Network Setup Guide

Topics included in this article:

• Overview
• Power the Ethernet Switch
  • PoE Requirements 
  • Plug in the PoE switch
• Configure the Network
  • Create a Dedicated VLAN
  • Configure a DHCP Server
  • DNS Hostname Resolution
  • Firewall Configuration
    • Outbound Rules
    • LAN Streaming Rules
    • Content Filtering URL Allow List
  • Troubleshooting the Network
• Connect Camera to the PoE Switch
  • Connect Ethernet Cables to the Cameras
  • Troubleshooting Methods
• Helpful Links
• Contact Support or Sales

Overview

Rhombus cameras need both power and an internet connection to reach Rhombus’ servers. With a few exceptions, Rhombus cameras use PoE (Power over Ethernet) to receive both power and a data connection over the same cable.

Power the Ethernet Switch

PoE Requirements

The camera model will determine which type of switch is required, PoE, PoE+, or PoE++. Please review the specs of the model to determine which switch is required. Most cameras require that the connected switchport supports 802.3af (PoE) up to 15.4W. Some newer models of existing cameras will require 802.3at (PoE+) up to 30W, and the R600 requires 802.3bt (PoE++) up to 60W.

Ensure your switch has a PoE budget that is greater than or equal to the number of expected cameras that will be connected. In the calculations below, we use the maximum power consumption for each camera to ensure the power draw will never exceed the PoE budget of the switch.

Table 1.) PoE budget calculations are based on the maximum power consumption for each port.

Table 2.) Specific PoE requirements per model with their max power consumption rating. For more information on each model, please visit its product page on the Rhombus website. For power information on any models that are no longer being sold, please contact support.

Plug in the PoE Switch

• • Connect the PoE switch to a power outlet using the included power cable.

  • Ensure the power indicator light on the switch is on. This confirms the switch is powered up and operational.

  • Verify the switch is connected to the internet.

Configure the Network

Create a Dedicated VLAN

While not required, Rhombus recommends creating a dedicated VLAN for the cameras. This step can greatly simplify the troubleshooting process, and make DHCP configuration easier. If access control lists are utilized between VLANs, port 8000 should be accessible to other VLANs that intend to view footage over the LAN.

Configure a DHCP Server

Rhombus cameras are designed to obtain their local network configuration (IP, subnet, gateway, etc.) via DHCP.

If using an optional VLAN, Rhombus recommends configuring a dedicated DHCP pool assigned to the dedicated VLAN the cameras are attached to.

If you require fixed IP addresses, you can do this on the DHCP server using DHCP reservations by matching a reserved IP address with a camera’s MAC address. Please review this article on Assigning a Static IP Address for more details.

DNS Hostname Resolution

The cameras all require access to DNS servers that can resolve hostnames ending with the suffixes rhombussystems.com and rhombus.com. Many networks are using DNS-based security solutions, such as Cisco Umbrella, to prevent cameras from accidentally accessing untrusted resources. We require that all rhombussystems.com and rhombus.com DNS hostnames be whitelisted.

Firewall Configuration

Our cameras are designed to blend in with other devices on the network, so there is no need for any special rules. All network traffic is outbound, which means there is no need for inbound port forwarding.

Rhombus cameras use standard ports and protocols such as HTTPS/443, DNS/53, and NTP/123. If these ports and protocols are not already in use, they may need to be allowed in your firewall configuration.

Our client and servers have fully mutually authenticated TLS, which means that any security appliances configured to man-in-the-middle SSL traffic will cause the cameras to drop the connection. To avoid this, we require that any such appliance ignore traffic that includes an SNI header for any domain that ends with rhombussystems.com or rhombus.com.

Outbound Rules

If your Rhombus cameras connect behind a restrictive network, you will need to configure your firewall with the following rules to allow them to function.

LAN Streaming Rules

If you access cameras over a LAN, you must ensure you have routes set up to the camera's local subnets from the subnets where they need to be viewed on the LAN.

Content Filtering URL Allow List

If your firewall utilizes a content filter or URL deny list, the following URLs must be added to an allow-list for the cameras to function.

Troubleshooting the Network

• Reboot the switch.
• Verify all cabling.
• Ensure the switch is able to access the internet. Plug in a laptop and try accessing the internet from that device to test connection.

• Check IP address conflicts and ensure all devices are being assigned an IP address.

• Check if your router or firewall is blocking the camera’s ports. Adjust the firewall settings accordingly.

Connect Camera to the PoE Switch

Connect Ethernet Cables to the Cameras

• Plug one end of an Ethernet cable into the camera’s Ethernet port. Ensure the cable is securely attached.

• Plug the other end of the cable into one of the PoE ports on the switch.

Troubleshooting Methods

• Check the PoE Port: Make sure the camera is plugged into a PoE-enabled port. If another Rhombus camera is working on a different port, try connecting to that port to see if the camera comes online. 

• Try a Different Cable: Ethernet cables can fail, so test the cable by replacing it with a known working one.

• Inspect the Camera: Ensure the camera is functional by testing it in a different location or on a different switch.

• Confirm the camera has power and connection:

  • Most PoE cameras will power on as soon as the Ethernet cable is connected and the PoE switch supplies power.

  • If the network and switch are set up properly, the device should also show connected to Rhombus servers and begin registration. 

  • Check the camera’s LED status to confirm it is receiving power and connection. 

   

Table 1.) A reference for LED light statuses for unregistered cameras. For more information, please review the Device LED Statuses article. 

Helpful Links

• Device LED Statuses
• Connecting a Rhombus Camera
• Assigning a Static IP Address
• Internet Outage and Network Troubleshooting
• LAN & WAN

Contact Support or Sales

Have more questions? Contact Rhombus Support at +1 (877) 746-6797 option 2 or support@rhombus.com.

Interested in learning more? Contact Rhombus Sales at +1 (877) 746-6797 option 1 or sales@rhombus.com.