Actiontec electronic MI424-WR User Manual

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Wireless Broadband Router

Model #: MI424-WR

Firmware Version: 4.0.16.1.45.120

User Manual

Ver 1.1

Solutions for the Digital Life

™

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Table of Contents

1 Introduction 1

Package Contents 1 Minimum System Requirements 2 Features 2 Getting to Know the Router 4

2 Connecting the Router 9

Setting Up the Router 9 Computer Network Configuration 13 Home Page 15

3 Configuring My Network Settings 17

Accessing My Network 17 Using My Network 18

4 Creating a Wireless Network 27

Overview 27 Wireless Status 28 Basic Security Settings 30 Advanced Security Settings 32 Configuring a Wireless Windows XP Client 40 Connecting a Wireless Windows XP Client 42

5 Using Network Connections 47

Network (Home/Office) 48 Ethernet Connection 53 Coax Connection 56 Broadband Ethernet Connection 59 Coax Broadband Connection 64 WAN PPPoE/WAN PPPoE 2 69

6 Configuring the Router’s Security 75

General 77 Access Control 79 Port Forwarding 82 DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) Host 83 Port Triggering 84 Remote Administration 86 Website Blocking 88 Static NAT 90 Advanced Filtering 91 Security Log 94

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Actiontec Wireless Broadband Router User Manual

iii

Table of Contents

7 Using Parental Controls 101

Activating Parental Controls 101 Creating a Filtering Policy 102 Advanced Options 106 Statistics 107

8 Using Advanced Settings 109

Firmware Upgrade 111 Firmware Restore 113 Configuration File 114 System Settings 115 Date and Time 120 Scheduler Rules 121 Routing 123 IP Address Distribution 125 Diagnostics 129 Restoring Default Settings 130 Reboot the Router 130 MAC Cloning 131 ARP (Address Resolution Protocol) Table 131 Users 132 QoS 133 Local Administration 133 Remote Administration 134 Dynamic DNS 134 DNS Server 136 Network Objects 138 Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) 139 Protocols 141

9 Monitoring the Router 143

Router Status 143 System Log 144 Connection Monitoring 145 Traffic Monitoring 146

10 Troubleshooting 147

A Quality of Service 151

Traffic Priority 151 Traffic Shaping 155

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Table of Contents

B Specifications 167

General 167 Wireless Operating Range 168 LED Indicators 168 Environmental 168

Notices 169

Regulatory Compliance Notices 169 Modifications 169

Limited Warranty 171

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Introduction

Thank you for purchasing the Actiontec Wireless Broadband Router. The Wireless Broadband Router supports Multimedia over Coax Alliance (MoCA), a new net- working standard that allows digital entertainment and information to be transmitted and distributed to multiple devices over coaxial cables. The Router also supports Ethernet and Wi-Fi networking, making it the most versatile router available. If you want to take your home or office networking to the next level, the Actiontec Wireless Broadband Router is sure to be one of the keys to your success.

Package Contents

s Actiontec Wireless Broadband Router

s Black Power cord

s Yellow cable (Ethernet, 6 ft.)

s White cable (Ethernet, 10 ft.)

s Quick Start Guide

s Installation Guide

s User Manual CD

s Wireless Networking Guide

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Chapter 1 Introduction

s Wall-mount template

s Vertical stand

s Warranty

Minimum System Requirements

s Computer with Ethernet capability

s Microsoft Windows 98SE, Me, 2000, or XP; Mac OS 9 or greater; Linux/

BSD, Unix

s Internet Explorer 5.0 or higher; Netscape Navigator 7.0 or higher

s TCP/IP network protocol installed on each computer

Features

s Supports multiple networking standards, including:

WAN - Ethernet and MoCA interfaces

LAN - 802.11g, 802.11b, Ethernet, and MoCA

s Integrated wired networking with 4-port 10/100 Mbps Ethernet switch

and MoCA

s Integrated wireless networking with 802.11g access point featuring:

802.11g enabled to support speeds up to 54 Mbps wirelessly

802.11b backward compatible, communicating with 802.11b wireless products at speeds up to 11 Mbps

s Enterprise-level security, including :

Fully customizable firewall with Stateful Packet Inspection

Content filtering with URL-keyword based filtering, parental control, customizable filtering policies per computer, and E-mail notification

Denial of service protection against IP spoofing attacks, intrusion and scanning attacks, IP fragment overlap, ping of death, and fragmentation attacks

Event logging

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Chapter 1 Introduction

Intrusion detection

MAC address filtering

NAT

DMZ hosting

Access control

Advanced wireless protection featuring WPA, WEP 64/128 bit encryp- tion, 802.1x authentication, and MAC address filtering

ICSA certified

s Other Features

DHCP server option

DHCP server/PPPoE server auto-detection

DNS server

LAN IP and WAN IP address selection

MAC address cloning

Port forwarding

PPPoE support

QoS support (end to end layer 2/3) featuring Diffserv, 802.1p/q prioritization, configurable upstream/downstream traffic shaping, random early detection and pass-through of WAN-side DSCPs, PHBs, and queuing to

LAN-side devices

Remote management and secured remote management using HTTPS

Reverse NAT

Static NAT

Static routing

Time zone support

VLAN multicast support

VPN IPSec (VPN passthrough only)

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Actiontec Wireless Broadband Router User Manual

Chapter 1 Introduction

MI424WR

Getting to Know the Router

This section contains a quick description of the Router’s lights (LEDs), ports, etc. The Router features several indicator lights on its front panel, and a series of ports and switches on its rear panel.

Front Panel

The front panel of the Router features ten indicator lights: Power, Ethernet WAN, Coax WAN, Internet, Ethernet LAN (4), Coax LAN, and Wireless.

Power Light

The Power light displays the Router’s current status. If the Power light glows steadily green, the Router is receiving power and fully operational. When the Power light flashes rapidly, the Router is initializing. If the Power light is not illuminated or glows red when the Power cord is plugged in and the Power switch is turned on, the Router has suffered a critical error and technical support should be contacted.

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Chapter 1 Introduction

Ethernet WAN Light

The Ethernet WAN light illuminates when the Router is connected to the Internet via Ethernet. If flashing, data traffic is passing across the port.

Coax WAN Light

The Coax WAN light glows steadily or flashes when the Router is connected to the Internet via coaxial cable.

Internet Light

When the Internet light glows steadily green, the Router is connected to the ISP (Internet Service Provider). If it glows amber, there is a physical connection to the ONT (Optical Network Terminator), but authentication has not taken place (i.e., no IP address is present).

Ethernet LAN Lights (1, 2, 3, 4)

The Ethernet LAN lights illuminate when the Router is connected to a local network via one or more of its Ethernet ports. If flashing, data traffic is passing across the port(s).

Coax LAN Light

The Coax LAN light glows steadily or flashes when the Router is connected to a local network via its Coax port.

Wireless Light

The Wireless light illuminates when the Router’s wireless access point is turned on. If flashing, data traffic is passing across the wireless connection.

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Chapter 1 Introduction

Reset

Coax

ResetReset

On/Of

5VDC 3A

100

Rear Panel

The rear panel of the Router features seven ports (Coax, Ethernet WAN, Ethernet

LAN [4], and Power), as well as a Reset button and Power switch.

Coax Port

The Coax port connects the Router to the ISP or other devices using a coaxial cable.

Reset Button

To restore the Router’s factory default settings, press and hold the Reset button for approximately ten seconds. The reset process will start about ten seconds after releasing the button. When the Router resets, all the lights on the front panel turn off, and then some of the lights start flashing. The Router has completed its reset process when the Power light glows steadily green.

Caution: Do not unplug the Power cord from the Router dur-

ing the reset process. Doing so may result in the loss of the Router’s configuration information. If this occurs, reset the Router again.

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Chapter 1 Introduction

Ethernet WAN Port

The Ethernet WAN port connects the Router to the ISP using an Ethernet cable.

Ethernet LAN Ports (4)

The Ethernet LAN ports connect devices to the Router via Ethernet cables to cre- ate a local area network (LAN). The Ethernet LAN ports are 10/100 Mbps auto- sensing ports, and either a straight-through or crossover Ethernet cable can be used when connecting devices to the ports.

Power Switch

The Power switch powers the Router on and off.

Power Port

The Power port connects the Router to an electrical wall outlet via the Power cord.

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Connecting the Router

Connecting a computer or local network to the Wireless Broadband Router is a simple procedure, varying slightly depending on the computer’s operating system but designed to seamlessly integrate the Router with the computer or local network. Moreover, addition configuration to access the GUI is not required when tak- ing advantage of Universal Plug-and-Play support in Windows XP. The Windows default network settings dictate that in most cases, the setup procedure described in the “Computer Network Configuration” will be unnecessary. For example, the default DHCP setting in Windows 2000 is “client,” requiring no further modification. However, Actiontec advises following the setup procedure described below to verify all communication parameters are valid and the physical cable connections are correct.

Setting Up the Router

There are three parts to setting up the Router: Connecting the Cables, Configuring the Router, and Connecting Other Computers/Set Top Boxes.

Connecting the Cables

Note: If a different router was being used, disconnect it. Remove

☞

all router components, including power supplies and cables, since they will not work with the Wireless Broadband Router.

1. Get the Router and black Power cord from the box.

2. Plug the black Power cord in the black port on the back of the Router and

then into a power outlet.

3. Turn the Router on.

4. Make sure the Power light on the front of the Router is glows steadily green.

5. Plug the yellow Ethernet cable from the box into one of the four yellow

Ethernet ports on the back of the Router.

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Chapter 2 Connecting the Router

6. Make sure the computer is powered on, then plug the other end of the yellow

Ethernet cable into an Ethernet port on the computer.

7. Make sure at least one of the Ethernet LAN lights on the front of the Router

glows steadily green. This may take a few moments.

8. The phone company previously installed a high-speed wall jack somewhere in

the house. Locate it and note its type (Ethernet or coaxial). If Ethernet, follow steps 8a and 8b. If coaxial, follow steps 9a and 9b. Then, continue to step 10.

a) If connecting via Ethernet, get the white Ethernet cable from the box and

plug one end in the white port on the back of the Router.

b) Plug the other end of the white Ethernet cable into the high-speed

Ethernet jack.

9. a) If connecting via coaxial cable, get a coaxial cable and connect one end to

the red Coax port on the back of the Router.

b) Connect the other end of the coaxial cable to a coax jack.

10. Make sure the Ethernet WAN light (if connecting via Ethernet) or Coax WAN

light (if connecting via coaxial cable) on the front of the Router glows steadily green. If connecting via coaxial cable, this may take a few minutes.

