Static or DHCP for IP cams?

cmx

Getting the hang of it
Nov 9, 2024
74
32
NJ
Wondering what most people here use? They both have advantage and disadvantages.
 
I use static IP's for my IP cameras.

First, I set the DHCP server in my router for a range of 192.168.200.2 to 192.168.200.99 which leaves me with 192.168.200.100 to 192.168.200.255 to use for cameras, printers, etc......155 unique, static IP's for my use is plenty.

That leaves 98 IP's for the router to assign to DHCP devices in my household which is also more than enough.

I put the assigned IP's in a spreadsheet that includes camera info (make, model, location or description, etc.). In the visible on-screen display I place the 3 digits of the last octet at the end of the name such as "Patio 188".

I've been using static IP's as described above for probably 20 years, because many older routers and modem/router combos leased by ISP's did not have a feature where you could make an IP reservation for a DHCP device, so using static assignments avoided the issue and I have NEVER encountered a problem by doing it that way.

But some folks like DHCP and you'll likely hear their reasons as well. :cool:
 
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Kind of need more info about what you are trying to do.. Personally turn off UpNP in all devices and best to turn it off in your router so one can't sneak on that you forgot to turn off..

Normally Firewall info isn't needed unless you have blocked the devices from access of the internet over email, NTP and all other ports then you would maybe want to setup a path they can access those servers on the outside.

Static IP is best for me. However I have more then my share of security cameras and DVR/NVRS so it is best for me that I have it setup this way so I don't loose track where a camera that isn't on one of my POE NVRs I can access the WebUI fast without having to look up what IP address it was last given by my Router.. Now I do have a few cameras that don't have Static ability in the Camera that I have setup on my Router to have a static IP and I have setup in my router some devices that I reset often to have a static IP so I don't have to hunt down the device after a factory reset..

I am not a normal end user and again have more then my share of devices.. Like know know where they are on my network at all times.. Static wins for me..
 
Just looking for ideas on how to manage my cams, I block my cams from getting to the internet, it's easy to do with ubiquiti. I would use VLAN but not all my switches are ubiquiti and it tends to be a pain when you have different brands of switches mixed.

I find it easy to just create a rule and paste all my IP cameras address in and then check with a laptop to verify.
 
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I use static because when I want to access a camera, I want to be able to access it with a known IP without guessing or looking up what IP address may have been assigned to it.

Similar to Tony, I have a network map spreadsheet with information for each camera with its IP, patch panel location, description, focal length, etc.
 
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I "reserve" specific IP addresses for each camera in the DHCP service. This basically gives me the benefits of both strategies. My cameras are assigned as DHCP in their settings. This makes is easier to pull one down and trouble shoot it on the bench, etc if needed. However the DHCP service always assigns the camera the exact same IP address. This gives me the stability of setting up static addresses.

Yes it is a little more work initially to reserve those addresses in my DHCP server, but I feel it is worth the tiny bit of extra work.
 
You can , but mine don’t talk to the internet even the ones on my LAN.

Don’t enable P2P or anything else to make them reach out and they don’t

IMG_9154.jpeg
 
 
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I can't imagine keeping track of the cameras without static addresses. It's not like there's a DNS server to follow them around.
 
That's why you put the cameras on a second NIC card in the Blue Iris server and don't give it Internet access.

I don't think that would work for me, i have 4 POE switches scatted around the property that all link back to a 10GIG switch. It only takes a min to block them all in Unifi.

But its a good idea :)
 
I have more than 4 POE switches scattered around and still dual NIC.

The dual NIC is cheaper and faster, and depending on the number of cameras, better than VLANs (although true VLAN users will refute it).

For example, the EdgeRouter X is claimed to be somewhere between 800Mbps to 1Gbps, but you see tests all over where people are only getting in the 700Mbps range.

On my isolated NIC, my cameras are streaming non-stop almost 500Mbps. This is full-on, never stopping to take a breath. Even if someone has a gigabit router, a 3rd to half of non-buffering 24/7 data will impact its speed.

I would just as soon not have that much video data going thru a device if it doesn't need to. Has to slow the system down.
 
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