Chapter
6
6 Networking Overview
This chapter will give you a basic instruction on how to set up the DVR for network connection. It is highly recommended that you have a working knowledge of what a network is and how it works. This will be helpful in completing the networking process.
6.1 Introduction to TCP/IP
TCP/IP is the group of protocols used by the Internet and most Local Area Networks (LANs) throughout the world. In TCP/IP, every computer or other communications device that is connected to the network has a unique IP address. By doing this you are giving your device a unique address similar to the address of your house. An IP address is composed of four octets (numbers in the range of 0 to 255) separated by decimal points. The IP address is used to uniquely identify a host or computer on the LAN. For example, one computer on a network could have an IP address of 192.168.1.127.
You should never give two or more devices the same exact IP address, but the first three octets of an IP address should be the same for all computers in the local area network. For example, if a total of 253 computers exist in a single LAN, the IP addresses could be assigned starting with 192.168.1.x, where x represents a number in the range of 2 to 254.
6.2 Subnet Masks
Each host in a LAN has a subnet mask. The subnet mask is a set of octets that is used to determine which LAN or class it belongs to. The number 255 is usually used to represent the network address portion of the IP address and a zero is placed at the end to identify the host portion of the address. Basically the subnet mask can be compared to the city you live in for your home address, but in this case you are stating the network you belong too.
6.3 Gateway Address
Each host in a LAN has a gateway. A gateway address is composed of four octets separated by decimal points. The gateway address is used to uniquely identify the main host or computer on the LAN that assigns the IP addresses to your network (usually a router). This is comparable to the zip code of your address.
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