Closed Loop and Remote Setup of Reolink NVR or Cameras (2023)

[@philipm33]

My favorite option for remote access is with VPN, and blocking the NVR from internet access with exception to port 553 for notifications. No holes in the firewall. Thank you for the video!

[@BootOnce]

yes, I agree VPN would be the best choice

[@groarke999]

This video was really helpful, you did a fantastic job of explaining the fundamentals of how this works. Thanks for taking the time to save me hours of messing around trying to figure this out.

[@BootOnce]

I am soooo glad that this helped you!!!!

[@henryairconcepts2999]

Thanks for posting this video. It helps me a lot to set up mine

[@Matisto1]

Much appreciated! Thanks for the video!

[@rrrrrrrr290]

very informative video thanks for sharing

[@Jean-MichelBrisebois-jb8hm]

I installed the system RNL8-410 6 CAM Kit, everything works when we are on site but when we leave the house impossible to connect to our cameras what should I change in the system? the message is that the system is offline

[@BootOnce]

To access your cameras outside of your network you should do the following. This should be done on the PC reolink software directions below: 1. Click Settings of the NVR in the client software 2. Click Network 3. Click Advanced 4. Toggle on "UPnP" 5. Toggle on "Enable UID" 6. go back to Main Settings 7. Click "System" 8. Click "Info" 9. Copy down the UID information Now On Your Phone: 1. Open App 2. Remove the NVR from the app 3. Add the NVR 4. Manual Input (or scan the bar code on the device, scan might be easier) 5. UID enter the UID of the NVR system. 6. Enter the login information for your NVR 7. Enjoy your NVR anywhere you go. Now the above will enable you to use this system outside your network, BUT this will also be passing some basic information over to Reolink for this to work. Also this will make your NVR accessible from outside your network which means you should have a very secure password on this device. Be sure it's NOT the default. BTW, I checked and we didn't make a video on that. We should so I will add this to my list of videos to make about Reolink for the future. But I hope the above directions help.

[@GurwinderSingh-gs6ok]

U explain nice . But I can not see all from phone app reolink. I can not see all remotely by using network why ?

[@BootOnce]

With a closed loop setup it should be visible only to your home network. To view "remotely" or outside your network you need to setup port forwarding. OR you can set it up using the UID numbers but if you decide to use that it will reach out to reolink for that type of setup. But that setup is easier to view from outside your network.

[@PietrobonoFabio]

hi, i have a problem, we have the same nvr ^_^, i bought the reolink doorbell, if i use the nvr the mobile app doesn't work.. but if I want to use the doorbell, there's no problem only on the app, only so I have to dedicate a poe switch just for the doorbell. in a nutshell, if I use nvr the app does not find the device, if I want to see it on the NVR (the doorbell) it seems that I lose the possibility of using it with the mobile app how do you think it can be solved?

[@BootOnce]

I replied on the other post you made. . . please read and reply there. Thanks

[@GurwinderSingh-gs6ok]

Where ? Sir

[@defyiant]

Do i need a nvr if i want to self host with a unraid server. Will be using pfsense with a firewall and a managed switch

[@BootOnce]

You would need to configure the camera to record to a device. That device would need windows loaded with the Reolink software and you would need to set a recording path for the camera. So if your doing unraid you would need a VM with windows on it. AND / OR you could install a micro sd card into the camera to record directly to that. But the only problem with that is if someone steals the camera your SOL. But the micro SD card could be a secondary recording just in case your windows system needs to reboot. If your going to do more than 5 cameras I would say an NVR pays for itself. Especially if your electricity is expensive.

[@Seb512]

Looking at getting a Reolink POE Doorbell, though is there a way to have rich push notifications when pressed without any internet connection (local network only)? Cheers

[@BootOnce]

the app I have been having some trouble with the reolink door bell and NVR. With the door bell connected through the NVR I am not able to get all the features of the door bell. But when I connect the door bell through a PoE (power over ethernet) switch directly connect to the network I get all the features including push notifications etc. I have submitted a ticket to reolink for more information about this and a firmware problem I am having. Once I have more information I will update on here as well as a video if there is too much to explain.

[@Seb512]

@@BootOnce ah ok, though I don’t plan to use an NVR, just the doorbell on its own. Are you saying that the rich notifications work offline with the Reolink app, or are they server-side and therefore require internet access?

[@BootOnce]

@@Seb512 Yes it should work with out an internet connection as the app can find any devices on the local network, notifications should work the same. But since I am testing with and with out poe this week, I can add this to my testing to test with out internet connection just local connection if notifications work. I will double check and let you know.

[@Fryn_Hayn]

Very insightful video! Is this possible to do with an Amcrest system?

[@BootOnce]

I haven't used an Amcrest system. . . but after a little search it looks like it would be possible to just setup the NVR recorder to record locally. Instead of using their cloud service. Default for these devices are usually turned on to reach out. To disable I would look in the "Network" / "TCP/IP" settings and turn off anything that says "P2P" on each camera. This should shut down outside access. But I would also double check the NVR also.

[@Fryn_Hayn]

@@BootOnce Awesome thank you for the reply! I am new to all of this but if Im understanding correctly the only way to access your cameras remotely in a closed loop would be through a VPN? Thanks in advance

[@BootOnce]

for your device you would need to port forward the ports of your device to be visible on the outside of your network in order to view a closed loop. . . BUT it wouldn't be a "closed loop" if you open the ports "technically" lol. . . but yes you could port forward your ports in your router to your internal device.

[@Humle85]

This is so WRONG you don't get "more" security by doing a port-forwading direct into your services. If these contain any vulnerability at any point in time, you are exposing it to the whole internet... BAD!

[@BootOnce]

You shouldn't port forward your ports out to the world if you don't know what your doing. That would be a bad idea. Closed Loop also requires that you don't port forward at all. Outside access as I explain at around 10:00 in the video about opening ports is a bad idea if you don't know what your doing. Hence why this video is important for people to watch the entire thing including the warnings.