IP Cameras Guide

Why cameras need Dynamic DNS

IP cameras let you monitor a location remotely — but only if you can reach them. Most internet connections use a dynamic IP address that changes periodically. When your IP changes, your camera feed becomes unreachable unless you manually update the address in your viewing app.

Dynamic DNS solves this by giving your camera a stable hostname like cam-lobby.novaip.link that always points to your current IP. Most IP cameras and NVRs have a built-in DDNS client that can update this automatically.

Setting up by brand

Most IP cameras support DynDNS or No-IP as a DDNS provider. Since NovaDNS is protocol-compatible with both, you can select either option in your camera's settings.

The exact menu paths may vary by firmware version. The key is to select DynDNS or No-IP as the provider and use novadns.io as the server address.

NVR and DVR configuration

If you use a network video recorder (NVR) or DVR, you typically configure DDNS on the recorder rather than on each individual camera. The NVR acts as the gateway for all connected cameras.

The setup is identical to configuring a single camera — navigate to the DDNS settings in your NVR's web interface, select DynDNS or No-IP, and enter your NovaDNS credentials. All cameras connected to the NVR will be reachable through the same hostname.

Port forwarding for remote access

DDNS gives you a stable hostname, but you also need to forward the right ports on your router so traffic can reach your camera or NVR from the internet.

For security, prefer HTTPS (port 443) over HTTP and consider changing default ports to non-standard ones to reduce automated scanning.

Webhooks for IP change alerts

NovaDNS can send a webhook notification every time your IP address changes. This is useful for triggering alerts in your monitoring system or updating firewall rules automatically.

Configure webhooks in your NovaDNS dashboard under the host settings. You can point them at any HTTP endpoint — a Slack webhook, a monitoring API, or a custom script. See the Webhooks guide for details.

Security best practices

Exposing cameras to the internet requires care. Follow these practices to reduce risk:

• Always use HTTPS — enable TLS on your camera or NVR to encrypt traffic in transit.
• Change default passwords — factory credentials are the most common attack vector for IP cameras.
• Use non-standard ports — moving services off default ports reduces exposure to automated scanners.
• Keep firmware updated — camera manufacturers regularly patch security vulnerabilities.
• Consider a VPN — for maximum security, access cameras through a VPN tunnel instead of direct port forwarding.
• Use per-host tokens — NovaDNS gives each device its own credentials, so compromising one device doesn't affect others.