Netgear R6900P Nighthawk Dual-Band WiFi Router, 1.9Gbps

Product's Documents

Below are documents related to this product, you can read online or download:

User Manual

This is the main product document for model R6900P. Additionally, the document applies to other Netgear models: R6900P-100NAS

The file format is pdf, 215 pages, you can download this manual here .

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Nighthawk AC1900
Smart WiFi Router
User Manual
Model R6900P
February 2017
202-11713-02
350 E. Plumeria Drive
San Jose, CA 95134
USA
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Support
Thank you for purchasing this NETGEAR product.You can visit www.netgear.com/support to register your
product, get help, access the latest downloads and user manuals, and join our community. We recommend that
you use only official NETGEAR support resources.
Conformity
For the current EU Declaration of Conformity, visit http://kb.netgear.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/11621.
Compliance
For regulatory compliance information, visit http://www.netgear.com/about/regulatory.
See the regulatory compliance document before connecting the power supply.
Trademarks
© NETGEAR, Inc., NETGEAR, and the NETGEAR Logo are trademarks of NETGEAR, Inc. Any non-NETGEAR
trademarks are used for reference purposes only.
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Contents
Chapter 1 Hardware Overview of the Router
Unpack Your Router.............................................................................................10
Attach the Antennas.............................................................................................10
LEDs and Buttons on the Top Panel....................................................................11
Ports, Buttons, and Connectors on the Back Panel.............................................13
USB Port on the Front Panel................................................................................13
Router Label........................................................................................................14
Position Your Router.............................................................................................14
Cable Your Router................................................................................................15
Chapter 2 Connect to the Network and Access the Router
Connect to the Router..........................................................................................17
Connect to the Router Through an Ethernet Cable.........................................17
Join the WiFi Network of the Router................................................................17
Manual Method...........................................................................................17
Wi-Fi Protected Setup Method...................................................................18
Types of Logins...............................................................................................18
Use a Web Browser to Access the Router...........................................................18
Automatic Internet Setup.................................................................................19
Log In to the Router........................................................................................20
Install the Router With the NETGEAR Up App....................................................20
Change the Language.........................................................................................21
Access the Router With the NETGEAR genie App..............................................21
Chapter 3 Specify Your Internet Settings
Use the Internet Setup Wizard.............................................................................24
Manually Set Up the Internet Connection............................................................25
Specify an Internet Connection Without a Login.............................................25
Specify an Internet Connection That Uses a Login and PPPoE Service........26
Specify an Internet Connection That Uses a Login and PPTP or L2TP
Service............................................................................................................28
Specify an IPv6 Internet Connection....................................................................30
IPv6 Internet Connections and IPv6 Addresses..............................................30
Use Auto Detect for an IPv6 Internet Connection...........................................31
Use Auto Config for an IPv6 Internet Connection...........................................32
Set Up an IPv6 6to4 Tunnel Internet Connection............................................34
Set Up an IPv6 Pass-Through Internet Connection........................................36
Set Up a Fixed IPv6 Internet Connection........................................................36
Set Up an IPv6 DHCP Internet Connection....................................................38
Set Up an IPv6 6rd Tunnel Connection...........................................................39
Set Up an IPv6 PPPoE Internet Connection...................................................41
Manage the MTU Size.........................................................................................43
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MTU Concepts................................................................................................43
Change the MTU Size.....................................................................................44
Chapter 4 Optimize Performance
Use Dynamic QoS to Optimize Internet Traffic Management...............................46
Enable Dynamic QoS......................................................................................46
Enable or Disable the Automatic QoS Database Update................................46
Improve Network Connections With Universal Plug-N-Play.................................47
Manage Wi-Fi Multimedia Quality of Service.......................................................48
Enable or Disable Smart Connect........................................................................49
Chapter 5 Control Access to the Internet
Set Up Parental Controls.....................................................................................51
Allow or Block Access to Your Network................................................................52
Enable and Manage Network Access Control.................................................52
Manage Network Access Control Lists...........................................................54
Add Devices to or Remove Them From the Allowed List............................54
Add Devices to or Remove Them From the Blocked List............................56
Use Keywords to Block Internet Sites..................................................................57
Set Up Blocking...............................................................................................57
Remove a Keyword or Domain From the Blocked List....................................59
Remove All Keywords and Domains From the Blocked List............................59
Specify a Trusted Computer............................................................................60
Manage Simple Outbound Firewall Rules for Services and Applications............61
Add an Outbound Firewall Rule......................................................................61
Add an Outbound Firewall Rule for a Custom Service or Application.............63
Change an Outbound Firewall Rule................................................................65
Remove an Outbound Firewall Rule................................................................66
Set Up a Schedule for Keyword Blocking and Outbound Firewall Rules.............66
Set Up Security Event Email Notifications...........................................................68
Chapter 6 Share a Storage Device Attached to the Router
USB Device Requirements..................................................................................71
Connect a USB Device to the Router...................................................................71
Access a Storage Device Connected to the Router.............................................72
Access the Storage Device From a Windows-Based Computer.....................72
Access the Storage Device From a Mac.........................................................72
Map a USB Device to a Windows Network Drive.................................................73
Back Up Windows Computers With ReadySHARE Vault.....................................73
Back Up Mac Computers With Time Machine......................................................74
Set Up a Storage Device on a Mac.................................................................74
Prepare to Back Up a Large Amount of Data..................................................75
Use Time Machine to Back Up Onto a Storage Device...................................75
Manage Access to a Storage Device...................................................................76
Enable FTP Access Within Your Network.............................................................79
View Network Folders on a Device......................................................................80
Add a Network Folder on a Storage Device.........................................................81
Change a Network Folder, Including Read and Write Access, on a USB Drive....83
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Approve USB Devices..........................................................................................85
Set Up NETGEAR Downloader...........................................................................86
Download Files Using NETGEAR Downloader...............................................87
Change the NETGEAR Downloader Settings.................................................87
Set Up Email Notifications for NETGEAR Downloader...................................88
Manage NETGEAR Downloader Tasks...........................................................89
Safely Remove a USB Device..............................................................................89
Chapter 7 Manage Dynamic DNS and Access Storage Devices Through the
Internet
Set Up and Manage Dynamic DNS.....................................................................92
Your Personal FTP Server...............................................................................92
Set Up a New Dynamic DNS Account.............................................................93
Specify a DNS Account That You Already Created.........................................94
Change the Dynamic DNS Settings................................................................96
Access Storage Devices Through the Internet.....................................................96
Access Storage Devices From a Remote Computer.......................................96
Set Up FTP Access Through the Internet.......................................................97
Use FTP to Access Storage Devices Through the Internet.............................98
Remotely Access a USB Device Using ReadyCLOUD........................................99
Create a ReadyCLOUD Account.....................................................................99
Register Your Router With ReadyCLOUD.....................................................100
Chapter 8 Use the Router as a Media Server
Specify ReadyDLNA Media Server Settings......................................................104
Play Music From a Storage Device With iTunes Server.....................................105
Play Media From a USB Device on TiVo............................................................107
Set Up the Router to Work With TiVo............................................................107
Play Videos....................................................................................................107
Play Music or View Photos............................................................................108
Copy TiVo Files to a Computer......................................................................108
Chapter 9 Share a USB Printer
Install the Printer Driver and Cable the Printer..................................................110
Download the ReadySHARE Printer Utility........................................................110
Install the ReadySHARE Printer Utility..............................................................111
Use the Shared Printer......................................................................................112
Manually Connect and Print..........................................................................112
Print and Release the Printer........................................................................113
View or Change the Status of a Printer..............................................................113
Use the Scan Feature of a Multifunction USB Printer........................................114
Manage the NETGEAR USB Control Center Settings.......................................115
Turn Off Automatic Startup of the NETGEAR USB Control Center...............115
Change the NETGEAR USB Control Center Language................................116
Specify the USB Control Center Time-Out....................................................116
Chapter 10 Manage the WAN and LAN Network Settings
Manage the WAN Security Settings...................................................................118
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Set Up a Default DMZ Server............................................................................118
Manage IGMP Proxying.....................................................................................119
Manage NAT Filtering........................................................................................120
Manage the SIP Application-Level Gateway......................................................120
Manage the LAN IP Address Settings...............................................................121
Manage the Router Information Protocol Settings.............................................122
Manage the DHCP Server Address Pool...........................................................123
Manage Reserved LAN IP Addresses...............................................................124
Reserve a LAN IP Address...........................................................................125
Change a Reserved IP Address....................................................................125
Remove a Reserved IP Address Entry..........................................................126
Disable the Built-In DHCP Server......................................................................126
Change the Router’s Device Name....................................................................127
Set Up and Manage Custom Static Routes.......................................................128
Set Up a Static Route....................................................................................128
Change a Static Route..................................................................................129
Remove a Static Route.................................................................................130
Set Up a Bridge for a Port Group or VLAN Tag Group.......................................130
Set Up a Bridge for a Port Group..................................................................131
Set Up a Bridge for a VLAN Tag Group.........................................................132
Chapter 11 Manage the WiFi Network Settings
Use WPS to Add a Device to the WiFi Network.................................................136
Use WPS With the Push Button Method.......................................................136
Use WPS With the PIN Method.....................................................................137
Specify Basic WiFi Settings...............................................................................138
Change the WiFi Data Rate Settings.................................................................141
Change the WiFi Password or Security Level....................................................142
Set Up a Guest WiFi Network............................................................................143
Specify How the Router Manages WiFi Clients.................................................144
Manage Airtime Fairness..............................................................................144
Manage Implicit Beamforming.......................................................................145
Manage MU-MIMO........................................................................................145
Control the WiFi Radios.....................................................................................146
Use the WiFi On/Off Button...........................................................................146
Enable or Disable the WiFi Radios................................................................146
Set Up a WiFi Schedule.....................................................................................147
Manage the WPS Settings.................................................................................148
Use the Router as a WiFi Access Point.............................................................150
Use the Router in WiFi Bridge Mode..................................................................151
Chapter 12 Manage the Router and Monitor the Traffic
Update the Firmware of the Router....................................................................155
Check for New Firmware and Update the Router..........................................155
Manually Upload New Firmware and Update the Router..............................156
Change the admin Password.............................................................................157
Set Up Password Recovery...............................................................................158
Recover the admin Password............................................................................158
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Manage the Configuration File of the Router.....................................................159
Back Up the Settings.....................................................................................159
Restore the Settings......................................................................................159
Disable LED Blinking or Turn Off LEDs..............................................................160
Return the Router to Its Factory Default Settings..............................................161
Use the Reset Button....................................................................................161
Erase the Settings.........................................................................................162
View the Status and Statistics of the Router......................................................162
View Information About the Router and the Internet and WiFi Settings........162
Display Internet Port Statistics......................................................................164
Check the Internet Connection Status..........................................................165
Manage the Activity Log.....................................................................................166
View, Email, or Clear the Logs......................................................................167
Specify Which Activities Are Logged.............................................................168
View Devices Currently on the Network.............................................................168
Monitor and Meter Internet Traffic......................................................................169
Start the Traffic Meter Without Traffic Volume Restrictions............................169
View the Internet Traffic Volume and Statistics..............................................170
Restrict Internet Traffic by Volume.................................................................171
Restrict Internet Traffic by Connection Time..................................................173
Unblock the Traffic Meter After the Traffic Limit Is Reached..........................174
Manage the Router Remotely............................................................................175
Remotely Access Your Router Using the genie App..........................................176
Chapter 13 Use VPN to Access Your Network
Set Up a VPN Connection..................................................................................178
Specify VPN Service in the Router................................................................178
Install OpenVPN Software on a Windows-Based Computer.........................179
Install OpenVPN Software on a Mac Computer............................................181
Install OpenVPN Software on an iOS Device................................................182
Install OpenVPN Software on an Android Device.........................................183
Use a VPN Tunnel on a Windows-Based Computer..........................................183
Use VPN to Access the Router’s USB Device and Media From a Windows-Based
Computer...........................................................................................................185
Use VPN to Access Your Internet Service at Home...........................................185
Set Up VPN Client Internet Access in the Router.........................................185
Block VPN Client Internet Access in the Router............................................186
Use a VPN Tunnel to Access Your Internet Service at Home........................187
Chapter 14 Manage Port Forwarding and Port Triggering
Manage Port Forwarding to a Local Server for Services and Applications........189
Forward Incoming Traffic for a Default Service or Application.......................189
Add a Port Forwarding Rule With a Custom Service or Application..............190
Change a Port Forwarding Rule....................................................................192
Remove a Port Forwarding Rule...................................................................193
Application Example: Make a Local Web Server Public................................193
How the Router Implements the Port Forwarding Rule.................................194
Manage Port Triggering for Services and Applications......................................194
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Add a Port Triggering Rule............................................................................195
Change a Port Triggering Rule......................................................................197
Remove a Port Triggering Rule.....................................................................198
Specify the Time-Out for Port Triggering.......................................................198
Disable Port Triggering..................................................................................199
Application Example: Port Triggering for Internet Relay Chat........................200
Chapter 15 Troubleshooting
Reboot the Router From Its Web Page..............................................................202
Quick Tips..........................................................................................................202
Sequence to Restart Your Network...............................................................202
Check Ethernet Cable Connections..............................................................202
WiFi Settings.................................................................................................203
Network Settings...........................................................................................203
Troubleshoot With the LEDs...............................................................................203
Standard LED Behavior When the Router Is Powered On............................203
Power LED Is Off or Blinking.........................................................................203
Power LED Stays Amber...............................................................................204
Internet or Ethernet Port LEDs Are Off.........................................................204
WiFi LED Is Off..............................................................................................204
You Cannot Log In to the Router........................................................................204
You Cannot Access the Internet.........................................................................205
Check the WAN IP Address...........................................................................205
Troubleshoot PPPoE.....................................................................................206
Troubleshoot Internet Browsing.....................................................................207
Changes Are Not Saved....................................................................................207
Troubleshoot WiFi Connectivity..........................................................................208
Troubleshoot Your Network Using the Ping Utility..............................................208
Test the LAN Path to Your Router..................................................................208
Test the Path From Your Computer to a Remote Device...............................209
Appendix A Supplemental Information
Factory Settings.................................................................................................211
Technical Specifications.....................................................................................214
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1
Hardware Overview of the Router
The NETGEAR Nighthawk
®
AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900P, in this manual referred to as the router,
delivers combined WiFi connection speeds of up to AC1900 WiFi (600 Mbps
1
on 2.4 GHz 802.11n and 1300
Mbps
2
on 5 GHz 802.11ac). Both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz radios can be active simultaneously.
Nighthawk, powered by a dual-core 1 GHz processor, is ideal for bandwidth-hungry activities such as online
gaming and video streaming. High-powered amplifiers with antennas provide WiFi coverage anywhere around
your home, inside or out.
For gamers, Nighthawk supports Dynamic Quality of Service (QoS) optimized for online game play with game
consoles like Xbox. For uninterrupted HD streaming media, Nighthawk features multiuser multiple input, multiple
output (MU-MIMO) for simultaneous streaming and Dynamic QoS to identify and prioritize streaming traffic from
websites like Netflix, YouTube, and Hulu Plus.
Nighthawk provides fast central storage, backup, and streaming to every device in your home with the USB 3.0
port (10 times faster than USB 2.0). Sharing content across your network is easy, whether you’re accessing
stored photos and music or printing over WiFi. Stream your stored media files anywhere on the network to DLNA
screens. Share your music to AirPlay-compatible devices from the USB hard drive connected to the router. Use
the free NETGEAR ReadySHARE
®
Vault app to back up your Windows-based computers to a USB hard drive
connected to Nighthawk.
The chapter contains the following sections:
Unpack Your Router on page 10
Attach the Antennas on page 10
LEDs and Buttons on the Top Panel on page 11
Ports, Buttons, and Connectors on the Back Panel on page 13
USB Port on the Front Panel on page 13
Router Label on page 14
Position Your Router on page 14
Cable Your Router on page 15
For more information about the topics that are covered in this manual, visit the support website at
netgear.com/support.
Firmware updates with new features and bug fixes are made available from time to time at
downloadcenter.netgear.com.You can check for and download new firmware manually. If the features or behavior
of your product does not match what is described in this guide, you might need to update your firmware.
In this manual, the terms wireless and WiFi are interchangeable.
1. Maximum WiFi signal rate derived from IEEE standard 802.11 specifications. Actual data throughput and WiFi coverage will vary. Network conditions
and environmental factors, including volume of network traffic, building materials and construction, and network overhead, lower actual data throughput
rate and WiFi coverage. NETGEAR makes no express or implied representations or warranties about this product’s compatibility with any future
standards. 802.11ac 1300 Mbps is approximately 3x faster than 802.11n 450 Mbps.
2. Up to 1300 Mbps WiFi speeds can be achieved when you are connecting to other 802.11ac 1300 Mbps devices.
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Unpack Your Router
The box contains the following items.
Figure 1. Package contents
Table 1. Legend
Router1.
Antennas (3)2.
Ethernet cable3.
Power adapter4
In some regions, a CD is included in the package.
Attach the Antennas
The router comes with three antennas.
To attach the antennas:
1. Remove the antenna caps from the antenna posts on the back panel of the router.
2. Align the antennas with the antenna posts.
Hardware Overview of the Router
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3. Attach the antennas on the threaded antenna posts.
4. Position the antennas for the best WiFi performance.
We recommend that the center antenna be vertical and that you aim the others outward at 45-degree
angles, as shown.
LEDs and Buttons on the Top Panel
The status LEDs and buttons are located on the top of the router.
Figure 2. Router LEDs and buttons
Table 2. LED and button descriptions
DescriptionLED
Solid amber. The router is starting.
Blinking amber. The firmware is upgrading, or the Reset button was pressed.
Solid white. The router is ready.
Blinking white. The firmware is corrupted.
Off. Power is not supplied to the router.
Power
Solid white. The Internet connection is ready.
Solid amber. The router detected an Ethernet cable connection to the modem.
Off. No Ethernet cable is connected between the router and the modem.
Internet
Hardware Overview of the Router
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Table 2. LED and button descriptions (Continued)
DescriptionLED
Solid white. The 2.4 GHz WiFi radio is operating.
Blinking white. The router is sending or receiving WiFi traffic.
Off. The 2.4 GHz WiFi radio is off.
2.4 GHz WiFi
Solid white. The 5 GHz WiFi radio is operating.
Blinking white. The router is sending or receiving WiFi traffic.
Off. The 5 GHz WiFi radio is off.
5 GHz WiFi
Solid white. The guest WiFi network is operating.
Blinking white. The router is sending or receiving WiFi traffic.
Off. The guest WiFi network is off.
Guest WiFi
Solid white. A USB device is connected and is ready.
Blinking white. A USB device is plugged in and is trying to connect.
Off. No USB device is connected, or someone clicked the Safely Remove Hardware button
and it is now safe to remove the attached USB device.
USB 3.0 port
The LED color indicates the speed: white for Gigabit Ethernet connections and amber for 100
Mbps or 10 Mbps Ethernet connections.
Solid white or solid amber. A powered-on device is connected to the Ethernet port.
Blinking white or blinking amber. The port is sending or receiving traffic.
Off. No device is connected to this Ethernet port.
Ethernet ports
1–4
Pressing this button for two seconds turns the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz WiFi radios on and off.
If this LED is solid white, the WiFi radios are on. If this LED is off, the WiFi radios are turned off
and you cannot use WiFi to connect to the router.
WiFi On/Off
button with LED
This button lets you use WPS to join the WiFi network without typing the WiFi password. The
WPS LED blinks white during this process and then lights solid white.
WPS button with
LED
For information about disabling LED blinking for network communications and turning off all LEDs except
the Power LED, see Disable LED Blinking or Turn Off LEDs on page 160.
Hardware Overview of the Router
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Ports, Buttons, and Connectors on the Back Panel
The back panel of the router provides ports, buttons, antenna connectors, and a DC power connector. For
information about attaching the antennas, see Attach the Antennas on page 10.
Figure 3. Router back panel
In addition to the three antenna connectors, viewed from left to right, the back panel contains the following
components:
Reset button. For information about using the Reset button, see Return the Router to Its Factory Default
Settings on page 161.
Ethernet LAN ports. Use the four Gigabit Ethernet RJ-45 LAN ports to connect the router to LAN
devices.
Internet port. Use the yellow Gigabit Ethernet RJ-45 WAN port to connect the router to a modem.
Power On/Off button. Press the Power On/Off button to provide power to the router.
DC power connector. Connect the power adapter that came in the product package to the DC power
connector.
USB Port on the Front Panel
The USB 3.0 port is located on the front of the router.
Figure 4. USB port
Hardware Overview of the Router
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Router Label
The router label on the bottom panel of the router lists the login information, WiFi network name (SSID) and
password (network key), serial number, and MAC address of the router.
Figure 5. Router label
Position Your Router
The router lets you access your network anywhere within the operating range of your WiFi network. However,
the operating distance or range of your WiFi connection can vary significantly depending on the physical
placement of your router. For example, the thickness and number of walls the WiFi signal passes through
can limit the range.
Additionally, other WiFi access points in and around your home might affect your router’s signal.WiFi access
points are routers, repeaters, WiFi range extenders, and any other device that emits a WiFi signal for network
access.
Position your router according to the following guidelines:
Place your router near the center of the area where your computers and other devices operate and
within line of sight to your WiFi devices.
Make sure that the router is within reach of an AC power outlet and near Ethernet cables for wired
computers.
Place the router in an elevated location, minimizing the number walls and ceilings between the router
and your other devices.
Place the router away from electrical devices such as these:
- Ceiling fans
- Home security systems
- Microwaves
- Computers
- Base of a cordless phone
Hardware Overview of the Router
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- 2.4 GHz cordless phone
- 5 GHz cordless phone
Place the router away from large metal surfaces, large glass surfaces, insulated walls, and items such
as these:
- Solid metal door
- Aluminum studs
- Fish tanks
- Mirrors
- Brick
- Concrete
If you are using adjacent access points, use different radio frequency channels to reduce interference.
Cable Your Router
The following image shows how to cable your router:
Figure 6. Router cabling
To cable your router:
1. Unplug your modem’s power, leaving the modem connected to the wall jack for your Internet service.
If your modem uses a battery backup, remove the battery.
2. Plug in and turn on your modem.
If your modem uses a battery backup, put the battery back in.
3. Connect your modem to the Internet port of your router with the yellow Ethernet cable that came with
your router.
4. Connect the power adapter to your router and plug the power adapter into an outlet.
5. Press the Power On/Off button on the back panel of the router.
Hardware Overview of the Router
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2
Connect to the Network and Access the
Router
You can connect to the router’s WiFi networks or use a wired Ethernet connection. This chapter describes the
ways you can connect and how to access the router and log in.
The chapter contains the following sections:
Connect to the Router on page 17
Use a Web Browser to Access the Router on page 18
Install the Router With the NETGEAR Up App on page 20
Change the Language on page 21
Access the Router With the NETGEAR genie App on page 21
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Connect to the Router
During and after installation, you can connect to the router’s network through a wired or WiFi connection. If
you set up your computer to use a static IP address, change the settings of your computer so that it uses
Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP).
Connect to the Router Through an Ethernet Cable
You can connect your computer to the router using an Ethernet cable and join the router’s local area network
(LAN).
To connect your computer to the router with an Ethernet cable:
1. Make sure that the router is receiving power (its Power LED is lit).
2. Connect an Ethernet cable to an Ethernet port on your computer.
3. Connect the other end of the Ethernet cable to one of the numbered Ethernet ports.
Your computer connects to the local area network (LAN). A message might display on your computer
screen to notify you that an Ethernet cable is connected.
Join the WiFi Network of the Router
Choose either the manual or the WPS method to add a WiFi device such as a WiFi-enabled computer, an
iPhone, an iPad, another mobile device, or a gaming device to the WiFi network of the router.
Manual Method
On the WiFi device that you want to connect to the router, you can use the software application that manages
your WiFi connections.
To connect a device manually to the WiFi network of the router:
1. Make sure that the router is receiving power (its Power LED is lit).
2. On the WiFi device that you want to connect to your router, open the software application that manages
your WiFi connections.
This software scans for all WiFi networks in your area.
3. Look for the router’s network and select it.
If you did not change the name of the network during the setup process, look for the default WiFi network
name (SSID) and select it. The default SSID is on the router label.
Connect to the Network and Access the Router
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4. Enter the router WiFi password.
The default WiFi password (also referred to as the network key or passphrase) is also on the router
label.
5. Click the Connect button.
The device connects to the WiFi network of the router.
Wi-Fi Protected Setup Method
Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) is a standard for easily adding computers and other devices to a home network
while maintaining security.To use WPS (Push 'N' Connect), make sure that all WiFi devices to be connected
to the network are Wi-Fi certified and support WPS. During the connection process, the client gets the
security settings from the router so that every device in the network supports the same security settings.
To use WPS to connect a computer or mobile device to the WiFi network of the router:
1. Make sure that the router is receiving power (its Power LED is lit).
2. Check the WPS instructions for your computer or mobile device.
3. Press the WPS button of the router for three seconds.
4. Within two minutes, press the WPS button on your computer or mobile device, or follow the WPS
instructions that came with the device.
The WPS process automatically sets up the device with the network password and connects the device
to the WiFi network of the router.
For more information, see Use WPS to Add a Device to the WiFi Network on page 136.
Types of Logins
Separate types of logins serve different purposes. It is important that you understand the difference so that
you know which login to use when.
Several types of logins are associated with the router:
ISP login. The login that your ISP gave you logs you in to your Internet service.Your service provider
gave you this login information in a letter or some other way. If you cannot find this login information,
contact your service provider.
WiFi network key or password.Your router is preset with a unique WiFi network name (SSID) and
password for WiFi access. This information is on the router label.
Router login. This logs you in to the router interface from a web browser as admin.
Use a Web Browser to Access the Router
When you connect to the network (either with WiFi or with an Ethernet cable), you can use a web browser
to access the router to view or change its settings. When you access the router, the software automatically
checks to see if your router can connect to your Internet service.
Connect to the Network and Access the Router
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Automatic Internet Setup
You can set up your router automatically, or you can use a web browser to access the router and set up
your router manually. Before you start the setup process, get your ISP information and make sure that the
computers and devices in the network are using the settings described here.
When your Internet service starts, your Internet service provider (ISP) typically gives you all the information
needed to connect to the Internet. For DSL service, you might need the following information to set up your
router:
The ISP configuration information for your DSL account
ISP login name and password
Fixed or static IP address setting (special deployment by ISP; this setting is rare)
If you cannot locate this information, ask your ISP to provide it. When your Internet connection is working,
you no longer need to launch the ISP login program on your computer to access the Internet. When you
start an Internet application, your router automatically logs you in.