Note: If the Ethernet WAN light or Coax WAN light does not

☞

illuminate, make sure the cable (Ethernet or coaxial) is connected properly at both ends.

Configuring the Router

1. Open a web browser on the computer connected to the Router. In the

“Address” text box, type:

http://192.168.1.1

then press Enter on the keyboard.

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Chapter 2 Connecting the Router

2. The “Login” screen appears. Enter the default user name (admin) and pass-

word (password) in the appropriate text boxes, then click OK.

3. The “Login Setup” screen appears. Select a new user name and password and

enter them in the appropriate text boxes (the password must be entered twice, for validation purposes). Write the new user name and password down on a piece of paper and keep it in a safe place, since they will be needed to access the Router’s MegaControl Panel™ in the future.

4. In the bottom part of the screen, select the correct time zone from the “Time

Zone” drop-down list, then click OK at the bottom of the screen.

The Router is now configured.

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Chapter 2 Connecting the Router

Connecting Other Computers/Set Top Boxes

The Router can connect to other computers or set top boxes in three ways: via Ethernet, via wireless connection, or via coaxial cable.

Ethernet

1. Get an Ethernet cable and plug one end into one of the open yellow

Ethernet ports on the back of the Router.

2. Plug the other end of the Ethernet cable into an Ethernet port on the computer.

3. Make sure the corresponding Ethernet LAN light on the front of the Router

glows steadily green.

4. Repeat these steps for each computer to be connected to the Router

via Ethernet.

Wireless

1. Make sure each computer to be connected wirelessly has built-in wireless or

an attached wireless adapter.

2. Make sure the computer uses the same ESSID and WEP key as the Router by

launching the computer’s wireless application

3. Enter the ESSID and WEP key found on the sticker on the bottom of the

Router in the computer’s wireless settings and click Save. Make sure to configure the computer to use 64/40-bit WEP encryption.

4. Make sure the changes were implemented by surfing the Internet from

the computer.

5. Repeat these steps for every other computer to be connected to the

Router wirelessly.

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Chapter 2 Connecting the Router

Coaxial

1. Make sure all set top boxes are turned off.

2. Disconnect any adapter currently connected to the coaxial jack in the room

where the Router is.

3. Connect one end of the coaxial cable to the coaxial wall jack, and the other

end to the red Coax port on the back of the Router.

4. Power up the set top box.

5. Make sure the Coax LAN light on the front of the Router glows steadily

green. This may take a few minutes. When it does, the set top box is connected to the Router.

Computer Network Conguration

Each network interface on the computer should either be configured with a statically defined IP address and DNS address, or instructed to automatically obtain an

IP address using the Network DHCP server. The Router is set up, by default, with an

active DHCP server, and Actiontec recommends leaving this setting as is.

Configuring Dynamic IP Addressing

To set up a computer to use dynamic IP addressing:

Windows XP

1. Select Network Connections in the Control Panel.

2. Right-click Ethernet Local Area Connection, then click Properties.

3. In the “General” tab, select Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), then click

Properties.

4. The “Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) Properties” window appears.

5. Click the “Obtain an IP address automatically” radio button.

6. Click the “Obtain DNS server address automatically” radio button.

7. Click OK in the “(TCP/IP) Properties” screen, then click OK in the “Local

Area Connection Properties” screen to save the settings.

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Chapter 2 Connecting the Router

Windows 2000

1. Select Network and Dialing Connections in the Control Panel.

2. Right-click on the Ethernet connection’s icon, then click Properties.

3. Select Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) component, then click Properties.

4. The “Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) Properties” window appears.

5. Click the “Obtain an IP address automatically” radio button.

6. Click the “Obtain DNS server address automatically” radio button.

Windows 98/Me

1. Select Network in the Control Panel.

2. Select the TCP/IP settings for the network card, then click Properties.

3. Click the “Obtain an IP address automatically” radio button in the “IP

Address” tab.

4. Click Disable DNS in the DNS configuration tab.

5. Click OK in the “TCP/IP Properties” screen.

6. Click OK in the “Network” screen to reboot and save the settings.

Windows NT

1. Click Network in the Control Panel. The “Network” window appears.

2. In the “Protocol” tab, select Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) then click

Properties.

3. In the “IP Address” tab, click the “Obtain an IP address automatically” radio

button.

4. In the “DNS” tab, verify no DNS server is defined in the “DNS Service Search

Order” text box and no suffix is defined in the “Domain Suffix Search Order” text box.

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Chapter 2 Connecting the Router

Linux

1. Login into the system as a super-user, by entering “su” at the prompt.

2. Type “ifconfig” to display the network devices and allocated IPs.

3. Type “pump -i <dev>,” where <dev> is the network device name.

4. Type “ifconfig” again to view the newly allocated IP address.

5. Make sure no firewall is active on device <dev>.

Home Page

After logging into the Router’s MegaControl Panel (see “Configuring the Router” at the beginning of this chapter), the “Home” screen appears.

The Home screen has a “Main Menu” that occupies the top of the screen. Below that, the screen is divided into three columns: “My Router,” “My Network,” and “Action Zone.”

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Actiontec Wireless Broadband Router User Manual

Main Menu

The “Main Menu” contains links to all of the configuration options of the Router:

Wireless Setup (explained in chapter 4 of this manual), My Network (chapter 5), Firewall (chapter 6), Parental Controls (chapter 7), Advanced (chapter 8), and System Monitoring (chapter 9).

My Router

This section displays the status of the Router’s network and Internet connection. A green light signifies the Router is connected; a yellow light means the Router is attempting to connect; and a red light signifies the Router’s connection is down.

Broadband Connection

The “Broadband Connection” section of My Router displays the state of the Router’s broadband connection (“Connected” or “Disconnected”) for the two connection options (“Coax Status” and “Ethernet Status”), and the WAN IP address of the broadband connection.

Quick Links

The “Quick Links” section of My Router contains a list of frequently accessed settings, including “Change Wireless Settings,” “Change Login User Name & Password,” “Enable Gaming,” and “Logout.”

My Network

The “My Network” section of the Home screen displays the connection type, name, and IP address of all devices connected to the Router’s network. The icon associated with the device will be displayed normally (signifying an active device) or shaded (signifying the device has not been active for at least 60 seconds). The user can also configure the basic settings of each device by clicking on its icon. These settings are described in more detail in chapter 3, “Configuring My Network Settings.”

Action Zone

This section contains links to various Verizon Web sites, and other informational links. Clicking on the icon above “Go to Internet Now” connects the user to the home page configured on the user’s web browser.

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Configuring My Network Settings

Once the Wireless Broadband Router is physically connected and the MegaControl Panel’s Home screen is displayed in a web browser, a list of the devices connected to the Router’s network appears in the “My Network” section of the screen. From here, some basic network settings can be configured.

Accessing My Network

To access My Network, click on the “My Network” icon in the Home screen.

The “My Network” screen appears:

On the far right side of the screen, in the “Connected Devices” section, is list of the devices currently connected to the network, listed by connection type and number. The rest of the screen contains the “My Network” section, which displays each device connected to the network, and a series of configuration settings.

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Actiontec Wireless Broadband Router User Manual

Chapter 3 Configuring My Network Settings

Using My Network

Various settings can be accessed for a particular device, as follows.

Access Device

For devices that can be accessed (such as Internet cameras and networked hard drives), locate it in the My Network column, then click Access Devices to use the device over the network.

Access Shared Files

To access the shared files on a particular device, locate the device in the My Network column, then click Access Shared Files. A list of shared files appears on the screen.

Website Blocking

Website blocking is used to prevent a device on the network from accessing particular websites on the Internet. To set up website blocking on a networked device, locate the device in the My Network column, then click Website Blocking. The “Website Blocking” screen appears.

1. Click in the “Enable Website Blocking” check box to enable web site blocking,

then click Add.

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Chapter 3 Configuring My Network Settings

2. The “Blocked Website” screen appears. Enter the website address (IP or URL)

to block on the network (all pages within the website will also be blocked). If the website address has multiple IP addresses, the Router will resolve all additional addresses and automatically add them to the restrictions table.

3. To apply website blocking to a computer on the network, select it from the

“Networked Computer/Device” drop-down list.

4. If website blocking needs to be active all the time, select “Always” from the

“When should this rule occur?” drop-down list. If the rule will only be active at certain times select “Specify Schedule” and click Add. Then, add a schedule rule (for more details about schedule rules, see the “Advanced Settings” chapter of this manual).

Note: Make sure the Router’s date and time settings for current

☞

time zone are set correctly for schedule rules to function properly.

5. Click Apply to add the website to the table. The previous screen appears while

the Router attempts to find the site. “Resolving...” appears in the “Status” column while the site is being located.

6. If the site is successfully located, “Resolved” appears in the Status column. If

not, “Hostname Resolution Failed” appears. Click Refresh to update the status if necessary. If the Router fails to locate the website, do the following:

• Use a web browser to verify the website is available. If it is, the website address was entered incorrectly.

• If the website is not available, return to the Website Blocking screen at a later time and click Resolve Now to verify the website can be found and blocked by the Router.

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Actiontec Wireless Broadband Router User Manual

Chapter 3 Configuring My Network Settings

Block Internet Services

Internet services blocking is used to prevent a device on the network from accessing particular services on the Internet, such as receiving E-mail or downloading from FTP sites. To set up Internet services blocking on a networked device, locate the device in the My Network column, then click Block Internet Services. The “Access Control” screen appears.

1. Click Add in the “Networked computer/Device” column. The “Add Access

Control Rule” screen appears.

2. If this access control rule applies to all networked devices, select “Any” from

the “Networked Computer/Device” list box. If this rule applies to certain devices only, select “Specify Address” and click Add. Then, add a network object (for more details about adding network objects, see the “Advanced Settings” chapter of this manual).

3. Select the Internet protocol to be blocked from the “Protocol” drop-down list.

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Chapter 3 Configuring My Network Settings

4. If this rule will be active all the time, select “Always” from the “When should this

rule occur?” drop-down list. If the rule will only be active at certain times select “Specify Schedule” and click Add. Then, add a schedule rule (for more details about schedule rules, see the “Advanced Settings” chapter of this manual).

Note: Make sure the Router’s date and time settings for your time

☞

zone are set correctly for schedule rules to function properly.

5. Click Apply to save the changes. The Access Control screen will display a sum-

mary of the access control rule.

Note: To block a service that is not included in the list select

☞

“Specify Protocol” from the Protocol drop-down menu. The “Edit Service” screen appears. Define the service, then click Apply. The service will then be automatically added to the top section of the “Add Access Control Rule” screen, and will be selectable.

