Out of the box most device are set-up with DHCP protocols and this will make it pretty easy for the end user just to plug the device in and get it connected. But if you are in a larger more complex network you might need to set up a static ip for the device. In most windows devices you can use the wizard walk you through it but if you need to setup like 20 ip cameras you should at least know the basics. I’ll use windows for this as it is the easiest to capture. If you go to Control Panel>Network and Internet> Change Adapter Settings>(connection which you want to set up)>Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)>properties. You will finally reach a window like this:
I you are in a network that has DHCP enable all you have to do is have “obtain and ip address automatically” check and the number fields will be grey out. But if you to setup up a static IP for you machines you will need to have these filed filled out. Usually the network administrator will give you the information you need to fill in the slots.
But a quick rundown is the IP address that is assigned is basically the address for the device. Anyone looking for the camera will use this ip address to connect with it.
The subnet mask is used to create vLANs. A vLAN is basically a subdivided part of the network that only other devices with the same subnet mask can see and interact with. It is used for security and organization purposes.
The Gateway is is the device on the network usually a router that will allow the device you are setting up to access other networks like the internet.
I’ll go into more about the DNS and subnetting later, but in summation once you know what these numbers are you can easily setup any device on a network easily not just a windows machine.