Basic steps – Network

Use secure and trusted networks connection

Network communications must be secure, whether or not you are on a closed network. By default, secure communications should be used when accessing the VMS. For example:

VPN tunnels or HTTPS by default
Latest version of the Transport Layer Security (https://datatracker.ietf.org/wg/tls/charter/) (TLS, currently 1.2) with valid certificates that meet industry best practices, such as from Public-Key Infrastructure (X.509) (https://datatracker.ietf.org/wg/ipsec/documents/) and CA/Browser Forum (https://cabforum.org/).

Otherwise, credentials may be compromised and intruders might use them to access the VMS.

Configure the network to allow client computers to establish secure HTTPS sessions or VPN tunnels between the client devices and the VMS servers.

Learn more

The following control(s) provide additional guidance:

NIST SP 800-53 SI-2 Flaw remediation
NIST SP 800-53 CM-6 Configuration Settings
NIST SP 800-53 SC-23 Session Authenticity

Use firewalls to limit IP access to servers and computers

Milestone recommends that you use secure connections, and the following additional steps:

Use secure device authentication
Use TLS
Use device whitelisting to authenticate devices
Use firewalls to limit network communication between servers and client computers and programs.

All XProtect components and the ports needed by them are listed in individual sections below. To ensure, for example, that the firewall blocks only unwanted traffic, you need to specify the ports that the XProtect VMS uses. You should only enable these ports. The lists also include the ports used for local processes.

They are arranged in two groups:

Server components (services)—Offer their service on particular ports which is why they need to listen for client requests on these ports. Therefore, these ports need to be opened in the Windows Firewall for inbound connections.
Client components (clients)—Initiate connections to particular ports on server components. Therefore, these ports need to be opened for outbound connections. Outbound connections are typically open by default in the Windows Firewall.

If nothing else is mentioned, ports for server components must be opened for inbound connections, and ports for client components must be opened for outbound connections.

Do keep in mind that server components can act as clients to other server components as well.

The port numbers are the default numbers, but this can be changed. Contact Milestone Support, if you need to change ports that are not configurable through the Management Client.

Server components (inbound connections)

Each of the following sections list the ports which need to be opened for a particular service. In order to figure out which ports need to be opened on a particular computer, you need to consider all services running on this computer.

Restrict remote access to the Management Server by adding firewall rules to only allow Recording Servers to connect to TCP port 9000.

Management Server service and related processes

Port number	Protocol	Process	Connections from...	Purpose
80	HTTP	IIS	All servers and the XProtect Smart Client and the Management Client	The purpose of port 80 and port 443 is the same. However, which port the VMS uses depends on whether you have used certificates to secure the communication. When you have not secured the communication with certificates, the VMS uses port 80. When you have secured the communication with certificates, the VMS uses port 443 except for communication from the event server to the management server. The communication from the event server to the management server uses Windows Secured Framework (WCF) and Windows authentication on port 80.
443	HTTPS	IIS
445	TCP	Management Server service	Management Server Manager.	Enable Windows Active Directory users to be added to roles.
6473	TCP	Management Server service	Management Server Manager tray icon, local connection only.	Showing status and managing the service.
8080	TCP	Management server	Local connection only.	Communication between internal processes on the server.
9000	HTTP	Management server	Recording Server services	Web service for internal communication between servers.
12345	TCP	Management Server service	XProtect Smart Client	Communication between the system and Matrix recipients. You can change the port number in the Management Client.
12974	TCP	Management Server service	Windows SNMP Service	Communication with the SNMP extension agent. Do not use the port for other purposes even if your system does not apply SNMP. In XProtect 2014 systems or older, the port number was 6475. In XProtect 2019 R2 systems and older, the port number was 7475.

SQL Server service

Port number	Protocol	Process	Connections from...	Purpose
1433	TCP	SQL Server	Management Server service	Storing and retrieving configurations via the Identity Provider.
1433	TCP	SQL Server	Event Server service	Storing and retrieving events via the Identity Provider.
1433	TCP	SQL Server	Log Server service	Storing and retrieving log entries via the Identity Provider.

Data Collector service

Port number	Protocol	Process	Connections from...	Purpose
7609	HTTP	IIS	On the management server computer: Data Collector services on all other servers. On other computers: Data Collector service on the Management Server.	System Monitor.

Port number

Protocol

Process

Connections from...