The user may disable an access control and the service made available without having to remove the service from the Access Control table. This may be useful to make the service available only temporarily, with the expectation that the restriction will be reinstated later.

• To temporarily disable an access control clear the check box next to the network computer/device.

• To reinstate the restriction at a later time select the check box next to the network computer/device.

• To remove an access restriction from the Access Control table click the Remove button for the service. The service will be removed from the Access Control table.

Note: When Web Filtering is enabled, HTTP services cannot be

☞

blocked by access control.

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Chapter 3 Configuring My Network Settings

Enable Application

Activating “Enable Application” (also known as port forwarding) allows the network to be exposed to the Internet in certain limited and controlled ways, enabling some applications to work from the local network (game, voice, and chat applications, for example), as well as allowing Internet access to servers in the network. To set this up on a networked device, locate the device in the My Network column, then click Enable Applications. The “Port Forwarding” screen appears.

1. Click Add. The “Add Port Forwarding Rule” screen appears.

2. Enter the local IP address or the host name of the computer providing the ser-

vice in the “Networked Computer/Device” text box. Note that only one local network computer can be assigned to provide a specific service or application.

3. Select the Internet protocol to be provided from the “Protocol” drop-down

list.

4. To select a port to forward communications to (this is optional), select

“Specify” from the “Forward to Port” drop-down list, then, in the text box that appears, enter the port number. If no port is identified, select “Same as Incoming Port.”

5. If this port will be active all the time, select “Always” from the “When should this

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Chapter 3 Configuring My Network Settings

6. Click Apply to save the changes.

Note: Some applications, such as FTP, TFTP, PPTP, and H323,

☞

require the support of special specific Application Level Gateway (ALG) modules to work inside the local network. Data packets associated with these applications contain information that allows them to be routed correctly. An ALG is needed to handle these packets and ensure they reach their intended destinations. The Router is equipped with a robust list of ALG modules, enabling maximum functionality in the local network.

The ALG is automatically assigned based on the destination port.

View Device Details

To view information about a networked device, or to test a device’s connection, locate the device in the My Network column, then click View Device Details. The “Device Information” screen appears.

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Chapter 3 Configuring My Network Settings

1. Click Test Connectivity. The “Diagnostics” screen appears.

2. Click Go. The Router runs a ping test, and the results are displayed in the

Diagnostics screen.

Rename This Device

To rename a networked device, locate the device in the My Network column, then click Rename This Device. The “Rename Device” screen appears.

Enter the new name of the device in the “New Name” text box and, if needed, select a new icon for the device from the “New Icon” drop-down list.

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Chapter 3 Configuring My Network Settings

Timeout for Inactive Device

The amount of time a device continues to be displayed on the network after it has been disconnected is configured in the “Timeout for Inactive Device” screen. To display the screen, click Timeout for Inactive Device.

Select the timeout period from the “Timeout” drop-down list. After the device has been disconnected for this amount of time, it will no longer be displayed in the “My Network” column.

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Creating a Wireless Network

This chapter explains how to create a wireless network using the Wireless Broadband Router, including accessing and configuring wireless security options.

Overview

The Wireless Broadband Router provides the user with wireless connectivity over the 802.11b and g standards (the most common wireless standards). 802.11b has a maximum data rate of 11 Mbps, while 802.11g has a maximum data rate of 54 Mbps. Both operate in the 2.4 GHz range.

The Router’s wireless feature is turned on, with wireless security activated, by default. The level of security is 64/40-bit WEP, with a unique WEP key already entered. This information is displayed on a sticker located on the bottom of the Router.

The Router integrates multiple layers of security. These include the IEEE 802.1x port-based authentication protocol, RADIUS client, EAP-MD5, EAP-TLS, EAP-TTLS,

EAP-PEAP, Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP), Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) and

firewall and VPN applications.

Connecting a Wireless Client

To connect a wireless client to the Router:

Note: The following procedure assumes the Router’s default wire-

☞

less settings are intact. If they have been changed, use the new ESSID and wireless security settings. For more details, see the “Connecting a Wireless Windows XP Client” section of this chapter.

1. In the wireless client’s configuration interface, enter the Router’s ESSID

(found on a sticker on the bottom of the Router’s case) in the appropriate text box or field (this varies depending on the wireless client’s manufacturer).

2. Enter the Router’s WEP key (also found on the sticker on the bottom of the

Router’s case) in the wireless client’s configuration interface.

3. Save the changes and exit the wireless client’s configuration interface. The cli-

ent should now detect and join the Router’s wireless network. If not, check the wireless client’s documentation, or contact its manufacturer.

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Chapter 4 Creating a Wireless Network

Wireless Status

Clicking on the “Wireless Settings” icon in the Home screen generates the “Wireless Status” screen, which displays the current status of the wireless connection.

Radio Enabled

Displays whether the Router’s wireless radio is active.

SSID

The SSID (Service Set Identifier) is the network name shared among all devices on a particular wireless network. The SSID must be identical for all devices on the wireless network. It is case-sensitive and must not exceed 32 characters. Make sure the SSID is the same for all devices to be connected to the wireless network. The Router comes from the factory with an SSID already entered and displayed here. The default SSID can also be found on a sticker on the bottom of the Router.

Channel

Displays the channel to which the wireless connection is currently set. All devices on the wireless network must be on the same channel to function correctly.

Security Enabled

Displays what kind of security is active on the wireless connection, and the security encryption key.

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Chapter 4 Creating a Wireless Network

SSID Broadcast

Displays whether the Router is broadcasting its SSID. If activated, the SSID of the Router’s wireless network is broadcast wirelessly.

MAC Authentication

Displays whether the Router is using MAC (Media Access Control) address authen- tication to allow wireless devices to join the network.

Wireless Mode

Displays the types of wireless device that can join the network. Options include

802.11b, 802.11g, or Mixed (allows both 802.11b- and 802.11g-equipped wireless devices to join the network).

Packets Sent/Received

Displays the number of packets sent and received since the Router’s wireless capability was activated.

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Chapter 4 Creating a Wireless Network

Basic Security Settings

To configure the Router’s wireless network for basic security, select “Basic Security Settings” from the menu on the left side of any Wireless Settings screen. The “Basic Security Settings” screen appears.

1. Click the “On” radio button to activate the Router’s wireless radio.

2. Enter the name of the wireless network in the “SSID” text box.

3. Select the channel at which the Router’s wireless radio communicates by

selecting it from the “Channel” drop-down list.

4. Click the “WEP” radio button to activate WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy)

security on the wireless network.

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5. Select a WEP security level from the “select a WEP Key” drop-down list

(options include “64/40 bit” or “128/104 bit”).

6. Enter the key code in the “Key Code” text box. Each character must be a letter

from A-F or a number from 0-9. If 64/40 bit was selected in step 5, enter 10 characters. If 128/104 was selected, enter 26 characters.

7. Write down the wireless settings displayed on the screen. Other wireless devic-

es wishing to join the Router’s wireless network must use these same settings when configuring the device’s wireless networking scheme.

8. Click Apply to save the settings.

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Advanced Security Settings

To configure the Router’s advanced wireless network security settings, select “Advanced Security Settings” from the menu on the left side of any Wireless Settings screen. The “Advanced Security Settings” screen appears.

Note: The advanced settings should only be configured by experi-

☞

enced technical users.

Level 1 (Wireless Security)

This section is used to configure different types of wireless security. Select the type of wireless security to apply to the wireless network by clicking the appropriate radio button, then configure the security settings in the subsequent screens.

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WEP

If WEP was selected in the Advanced Security Settings screen, the “WEP Key” screen appears.

1. Select the appropriate network authentication level from the drop-

down list. Options include Open System Authentication, Shared Key Authentication, or Both.

2. Activate WEP key 1 by clicking the radio button next to “1” on the left side.

3. Select the length of key 1 by selecting “64/40 bit” or “128/104 bit” from the

appropriate drop-down list in the “Key Length” column.

4. Select the type of key from the appropriate drop-down list in the “Entry

Method” column. If “Hex” is selected, the key must be made up of hexadecimal digits. If “ASCII” is selected, the key can be made up of any characters.

5. Enter the key in the appropriate text box in the “Encryption Key” column.

If 64/40 bit was chosen in step 2, enter 10 characters. If 128/104 bit was chosen, enter 24 characters. Depending on what option was selected in step 3, enter hexadecimal or ASCII characters.

6. Click Apply to save changes.

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802.1X WEP

If 802.1X WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) was selected, the “WEP+802.1x Radius Settings” screen appears.

802.1x WEP is a robust security protocol that uses port control with dynamically changing encryption keys automatically updated over the network. 802.11x WEP uses a RADIUS (Remote Authentication Dial-in Service) server for authentication purposes. This server must be physically connected to the Router. Also, the user must enable the RADIUS client embedded in the Router (to do this, see chapter 9, “Advanced Settings”).

1. Click in the “Enabled” check box to enable WEP+802.1x security.

2. Enter the RADIUS server IP address in the “Server IP” text boxes.

3. Enter the RADIUS server’s port number in the “Server Port” text box.

4. Enter the RADIUS server’s shared secret in the “Shared Secret” text box.

5. Click Apply to save changes.

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WPA

If WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access) was selected, the “WPA Key” screen appears.

1. Verify the authentication method selected is “Pre-Shared Key.”

2. Enter a phrase of at least eight characters in the “Pre-Shared Key” text box.

Verify that “ASCII” is selected in the associated drop-down list.

3. Select the proper encryption algorithm (TKIP or AES).

4. Click in the “Group Key Update Interval” check box to activate the group

key update interval, and set the interval time in the text box to the right.

5. Click Apply at the bottom of the screen to save changes.

Level 2 (SSID Broadcast)

This section is used to configure the Router’s SSID broadcast capabilities.

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Selecting “SSID Broadcast” generates the “SSID Broadcast” screen.

Click the “Enable” radio button to enable SSID broadcasting. If enabled, the SSID of the Router’s wireless network will be broadcast wirelessly. To disable SSID broad- casting, click the “Disable” radio button.

Level 3 (Limiting Access)

This section is used to limit access to the Router’s wireless network.

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Wireless MAC Authentication

Wireless MAC authentication allows the user to allow or deny access to the Router’s wireless network by a particular device’s MAC address. Selecting “Wireless MAC Authentication” from the Advanced Security Settings screen generates the “Wireless MAC Authentication” screen.