NETGEAR genie
®
runs on any device with a web browser. Installation and basic setup takes about 15 minutes
to complete.
To automatically set up your router:
1. Turn the router on by pressing the On/Off button.
2. Make sure that your computer or mobile device is connected to the router with an Ethernet cable (wired)
or over WiFi with the preset security settings listed on the label.
If you want to change the router’s WiFi settings, use a wired connection to avoid being
disconnected when the new WiFi settings take effect.
Note
3. Launch a web browser.
The page that displays depends on whether you accessed the router before:
The first time you set up the Internet connection for your router, the browser goes to
http://www.routerlogin.net and a page similar to the following one displays after a little while.
If you already set up the Internet connection, enter http://www.routerlogin.net in the address field
for your browser to start the installation process.
4. Follow the onscreen instructions.
The router connects to the Internet.
Connect to the Network and Access the Router
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5. If the browser does not display the NETGEAR genie page, do the following:
Make sure that the computer is connected to one of the four LAN Ethernet ports or over WiFi to the
router.
Make sure that the router is receiving power and that its Power LED is lit white.
Close and reopen the browser or clear the browser cache.
Browse to http://www.routerlogin.net.
If the computer is set to a static or fixed IP address (this setting is uncommon), change it to obtain
an IP address automatically from the router.
6. If the router does not connect to the Internet, do the following:
a. Review your settings. Make sure that you selected the correct options and typed everything correctly.
b. Contact your ISP to verify that you are using the correct configuration information.
c. Read You Cannot Access the Internet on page 205. If problems persist, register your NETGEAR
product and contact NETGEAR technical support.
When the router connects to the Internet, you are prompted to download and install the free NETGEAR
Desktop genie app and the free ReadySHARE Vault app.
Log In to the Router
When you first connect to your router and launch a web browser, the browser automatically displays the
router’s web page. If you want to view or change settings for the router later, you can use a browser to log
in to the router’s web page.
To log in to the router:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
You can also enter http://www.routerlogin.com or http://192.168.1.1.The procedures
in this manual use http://www.routerlogin.net.
Note
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
Install the Router With the NETGEAR Up App
With the NETGEAR Up app, you can easily install your router.The app automatically updates the router to
the latest firmware, allows you to personalize your WiFi network, and even helps register your router with
NETGEAR.
The NETGEAR Up app is available for iOS and Android mobile devices.
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To install your router using the NETGEAR Up app:
1. Cable your router.
For more information, see Cable Your Router on page 15.
2. On your iOS or Android mobile device, go to the app store, search for NETGEAR Up, and download
the app.
3. On your iOS or Android mobile device, tap Settings > Wi-Fi and find and connect to your router’s WiFi
network.
Your router’s WiFi network name (SSID) and network key (password) are on the router label.
4. Launch the NETGEAR Up app on your mobile device.
5. Follow the instructions that display on the app to install your router and connect to the Internet.
Change the Language
By default, the language is set as Auto.You can change the language.
To change the language:
1. Launch a web browser from a WiFi-enabled computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. In the upper right corner, select a language from the menu.
5. When prompted, click the OK button to confirm this change.
The page refreshes with the language that you selected.
Access the Router With the NETGEAR genie App
The genie app is the easy dashboard for managing, monitoring, and repairing your home network from
a smartphone, tablet, or WiFi-enabled computer. The genie app can help you with the following:
Automatically repair common WiFi network problems.
Easily manage router features such as Live Parental Controls, guest access, Internet traffic meter, speed
test, and more.
Share and stream music or videos.
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To use the genie app to access the router:
1. Visit the NETGEAR genie web page at netgear.com/genie.
2. Click the appropriate Download button.
3. Follow the onscreen instructions to install the app on your smartphone, tablet, or WiFi-enabled computer.
4. Launch the genie app.
The genie app dashboard displays.
The following figure shows the genie app dashboard for a Windows-based computer.
Connect to the Network and Access the Router
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3
Specify Your Internet Settings
Usually, the quickest way to set up the router to use your Internet connection is to allow NETGEAR genie to
detect the Internet connection when you first access the router with a web browser.You can also customize or
specify your Internet settings.
This chapter contains the following sections:
Use the Internet Setup Wizard on page 24
Manually Set Up the Internet Connection on page 25
Specify an IPv6 Internet Connection on page 30
Manage the MTU Size on page 43
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Use the Internet Setup Wizard
You can use the Setup Wizard to detect your Internet settings and automatically set up your router. The
Setup Wizard is not the same as the genie pages that display the first time you connect to your router to
set it up.
To use the Setup Wizard:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > Setup Wizard.
5. Select the Yes radio button.
If you select the No radio button, you are taken to the Internet Setup page (see Manually Set Up the
Internet Connection on page 25).
6. Click the Next button.
The Setup Wizard searches your Internet connection for servers and protocols to determine your Internet
configuration.
When the router connects to the Internet, you are prompted to download and install the free NETGEAR
Desktop genie app and the free ReadySHARE Vault app.
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Manually Set Up the Internet Connection
You can view or change the router’s Internet connection settings.
Specify an Internet Connection Without a Login
To specify the Internet connection settings:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select Internet.
Your router might display information that is different from this example.
5. Leave the Does your Internet connection require a login? No radio button selected.
6. If your Internet connection requires an account name or host name, type it in the Account Name (If
Required) field.
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7. If your Internet connection requires a domain name, type it in the Domain Name (If Required) field.
For the other sections on this page, the default settings usually work, but you can change them.
8. Select an Internet IP Address radio button:
Get Dynamically from ISP.Your ISP uses DHCP to assign your IP address.Your ISP automatically
assigns these addresses.
Use Static IP Address. Enter the IP address, IP subnet mask, and the gateway IP address that
your ISP assigned.The gateway is the ISP router to which your router connects.
9. Select a Domain Name Server (DNS) Address radio button:
Get Automatically from ISP.Your ISP uses DHCP to assign your DNS servers.Your ISP
automatically assigns this address.
Use These DNS Servers. If you know that your ISP requires specific servers, select this option.
Enter the IP address of your ISP’s primary DNS server. If a secondary DNS server address is
available, enter it also.
10. Select a Router MAC Address radio button:
Use Default Address. Use the default MAC address.
Use Computer MAC Address. The router captures and uses the MAC address of the computer
that you are now using.You must use the one computer that the ISP allows.
Use This MAC Address. Enter the MAC address that you want to use.
11. Click the Apply button.
Your settings are saved.
12. Click the Test button to test your Internet connection.
If the NETGEAR website does not display within one minute, see You Cannot Access the Internet on
page 205.
Specify an Internet Connection That Uses a Login and PPPoE
Service
To view or change the basic Internet setup:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select Internet.
The Internet Setup page displays.
5. Select the Does your Internet connection require a login? Yes radio button.
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The page adjusts.
6. From the Internet Service Provider menu, select PPPoE as the encapsulation method.
7. In the Login field, enter the login name that your ISP gave you.
This login name is often an email address.
8. In the Password field, type the password that you use to log in to your Internet service.
9. If your ISP requires a service name, type it in the Service Name (if Required) field.
10. From the Connection Mode menu, select Always On, Dial on Demand, or Manually Connect.
11. To change the number of minutes until the Internet login times out, in the Idle Timeout (In minutes)
field, type the number of minutes.
This is how long the router keeps the Internet connection active when no one on the network is using
the Internet connection. A value of 0 (zero) means never log out.
12. Select an Internet IP Address radio button:
Get Dynamically from ISP.Your ISP uses DHCP to assign your IP address.Your ISP automatically
assigns these addresses.
Use Static IP Address. Enter the IP address, IP subnet mask, and the gateway IP address that
your ISP assigned.The gateway is the ISP router to which your router connects.
13. Select a Domain Name Server (DNS) Address radio button:
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Get Automatically from ISP.Your ISP uses DHCP to assign your DNS servers.Your ISP
automatically assigns this address.
Use These DNS Servers. If you know that your ISP requires specific servers, select this option.
Enter the IP address of your ISP’s primary DNS server. If a secondary DNS server address is
available, enter it also.
14. Select a Router MAC Address radio button:
Use Default Address. Use the default MAC address.
Use Computer MAC Address. The router captures and uses the MAC address of the computer
that you are now using.You must use the one computer that the ISP allows.
Use This MAC Address. Enter the MAC address that you want to use.
15. Click the Apply button.
Your settings are saved.
16. Click the Test button to test your Internet connection.
If the NETGEAR website does not display within one minute, see You Cannot Access the Internet on
page 205.
Specify an Internet Connection That Uses a Login and PPTP
or L2TP Service
To view or change the basic Internet setup:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select Internet.
The Internet Setup page displays.
5. Select the Does your Internet connection require a login? Yes radio button.
The page adjusts.
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6. From the Internet Service Provider menu, select PPTP or L2TP as the encapsulation method.
7. In the Login field, enter the login name that your ISP gave you.
This login name is often an email address.
8. In the Password field, type the password that you use to log in to your Internet service.
9. From the Connection Mode menu, select Always On, Dial on Demand, or Manually Connect.
10. To change the number of minutes until the Internet login times out, in the Idle Timeout (In minutes)
field, type the number of minutes.
This is how long the router keeps the Internet connection active when no one on the network is using
the Internet connection. A value of 0 (zero) means never log out.
11. If your ISP gave you fixed IP addresses and a connection ID or name, type them in the My IP Address,
Subnet Mask, Server Address, Gateway IP Address, and Connection ID/Name fields.
If your ISP did not give you IP addresses, a connection ID, or name, leave these fields blank. The
connection ID or name applies to a PPTP service only.
12. Select a Domain Name Server (DNS) Address radio button:
Get Automatically from ISP.Your ISP uses DHCP to assign your DNS servers.Your ISP
automatically assigns this address.
Use These DNS Servers. If you know that your ISP requires specific servers, select this option.
Enter the IP address of your ISP’s primary DNS server. If a secondary DNS server address is
available, enter it also.
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13. Select a Router MAC Address radio button:
Use Default Address. Use the default MAC address.
Use Computer MAC Address. The router captures and uses the MAC address of the computer
that you are now using.You must use the one computer that the ISP allows.
Use This MAC Address. Enter the MAC address that you want to use.
14. Click the Apply button.
Your settings are saved.
15. Click the Test button to test your Internet connection.
If the NETGEAR website does not display within one minute, see You Cannot Access the Internet on
page 205.
Specify an IPv6 Internet Connection
The router supports many different types of IPv6 Internet connections for which you can specify the settings
manually.
IPv6 Internet Connections and IPv6 Addresses
The router can support an IPv6 Internet connection through the following connection types:
Auto Detect. For more information, see Use Auto Detect for an IPv6 Internet Connection on page 31.
Auto Config. For more information, see Use Auto Config for an IPv6 Internet Connection on page 32.
6to4 tunnel. For more information, see Set Up an IPv6 6to4 Tunnel Internet Connection on page 34.
Pass-through. For more information, see Set Up an IPv6 Pass-Through Internet Connection on page
36.
Fixed. For more information, see Set Up a Fixed IPv6 Internet Connection on page 36.
DHCP. For more information, see Set Up an IPv6 DHCP Internet Connection on page 38.
6rd. For more information, see Set Up an IPv6 6rd Tunnel Connection on page 39.
PPPoE. For more information, see Set Up an IPv6 PPPoE Internet Connection on page 41.
Which connection type you must use depends on your IPv6 ISP. Follow the directions that your IPv6 ISP
gave you.
If your ISP did not provide details, use the 6to4 tunnel connection type (see Set Up an IPv6 6to4 Tunnel
Internet Connection on page 34).
If you are not sure what type of IPv6 connection the router uses, use the Auto Detect connection type,
which lets the router detect the IPv6 type that is in use (see Use Auto Detect for an IPv6 Internet
Connection on page 31).
If your Internet connection does not use pass-through, a fixed IP address, DHCP, 6rd, or PPPoE but is
IPv6, use the Auto Config connection type, which lets the router autoconfigure its IPv6 connection (see
Use Auto Config for an IPv6 Internet Connection on page 32).
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When you enable IPv6 and select any connection type other than IPv6 pass-through, the router starts the
stateful packet inspection (SPI) firewall function on the WAN interface.The router creates connection records
and checks every inbound IPv6 packet. If the inbound packet is not destined to the router itself and the
router does not expect to receive such a packet, or the packet is not in the connection record, the router
blocks this packet.This function works in two modes: In secured mode, the router inspects both TCP and
UDP packets. In open mode, the router inspects UDP packets only.
IPv6 addresses are denoted by eight groups of hexadecimal quartets that are separated by colons.You
can reduce any four-digit group of zeros within an IPv6 address to a single zero or omit it. The following
errors invalidate an IPv6 address:
More than eight groups of hexadecimal quartets
More than four hexadecimal characters in a quartet
More than two colons in a row
Use Auto Detect for an IPv6 Internet Connection
To set up an IPv6 Internet connection through autodetection:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > IPv6.
The Basic Settings page displays.
5. From the Internet Connection Type menu, select Auto Detect.
The router automatically detects the information in the following fields:
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Connection Type. This field indicates the connection type that is detected.
Router’s IPv6 Address on WAN. This field shows the IPv6 address that is acquired for the router’s
WAN (or Internet) interface. The number after the slash (/) is the length of the prefix, which is also
indicated by the underline (_) under the IPv6 address. If no address is acquired, the field displays
Not Available.
Router’s IPv6 Address on LAN. This field shows the IPv6 address that is acquired for the router’s
LAN interface. The number after the slash (/) is the length of the prefix, which is also indicated by
the underline (_) under the IPv6 address. If no address is acquired, the field displays Not Available.
6. Select an IP Address Assignment radio button:
Use DHCP Server. This method passes more information to LAN devices but some IPv6 systems
might not support the DHCv6 client function.
Auto Config. This is the default setting.
This setting specifies how the router assigns IPv6 addresses to the devices on your home network (the
LAN).
7. (Optional) Select the Use This Interface ID check box and specify the interface ID to be used for the
IPv6 address of the router’s LAN interface.
If you do not specify an ID here, the router generates one automatically from its MAC address.
8. Click the Apply button.
Your settings are saved.
Use Auto Config for an IPv6 Internet Connection
To set up an IPv6 Internet connection through autoconfiguration:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > IPv6.
The Basic Settings page displays.
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5. From the Internet Connection Type menu, select Auto Config.
The router automatically detects the information in the following fields:
Router’s IPv6 Address on WAN. This field shows the IPv6 address that is acquired for the router’s
WAN (or Internet) interface. The number after the slash (/) is the length of the prefix, which is also
indicated by the underline (_) under the IPv6 address. If no address is acquired, the field displays
Not Available.
Router’s IPv6 Address on LAN. This field shows the IPv6 address that is acquired for the router’s
LAN interface. The number after the slash (/) is the length of the prefix, which is also indicated by
the underline (_) under the IPv6 address. If no address is acquired, the field displays Not Available.
6. (Optional) In the DHCP User Class (If Required) field, enter a host name.
Most people can leave this field blank, but if your ISP gave you a specific host name, enter it here.
7. (Optional) In the DHCP Domain Name (If Required) field, enter a domain name.
You can type the domain name of your IPv6 ISP. Do not enter the domain name for the IPv4 ISP here.
For example, if your ISP’s mail server is mail.xxx.yyy.zzz, type xxx.yyy.zzz as the domain name. If your
ISP provided a domain name, type it in this field. For example, Earthlink Cable might require a host
name of home, and Comcast sometimes supplies a domain name.
8. Select an IPv6 Domain Name Server (DNS) Address radio button:
Get Automatically from ISP.Your ISP uses DHCP to assign your DNS servers.Your ISP
automatically assigns this address.
Use These DNS Servers. If you know that your ISP requires specific servers, select this option.
Enter the IP address of your ISP’s primary DNS server. If a secondary DNS server address is
available, enter it also.
9. Select an IP Address Assignment radio button:
Use DHCP Server. This method passes more information to LAN devices but some IPv6 systems
might not support the DHCv6 client function.
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Auto Config. This is the default setting.
This setting specifies how the router assigns IPv6 addresses to the devices on your home network (the
LAN).
10. (Optional) Select the Use This Interface ID check box and specify the interface ID to be used for the
IPv6 address of the router’s LAN interface.
If you do not specify an ID here, the router generates one automatically from its MAC address.
11. Click the Apply button.
Your settings are saved.
Set Up an IPv6 6to4 Tunnel Internet Connection
The remote relay router is the device to which your router creates a 6to4 tunnel. Make sure that the IPv4
Internet connection is working before you apply the 6to4 tunnel settings for the IPv6 connection.
To set up an IPv6 Internet connection by using a 6to4 tunnel:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > IPv6.
The Basic Settings page displays.
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5. From the Internet Connection Type menu, select 6to4 Tunnel.
The router automatically detects the information in the Router’s IPv6 Address on LAN field. This field
shows the IPv6 address that is acquired for the router’s LAN interface. The number after the slash (/)
is the length of the prefix, which is also indicated by the underline (_) under the IPv6 address. If no
address is acquired, the field displays Not Available.
6. Select a Remote 6to4 Relay Router radio button:
Auto.Your router uses any remote relay router that is available on the Internet. This is the default
setting.
Static IP Address. Enter the static IPv4 address of the remote relay router.Your IPv6 ISP usually
provides this address.
7. Select an IPv6 Domain Name Server (DNS) Address radio button:
Get Automatically from ISP.Your ISP uses DHCP to assign your DNS servers.Your ISP
automatically assigns this address.
Use These DNS Servers. If you know that your ISP requires specific servers, select this option.
Enter the IP address of your ISP’s primary DNS server. If a secondary DNS server address is
available, enter it also.
8. Select an IP Address Assignment radio button:
Use DHCP Server. This method passes more information to LAN devices but some IPv6 systems
might not support the DHCv6 client function.
Auto Config. This is the default setting.
This setting specifies how the router assigns IPv6 addresses to the devices on your home network (the
LAN).
9. (Optional) Select the Use This Interface ID check box and specify the interface ID to be used for the
IPv6 address of the router’s LAN interface.
If you do not specify an ID here, the router generates one automatically from its MAC address.
10. Click the Apply button.
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Your settings are saved.
Set Up an IPv6 Pass-Through Internet Connection
In pass-through mode, the router works as a Layer 2 Ethernet switch with two ports (LAN and WAN Ethernet
ports) for IPv6 packets. The router does not process any IPv6 header packets.
To set up an IPv6 pass-through Internet connection:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > IPv6.
The Basic Settings page displays.
5. From the Internet Connection Type menu, select Pass Through.
The page adjusts, but no additional fields display.
6. Click the Apply button.
Your settings are saved.
Set Up a Fixed IPv6 Internet Connection
To set up a fixed IPv6 Internet connection:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > IPv6.
The Basic Settings page displays.
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5. From the Internet Connection Type menu, select Fixed.
6. Configure the fixed IPv6 addresses for the WAN connection:
IPv6 Address/Prefix Length. The IPv6 address and prefix length of the router WAN interface.
Default IPv6 Gateway.The IPv6 address of the default IPv6 gateway for the router’s WAN interface.
Primary DNS Server. The primary DNS server that resolves IPv6 domain name records for the
router.
Secondary DNS Server. The secondary DNS server that resolves IPv6 domain name records for
the router.
If you do not specify the DNS servers, the router uses the DNS servers that are
configured for the IPv4 Internet connection on the Internet Setup page. (See Manually
Set Up the Internet Connection on page 25.)
Note
7. Select an IP Address Assignment radio button:
Use DHCP Server. This method passes more information to LAN devices but some IPv6 systems
might not support the DHCv6 client function.
Auto Config. This is the default setting.
This setting specifies how the router assigns IPv6 addresses to the devices on your home network (the
LAN).
8. In the IPv6 Address/Prefix Length fields, specify the static IPv6 address and prefix length of the router’s
LAN interface.
If you do not specify an ID here, the router generates one automatically from its MAC address.
9. Click the Apply button.
Your settings are saved.
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Set Up an IPv6 DHCP Internet Connection
To set up an IPv6 Internet connection with a DHCP server:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > IPv6.
The Basic Settings page displays.
5. From the Internet Connection Type menu, select DHCP.
The router automatically detects the information in the following fields:
Router’s IPv6 Address on WAN. This field shows the IPv6 address that is acquired for the router’s
WAN (or Internet) interface. The number after the slash (/) is the length of the prefix, which is also
indicated by the underline (_) under the IPv6 address. If no address is acquired, the field displays
Not Available.
Router’s IPv6 Address on LAN. This field shows the IPv6 address that is acquired for the router’s
LAN interface. The number after the slash (/) is the length of the prefix, which is also indicated by
the underline (_) under the IPv6 address. If no address is acquired, the field displays Not Available.
6. (Optional) In the User Class (If Required) field, enter a host name.
Most people can leave this field blank, but if your ISP gave you a specific host name, enter it here.
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7. (Optional) In the Domain Name (If Required) field, enter a domain name.
You can type the domain name of your IPv6 ISP. Do not enter the domain name for the IPv4 ISP here.
For example, if your ISP’s mail server is mail.xxx.yyy.zzz, type xxx.yyy.zzz as the domain name. If your
ISP provided a domain name, type it in this field. For example, Earthlink Cable might require a host
name of home, and Comcast sometimes supplies a domain name.
8. Select an IPv6 Domain Name Server (DNS) Address radio button:
Get Automatically from ISP.Your ISP uses DHCP to assign your DNS servers.Your ISP
automatically assigns this address.
Use These DNS Servers. If you know that your ISP requires specific servers, select this option.
Enter the IP address of your ISP’s primary DNS server. If a secondary DNS server address is
available, enter it also.
9. Select an IP Address Assignment radio button:
Use DHCP Server. This method passes more information to LAN devices but some IPv6 systems
might not support the DHCv6 client function.
Auto Config. This is the default setting.
This setting specifies how the router assigns IPv6 addresses to the devices on your home network (the
LAN).
10. (Optional) Select the Use This Interface ID check box and specify the interface ID to be used for the
IPv6 address of the router’s LAN interface.
If you do not specify an ID here, the router generates one automatically from its MAC address.
11. Click the Apply button.
Your settings are saved.
Set Up an IPv6 6rd Tunnel Connection
The 6rd protocol makes it possible to deploy IPv6 to sites using a service provider’s IPv4 network. 6rd uses
the service provider’s own IPv6 address prefix. This limits the operational domain of 6rd to the service
provider’s network and is under direct control of the service provider. The IPv6 service that is provided is
equivalent to native IPv6.
The 6rd mechanism relies on an algorithmic mapping between the IPv6 and IPv4 addresses that are assigned
for use within the service provider’s network.This mapping allows for automatic determination of IPv4 tunnel
endpoints from IPv6 prefixes, enabling stateless operation of 6rd.
To set up an IPv6 6rd tunnel connection:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
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4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > IPv6.
The Basic Settings page displays.
5. From the Internet Connection Type menu, select 6rd Tunnel.
The router automatically detects the information in the Router’s IPv6 Address on LAN field. This field
shows the IPv6 address that is acquired for the router’s LAN interface. The number after the slash (/)
is the length of the prefix, which is also indicated by the underline (_) under the IPv6 address. If no
address is acquired, the field displays Not Available.
6. In the 6rd Configuration section, configure the 6rd settings:
6rd Prefix. Enter the IPv6 prefix that your ISP gave you.
6rd Prefix Length. Enter the IPv6 prefix length that your ISP gave you.
6rd Border Relay Address. Enter the border router’s IPv4 address that your ISP gave you.
6rd Address Mask Length. Enter the IPv4 mask length that your ISP gave you.
7. Select an IPv6 Domain Name Server (DNS) Address radio button:
Get Automatically from ISP.Your ISP uses DHCP to assign your DNS servers.Your ISP
automatically assigns this address.
Use These DNS Servers. If you know that your ISP requires specific servers, select this option.
Enter the IP address of your ISP’s primary DNS server. If a secondary DNS server address is
available, enter it also.
8. Select an IP Address Assignment radio button:
Use DHCP Server. This method passes more information to LAN devices but some IPv6 systems
might not support the DHCv6 client function.
Auto Config. This is the default setting.
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This setting specifies how the router assigns IPv6 addresses to the devices on your home network (the
LAN).
9. (Optional) Select the Use This Interface ID check box and specify the interface ID to be used for the
IPv6 address of the router’s LAN interface.
If you do not specify an ID here, the router generates one automatically from its MAC address.
10. Click the Apply button.
Your settings are saved.
Set Up an IPv6 PPPoE Internet Connection
To set up a PPPoE IPv6 Internet connection:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > IPv6.
The Basic Settings page displays.
5. From the Internet Connection Type menu, select PPPoE.
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The router automatically detects the information in the following fields:
Router’s IPv6 Address on WAN. This field shows the IPv6 address that is acquired for the router’s
WAN (or Internet) interface. The number after the slash (/) is the length of the prefix, which is also
indicated by the underline (_) under the IPv6 address. If no address is acquired, the field displays
Not Available.
Router’s IPv6 Address on LAN. This field shows the IPv6 address that is acquired for the router’s
LAN interface. The number after the slash (/) is the length of the prefix, which is also indicated by
the underline (_) under the IPv6 address. If no address is acquired, the field displays Not Available.
6. In the Login field, enter the login information for the ISP connection.
This is usually the name that you use in your email address. For example, if your main mail account is
JerAB@ISP.com, you would type JerAB in this field. Some ISPs (like Mindspring, Earthlink, and T-DSL)
require that you use your full email address when you log in. If your ISP requires your full email address,
type it in this field.
7. In the Password field, enter the password for the ISP connection.
8. In the Service Name field, enter a service name.
If your ISP did not provide a service name, leave this field blank.
The default setting of the Connection Mode menu is Always On to provide a steady
IPv6 connection. The router never terminates the connection. If the connection is
terminated, for example, when the modem is turned off, the router attempts to
reestablish the connection immediately after the PPPoE connection becomes available
again.
Note
9. Select an IPv6 Domain Name Server (DNS) Address radio button:
Get Automatically from ISP.Your ISP uses DHCP to assign your DNS servers.Your ISP
automatically assigns this address.
Use These DNS Servers. If you know that your ISP requires specific servers, select this option.
Enter the IP address of your ISP’s primary DNS server. If a secondary DNS server address is
available, enter it also.
10. Select an IP Address Assignment radio button:
Use DHCP Server. This method passes more information to LAN devices but some IPv6 systems
might not support the DHCv6 client function.
