[All cameras] Using APIPA makes it easy to find VIVOTEK cameras

QUESTION

Using APIPA makes it easy to find VIVOTEK cameras

 

ANSWER

Introduction

VIVOTEK 7000&8000 series products support a function named APIPA for easy installation. The 7000&8000 products includes IP7161, IP8161, FD8361 and ...etc. APIPA is short for Automatic Private IP Addressing. By default, the APIPA will assign the device a random IP address in the range 169.254.x.x and a Class B subnet mask of 255.255.0.0. While VIVOTEK Installation Wizard 2 is running, it will assign the computer a random IP address in the range 169.254.x.x as well. Therefore, the computer can use Installation Wizard 2 to detect the 7000&8000 cameras easily, no matter what network settings the cameras set. In this document, we will show you the disadvantage if the camera doesn't support APIPA and the benefit if the camera supports APIPA.

Camera without APIPA
     Installation Process

1. Assume there is no DHCP Server in the network environment                                                                                                                                   
2. Because the Camera doesn't support APIPA, it only can use the default IP address. (e.g. 192.168.0.99)
3. Your computer can not connect to 192.168.0.99 directly
4. You have to set your computer's IP address to 192.168.0.xxx to be able to access 192.168.0.99.
    

Camera with APIPA
     Installation Process

 

1. Assume there is no DHCP Server in the network environment                                                                                                                                 
2. Because the IP Camera supports APIPA, it has another IP address such as 169.254.xxx.xxx even there is no DHCP Server.
3. While the computer running the Installation Wizard 2 (http://download.vivotek.com/downloadfile/downloads/software/iw2.zip)
   it will be assigned a random IP address 169.254.xxx.xxx as well.                                                                                                                         

      4. Because the PC and camera both are in the same subnet (169.254.xxx.xxx), the users can search and configure it with IW2.
 

       Benefits - Easy Installation! No matter the settings the camera is, users only need to build the physical connection between the camera and computer, and then they can use Installation Wizard 2 to detect and configure the camera easily