To set up wireless MAC authentication:

1. Click in the “Enable Access List” check box.

2. Select either “Accept all devices listed below” or “Deny all devices listed

below” by clicking the appropriate radio button. Selecting “Accept…” causes all devices listed by MAC address to access the Router’s wireless network. Selecting “Deny…” causes all listed devices to be denied access.

3. Enter the MAC address of a device in the “Client MAC address” text box.

4. Click Add.

5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 to add more devices to the list.

6. When finished listing devices, click Apply.

To remove a MAC address, select it from the “List” list box, then click Remove.

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802.11b/g Mode

This option allows the user to select the wireless communication standard compatible with the devices to be connected on the wireless network from the dropdown list. Options include 802.11b, 802.11g, or Mixed (allows both 802.11b and 802.11g-equipped wireless devices to join the network).

Advanced Wireless Options

Clicking “Other Advanced Wireless Options” at the bottom of the Advanced Security Settings screen generates the “Advanced Wireless Options” screen.

When should this rule occur?

Displays the time during which the rule is active. To configure schedule rules, see chapter 9, “Advanced Settings.”

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Network

Select the type of connection being configured from this drop-down list (options: Network [Home/Office], Broadband Connection, or DMZ).

MTU

MTU (Maximum Transmission Unit) specifies the largest packet size permit-

ted for Internet transmission. “Automatic” sets the MTU at 1500. Other choices include “Automatic by DHCP,” which sets the MTU according to the DHCP connection, and “Manual,” which allows the user to set the MTU.

Transmission Rate

Select the wireless transmission rate from the drop-down list, or select “Auto” to have the Router automatically select the best transmission rate. This setting adjusts the bit rate of the Router’s wireless transmissions.

CTS Protection Mode

Activating CTS (Clear to Send) Protection Mode allows mixed 802.11b/g networks to operate at maximum efficiency. Select “Auto” from the drop-down list to activate. Select “None” to deactivate .

Beacon Interval

Beacons are transmitted by the Router to help identify wireless networks. If beacons are transmitted too infrequently, networks may become hard to reach; if too frequently, they become a resource waste. Enter the desired beacon interval value (in milliseconds) in this text box.

DTIM Interval

Enter the DTIM (Delivery Traffic Indication Message) interval value (in mil- liseconds) in this text box. A DTIM is a countdown mechanism for the Router, informing wireless network clients of the next window for listening to broadcast and multicast messages.

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Fragmentation Threshold

Setting the correct fragmentation threshold can increase the reliability of frame transmissions on the wireless network. Enter the fragmentation threshold in this text box.

RTS Threshold

Enter the RTS (Request to Send) threshold in this text box. This setting controls what size data packet the low level RF protocol issues to an

RTS packet.

Configuring a Wireless Windows XP Client

If the computer has wireless capabilities and is running Windows XP, it will auto- matically recognize this and create a wireless connection. View this connection under Windows’ “Network Connections.”

Note: The following description and images are in accordance

☞

with Microsoft Windows XP, Version 2002, running Service Pack

2. If running another operating system, see the documentation that came with the wireless adapter being used.

1. Click Network Connections in the Control Panel. The “Network

Connections” window appears.

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2. Double-click the wireless connection icon. The “Wireless Network

Connection” screen appears, displaying all available wireless networks in the vicinity. If the Router is connected and active, the Router’s wireless connection is displayed. Note that the connection’s status is “Not connected” and defined as “Security-enabled wireless network (WPA)” in the figure below.

3. Click the connection once to mark it, then click Connect at the bottom of the

screen. After the connection is established, its status will change to “Connected.”

An icon appears in the notification area, announcing the successful initiation

of the wireless connection.

4. Test the connection by disabling all other connections in the Network

Connections window and browsing the Internet.

The Router’s wireless network can now be accessed from the configured computer. However, any other user with a wireless-equipped device can also access the wireless network. To prevent this, secure the wireless network, as explained in the “Wireless Security” section of this chapter.

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Connecting a Wireless Windows XP Client

This section assumes the Router is set up with WPA security.

1. Click Network Connections in the Control Panel. The “Network

Connections” window appears.

2. Double-click the wireless connection icon. The “Wireless Network

Connection” screen appears, displaying the Router’s wireless connection. Note that the connection is defined as “Security-enabled wireless network (WPA).”

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3. Click the connection once to mark it, then click Connect at the bottom of

the screen. The following login window appears, asking for a “Network Key,” which is the pre-shared key used when configuring the Router’s WPA security (see the “WPA” section in this chapter).

4. Enter the pre-shared key in both text boxes and click Connect. After the con-

nection is established, its status will change to “Connected,” as shown below.

An icon appears in the notification area, announcing the successful initiation

of the wireless connection.

5. Test the connection by disabling all other connections in the Network

Connections window and surfing the Internet.

If the login window shown in step 3 does not appear and the connection attempt fails, configure the connection manually:

1. Click the connection once to mark it and then click Change Advanced

Settings in the “Related Tasks” box on the left part of the window.

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2. The “Wireless Network Connection Properties” window appears. Select

Wireless Networks.

3. Click the connection to highlight it, then click Properties. The connection’s

“Properties Window” appears.

4. From the “Network Authentication” drop-down list, select WPA-PSK.

5. From the “Data Encryption” drop-down list, select TKIP.

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6. Enter the pre-shared key in both the “Network key” and the “Confirm net-

work key” text boxes.

7. Click OK, then OK again.

8. When attempting to connect to the wireless network, the login window

appears, pre-populated with the pre-shared key. Press Connect to connect.

Since the network is now secured, only users who know the pre-shared key will be able to connect. The WPA security protocol is similar to securing network access using a password.

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Using Network Connections

The Wireless Broadband Router supports various local area network (LAN) and wide area network (WAN, on Internet) connections via Ethernet or coaxial cables. Network connections is used to configure the various parameters of the Router’s network and Internet connections, and create new connections.

Caution: The settings covered in this chapter should be config-

ured by experienced network technicians only.

To access the Router’s network connections, in the “My Network” screen, click Network Connections from the menu on the left side. The “Network Connections” screen appears.

Click Advanced to expand the screen and display all connection entries.

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To select a connection, click on its name. The rest of this chapter describes the different network connections available on the Router, as well as the connection types that can be created.

Network (Home/Office)

Select Network (Home/Office) in the Network Connections screen to generate the “Network (Home/Office) Properties” screen. This screen displays a list of the local network’s properties. The only modifications that can be made from this screen are disabling the connection (by clicking Disable) or renaming the connection (by entering a new name in the “Rule Name” text box).

Note: When a network is disabled, its formerly underlying

☞

devices will not be able to get the DHCP address from the net- work interface to which they were connected.

The Network (Home/Office) connection is used to combine several network devices under one virtual network. For example, a home/office network can be created for Ethernet and other network devices.

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Configuring the Home/Office Network

Click Settings in the “Network (Home/Office) Properties” screen to generate the “Configure Network (Home/Office)” screen.

General

The top part of the Configure Network (Home/Office) screen displays general communication parameters. Actiontec recommends not changing the default values in this section unless familiar with networking concepts.

Status Displays the connection status of the network.

When should this rule occur? Displays when the rule is active. To schedule rules,

see the “Advanced Settings” chapter.

Network Select the type of connection being configured from the drop-down list (options: Broadband Connection, Network [Home/Office], or DMZ).

Connection Type Displays the type of connection.

Physical Address Displays the physical address of the network card used for the

network.

MTU MTU (Maximum Transmission Unit) specifies the largest packet size per-

mitted for Internet transmission. “Automatic” sets the MTU at 1500. Other choices include “Automatic by DHCP,” which sets the MTU according to the DHCP connection, and “Manual,” which allows the MTU to be set manually.

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Internet Protocol

This section has three options: No IP Address, Obtain an IP Address Automatically, and Use the Following IP Address.

No IP Address Select this option if the connection will have no IP address. This is useful if the connection operates under a bridge.

Obtain an IP Address Automatically Select this option if the network connection is required by the ISP to obtain an IP address automatically. The server assigning the IP address also assigns a subnet mask address, which can be overridden by entering another subnet mask address.

Use the Following IP Address Select this option if the network connection uses a permanent (static) IP address, then the IP address and subnet mask address.

Bridge

The “Bridge” section of the Configure Network (Home/Office) screen is used to specify which networks can join the network bridge.

Note: When a network is disabled, its formerly underlying

☞

devices inherit the network’s DHCP settings. For example, the removal of a network configured as DHCP client automatically configures the devices formerly constituting the network as

DHCP clients, with the exact DHCP client configuration.

Click in the check box next to the particular network to specify it. Make sure there are no loops in the network configuration, and apply these settings in case the network consists of multiple switches, or other bridges apart from those created by the Router.

Status The “Status” column displays the connection status of a particular device.

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STP Click in the device’s “STP” check box to enable Spanning Tree Protocol on the device. This protocol provides path redundancy while preventing undesirable loops in the network.

Action The “Action” column contains an icon that, when clicked, generates the configuration screen of the particular device.

DNS Server

Domain Name System (DNS) is the method by which website or domain names are translated into IP addresses. Specify such an address manually, according to the information provided by the ISP. To manually configure DNS server addresses, select Use the Following DNS Server Addresses. Specify up to two different DNS server addresses, one pri- mary, the other secondary.

IP Address Distribution

The “IP Address Distribution” section of the Configure Network (Home/Office) screen is used to configure the Router’s Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server parameters. DHCP automatically assigns IP addresses to net- work devices. If enabled, make sure to configure the network devices as “DHCP Clients.” There are three options in this section: Disabled, DHCP Server, and DHCP Relay.

Disabled Select this option if statically assigning IP addresses to the network devices.

DHCP Server To set up the network bridge to function as a DHCP server:

1. Select DHCP Server.

2. Enter the IP address at which the Router starts issuing addresses in the

“Start IP Address” text boxes. Since the Router’s default IP address is

192.168.1.1, the Start IP Address should be 192.168.1.2.

3. Enter the end of the IP address range used to automatically issue IP address-

es in the “End IP Address” text boxes. The “maximum” IP address that can be entered here is 192.168.1.253.

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4. Enter the subnet mask address in the “Subnet Mask” text boxes. The subnet

mask determines which portion of a destination LAN IP address is the network portion, and which portion is the host portion.

5. If Windows Internet Naming Service (WINS) is being used, enter the WINS

server address in the “WINS Server” text boxes.

6. Enter the amount of time a network device will be allowed to connect to

the Router with its currently issued dynamic IP address in the “Lease Time in Minutes” text box.