Auto Config. This is the default setting.
This setting specifies how the router assigns IPv6 addresses to the devices on your home network (the
LAN).
11. (Optional) Select the Use This Interface ID check box and specify the interface ID to be used for the
IPv6 address of the router’s LAN interface.
If you do not specify an ID here, the router generates one automatically from its MAC address.
12. Click the Apply button.
Your settings are saved.
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Manage the MTU Size
The maximum transmission unit (MTU) is the largest data packet a network device transmits.
MTU Concepts
When one network device communicates across the Internet with another, the data packets travel through
many devices along the way. If a device in the data path uses a lower maximum transmission unit (MTU)
setting than the other devices, the data packets must be split or “fragmented” to accommodate the device
with the smallest MTU.
The best MTU setting for NETGEAR equipment is often the default value. In some situations, changing the
value fixes one problem but causes another.
Leave the MTU unchanged unless one of these situations occurs:
You experience problems connecting to your ISP or other Internet service, and the technical support of
either the ISP or NETGEAR recommends changing the MTU setting. These web-based applications
might require an MTU change:
- A secure website that does not open or displays only part of a web page
- Yahoo email
You use VPN and experience severe performance problems.
You used a program to optimize MTU for performance reasons and now you are experiencing connectivity
or performance problems.
If you suspect an MTU problem, a common solution is to change the MTU to 1400. If you are willing to
experiment, you can gradually reduce the MTU from the maximum value of 1500 until the problem goes
away. The following table describes common MTU sizes and applications.
Table 3. Common MTU sizes
ApplicationMTU
The largest Ethernet packet size.This setting is typical for connections
that do not use PPPoE or VPN and is the default value for NETGEAR
routers, adapters, and switches.
1500
Used in PPPoE environments.1492
Maximum size to use for pinging. (Larger packets are fragmented.)1472
Used in some DHCP environments.1468
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Table 3. Common MTU sizes (Continued)
ApplicationMTU
Used in PPPoA environments.1458
Used in PPTP environments or with VPN.1436
Change the MTU Size
WARNING:
An incorrect MTU setting can cause Internet communication problems. For
example, you might not be able to access certain websites, frames within
websites, secure login pages, or FTP or POP servers. Change the MTU only
if you are sure that it is necessary for your ISP connection.
To change the MTU size:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > Setup > WAN Setup.
The WAN Setup page displays.
5. In the MTU Size field, enter a value from 64 to 1500.
The normal MTU (maximum transmit unit) value for most Ethernet networks is 1500 bytes, 1492 bytes
for PPPoE connections, or 1436 for PPTP connections.
6. Click the Apply button.
Your settings are saved.
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4
Optimize Performance
You can set up the router to optimize performance for applications such as multiplayer gaming, peer-to-peer
connections, or real-time communications such as instant messaging. By default, the router uses Wi-Fi Multimedia
Quality of Service (WMM QoS).
This chapter contains the following sections:
Use Dynamic QoS to Optimize Internet Traffic Management on page 46
Improve Network Connections With Universal Plug-N-Play on page 47
Manage Wi-Fi Multimedia Quality of Service on page 48
Enable or Disable Smart Connect on page 49
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Use Dynamic QoS to Optimize Internet Traffic Management
Dynamic Quality of Service (QoS) helps improve your router’s Internet traffic management capabilities
through better application and device identification, bandwidth allocation, and traffic prioritization techniques.
Dynamic QoS resolves traffic congestion when the Internet bandwidth is limited and different demands
compete for bandwidth.
Enable Dynamic QoS
Because not everyone uses Dynamic QoS, it is disabled by default.
To enable Dynamic QoS:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select Dynamic QoS.
The Dynamic QoS page displays.
5. Select the Enable Dynamic QoS check box.
6. Specify your Internet bandwidth.
You must specify your Internet bandwidth so that Dynamic QoS can perform bandwidth allocation and
traffic prioritization.
To allow Speedtest to detect your Internet bandwidth (recommended), do the following:
a. For more accurate Speedtest results, make sure that no other devices are accessing the Internet.
b. Click the Speedtest button.
Speedtest determines your Internet bandwidth.
7. Click the Apply button.
Your settings are saved.
A link displays on the bottom of the page to view bandwidth utilization. Clicking the link displays the
Attached Devices page. For more information, see View Devices Currently on the Network on page 168.
Enable or Disable the Automatic QoS Database Update
The router uses a QoS database of the most popular applications and services to implement Dynamic QoS.
By default, the router automatically updates this database.You can turn off this feature and manually update
the database.
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To enable or disable the automatic Dynamic QoS database update:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select Dynamic QoS.
The Dynamic QoS page displays. If you are using Dynamic QoS, the Enable Dynamic QoS check box
is selected.
5. Select or clear the Automatically update performance optimization database check box.
6. Click the Apply button.
Your settings are saved.
Improve Network Connections With Universal Plug-N-Play
Universal Plug-N-Play (UPnP) helps devices such as Internet appliances and computers access the network
and connect to other devices as needed. UPnP devices can automatically discover the services from other
registered UPnP devices on the network.
If you use applications such as multiplayer gaming, peer-to-peer connections, or real-time communications
such as instant messaging, enable UPnP.
To enable Universal Plug-N-Play:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > UPnP.
The UPnP page displays.
5. Select the Turn UPnP On check box.
By default, this check box is selected. UPnP for automatic device configuration can be enabled or
disabled. If the Turn UPnP On check box is cleared, the router does not allow any device to automatically
control router resources, such as port forwarding.
6. Type the advertisement period in minutes.
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The advertisement period specifies how often the router broadcasts its UPnP information. This value
can range from 1 to 1440 minutes. The default period is 30 minutes. Shorter durations ensure that
control points receive current device status at the expense of more network traffic. Longer durations
can compromise the freshness of the device status but can significantly reduce network traffic.
7. Type the advertisement time to live in hops.
The time to live for the advertisement is measured in hops (steps) for each UPnP packet sent. Hops
are the steps a packet takes between routers.The number of hops can range from 1 to 255.The default
value for the advertisement time to live is 4 hops, which should be fine for most home networks. If you
notice that some devices are not being updated or reached correctly, it might be necessary to increase
this value.
8. Click the Apply button.
The UPnP Portmap Table displays the IP address of each UPnP device that is accessing the router
and which ports (internal and external) that device opened. The UPnP Portmap Table also displays
what type of port is open and whether that port is still active for each IP address.
To refresh the information in the UPnP Portmap Table, click the Refresh button.
Manage Wi-Fi Multimedia Quality of Service
Wi-Fi Multimedia Quality of Service (WMM QoS) prioritizes WiFi voice and video traffic over the WiFi link.
WMM QoS is automatically enabled for the router.
WMM QoS prioritizes WiFi data packets from different applications based on four access categories: voice,
video, best effort, and background. For an application to receive the benefits of WMM QoS, WMM must be
enabled for both it and the client running that application. Legacy applications that do not support WMM
and applications that do not require QoS are assigned to the best effort category, which receives a lower
priority than voice and video. Circumstances might occur in which you want to disable WMM QoS.
To disable WMM QoS:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > Setup > QoS Setup.
The WMM tab is automatically selected and the WMM page displays.
5. Clear the Enable WMM (Wi-Fi multimedia) settings (2.4GHz b/g/n) check box.
6. Clear the Enable WMM (Wi-Fi multimedia) settings (5GHz a/n/ac) check box.
7. Click the Apply button.
Your settings are saved.
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Enable or Disable Smart Connect
Smart Connect selects the fastest WiFi band for your device. For Smart Connect to work, the 2.4 GHz and
5 GHz bands must use the same WiFi network name (SSID) and network key (password).That means that
when you connect to the router with WiFi, you see only one SSID that connects to both bands.
If you enable Smart Connect and the SSID and passwords for the 2.4 GHz and 5
GHz bands do not match, the WiFi settings for 2.4 GHz band overwrites the WiFi
settings for 5 GHz band.
Note
To enable or disable Smart Connect:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select Wireless.
The Wireless Setup page displays.
5. Select or clear the the Enable Smart Connect check box.
Selecting this check box turns on Smart Connect and clearing this check box turns off Smart Connect.
6. Click the Apply button.
Your settings are saved.
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5
Control Access to the Internet
The router comes with a built-in firewall that helps protect your home network from unwanted intrusions from
the Internet.
This chapter includes the following sections:
Set Up Parental Controls on page 51
Allow or Block Access to Your Network on page 52
Use Keywords to Block Internet Sites on page 57
Manage Simple Outbound Firewall Rules for Services and Applications on page 61
Set Up a Schedule for Keyword Blocking and Outbound Firewall Rules on page 66
Set Up Security Event Email Notifications on page 68
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Set Up Parental Controls
The first time that you select Parental Controls from the BASIC Home page, your browser goes to the
Parental Controls website.You can learn more about parental controls or download the application.
After you set up and enable parental controls, you can change the web filtering level for each device on the
network through the network map page on the genie app.
To set up parental controls:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select Parental Controls.
The Parental Controls website opens.
5. Click the button for the app or version that you want to download and use.
6. Follow the onscreen instructions to download and install the genie app.
7. Open the genie app and select Parental Controls.
After installation, Live Parental Controls automatically starts.
8. Click the Next button, read the note, and click the Next button again.
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Because Live Parental Controls uses free OpenDNS accounts, you are prompted to log in or create a
free account.
9. Select a radio button as follows:
If you already own an OpenDNS account, leave the Yes radio button selected.
If you do not own an OpenDNS account, select the No radio button.
If you are creating an account, the Create a free OpenDNS account page displays. Do the following:
a. Complete the fields.
b. Click the Next button.
After you log on or create your account, the filtering level page displays.
10. Select the radio button for the filtering level that you want and click the Next button.
The Setup is complete page displays.
11. Click the Take me to the status screen button.
The Status page displays. Parental controls are now set up for the router.
12. To enable parental controls, click the Enable Live Parental Controls button.
After you set up and enable parental controls, you can change the web filtering level for each device
on the network through the network map page of the genie app.
Allow or Block Access to Your Network
You can use access control to block or allow access of devices to your network.You define access by
selecting or specifying the MAC addresses of the wired and WiFi devices that either can access your entire
network or are blocked from accessing your entire network.
Enable and Manage Network Access Control
When you enable access control, you must select whether new devices are allowed to access the network
or are blocked from accessing the network. By default, currently connected devices are allowed to access
the network, but you can also block these devices from accessing the network.
To set up network access control:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
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3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > Security > Access Control.
The previous figure shows two WiFi devices connected.
5. Select the Turn on Access Control check box.
You must select this check box before you can specify an access rule and use the Allow and Block
buttons. When the Turn on Access Control check box is cleared, all devices are allowed to connect,
even if a device is in the list of blocked devices.
6. Click the Apply button.
Your settings are saved.
7. Select an access rule for new devices:
Allow all new devices to connect. With this setting, if you add a new device, it can access your
network.You do not need to enter its MAC address on this page. We recommend that you leave this
radio button selected.
Block all new devices from connecting. With this setting, if you add a new device, before it can
access your network, you must enter its MAC address for an Ethernet connection and its MAC
address for a WiFi connection in the allowed list. For more information, see Manage Network Access
Control Lists on page 54.
The access rule does not affect previously blocked or allowed devices. It applies only to devices joining
your network in the future after you apply these settings.
8. To manage access for currently connected computers and devices, do the following:
If you blocked all new devices from connecting, to allow the computer or device that you are currently
using to continue to access the network, select the check box next to your computer or device in the
table, and click the Allow button.
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To either continue to allow or to block other computers and devices that are currently connected,
select the check box next to the computer or device in the table, and click either the Allow button or
the Block button.
9. Click the Apply button.
Your settings are saved.
Manage Network Access Control Lists
You can use access control to block or allow access to your network. An access control list (ACL) functions
with the MAC addresses of wired and WiFi devices that can either access your entire network or are blocked
from accessing your entire network.
The router can detect the MAC addresses of devices that are connected to the network and list the MAC
addresses of devices that were connected to the network.
Each network device owns a MAC address, which is a unique 12-character physical address, containing
the hexadecimal characters 0–9, a–f, or A–F (uppercase or lowercase) only, and separated by colons (for
example, 00:09:AB:CD:EF:01). Typically, the MAC address is on the label of the WiFi card or network
interface device. If you cannot see the label, you can display the MAC address using the network configuration
utilities of the computer.You might also find the MAC addresses through the web pages of the router (see
View Devices Currently on the Network on page 168).
Add Devices to or Remove Them From the Allowed List
If you set up an access list that blocks all new devices from accessing your network, you must specify which
devices are allowed to access your network.
To add or remove devices that are allowed:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
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The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > Security > Access Control.
The Access Control page displays.
5. Click the View list of allowed devices not currently connected to the network link.
A table displays the detected device name, MAC address, and connection type of the devices that are
not connected but allowed to access the network.
6. To add a device to the allowed list, do the following:
a. Click the Add button.
The Add Allowed Device page displays.
b. Enter the MAC address and device name for the device that you want to allow.
c. On the Add Allowed Device page, click the Apply button.
The device is added to the allowed list on the Access Control page.
7. To remove a device from allowed list, do the following:
a. Select the check box for the device.
b. Click the Delete button.
The device is removed from the allowed list.
8. Click the Apply button.
Your settings are saved.
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Add Devices to or Remove Them From the Blocked List
If you set up an access list that allows all new devices to access your network but you want to block some
devices from accessing your network, you must specify the devices that you want to block.
To add or remove devices that are blocked:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > Security > Access Control.
The Access Control page displays.
5. Click the View list of blocked devices not currently connected to the network link.
A table displays the detected device name, MAC address, and connection type of the devices that are
not connected and are blocked from accessing the network.
6. To add a device to the blocked list, do the following:
a. Click the Add button.
The Add Blocked Device page displays.
b. Enter the MAC address and device name for the device that you want to block.
c. On the Add Blocked Device page, click the Apply button.
The device is added to the blocked list on the Access Control page.
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7. To remove a device from blocked list, do the following:
a. Select the check box for the device.
b. Click the Delete button.
The device is removed from the blocked list.
8. Click the Apply button.
Your settings are saved.
Use Keywords to Block Internet Sites
You can block keywords and domains (websites) to prevent certain types of HTTP traffic from accessing
your network. By default, keyword blocking is disabled and no domains are blocked.
Set Up Blocking
You can set up blocking of specific keywords and domains to occur continuously or according to a schedule.
To set up keyword and domain blocking:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
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4. Select ADVANCED > Security > Block Sites.
5. Specify a keyword blocking option:
Per Schedule. Use keyword blocking according to a schedule that you set.
For more information, see Set Up a Schedule for Keyword Blocking and Outbound Firewall Rules
on page 66.
Always. Use keyword blocking continuously.
6. In the Type keyword or domain name here field, enter a keyword or domain.
Here are some sample entries:
Specify XXX to block http://www.badstuff.com/xxx.html.
Specify .com if you want to allow only sites with domain suffixes such as .edu or .gov.
Enter a period (.) to block all Internet browsing access.
7. Click the Add Keyword button.
The keyword or domain is added to the Block sites containing these keywords or domain names
field (which is also referred to as the blocked list).
8. To add more keywords or domains, repeat Step 6 and Step 7.
The keyword list supports up to 32 entries.
9. Click the Apply button.
Your settings are saved.
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Remove a Keyword or Domain From the Blocked List
If you no longer need a keyword or domain on the blocked list, you can remove the keyword or domain.
To remove a keyword or domain from the blocked list:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > Security > Block Sites.
The Block Sites page displays.
5. In the Block sites containing these keywords or domain names field, select the keyword or domain.
6. Click the Delete Keyword button.
The keyword or domain is removed from the blocked list.
7. Click the Apply button.
Your settings are saved.
Remove All Keywords and Domains From the Blocked List
You can simultaneously remove all keywords and domains from the blocked list.
To remove all keywords and domains from the blocked list:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > Security > Block Sites.
The Block Sites page displays.
5. Click the Clear List button.
All keywords and domains are removed from the blocked list.
6. Click the Apply button.
Your settings are saved.
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Specify a Trusted Computer
You can exempt one trusted device from blocking and logging.The device that you exempt must be assigned
a fixed (static) IP address.
To specify a trusted device:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > Security > Block Sites.
5. Scroll down and select the Allow trusted IP address to visit blocked sites check box.
6. In the Trusted IP Address field, enter the IP address of the trusted device.
The first three octets of the IP address are automatically populated and depend on the IP address that
is assigned to the router on the LAN Setup page.
7. Click the Apply button.
Your settings are saved.
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Manage Simple Outbound Firewall Rules for Services and
Applications
A firewall protects one network (the trusted network, such as your LAN) from another (the untrusted network,
such as the Internet), while allowing communication between the two.
The router provides one default outbound firewall rule: It allows all access to the Internet (that is, the WAN).
You can add simple rules to prevent access to specific services and applications on the Internet. In addition,
you can specify if a rule applies to one user, a range of users, or all users on your LAN.
The router lists many default services and applications that you can use in outbound rules.You can also
add an outbound firewall rule for a custom service or application.
For information about blocking specific keywords, URLs, or sites, see Use Keywords to Block Internet Sites
on page 57. This type of blocking is another aspect of the outbound firewall. For information about inbound
firewall rules, see Manage Port Forwarding and Port Triggering on page 188.
Service blocking means the same thing as applying outbound firewall rules.Note
Add an Outbound Firewall Rule
You can add an outbound firewall rule to prevent access to a specific service or application on the Internet.
To add an outbound firewall rule:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > Security > Block Services.
5. In the Services Blocking section, specify how the router applies outbound rules:
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Per Schedule. Use keyword blocking according to a schedule that you set.
For more information, see Set Up a Schedule for Keyword Blocking and Outbound Firewall Rules
on page 66.
Always. Use keyword blocking continuously.
6. Below the Service Table, click the Add button.
7. From the Service Type menu, select service or application to be covered by this rule.
If the service or application does not display in the list, you can add it (see Add an Outbound Firewall
Rule for a Custom Service or Application on page 63).
8. Specify which devices on your LAN are affected by the rule, based on their IP addresses:
Only This IP Address. Enter the required address in the fields to apply the rule to a single device
on your LAN.
IP Address Range. Enter the required addresses in the start and end fields to apply the rule to a
range of devices.
All IP Addresses. All computers and devices on your LAN are covered by this rule.
By default, the All IP Addresses radio button is selected.
9. Click the Add button.
The new rule is added to the Service Table on the Block Services page.
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Add an Outbound Firewall Rule for a Custom Service or
Application
The router lists many default services and applications that you can use in outbound rules. If the service or
application is not predefined, you can specify a custom service or application in an outbound rule.
To add an outbound firewall rule for a custom service or application:
1. Find out which protocol and port number or range of numbers the service or application uses.
You can usually find this information by contacting the publisher of the service or application or through
online user or news groups.
2. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
3. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
4. Enter router the user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
5. Select ADVANCED > Security > Block Services.
6. If this is the first time that you add an outbound firewall rule, in the Services Blocking section, specify
how the router applies outbound rules:
Per Schedule. Use keyword blocking according to a schedule that you set.
For more information, see Set Up a Schedule for Keyword Blocking and Outbound Firewall Rules
on page 66.
Always. Use keyword blocking continuously.
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7. Below the Service Table, click the Add button.
8. From the Service Type menu, select User Defined.
9. Specify a new outbound rule as described in the following table.
DescriptionField
Select the protocol (TCP or UDP) that is associated with the
service or application. If you are unsure, select TCP/UDP.
Protocol
Enter the start port for the service or application.Starting Port
If the service or application uses a range of ports, enter the
end port for the range. If the service or application uses a
single port, repeat the port number that you entered in the
Starting Port field.
Ending Port
Enter the name of the custom service or application.Service Type/User Defined
10. Specify which devices on your LAN are affected by the rule, based on their IP addresses:
Only This IP Address. Enter the required address in the fields to apply the rule to a single device
on your LAN.
IP Address Range. Enter the required addresses in the start and end fields to apply the rule to a
range of devices.
All IP Addresses. All computers and devices on your LAN are covered by this rule.
By default, the All IP Addresses radio button is selected.
11. Click the Add button.
The new rule is added to the Service Table on the Block Services page.
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Change an Outbound Firewall Rule
You can change an existing outbound firewall rule.
To change an outbound firewall rule:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > Security > Block Services.
The previous figure shows two rules in the Service Table.
5. In the Service Table, select the radio button for the rule.
6. Click the Edit button.
The Block Services Setup page displays.
7. Change the settings.
For more information about the settings, see Add an Outbound Firewall Rule for a Custom Service or
Application on page 63.
8. Click the Accept button.
Your settings are saved.The changed rule displays in the Service Table on the Block Services page.
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Remove an Outbound Firewall Rule
You can remove an outbound firewall rule that you no longer need.
To remove an outbound firewall rule:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > Security > Block Services.
The previous figure shows two rules in the Service Table.
5. In the Service Table, select the radio button for the rule.
6. Click the Delete button.
The rule is removed from the Service Table.
Set Up a Schedule for Keyword Blocking and Outbound
Firewall Rules
You can set up a schedule that you can apply to keyword blocking and outbound firewall rules.
The schedule can specify the days and times that these features are active. After you set up the schedule,
if you want it to become active, you must apply it to keyword blocking (see Use Keywords to Block Internet
Sites on page 57), outbound firewall rules (see Manage Simple Outbound Firewall Rules for Services and
Applications on page 61), or both. Without a schedule, you can only enable or disable these features. By
default, no schedule is set.
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To set up a schedule:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > Security > Schedule.
5. Set up the schedule for blocking:
Days to Block. Select the check box for each day that you want to block access or specify that
blocking occurs on every day by selecting the Every Day check box.
By default, the Every Day check box is selected.
Time of Day to Block. Select a start and end time for blocking in 24-hour format or select the All
Day check box for 24-hour blocking.
By default, the All Day check box is selected.
6. From the Time Zone menu, select your time zone.
7. If you live in an area that observes daylight saving time, select the Automatically adjust for daylight
savings time check box.
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If the router synchronized its internal clock with a time server on the Internet and you
selected the correct time zone, the Current Time field displays the correct date and
time.
Note
8. Click the Apply button.
Your settings are saved.
Set Up Security Event Email Notifications
The router can email you its logs of router activity. The log records router activity and security events such
as attempts to access blocked sites or services.
To set up email notifications:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > Security > E-mail.
5. Select the Turn E-mail Notification On check box.
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6. In the Your Outgoing Mail Server field, enter the name of your ISP outgoing (SMTP) mail server (such
as mail.myISP.com).
You might be able to find this information in the configuration window of your email program. If you leave
this field blank, log and alert messages are not sent.
7. In the Send to This E-mail Address field, type the email address to which logs and alerts are to be
sent.
This email address is also used for the From address. If this field is blank, log and alert messages are
not sent.
8. In the Outgoing Mail Server Port Number field, enter the port number that the mail server uses.
If you do not know the port number, leave the default port number, which is 25.
9. If your outgoing email server requires authentication, select the My Mail Server requires authentication
check box, and do the following:
a. In the User Name field, type the user name for the outgoing email server.
b. In the Password field, type the password for the outgoing email server.
10. To send an email message when a NETGEAR Downloader task is finished, select the Send E-mail
notification when a downloader task is finished check box.
11. To send alerts when someone attempts to visit a blocked site, select the Send Alerts Immediately
check box.
Email alerts are sent immediately when someone attempts to visit a blocked site.
12. To send logs based on a schedule, specify these settings:
a. From Send logs according to this schedule menu, select the schedule type.
b. From the Day menu, select the day.
c. From the Time menu, select the time, and select the am or pm radio button.
13. Click the Apply button.
Your settings are saved.
Logs are sent automatically according to the schedule that you set. If the log fills before the specified
time, it is sent. After the log is sent, it is cleared from the router memory. If the router cannot email the
log and the log buffer fills, the router overwrites the log.
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6
Share a Storage Device Attached to the
Router
This chapter describes how to access and manage a storage device attached to your router. ReadySHARE lets
you access and share a storage device, such as a USB storage device, connected to the router. (If your storage
device uses special drivers, it is not compatible.)
The USB port on the router can be used only to connect a USB storage device such as flash
drives or hard drives or a printer. Do not connect computers, USB modems, CD drives, or
DVD drives to the router USB port.
Note
This chapter contains the following sections:
USB Device Requirements on page 71
Connect a USB Device to the Router on page 71
Access a Storage Device Connected to the Router on page 72
Map a USB Device to a Windows Network Drive on page 73
Back Up Windows Computers With ReadySHARE Vault on page 73
Back Up Mac Computers With Time Machine on page 74
Manage Access to a Storage Device on page 76
Enable FTP Access Within Your Network on page 79
View Network Folders on a Device on page 80
Add a Network Folder on a Storage Device on page 81
Change a Network Folder, Including Read and Write Access, on a USB Drive on page 83
Approve USB Devices on page 85
Set Up NETGEAR Downloader on page 86
Safely Remove a USB Device on page 89
For more information about ReadySHARE features, visit netgear.com/readyshare.
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USB Device Requirements
The router works with most USB-compliant external flash and hard drives. For the most up-to-date list of
USB devices that the router supports, visit kbserver.netgear.com/readyshare.
Some USB external hard drives and flash drives require you to load the drivers onto the computer before
the computer can access the USB device. Such USB devices do not work with the router.
The router supports the following file system types for full read/write access:
FAT16
FAT32
NTFS
NTFS with compression format enabled
Ext2
Ext3
Ext4
The router supports the following file system types with read-only access:
HFS
HFS+
Connect a USB Device to the Router
ReadySHARE lets you access and share a USB device connected to the router USB port. (If your USB
device uses special drivers, it is not compatible.)
Figure 7. One USB 3.0 port is located on the front panel of the router
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To connect a USB device:
1. Insert your USB storage drive into the USB port on the front panel of the router.
2. If your USB device uses a power supply, connect it.
You must use the power supply when you connect the USB device to the router.
When you connect the USB device to the router USB port, it might take up to two minutes before it is
ready for sharing. By default, the USB device is available to all computers on your local area network
(LAN).
Access a Storage Device Connected to the Router
From a computer or device on the network, you can access a storage device that is connected to the router.
Access the Storage Device From a Windows-Based Computer
To access the storage device from a Windows-based computer:
1. Connect a USB storage device to a USB port on the router.
2. If your USB device uses a power supply, connect it.
You must use the power supply when you connect the USB device to the router.
When you connect the storage device to the router’s port, it might take up to two minutes before the
storage device is ready for sharing. By default, the device is available to all computers on your local
area network (LAN).
