Swann Security Dynamic DNS Setup Guide A full guide written for beginners, to set up a Dynamic DNS shortcut/hostname for access to Swann DVRs on internet connections with a dynamic IP address. Problem: You have a broadband internet connection with a Dynamic Public IP Address (sometimes called a Dynamic WAN IP Address or a Dynamic Internet Address). You usually need to know what your modem or router s Public IP Address is in order to connect to it from a remote location, this creates a bit of a problem if it is changing at random. Solution: Using a service provided by a company called DynDNS.com, we are able to use a hostname to connect to the DVR. The hostname acts like a shortcut which always takes us back to your modem s Internet IP Address and therefore the DVR, even if it has changed. We are able to do this by telling the router, modem or a computer connected to the router to keep DynDNS.com updated with your modems latest Internet IP Address. Ideally, you shouldn t need to use this process and should be using a Static Internet IP address, simply meaning that it never changes. Unfortunately this usually means you would have to pay a hefty extra monthly fee. The advantage to using this method is that it is free of charge. There are a few things you will need to consider: You must be using a broadband/high speed/dsl/cable internet connection for the location of the DVR or IP Camera, and for the location you want to connect from. Ideally you should have a router that supports DDNS or DynamicDNS. If you are unsure, check the documentation provided with your router or your router manufacturers website. You will need to do these steps while you are on site with the DVR, don t do them from a remote location. This guide has three methods for using Dynamic DNS. The registration process with DynDNS.com is the same for all three methods, so you should follow up to step 10A regardless of your configuration. A. This is the best method of making sure that your hostname points to the correct router Internet IP Address, as the router automatically updates the DynDNS.com servers each time its Internet IP Address changes. Most D Link, NetGear, Linksys, Actiontek & Belkin brand routers support DynDNS by default. B. If you have a router that does not support DDNS or DynamicDNS, then we need to install a program on a computer on the same network as the DVR or IP Camera that periodically sends Internet IP Address information to the DynDNS.com servers to keep them up to date. This method is less desirable because you have to have the computer switched on and working so that it can keep the router Internet IP Address information correct on the DynDNS.com servers. 2Wire, Westell, and Motorola routers are usually less accommodating when it comes to built in DDNS or DynamicDNS support, this means you cannot use method A and it is likely you will need to use this method instead. C. The device you are trying to connect to(such as a DVR) has DDNS support, in which case you simply enter the DynDNS details into the DVR and let it do the updating for you. STEP 1 Go to the DynDNS website to create an account. http://www.dyndns.org A. Select Create Account. INT: +613 8412 4610 1 / 14
Step 2 https://www.dyndns.com/account/create.html A. Give yourself a unique username for your account; try to choose something that will be easy to remember. In this example we have used swanntest. B & C. Type in a valid e mail address, you will need to be able to access your e mail so that we can activate the account. Confirm your e mail by typing it again into the second box (C). D & E. Give yourself a password for the account; use something that you will remember. F. Turn off or un check the Newsletters and Press releases options under Mailing Lists. G. Tick the box to agree to the Acceptable Use Policy, then click Create Account (H). INT: +613 8412 4610 2 / 14
Step 3 Once you have completed the registration process, you will see a screen like the one shown to the right. Step 4 Check your e mail and you ll see a new message from DynDNS that looks similar to the one below. A. Click on the link in the e mail to finish the activation process INT: +613 8412 4610 3 / 14
Step 5 Now that the account has been confirmed, go ahead and login using the Username (A) and Password (B) that you created during the registration process. Step 6 Once you ve logged in, click on Add Host Services (A) under the My Services section. INT: +613 8412 4610 4 / 14
Step 7 On this screen, we are going to create a host name or shortcut so that we can access the DVR using a text based website rather than the IP address of your router, which can change if it is dynamic. A. Enter the first part of the hostname that you would like to create. You can choose anything you like, best to keep it short and simple. In this example we have used swanndvr. B. Select the domain you would like to use, in other words, the second part of the hostname. We have chosen selfip.net in this example. C. Click on Use auto detected IP address. D. Select Create Host. INT: +613 8412 4610 5 / 14
Step 8 A. When you arrive on the billing checkout screen, click on next to continue. As we are not adding more than 5 hostnames, the service is free. You will not be charged. Step 9 A. Select Activate Services to complete the process. INT: +613 8412 4610 6 / 14
Step 10 A. If all goes to plan, you should see your new hostname coming up in the list. In future, this is what you ll type in to get access to your DVR or IP Camera. B. If your modem or router supports DDNS(check manual if unsure) enter the account username and password, hostname and update service into your device. If your modem or router does not support DDNS you can click on the Support tab to access the download for the update client which will use your PC to update instead of the router. You have now successfully created your hostname. To install the DynDNS updater, continue following this guide. INT: +613 8412 4610 7 / 14
Step 11 A. To begin downloading the updater, locate the Download Now link and click on it. Step 12 A. When prompted, click on Run. INT: +613 8412 4610 8 / 14
Step 13 A. Should you see this message pop up, click on Run to allow the Updater to install. Step 14 A. If you have had a previous version of this updater installed on your system you will be prompted to remove previous versions before installing the current version. Click on Next to continue. INT: +613 8412 4610 9 / 14
Step 15 A. Read the Licence Agreement and click on Next to continue your installation of DynDNS Updater. Step 16 A. Ensure you leave a check mark next to Start with Windows. If you do not, the updater will not load and will not update your IP address. This will render the service inoperable. B. Click on Next to continue. INT: +613 8412 4610 10 / 14
Step 17 A. Place a check mark in the box Install the DynDNS Updater as a Windows Service B. Click on Next to continue. Step 18 A. Leave the installation location as default and click on Next to continue. INT: +613 8412 4610 11 / 14
Step 19 A. Select Run DynDNS Updater v4.0.8. B. Click on Next to run the Updater program. Step 20 A. Type in the username you used to create your DynDNS account B. Type in the password you used when creating your DynDNS account. INT: +613 8412 4610 12 / 14
Step 21 A. Click on Refresh Host List to update your hostname. B. Your hostname should be listed here. Ensure the hostname has a check mark in the box to enable the update service for this host. C. Click Apply to save your settings. INT: +613 8412 4610 13 / 14
Step 22 A. This status icon will let you know if the DynDNS service is updating correctly B. This date and time indicates the last time your updater refreshed your IP address. C. Click on Ok to accept all your changes and minimise to the system tray. INT: +613 8412 4610 14 / 14