7. Click in the “Provide Host Name If Not Specified by Client” check box to

have the Router automatically assign network devices with a host name, in case a host name is not provided by the user.

DHCP Relay Select this option to have the Router function as a DHCP relay, and enter the IP address in the screen that appears.

Routing

The Router can be configured to use static or dynamic routing. Dynamic routing automatically adjusts how packets travel on the network, while static routing specifies a fixed routing path to neighboring destinations.

There are two options in the “Routing” section of the Configure Network (Home/Office) screen: Basic or Advanced.

Basic Select this option for basic routing operation.

Advanced To set up the Router’s network bridge for advanced routing:

1. Select Advanced from the “Routing” drop-down menu.

2. Enter a device metric in the “Device Metric” text box. The device metric is

a value used by the Router to determine whether one route is superior to another, considering parameters such as bandwidth and delay time.

3. Click in the “Default Route” check box to define this device as a the

default route.

4. Click in the “Multicast - IGMP Proxy Internal” check box to activate

multicasting.

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Routing Table

Clicking New Route generates the “New Route” window, where a new route can be configured.

Additional IP Addresses

Clicking New IP Address generates the “Additional IP Address Settings” screen, where additional IP addresses can be created to access the Router via the Network (Home/Office) connection.

Ethernet Connection

An Ethernet connection connects computers to the Router using Ethernet cables, either directly or via network hubs and switches. Click Ethernet in the Network

Connections screen (if needed, click Advanced at the bottom of the screen to reveal the “Ethernet” link below “Network [Home/Office]”) to generate the “Ethernet Properties” screen. This screen displays a list of the connection’s properties. The only modifications that can be made from this screen are disabling the connection (by clicking Disable) or renaming the connection (by entering a new name in the “Rule Name” text box).

Note: If disabling the connection, the Router must be rebooted

☞

for the change to take effect.

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Configuring the Ethernet Connection

Click Settings at the bottom-right of the Ethernet Properties screen to generate the “Configure Ethernet” screen.

General

The top part of the Configure Ethernet screen displays general communication parameters. Actiontec recommends not changing the default values in this section unless familiar with networking concepts.

Status Displays the connection status of the Ethernet switch.

When should this rule occur? Displays when the rule is active. To schedule rules,

see the “Advanced Settings” chapter.

Network Select the type of connection being configured from the drop-down list (Network [Home/Office], Broadband Connection, or DMZ).

Connection Type Displays the type of connection.

Physical Address Displays the physical address of the network card used for

the network.

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MTU MTU (Maximum Transmission Unit) specifies the largest packet size per-

Additional IP Addresses

Clicking New IP Address generates the “Additional IP Address Settings” screen, where additional IP addresses can be created to access the Router via the Ethernet connection.

4 Ports Ethernet Switch

This section displays the connection status of the Router’s four Ethernet ports.

Clicking on a connection’s “Action” icon (in the column on the right) generates the “Port VLANs” screen, where ingress and egress policies can be edited.

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Coax Connection

A Coax connection connects devices (such as set-top boxes) to the Router using a coaxial cable. Click Coax in the Network Connections screen (if needed, click Advanced at the bottom of the screen to reveal the “Coax” link below “Network [Home/Office]”) to generate the “Coax Properties” screen. This screen displays a list of the connection’s properties. The only modifications that can be made from this screen are disabling the connection (by clicking Disable) or renaming the connection (by entering a new name in the “Name” text box).

Note: If disabling the connection, the Router must be rebooted

☞

for the change to take effect.

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Configure Coax

Click Settings at the bottom-right of the Coax Properties screen generates the “Configure Coax” screen.

General

The top part of the Configure Coax screen displays general communication parameters. Actiontec recommends not changing the default values in this section unless familiar with networking concepts.

Status Displays the status of the coax connection.v

When should this rule occur? Displays when the rule is active. To schedule rules,

see the “Advanced Settings” chapter

Network Displays the type of network.

Connection Type Displays the type of connection.

Physical Address Displays the physical address of the network card used for the

network.

MTU MTU (Maximum Transmission Unit) specifies the largest packet size per-

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Coax Link

Set up the coax link options in this section of the Configure Coax screen. Options include Channel, Privacy, and Password.

Channel Select the Channel from the drop-down list (select from 1-6, or “Automatic”).

Privacy Toggle “Privacy” by clicking in the “Enabled” check box. If Privacy is activated, all devices connected via coaxial cable must use the same password. Actiontec recommends leaving the Privacy option deactivated.

Password Enter the Coax Link password in this text box.

Additional IP Addresses

Clicking New IP Address generates the “Additional IP Address Settings” screen, where additional IP addresses can be created to access the Router via the Coax Link Ethernet connection.

Coax Connection Status

Click Go to LAN Coax Stats to generate the “Coax Connection Status” screen, which gives an overview of all the devices connected to the Router via coaxial cable.

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Broadband Ethernet Connection

A Broadband Ethernet connection connects the Router to the Internet using an Ethernet cable. Click Broadband Connection (Ethernet) from the Network

Connections screen to generate the “Broadband Connection (Ethernet) Properties” screen. This screen displays a list of the connection’s properties. The only modifications that can be made from this screen are disabling the connection (by clicking Disable) or renaming the connection (by entering a new name in the “Rule Name” text box).

Note: If disabling the connection, the Router must be rebooted

☞

for the change to take effect.

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Configuring the Broadband Ethernet Connection

Click Settings at the bottom-right of the Broadband Connection (Ethernet) Properties window to generate the “Configure Broadband Connection (Ethernet)” screen.

General

The top part of the screen displays general communication parameters. Actiontec recommends not changing the default values in this section unless familiar with networking concepts.

Status Displays the status of the Ethernet connection (“Down,” “Connected,” etc.)

Schedule Displays when the rule is active. To configure rules, see the “Advanced Settings” chapter.

Network Select the type of connection being configured from the drop-down list (options: Network (Home/Office), Broadband Connection, or DMZ).

Connection Type Displays the type of connection. Since this is an Ethernet Connection, “Ethernet” is displayed.

Physical Address Displays the physical address of the network card used for the network.

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MTU MTU (Maximum Transmission Unit) specifies the largest packet size per-

mitted for Internet transmission. “Automatic, sets the MTU at 1500. Other choices include “Automatic by DHCP,” which sets the MTU according to the DHCP connection, and “Manual,” which allows the MTU to be set manually.

Internet Protocol

This section includes three options: No IP Address, Obtain an IP Address Automatically, and Use the Following IP Address.

No IP Address Select this option if the connection has no IP address. This is use- ful if the connection is operating under a bridge.

Obtain an IP Address Automatically Select this option if the ISP requires the con- nection to obtain an IP address automatically. The server assigning the IP address also assigns a subnet mask address, which can be overridden by clicking in the “Override Subnet Mask” check box and entering another subnet mask address. Additionally, the DHCP lease can be renewed and/or released by clicking on the appropriate “DHCP Lease” button. The “Expires In” value displays how long until the DHCP lease expires.

Use the Following IP Address Select this option if the connection uses a permanent (static) IP address. The ISP should provide this address, along with a subnet mask address, default gateway address, and, optionally, primary and secondary

DNS server addresses.

DNS Server

The Domain Name System (DNS) is the method by which website or domain names are translated into IP addresses. This connection can be configured to automatically obtain a DNS server address, or such an address can be specified manually, according to the information provided by the ISP. To configure the connection to automatically obtain a DNS server address, select Obtain DNS Server Address Automatically from the “DNS Server” drop-down list. To manually configure DNS server addresses, select Use the Following DNS Server Addresses. Specify up to two different DNS server addresses, one pri- mary, the other secondary.

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IP Address Distribution

The “IP Address Distribution” section of the Configure Broadband Connection

(Ethernet) screen is used to configure the Router’s Dynamic Host Configuration

Protocol (DHCP) server parameters. DHCP automatically assigns IP addresses to network devices. If enabled, make sure to configure the network devices as “DHCP Clients.” There are three options in this section: Disabled, DHCP Server, and DHCP Relay.

Caution: Actiontec strongly recommends leaving this setting

at “Disabled.”

Disabled Select this option if statically assigning IP addresses to the network devices.

DHCP Server To set up the Router to function as a DHCP server:

1. Select DHCP Server.

2. Enter the IP address at which the Router starts issuing addresses in the

“Start IP Address” text boxes. Since the Router’s default IP address is

192.168.1.1, the Start IP Address must be 192.168.1.2 or higher.

3. Enter the end of the IP address range used to automatically issue IP address-

es in the “End IP Address” text boxes.

4. Enter the subnet mask address in the “Subnet Mask” text boxes. The subnet

mask determines which portion of a destination LAN IP address is the network portion, and which portion is the host portion.

5. If a Windows Internet Naming Service (WINS) is being used, enter the

WINS server address in the “WINS Server” text boxes.

6. Enter the amount of time a network device will be allowed to connect to

the Router with its currently issued dynamic IP address in the “Lease Time in Minutes” text box. Just before the time is up, the device’s user will need to make a request to extend the lease or get a new IP address.

7. Click in the “Provide Host Name If Not Specified by Client” check box to

have the Router automatically assign network devices with a host name, in case a host name is not provided by the user.

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DHCP Relay Select this option to have the Router function as a DHCP relay, and enter the IP address in the screen that appears.

To add a new product or product family, click New IP Range. This generates the “DHCP Server Pool Settings” screen. Set the device name, IP range, and priority level in the appropriate text boxes.

Routing

There are two options in the “Routing” section of the “Configure WAN Coax Link Ethernet” screen: Basic or Advanced.

Basic Select this option for basic routing operation.

Advanced To set up the Router’s Broadband Ethernet connection for advanced

routing:

1. Select Advanced from the Routing drop-down menu.

2. Enter a device metric in the “Device Metric” text box. The device metric is

a value used by the Router to determine whether one route is superior to another, considering parameters such as bandwidth and delay time.

3. Click in the “Default Route” check box to define this device as a the

default route.

4. Click in the “Multicast - IGMP Proxy Internal” check box to activate

multicasting.

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Routing Table

Clicking New Route generates the “New Route” window, where a new route can be configured.

Internet Connection Firewall

Click in the “Enabled” check box to activate the Router’s firewall on the connection.

Additional IP Addresses

Clicking New IP Address generates the “Additional IP Address Settings” screen, where additional IP addresses can be created to access the Router via the connection.

Coax Broadband Connection

A Coax Broadband connection connects the Router to the Internet using a coaxial cable. Click Broadband Connection (Coax) in the Network Connections screen

to generate the “Broadband Connection (Coax) Properties” screen. This screen displays a list of the connection’s properties. The only modifications that can be made from this screen are disabling the connection (by clicking Disable) or renaming the connection (by entering a new name in the “Name” text box).