3. On a Windows-based computer that is connected to the network, select Start > Run.
4. Enter \\readyshare in the dialog box.
5. Click the OK button.
A window displays the files and folders on the device.
Access the Storage Device From a Mac
To access the storage device from a Mac:
1. Connect a USB storage device to a USB port on the router.
2. If your USB device uses a power supply, connect it.
You must use the power supply when you connect the USB device to the router.
When you connect the storage device to the router’s port, it might take up to two minutes before the
storage device is ready for sharing. By default, the device is available to all computers on your local
area network (LAN).
3. On a Mac that is connected to the network, launch Finder and select Go > Connect to Server.
The Connect to Server window displays.
4. In the Server Address field, enter smb://readyshare.
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5. Click the Connect button.
6. When prompted, select the Guest radio button.
7. If you set up access control on the router and you allowed your Mac to access the network, select the
Registered User radio button and enter admin for the name and password for the password.
For more information about access control, see Allow or Block Access to Your Network on page 52.
8. Click the Connect button.
A window displays the files and folders on the device.
Map a USB Device to a Windows Network Drive
To map the USB device to a Windows network drive:
1. Connect a USB storage device to the router’s USB port.
If your USB device uses a power supply, connect it.You must use the power supply when you connect
the USB device to the router.
When you connect the storage device to the router’s port, it might take up to two minutes before it is
ready for sharing. By default, the device is available to all computers on your local area network (LAN).
2. Select Start > Run.
3. Enter \\readyshare in the dialog box.
4. Click the OK button.
A window automatically opens and displays the USB device.
5. Right-click the USB device and select Map network drive.
The Map Network Drive window opens.
6. Select the drive letter to map to the new network folder.
7. Click the Finish button.
The USB device is mapped to the drive letter that you specified.
8. To connect to the USB storage device as a different user, select the Connect using different credentials
check box, click the Finish button, and do the following:
a. Type the user name and password.
b. Click the OK button.
Back Up Windows Computers With ReadySHARE Vault
Your router comes with free backup software for all the Windows computers in your home. Connect a USB
hard disk drive (HDD) to the router for centralized, continuous, and automatic backup.
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The following operating systems support ReadySHARE Vault:
Windows 7
Windows 8
Windows 8.1
Windows 10
To back up your Windows computer:
1. Connect a USB storage device to the router’s USB port.
2. If your USB device uses a power supply, connect it.
You must use the power supply when you connect the USB device to the router.
When you connect the storage device to the router’s port, it might take up to two minutes before it is
ready for sharing. By default, the device is available to all computers on your local area network (LAN).
3. Download ReadySHARE Vault from netgear.com/readyshare and install it on each Windows computer.
4. Launch ReadySHARE Vault.
5. Use the dashboard or the Backup tab to set up and run your backup.
Back Up Mac Computers With Time Machine
You can use Time Machine to back up your Mac computers onto a USB hard drive that is connected to the
router’s USB port.You can access the connected storage device from your Mac with a wired or WiFi
connection to your router.
Set Up a Storage Device on a Mac
We recommend that you use a new USB HDD storage device, or format your old USB HDD storage device
to do the Time Machine backup for the first time. Use a blank partition to prevent some issues during backup
using Time Machine. The router supports GUID or MBR partitions.
To format your device and specify partitions:
1. Connect a USB storage device to your Mac.
2. If your USB device uses a power supply, connect it.
You must use the power supply when you connect the USB device to the Mac.
3. On your Mac, open Spotlight (or click the magnifying glass at the top right of the page) and search for
Disk Utility.
4. Open the Disk Utility, select your USB storage device, click the Erase tab, and click the Erase button.
5. Click the Partition tab.
6. In the Partition Layout menu, set the number of partitions that you want to use.
7. Click the Options button.
The Partition schemes display.
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8. Select the GUID Partition Table or Master Boot Record radio button.
9. In the Format menu, select Mac OS Extended (Journaled).
10. Click the OK button.
11. Click the Apply button.
Your settings are saved.
Prepare to Back Up a Large Amount of Data
Before you back up a large amount of data with Time Machine, we recommend that you follow this procedure.
To prepare to back up a large amount of data:
1. Upgrade the operating system of the Mac computer.
2. Verify and repair the backup disk and the local disk.
3. Verify and repair the permissions on the local disk.
4. Set Energy Saver:
a. From the Apple menu, select System Preferences.
The System Preferences page displays.
b. Select Energy Saver.
The Energy Saver page displays.
c. Click the Power Adapter tab.
d. Select the Wake for Wi-Fi network access check box.
e. Click the back arrow to save the changes and exit the page.
5. Modify your security settings:
a. From the System Preferences page, select Security & Privacy.
The Security & Privacy page displays.
b. Click the Advanced button at the bottom of the page.
If the Advanced button is grayed out, click the lock icon so that you can change the settings.
c. Clear the Log out after minutes of inactivity check box.
d. Click the OK button.
Your settings are saved.
Use Time Machine to Back Up Onto a Storage Device
You can use Time Machine to back up your Mac computers onto a USB hard disk drive (HDD) that is
connected to the router’s USB ports.
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To back up your Mac onto a USB HDD:
1. Prepare your USB HDD with a compatible format and partitions.
2. If you plan to back up a large amount of data, see Prepare to Back Up a Large Amount of Data on page
75.
3. Connect your USB HDD to the router’s USB port.
4. If your USB device uses a power supply, connect it.
You must use the power supply when you connect the USB device to the router.
When you connect the storage device to the router’s port, it might take up to two minutes before it is
ready for sharing. By default, the device is available to all computers on your local area network (LAN).
5. On a Mac computer that is connected to the network, launch Finder and select Go > Connect to Server.
The Connect to Server window displays.
6. Type smb://routerlogin.net and click the Connect button.
7. When prompted, select the Registered User radio button.
8. Enter admin for the name and password for the password and click the Connect button.
A list of USB devices connected to your router displays.
9. From the Apple menu, select System Preferences.
The System Preferences window displays.
10. Select Time Machine.
The Time Machine window displays.
11. Click the Select Backup Disk button and select your USB device from the list.
12. Click the Use Disk button.
If you do not see the USB partition that you want in the Time Machine disk list, go to
Mac Finder and click that USB partition. It displays in the Time Machine list.
Note
13. When prompted, select the Registered User radio button.
14. Enter admin for the name and password for the password and click the Connect button.
The setup is complete and the Mac automatically schedules a full backup.You can back up immediately
if you want.
Manage Access to a Storage Device
You can specify the device name, workgroups, and network folders for a storage device connected to the
USB port on the router.
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To specify the storage device access settings:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > USB Functions > ReadySHARE Storage.
The previous figure shows one USB device attached to the router.
5. To specify a name that is used to access the USB device or devices that are connected to the router,
do the following:
a. Click the upper Edit button.
The Device Name page displays.
b. Type a new name in the Device Name field.
c. Click the Apply button.
A pop-up window displays.
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d. Click the Yes button.
e. When the process is complete, select ADVANCED > ReadySHARE > Advanced Settings.
The USB Storage (Advanced Settings) page displays again.
By default, the name is readyshare.
6. To specify a name for the workgroup that the USB device or devices are members of, in the Workgroup
field, enter a name.
By default, the name is Workgroup.The name works only in an operating system that supports NetBIOS,
such as Microsoft Windows. If you are using a Windows workgroup rather than a domain, the workgroup
name is displayed here.
7. Enable or disable access methods by selecting or clearing the corresponding check boxes and specifying
access to the storage device as described in the following table.
DescriptionAccess Method
Enabled by default.You can type \\readyshare to access the storage device within
your network. If you change the name in the Network/Device Name field from
readyshare to another name, the link changes accordingly.You can enable password
protection.
Network Connection
Enabled by default.You can type http://readyshare.routerlogin.net/shares to access
the USB device within your network and download or upload files. In this URL,
readyshare is the name that is specified in the Network/Device Name field. If you
change the name in the Network/Device Name field from readyshare to another
name, the link changes accordingly.
You can also click the link that is shown in the Link column. The fixed port is number
is 80.You can enable password protection.
HTTP
Disabled by default. If you enable this feature, remote users can type https://<public
IP address>/shares to access the USB device over the Internet. <public IP address>
is the external or public IP address that is assigned to the router (for example,
1.1.10.102).
This feature supports file uploading only. The default port is number 443, which you
can change. Password protection is enabled by default.
HTTPS (via internet)
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(Continued)
DescriptionAccess Method
Enabled by default.You can type ftp://readyshare.routerlogin.net/shares to access
the USB device within your network and download or upload files. In this URL,
readyshare is the name that is specified in the Network/Device Name field. If you
change the name in the Network/Device Name field from readyshare to another
name, the link changes accordingly.
You can also click the link that is shown in the Link column. The fixed port is number
is 21.You can enable password protection.
FTP
Disabled by default. If you enable this feature, remote users can type ftp://<public IP
address>/shares to access the USB device over the Internet and download or upload
files. <public IP address> is the external or public IP address that is assigned to the
router (for example, 1.1.10.102).
The default port is number 21, which you can change. Password protection is enabled
by default.
If you set up Dynamic DNS (see Set Up and Manage Dynamic DNS on page 92),
you can also type a URL domain name. For example, if your domain name is MyName
and you use the NETGEAR DDNS server, you can type
ftp://MyName.mynetgear.com to access the USB device over the Internet and
download or upload files.
FTP (via internet)
8. Click the Apply button.
Your settings are saved.
Enable FTP Access Within Your Network
File Transfer Protocol (FTP) lets you download (receive) and upload (send) large files faster.
For information about using FTP to access a storage device over the Internet, see
Access Storage Devices Through the Internet on page 96.
Note
To enable FTP access within your network:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
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4. Select ADVANCED > USB Functions > ReadySHARE Storage.
The previous figure shows a USB device attached to the router.
5. Select the FTP check box.
6. Click the Apply button.
Your settings are saved.
View Network Folders on a Device
You can view or change the network folders on a USB storage device connected to the router.
To view network folders:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
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4. Select ADVANCED > USB Functions > ReadySHARE Storage.
The previous figure shows a USB device attached to the router.
5. The Available Networks Folder section shows the following settings:
Share Name. The default share name is USB_Storage.
Read Access and Write Access. The permissions and access controls on the network folder.
All–no password (the default) allows all users to access the network folder.The password for admin
is the same one that you use to log in to the router.
Folder Name. Full path of the network folder.
Volume Name. Volume name from the storage device.
Total Space and Free Space. The current utilization of the storage device.
Add a Network Folder on a Storage Device
You can add network folders on a storage device connected to the USB port on the router.
To add a network folder:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
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A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > USB Functions > ReadySHARE Storage.
The previous figure shows a USB device attached to the router.
5. In the Available Network Folders table, select a device.
If a single device is attached to the USB port, the radio button is selected automatically.
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6. Click the Create Network Folder button.
If this pop-up window does not display, your web browser might be blocking pop-ups. If it is, change the
browser settings to allow pop-ups.
7. From the USB Device menu, select the USB drive.
We recommend that you do not attach more than one drive to each USB port (for
example, through a USB hub).
Note
8. Click the Browse button and in the Folder field, select the folder.
9. In the Share Name field, type the name of the share.
10. From the Read Access menu and the Write Access menu, select the settings that you want.
All–no password (the default) allows all users to access the network folder. The other option is that only
the admin user is allowed access to the network folder. The password for admin is the same one that
you use to log in to the router.
11. Click the Apply button.
The folder is added on the storage device.
12. Click the Close Window button.
The pop-up window closes.
Change a Network Folder, Including Read and Write
Access, on a USB Drive
You can change network folders on a storage device that is connected to the USB port on the router.
To change a network folder:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
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A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > USB Functions > ReadySHARE Storage.
The previous figure shows a USB device attached to the router.
5. In the Available Network Folders table, select a device.
If a single device is attached to the USB port, the radio button is selected automatically.
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6. Click the Edit button.
7. Change the settings in the fields as needed.
For more information about the settings, see Add a Network Folder on a Storage Device on page 81.
8. Click the Apply button.
Your settings are saved.
9. Click the Close Window button.
The pop-up window closes.
Approve USB Devices
For more security, you can set up the router to share only USB devices that you approve.
To allow only approved USB devices to connect to the router and specify which USB devices
are approved:
1. Make sure that the USB device that you want to approve is attached to the router.
2. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
3. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
4. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
5. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > USB Settings.
The USB Settings page displays.
6. Select the No radio button.
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By default the Yes radio button is selected. This setting lets you connect and access all your USB
devices.
7. Click the Apply button.
Your settings are saved.
8. Click the Approved Devices button.
9. In the Available USB Devices table, select the USB device that you want to approve.
If a single device is attached to the USB port, the radio button is selected automatically.
10. Click the Add button.
The USB device is added to the Approved USB Devices table.
11. Select the Allow only approved devices check box.
12. Click the Apply button.
Your settings are saved.
To approve another USB device that is not attached to a USB port, first remove the attached USB device from
the USB port (see Safely Remove a USB Device on page 89), attach the other USB device, and repeat this
procedure.
Set Up NETGEAR Downloader
NETGEAR Downloader is a download agent that runs on the router.You can use it to download files onto
a USB HDD that is connected to the router so that you do not need to keep the computer running.
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Download Files Using NETGEAR Downloader
To use NETGEAR Downloader to download files:
1. Connect your USB storage device to the router USB port.
2. If your USB device uses a power supply, connect it.
You must use the power supply when you connect the USB device to the router.
When you connect the USB device to the router USB port, it might take up to two minutes before it is
ready for sharing. By default, the USB device is available to all computers on your local area network
(LAN).
3. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
4. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
5. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
6. Select NETGEAR Downloader (BETA).
The Download Manager page displays.
7. Select the Enable NETGEAR Downloader check box.
The page adjusts.
8. From the Download Type menu, select a download protocol.
The fields change based on which protocol you choose.
9. Complete the fields presented for the option you choose.
10. Click the Add button.
The router begins the download.
11. To display the dowloading status, click the Refresh button.
12. Click the Apply button.
Your settings are saved.
13. (Optional) Use the Pause, Resume, and Delete buttons to manage the downloading tasks.
The completed downloading tasks display in the Downloaded Files section.
Change the NETGEAR Downloader Settings
You can change the default save path to any directory on the USB storage device that is connected to the
router.You can change the maximum number of concurrent downloading tasks, but we recommend 3 as
the most effective setting.You can enable autorefresh to see updated downloading tasks, but this might
slow down speed of the downloads.
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To change NETGEAR Downloader settings:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > NETGEAR Downloader (BETA) > Downloader Settings.
The NETGEAR Downloader Settings page displays.
5. Make any needed changes.
6. Click the Apply button.
Your settings are saved.
Set Up Email Notifications for NETGEAR Downloader
The router can email you when a Downloader task is finished.
To change NETGEAR Downloader settings:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > NETGEAR Downloader (BETA) > Downloader Settings.
The NETGEAR Downloader Settings page displays.
5. Click the Configure Email button.
The E-mail page displays.
6. Select the Send E-mail notifications when a downloader task is finished check box.
7. Click the Apply button.
Your settings are saved.
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Manage NETGEAR Downloader Tasks
To manage NETGEAR Downloader tasks:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > NETGEAR Downloader (BETA) > Download Manager.
The NETGEAR Downloader Settings page displays.
5. Make any needed changes.
6. Click the Apply button.
Your settings are saved.
Safely Remove a USB Device
Before you physically disconnect a USB device from the USB port on the router, log in to the router and
take the drive offline.
To remove a USB device safely:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
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4. Select ADVANCED > USB Functions > ReadySHARE Storage.
The previous figure shows a USB device attached to the router.
5. In the Available Network Folders table, select a device.
If a single device is attached to the USB port, the radio button is selected automatically.
6. Click the Safely Remove USB Device button.
The device goes offline and a pop-up window opens.
7. Click the OK button.
8. Physically disconnect the USB device.
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7
Manage Dynamic DNS and Access
Storage Devices Through the Internet
With Dynamic DNS, you can use the Internet and a personal domain name to access a USB storage device
that is attached to a USB port on the router when you are not home. If you know the IP address of the router
(and the IP address did not change), you can also access the USB storage device by using the IP address.
This chapter includes the following sections:
Set Up and Manage Dynamic DNS on page 92
Access Storage Devices Through the Internet on page 96
Remotely Access a USB Device Using ReadyCLOUD on page 99
For information about how to connect the device and specify its settings, see Share a Storage
Device Attached to the Router on page 70.
Note
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Set Up and Manage Dynamic DNS
Internet service providers (ISPs) assign numbers called IP addresses to identify each Internet account. Most
ISPs use dynamically assigned IP addresses. This means that the IP address can change at any time.You
can use the IP address to access your network remotely, but most people do not know what their IP address
is or when this address changes.
To make it easier to connect, you can get a free account with a Dynamic DNS service that lets you use a
domain name to access your home network.To use this account, you must set up the router to use Dynamic
DNS.Then the router notifies the Dynamic DNS service provider whenever its IP address changes. When
you access your Dynamic DNS account, the service finds the current IP address of your home network and
automatically connects you.
If your ISP assigns a private WAN IP address (such as 192.168.x.x or 10.x.x.x), the Dynamic DNS service
does not work because private addresses are not routed on the Internet.
Your Personal FTP Server
With your customized free URL, you can use FTP to access your network when you are not home through
Dynamic DNS.To set up your FTP server, you must register for a NETGEAR Dynamic DNS (DDNS) service
account and specify the account settings.
Figure 8.You can access your network through the Internet when you’re not home
The router supports only basic DDNS, and the login and password might not be
secure.You can use DDNS with a VPN tunnel for a secure connection.
Note
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To set up your personal account and use FTP:
1. Get your NETGEAR Dynamic DNS domain name.
For more information, see Set Up a New Dynamic DNS Account on page 93.
2. Make sure that your Internet connection is working.
Your router must use a direct Internet connection. It cannot connect to a different router to access the
Internet.
3. Connect a USB storage device to one of the USB ports of the router.
4. If your USB device uses a power supply, connect it.
You must use the power supply when you connect the USB device to the router.
When you connect the storage device to the router’s port, it might take up to two minutes before the
storage device is ready for sharing. By default, the device is available to all computers on your local
area network (LAN).
5. Set up FTP access on the router.
For more information, see Set Up FTP Access Through the Internet on page 97.
6. On a remote computer with Internet access, you can use FTP to access your router using
ftp://yourname.mynetgear.com, in which yourname is your specific domain name.
For more information, see Use FTP to Access Storage Devices Through the Internet on page 98.
Set Up a New Dynamic DNS Account
NETGEAR offers you the opportunity to set up and register for a free Dynamic DNS account.
To set up Dynamic DNS and register for a free NETGEAR account:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
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4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > Dynamic DNS.
5. Select the Use a Dynamic DNS Service check box.
6. From the Service Provider menu, select NETGEAR.
7. Select the No radio button.
8. In the Host Name field, enter the name that you want to use for your URL.
The host name is sometimes called the domain name.Your free URL includes the host name that you
specify and ends with mynetgear.com. For example, enter MyName.mynetgear.com.
9. In the Email field, enter the email address that you want to use for your account.
10. In the Password (6-32 characters) field, enter the password that you want to use for your account.
11. Click the Register button.
12. Follow the onscreen instructions to register for your NETGEAR Dynamic DNS service.
Specify a DNS Account That You Already Created
If you already created a Dynamic DNS account with NETGEAR, No-IP, or Dyn, you can set up the router
to use your account.
To set up Dynamic DNS if you already created an account:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
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4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Settings > Dynamic DNS.
5. Select the Use a Dynamic DNS Service check box.
6. From the Service Provider menu, select your provider.
7. Select the Yes radio button.
8. In the Host Name field, enter the host name (sometimes called the domain name) for your account.
9. Depending on the type of account, specify your user name or email address:
For a No-IP or Dyn account, in the User Name field, enter the user name for your account.
For a NETGEAR account, in the Email field, enter the email address for your account.
10. In the Password (6~32 characters) field, enter the password for your DDNS account.
11. Click the Apply button.
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Your settings are saved.
12. To verify that your Dynamic DNS service is enabled in the router, click the Show Status button.
A message displays the Dynamic DNS status.
Change the Dynamic DNS Settings
You can change the settings for your Dynamic DNS account.
To change your settings:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > Dynamic DNS.
The Dynamic DNS page displays.
5. Change your DDNS account settings as necessary.
6. Click the Apply button.
Your settings are saved.
Access Storage Devices Through the Internet
If you connect a USB storage device to the router, you can access the USB device through the Internet
when you are not home. After you gain access, you can use FTP to share files on the USB device.
Access Storage Devices From a Remote Computer
From a remote computer, you can access storage devices that are attached to the router on your home
network.
To access devices from a remote computer:
1. Launch a web browser on a computer that is not on your home network.
2. Connect to the router on your home network:
To connect with Dynamic DNS, type the DNS name.
To use a Dynamic DNS account, you must enter the account information on the Dynamic DNS page
(see Set Up and Manage Dynamic DNS on page 92).
To connect without Dynamic DNS, type the router’s Internet port IP address.
You can view the router’s Internet IP address on the BASIC Home page.
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Set Up FTP Access Through the Internet
If you attach a storage device to the router, you can access the storage device from your network (see
Enable FTP Access Within Your Network on page 79).You can also set up FTP access through the Internet
so that you can access the storage device from outside your local network, for example, when you are not
at home.
To set up FTP access through the Internet:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > USB Functions > ReadySHARE Storage.
The previous figure shows a USB device attached to the router.
5. Select the FTP (via internet) check box.
6. Click the Apply button.
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Your settings are saved.
7. To limit access to the admin user, do the following:
a. In the Available Network Folders list, select a device.
If a single device is attached to the USB port, the radio button is selected automatically.
b. Click the Edit button.
c. In the Read Access menu, select admin.
The default setting is All - no password.
d. In the Write Access menu, select admin.
The default setting is All - no password.
e. Click the Apply button.
Your settings are saved.
f. Click the Close Window button.
The pop-up window closes.
Use FTP to Access Storage Devices Through the Internet
If you attached a storage device to the router, before you can access the storage device through the Internet
with FTP, you must first set up FTP access (see Set Up FTP Access Through the Internet on page 97).
To access a USB device with FTP from a remote computer to download or upload a file:
1. Take one of the following actions:
To download a file from a storage device connected to the router, launch a web browser.
To upload a file to a storage device connected to the router, launch an FTP client such as Filezilla.
2. Type ftp:// and the Internet port IP address in the address field of the browser.
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For example, if your IP address is 10.1.65.4, type ftp://10.1.65.4.
If you are using Dynamic DNS, type the DNS name. For example, type ftp://MyName.mynetgear.com,
in which MyName is your DNS name.
3. When prompted, log in:
To log in as admin, in the user name field, enter admin and in the password field, enter the same
password that you use to log in to the router.
To log in as a guest, in the user name field, enter guest.
The guest user name does not need a password.
The files and folders that your account can access on the USB device display. For example, you might
see share/partition1/directory1.
4. Navigate to a location on the USB device.
5. Download or upload the file.
Remotely Access a USB Device Using ReadyCLOUD
NETGEAR ReadyCLOUD
®
for routers lets you remotely access files stored on a USB storage device that
is connected to the router. Before you can use ReadyCLOUD, you must create a ReadyCLOUD account
and register your router.
A ReadyCLOUD app is also available for Windows-based computers, Android mobile devices, and iOS
mobile devices. For more information about setting up ReadyCLOUD, see the NETGEAR ReadyCLOUD
for Routers User Manual, which is available online at downloadcenter.netgear.com.
Create a ReadyCLOUD Account
To create a ReadyCLOUD account:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device.
2. Visit readycloud.netgear.com.
The ReadyCLOUD Welcome page displays.
3. Click the Sign In link.
The Sign In page displays.
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4. Click the Create Account link.
5. Complete the fields to set up your account, and click the Create button.
You are now ready to register your router with your ReadyCLOUD account.
Register Your Router With ReadyCLOUD
After you create a ReadyCLOUD account, you must register your router with your ReadyCLOUD account.
To register your router with your ReadyCLOUD account:
1. Visit kb.netgear.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/27323/ and check to see if you router supports
ReadyCLOUD.
2. Connect a USB storage device to a USB port on the router.
If your USB device uses a power supply, connect it.You must use the power supply when you connect
the USB device to the router.
When you connect the USB storage device to the router’s USB port, it might take up to two minutes
before it is ready for sharing. By default, the USB storage device is available to all computers on your
local area network (LAN).
3. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
4. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
5. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
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6. Select ReadySHARE.
7. Select the ReadyCLOUD radio button.
8. Enter your ReadyCLOUD user name and password and click the Register button.
If you did not create a ReadyCLOUD account, see Create a ReadyCLOUD Account on page 99.
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The router is registered with ReadyCLOUD.
If the router’s Internet connection mode is set to Dial on Demand, the router
automatically changes the connection mode to Always On. This change is required
for ReadyCLOUD to remotely access the USB storage device.
Note
9. After registration, visit readycloud.netgear.com.
10. Click the Sign In link, enter your ReadyCLOUD user name and password, and click the Sign In button.
The ReadyCLOUD page displays the router that you registered and the contents of the USB storage
device that is connected to the router.
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8
Use the Router as a Media Server
The router comes set up to work as a ReadyDLNA media server.You can set up the router to play music from
iTunes Server and media from TiVo.
This chapter contains the following sections:
Specify ReadyDLNA Media Server Settings on page 104
Play Music From a Storage Device With iTunes Server on page 105
Play Media From a USB Device on TiVo on page 107
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Specify ReadyDLNA Media Server Settings
By default, the router functions as a ReadyDLNA media server, which lets you view movies and photos on
DLNA/UPnP AV-compliant media players, such as Xbox360, Playstation, and NETGEAR media players.
To specify media server settings:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > USB Functions > ReadySHARE Storage.
The USB Storage (Advanced Settings) page displays.
5. Click the Media Server tab.
6. Specify the settings:
Enable DLNA Media Server. Select this check box to enable this device to function as a media
server.
Enable TiVo support. Select this check box if you want to play USB or ReadyNAS media on your
TiVo device. See Play Media From a USB Device on TiVo on page 107.
For information about enabling iTunes Server, see Play Music From a Storage Device With iTunes
Server on page 105.
7. Click the Apply button.
Your settings are saved.
8. To specify a new device name (which also functions as the media server name) for the router, do the
following:
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a. Click the Edit button.
The Device Name page displays.
b. Type a new name in the Device Name field.
By default, the name is R6900P.
c. Click the Apply button.
