Configuring Windows Firewall for DW IP Finder

Configuring Windows Firewall for DW IP Finder™

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Affected Roles:  Administrator, Owner

Related Digital Watchdog VMS Apps:  DW IP Finder™

Complexity:  Low

Last Edit:  October 6, 2020

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Firewall Permissions

DW IP Finder™ can be a helpful tool for configuring your Digital Watchdog MEGApix® IP cameras.  However, it is a common issue for Windows Firewall to block communication between the surveillance solutions of the DW Spectrum® Server and cameras on the local network.  An example of this might be the DW IP Finder™ tool encountering difficulty locating certain MEGApix® IP cameras or being unable to locate cameras at all.

This article will outline how to change the Windows Firewall security settings to allow the DW IP Finder™ application, specifically, to have an easier time communicating with your MEGApix® IP cameras.

**Note:  DW IP Finder™ is compatible with Windows OS only.  You may acquire this tool from the DW IP Finder™ product page under the Software tab.

Supported/Affected Devices:

• DW Blackjack® Server Series (Windows OS)
• MEGApix® IP Camera Series

Configuring Firewall Permissions

To allow DW IP Finder™ to communicate through your server’s Windows Firewall:

1. Ensure that DW IP Finder™ is not running.  If it is currently running, close the program.

2. Open the Windows Start Menu and search for “Firewall”.

Select “Allow an app through Windows Firewall”.

3. The Allowed Apps window will display.

Click on the Change Settings button to enable the ability to change the security settings.

4. Locate and select “DW IP Finder”, then enable both Private and Public permissions.

5. After enabling DW IP Finder™ permissions through the Windows Firewall, DW IP Finder™ should now be able to locate your MEGApix® IP Cameras.