Client side access to port-forwarded apps keeps breaking

Latest version 2H22. After years without a problem I started to lose access to two apps which are port-forwarded apps at my business. This is a DVR on which I can see my cameras at home (when it works) and an ancient mini-computer running Win XP for voicemail only. The DVR and the mini-pc have fixed LAN IPs. My office network has a fixed WAN IP from Google fiber. I ditched the GF "network box" and installed a TP-Link router. This improved the situation -- I had been cut off from these apps for days at a time then connectivity would miraculously return. Currently connectivity is 100% to my smart phone for both. But it goes away on my laptop losing connectivity to both apps at once. I have remote control of 3 of my shop PCs and this function remains. To restore connectivity I have to reboot my laptop. This will restore access to my voice mail server and my cameras both and access remains for anywhere from 20 minutes to two or three days. My employees have access to the cameras on their phones and report never having a problem. I have checked the port forwarding settings in the router too many times to count, I enabled UnPNP on the router. I have tried disabling Norton and Windows Firewalls on this laptop. I have tried disabling the WinXP firewall on the mini-pc. I have done resets of all TCP settings on my laptop. I have checked that Google Fiber does not block ports 6500 and 9000.

It is hard to blame the old mini-pc or the DVR at the shop when they both fail and work again simultaneously. I am a total loss what is happening in my laptop that is remediated by a reboot. If my home ISP is the problem, how is rebooting my laptop fixing it at least temporarily?

Lengthy as this question is I am sure there is information I have omitted, but will, of course, be happy to provide!

Thanks, Don.

Really should have the DVR and vmail servers on their own VLAN and use VPN to connect to when remote. It is possible that it can be a one sided issue, can be possible that it is two sided.

I would start with something other than the TP-link, maybe go with a Cisco RV-325, have a Enterprise/SoHo grade AP that allows you to set it up on a VLAN.

bro67 said:

Really should have the DVR and vmail servers on their own VLAN and use VPN to connect to when remote. It is possible that it can be a one sided issue, can be possible that it is two sided.

I would start with something other than the TP-link, maybe go with a Cisco RV-325, have a Enterprise/SoHo grade AP that allows you to set it up on a VLAN.

I may end up exploring this. But I had used port forwarding for years without a single problem. My newest remote control of a PC software does not use port forwarding, but for years I used programs that did.

The TP-Link router I bought is not what is sold at Best Buy. Model ER-605 and when I called for a little help setting it up they transferred me from "consumer" to "business." Reading the 59 page manual I would call it an enterprise product.

Before buying new hardware and learning how to set up a VLAN I would like to find out the origin of this intermittent problem and I hope that is not a lost cause. For the past 24 hours I have been logging in repeatedly to both devices and not a glitch whatsoever. I can't help but be highly suspicious about a Win 10 problem on my laptop because a reboot always solves it -- well at least temporarily -- and my smartphone never has a problem. Perhaps it is something with the ISP at one end? They swear they don't block these ports.

You are already set then for the router. Just need to configure the VPN. Next step would be a Managed switch so that you can do the VLAN. It is possible that if one person is connected to one of the servers that is causing you to not to be able to connect. Can you use rtsp:// to connect to the IP of the DVR through VLC?

bro67 said:

You are already set then for the router. Just need to configure the VPN. Next step would be a Managed switch so that you can do the VLAN. It is possible that if one person is connected to one of the servers that is causing you to not to be able to connect. Can you use rtsp:// to connect to the IP of the DVR through VLC?

But do I need a VLAN? Shouldn't the port forwarding work like it has been for the last 24 hours and until recently 10 years +? Setting up the VPN etc. is going to be outside of what I am familiar with.

Nobody else checks the voice mail remotely but me and apart from my phone and my laptop there is no remote access to it. I check it when the shop is closed so I am the only one. The DVR supports multiple users looking at the cameras routinely. And the two servers fail to be accessible simultaneously and become accessible again simultaneously. "rtsp:// to connect to the IP of the DVR through VLC" HA! I am not an IT pro and you would have to explain that to me. For the last 24 hours + access to both devices through port forwarding has been working flawlessly and I am almost inclined to leave it, but intermittent problems have a way of coming back.

So is port forwarding considered an inherently unreliable method of access?

I feel like if I knew how a reboot of my home laptop changed something and made it work 100% again for a while that would be the end of the hunt.

I will Google some of these terms you have referred to.

Thanks

- - - Updated - - -

I did not find a way to communicate with the DVR using RTSP. When I access the DVR remotely it done with an app for that purpose which has the fixed WAN IP address and has been told to use port 9000.

Problem is now in remission for the 3rd day. ????????????? I have been testing access to the
dvr and the voicemail app repeatedly.

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DONINAUSTIN said:

Problem is now in remission for the 3rd day. ????????????? I have been testing access to the
dvr and the voicemail app repeatedly.

It was suggested that I update this as "solved."
Well.......sort of. Nothing was done to fix it, but it has been working consistently for three days. Why was it acting up? Will it act up again, and if so in a day, a month or a year? Who knows?