A pop-up window displays.
d. Click the Yes button.
The router restarts.
e. When the process is complete, to return to the Media Server Settings page, select ADVANCED >
ReadySHARE > Advanced Settings.
The USB Storage (Advanced Settings) page displays.
f. Click the Media Server tab.
The Media Server (Settings) page displays and shows the new device name.
Play Music From a Storage Device With iTunes Server
iTunes Server lets you play music with your Windows or Mac iTunes app from a storage device that is
connected to the router.You can also use the Apple Remote app from an iPhone or iPad to play music on
any AirPlay devices, such as Apple TV or AirPlay-supported receivers.
Figure 9. Play music on a USB device with iTunes
Supported music file formats are MP3, AAC, and FLAC. The maximum number of music files supported is
10,000.
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To specify the iTunes Server settings:
1. On your iPhone or iPad, find and connect to the WiFi network.
2. Launch the Remote app.
3. Click the Add a Device button.
A passcode displays.
4. Specify the passcode in the router:
a. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
b. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
c. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
d. Select ADVANCED > USB Functions > ReadySHARE Storage.
The USB Storage (Advanced Settings) page displays.
e. Click the Media Server tab.
f. Make sure that the Enable iTunes Media Server (Music Only) check box is selected.
g. If the Enter Passcode displayed on the Remote App field is masked, click the Apply button.
h. Enter the passcode.
i. Click the Allow Control button.
j. Click the Apply button.
Your settings are saved.
On your iPhone or iPad, the ReadySHARE music library displays in the Remote app.You can play this
music on AirPlay devices.
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Play Media From a USB Device on TiVo
You can set up your TiVo to access media files stored on a USB device that is connected to your router.
The TiVo must be on the same network as the router. This feature supports the following file formats:
Video. See and play MPEG1, and MPEG2 files.
Music. See and play MP3 files.
Pictures. View images in .JPG format.
You can use the TiVo (Series 2 and up) Home Media Option to play photos and music on your Windows or
Mac computer in your TiVo user interface.
Set Up the Router to Work With TiVo
To set up the router to work with TiVo:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > USB Functions > ReadySHARE Storage.
The USB Storage (Advanced Settings) page displays.
5. Click the Media Server tab.
The Media Server (Settings) page displays.
6. Make sure that the Enable TiVo support check box is selected.
7. If you changed the setting, click the Apply button.
Your settings are saved.
Play Videos
To play videos:
1. On the TiVo, select TiVo Central > My Shows.
2. Go to the bottom of the list and select the R6900P.
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Play Music or View Photos
To play music or view photos:
1. On the TiVo, select TiVo Central > Music, Photos, & Showcases.
2. Select an item to play or watch.
Copy TiVo Files to a Computer
To copy TiVo files to a computer:
Use the TiVo Desktop accessory, available at https://www3.tivo.com/store/accessories-software.do.
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9
Share a USB Printer
The ReadySHARE Printer utility lets you share a USB printer that is connected to the USB port on your router.
You can share this USB printer among the Windows and Mac computers on your network.
This chapter contains the following sections:
Install the Printer Driver and Cable the Printer on page 110
Download the ReadySHARE Printer Utility on page 110
Install the ReadySHARE Printer Utility on page 111
Use the Shared Printer on page 112
View or Change the Status of a Printer on page 113
Use the Scan Feature of a Multifunction USB Printer on page 114
Manage the NETGEAR USB Control Center Settings on page 115
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Install the Printer Driver and Cable the Printer
Some USB printer manufacturers (for example, HP and Lexmark) request that you do not connect the USB
cable until the installation software prompts you to do so.
To install the driver and cable the printer:
1. On each computer on your network that shares the USB printer, install the driver software for the USB
printer.
If the printer driver is not installed, contact the printer manufacturer.
2. Use a USB printer cable to connect the USB printer to the router USB port on the front panel.
Download the ReadySHARE Printer Utility
The utility works on Windows-based computers, Mac computers, smartphones, and tablets.
To download the ReadySHARE Printer utility:
1. Visit netgear.com/readyshare.
2. Scroll down to the Print From the Comfort of Your Home Network section at the bottom of the page.
3. Click one of the following links:
Download PC installer and get started. This is the utility for Windows-based computers.
Download Mac installer and get started. This is the utility for MAC computers.
Download the genie App and get started. This is the utility for smartphones and tablets.
4. Follow the onscreen instructions to download the ReadySHARE Printer utility setup file.
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Install the ReadySHARE Printer Utility
You must install the ReadySHARE Printer utility on each computer that will share the printer. After you install
it, the utility displays as NETGEAR USB Control Center on your computer.
To install the utility:
1. If necessary, unzip the ReadySHARE Printer utility setup file.
2. Double-click the ReadySHARE Printer utility setup file that you downloaded.
3. Follow the wizard instructions to install NETGEAR USB Control Center.
After the InstallShield Wizard completes the installation, the NETGEAR USB Control Center prompts
you to select a language.
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4. Select a language from the menu and click the OK button.
Some firewall software, such as Comodo, blocks NETGEAR USB Control Center from accessing the
USB printer. If you do not see the USB printer displayed onscreen, you can disable the firewall temporarily
to allow the utility to work.
5. Select the printer and click the Connect button.
The printer status changes to Manually connected by Mycomputer. Now only the computer that you are
using can use this printer.
6. Click the Disconnect button.
The status changes to Available. Now all computers on the network can use the printer.
7. To exit the utility, select System > Exit.
Use the Shared Printer
For each computer, after you click the Connect and Disconnect buttons once, the utility automatically
manages the printing queue. By default, the utility starts automatically whenever you log on to Windows
and runs in the background.
Manually Connect and Print
For each computer, after you click the Connect and Disconnect buttons once, the utility automatically
manages the printing queue. By default, the utility starts automatically whenever you log on to Windows
and runs in the background.
To manually connect and print:
1.
Click the NETGEAR USB Control Center icon .
The main page displays.
2. Click the Connect button.
The printer status changes to Manually connected by Mycomputer. Now only the computer that you are
using can use this printer.
3. Use the print feature in your application to print your document.
4. To release the printer so that all computers on the network can use it, click the Disconnect button.
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Print and Release the Printer
To print and release the printer to any computer on the network:
1. To print your document, use the print feature in your application.
The NETGEAR USB Control Center automatically connects your computer to the USB printer and prints
the document. If another computer is already connected to the printer, your print job goes into a queue
to wait to be printed.
2. If your document does not print, use the NETGEAR USB Control Center to check the status.
See View or Change the Status of a Printer on page 113.
View or Change the Status of a Printer
To view or change the status:
1.
Click the NETGEAR USB Control Center icon .
The Status column shows the status for each device:
Available. No print jobs are in progress.You can use the USB printer from any computer in the
network.
Connected.Your computer is connected to the printer and will be released when your print job is
done.
Manually Connected by. Only the connected computer can use the printer.
Waiting to Connect.Your computer is not connected to the shared printer yet.
2. To print from your computer when the status shows Manually connected by another computer, click the
Disconnect button.
The printer is released from the connection and the status changes to Available.
3. To print from your computer when the status shows Waiting to Connect, do the following:
a. Click the Connect button.
The printer status changes to Manually connected by Mycomputer. Now only your computer can
use the printer.
b. To allow the printer to be shared, click the Disconnect button.
The printer is released from the connection and the status changes to Available.
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Use the Scan Feature of a Multifunction USB Printer
If your USB printer supports scanning, you can also use the USB printer for scanning. For example, the
USB printer displayed in the Windows Printers and Faxes window is ready for print jobs.
Figure 10. Printers and Faxes window
To use the scan feature of a multifunction USB printer:
1.
Click the NETGEAR USB Control Center icon .
2. Make sure that the printer status shows as Available.
3. Click the Network Scanner button.
The scanner page displays so that you can use the USB printer for scanning.
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Manage the NETGEAR USB Control Center Settings
You can stop the NETGEAR USB Control Center from starting automatically when you log in to Windows.
You can also change the language and specify the time-out to release the printer connection.
Turn Off Automatic Startup of the NETGEAR USB Control
Center
You can stop the NETGEAR USB Control Center from starting automatically when you log in to Windows.
To turn off the automatic startup of the NETGEAR USB Control Center:
1.
Click the NETGEAR USB Control Center icon .
2. Select Tools > Configuration.
3. Clear the Automatically execute when logging on Windows check box.
4. Click the OK button.
Your settings are saved.
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Change the NETGEAR USB Control Center Language
To change the language:
1.
Click the NETGEAR USB Control Center icon .
The main page displays.
2. Select Tools > Configuration.
The Control Center - Configuration page displays.
3. From the Language menu, select a language.
4. Click the OK button.
The next time the NETGEAR USB Control Center starts, the language changes.
Specify the USB Control Center Time-Out
To specify the time-out:
1.
Click the NETGEAR USB Control Center icon .
The main page displays.
2. Select Tools > Configuration.
The Control Center - Configuration page displays.
3. In the Timeout field, type the number of minutes.
The time-out is the number of minutes that a computer holds its connection to the printer when the
connection is not being used.
4. Click the OK button.
Your settings are saved and the Control Center - Configuration page displays.
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10
Manage the WAN and LAN Network
Settings
This chapter describes how you can manage the WAN and LAN network settings of the router.
The chapter includes the following sections:
Manage the WAN Security Settings on page 118
Set Up a Default DMZ Server on page 118
Manage IGMP Proxying on page 119
Manage NAT Filtering on page 120
Manage the SIP Application-Level Gateway on page 120
Manage the LAN IP Address Settings on page 121
Manage the Router Information Protocol Settings on page 122
Manage the DHCP Server Address Pool on page 123
Manage Reserved LAN IP Addresses on page 124
Disable the Built-In DHCP Server on page 126
Change the Router’s Device Name on page 127
Set Up and Manage Custom Static Routes on page 128
Set Up a Bridge for a Port Group or VLAN Tag Group on page 130
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Manage the WAN Security Settings
The WAN security settings include port scan protection and denial of service (DoS) protection, which can
protect your LAN against attacks such as Syn flood, Smurf Attack, Ping of Death, and many others. By
default, DoS protection is enabled and a port scan is rejected.
You can also enable the router to respond to a ping to its WAN (Internet) port.This feature allows your router
to be discovered. Enable this feature only as a diagnostic tool or if a specific reason exists.
To change the default WAN security settings:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > Setup > WAN Setup.
The WAN Setup page displays.
5. To enable a port scan and disable DoS protection, clear the Disable Port Scan and DoS Protection
check box.
6. To enable the router to respond to a ping, select the Respond to Ping on Internet Port check box.
7. Click the Apply button.
Your settings are saved.
Set Up a Default DMZ Server
The default DMZ server feature is helpful when you are using some online games and videoconferencing
applications that are incompatible with Network Address Translation (NAT). The router is programmed to
recognize some of these applications and to work correctly with them, but other applications might not
function well. In some cases, one local computer can run the application correctly if the IP address for that
computer is entered as the default DMZ server.
WARNING:
DMZ servers pose a security risk. A computer designated as the default DMZ
server loses much of the protection of the firewall and is exposed to exploits
from the Internet. If compromised, the DMZ server computer can be used to
attack other computers on your network.
The router usually detects and discards incoming traffic from the Internet that is not a response to one of
your local computers or a service or application for which you set up a port forwarding or port triggering rule.
Instead of discarding this traffic, you can direct the router to forward the traffic to one computer on your
network. This computer is called the default DMZ server.
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To set up a default DMZ server:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > Setup > WAN Setup.
The WAN Setup page displays.
5. Select the Default DMZ Server check box.
6. Enter the IP address of the server.
7. Click the Apply button.
Your settings are saved.
Manage IGMP Proxying
IGMP proxying allows a computer on the local area network (LAN) to receive the multicast traffic it is interested
in from the Internet. If you do not need this feature, leave it disabled, which is the default setting.
To enable IGMP proxying:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > Setup > WAN Setup.
The WAN Setup page displays.
5. Clear the Disable IGMP Proxying check box.
By default, the Disable IGMP Proxying check box is selected and IGMP proxying is disabled.
6. Click the Apply button.
Your settings are saved.
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Manage NAT Filtering
Network Address Translation (NAT) determines how the router processes inbound traffic. Secured NAT
protects computers on the LAN from attacks from the Internet but might prevent some Internet games,
point-to-point applications, or multimedia applications from working. Open NAT provides a much less secured
firewall but allows almost all Internet applications to work. Secured NAT is the default setting.
To change the default NAT filtering settings:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > Setup > WAN Setup.
The WAN Setup page displays.
5. Select a NAT Filtering radio button:
Secured. Provides a secured firewall to protect the computers on the LAN from attacks from the
Internet but might prevent some Internet games, point-to-point applications, or multimedia applications
from functioning. By default, the Secured radio button is selected.
Open. Provides a much less secured firewall but allows almost all Internet applications to function.
6. Click the Apply button.
Your settings are saved.
Manage the SIP Application-Level Gateway
The application-level gateway (ALG) for the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) is enabled by default for
enhanced address and port translation. However, some types of VoIP and video traffic might not work well
when the SIP ALG is enabled. For this reason, the router provides the option to disable the SIP ALG.
To change the default SIP ALG setting:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
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4. Select ADVANCED > Setup > WAN Setup.
The WAN Setup page displays.
5. To disable the SIP ALG, select the Disable SIP ALG check box.
The SIP ALG is enabled by default.
6. Click the Apply button.
Your settings are saved.
Manage the LAN IP Address Settings
The router is preconfigured to use private IP addresses on the LAN side and to act as a DHCP server. The
router’s default LAN IP configuration is as follows:
LAN IP address. 192.168.1.1 (this is the same as www.routerlogin.net)
Subnet mask. 255.255.255.0
These addresses are part of the designated private address range for use in private networks and are
suitable for most applications. The IP address and subnet mask identify which addresses are local to a
specific device and which must be reached through a gateway or router.You might want to change these
settings if you need a specific IP subnet that one or more devices on the network use, or if competing subnets
use the same IP scheme.
To change the LAN IP address settings:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
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4. Select ADVANCED > Setup > LAN Setup.
5. In the IP Address fields, enter the LAN IP address for the router.
6. In the IP Subnet Mask fields, enter the LAN subnet mask for the router.
7. Click the Apply button.
Your settings are saved.
If you changed the LAN IP address of the router, you are disconnected when the changes take effect.
To reconnect, close your browser, relaunch it, and log in to the router at its new LAN IP address.
Manage the Router Information Protocol Settings
Router Information Protocol (RIP) lets the router exchange routing information with other routers. By default,
RIP is enabled in both directions (in and out) without a particular RIP version.
To manage the RIP settings:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > Setup > LAN Setup.
The LAN Setup page displays.
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5. From the RIP Direction menu, select the RIP direction:
Both.The router broadcasts its routing table periodically and incorporates information that it receives.
This is the default setting.
Out Only. The router broadcasts its routing table periodically but does not incorporate the RIP
information that it receives.
In Only.The router incorporates the RIP information that it receives but does not broadcast its routing
table.
6. From the RIP Version menu, select the RIP version:
Disabled. The RIP version is disabled. This is the default setting.
RIP-1. This format is universally supported. It is adequate for most networks, unless you are using
an unusual network setup.
RIP-2.This format carries more information. Both RIP-2B and RIP-2M send the routing data in RIP-2
format. RIP-2B uses subnet broadcasting. RIP-2M uses multicasting.
7. Click the Apply button.
Your settings are saved.
Manage the DHCP Server Address Pool
By default, the router acts as a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server. The router assigns IP,
DNS server, and default gateway addresses to all computers that are connected to its LAN and WiFi network.
The assigned default gateway address is the LAN address of the router.
These addresses must be part of the same IP address subnet as the router’s LAN IP address. The default
DHCP address pool is 192.168.1.2–192.168.1.254.
The router delivers the following parameters to any LAN device that requests DHCP:
An IP address from the range that you define
Subnet mask
Gateway IP address (the router’s LAN IP address)
DNS server IP address (the router’s LAN IP address)
To specify the pool of IP addresses that the router assigns:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
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4. Select ADVANCED > Setup > LAN Setup.
5. Make sure that the Use Router as DHCP Server check box is selected.
This check box is selected by default.
6. Specify the range of IP addresses that the router assigns:
In the Starting IP Address field, enter the lowest number in the range.
This IP address must be in the same subnet as the router. By default, the starting IP address is
192.168.1.2.
In the Ending IP Address field, enter the number at the end of the range of IP addresses.
This IP address must be in the same subnet as the router. By default, the ending IP address is
192.168.1.254.
7. Click the Apply button.
Your settings are saved.
Manage Reserved LAN IP Addresses
When you specify a reserved IP address for a computer on the LAN, that computer always receives the
same IP address each time it accesses the router’s DHCP server.
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Reserve a LAN IP Address
You can assign a reserved IP address to a computer or server that requires permanent IP settings.
To reserve an IP address:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > Setup > LAN Setup.
The LAN Setup page displays.
5. In the Address Reservation section, click the Add button.
The Address Reservation page displays.
6. Either select a device from the Address Reservation Table by selecting the corresponding radio button
or specify the reserved IP address information:
In the IP Address field, enter the IP address to assign to the computer or device.
Choose an IP address from the router’s LAN subnet, such as 192.168.1.x.
In the MAC Address field, enter the MAC address of the computer or device.
In the Device Name field, enter the name of the computer or device.
7. Click the Add button.
The reserved address is entered into the table on the LAN Setup page.
The reserved address is not assigned until the next time the computer or device contacts the router’s
DHCP server. Reboot the computer or device, or access its IP configuration and force a DHCP release
and renew.
Change a Reserved IP Address
You can change a reserved IP address entry.
To change a reserved IP address entry:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
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4. Select ADVANCED > Setup > LAN Setup.
The LAN Setup page displays.
5. In the Address Reservation section, select the radio button for the reserved address.
6. Click the Edit button.
The Address Reservation page displays.
7. Change the settings.
8. Click the Apply button.
Your settings are saved.
Remove a Reserved IP Address Entry
You can remove a reserved IP address entry.
To remove a reserved IP address entry:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > Setup > LAN Setup.
The LAN Setup page displays.
5. In the Address Reservation section, select the radio button for the reserved address.
6. Click the Delete button.
The address entry is removed.
Disable the Built-In DHCP Server
By default, the router functions as a DHCP server. The router assigns IP, DNS server, and default gateway
addresses to all devices connected to the LAN. The assigned default gateway address is the LAN address
of the router.
You can use another device on your network as the DHCP server or specify the network settings of all your
computers.
If you disable the DHCP server and no other DHCP server is available on your network,
you must set your computer IP addresses manually so that they can access the router.
Note
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To disable the built-in DHCP server:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > Setup > LAN Setup.
The LAN Setup page displays.
5. Clear the Use Router as DHCP Server check box.
6. Click the Apply button.
Your settings are saved.
Change the Router’s Device Name
The router’s device name is R6900P.
This device name displays in a file manager when you browse your network.
To change the router’s device name:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > Setup > Device Name.
The Device Name page displays.
5. Type a new name in the Device Name field.
By default, the name is R6900P.
6. Click the Apply button.
A pop-up window displays.
7. Click the Yes button.
The router restarts.
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Set Up and Manage Custom Static Routes
Static routes provide detailed routing information to your router. Typically, you do not need to add static
routes.You must configure static routes only for unusual cases such as when you use multiple routers or
multiple IP subnets on your network.
As an example of when a static route is needed, consider the following case:
Your primary Internet access is through an ADSL modem to an ISP.
You use an ISDN router on your home network for connecting to the company where you are employed.
This router’s address on your LAN is 192.168.1.100.
Your company’s network address is 134.177.0.0.
When you first configured your router, two implicit static routes were created. A default route was created
with your ISP as the gateway and a second static route was created to your local network for all 192.168.1.x
addresses.With this configuration, if you attempt to access a device on the 134.177.0.0 network, your router
forwards your request to the ISP. The ISP forwards your request to the company where you are employed,
and the request is likely to be denied by the company’s firewall.
In this case, you must define a static route, instructing your router that 134.177.0.0 is accessed through the
ISDN router at 192.168.1.100. Here is an example:
Through the destination IP address and IP subnet mask, specify that this static route applies to all
134.177.x.x addresses.
Through the gateway IP address, specify that all traffic for these addresses is forwarded to the ISDN
router at 192.168.1.100.
A metric value of 1 works fine because the ISDN router is on the LAN.
Set Up a Static Route
You can add a static route to a destination IP address and specify the subnet mask, gateway IP address,
and metric.
To set up a static route:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > Static Routes.
The Static Routes page displays.
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5. Click the Add button.
6. To make the route private, select the Private check box.
A private static route is not reported in RIP.
7. To prevent the route from becoming active after you click the Apply button, clear the Active check box.
In some situations, you might want to set up a static route but keep it disabled until a later time. By
default, the Active check box is selected and a route becomes active after you click the Apply button.
8. Enter the settings as described in the following table.
DescriptionField
Enter the IP address for the final destination of the route.Destination IP
Address
Enter the IP subnet mask for the final destination of the route.
If the destination is a single host, enter 255.255.255.255.
IP Subnet Mask
Enter the IP address of the gateway.
The IP address of the gateway must be on the same LAN segment as the router.
Gateway IP
Address
Enter a number from 1 through 15.
This value represents the number of routers between your network and the destination.
Usually, a setting of 2 or 3 works, but if this is a direct connection, set it to 1.
Metric
9. Click the Apply button.
Your settings are saved.The static route is added to the table on the Static Routes page.
Change a Static Route
You can change an existing static route.
To change a static route:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
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A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > Static Routes.
The Static Routes page displays.
5. In the Static Routes table, select the radio button for the route.
6. Click the Edit button.
The page adjusts.
7. Change the settings for the route.
For more information about the settings, see Set Up a Static Route on page 128.
8. Click the Apply button.
The route is updated in the table on the Static Routes page.
Remove a Static Route
You can remove an existing static route that you no longer need.
To remove a static route:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > Static Routes.
The Static Routes page displays.
5. In the Static Routes table, select the radio button for the route.
6. Click the Delete button.
The route is removed from the table on the Static Routes page.
Set Up a Bridge for a Port Group or VLAN Tag Group
Some devices, such as an IPTV, cannot function behind the router’s Network Address Translation (NAT)
service or firewall. Based on what your Internet service provider (ISP) requires, for the device to connect to
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the ISP’s network directly, you can enable the bridge between the device and the router’s Internet port or
add new VLAN tag groups to the bridge.
If your ISP provides directions on how to set up a bridge for IPTV and Internet service,
follow those directions.
Note
Set Up a Bridge for a Port Group
If the devices that are connected to the router’s Ethernet LAN port or WiFi network include an IPTV device,
your ISP might require you to set up a bridge for a port group for the router’s Internet interface.
A bridge with a port group prevents packets that are sent between the IPTV device and the router’s Internet
port from being processed through the router’s Network Address Translation (NAT) service.
To configure a port group and enable the bridge:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > VLAN/Bridge Settings.
The VLAN / Bridge Settings page displays.
5. Select the Enable VLAN/Bridge Setup check box.
The page expands.
6. Select the By bridge group radio button.
7. Select a Wired Ports check box or a Wireless check box.
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If your device is connected to an Ethernet port on the router, select the Wired Ports check box that
corresponds to the Ethernet port on the router to which the device is connected.
If your device is connected to your router’s WiFi network, select the Wireless check box that
corresponds to the router’s WiFi network to which the device is connected.
You must select at least one Wired Ports or Wireless check box.You can select more
than one check box.
Note
8. Click the Apply button.
Your settings are saved.
Set Up a Bridge for a VLAN Tag Group
If the devices that are connected to the router’s Ethernet LAN ports or WiFi network include an IPTV device,
your ISP might require you to set up a bridge for a VLAN tag group for the router’s Internet interface.
If you are subscribed to IPTV service, the router might require VLAN tags to distinguish between the Internet
traffic and the IPTV traffic. A bridge with a VLAN tag group prevents packets that are sent between the IPTV
device and the router’s Internet port from being processed through the router’s Network Address Translation
(NAT) service.
You can add VLAN tag groups to a bridge and assign VLAN IDs and priority values to each VLAN tag group.
To add a VLAN tag group and enable the bridge:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > VLAN/Bridge Settings.
The VLAN / Bridge Settings page displays.
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5. Select the Enable VLAN/Bridge Setup check box.
6. Select the By VLAN tag group radio button.
7. Specify the settings as described in the following table.
DescriptionField
Enter a name for the VLAN tag group.
The name can be up to 10 characters.
Name
Enter a value from 1 to 4094.VLAN ID
Enter a value from 0 to 7.Priority
Select the check box for a wired LAN port or WiFi port.
If your device is connected to an Ethernet port on the router, select the LAN port check box that corresponds
to the Ethernet port on the router to which the device is connected. If your device is connected to your router’s
WiFi network, select the WiFi check box that corresponds to the router’s WiFi network to which the device
is connected.
You must select at least one LAN port or WiFi port.You can select more than one port.
8. Click the Add button.
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The VLAN tag group is added.
9. Click the Apply button.
Your settings are saved.
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11
Manage the WiFi Network Settings
This chapter describes how you can manage the WiFi network settings of the router.
The chapter includes the following sections:
Use WPS to Add a Device to the WiFi Network on page 136
Specify Basic WiFi Settings on page 138
Change the WiFi Data Rate Settings on page 141
Change the WiFi Password or Security Level on page 142
Set Up a Guest WiFi Network on page 143
Specify How the Router Manages WiFi Clients on page 144
Control the WiFi Radios on page 146
Set Up a WiFi Schedule on page 147
Manage the WPS Settings on page 148
Use the Router as a WiFi Access Point on page 150
Use the Router in WiFi Bridge Mode on page 151
For information about setting up an access control list (ACL) and managing WiFi access, see Manage Network
Access Control Lists on page 54.
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Use WPS to Add a Device to the WiFi Network
WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) lets you connect a WiFi-enabled computer or mobile device to the router’s
network without entering the WiFi network passphrase or key. Instead, you use a WPS button or enter a
PIN to connect.
If you use the push button method, the computer or device that you are trying to connect must provide either
a physical button or a software button. If you use the PIN method, you must know the PIN of the computer
or device that you are trying to connect.
WPS supports WPA and WPA2 WiFi security. If your router network is open (no WiFi security is set, which
is not the default setting for the router), connecting with WPS automatically sets WPA + WPA2 WiFi security
on the router network and generates a random passphrase.You can view this passphrase (see Specify
Basic WiFi Settings on page 138).