Note: If disabling the connection, the Router must be rebooted

☞

for the change to take effect.

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Configuring the Coax Broadband Connection

Click Settings at the bottom of the Broadband Connection (Coax) Properties screen to generate the “Configure Broadband Connection (Coax)” screen.

General

The top part of the screen displays general communication parameters. Actiontec recommends not changing the default values in this section unless familiar with networking concepts.

Status Displays the status of the connection (“Down,” “Connected,” etc.).

When should this rule occur? Displays when the rule is active. To schedule rules,

see the “Advanced Settings” chapter.

Network Displays the type of network to which the link is connected. Since this is a broadband connection (connected to the Internet), “Broadband Connection is displayed.

Connection Type Displays the type of connection. Since this is a coaxial connection, “Coax” is displayed.

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Physical Address Displays the physical address of the network card used for the network.

MTU MTU (Maximum Transmission Unit) specifies the largest packet size

permitted for Internet transmission. “Automatic” sets the MTU at 1500. Other choices include “Automatic by DHCP,” which sets the MTU according to the

DHCP connection, and “Manual,” which allows the MTU to be set manually.

Coax Link

Configure the coax link connection in this section of the screen.

Password Enter the Coax Link password here.

WAN Coax Connection Speeds

This section displays the Router’s Tx and Rx speeds (in Mbps).

Internet Protocol

This section includes three options: No IP Address, Obtain an IP Address Automatically, and Use the Following IP Address.

No IP Address Select this option if the connection has no IP address. This is use- ful when the connection is operating under a bridge.

Use the Following IP Address Select if the WAN connection is configured using a permanent (static) IP address. The ISP should provide this address, along with a subnet mask address, default gateway address, and, optionally, primary and secondary DNS server addresses.

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DNS Server

Domain Name System (DNS) is the method by which website or domain names are translated into IP addresses. The connection can be set to automatically obtain a DNS server address, or an address can be set manually, according to information provided by the ISP. To configure the connection to automatically obtain a DNS server address, select Obtain DNS Server Address Automatically from the “DNS Server” drop-down list. To manually configure DNS server addresses, select Use the Following DNS Server Addresses. Specify up to two different DNS server addresses, one pri- mary, the other secondary.

IP Address Distribution

The “IP Address Distribution” section of the Configure Broadband Connection (Coax) screen allows the user to configure the Router’s Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server parameters. The DHCP automatically assigns IP addresses to network devices. If enabled, make sure to configure the network devices as “DHCP Clients.” There are three options in this section: Disabled, DHCP Server, and DHCP Relay.

Caution: Actiontec strongly recommends leaving this setting

at “Disabled.”

Disabled Select this option if statically assigning IP addresses to the network devices.

DHCP Server To set up the WAN Coax Link Ethernet connection to function as a

DHCP server:

1. Select DHCP Server.

2. Enter the IP address at which the Router starts issuing addresses in the

“Start IP Address” text boxes. Since the Router’s default IP address is

192.168.1.1, the Start IP Address must be 192.168.1.2.

3. Enter the end of the IP address range used to automatically issue IP address-

es in the “End IP Address” text boxes.

4. Enter the subnet mask address in the “Subnet Mask” text boxes. The subnet

mask determines which portion of a destination LAN IP address is the network portion, and which portion is the host portion.

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5. If a Windows Internet Naming Service (WINS) is being used, enter the

WINS server address in the “WINS Server” text boxes.

6. Enter the amount of time a network device will be allowed to connect to

7. Click in the “Provide Host Name If Not Specified by Client” check box to

have the Router automatically assign network devices with a host name, in case a host name is not provided by the user.

DHCP Relay Select this option to have the Router function as a DHCP relay, and enter the IP address in the screen that appears.

Routing

The Router can be configured to use dynamic routing. Dynamic routing automatically adjusts how packets travel on the network There are two options in the “Routing” section of the Configure Broadband Connection (Coax) screen: Basic or Advanced.

Warning: Do not use static routing unless instructed to do so

by Verizon.

Basic Select this option for basic routing operation.

Advanced To set up the Router’s Coax broadband connection for advanced rout-

ing:

1. Select Advanced from the Routing drop-down list.

2. Enter a device metric in the “Device Metric” text box. The device metric is

a value used by the Router to determine whether one route is superior to another, considering parameters such as bandwidth and delay time.

3. Click in the “Default Route” check box to define this device as the

default route.

4. Click in the “Multicast - IGMP Proxy Internal” check box to activate

multicasting.

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Routing Table

Click New Route to generate the “New Route” window, where a new route can be configured.

Additional IP Addresses

Click New IP Address to generate the “Additional IP Address Settings” screen, where additional IP addresses can be created to access the Router via the connection.

WAN PPPoE/WAN PPPoE 2

WAN Point-to-Point Protocol over Ethernet (PPPoE) relies on two widely accepted

standards: Point-to-Point Protocol and Ethernet. PPPoE enables Ethernet net- worked computers to exchange information with computers on the Internet. PPPoE supports the protocol layers and authentication widely used in PPP and enables a point-to-point connection to be established in the normally multipoint architecture of Ethernet. A discovery process in PPPoE determines the Ethernet MAC address of the remote device in order to establish a session.

Click WAN PPPoE in the Network Connections screen to generate the “WAN

PPPoE Properties” screen. This screen displays a list of the connection’s proper-

ties. The only modifications that can be made from this screen are disabling the connection (by clicking Disable) or renaming the connection (by entering a new name in the “Name” text box).

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Configuring the WAN PPPoE Connection

Click Settings in the WAN PPPoE Properties screen to generate the “Configure

WAN PPPoE” screen.

General

The top part of the Configure WAN PPPoE screen displays general communica- tion parameters. Actiontec recommends not changing the default values in this section unless familiar with networking concepts.

Status Displays the connection status of the WAN PPPoE connection. (“Down,” “Disabled,” “Connected,” etc.)

When should this rule occur? Displays when the rule is active. To schedule rules, see “Advanced Settings” chapter.

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Network Select the type of connection being configured from the drop-down list (Broadband Connection, Network (Home/Office), or DMZ).

Connection Type Displays the type of connection. Since this is PPPoE connection, “PPPoE” is displayed.

MTU MTU (Maximum Transmission Unit) specifies the largest packet size

permitted for Internet transmission. “Automatic, sets the MTU at 1492. Other choices include “Automatic,” which sets the MTU according to the connection to the ISP, and “Manual,” which allows the MTU to be set manually.

Underlying Connection Specify the underlying connection above which the protocol initiates from the drop-down list, which displays all possible underlying devices.

PPP Configuration

Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) is the most popular method for transporting packets between the user and the ISP.

Service Name Specify the networking peer’s service name, if provided by the ISP, in this text box.

On-Demand To use PPP on demand to initiate the point-to-point protocol session only when packets are actually sent over the Internet, click in this check box. This option should be active on a limited basis

Idle Time Before Hanging Up Enter the amount of idle time, in minutes, before the

PPP session automatically ends .

Time Between Reconnect Attempts In this text box, specify the duration between

PPP reconnect attempts, as provided by the ISP.

PPP Authentication

Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) currently supports four authentication protocols: Password Authentication Protocol (PAP), Challenge Handshake Authentication Protocol (CHAP), and Microsoft CHAP versions 1 and 2. Select the authentication protocols the Router may use when negotiating with a

PPTP server in this section. Select all the protocols if no information is available

about the server’s authentication methods. Note that encryption is performed only if Microsoft CHAP, Microsoft CHAP version 2, or both are selected.

Warning: The PPP Authentication settings should not be

changed unless instructed to do so by Verizon.

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Support Unencrypted Password (PAP) Password Authentication Protocol (PAP)

is a simple, plain-text authentication scheme. The user name and password are requested by the networking peer in plain-text. PAP, however, is not a secure authentication protocol. Man-in-the-middle attacks can easily determine the remote access client’s password. PAP offers no protection against replay attacks, remote client impersonation, or remote server impersonation.

Support Challenge Handshake Authentication (CHAP) Click in this check box to activate CHAP, a challenge-response authentication protocol that uses MD5 to hash the response to a challenge. CHAP protects against replay attacks by using an arbitrary challenge string per authentication attempt.

Support Microsoft CHAP Click in this check box if communicating with a peer that uses Microsoft CHAP authentication protocol.

Support Microsoft CHAP Version 2 Select this check box if communicating with a peer that uses Microsoft CHAP Version 2 authentication protocol.

PPP Compression

The PPP Compression Control Protocol (CCP) is responsible for configuring, enabling, and disabling data compression algorithms on both ends of the pointto-point link. It is also used to signal a failure of the compression/ decompression mechanism in a reliable manner.

For each compression algorithm (BSD and Deflate), select one of the following from the drop-down list:

Reject Selecting this option rejects PPP connections with peers that use the com- pression algorithm. If Reject is activated, throughput may diminish.

Allow Selecting this option allows PPP connections with peers that use the com- pression algorithm.

Require Selecting this option insures a connection with a peer using the compression algorithm.

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Internet Protocol

Select one of the following Internet Protocol options from the “Internet Protocol” drop-down list:

Obtain an IP Address Automatically This option is selected by default. Change only if required by the ISP. The server that assigns the Router with an IP address also assigns a subnet mask. Override the dynamically assigned subnet mask by selecting the “Override Subnet Mask” and entering a different subnet mask.

Use the Following IP Address Select this option to configure the Router to use a permanent (static) IP address. The ISP should provide this address.

DNS Server

The Domain Name System (DNS) is the method by which website or domain names are translated into IP addresses. The Router can be configured to automatically obtain a DNS server address, or the address can be entered manually, according to the information provided by the ISP. To configure the connection to automatically obtain a DNS server address, select Obtain DNS Server Address Automatically from the “DNS Server” drop-down list. To manually configure DNS server addresses, select Use the Following DNS Server Addresses from the “DNS Server” drop-down list. Up to two different

DNS server addresses can be entered (Primary and Secondary).

Routing

Select Advanced or Basic from the “Routing” drop-down list. If Advanced is selected, additional options appear, as listed below.

Routing Mode Select one of the following Routing modes:

• Route - Select this option to cause the Router to act as a router between two networks.

• NAT - Select this option to activate Network Address Translation (NAT), which translates IP addresses to a valid, public address on the Internet. NAT adds security, since the IP addresses of the devices on the network are not transmitted over the Internet. In addition, NAT allows many addresses to exist behind a single valid address. Use the NAT routing mode only if the local network consists of a single device, or collisions may occur if more than one device attempts to communicate using the same port.

