Protocols & third-party integration
Reolink ONVIF and RTSP: support, ports, URLs and limitations
ONVIF and RTSP are useful building blocks for third-party integrations, but they answer different questions. RTSP gives access to a video stream; ONVIF provides standardized discovery/control functions defined by the supported profile.
Neither protocol should be treated as a universal “fully compatible” badge for every NVR, NAS or software platform.
Technical steps and reference tables on this page are attributed to current Reolink or Synology documentation. CameraCompat compatibility verdicts remain separate and come only from reviewed CameraCompat relationship data.
What each protocol does
ONVIF
ONVIF is a standardized interoperability layer for conformant devices and clients. Reolink documents default ONVIF port 8000 and notes that profile conformance determines the standardized feature set.
RTSP
RTSP is the streaming-control path Reolink documents for live video in third-party players and surveillance software. The default RTSP port is 554.
CGI
Reolink’s CGI interface is an HTTP command/API path for scripting and configuration. It is related to third-party integrations but is not the same thing as RTSP streaming or ONVIF conformance.
Current Reolink product-type support summary
| Reolink product type | CGI / RTSP / ONVIF path | Condition |
|---|---|---|
| Battery-powered Wi-Fi cameras | Available through a Reolink Home Hub for supported products. | The camera does not expose the protocols standalone in Reolink’s current support matrix. |
| NVR kit cameras without UID | Available through the Reolink NVR. | Protocol access comes from the NVR rather than the add-on camera. |
| PoE and plug-in Wi-Fi cameras | Standalone protocol support is documented for the general product category. | Hardware-specific exceptions still exist; verify the exact model. |
| 4G LTE cameras | Not supported in Reolink’s current CGI/RTSP/ONVIF matrix. | TrackMix Wired LTE is a special case: protocol support requires wired Ethernet rather than LTE. |
| Reolink NVRs and Home Hubs | Can provide CGI/RTSP/ONVIF access for connected cameras. | The connected camera’s own behavior and recorder/hub scope still matter. |
How to enable the ports
- Reolink App: Device Settings > Advanced Network Settings > Server Settings.
- Reolink Client: Device Settings > Network > Advanced > Server Settings.
- Web interface: Network > Advanced > Server Settings > Set Up.
- New NVR UI: Settings > Network > Advanced > Port Settings.
- Old NVR UI: Network > Advanced > Set next to Port Settings.
Default ports used in Reolink documentation
| Service | Default port | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| ONVIF | 8000 | ONVIF discovery/control for third-party integrations. |
| RTSP | 554 | RTSP stream access. |
| HTTP | 80 | HTTP path used by some native/vendor integrations such as Reolink’s Synology profile instructions. |
RTSP URL format
Reolink documents the pattern rtsp://<username>:<password>@<IP-address>/Preview_<channel>_<stream>. Use main or sub as the stream type, and include :<port> when RTSP is not using the default 554.
rtsp://<username>:<password>@<IP-address>/Preview_<channel>_<stream>
NVR and Home Hub stream details
- For an NVR, the RTSP credentials are the NVR credentials and the channel number selects the connected camera.
- For a Home Hub, channel numbering in the RTSP URL starts from 1; Reolink’s CGI channel-status response starts from 0, so the documented mapping adds one.
- Reolink notes that 4K cameras connected to old NVR hardware H3MB16/H3MB02/H3MB17 expose only the fluent RTSP stream rather than the clear stream.
Battery-camera RTSP caveats
When a supported battery camera is exposed through a Reolink NVR or Home Hub, Reolink documents preview sessions of up to five minutes before the camera returns to sleep. Waking the camera can take time, so Reolink recommends an RTSP client timeout of at least 20 seconds for this use case.
Why ONVIF does not mean full compatibility
A target system can receive video while smart events, two-way audio, PTZ presets, tracking or vendor analytics remain unavailable or unverified. CameraCompat therefore keeps protocol capability and model × system compatibility separate.
Reviewed Reolink protocol data in CameraCompat
The matrix below shows only intrinsic ONVIF/RTSP capability data currently published in CameraCompat. It does not turn those capabilities into a target-system verdict.
Missing relationship or capability data remains unknown; this page does not infer support from a protocol, sibling model or brand-wide statement.
| Model | ONVIF | RTSP |
|---|---|---|
| Reolink CX410 | Yes | Yes |
| Reolink CX810 | Not enough reviewed data | Not enough reviewed data |
| Reolink Duo 2 PoE | Not enough reviewed data | Not enough reviewed data |
| Reolink Duo 2 WiFi | Yes | Yes |
| Reolink Duo 3 PoE | Not enough reviewed data | Not enough reviewed data |
| Reolink Duo 3 WiFi | Not enough reviewed data | Not enough reviewed data |
| Reolink Duo 3V PoE | Not enough reviewed data | Not enough reviewed data |
| Reolink TrackMix PoE | Not enough reviewed data | Not enough reviewed data |
| Reolink TrackMix WiFi | Not enough reviewed data | Not enough reviewed data |
| Reolink RLC-811A | Not enough reviewed data | Yes |
| Reolink RLC-1212A | Not enough reviewed data | Not enough reviewed data |
| Reolink RLC-1224A | Not enough reviewed data | Not enough reviewed data |
| Reolink Video Doorbell PoE | Not enough reviewed data | Not enough reviewed data |
Frequently asked questions
What are the default Reolink ONVIF and RTSP ports?
Reolink documents ONVIF port 8000 and RTSP port 554 as defaults. Your device can be configured differently.
Do all Reolink cameras support ONVIF and RTSP directly?
No. Reolink’s current support matrix separates standalone support, access through an NVR/Home Hub, hardware-specific exceptions and unsupported LTE cameras.
Does ONVIF guarantee Home Assistant, Synology or Blue Iris support?
No. ONVIF establishes a standardized protocol path, not a guarantee that every target-specific feature works.
Can I open an RTSP URL in a normal browser?
Reolink states that ordinary web browsers do not natively play RTSP streams; use a compatible player or surveillance application.
Can a battery Reolink camera provide RTSP?
Some supported battery models can be exposed through a Reolink Home Hub or NVR. Reolink documents sleep/wake and session-duration caveats for this path.