Use WPS With the Push Button Method
For you to use the push button method to connect a WiFi device to the router’s WiFi network, the WiFi device
that you are trying to connect must provide either a physical button or a software button.You can use the
physical button and software button to let a WiFi device join only the main WiFi network, not the guest WiFi
network.
To let a WiFi device join the router’s main WiFi network using WPS with the push button
method:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > WPS Wizard.
The page displays a description of the WPS method.
5. Click the Next button.
By default, the Push Button (recommended) radio button is selected.
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6.
Either click the button onscreen or press the WPS button on the right side panel of the router.
For two minutes, the router attempts to find the WiFi device (that is, the client) that you want to join the
router’s main WiFi network.
During this time, the WiFi LED on the top panel of the router blinks white.
7. Within two minutes, go to the WiFi device and press its WPS button to join the router’s main WiFi network
without entering a password.
After the router establishes a WPS connection, the WiFi LED lights solid white and the Add WPS Client
page displays a confirmation message.
8. To verify that the WiFi device is connected to the router’s main WiFi network, select BASIC > Attached
Devices.
The WiFi device displays onscreen.
Use WPS With the PIN Method
To use the PIN method to connect a WiFi device to the router’s WiFi network, you must know the PIN of
the WiFi device that you are trying to connect.
To let a WiFi device join the router’s WiFi network using WPS with the PIN method:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > WPS Wizard.
The page displays a description of the WPS method.
5. Click the Next button.
The Add WPS Client page adjusts.
The Push Button (recommended) radio button is selected by default.
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6. Select the PIN Number radio button.
7. In the Enter Clients' PIN field, enter the PIN number of the WiFi device.
8. Click the Next button.
For four minutes, the router attempts to find the WiFi device (that is, the client) that you want to join the
router’s main WiFi network.
During this time, the WiFi LED on the top panel of the router blinks white.
9. Within four minutes, go to the WiFi device and use its WPS software to join the network without entering
a password.
After the router establishes a WPS connection, the WiFi LED lights solid white and the Add WPS Client
page displays a confirmation message.
10. To verify that the WiFi device is connected to the router’s main WiFi network, select BASIC > Attached
Devices.
The WiFi device displays onscreen.
Specify Basic WiFi Settings
The router comes with preset security. This means that the WiFi network name (SSID), network key
(password), and security option (encryption protocol) are preset in the factory.You can find the preset SSID
and password on the router label.
The preset SSID and password are uniquely generated for every device to protect
and maximize your WiFi security.
Note
If you change your preset security settings, make a note of the new settings and store it in a safe place
where you can easily find it.
If you use a WiFi computer to change the SSID or other WiFi security settings, you are disconnected when
you click the Apply button.To avoid this problem, use a computer with a wired connection to access the
router.
To specify basic WiFi settings:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
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A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select Wireless.
Your router might display information that is different from this example.
You can specify the settings for the 2.4 GHz band and for the 5 GHz band. However, if you enable
Smart Connect, the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands must use the same WiFi network name (SSID) and
network key (password). For more information, see Step 6.
5. From the Region menu, select your region.
In some locations, you cannot change this setting.
6. To let the router automatically select the fastest WiFi band for your device, select the Enable Smart
Connect check box.
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For Smart Connect to work, the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands must use the same WiFi network name
(SSID) and network key (password).That means that when you connect to the router with WiFi, you
see only one SSID that connects to both bands.
If you enable Smart Connect and the SSID and passwords for the 2.4 GHz and 5
GHz bands do not match, the WiFi settings for 2.4 GHz band overwrite the WiFi
settings for 5 GHz band.
Note
7. To control the SSID broadcast, select or clear the Enable SSID Broadcast check box.
When this check box is selected, the router broadcasts its network name (SSID) so that it displays when
you scan for local WiFi networks on your computer or mobile device.
8. Select or clear the Enable 20/40 MHz Coexistence check box.
By default, 20/40 MHz coexistence is enabled to prevent interference between WiFi networks in your
environment at the expense of the WiFi speed. If no other WiFi networks are present in your environment,
you can clear the Enable 20/40 MHz Coexistence check box to increase the WiFi speed to the maximum
supported speed. 20/40 MHz coexistence applies to the 2.4 GHz band only.
9. To change the network name (SSID), type a new name in the Name (SSID) field.
The name can be up to 32 characters long and it is case-sensitive. The default SSID is randomly
generated and is on the router label. If you change the name, make sure to write down the new name
and keep it in a safe place.
10. To change the WiFi channel, select a number from the Channel menu.
In some regions, not all channels are available. Do not change the channel unless you experience
interference (shown by lost connections or slow data transfers). If this happens, experiment with different
channels to see which is the best.
When you use multiple access points, it is better if adjacent access points use different channels to
reduce interference.The recommended channel spacing between adjacent access points is four channels
(for example, use Channels 1 and 5, or 6 and 10).
11. Click the Apply button.
Your settings are saved.
If you connected over WiFi to the network and you changed the SSID, you are disconnected from the
network.
12. Make sure that you can connect over WiFi to the network with its new settings.
If you cannot connect over WiFi, check the following:
Is your computer or mobile device connected to another WiFi network in your area? Some WiFi
devices automatically connect to the first open network without WiFi security that they discover.
Is your computer or mobile device trying to connect to your network with its old settings (before you
changed the settings)? If so, update the WiFi network selection in your computer or mobile device
to match the current settings for your network.
For information about changing the WiFi data rate settings of your router, see Change the WiFi Data Rate
Settings on page 141.
For information about changing the WiFi security, see Change the WiFi Password or Security Level on page
142.
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Change the WiFi Data Rate Settings
The data rate for high-speed transmissions is commonly identified as megabits per second (Mbps). By
default, the router is set to operate with up to 600 Mbps in the 2.4 GHz WiFi band and up to 1,300 Mbps in
the 5 GHz WiFi band.You can select slower settings.
To change the WiFi data rate settings:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select Wireless.
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Your router might display information that is different from this example.
5. For the 2.4 GHz WiFi band, in the Wireless Network (2.4GHz b/g/n) section, select a setting from the
Mode menu.
Up to 600 Mbps is the default setting, which allows 802.11n, 802.11g, and 802.11b WiFi devices to
join the network. The other settings are Up to 289 Mbps and Up to 54 Mbps.
6. For the 5 GHz WiFi band, in the Wireless Network (5GHz a/n/ac) section, select a setting from the Mode
menu.
Up to 1300 Mbps is the default setting, which allows 802.11ac, 802.11n, and 802.11a WiFi devices to
join the network. The other settings are Up to 600 Mbps and Up to 289 Mbps.
7. Click the Apply button.
Your settings are saved.
Change the WiFi Password or Security Level
Your router comes with preset WPA2 or WPA security. The password that you enter to connect to your
network is unique to your router and is on the router label.
If the WiFi Mbps setting is Up to 54 Mbps for the 2.4 GHz radio band (see Change
the WiFi Data Rate Settings on page 141), the WEP legacy security option is also
available.
Note
To change the WPA settings:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select Wireless.
The Wireless Setup page displays.
5. Under Security Options, select a WPA option.
The WPA2 options use the newest standard for the strongest security. WPA2-PSK [AES] is the default
setting.
The Passphrase field displays.
6. In the Passphrase field, enter the network key (password).
It is a text string from 8 to 63 characters.
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7. Write down the new password and keep it in a secure place for future reference.
8. Click the Apply button.
Your settings are saved.
Set Up a Guest WiFi Network
Guest networks allow visitors at your home to use the Internet without using your WiFi security key.You
can add a guest network for the 2.4 GHz WiFi band and the 5.0 GHz WiFi band.
To set up a guest network:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select Guest Network.
Your router might display information that is different from this example.
5. Scroll to the section of the page for the guest WiFi network that you want to set up.
The default guest WiFi network names (SSIDs) are as follows:
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NETGEAR-Guest is for the 2.4 GHz WiFi band.
NETGEAR-5G-Guest is for the 5 GHz WiFi band.
6. Select the Enable Guest Network check box.
7. Leave the Enable SSID Broadcast check box selected.
Allowing the router to broadcast its WiFi network name (SSID) makes it easier to find your network and
connect to it. If you clear this check box, that creates a hidden network.
8. Give the guest network a name.
The guest network name is case-sensitive and can be up to 32 characters.You then manually configure
the WiFi devices in your network to use the guest network name in addition to the main SSID.
9. For the WiFi channel and mode, leave the default settings selected.
10. Select a security option.
The WPA2 options use the newest standard for the strongest security. By default, the guest network is
unsecured.
If the WiFi Mbps setting is Up to 54 Mbps for the 2.4 GHz radio band of the main
WiFi network (see Change the WiFi Data Rate Settings on page 141), the WEP legacy
security option is also available for the guest WiFi network.
Note
11. Click the Apply button.
Your settings are saved.
Specify How the Router Manages WiFi Clients
A WiFi client is any computer or mobile device that connects to the router’s WiFi network. The router uses
airtime fairness, implicit beamforming, and MU-MIMO to manage its WiFi clients.These features are enabled
by default, but you can disable them.
Manage Airtime Fairness
Airtime fairness ensures that all clients receive equal time on the network. Network resources are divided
by time, so if five clients are connected, they each get one-fifth of the network time.The advantage of this
feature is that your slowest clients do not control network responsiveness.This feature is enabled by default,
but you can disable it.
To disable airtime fairness:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
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The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > Wireless Settings.
The Wireless Settings page displays.
5. Scroll to the bottom of the page and clear the Enable AIRTIME FAIRNESS check box.
6. Click the Apply button.
Your settings are saved.
If you connected over WiFi to the network, you are disconnected from the network and must reconnect.
Manage Implicit Beamforming
Implicit beamforming contrasts with explicit beamforming, which means that your router actively tracks clients
and directs power to the router antenna closest to the client. Explicit beamforming works whether or not the
client supports beamforming. Implicit beamforming means that the router can use information from client
devices that support beamforming to improve the WiFi signal. This feature is enabled by default, but you
can disable it.
To disable implicit beamforming:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > Wireless Settings.
The Wireless Settings page displays.
5. Scroll to the bottom of the page and clear the Enable Implicit BEAMFORMING check box.
6. Click the Apply button.
Your settings are saved.
If you connected over WiFi to the network, you are disconnected from the network and must reconnect.
Manage MU-MIMO
Multiuser multiple input, multiple output (MU-MIMO) improves performance when multiple MU-MIMO-capable
WiFi clients transfer data at the same time.WiFi clients must support MU-MIMO, and they must be connected
to a 5 GHz WiFi band. This feature is enabled by default, but you can disable it.
To disable MU-MIMO:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
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A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > Wireless Settings.
The Wireless Settings page displays.
5. Scroll down below the WPS Settings section and clear the Enable MU-MIMO check box.
6. Click the Apply button.
Your settings are saved.
If you connected over WiFi to the network, you are disconnected from the network and must reconnect.
Control the WiFi Radios
The router’s internal WiFi radios broadcast signals in the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz ranges. By default, they are
on so that you can connect over WiFi to the router.When the WiFi radios are off, you can still use an Ethernet
cable for a LAN connection to the router.
You can turn the WiFi radios on and off with the WiFi On/Off button on the router, or you can log in to the
router and enable or disable the WiFi radios. If you are close to the router, it might be easier to press its
WiFi On/Off button. If you are away from the router or already logged in it might be easier to enable or
disable them.You can also turn the WiFi radios off and on based on a schedule. (See Set Up a WiFi Schedule
on page 147.)
Use the WiFi On/Off Button
To turn the WiFi radios off and on with the WiFi On/Off button:
Press the WiFi On/Off button on the top of the router for two seconds.
If you turned off the WiFi radios, the WiFi On/Off LED and the WPS LED turn off. If you turned on the
WiFi radios, the WiFi On/Off LED and the WPS LED light.
Enable or Disable the WiFi Radios
If you used the WiFi On/Off button to turn off the WiFi radios, you can’t log in to the router to turn them back
on.You must press the WiFi On/Off button again for two seconds to turn the WiFi radios back on.
To enable or disable the WiFi radios:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
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The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > Wireless Settings.
Your router might display information that is different from this example.
5. In the 2.4GHz and 5GHz sections, select or clear the Enable Wireless Router Radio check boxes.
Clearing these check boxes turns off the WiFi feature of the router for each band.
6. Click the Apply button.
If you turned off both WiFi radios, the WiFi On/Off LED and the WPS LED turn off. If you turned on the
WiFi radios, the WiFi On/Off LED and the WPS LED light.
Set Up a WiFi Schedule
You can turn off the WiFi signal from your router at times when you do not need a WiFi connection. For
example, you might turn it off for the weekend if you leave town.
To set up the WiFi schedule:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or manual device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
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3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > Wireless Settings.
The Wireless Settings page displays.
5. Click the Add a new period button.
6. Use the menus, radio buttons, and check boxes to set up a period during which you want to turn off the
WiFi signal.
7. Click the Apply button.
The Wireless Settings page displays.
8. Select the Turn off wireless signal by schedule check box to activate the schedule.
9. Click the Apply button.
Your settings are saved.
Manage the WPS Settings
Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) lets you join the WiFi network without typing the WiFi password.You can
change the default WPS settings.
To manage WPS settings:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
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The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > Wireless Settings.
The Wireless Settings page displays.
5. Scroll down to the bottom of the page.
The Router’s PIN field displays the fixed PIN that you use to configure the router’s WiFi settings from
another platform through WPS.
6. To disable the PIN, clear the Enable Router’s PIN check box.
By default, the Enable Router’s PIN check box is selected and the router’s PIN is enabled. For enhanced
security, you can disable the router’s PIN by clearing the Enable Router’s PIN check box. However,
when you disable the router’s PIN, WPS is not disabled because you can still use the physical WPS
button.
The PIN function might temporarily be disabled automatically if the router detects
suspicious attempts to break into the router’s WiFi settings by using the router’s PIN
through WPS.
Note
7. To allow the WiFi settings to be changed automatically when you use WPS, clear one or both of the
Keep Existing Wireless Settings check boxes.
By default, both Keep Existing Wireless Settings check boxes are selected. We recommend that you
leave these check boxes selected. If you clear a check box, the next time a new WiFi client uses WPS
to connect to the router, the router’s associated WiFi settings change to an automatically generated
random SSID and passphrase. For information about viewing this SSID and passphrase, see Specify
Basic WiFi Settings on page 138.
Clear a Keep Existing Wireless Settings check box only if you want to allow the WPS process to
change the associated SSID and passphrase for WiFi access.
WARNING:
If you clear a Keep Existing Wireless Settings check box and use WPS to add
a WiFi-enabled computer or mobile device to the router’s WiFi network, the
associated SSID and passphrase are automatically generated and other WiFi
devices that are already connected to the router’s WiFi network might be
disconnected.
8. Click the Apply button.
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Your settings are saved.
Use the Router as a WiFi Access Point
You can set up the router to function as a WiFi access point (AP) on the same local network as another
router. The router must be connected with an Ethernet cable to the other router. When the router functions
as a WiFi AP, many of its router-related features are disabled.
If you want to change the router’s function, use a wired connection to avoid being
disconnected when the new function takes effect.
Tip
To set up the router as an AP:
1. Use an Ethernet cable to connect the yellow Internet port on the back panel of the router to a LAN port
on the other router.
2. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
3. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
4. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
5. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > Router / AP / Bridge Mode.
The Router / AP / Bridge Mode page displays.
6. Select the AP Mode radio button.
The page adjusts.
7. Select an radio button:
Get dynamically from existing router. The other router on the network assigns an IP address to
the router for the router’s operation in AP mode.
Enable fixed IP settings on this device (not recommended). Use this setting if you want to
manually assign a specific (static) IP address to the router for its operation in AP mode. We
recommend that you do not use this option unless you are familiar with network configuration.
To avoid interference with other routers or gateways on your network, we recommend
that you use different WiFi settings on each router.You can also turn off the WiFi
radio on the other router and use the router only for WiFi client access.
Note
8. Click the Apply button.
The router restarts. The IP address of the router changes, and you are disconnected.
9. To reconnect, wait a few minutes, close and restart your browser, and enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
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Use the Router in WiFi Bridge Mode
You can use your router in WiFi bridge mode to connect multiple devices with WiFi at the faster 802.11ac
speed. To do this, you need two WiFi routers: one set up as a router and the other set up as a bridge.
Figure 11. Router in bridge mode with an 802.11ac WiFi connection
Installing a router as a bridge offers the following benefits:
You can take advantage of gigabit WiFi speeds on current devices.
Use gigabit WiFi for applications like video and gaming.
Connect multiple devices such as NAS, Smart TV, NeoTV, Blu-ray player, and game consoles at gigabit
WiFi speeds using a WiFi link.
Avoid the need for separate WiFi adapters for each device.
For example, you could install the first router in a room such as a home office where your Internet connection
is located.
Then set up the second router in bridge mode. Place the router in bridge mode in a different room such as
the room where your home entertainment center is located. Cable the router in bridge mode to your Smart
TV, DVR, game console, or Blu-ray player, and use its 802.11ac WiFi connection to the first router.
If you want to change the router’s function, use a wired connection to avoid being
disconnected when the new function takes effect.
Tip
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To set up bridge mode:
1. Make a note of the WiFi settings of the other router to which this router will connect.
You must know the SSID, WiFi security mode, WiFi password, and operating frequency (either 2.4 GHz
or 5 GHz).
2. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
3. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
4. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
5. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > Router / AP / Bridge Mode.
The Router / AP / Bridge Mode page displays.
6. Select the Bridge Mode radio button.
By default, the router is set to receive its IP address and DNS server addresses
dynamically. However, you can manually assign a specific (static) IP address and
DNS server addresses to the router for its operation in bridge mode.We recommend
that you do not use static IP addresses unless you are familiar with network
configuration.
Note
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7. Click the setup bridge mode wireless settings button.
8. Enter the WiFi settings of the other router to which this router will connect, that is, the settings of the
router that will function as a bridge:
a. From the Choose a Wireless Network menu, select the WiFi network frequency (2.4 GHz or 5
GHz).
For 802.11ac mode, select 5 GHz.
b. In the Name (SSID) field, enter the WiFi network name (SSID).
c. In the Security Options section, leave the WPA2-PSK [AES] radio button selected or select another
radio button.
d. If prompted, type the passphrase (the WiFi password that you use to connect with WiFi to the other
router).
9. Click the Apply button.
The Wireless Settings pop-up window closes and the Router / AP / Bridge Mode page displays again.
10. On the Router / AP / Bridge Mode page, click the Apply button.
Your settings are saved.The router restarts.
11. To reconnect, wait a few minutes, close and restart your browser, and do the following:
a. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
If you use a WiFi connection, use the SSID, WiFi security mode, WiFi password that you specified
in Step 8.
b. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
c. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
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12
Manage the Router and Monitor the
Traffic
This chapter describes how you can manage the settings for administering and maintaining your router and
monitor the network.
The chapter includes the following sections:
Update the Firmware of the Router on page 155
Change the admin Password on page 157
Set Up Password Recovery on page 158
Recover the admin Password on page 158
Manage the Configuration File of the Router on page 159
Disable LED Blinking or Turn Off LEDs on page 160
Return the Router to Its Factory Default Settings on page 161
View the Status and Statistics of the Router on page 162
Manage the Activity Log on page 166
View Devices Currently on the Network on page 168
Monitor and Meter Internet Traffic on page 169
Manage the Router Remotely on page 175
Remotely Access Your Router Using the genie App on page 176
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Update the Firmware of the Router
The router firmware is stored in flash memory.
You can check to see if new firmware is available and update the router to the new firmware.You can also
visit the NETGEAR support website, download the firmware manually, and update the router to the new
firmware.
Check for New Firmware and Update the Router
For you to check for new firmware, the router must be connected to the Internet.
To check for new firmware and update your router:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > Administration > Router Update.
The Router Update page displays.
5. Click the Check button.
The router detects new firmware if any is available and displays a message asking if you want to download
and install it.
6. To download and install the new firmware, click the Yes button.
The router locates the firmware, downloads it, and begins the update.
WARNING:
To avoid the risk of corrupting the firmware, do not interrupt the update. For
example, do not close the browser, click a link, or load a new page. Do not
turn off the router.Wait until the router finishes restarting and the Power LED
turns solid white.
A progress bar shows the progress of the firmware upload process.The firmware upload process takes
several minutes. When the upload is complete, your router restarts.
7. Verify that the router is running the new firmware version:
a. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
b. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
c. Enter the router user name and password.
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The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays. The firmware version is stated in the top right, under the Logout
button.
8. Read the new firmware release notes to determine whether you must reconfigure the router after
updating.
Manually Upload New Firmware and Update the Router
Downloading firmware and updating the router are two separate tasks that are combined in the following
procedure.
To download new firmware manually and update your router:
1. Visit downloadcenter.netgear.com, locate the support page for your product, and download the new
firmware.
2. Read the new firmware release notes to determine whether you must reconfigure the router after
updating.
3. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
4. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
5. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
6. Select ADVANCED > Administration > Router Update.
The Router Update page displays.
7. Locate and select the firmware file on your computer:
a. Click the Browse button.
b. Navigate to the firmware file.
The file ends in .chk. An example of a firmware file name is R6900P-V1.0.0.46_1.0.30.chk.
c. Select the firmware file.
8. Click the Upload button.
WARNING:
To avoid the risk of corrupting the firmware, do not interrupt the upload. For
example, do not close the browser, click a link, or load a new page. Do not
turn off the router.Wait until the router finishes restarting and the Power LED
turns solid white.
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A progress bar shows the progress of the firmware upload process.The firmware upload process takes
several minutes. When the upload is complete, your router restarts.
9. Verify that the router runs the new firmware version:
a. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
b. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
c. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays. The version firmware is stated in the top right, under the Logout
button.
Change the admin Password
You can change the default password that is used to log in to the router with the user name admin. This
password is not the one that you use for WiFi access.
Be sure to change the password for the user name admin to a secure password.The
ideal password contains no dictionary words from any language and contains
uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. It can be up to 30 characters.
Note
To set the password for the user name admin:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > Administration > Set Password.
5. Type the old password, and type the new password twice.
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6. To be able to recover the password, select the Enable Password Recovery check box.
We recommend that you enable password recovery.
7. Click the Apply button.
Your settings are saved.
Set Up Password Recovery
We recommend that you enable password recovery if you change the password for the router user name
admin. Then you can recover the password if it is forgotten.This recovery process is supported in Internet
Explorer, Firefox, and Chrome browsers but not in the Safari browser.
To set up password recovery:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > Administration > Set Password.
The Set Password page displays.
5. Select the Enable Password Recovery check box.
6. Select two security questions and provide answers to them.
7. Click the Apply button.
Your settings are saved.
Recover the admin Password
To recover your password:
1. In the address field of your browser, enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
2. Click the Cancel button.
If password recovery is enabled, you are prompted to enter the serial number of the router.
The serial number is on the router label.
3. Enter the serial number of the router.
4. Click the Continue button.
A window opens requesting the answers to your security questions.
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5. Enter the saved answers to your security questions.
6. Click the Continue button.
A window opens and displays your recovered password.
7. Click the Login again button.
A login window opens.
8. With your recovered password, log in to the router.
Manage the Configuration File of the Router
The configuration settings of the router are stored within the router in a configuration file.You can back up
(save) this file to your computer or restore it.
Back Up the Settings
You can save a copy of the current configuration settings.
To back up the router’s configuration settings:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > Administration > Backup Settings.
The Backup Settings page displays.
5. Click the Back Up button.
6. Choose a location to store the file on your computer.
The name of the backup file is NETGEAR_R6900P.cfg.
7. Follow the directions of your browser to save the file.
Restore the Settings
If you backed up the configuration file, you can restore the configuration from this file.
To restore configuration settings that you backed up:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
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3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > Administration > Backup Settings.
The Backup Settings page displays.
5. Click the Browse button and navigate to and select the saved configuration file.
The name of the backup file from which you can restore the configuration is NETGEAR_R6900P.cfg.
6. Click the Restore button.
The configuration is uploaded to the router. When the restoration is complete, the router reboots. This
process takes about two minutes.
WARNING:
To avoid the risk of corrupting the firmware, do not interrupt the restoration.
For example, do not close the browser, click a link, or load a new page. Do
not turn off the router.Wait until the router finishes restarting and the Power
LED turns solid white.
Disable LED Blinking or Turn Off LEDs
The LEDs on the top panel of the router indicate activities and behavior.You can disable LED blinking for
network communications, or turn off all LEDs except the Power LED.
To disable LED blinking or turn off the LEDs:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > LED Control Settings.
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By default, the first radio button is selected, which allows standard LED behavior.
For more information about LEDs, see LEDs and Buttons on the Top Panel on page 11.
5. To disable blinking, select the Disable blinking on Internet LED, LAN LED,Wireless LED and USB
LED when data traffic is detected radio button.
6. To turn off all LEDs except the Power LED, select the Turn off all LEDs except Power LED radio
button.
7. Click the Apply button.
Your settings are saved.
Return the Router to Its Factory Default Settings
Under some circumstances (for example, if you lost track of the changes that you made to the router settings
or you move the router to a different network), you might want to erase the configuration and reset the router
to factory default settings.
If you do not know the current IP address of the router, first try to use an IP scanner application to detect
the IP address before you reset the router to factory default settings.
To reset the router to factory default settings, you can use either the Reset button on the back of the router
or the Erase function. However, if you cannot find the IP address or lost the password to access the router,
you must use the Reset button.
After you reset the router to factory default settings, the user name is admin, the password is password, the
LAN IP address is 192.168.1.1 (which is the same as www.routerlogin.net), and the DHCP server is enabled.
For a list of factory default settings, see Factory Settings on page 211.
Use the Reset Button
CAUTION:
This process erases all settings that you configured in the router.
To reset the router to factory default settings:
1. On the back of the router, locate the Reset button to the right of the leftmost antenna.
2. Using a straightened paper clip, press and hold the Reset button for at least five seconds.
3. Release the Reset button.
The Power LED starts blinking amber and the configuration is reset to factory default settings. When
the reset is complete, the router reboots. This process takes about two minutes.
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WARNING:
To avoid the risk of corrupting the firmware, do not interrupt the reset. For
example, if you are connected to the router’s web page, do not close the
browser, click a link, or load a new page. Do not turn off the router.Wait until
the router finishes restarting and the Power LED turns solid white.
Erase the Settings
CAUTION:
This process erases all settings that you configured in the router.
To erase the settings:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > Administration > Backup Settings.
The Backup Settings page displays.
5. Click the Erase button.
The configuration is reset to factory default settings. When the reset is complete, the router reboots.
