What are my options for Cloud Storage / Remote access viewing?

[JBoDEAN]

I have an Hikvision OEM NR32P4-4 NVR ("Hikvision Comparable Model Number: DS-7604NI-K1/4P") along with 3 hikvision OEM cameras are plugged into my NVR.
Currently the camera record onto the hard drive of the NVR, and that's it. I do not have anything stored in the cloud. I also use an app iVMS-4500 on my iPhone to view my cameras when I am away from home. I have a DDNS setup through noip which I use on the iPhone app. It seems that at least a few times a month I get connection error and can not view the feeds remotely. I am not sure if the noip is not updating or what, but it is very annoying and inconvenient.

So my questions are: What is the cheapest/easiest way to have cloud storage with my NVR? I have a Synology NAS, but because the cameras are hard wired into the NVR, I don't think the Security Station will work on the NAS.

What is the best solution for me to view/access my cameras remotely? Seems like using DDNS and this iVMS-4500 isn't 100% reliable for my home needs. I've read about some services (ie Angelcam) where you use their app, and add you cameras/dvr and you can view them remotely......but not sure how good they are.

ANY suggestions greatly appreciated

 

[aristobrat]

I also use an app iVMS-4500 on my iPhone to view my cameras when I am away from home.

How is that setup? Normally your firewall would not allow anyone on the outside to connect to a device on your home network. Do you remember setting up port forwarding on your router or enabling a P2P on your NVR?

The safest way for remotely accessing anything on your home network is to setup a VPN on either your router or another box on your network, like your Synology NAS. Then when you're remote, you connect to the VPN and your phone has access to any device on your home network, so just fire up iVMS-4500 and have it connect to the local IP address of your NVR.

 

[JBoDEAN]

How is that setup? Normally your firewall would not allow anyone on the outside to connect to a device on your home network. Do you remember setting up port forwarding on your router or enabling a P2P on your NVR?

The safest way for remotely accessing anything on your home network is to setup a VPN on either your router or another box on your network, like your Synology NAS. Then when you're remote, you connect to the VPN and your phone has access to any device on your home network, so just fire up iVMS-4500 and have it connect to the local IP address of your NVR.

The NVR has a static up, and yes I port forwarded required ports that the DDNS accesses. However like I said after some time (a week, maybe a few days) I open the app and it says connection failed.

I could look up how to setup a VPN on my Synology if that would be better than the DDNS route. I have a Unifi USG router which is able to have a VPN/ L2TP

 

[aristobrat]

I could look up how to setup a VPN on my Synology if that would be better than the DDNS route. I have a Unifi USG router which is able to have a VPN/ L2TP

Hang on to DDNS, it's required to keep tabs on your external IP address... even with VPN. I've got my Synology doing my DDNS (Control Panel > External Access > DDNS) using Synology as a service provider and it's been really solid. I've also got a USG (3-port) that I run VPN/L2TP on (that I use with my iOS devices), but I've also got OpenVPN configured on my Synology that I occasionally use when I'm remote'ing in from my laptop.

I'm honestly not sure if my VPN suggestion would improve the "can't connect" problem that you occasionally run into, but did want to mention it because it's a much more secure way for you to remotely access your network, it lets you remotely access any device on your internal network (not just your NVR), and if you do run into any "can't connect" problems it gives a few things to check to help isolate the issue.