Purpose

7609

HTTP

IIS

On the management server computer: Data Collector services on all other servers.

On other computers: Data Collector service on the Management Server.

System Monitor.

Event Server service

Port number	Protocol	Process	Connections from...	Purpose
1234	TCP/UDP	Event Server Service	Any server sending generic events to your XProtect system.	Listening for generic events from external systems or devices. Only if the relevant data source is enabled.
1235	TCP	Event Server service	Any server sending generic events to your XProtect system.	Listening for generic events from external systems or devices. Only if the relevant data source is enabled.
9090	TCP	Event Server service	Any system or device that sends analytics events to your XProtect system.	Listening for analytics events from external systems or devices. Only relevant if the Analytics Events feature is enabled.
22331	TCP	Event Server service	XProtect Smart Client and the Management Client	Configuration, events, alarms, and map data.
22332	WS/WSS HTTP/HTTPS*	Event Server service	API Gateway and the Management Client	Event/State Subscription, Events REST API, Websockets Messaging API, and Alarms REST API.
22333	TCP	Event Server service	MIP Plug-ins and applications.	MIP messaging.

*A 403 error will be returned when accessing HTTP to access an HTTPS-only endpoint.

Recording Server service

Port number	Protocol	Process	Connections from...	Purpose
25	SMTP	Recording Server Service	Cameras, encoders, and I/O devices.	Listening for event messages from devices. The port is disabled by default. (Deprecated) Enabling this will open a port for non-encrypted connections and is not recommended.
5210	TCP	Recording Server Service	Failover recording servers.	Merging of databases after a failover recording server had been running.
5432	TCP	Recording Server Service	Cameras, encoders, and I/O devices.	Listening for event messages from devices. The port is disabled by default.
7563	TCP	Recording Server Service	XProtect Smart Client, Management Client	Retrieving video and audio streams, PTZ commands.
8966	TCP	Recording Server Service	Recording Server Manager tray icon, local connection only.	Showing status and managing the service.
9001	HTTP	Recording Server Service	Management server	Web service for internal communication between servers. If multiple Recording Server instances are in use, every instance needs its own port. Additional ports will be 9002, 9003, etc.
11000	TCP	Recording Server Service	Failover recording servers	Polling the state of recording servers.
12975	TCP	Recording Server Service	Windows SNMP service	Communication with the SNMP extension agent. Do not use the port for other purposes even if your system does not apply SNMP. In XProtect 2014 systems or older, the port number was 6474. In XProtect 2019 R2 systems and older, the port number was 7474.
65101	UDP	Recording Server service	Local connection only	Listening for event notifications from the drivers.

In addition to the inbound connections to the Recording Server service listed above, the Recording Server service establishes outbound connections to:

Cameras
NVRs
Remote interconnected sites (Milestone Interconnect ICP)

Failover Server service and Failover Recording Server service

Port number	Protocol	Process	Connections from...	Purpose
25	SMTP	Failover Recording Server Service	Cameras, encoders, and I/O devices.	Listening for event messages from devices. The port is disabled by default. (Deprecated) Enabling this will open a port for non-encrypted connections and is not recommended.
5210	TCP	Failover Recording Server Service	Failover recording servers	Merging of databases after a failover recording server had been running.
5432	TCP	Failover Recording Server Service	Cameras, encoders, and I/O devices.	Listening for event messages from devices. The port is disabled by default.
7474	TCP	Failover Recording Server Service	Windows SNMP service	Communication with the SNMP extension agent. Do not use the port for other purposes even if your system does not apply SNMP.
7563	TCP	Failover Recording Server Service	XProtect Smart Client	Retrieving video and audio streams, PTZ commands.
8844	UDP	Failover Recording Server Service	Communication between failover recording server services.	Communication between the servers.
8966	TCP	Failover Recording Server Service	Failover Recording Server Manager tray icon, local connection only.	Showing status and managing the service.
8967	TCP	Failover Server Service	Failover Server Manager tray icon, local connection only.	Showing status and managing the service.
8990	HTTP	Failover Server Service	Management Server service	Monitoring the status of the Failover Server service.
9001	HTTP	Failover Server Service	Management server	Web service for internal communication between servers.

In addition to the inbound connections to the Failover Server / Failover Recording Server service listed above, the Failover Server / Failover Recording Server service establishes outbound connections to the regular recorders, cameras, and for Video Push.