This process takes about two minutes.
View the Status and Statistics of the Router
You can view information about the router and its ports and the status of the Internet connection and WiFi
network. In addition, you can view traffic statistics for the various ports.
View Information About the Router and the Internet and WiFi
Settings
You can view router information, the Internet port status, and WiFi settings.
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To view information about the router and the Internet, modem, and WiFi settings:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Click the ADVANCED tab.
The information that is shown onscreen is self-explanatory.
The information uses the following color coding:
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A green flag indicates that the Internet connection is fine and no problems exist. For a WiFi
network, the network is enabled and secured.
A red X indicates that configuration problems exist for the Internet connection or the connection
is down. For a WiFi network, the network is disabled or down.
An amber exclamation mark indicates that the Internet port is configured but cannot get an Internet
connection (for example, because the cable is disconnected), that a WiFi network is enabled but
unprotected, or that another situation that requires your attention occurred.
Display Internet Port Statistics
To display Internet port statistics:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Click the ADVANCED tab.
The ADVANCED Home page displays.
5. In the Internet Port pane, click the Show Statistics button.
The following information displays:
System Up Time. The time elapsed since the router was last restarted.
Port. The statistics for the WAN (Internet), LAN (Ethernet), and WLAN (WiFi) ports. For each port,
the pop-up window displays the following information:
- Status. The link status of the port.
- TxPkts. The number of packets transmitted on the port since reset or manual clear.
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- RxPkts. The number of packets received on the port since reset or manual clear.
- Collisions. The number of collisions on the port since reset or manual clear.
- Tx B/s. The number of Bytes per second transmitted on the port since reset or manual clear.
For this information, the LAN ports are treated as a single port.
- Rx B/s. The number of Bytes per second received on the port since reset or manual clear. For
this information, the LAN ports are treated as a single port.
- Up Time. The time elapsed since the port acquired the link.
- Poll Interval. The interval at which the statistics are updated on this window.
6. To change the polling frequency, enter a time in seconds in the Poll Interval field and click the Set
Interval button.
7. To stop the polling entirely, click the Stop button.
Check the Internet Connection Status
To check the Internet connection status:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Click the ADVANCED tab.
The ADVANCED Home page displays.
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5. In the Internet Port pane, click the Connection Status button.
If the Internet connection is PPPoE, PPTP, or L2TP, other information might display.Note
If the ISP assigned an IP address to the router dynamically (the most common situation), the following
information displays:
IP Address. The IP address that is assigned to the router.
Subnet Mask. The subnet mask that is assigned to the router.
Default Gateway. The IP address for the default gateway that the router communicates with.
DHCP Server. The IP address for the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol server that provides
the TCP/IP configuration for all the computers that are connected to the router.
DNS Server.The IP address of the Domain Name Service server that provides translation of network
names to IP addresses.
Lease Obtained. The date and time when the lease was obtained.
Lease Expires. The date and time that the lease expires.
6. To release (stop) the Internet connection, click the Release button.
7. To renew (restart) the Internet connection, click the Renew button.
8. To close the window, click the Close Window button.
Manage the Activity Log
The log is a detailed record of the websites that users on your network accessed or attempted to access
and many other router actions. Up to 256 entries are stored in the log.You can manage which activities are
logged.
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View, Email, or Clear the Logs
In addition to viewing the logs, you can email them and clear them.
To view, email, or clear the logs:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > Administration > Logs.
The Logs page shows the following information:
Action. The action that occurred, such as whether Internet access was blocked or allowed.
Source.The name, IP address, or MAC address of the target device, application, or website for
this log entry.
Target. The name, IP address, or MAC address of the target device, application, or website for this
log entry.
Date and Time. The date and time at which the action occurred.
5. To refresh the log entries onscreen, click the Refresh button.
6. To clear the log entries, click the Clear Log button.
7. To email the log immediately, click the Send Log button.
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The router emails the logs to the address that you specified (see Set Up Security Event Email Notifications
on page 68).
Specify Which Activities Are Logged
You can specify which activities are logged. These activities display in the log and are forwarded to the
syslog server if you enabled the syslog server function.
To manage which activities are logged:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > Administration > Logs.
The Logs page displays.
5. Select the check boxes that correspond to the activities that you want to be logged.
By default, all check boxes are selected.
6. Clear the check boxes that correspond to the activities that you do not want to be logged.
7. Click the Apply button.
Your settings are saved.
View Devices Currently on the Network
You can view all computers or devices that are currently connected to your network.
To view devices on the network:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select Attached Devices.
The Attached Devices page displays devices that are connected to the router through Ethernet (using
a wired connection) or connected to a WiFi band in the WiFi network.
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Depending on your router model, the page displays either a list or device icons. Clicking a device icon
displays more details about the device. The IP address can change because the router assigns an IP
address to each device when it joins the network. The unique MAC address for each device does not
change.
5. To update this page, click the Refresh button.
Monitor and Meter Internet Traffic
Traffic metering allows you to monitor the volume of Internet traffic that passes through the router Internet
port. With the traffic meter utility, you can set limits for traffic volume, set a monthly limit, and get a live
update of traffic usage.
Start the Traffic Meter Without Traffic Volume Restrictions
You can monitor the traffic volume without setting a limit.
To start or restart the traffic meter without configuring traffic volume restrictions:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
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4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > Traffic Meter.
5. Select the Enable Traffic Meter check box.
By default, no traffic limit is specified and the traffic volume is not controlled.
6. In the Traffic Counter section, set the traffic counter to begin at a specific time and date.
7. To start the traffic counter immediately, click the Restart Counter Now button.
8. Click the Apply button.
Your settings are saved and the router restarts.
The Internet Traffic Statistics section helps you to monitor the data traffic. For more information, see
View the Internet Traffic Volume and Statistics on page 170.
View the Internet Traffic Volume and Statistics
If you enabled the traffic meter (see Start the Traffic Meter Without Traffic Volume Restrictions on page 169),
you can view the Internet traffic volume and statistics.
To view the Internet traffic volume and statistics shown by the traffic meter:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
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4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > Traffic Meter.
The Traffic Meter page displays.
5. Scroll down to the Internet Traffic Statistics section.
The Internet Traffic Statistics section displays when the traffic counter was started and what the traffic
balance is. The table displays information about the connection time and traffic volume in MB.
6. To refresh the information onscreen, click the Refresh button.
The information is updated.
7. To display more information about the data traffic and to change the polling interval, click the Traffic
Status button.
The Traffic Status pop-up window displays.
Restrict Internet Traffic by Volume
You can record and restrict the traffic by volume in MB.This is useful when your ISP measures your traffic
in volume.
To record and restrict the Internet traffic by volume:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
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4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > Traffic Meter.
5. Select the Enable Traffic Meter check box.
6. Select the Traffic volume control by radio button.
7. From the corresponding menu, select an option:
Download only. The restriction is applied to incoming traffic only.
Both Directions. The restriction is applied to both incoming and outgoing traffic.
8. In the Monthly Limit field, enter how many MBytes (MB) per month are allowed.
9. If your ISP charges you for extra data volume when you make a new connection, enter the extra data
volume in MB in the Round up data volume for each connection by field.
10. In the Traffic Counter section, set the traffic counter to begin at a specific time and date.
11. In the Traffic Control section, enter a value in minutes to specify when the router issues a warning
message before the monthly limit in hours is reached.
This setting is optional.The router issues a warning when the balance falls below the number of minutes
that you enter. By default, the value is 0 and no warning message is issued.
12. Select one or more of the following actions to occur when the limit is reached:
Turn the Internet LED to flashing white/amber. This setting is optional. When the traffic limit is
reached, the Internet LED blinks alternating white and amber.
Disconnect and disable the Internet connection. This setting is optional. When the traffic limit is
reached, the Internet connection is disconnected and disabled.
13. Click the Apply button.
Your settings are saved and the router restarts.
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The Internet Traffic Statistics section helps you to monitor the data traffic. For more information, see
View the Internet Traffic Volume and Statistics on page 170.
Restrict Internet Traffic by Connection Time
You can record and restrict the traffic by connection time. This is useful when your ISP measures your
connection time.
To record and restrict the Internet traffic by connection time:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > Traffic Meter.
5. Select the Enable Traffic Meter check box.
6. Select the Connection time control radio button.
The router must be connected to the Internet for you to be able to select the
Connection time control radio button.
Note
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7. In the Monthly Limit field, enter how many hours per month are allowed.
The router must be connected to the Internet for you to be able to enter information
in the Monthly Limit field.
Note
8. In the Traffic Counter section, set the traffic counter to begin at a specific time and date.
9. In the Traffic Control section, enter a value in minutes to specify when the router issues a warning
message before the monthly limit in hours is reached.
This setting is optional.The router issues a warning when the balance falls under the number of minutes
that you enter. By default, the value is 0 and no warning message is issued.
10. Select one or more of the following actions to occur when the limit is reached:
Turn the Internet LED to flashing white/amber. This setting is optional. When the traffic limit is
reached, the Internet LED alternates blinking white and amber.
Disconnect and disable the Internet connection. This setting is optional. When the traffic limit is
reached, the Internet connection is disconnected and disabled.
11. Click the Apply button.
Your settings are saved and the router restarts.
The Internet Traffic Statistics section helps you to monitor the data traffic. For more information, see
View the Internet Traffic Volume and Statistics on page 170.
Unblock the Traffic Meter After the Traffic Limit Is Reached
If you configured the traffic meter to disconnect and disable the Internet connection after the traffic limit is
reached, you cannot access the Internet until you unblock the traffic meter.
CAUTION:
If your ISP set a traffic limit, your ISP might charge you for the overage traffic.
To unblock the traffic meter:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > Traffic Meter.
The Traffic Meter page displays.
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5. In the Traffic Control section, clear the Disconnect and disable the Internet connection check box.
6. Click the Apply button.
Your settings are saved and the router restarts.
Manage the Router Remotely
The remote management feature lets you access your router securely over the Internet to view or change
its settings.You must know the router’s WAN IP address to use this feature.
For information about a different type of remote access, that is, remote access using Dynamic DNS, see
Access Storage Devices Through the Internet on page 96.
Be sure to change the password for the user name admin to a secure password.The
ideal password contains no dictionary words from any language and contains
uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. It can be up to 30 characters.
See Change the admin Password on page 157.
Note
To set up remote management:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > Remote Management.
5. Select the Turn Remote Management On check box.
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6. In the Allow Remote Access By section, specify the external IP addresses to be allowed to access the
router’s remote management.
For enhanced security, restrict access to as few external IP addresses as practical.Note
Select one of the following radio buttons and configure the options accordingly:
To allow access from a single IP address on the Internet, select the Only This Computer radio
button. Enter the IP address to be allowed access.
To allow access from a range of IP addresses on the Internet, select the IP Address Range radio
button. Enter a beginning and ending IP address to define the allowed range.
To allow access from any IP address on the Internet, select the Everyone radio button. This radio
button is selected by default.
7. Specify the port number for accessing the router’s web pages.
The default is 8443, which is a common alternate for HTTPS. For greater security, enter a custom port
number for accessing the router’s web pages remotely. Choose a number from 1024 to 65535, but do
not use the number of any common service port.
8. Click the Apply button.
Your settings are saved.
Remotely Access Your Router Using the genie App
You can use the genie app to remotely access your router and change its key settings. Before you can use
remote access with the genie app, you must update your router’s firmware and download the latest genie
app for your computer or mobile device. Remote access with the genie app is supported for Windows-based
computers, iOS mobile devices, and Android mobile devices.
For more information about how to update your router’s firmware, see Update the Firmware of the Router
on page 155.To download the latest genie app for your computer or mobile device, visit netgear.com/genie.
For more information about how to set up remote access using the genie app, visit
kb.netgear.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/26253/.
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13
Use VPN to Access Your Network
You can use OpenVPN software to remotely access your router using virtual private networking (VPN). This
chapter explains how to set up and use VPN access.
The chapter includes the following sections:
Set Up a VPN Connection on page 178
Use a VPN Tunnel on a Windows-Based Computer on page 183
Use VPN to Access the Router’s USB Device and Media From a Windows-Based Computer on page 185
Use VPN to Access Your Internet Service at Home on page 185
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Set Up a VPN Connection
A virtual private network (VPN) lets you use the Internet to securely access your network when you aren’t
home.
Figure 12. VPN provides a secure tunnel between your home network and a remote computer
This type of VPN access is called a client-to-gateway tunnel. The computer is the client, and the router is
the gateway. To use the VPN feature, you must log in to the router and enable VPN, and you must install
and run VPN client software on the computer.
VPN uses DDNS or a static IP address to connect with your router.
To use a DDNS service, register for an account with a host name (sometimes called a domain name).You
use the host name to access your network. The router supports these accounts: NETGEAR, No-IP, and
Dyn.
If your Internet service provider (ISP) assigned a static WAN IP address (such as 50.196.x.x or 10.x.x.x)
that never changes to your Internet account, the VPN can use that IP address to connect to your home
network.
Specify VPN Service in the Router
You must specify the VPN service settings in the router before you can use a VPN connection.
To specify the VPN service:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
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4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > VPN Service.
The VPN page displays.
5. Select the Enable VPN Service check box.
6. To change the TUN mode service type, select the UCP or TCP radio button.
7. To change the TUN mode service port, type the port number that you want to use in the field.
The default port number is 12973.
8. To change the TAP mode service type, select the UCP or TCP radio button.
9. To change the TAP mode service port, type the port number that you want to use in the field.
The default port number is 12974.
10. Click the Apply button.
Your settings are saved.VPN is enabled in the router, but you must install and set up OpenVPN software
on your computer or mobile device before you can use a VPN connection.
Install OpenVPN Software on a Windows-Based Computer
You must install OpenVPN software on each computer that you plan to use for VPN connections to your
router.
To install VPN client software on a Windows-based computer:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > VPN Service.
The VPN Service page displays.
5. Make sure that the Enable VPN Service check box is selected.
For more information, see Specify VPN Service in the Router on page 178.
6. Click the For Windows button to download the OpenVPN configuration files.
Step 17 provides information about what to do with the downloaded OpenVPN configuration files.
7. To download the OpenVPN client utility, visit openvpn.net/index.php/download/community-downloads.html.
8. In the Windows Installer section of the page, double-click the openVPN-install-xxx.exe link.
9. Download the file.
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10. To install the OpenVPN client utility on your computer, click the openVPN-install-xxx.exe file.
11. Click the Next button.
12. Read the License Agreement and click the I Agree button.
13. Leave the check boxes selected as shown in the previous figure, and click the Next button.
14. To specify the destination folder, click the Browse button, select a destination folder, and click the Next
button.
15. Click the Install button.
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The window displays the progress of the installation and then displays the final installation window.
16. Click the Finish button.
17. Unzip the configuration files that you downloaded in Step 6 and copy them to the folder in which the
OpenVPN client utility is installed on your computer.
If your device is a Windows 64-bit system, the OpenVPN client utility is installed by default in the
C:\Program files\OpenVPN\config\ folder.
18. Modify the VPN interface name to NETGEAR-VPN:
a. In Windows, select Start > Control Panel > Network and Internet > Network Connections (or
Network and Sharing Center).
The network information displays.
b. In the local area connection list, find the local area connection with the device name TAP-Windows
Adapter.
c. Select the local area connection and change its name (not its device name) to NETGEAR-VPN.
If you do not change the VPN interface name, the VPN tunnel connection will fail.
For more information about using OpenVPN on a Windows-based computer, visit
openvpn.net/index.php/open-source/documentation/howto.html#quick.
Install OpenVPN Software on a Mac Computer
You must install Open VPN software on each computer that you plan to use for VPN connections to your
router.
To install VPN client software on a Mac computer:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
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The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > VPN Service.
The VPN Service page displays.
5. Make sure that the Enable VPN Service check box is selected.
For more information, see Specify VPN Service in the Router on page 178.
6. Click the For non-Windows button to download the OpenVPN configuration files.
Step 9 provides information about what to do with the downloaded OpenVPN configuration files.
7. To download the OpenVPN client utility for Mac OS X, visit https://tunnelblick.net/.
8. Download and install the file.
9. Unzip the configuration files that you downloaded in Step 6 and copy them to the folder in which the
OpenVPN client utility is installed on your computer.
The client utility must be installed by a user with administrative privileges.
For more information about using OpenVPN on a Mac computer, visit
openvpn.net/index.php/access-server/docs/admin-guides/183-how-to-connect-to-access-server-from-a-mac.html.
Install OpenVPN Software on an iOS Device
You must install this software on each iOS device that you plan to use for VPN connections to your router.
To install VPN client software on an iOS device:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > VPN Service.
The VPN Service page displays.
5. Make sure that the Enable VPN Service check box is selected.
6. Specify any VPN service settings on the page.
For more information, see Specify VPN Service in the Router on page 178.
7. Click the For Smart Phone button to download the OpenVPN configuration files.
8. On your iOS device, download and install the OpenVPN Connect app from the Apple app store.
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9. On your computer, unzip the configuration files that you downloaded and send the files to your iOS
device.
Note that when you open the .ovpn file, a list of apps displays. Select the OpenVPN Connect app to
open the .ovpn file.
For more information about using OpenVPN on your iOS device, visit
http://www.vpngate.net/en/howto_openvpn.aspx#ios.
Install OpenVPN Software on an Android Device
You must install this software on each Android device that you plan to use for VPN connections to your
router.
To install VPN client software on an Android device:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > VPN Service.
The VPN Service page displays.
5. Make sure that the Enable VPN Service check box is selected.
6. Specify any VPN service settings on the page.
For more information, see Specify VPN Service in the Router on page 178.
7. Click the For Smart Phone button to download the OpenVPN configuration files.
8. On your Android device, download and install the OpenVPN Connect app from the Google Play Store.
9. On your computer, unzip the configuration files that you downloaded and send the files to your Android
device.
10. Open the files on your Android device.
11. Open the .ovpn file using the OpenVPN Connect app.
For more information about using OpenVPN on your Android device, visit
http://www.vpngate.net/en/howto_openvpn.aspx#android.
Use a VPN Tunnel on a Windows-Based Computer
After you set up the router to use VPN and install the OpenVPN application on your computer, you can open
a VPN tunnel from your computer to your router over the Internet.
For the VPN tunnel to work, the local LAN IP address of the remote router must use a different LAN IP
scheme from that of the local LAN where your VPN client computer is connected. If both networks use the
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same LAN IP scheme, when the VPN tunnel is established, you cannot access your home router or your
home network with the OpenVPN software.
The default LAN IP address scheme for the router is 192.x.x.x.The most common IP schemes are 192.x.x.x,
172.x.x.x, and 10.x.x.x. If you experience a conflict, change the IP scheme either for your home network or
for the network with the client VPN computer. For information about changing these settings, see Manage
the LAN IP Address Settings on page 121.
To open a VPN tunnel:
1. Launch the OpenVPN application with administrator privileges.
The OpenVPN icon displays in the Windows taskbar.
You can create a shortcut to the VPN program, then use the shortcut to access the settings
and select the run as administrator check box. Then every time you use this shortcut,
OpenVPN automatically runs with administrator privileges.
Tip
2. Right-click the OpenVPN icon.
3. Select Connect.
The VPN connection is established.You can do the following:
Launch a web browser and log in to your router.
Use Windows file manager to access the router’s USB device and download files.
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Use VPN to Access the Router’s USB Device and Media
From a Windows-Based Computer
To access a USB device and download files:
1. In Windows file manager, select the Network folder.
The network resources display. The ReadySHARE icon is in the Computer section and the remote
ReadyDLNA: R6900P icon is in the Media Devices section (if DLNA is enabled in the router).
2. If the icons do not display, click the Refresh button to update the page.
If the local LAN and the remote LAN are using the same IP scheme, the remote icon does not display
in the Media Devices section and the R6900P (Gateway) icon does not display in the Network
Infrastructure section.
3. To access the USB device, click the ReadySHARE icon.
4. To access media on the router’s network, click the ReadyDLNA: R6900P icon.
Use VPN to Access Your Internet Service at Home
When you are away from home and you access the Internet, you usually use a local Internet service provider.
For example, at a coffee shop you might be given a code that lets you use the coffee shop’s Internet service
account to surf the web.
The router lets you use a VPN connection to access your own Internet service when you are away from
home.You might want to do this if you travel to a geographic location that does not support all the Internet
services that you use at home. For example, your Netflix account might work at home but not in a different
country.
Set Up VPN Client Internet Access in the Router
By default, the router is set up to allow VPN connections only to your home network, but you can change
the settings to allow Internet access. Accessing the Internet remotely through a VPN might be slower than
accessing the Internet directly.
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To allow VPN clients to use your home Internet service:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > VPN Service.
The VPN page displays.
5. Make sure that the Enable VPN Service radio button is selected.
For information about configuring the TUN and TAP mode options, see Specify VPN Service in the
Router on page 178.
6. Scroll down to the Clients will use this VPN connection to access section, and select the All sites on
the Internet & Home Network radio button.
When you access the Internet with the VPN connection, instead of using a local Internet service, you
use the Internet service from your home network.
By default, the Auto radio button is selected, which lets the router use an automatic
detection system that enables VPN access only for necessary services and sites and
might not include full Internet access.
Note
7. Click the Apply button.
Your settings are saved.
Block VPN Client Internet Access in the Router
By default, the router is set up to allow VPN connections only to your home network, not to the Internet
service for your home network. If you changed this setting to allow Internet access, you can change it back.
To allow VPN clients to access only your home network:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > VPN Service.
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The VNP page displays.
5. Make sure that the Enable VPN Service radio button is selected.
6. Scroll down to the Clients will use this VPN connection to access section, and select the Home Network
only radio button.
7. Click the Apply button.
Your settings are saved.
Use a VPN Tunnel to Access Your Internet Service at Home
To access your Internet service:
1. Set up the router to allow VPN access to your Internet service.
For more information, see Set Up VPN Client Internet Access in the Router on page 185.
2. On your computer, launch the OpenVPN application.
For more information, see Specify VPN Service in the Router on page 178.
The OpenVPN icon displays in the Windows taskbar.
3. Right-click the icon and select Connect.
4. When the VPN connection is established, launch your web browser.
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14
Manage Port Forwarding and Port
Triggering
You can use port forwarding and port triggering to set up rules for Internet traffic for services and applications.
You need networking knowledge to set up these features.
This chapter includes the following sections:
Manage Port Forwarding to a Local Server for Services and Applications on page 189
Manage Port Triggering for Services and Applications on page 194
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Manage Port Forwarding to a Local Server for Services
and Applications
If a server is part of your network, you can allow certain types of incoming traffic to reach the server. For
example, you might want to make a local web server, FTP server, or game server visible and available to
the Internet.
The router can forward incoming traffic with specific protocols to computers on your local network.You can
specify the servers for applications and you can also specify a default DMZ server to which the router
forwards all other incoming protocols (see Set Up a Default DMZ Server on page 118).
Forward Incoming Traffic for a Default Service or Application
You can forward traffic for a default service or application to a computer on your network.
To forward incoming traffic for a default service or application:
1. Decide which type of service, application, or game you want to provide.
2. Find the local IP address of the computer on your network that will provide the service.
The server computer must always receive the same IP address.To specify this setting, use the reserved
IP address feature. See Manage Reserved LAN IP Addresses on page 124.
3. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device device that is connected to the network.
4. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
5. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
6. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > Port Forwarding / Port Triggering.
7. Make sure that the Port Forwarding radio button is selected.
8. From the Service Name menu, select the service or application.
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If the service or application that you want to add is not in the list, create a port forwarding rule with a
custom service or application (see Add a Port Forwarding Rule With a Custom Service or Application
on page 190).
9. In the Server IP Address field, enter the IP address of the computer that must provide the service or
that runs the application.
10. Click the Add button.
Your settings are saved and the rule is added to the table.
Add a Port Forwarding Rule With a Custom Service or
Application
The router lists default services and applications that you can use in port forwarding rules. If the service or
application is not predefined, you can add a port forwarding rule with a custom service or application.
To add a port forwarding rule with a custom service or application:
1. Find out which port number or range of numbers the service or application uses.
You can usually find this information by contacting the publisher of the service or application or through
user groups or news groups.
2. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
3. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
4. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
5. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > Port Forwarding / Port Triggering.
The Port Forwarding / Port Triggering page displays.
6. Make sure that the Port Forwarding radio button is selected.
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7. Click the Add Custom Service button.
8. Specify a new port forwarding rule with a custom service or application as described in the following
table.
DescriptionField
Enter the name of the custom service or application.Service Name
Select the protocol (TCP or UDP) that is associated with the service or application.
If you are unsure, select TCP/UDP.
Service Type
Enter the starting port number for the service or application.External Starting Port
If the service or application uses a single port, enter the same port number in the
External Ending Port field.
If the service or application uses a range of ports, enter the ending port number of the
range in the External Ending Port field.
External Ending Port
Specify the internal ports by one of these methods:
Leave the Use the same port range for Internal port check box selected.
In the Internal Starting Port field, enter the starting port number for the service
or application. The Internal Ending Port field is populated automatically.
Internal port range
Either enter an IP address in the Internal IP address field or select the radio button
for an attached device that is listed in the table.
Internal IP address
9. Click the Apply button.
Your settings are saved.The rule is added to the table on the Port Forwarding / Port Triggering page.
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Change a Port Forwarding Rule
You can change an existing port forwarding rule.
To change a port forwarding rule:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > Port Forwarding / Port Triggering.
The previous figure shows two custom port forwarding rules.
5. Make sure that the Port Forwarding radio button is selected.
6. In the table, select the radio button for the service or application name.
7. Click the Edit Service button.
The Ports - Custom Services page displays.
8. Change the settings.
For information about the settings, see Add a Port Forwarding Rule With a Custom Service or Application
on page 190.
9. Click the Apply button.
Your settings are saved.The changed rule displays in the table on the Port Forwarding / Port Triggering
page.
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Remove a Port Forwarding Rule
You can remove a port forwarding rule that you no longer need.
To remove a port forwarding rule:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > Port Forwarding / Port Triggering.
The previous figure shows two custom port forwarding rules.
5. Make sure that the Port Forwarding radio button is selected.
6. In the table, select the radio button for the service or application name.
7. Click the Delete Service button.
The rule is removed from the table.
Application Example: Make a Local Web Server Public
If you host a web server on your local network, you can use port forwarding to allow web requests from
anyone on the Internet to reach your web server.
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To make a local web server public:
1. Assign your web server either a fixed IP address or a dynamic IP address using DHCP address
reservation.
