, streaming, etc.), it's also carrying VoIP, alarm system reporting, and now our video surveillance. Since wireless coverage can be spotty, WiFi calling with our mobile devices has occasionally become necessary. So downtime can be more than a mere inconvenience.

In the end: Everybody makes their own choices as to what's most important to them.
 
Dramus said:
"Need?" I don't know about need. But it can make certain things easier. A couple of my best friends run their own business, each working out of their homes, and I've had this debate with them many times. They argue they get by just fine with residential grade service and DDNS. But I note that they occasionally run into issues I never have with my business class service and a static IP. (E.g.: What @bp2008 wrote.)

Our home is 100% dependent upon our Internet connection. Besides the usual Internet-y things (browsing, email, streaming, etc.), it's also carrying VoIP, alarm system reporting, and now our video surveillance. Since wireless coverage can be spotty, WiFi calling with our mobile devices has occasionally become necessary. So downtime can be more than a mere inconvenience.

In the end: Everybody makes their own choices as to what's most important to them.
Click to expand...
There is no difference in down time between "business class" internet and residential internet. They just like charging businesses more. The data is transmitted over the EXACT same lines.
As far as ddns, there are many different services you can use some way more reliable than others.
 
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I like the asus ddns service, because the router monitors the IP address and reports changes to ASUS. I have not had any problems with the asus ddns. (YET) !
 
I've been using no-ip.com for 3 years. Using it, I have provided 6 clients with individually unique hostnames and all 6 use the free DUC ("DNS Update Client" maybe?) client program which sits in the system tray of the Blue Iris server, monitoring any change in the WAN IP. It automatically updates no-ip's server with the latest WAN IP. After 3 years, myself and none of the 6 clients have ever experienced (to the best of my knowledge) an issue where they could not access their cams remotely and which could be attributed to a failure of the no-ip DDNS. And these are people that text me when a field mouse farts nearby, so I'd say that for us, it's been very dependable.
 
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DUC is "dynamic update client" I think. I use it on a number of systems. No-ip has had a few hiccups over the years, but I still use them because of ... inertia.
 
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I dont pay for static ip and i dont know when the last time my router changed ip address. I think the last time it changed was after reporting a problem which seemed to be a dos attack on my ip but they wouldnt confirm.
 
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brutonuk said:
I dont pay for static ip and i dont know when the last time my router changed ip address. I think the last time it changed was after reporting a problem which seemed to be a dos attack on my ip but they wouldnt confirm.
Click to expand...
yea I recently moved about 8 months ago and I still have the same IP address. Just in case I still use cloudflare ddns so I won't notice a change.
 
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