Foscam Wireless IP Camera Setup & Port Forwarding

[pitbull30]

After reading many reviews/recommendations here, I bought a couple of Foscam Wireless IP cams during the Black Friday/Cyber Monday events to add to my existing security system. They can also double as kid/baby monitors.

The instruction manual that comes with the cameras is worthless. It only addresses a Linksys type router.

I also wouldn't mind hearing your feedback/tips/tricks or any type of cloud storage you use.

Here is what got me through the setup. Hope it helps.

Find your brand of router here.

http://screenshots.portforward.com/

Then watch these and go to work.

[lanwarrior]

I have 3 Foscam and I setup an FTP server. All captured images are send to the FTP folder, which nothing more than a DropBox folder so I have my own "cloud" backup.

I also didn't open a port on my router. Instead, I setup OpenVPN and to access my cameras, I'll have to VPN to it. This is more secure, IMHO.

[problemchild]

Eye Q Eye are the cams you want...........

[lowdive]

i have a handful of foscams around the house. two to monitor the baby. hoping i have things as secure as i can but definitely like the vpn idea. the cameras are set to save when motion is detected. images are uploaded via ftp and also sent by email. one of these days i'll build a dedicated system for it to record on a constant basis.

[ExtremeX]

I

I also didn't open a port on my router. Instead, I setup OpenVPN and to access my cameras, I'll have to VPN to it. This is more secure, IMHO.

+1

Poking holes in the firewall is old school.

I use an SSL VPN to connect to my internal network.

[pitbull30]

I have 3 Foscam and I setup an FTP server. All captured images are send to the FTP folder, which nothing more than a DropBox folder so I have my own "cloud" backup.

I also didn't open a port on my router. Instead, I setup OpenVPN and to access my cameras, I'll have to VPN to it. This is more secure, IMHO.

Do you have some decent instructions/references on how I could do this?

Or anyone else who commented on VPN? I'm computer literate, but new to the camera deal.

[MaHoTex]

Eye Q Eye are the cams you want...........

No... No I don't.

Foscam is perfect and easy to setup. You get a lot of camera for your money with Foscam.

[the86d]

You could FTP files to an undisclosed minimalist-Linux-box, then synce those files to an off-site location via SFTP.

I have been tinkering with ssh tunnels so that the non-SSL-compliant authentication (non-https://) can be secured and listened to too, in my home, on the D-Link cameras (https on D-Links passes no audio), and PTZ on the Foscam-traffic (non-https://) is secured as none of my foscams support SSL.

[lanwarrior]

Do you have some decent instructions/references on how I could do this?

Or anyone else who commented on VPN? I'm computer literate, but new to the camera deal.

Sure. I have a Windows 7 "server" that runs on 24x7 running multiple things, like Plex, Splunk, etc, so this is where I also host the FTP server and OpenVPN.

1). FTP server
There are many FTP server app you can choose. UNIX have its own built-in FTP server, but if you use Windows, you can use FileZilla. When you create the folder for accepting the files, put that folder in your Dropbox folder so any images are automatically "backed-up" to the cloud.

On the Foscam, access the settings from the web browser --> Settings --> FTP and configure it with the username, password and folder you setup on the FTP server above.

2). VPN
The easiest is to use OpenVPN VMWARE image file. Download VMWare Player (FREE) and OpenVPN VMWARE image file. Follow the instructions to setup OpenVPN from their website.

VMWare Player: https://my.vmware.com/web/vmware/downloads
OpenVPN virtual machine: http://openvpn.net/index.php/access-...vpn-as-vm.html
OpenVPN setup: http://openvpn.net/index.php/access-...art-guide.html

On the client side, I use this:
1). Android: OpenVPN for Android
2). Mac: TunnelBlick

PS: Don't forget to open port 443 and forward to your OpenVPN server.

[2DoorImpala]

Im trying out a free to use open source program called iSpy, so far so good. Check it out when you get everything set up. I upgraded to windows 8.1 and IE which i dont like using, didnt play well with activex option. And chrome, firefox it doesnt give me much control browser wise

[ExtremeX]

Sure. I have a Windows 7 "server" that runs on 24x7 running multiple things, like Plex, Splunk, etc, so this is where I also host the FTP server and OpenVPN.

1). FTP server
There are many FTP server app you can choose. UNIX have its own built-in FTP server, but if you use Windows, you can use FileZilla. When you create the folder for accepting the files, put that folder in your Dropbox folder so any images are automatically "backed-up" to the cloud.

On the Foscam, access the settings from the web browser --> Settings --> FTP and configure it with the username, password and folder you setup on the FTP server above.

2). VPN
The easiest is to use OpenVPN VMWARE image file. Download VMWare Player (FREE) and OpenVPN VMWARE image file. Follow the instructions to setup OpenVPN from their website.

VMWare Player: https://my.vmware.com/web/vmware/downloads
OpenVPN virtual machine: http://openvpn.net/index.php/access-...vpn-as-vm.html
OpenVPN setup: http://openvpn.net/index.php/access-...art-guide.html

On the client side, I use this:
1). Android: OpenVPN for Android
2). Mac: TunnelBlick

PS: Don't forget to open port 443 and forward to your OpenVPN server.

Or you can buy a nice used commercial grade firewall and have a hardware based IPSec VPN or SSL VPN on the gateway device without having to use any form of port forwarding to an internal network system for authentication.

You can even enable 2 factor auth for additional protection.

I just buy used Fortigate firewalls... amazing devices.

Then you don't have to rely on a VM for VPN and authentication since its done at the firewall.

[castelen]

I have a Foscam FI8918W. It was hard to set up...

[the86d]

I have a Foscam FI8918W. It was hard to set up...

It has a web-interface, right?

I have two of these. What was the hard part, aside from not wanting passwords sent though the Internet via plain text?

[atc4usmc]

Im running four FOASCAMS three FI8910W and one 8921W. All running through NO-ip and I can access via my phone etc. I have a synology server that I am planning to use for storing images etc, I guess I will prob set up FTP for that?

[lanwarrior]

Or you can buy a nice used commercial grade firewall and have a hardware based IPSec VPN or SSL VPN on the gateway device without having to use any form of port forwarding to an internal network system for authentication.

You can even enable 2 factor auth for additional protection.

I just buy used Fortigate firewalls... amazing devices.

Then you don't have to rely on a VM for VPN and authentication since its done at the firewall.

I suppose I could, but at that time I was trying to find a free solution.