Networking
How to set up a DHCP reservation for a camera or NVR
A DHCP reservation tells the router to hand a camera or recorder the same IP address every time. It is the easiest way to stop a recorder losing its cameras, or an app losing the recorder, after a power cut.
VuePoint
By default most cameras and recorders ask the router for an address (DHCP) every time they boot. Usually they get the same one back. Sometimes, after a long outage, a router replacement or a busy network, they do not. Then the NVR shows channels offline, a port forward points at the wrong device, or the monitoring station loses the feed.
A DHCP reservation (also called a static lease, address reservation or fixed IP) fixes this on the router side: the router recognises the device by its MAC address and always gives it the same IP. The device itself stays on DHCP, so if you move it to another network it still gets online.
| DHCP reservation (router) | Static IP (on the device) | |
|---|---|---|
| Where it is set | Router or firewall | Camera or recorder network menu |
| Survives router replacement | No, must be recreated | Yes |
| Risk of address conflict | Low, the router manages the pool | Higher if the address is inside the DHCP pool |
| Device moved to another network | Still gets online | May be unreachable until changed |
| Best for | Small sites, ISP routers, mixed devices | Sites without a router you control, or isolated camera networks |
Create the reservation
- 1
Find the device's current IP and MAC address
The MAC address is printed on the label of most cameras and recorders, and is shown in the recorder's network or system information page. The vendor discovery tools (SADP for Hikvision, ConfigTool for Dahua, Reolink Client's LAN scan) show both IP and MAC. See how to find a camera or recorder's IP address.
- 2
Log in to the router
Open the router's web page or app with an admin account. On ISP gateways this is often in the ISP's app rather than a browser page.
- 3
Open the DHCP or LAN settings
Look for DHCP Server, LAN Setup, Address Reservation, Static Leases or, on some systems, a per-client setting called Fixed IP. The router table below lists where it usually lives.
- 4
Add the reservation
Choose the device from the connected-clients list if offered (this fills the MAC for you), or type the MAC manually. Enter the IP you want. Keeping the address it already has is simplest because nothing else needs changing.
- 5
Save and reboot the device
Reboot the camera or recorder (or disconnect it for a minute) so it requests a fresh lease. Some routers only apply reservations to new leases.
- 6
Confirm it took
Check the router's client list shows the device at the reserved address, and that the NVR channels and any port forwards still work.
- 7
Record it
Keep a simple sheet: device, location, MAC, IP. It saves an hour the next time someone replaces the router.
Where reservations usually live
| Router family | Usually found under |
|---|---|
| TP-Link | Advanced > Network > DHCP Server > Address Reservation |
| ASUS | LAN > DHCP Server > manual assignment list |
| Netgear | Advanced > Setup > LAN Setup > Address Reservation |
| Linksys | Connectivity > Local Network > DHCP Reservations |
| Ubiquiti UniFi | Client device settings > Fixed IP Address |
| pfSense / OPNsense | DHCP server settings for the interface > static mappings |
Cameras plugged into the NVR's PoE ports
Many NVRs have built-in PoE ports that run their own small internal network for the cameras. Those cameras get addresses from the NVR, not from your router, and they will not appear in the router's client list. You do not need reservations for them; only the NVR's own LAN port needs a fixed address on your network.
Common questions
- Can I reserve an address that is outside the DHCP pool?
- On most routers, yes, and some require it. On others the reservation must sit inside the pool. If the router refuses the address, check which rule it follows in its help page.
- Do I need a reservation if I use the maker's cloud app?
- The app will usually keep working without one, because the recorder connects out to the cloud. You still want one if the NVR records IP cameras on your main network or if you have any port forwards.
Cameras dropping off after every outage?
Tell us what's on the network and we'll tell you where we'd start.