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• NAPT - Select this option to activate NAPT (Network Address and Port Translation), which refers to network address translation involving the mapping of port numbers and allows multiple machines to share a single IP address. Use NAPT if the local network contains multiple devices, a topol- ogy that necessitates port translation in addition to address translation.

Device Metric The device metric is a value used by the Router to determine whether one route is superior to another, considering parameters such as bandwidth, delay, and more.

Default Route Click in this check box to define the connection as a the default route.

Multicast - IGMP Proxy Default Click in this check box to enable the Router to issue IGMP (Internet Group Management Protocol) host messages on behalf of hosts the Router discovers through standard IGMP interfaces. IGMP proxy enables the routing of multicast packets according to the IGMP requests of local network devices asking to join multicast groups.

Routing Table

Clicking New Route generates the “New Route” window, where a new route can be configured.

Internet Connection Firewall

Click in the “Enabled” check box to activate the Router’s firewall on the WAN

PPPoE connection.

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Configuring the Router’s Security

The Wireless Broadband Router’s security suite includes comprehensive and robust security services: Stateful Packet Inspection, a firewall, user authentication protocols, and password protection mechanisms. These features allow users to connect their computers to the Internet and be protected from the security threats.

The Router’s firewall is the cornerstone of the Router’s security suite. It has been exclusively tailored to the needs of the residential/office user and is pre-configured to provide optimum security.

The firewall provides both the security and flexibility home and office users seek. It provides a managed, professional level of network security while enabling the safe use of interactive applications, such as Internet gaming and video-conferencing.

Additional features, including surfing restrictions and access control, can also be configured locally through the Router’s MegaControl Panel, or remotely by a service provider.

The firewall also supports advanced filtering, designed to allow comprehensive control over the firewall’s behavior. Specific input and output rules can be defined, the order of logically similar sets of rules can be controlled, and distinctions between rules that apply to Internet and local network devices can be made.

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This chapter covers these Security features:

• General - select the security level for the firewall.

• Access Control - restrict access from the local network to the Internet.

• Port Forwarding - enable access from the Internet to specified services provided by computers on the local network.

• DMZ Host - configure a network host to receive all traffic arriving at the Router which does not belong to a known session.

• Port Triggering - define port triggering entries to dynamically open the firewall for some protocols or ports.

• Remote Administration - enable remote configuration of the Router from any Internet-accessible computer.

• Website Blocking - block network access to a certain hosts or websites on the Internet.

• Static NAT - allow multiple static NAT IP addresses to be designated to devices on the network.

• Advanced Filtering - control the firewall’s settings and rules.

• Security Log - view and configure the security log.

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General

The “General” screen is used to configure the Router’s basic security settings.

The firewall regulates the flow of data between the local network and the Internet. Both incoming and outgoing data are inspected and then either accepted (allowed to pass through the Router) or rejected (barred from passing through the Router) according to a flexible and configurable set of rules. These rules are designed to prevent unwanted intrusions from the outside, while allowing local network users access to required Internet services.

The firewall rules specify what types of services available on the Internet can be accessed from the local network and what types of services available in the local network can be accessed from the Internet. Each request for a service the firewall receives, whether originating in the Internet or from a computer in the local network, is checked against the firewall rules to determine whether the request should be allowed to pass through the firewall. If the request is permitted to pass, all subsequent data associated with this request (a “session”) will also be allowed to pass, regardless of its direction.

For example, when accessing a website on the Internet, a request is sent out to the Internet for this site. When the request reaches the Router, the firewall identifies the request type and origin (HTTP and a specific computer in the local network, in this case). Unless the Router is configured to block requests of this type from this computer, the firewall allows this request to pass out onto the Internet. When the website is returned from the web server, the firewall will associate it with this session and allow it to pass, regardless of whether HTTP access from the Internet to the local network is blocked or permitted.

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Note that it is the origin of the request, not subsequent responses to this request, which determines whether a session can be established or not.

The Router features three pre-defined security levels: Minimum, Typical, and Maximum. The table below summarizes the behavior of the Router for each of the three security levels.

Requests from the Internet

Security Level

Maximum Security

Typical Security

Minimum Security

These services include Telnet, FTP, HTTP, HTTPS, DNS, IMAP, POP3 and SMTP.

Note: Some applications (such as some Internet messengers and

☞

Peer-To-Peer client applications) tend to use these ports if they cannot connect with their own default ports. When applying this behavior, these applications will not be blocked outbound, even at the Maximum Security level.

(incoming traffic)

Blocked - No access to local network from Internet, except as configured in the Port Forwarding, DMZ host, and Remote Access screens.

Unrestricted - Permits full access from Internet to local network; all connection attempts permitted.

Requests from the local

network (outgoing traffic)

Limited - Only commonly used services, such as web browsing and E-mail, are permitted.

Unrestricted - All services are permitted, except as configured in the Access Control screen.

To configure the Router’s security settings:

1. From the General screen, select a security level by clicking the appropriate radio

button. Using the Minimum Security setting may expose the local network to significant security risks, and thus should only be used for short periods of time.

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2. Check the “Block IP Fragments” box to protect the local network from a com-

mon type of hacker attack that uses fragmented data packets to sabotage the network. Note that VPN over IPSec and some UDP-based services make legiti- mate use of IP fragments. IP fragments must be allowed to pass into the local network to use these services.

3. Click Apply to save changes.

Access Control

Access control is used to block specific computers within the local network (or even the whole network) from accessing certain services on the Internet. For example, one computer can be prohibited from surfing the Internet, another computer from transferring files using FTP, and the whole network from receiving incoming E-mail.

Access control defines restrictions on the types of requests that can pass from the local network out to the Internet, and thus may block traffic flowing in both directions. In the E-mail example given above, computers in the local network can be prevented from receiving E-mail by blocking their outgoing requests to POP3 serv- ers on the Internet.

Access control also incorporates a list of preset services in the form of applications and common port settings.

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Allow or Restrict Services

To view and allow/restrict these services:

1. Select Access Control from the left side of any Security screen. The “Access

Control” screen appears.

Note: The “Allowed” section is only visible when the firewall is

☞

set to “Maximum.”

2. Click Add. The “Add Access Control Rule” screen appears.

Note: To block a service, click Add in the “Blocked” section of

☞

the Access Control screen. To allow outgoing traffic, click Add in the “Allowed” section of the screen.

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3. If this access control rule applies to all networked devices, select “Any” from

the “Networked Computer/Device” list box. If this rule applies to certain devices only, select “Specify Address” and click Add. Then, create and add a network object (for more details about adding network objects, see the “Advanced Settings” chapter of this manual).

4. Select the Internet protocol to be allowed or blocked from the “Protocol”

drop-down list.

5. If the rule will be active all the time, select Always from the “When should this

rule occur?” drop-down list. If the rule will only be active at certain times, select Specify Schedule and click Add. Then, add a schedule rule (for more details about schedule rules, see the “Advanced Settings” chapter of this manual).

6. Click Apply to save the changes. The Access Control screen will display a sum-

mary of the new access control rule.

Note: To block a service not included in the list, select Specify

☞

Protocol from the Protocol drop-down menu. The “Edit Service” screen appears. Define the service, then click OK. The service will then be automatically added to the top section of the “Add Access Control Rule” screen, and will be selectable.

An access control can be disabled and the service made available without having to remove the service from the Access Control table. This may be useful to make the service available temporarily, with the expectation that the restriction will be reinstated later.

• To temporarily disable an access control, clear the check box next to the service name.

• To reinstate the restriction at a later time, select the check box next to the service name.

• To remove an access restriction from the Access Control table, click Remove for the service. The service will be removed from the Access Control table.

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Port Forwarding

In its default state, the Router blocks all external users from connecting to or communicating with the network, making it safe from hackers who may try to intrude on the network and damage it. However, the network can be exposed to the Internet in certain limited and controlled ways to enable some applications to work from the local network (game, voice, and chat applications, for example) and to enable Internet access to servers in the network. Port forwarding (sometimes referred to as local servers) supports both of these functions.

To grant Internet users access to servers inside the local network, each service provided, as well as the computer providing it, must be identified. To do this:

1. Select Port Forwarding from the left side of any Security screen. The “Port

Forwarding” screen appears.

2. Click Add. The “Add Port Forwarding Rule” screen appears.

3. Enter the local IP address or the host name of the computer providing the

service in the “Networked Computer/Device” text box, or select them from the drop-down list. Note that only one local network computer can be assigned to provide a specific service or application.

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4. Select the Internet protocol to be provided from the “Protocol” drop-down

list. To see all options, select All Services.

5. Select a WAN connection type from the “WAN Connection Type” drop-down

list. Actiontec recommends selecting All Broadband Devices.

6. To select a port to forward communications to (this is optional), select Specify

from the “Forward to Port” drop-down list, then, in the text box that appears, enter the port number. If no port is identified, select Same as Incoming Port.

7. If this port will be active all the time, select Always from the “When should this

8. Click Apply to save the changes.

How many computers can use a service or play a game simultaneously? Well, the answer may be a bit confusing. All the computers on the network can behave as clients and use a specific service simultaneously. Being a client means the computer within the network initiates the connection; for example, a computer on the network can open an FTP connection with an FTP server on the Internet. But only one computer on the network can operate as a server and respond to requests from computers on the Internet (outside the local network).

DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) Host

The DMZ host feature allows one device on the network to operate outside the fire- wall. Designate a DMZ host:

• To use an Internet service, such as an online game or video-conferencing program, not present in the Port Forwarding list and for which no port range information is available.

• To expose one computer to all services without restriction or security.

Warning: A DMZ host is not protected by the firewall and may be

vulnerable to attack. Designating a DMZ host may also put other computers in the local network at risk. When designating a DMZ host, consider the security implications and protect it if necessary.

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To designate a local computer as a DMZ host:

1. Select DMZ Host from the left side of any Security screen. The “DMZ Host”

screen appears.

2. Click in the “DMZ Host IP Address” check box, then enter the IP address of the

computer to be designated as a DMZ host. Note that only one network computer can be a DMZ host at any time.

3. Click Apply.

Click in the “DMZ Host IP Address” check box again to disable the DMZ host.

Port Triggering

Port triggering can be used for dynamic port forwarding configuration. By setting port triggering rules, inbound traffic is allowed to arrive at a specific network host using ports different than those used for the outbound traffic. The outbound traffic triggers which ports inbound traffic is directed.