Log Server service

Port number	Protocol	Process	Connections from...	Purpose
22337	HTTP	Log Server service	All XProtect components except for the recording server.	Write to, read from, and configure the log server.

This port uses HTTP, but the communication is encrypted with message security which uses the WS-Security specification to secure messages. For more information, see Message Security in WCF.

Mobile Server service

Port number	Protocol	Process	Connections from...	Purpose
8000	TCP	Mobile Server service	Mobile Server Manager tray icon, local connection only.	SysTray application.
8081	HTTP	Mobile Server service	Mobile clients, Web clients, and Management Client.	Sending data streams; video and audio.
8082	HTTPS	Mobile Server service	Mobile clients and Web clients.	Sending data streams; video and audio.
40001 - 40099	HTTP	Mobile Server service	Recording server service	Mobile Server Video Push. This port range is disabled by default.

LPR Server service

Port number	Protocol	Process	Connections from...	Purpose
22334	TCP	LPR Server Service	Event server	Retrieving recognized license plates and server status. In order to connect, the Event server must have the LPR plug-in installed.
22334	TCP	LPR Server Service	LPR Server Manager tray icon, local connection only.	SysTray application

Port number

Protocol

Process

Connections from...

Purpose

22334

TCP

LPR Server Service

Event server

Retrieving recognized license plates and server status.

In order to connect, the Event server must have the LPR plug-in installed.

22334

TCP

LPR Server Service

LPR Server Manager tray icon, local connection only.

SysTray application

Milestone Open Network Bridge service

Port number	Protocol	Process	Connections from...	Purpose
580	TCP	Milestone Open Network Bridge Service	ONVIF clients	Authentication and requests for video stream configuration.
554	RTSP	RTSP Service	ONVIF clients	Streaming of requested video to ONVIF clients.

XProtect DLNA Server service

Port number	Protocol	Process	Connections from...	Purpose
9100	HTTP	DLNA Server Service	DLNA device	Device discovery and providing DLNA channels configuration. Requests for video streams.
9200	HTTP	DLNA Server Service	DLNA device	Streaming of requested video to DLNA devices.

XProtect Screen Recorder service

Port number	Protocol	Process	Connections from...	Purpose
52111	TCP	XProtect Screen Recorder	Recording Server Service	Provides video from a monitor. It appears and acts in the same way as a camera on the recording server. You can change the port number in the Management Client.

Port number

Protocol

Process

Connections from...

Purpose

52111

TCP

XProtect Screen Recorder

Recording Server Service

Provides video from a monitor. It appears and acts in the same way as a camera on the recording server.

You can change the port number in the Management Client.

XProtect Incident Manager service

Port number	Protocol	Process	Connections from...	Purpose
80	HTTP	IIS	XProtect Smart Client and the Management Client	The purpose of port 80 and port 443 is the same. However, which port the VMS uses depends on whether you have used certificates to secure the communication. When you have not secured the communication with certificates, the VMS uses port 80. When you have secured the communication with certificates, the VMS uses port 443.
443	HTTPS	IIS

Port number

Protocol

Process

Connections from...

Purpose

HTTP

IIS

XProtect Smart Client and the Management Client

The purpose of port 80 and port 443 is the same. However, which port the VMS uses depends on whether you have used certificates to secure the communication.

When you have not secured the communication with certificates, the VMS uses port 80.
When you have secured the communication with certificates, the VMS uses port 443.

443

HTTPS

IIS

Server components (outbound connections)

Management Server service

Port number	Protocol	Connections to...	Purpose
443	HTTPS	The License server that hosts the License Management service. Communication is via https://www.milestonesys.com/ OnlineActivation/ LicenseManagementService.asmx	Activating licenses.

Recording Server service

Port number	Protocol	Connections to...	Purpose
80	HTTP	Cameras, NVRs, encoders Interconnected sites	Authentication, configuration, data streams, video, and audio. Login
443	HTTPS	Cameras, NVRs, encoders	Authentication, configuration, data streams, video, and audio.
554	RTSP	Cameras, NVRs, encoders	Data streams, video, and audio.
7563	TCP	Interconnected sites	Data streams and events.
11000	TCP	Failover recording servers	Polling the state of recording servers.
40001 – 40099	HTTP	Mobile Server service	Mobile Server Video Push. This port range is disabled by default.