In this example, your router always gives your web server an IP address of 192.168.1.33.
2. On the Port Forwarding / Port Triggering page, configure the router to forward the HTTP service to the
local address of your web server at 192.168.1.33.
HTTP (port 80) is the standard protocol for web servers.
3. (Optional) Register a host name with a Dynamic DNS service, and specify that name on the Dynamic
DNS page of the router.
Dynamic DNS makes it much easier to access a server from the Internet because you can enter the
name in the web browser. Otherwise, you must know the IP address that the ISP assigned, which
typically changes.
How the Router Implements the Port Forwarding Rule
The following sequence shows the effects of a port forwarding rule:
1. When you enter the URL www.example.com in your browser, the browser sends a web page request
message with the following destination information:
Destination address. The IP address of www.example.com, which is the address of your router.
Destination port number. 80, which is the standard port number for a web server process.
2. The router receives the message and finds your port forwarding rule for incoming port 80 traffic.
3. The router changes the destination IP address in the message to 192.168.1.123 and sends the message
to that computer.
4. Your web server at IP address 192.168.1.123 receives the request and sends a reply message to your
router.
5. Your router performs Network Address Translation (NAT) on the source IP address and sends the reply
through the Internet to the computer or mobile device device that sent the web page request.
Manage Port Triggering for Services and Applications
Port triggering is a dynamic extension of port forwarding that is useful in these cases:
An application must use port forwarding to more than one local computer (but not simultaneously).
An application must open incoming ports that are different from the outgoing port.
With port triggering, the router monitors traffic to the Internet from an outbound “trigger” port that you specify.
For outbound traffic from that port, the router saves the IP address of the computer that sent the traffic.The
router temporarily opens the incoming port or ports that you specify in your rule and forwards that incoming
traffic to that destination.
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Port forwarding creates a static mapping of a port number or range of ports to a single local computer. Port
triggering can dynamically open ports to any computer when needed and close the ports when they are no
longer needed.
If you use applications such as multiplayer gaming, peer-to-peer connections, real-time
communications such as instant messaging, or remote assistance, enable Universal
Plug-N-Play (UPnP). See Improve Network Connections With Universal Plug-N-Play on
page 47.
Note
Add a Port Triggering Rule
The router does not provide default services and applications for port triggering rules.You must define a
custom service or application for each port triggering rule.
To add a port triggering rule:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > Port Forwarding / Port Triggering.
The Port Forwarding / Port Triggering page displays.
5. Select the Port Triggering radio button.
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6. Click the Add Service button.
7. Specify a new port triggering rule with a custom service or application as described in the following
table.
DescriptionField
Service
Enter the name of the custom service or application.Service Name
From the Service User menu, select Any, or select Single address and enter the IP
address of one computer:
Any.This is the default setting and allows any computer on the Internet to use
this service.
Single address. Restricts the service to a particular computer. Enter the IP address
in the field that becomes available with this selection from the menu.
Service User
Select the protocol (TCP or UDP) that is associated with the service or application.Service Type
Enter the number of the outbound traffic port that must open the inbound ports.Triggering Port
Inbound Connection
Select the protocol (TCP or UDP) that is associated with the inbound connection.
If you are unsure, select TCP/UDP.
Connection Type
Enter the start port number for the inbound connection.Starting Port
Enter the end port number for the inbound connection.Ending Port
8. Click the Apply button.
Your settings are saved and the rule is added to the Port Triggering Portmap Table on the Port Forwarding
/ Port Triggering page.
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Change a Port Triggering Rule
You can change an existing port triggering rule.
To change a port triggering rule:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > Port Forwarding / Port Triggering.
The Port Forwarding / Port Triggering page displays.
5. Select the Port Triggering radio button.
The previous figure shows two port triggering rules.
6. In the Port Triggering Portmap Table, select the radio button for the service or application name.
7. Click the Edit Service button.
The Port Triggering - Services page displays.
8. Change the settings.
For information about the settings, see Add a Port Triggering Rule on page 195.
9. Click the Apply button.
Your settings are saved.The changed rule displays in the Port Triggering Portmap Table on the Port
Forwarding / Port Triggering page.
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Remove a Port Triggering Rule
You can remove a port triggering rule that you no longer need.
To remove a port triggering rule:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > Port Forwarding / Port Triggering.
The Port Forwarding / Port Triggering page displays.
5. Select the Port Triggering radio button.
The previous figure shows two port triggering rules.
6. In the Port Triggering Portmap Table, select the radio button for the service or application name.
7. Click the Delete Service button.
The rule is removed from the Port Triggering Portmap Table.
Specify the Time-Out for Port Triggering
The time-out period for port triggering controls how long the inbound ports stay open when the router detects
no activity. A time-out period is required because the router cannot detect when the service or application
terminates.
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To specify the time-out for port triggering:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > Port Forwarding / Port Triggering.
The Port Forwarding / Port Triggering page displays.
5. Select the Port Triggering radio button.
The port triggering settings display.
6. In the Port Triggering Time-out field, enter a value up to 9999 minutes.
The default setting is 20 minutes.
7. Click the Apply button.
Your settings are saved.
Disable Port Triggering
By default, port triggering is enabled.You can disable port triggering temporarily without removing any port
triggering rules.
To disable port triggering:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > Port Forwarding / Port Triggering.
The Port Forwarding / Port Triggering page displays.
5. Select the Port Triggering radio button.
The port triggering settings display.
6. Select the Disable Port Triggering check box.
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If this check box is selected, the router does not apply port triggering rules even if you specified them.
7. Click the Apply button.
Your settings are saved.
Application Example: Port Triggering for Internet Relay Chat
Some application servers, such as FTP and IRC servers, send replies to multiple port numbers. Using port
triggering, you can tell the router to open more incoming ports when a particular outgoing port starts a
session.
An example is Internet Relay Chat (IRC).Your computer connects to an IRC server at destination port 6667.
The IRC server not only responds to your originating source port but also sends an “identify” message to
your computer on port 113. Using port triggering, you can tell the router, “When you initiate a session with
destination port 6667, you must also allow incoming traffic on port 113 to reach the originating computer.
The following sequence shows the effects of this port triggering rule:
1. You open an IRC client program to start a chat session on your computer.
2. Your IRC client composes a request message to an IRC server using a destination port number of 6667,
the standard port number for an IRC server process.Your computer then sends this request message
to your router.
3. Your router creates an entry in its internal session table describing this communication session between
your computer and the IRC server.Your router stores the original information, performs Network Address
Translation (NAT) on the source address and port, and sends this request message through the Internet
to the IRC server.
4. Noting your port triggering rule and observing the destination port number of 6667, your router creates
another session entry to send any incoming port 113 traffic to your computer.
5. The IRC server sends a return message to your router using the NAT-assigned source port (for example,
port 33333) as the destination port and also sends an “identify” message to your router with destination
port 113.
6. When your router receives the incoming message to destination port 33333, it checks its session table
to see if a session is active for port number 33333. Finding an active session, the router restores the
original address information replaced by NAT and sends this reply message to your computer.
7. When your router receives the incoming message to destination port 113, it checks its session table
and finds an active session for port 113 associated with your computer.The router replaces the message’s
destination IP address with your computer’s IP address and forwards the message to your computer.
8. When you finish your chat session, your router eventually senses a period of inactivity in the
communications. The router then removes the session information from its session table, and incoming
traffic is no longer accepted on port numbers 33333 or 113.
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15
Troubleshooting
This chapter provides information to help you diagnose and solve problems you might experience with your
router. If you do not find the solution here, check the NETGEAR support site at netgear.com/support for product
and contact information.
The chapter contains the following sections:
Reboot the Router From Its Web Page on page 202
Quick Tips on page 202
Troubleshoot With the LEDs on page 203
You Cannot Log In to the Router on page 204
You Cannot Access the Internet on page 205
Changes Are Not Saved on page 207
Troubleshoot WiFi Connectivity on page 208
Troubleshoot Your Network Using the Ping Utility on page 208
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Reboot the Router From Its Web Page
You or NETGEAR technical support can reboot the router from its web page, either locally or remotely, for
example, when the router seems to be unstable or is not operating normally.
To reboot the router from its web page:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Click the ADVANCED tab.
The ADVANCED Home page displays.
5. In the Router Information pane, click the Reboot button.
A confirmation pop-up window displays.
6. Click the OK button.
The router reboots.
Quick Tips
This section describes tips for troubleshooting some common problems.
Sequence to Restart Your Network
If you must restart your network, follow this sequence:
1. Turn off and unplug the modem.
2. Turn off the router.
3. Plug in the modem and turn it on. Wait two minutes.
4. Turn on the router and wait two minutes.
Check Ethernet Cable Connections
If your device does not power on, make sure that the Ethernet cables are securely plugged in.The Internet
LED on the router is lit if the Ethernet cable connecting the router and the modem is plugged in securely
and the modem and router are turned on. If one or more powered-on computers are connected to the router
by an Ethernet cable, the corresponding numbered router LAN port LEDs light.
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WiFi Settings
Make sure that the WiFi settings in the computer or mobile device and router match exactly. The WiFi
network name (SSID) and WiFi security settings of the router and computer or mobile device must match
exactly.
If you set up an access control list, you must add the MAC address of each computer or mobile device to
the router’s access control list (see Allow or Block Access to Your Network on page 52).
Network Settings
Make sure that the network settings of the computer are correct. Wired computers and computers that are
connected over WiFi must use network IP addresses on the same network as the router. The simplest way
to do this is to configure each computer to obtain an IP address automatically using DHCP.
Some service providers require you to use the MAC address of the computer initially registered on the
account.You can view the MAC address on the Attached Devices page.
Troubleshoot With the LEDs
By default, the router is set with standard LED settings. If you turned off the LEDs except the Power LED,
you must return the LEDs to their standard settings for troubleshooting. For information about controlling
the LED settings, see Disable LED Blinking or Turn Off LEDs on page 160.
Standard LED Behavior When the Router Is Powered On
After you turn on power to the router, verify that the following sequence of events occurs:
1.
When power is first applied, verify that the Power LED is lit.
2. After about two minutes, verify the following:
The Power LED is solid white.
The Internet LED is lit.
The WiFi LED is lit unless you turned off the WiFi radios.
You can use the LEDs on the front panel of the router for troubleshooting.
Power LED Is Off or Blinking
This could occur for a number of reasons. Check the following:
Make sure that the power adapter is securely connected to your router and securely connected to a
working power outlet.
Make sure that you are using the power adapter that NETGEAR supplied for this product.
If the Power LED blinks slowly and continuously, the router firmware is corrupted. This can happen if a
firmware upgrade is interrupted, or if the router detects a problem with the firmware. If the error persists,
it is likely that a hardware problem exists. For recovery instructions or help with a hardware problem,
contact technical support at netgear.com/support.
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Power LED Stays Amber
When the router is turned on, the Power LED turns amber for up to two minutes and then turns white. If the
LED does not turn white, this indicates a problem with the router.
If the Power LED is still amber three minutes after you turn on power to the router, do the following:
Cycle the power to see if the router recovers.
Press and hold the Reset button to return the router to its factory settings. For more information, see
Return the Router to Its Factory Default Settings on page 161.
If the error persists, a hardware problem might be the cause. Contact technical support at
netgear.com/support.
Internet or Ethernet Port LEDs Are Off
If either the Ethernet port LEDs or the Internet LED does not light when the Ethernet connection is made,
check the following:
Make sure that the Ethernet cable connections are secure at the router and at the modem or computer.
Make sure that power is turned on to the connected modem or computer.
Be sure that you are using the correct cable.
When you connect the router’s Internet port to a modem, use the cable that was supplied with the modem.
This cable can be a standard straight-through Ethernet cable or an Ethernet crossover cable.
WiFi LED Is Off
If the WiFi LED stays off, check to see if someone pressed the WiFi On/Off button on the router.This button
turns the WiFi radios in the router on and off. The WiFi LED is lit when the WiFi radios are turned on.
You Cannot Log In to the Router
If you are unable to log in to the router from a computer on your local network and use the router’s web
pages, check the following:
If you are using an Ethernet-connected computer, check the Ethernet connection between the computer
and the router.
Make sure that the IP address of your computer is on the same subnet as the router. If you are using
the recommended addressing scheme, your computer’s address is in the range of 192.168.1.2 to
192.168.1.254.
Make sure that your computer can reach the router’s DHCP server. Recent versions of Windows and
Mac OS generate and assign an IP address if the computer cannot reach a DHCP server. These
autogenerated addresses are in the range of 169.254.x.x. If your IP address is in this range, check the
connection from the computer to the router and reboot your computer.
If your router’s IP address was changed and you do not know the current IP address, use an IP scanner
application to detect the IP address. If you still cannot find the IP address, clear the router’s configuration
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to factory defaults. This sets the router’s IP address to 192.168.1.1. For more information, see Return
the Router to Its Factory Default Settings on page 161 and Factory Settings on page 211.
Make sure that Java, JavaScript, or ActiveX is enabled in your browser. If you are using Internet Explorer,
click the Refresh button to be sure that the Java applet is loaded.
Try quitting the browser and launching it again.
Make sure that you are using the correct login information. The user name is admin, and the default
password is password. Make sure that Caps Lock is off when you enter this information.
If you are attempting to set up your router behind an existing router in your network, use the router in
WiFi bridge mode (see Use the Router in WiFi Bridge Mode on page 151) or set up the router as a WiFi
access point (see Use the Router as a WiFi Access Point on page 150).
If you are attempting to set up your router as a replacement for an ADSL gateway in your network, the
router cannot perform many gateway services. For example, the router cannot convert DSL or cable
data into Ethernet networking information. NETGEAR does not support such a configuration.
You Cannot Access the Internet
If you can access your router but not the Internet, check to see if the router can obtain an IP address from
your Internet service provider (ISP).
Check the WAN IP Address
Unless your ISP provides a fixed IP address, your router requests an IP address from the ISP.You can
determine whether the request was successful using the ADVANCED Home page.
To check the WAN IP address:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Select an external site such as netgear.com.
3. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
4. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
5. Click the ADVANCED tab.
The ADVANCED Home page displays.
6. Check to see that an IP address is shown for the Internet port.
If 0.0.0.0 is shown, your router did not obtain an IP address from your ISP.
If your router cannot obtain an IP address from the ISP, you might need to force your modem to recognize
your new router by restarting your network. For more information, see Sequence to Restart Your Network
on page 202.
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If your router is still unable to obtain an IP address from the ISP, the problem might be one of the following:
Your Internet service provider (ISP) might require a login program. Ask your ISP whether they require
PPP over Ethernet (PPPoE) or some other type of login.
If your ISP requires a login, the login name and password might be set incorrectly.
Your ISP might check for your computer’s host name. Assign the computer host name of your ISP
account as the account name on the Internet Setup page.
If your ISP allows only one Ethernet MAC address to connect to Internet and checks for your computer’s
MAC address, do one of the following:
- Inform your ISP that you bought a new network device and ask them to use the router’s MAC
address.
- Configure your router to clone your computer’s MAC address.
If your router obtained an IP address, but your computer is does not load any web pages from the Internet,
it might be for one or more of the following reasons:
Your computer might not recognize any DNS server addresses.
A DNS server is a host on the Internet that translates Internet names (such as www addresses) to
numeric IP addresses. Typically, your ISP provides the addresses of one or two DNS servers for your
use. If you entered a DNS address during the router’s configuration, reboot your computer, and verify
the DNS address.You can configure your computer manually with DNS addresses, as explained in your
operating system documentation.
The router might not be configured as the TCP/IP gateway on your computer.
If your computer obtains its information from the router by DHCP, reboot the computer and verify the
gateway address.
You might be running login software that is no longer needed.
If your ISP provided a program to log you in to the Internet (such as WinPoET), you no longer need to
run that software after installing your router.You might need to go to Internet Explorer and select Tools
> Internet Options, click the Connections tab, and select Never dial a connection. Other browsers
provide similar options.
Troubleshoot PPPoE
If you are using PPPoE, try troubleshooting your Internet connection.
To troubleshoot a PPPoE connection:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password.The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
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4. Click the ADVANCED tab.
The ADVANCED Home page displays.
5. In the Internet Port pane, click the Connection Status button.
The Connection Status pop-up window opens.
6. Check the information in the Connection Status pop-up window to see if your PPPoE connection is up
and working.
If the router is not connected, click the Connect button.
The router continues to attempt to connect indefinitely.
7. If you cannot connect after several minutes, the router might be set up with an incorrect service name,
user name, or password, or your ISP might be experiencing a provisioning problem.
Unless you connect manually, the router does not authenticate using PPPoE until data is transmitted to the
network.
Troubleshoot Internet Browsing
If your router can obtain an IP address but your computer is unable to load any web pages from the Internet,
check the following:
The traffic meter is enabled, and the limit was reached.
By configuring the traffic meter not to block Internet access when the traffic limit is reached, you can
resume Internet access. If your ISP sets a usage limit, they might charge you for the overage.
Your computer might not recognize any DNS server addresses. A DNS server is a host on the Internet
that translates Internet names (such as www addresses) to numeric IP addresses.
Typically, your ISP provides the addresses of one or two DNS servers for your use. If you entered a
DNS address during the router’s configuration, restart your computer.
Alternatively, you can configure your computer manually with a DNS address, as explained in the
documentation for your computer.
The router might not be configured as the default gateway on your computer.
Reboot the computer and verify that the router address (www.routerlogin.net) is listed by your computer
as the default gateway address.
You might be running login software that is no longer needed. If your ISP provided a program to log you
in to the Internet (such as WinPoET), you no longer need to run that software after installing your router.
You might need to go to Internet Explorer and select Tools > Internet Options, click the Connections
tab, and select the Never dial a connection. Other browsers provide similar options.
Changes Are Not Saved
If the router does not save the changes that you make on the router web pages, do the following:
When entering configuration settings, always click the Apply button before moving to another page or
tab, or your changes are lost.
Click the Refresh or Reload button in the web browser. It is possible that the changes occurred, but
the old settings might be in the web browser’s cache.
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Troubleshoot WiFi Connectivity
If you are experiencing trouble connecting over WiFi to the router, try to isolate the problem:
Does the computer or mobile device that you are using find your WiFi network?
If not, check the WiFi LED on the front of the router. If it is off, you can press the WiFi On/Off button on
the router to turn the router WiFi radios back on.
If you disabled the router’s SSID broadcast, then your WiFi network is hidden and does not display in
your WiFi client’s scanning list. (By default, SSID broadcast is enabled.)
Does your computer or mobile device support the security that you are using for your WiFi network
(WPA or WPA2)?
If you want to view the WiFi settings for the router, use an Ethernet cable to connect a computer to a
LAN port on the router. Then log in to the router, and select BASIC > Wireless.
Be sure to click the Apply button if you change settings.Note
If your computer or mobile device finds your network but the signal strength is weak, check these conditions:
Is your router too far from your device or too close? Place your device near the router but at least 6 feet
(1.8 meters) away and see whether the signal strength improves.
Are objects between the router and your computer or mobile device blocking the WiFi signal?
Troubleshoot Your Network Using the Ping Utility
Most network devices and routers contain a ping utility that sends an echo request packet to the designated
device. The device then responds with an echo reply.You can easily troubleshoot a network using the ping
utility in your computer or workstation.
Test the LAN Path to Your Router
You can ping the router from your computer to verify that the LAN path to your router is set up correctly.
To ping the router from a Windows-based computer:
1. From the Windows toolbar, click the Start button and select Run.
2. In the field provided, type ping followed by the IP address of the router, as in this example:
ping www.routerlogin.net
3. Click the OK button.
You see a message like this one:
Pinging <IP address > with 32 bytes of data
If the path is working, you see this message:
Reply from < IP address >: bytes=32 time=NN ms TTL=xxx
If the path is not working, you see this message:
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Request timed out
If the path is not functioning correctly, one of the following problems might be present:
Wrong physical connections
For a wired connection, make sure that the numbered LAN port LED is lit for the port to which you are
connected.
Check to see that the appropriate LEDs are lit for your network devices. If your router and computer are
connected to a separate Ethernet switch, make sure that the link LEDs are lit for the switch ports that
are connected to your computer and router.
Wrong network configuration
Verify that the Ethernet card driver software and TCP/IP software are both installed and configured on
your computer.
Verify that the IP address for your router and your computer are correct and that the addresses are on
the same subnet.
Test the Path From Your Computer to a Remote Device
To test the path from your computer to a remote device:
1. From the Windows toolbar, click the Start button and select Run.
2. In the Windows Run window, type
ping -n 10 <IP address>
where <IP address> is the IP address of a remote device such as your ISP DNS server.
If the path is functioning correctly, messages display that are similar to those shown in Test the LAN
Path to Your Router on page 208.
3. If you do not receive replies, check the following:
Check to see that IP address of your router is listed as the default gateway for your computer. If
DHCP assigns the IP configuration of your computers, this information is not visible in your computer
Network Control Panel. Verify that the IP address of the router is listed as the default gateway.
Check to see that the network address of your computer (the portion of the IP address specified by
the subnet mask) is different from the network address of the remote device.
Check to see that your cable or DSL modem is connected and functioning.
If your ISP assigned a host name to your computer, enter that host name as the account name on
the Internet Setup page.
Your ISP might be rejecting the Ethernet MAC addresses of all but one of your computers.
Many broadband ISPs restrict access by allowing traffic only from the MAC address of your broadband
modem. Some ISPs additionally restrict access to the MAC address of a single computer connected to
that modem. If your ISP does this, configure your router to “clone” or “spoof the MAC address from the
authorized computer.
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A
Supplemental Information
This appendix includes technical information about your router.
The appendix covers the following topics:
Factory Settings on page 211
Technical Specifications on page 214
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Factory Settings
You can reset the router to the factory default settings that are shown in the following table.
For more information about resetting the router to its factory settings, see Return the Router to Its Factory
Default Settings on page 161.
The following table shows the factory default settings for model R6900P.
Table 4. Router factory default settings
Default SettingsFeature
Router login
www.routerlogin.net (or www.routerlogin.com or 192.168.1.1)User login URL
adminUser name (case-sensitive)
passwordLogin password
(case-sensitive)
Internet connection
Use default hardware addressWAN MAC address
Determined by the protocol that is used for the Internet connection (see
Manage the MTU Size on page 43)
WAN MTU size
AutoSensingPort speed
Local network (LAN)
192.168.1.1LAN IP address
255.255.255.0Subnet mask
EnabledDHCP server
192.168.1.2 to 192.168.1.254DHCP range
192.168.1.2DHCP starting IP address
192.168.1.254DHCP ending IP address
DisabledDMZ
North America: Pacific Standard Time
Europe: GMT
Other continents: Varies by region
Time zone
DisabledTime adjusted for daylight
saving time
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Table 4. Router factory default settings (Continued)
Default SettingsFeature
Firewall and WAN security
Disabled (except traffic on port 80, the HTTP port)Inbound (communications
coming in from the Internet)
Enabled (all)Outbound (communications
going out to the Internet)
DisabledSource MAC filtering
EnabledPort scan and DoS protection
DisabledRespond to ping on Internet
port
DisabledIGMP proxying
EnabledSIP ALG
Main WiFi network
EnabledWiFi communication
See the router labelSSID name
WPA2-PSK (AES)Security
See the router labelWiFi passphrase
North America: United States
Europe: Europe
Other continents: Varies by region
Country/region
The available channels depend on the region.RF channel
Auto
Throughput can vary. Network conditions and
environmental factors, including volume of network
traffic, building materials and construction, and network
overhead, affect the data throughput rate.
Note
Transmission speed
Up to 600 Mbps at 2.4 GHz
Up to 1300 Mbps at 5 GHz
Operating mode
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Table 4. Router factory default settings (Continued)
Default SettingsFeature
100%, nonconfigurableTransmit power
Guest WiFi network
DisabledWiFi communication
2.4 GHz band: NETGEAR_Guest
5 GHz band: NETGEAR-5G_Guest
SSID name
None (open network)Security
DisabledAllow guests to access main
network
General WiFi settings
100%, nonconfigurableRadio transmission power
Enabled20/40 MHz coexistence
2346Fragmentation length
2347CTS/RTS threshold
Long PreamblePreamble mode
WPS
EnabledWPS capability
Enabled; see the router’s web page (select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup
> Wireless Settings)
Router’s PIN
EnabledKeep existing wireless
settings
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Technical Specifications
The following table shows the technical specifications for model R6900P.
Table 5. Router specifications
DescriptionFeature
TCP/IP, RIP-1, RIP-2, DHCP, PPPoE, Dynamic DNS, UPnP, and SMBData and routing protocols
North America: 120V, 60 Hz, input
All regions: 12V @ 3.5A output
Power adapter
Dimensions: 280 x 182 x 49 mm (11 x 7.17 x 1.9 in.)Dimensions
Weight: 430 g (0.94 lb)Weight
0° to 40°C (32º to 104ºF)Operating temperature
90% maximum relative humidity, noncondensingOperating humidity
FCC Part 15 Class BElectromagnetic emissions
Four RJ-45 ports supporting 10BASE-T, 100BASE-TX, and 1000BASE-TLAN
One RJ-45 port supporting 10BASE-T, 100BASE-TX, and 1000BASE-TWAN
Maximum WiFi signal rate complies with the IEEE 802.11 standard.
NETGEAR makes no express or implied
representations or warranties about this product’s
compatibility with any future WiFi standards. 802.11ac
1300 Mbps is approximately 3x faster than 802.11n
450 Mbps. Up to 1300 Mbps WiFi speeds achieved
when connecting to other 802.11ac 1300 Mbps devices.
Note
WiFi
Auto-rate sensingRadio data rates
IEEE 802.11 b/g/n 2.4 GHz
IEEE 802.11 a/n/ac 5.0 GHz
Data encoding standards
Limited by the amount of WiFi network traffic generated by each node
(typically 50–70 nodes)
Maximum computers per WiFi
network
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Table 5. Router specifications (Continued)
DescriptionFeature
2.4 GHz band
- US: 2.412–2.462 GHz
- Europe: 2.412–2.472 GHz
- Australia: 2.412–2.472 GHz
- Japan: 2.412–2.472 GHz
5 GHz band
- US: 5.18–5.24 + 5.745–5.825 GHz
- Europe: 5.18–5.24 GHz
- Australia: 5.18–5.24 + 5.745–5.825 GHz
- Japan: 5.18–5.24 GHz
Operating frequency range
WPA2-PSK, WPA-PSK, WPA/WPA2 (mixed mode), WPA/WPA2 Enterprise,
and WEP
802.11 security
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Specifications

Netgear R6900P Questions and Answers

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