The 2dvr.com service is simply a private "naming" system that allows the customer to choose a simple, easy to remember name for their DVR. This private service is called DVR Name Service or DVRNS for short. The "naming" system allows the registration of the "name" with both the DVR and the 2dvr.com server, meaning you only have to remember a descriptive name of your DVR, not a twelve-digit static IP address or a .com or .net name. Since the Internet connection is dynamic - meaning "changing", the actual dynamic Internet address can change periodically throughout the day. The "naming" service enables the dynamic address of the DVR to be sent to the "naming server" at 2dvr.com and the server links the customer's personal computer the correct dynamic address each time the change occurs and enables the direct connection from the personal computer to the DVR.

For example, if you log on to your home computer and go the Internet to search for area restaurants, you have connected to the Internet using a dynamic address assigned to you by your Internet Service Provider at the time of login. If you log off the Internet and later in the day wish to check the movie theater schedule, your Internet Service Provider will reassign a dynamic address at login and chances are it will be different than when you first checked for restaurant locations. The Internet Service Provider "time-shares" the available addresses with different Internet users and as a result each time you connect to the Internet your address may change.

Now, if you want to view the cameras connected to your DVR you need to go to a specific location (or address) on the Internet. Static Internet addresses prevent the address from changing but are costly. An alternative to the static Internet address is a dynamic address. It is the same low cost solution used to find the restaurant or movie schedule, but with the addition of tying the changing dynamic address to a fixed name, i.e. your DVR name. This DVR name and the 2dvr.com DVRNS server information is entered into the DVR programming menus during installation of the DVR.

Once a dynamic Internet connection is plugged into the DVR it automatically contacts the 2dvr.com DVR Name Service server to check if another customer has already acquired the name. If the name is available the DVR registers the name with the 2dvr.com name service.

The customer then goes to the 2dvr.com web site to register the DVR name for a 30-day free trial or to open an account for billing options. The customer then loads the client remote software included in the DVR on to their personal computer and enters the DVR name using the appropriate programming steps (see DVR Setup).

The name of the DVR is now tied to the changing DVR Internet address with the name requested by the user and even if the DVR Internet address changes, the name service enables a direct connection between the DVR and the client remote software - at a cost less than a static Internet connection!

System Configuration



Step 1 (DVR to 2dvr.com server): After the Internet connection is established to the DVR, the DVR name and 2dvr.com as the "Name Server" are registered using the DVRNS setup in the DVR. The DVR name and DVR's IP address will be automatically registered and periodically updated on the 2dvr.com server.

NOTE: Refer to the DVR manual for the details on the DVRNS setup.

CAUTION: The DVRNS registration is limited to only one DVRNS server. The DVR cannot be registered to multiple servers.

Step 2 (RAS to 2dvr.com server): After loaded on your computer, the Remote Administration System (RAS) software supplied with your DVR requests the IP address of the remote DVR using your registered DVR name.

Step 3 (2dvr.com Server to RAS): The 2dvr.com server notifies the RAS software of the requested DVR's IP address.

Step 4 (RAS to DVR): The RAS software automatically connects to your DVR using the dynamic IP address returned from the 2dvr.com server.

NOTE: You should follow steps 2 to 4 whenever connecting to the remote site as the DVR dynamic Internet address might change at anytime.