Failover Server service and Failover Recording Server service

Port number	Protocol	Connections to...	Purpose
11000	TCP	Failover recording servers	Polling the state of recording servers.

Event Server service

Port number	Protocol	Connections to...	Purpose
80	HTTP	API Gateway and the Management Server	Access the Configuration API from the API Gateway
443	HTTPS	API Gateway and the Management Server	Access the Configuration API from the API Gateway
443	HTTPS	Milestone Customer Dashboard via https://service.milestonesys.com/	Send status, events and error messages from the XProtect system to Milestone Customer Dashboard.

Port number

Protocol

Connections to...

Purpose

HTTP

API Gateway and the Management Server

Access the Configuration API from the API Gateway

443

HTTPS

API Gateway and the Management Server

Access the Configuration API from the API Gateway

443

HTTPS

Milestone Customer Dashboard via

https://service.milestonesys.com/

Send status, events and error messages from the XProtect system to Milestone Customer Dashboard.

Log Server service

Port number	Protocol	Connections to...	Purpose
443	HTTP	Log server	Forwarding messages to the log server.

API Gateway

Port number	Protocol	Connections to...	Purpose
443	HTTPS	Management Server	RESTful API
22332	WS/WSS HTTP/HTTPS*	Management Client	Event/State Subscription, Events REST API, Websockets Messaging API, and Alarms REST API.

Cameras, encoders, and I/O devices (inbound connections)

Port number	Protocol	Connections from...	Purpose
80	TCP	Recording servers and failover recording servers	Authentication, configuration, and data streams; video and audio.
443	HTTPS	Recording servers and failover recording servers	Authentication, configuration, and data streams; video and audio.
554	RTSP	Recording servers and failover recording servers	Data streams; video and audio.

Cameras, encoders, and I/O devices (outbound connections)

Port number	Protocol	Connections to...	Purpose
25	SMTP	Recording servers and failover recording servers	Sending event notifications (deprecated).
5432	TCP	Recording servers and failover recording servers	Sending event notifications. The port is disabled by default.
22337	HTTP	Log server	Forwarding messages to the log server.

Port number

Protocol

Connections to...

Purpose

SMTP

Recording servers and failover recording servers

Sending event notifications (deprecated).

5432

TCP

Recording servers and failover recording servers

Sending event notifications.

The port is disabled by default.

22337

HTTP

Log server

Forwarding messages to the log server.

Only a few camera models are able to establish outbound connections.

Client components (outbound connections)

XProtect Smart Client, XProtect Management Client, XProtect Mobile server

Port number	Protocol	Connections to...	Purpose
80	HTTP	API Gateway and Management Server service	Authentication and other APIs in the API Gateway.
443	HTTPS	API Gateway and Management Server service	Authentication of basic users when encryption is enabled and other APIs in the API Gateway.
443	HTTPS	Milestone Systems A/S (doc.milestonesys.com at 52.178.114.226)	Management Client and Smart Client occasionally check if the online help is available by accessing the help URL.
7563	TCP	Recording Server service	Retrieving video and audio streams, PTZ commands.
22331	TCP	Event Server service	Alarms.

XProtect Web Client, XProtect Mobile client

Port number	Protocol	Connections to...	Purpose
8081	HTTP	XProtect Mobile server	Retrieving video and audio streams.
8082	HTTPS	XProtect Mobile server	Retrieving video and audio streams.

Learn more

The following control(s) provide additional guidance:

NIST SP 800-53 CA-3 System Interconnections
NIST SP 800-53 CM-6 Configuration Settings
NIST SP 800-53 SC-7 Boundary Protection

Use a firewall between the VMS and the Internet

The VMS should not connect directly to the Internet. If you expose parts of the VMS to the Internet, Milestone recommends that you use an appropriately configured firewall between the VMS and the Internet.

If possible, expose only the XProtect Mobile server component to the Internet, and locate it in a demilitarize zone (DMZ) with firewalls on both sides. This is illustrated in the following figure.

Learn more

The following control(s) provide additional guidance:

NIST SP 800-53 CA-3 System Interconnections

Connect the camera subnet to the recording server subnet only

Milestone recommends that you connect the camera subnet only to the recording server subnet. The cameras and other devices need to communicate only with the recording servers. For more information, see Recording Server.

Learn more

The following control(s) provide additional guidance:

NIST 800-53 SC-7 Boundary Protection