For example, a gaming server is accessed using UDP protocol on port 2222. The gaming server responds by connecting the user using UDP on port 3333 when starting gaming sessions. In this case, port triggering must be used, since it conflicts with the following default firewall settings:

• The firewall blocks inbound traffic by default.

• The server replies to the Router’s IP, and the connection is not sent back to the host, since it is not part of a session.

To resolve the conflict, a port triggering entry must be defined, which allows inbound traffic on UDP port 3333, only after a network host generated traffic to

UDP port 2222. This results in accepting the inbound traffic from the gaming

server, and sending it back to the network host which originated the outgoing traffic to UDP port 2222.

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To use port triggering:

1. Select Port Triggering from the left side of any Security screen. The “Port

Triggering” screen appears.

2. Select either “Specify Protocol” or “Show All Services” from the drop-down list

next to “Add.”

3. Click Add. An “Edit Service” screen appears.

4. Specify the port triggering entries by clicking New Trigger Ports and New

Opened Ports and entering the protocol and protocol number in the succeeding screens. For example, to set up port triggering for the scenario laid out on the previous page, the service ports would be set to UDP and 2222, while the opened ports would be set to UDP and 3333.

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Remote Administration

The Router can be accessed and controlled not only from within the local network, but also from the Internet using remote adminstration.

To access, select Remote Administration from the left side of any Security screen. The “Remote Administration” screen appears.

Telnet

Telnet is used to create a command-line session and gain access to all system settings and parameters using a text-based terminal. Select the Telnet port to be used by clicking in the appropriate check box, then click Apply.

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MegaControl Panel

MegaControl Panel is used to obtain access to the Router’s MegaControl Panel and gain access to all settings and parameters,using a web browser. Both secure (HTTPS) and non-secure (HTTP) access is available. Select the port to be used by clicking in the appropriate text box, then click Apply.

Note: Telnet and MegaControl Panel remote administration

☞

access may be used to modify or disable firewall settings. Local

IP addresses and other settings can also be changed, making

it difficult or impossible to access the Router from the local network. Therefore, remote adminstration access to Telnet or MegaControl Panel services should be activated only when absolutely necessary.

Diagnostic Tools

Diagnostic Tools are used for troubleshooting and remote system management by a user or the ISP.

Note: Encrypted remote administration is performed using a

☞

secure SSL connection, and requires an SSL certificate. When accessing the Router for the first time using encrypted remote administration, a warning appears regarding certificate authentication because the Router’s SSL certificate is self-generated. When encountering this message under these circumstances, ignore it and continue. Even though this message appears, the self-generated certificate is safe, and provides a secure SSL connection.

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Website Blocking

The Router can be configured to block specific websites, preventing access to them from computers on the local network. Restrictions can also be applied to a comprehensive, automatically updated table of sites to which access is not recommended. To view the table of websites currently being blocked, select Website Blocking in any Security screen. To activate website blocking, click in the “Enable Website Blocking” check box.

To add a new website to the table:

1. Click Add. The “Blocked Website” screen appears.

2. Enter the website’s address (IP or URL). All pages within the website will also be

blocked. If the website address has multiple IP addresses, the Router will resolve all additional addresses and automatically add them to the restrictions table.

3. To apply website blocking to a single computer or group of computers on the

network, select them from the “Networked Computer/Device” drop-down list.

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4. If website blocking needs to be active all the time, select Always from the “When

should this rule occur?” drop-down list. If the rule will only be active at certain times, select Specify Schedule and click Add. Then, add a schedule rule (for more details about schedule rules, see the “Advanced Settings” chapter of this manual).

Note: Make sure the Router’s date and time are set correctly for

☞

the local time zone.

5. Click Apply to add the website to the table. The previous screen appears while

the Router attempts to find the site. “Resolving...” appears in the “Status” column while the website is being located.

6. If the site is successfully located, “Resolved” appears in the Status column. If

not, “Hostname Resolution Failed” appears. Click Refresh to update the status, if necessary. If the Router fails to locate the website, do the following:

• Use a web browser to verify the website is available. If it is, the website address was entered incorrectly. See “Modifying a Website Address,” below.

• If the website is not available, return to the Website Blocking screen at a later time and click Resolve Now to verify the website can be found and is blocked by the Router.

Modifying a Website Address

To modify a website address currently in the table:

1. Click the appropriate icon in the “Action” column. The “Blocked Website”

screen appears.

2. Modify the website address, group, and schedule as necessary. Omit the

“http://” at the beginning and the “/” at the end of the address.

3. Click Apply to save changes.

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Static NAT

This option allows multiple public addresses to be designated to devices on the network. Static NAT allows devices behind a firewall and configured with private IP addresses appear to have public IP addresses on the Internet. This allows an internal host, such as a web server, to have an unregistered (private) IP address and still be reachable over the Internet. To do this:

1. Select Static NAT from any Security screen. The “Static NAT” screen appears.

2. Click Add. The “Add Static NAT” screen appears.

3. Enter the name of the computer to be used as the local host, or, to enter a

specific IP address, select Specify Address from the “Networked Computer/ Device” drop-down list and enter the IP address in the box on the right.

4. Enter a public IP address assigned by the ISP in the “Public IP Address”

text box.

5. Select a connection from the “WAN Connection Type” drop-down list.

6. Select the protocol that needs to be accessible from the public IP address by

clicking in the check box next to “Enable Port Forwarding for Static NAT,” then selecting a protocol from the drop-down menu. Use “Any” to pass all data. Click Apply, and Apply again.

Repeat these steps to add more static IP addresses from the network.

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Advanced Filtering

Advanced filtering is designed to allow comprehensive control over the firewall’s behavior. Specific input and output rules can be defined, the order of logically similar sets of rules controlled, and distinctions made between rules that apply to Internet and local network devices.

To access, select Advanced Filtering from any Security screen. The “Advanced Filtering” screen appears.

Two sets of rules can be configured: input rules and output rules. Each set of rules comprises three subsets: initial rules, network devices rules, and final rules. These subsets determine the sequence by which the rules will be applied. Following is a description of the set ordering for inbound and outbound packets.

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Inbound Packets - Input Rule Sets

• Initial rules

• All rules defined for the network device on which the packet is

• Local servers rules from the local server tab in the security screen

• Rules to accept all the packets on a device in case the firewall check box “Internet Connection Firewall” in the connection settings screen is unchecked

• Remote administration rules from the remote administration tab

• DMZ host rules from the DMZ tab

• Final rules

Outbound Packets - Output Rules Sets

• Initial rules

• All rules defined for the network device on which the packet is

• Rules to accept all the packets on a device in case the firewall check box “Internet Connection Firewall” in the connection settings screen is unchecked

• IP/hostname filtering rules and access control rules from the tabs in the security screen

• Final rules

There are numerous rules automatically inserted by the firewall in order to provide improved security and block harmful attacks.

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To configure advanced filtering rules, click Add next to the rule title. The “Add Advanced Filter” screen appears.

To add an advanced filtering rule, define the following rule parameters:

Matching

To apply a firewall rule, a match must be made between IP addresses or ranges and ports. Use the “Source Address” and “Destination Address” drop-down lists to define the coupling of source and destination traffic. Port matching will be defined when selecting protocols. For example, if the FTP protocol is selected, port 21 will be checked for matching traffic flow between the defined source and destination IPs.

Operation

This is where the action the rule will take is defined. Select one of the following radio buttons:

• Drop - Deny access to packets that match the source and destination IP addresses and protocol ports defined in “Matching.”

• Reject - Deny access to packets that match the source and destination IP addresses and protocol ports defined in upper section of the screen, and send an ICMP error or a TCP reset to the origination peer.

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• Accept - Allow access to packets that match the source and destination IP addresses and protocol ports defined in upper section of the screen. The data transfer session will be handled using Stateful Packet Inspection (SPI).

• Accept Packet - Allow access to packets that match the source and destination IP addresses and protocol ports defined in upper section of the screen. The data transfer session will not be handled using Stateful Packet Inspection (SPI), so other packets that match this rule will not be automati- cally allowed access. This setting is useful when creating rules that allow broadcasting.

Logging

Click in this check box to add entries relating to this rule to the security log.

Scheduler (When should this rule occur?)

If advanced filtering needs to be active all the time, select “Always” from the “When should this rule occur?” drop-down list. If the rule will only be active at certain times select Specify Schedule and click Add. Then, add a schedule rule (for more details about schedule rules, see the “Advanced Settings” chapter of this manual)

Security Log

The security log displays a list of firewall-related events, including attempts to establish inbound and outbound connections, attempts to authenticate at an administrative interface (MegaControl Panel or Telnet terminal), firewall configuration, and system start-up.

To access the security log, select Security Log from any Security screen. The “Security Log” screen appears.

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Time

The time (based on the Router’s date and time settings) the event occurred.

Event

There are five kinds of events listed in the system log:

• Inbound Traffic - a result of an incoming packet

• Outbound Traffic - a result of an outgoing packet.

• Firewall Setup - configuration message

• WBM Login - a user logged in to WBM

• CLI Login - a user logged in to the command line interface via Telnet

Event-Type

Displays a textual description of the event.

Details

The “Details” column displays more information about the packet or the event, such as protocol, IP addresses, ports, etc. The following are the available event types that can be recorded in the security log:

• Firewall internal - from the firewall internal mechanism, in case this eventtype is recorded, an accompanying explanation will be added.

• Firewall status changed - the firewall changed status from up to down or the vice versa, as specified in the event type description.

• STP packet - an STP (Spanning Tree Protocol) packet has been accepted/ rejected.

• Illegal packet options - the options field in the packet’s header is either illegal or forbidden.

• Fragmented packet - a fragment has been rejected.

• WinNuke protection - a WinNuke attack has been blocked.

Actiontec electronic MI424-WR User Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual

Introduction

Package Contents

Minimum System Requirements

Features

Getting to Know the Router

Connecting the Router

Setting Up the Router

Home Page

Configuring My Network Settings

Accessing My Network

Using My Network

Creating a Wireless Network

Overview

Wireless Status

Basic Security Settings

Advanced Security Settings

Configuring a Wireless Windows XP Client

Connecting a Wireless Windows XP Client

Using Network Connections

Network (Home/Office)

Ethernet Connection

Coax Connection

Broadband Ethernet Connection

Coax Broadband Connection

WAN PPPoE/WAN PPPoE 2

Configuring the Router’s Security

General

Access Control

Port Forwarding

DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) Host

Port Triggering

Remote Administration

Website Blocking

Static NAT

Advanced Filtering

Security Log