Dynex DX-NRUTER User Manual 2

Wireless N Router

DX-NRUTER

USER GUIDE

Dynex DX-NRUTER

Wireless N Router

Introduction ......................................................................................2

Product features ................................................................................3

Setting up your wireless router..........................................................8

Troubleshooting ..............................................................................55

Legal notices ...................................................................................67

One-Year Limited Warranty .............................................................69

Introduction

Thank you for purchasing the Dynex DX-NRUTER Wireless N Router. The easy installation and setup will have you networking wirelessly in minutes. Be sure to read through this User Guide completely, and pay special attention to the section entitled “Product features” on page 3.

Benefits of a home network

Your home network will let you:

• Share one high-speed Internet connection with all the computers in your home

• Share resources, such as files, and hard drives among all the connected computers in your home

• Share a single printer with the entire family

• Share documents, music, video, and digital pictures

• Store, retrieve, and copy files from one computer to another

• Simultaneously play games online, check Internet e-mail, and chat

Contents

Advantages of a wireless network

Here are some of the advantages of setting up a Dynex wireless network:

• Mobility–You will no longer need a dedicated “computer room”— now you can work on a networked laptop or desktop computer anywhere within your wireless range.

• Easy installation–Dynex’s Setup Assistant makes setup simple.

• Flexibility–Set up and access printers, computers, and other networking devices from anywhere in your home.

• Easy expansion–The wide range of Dynex networking products lets you expand your network to include devices such as printers and gaming consoles.

• No cabling required–You can spare the expense and hassle of retrofitting Ethernet cabling throughout the home or office.

Product features

• Widespread industry acceptance–Choose from a wide range of interoperable networking products.

• N wireless technology–Your router uses a new smart-antenna technology called Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO). N wireless complies with the IEEE draft

802.11n specification. It increases speed, range, reliability, and spectral efficiency for wireless networking systems.

Product features

In minutes you will be able to share your Internet connection and network your computers. The following is a list of features that make your router an ideal solution for your home or small office network.

Works with Both PCs and Mac® Computers—Your router supports a variety of networking environments including Mac OS® X v10.x, Linux®, Windows® 98, Windows® 2000, Windows XP®, Windows Vista®, and others. All that is needed is an Internet browser and a network adapter that supports TCP/IP (the standard language of the Internet).

Front-Panel LED Display—Lighted LEDs on the front of your router indicate which functions are in operation. You’ll know at-a-glance whether your router is connected to the Internet. This feature eliminates the need for advanced software and status-monitoring procedures.

Web-Based Advanced User Interface—You can set up your router’s advanced functions easily through your Web browser, without having to install additional software onto the computer. There are no disks to install or keep track of and you can make changes and perform setup functions from any computer on the network quickly and easily.

NAT IP Address Sharing—Your router employs Network Address Translation (NAT) to share the single IP address assigned to you by your Internet Service Provider while saving the cost of adding IP addresses to your Internet service account.

SPI Firewall—Your router is equipped with a firewall that will protect your network from a wide array of common hacker attacks including IP Spoofing, Land Attack, Ping of Death (PoD), Denial of Service (DoS), IP with zero length, Smurf Attack, TCP Null Scan, SYN flood, UDP flooding, Tear Drop Attack, ICMP defect, RIP defect, and fragment flooding.

Integrated 10/100 4-Port Switch—Your router has a built-in, 4-port network switch to allow your wired computers to share printers, data and MP3 files, digital photos, and much more. The switch features automatic detection so it will adjust to the speed of connected devices. The switch will transfer data between computers and the Internet simultaneously without interrupting or consuming resources.

Universal Plug-and-Play (UPnP) Compatibility—UPnP (Universal Plug-and-Play) is a technology that offers seamless operation of voice messaging, video messaging, games, and other applications that are UPnP-compliant.

Support for VPN Pass-Through—If you connect to your office network from home using a VPN connection, your router will allow your VPN-equipped computer to pass through your router and to your office network.

Built-In Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP)—Built-In Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) on-board makes for the easiest possible connection of a network. The DHCP server will assign IP addresses to each computer automatically so there is no need for a complicated networking setup.

Setup Assistant—The Setup assistant takes the guesswork out of setting up your router. This automatic software determines your network settings for you and sets up your router for connection to your Internet Service Provider (ISP). In a matter of minutes, your router will be up and running on the Internet.

Note: Setup Assistant software is compatible with Windows 2000, Windows XP,

Windows Vista, and Mac OS X 10.x. If you are using another operating syste m, your router can be set up using the Alternate Setup Method described in this User Guide (see “Alternative setup method” on page 16.

Integrated N Wireless Access Point—N MIMO is an exciting new wireless technology based on the draft IEEE 802.11n specification. It employs MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) smart-antenna technology that achieves data rates up to 300 Mbps. Actual throughput is typically lower than the connected data rate and will vary depending on your networking environment.

Note: The standard transmission rate of 270 Mbps is the physical data rate. Actual data

trhoughput will be lower.

MAC Address Filtering—For added security, you can set up a list of MAC addresses (unique client identifiers) that are allowed access to your network. Every computer has its own MAC address. Simply enter these MAC addresses into a list using the Web-Based Advanced User Interface and you can control access to your network.

Product features

Package contents

• Dynex N Wireless Router

• Quick Installation Guide

• Installation software CD

• RJ-45 Ethernet cable

• Power supply

• User Guide on Setup Assistant CD

System requirements

• Broadband Internet connection such as a cable or DSL modem with RJ45 (Ethernet) connection

• At least one computer with an installed network interface adapter

• TCP/IP networking protocol installed on each computer

• RJ-45 Ethernet networking cable

• Internet browser

Product features

Setup Assistant software system requirements

• A computer running Windows 2000, Windows XP, or Windows Vista or running Mac OS X v10.x

• Minimum 1 GHz processor and 128 MB RAM

• Internet browser

Components

Your router has been designed to be placed on a desktop. All of the cables exit from the rear of your router for better organization and utility. The LED indicators are easily visible on the front of your router to provide you with information about network activity and status.

Front panel

# Component Description

1 Security Sync button Push and hold this button for three seconds, then initiate the Security Sync (WPS)

procedure on the client device within two minutes. Your client will automatically exchange the security information and be added to your wireless network.

2 Antenna Lets your router communicate with a wireless client (card or USB adapter).

# Component Description

3 Power/ready LED When you apply power to your router or restart it, a short period of time elapses

while your router boots up. During this time, the Power/Ready LED blinks. When your router has completely booted up, the Power/Ready LED becomes a SOLID light, indicating your router is ready for use. Off—Router is off Blinking Green—Router is booting up Solid Green—Router is ready

4 Security Sync LED Lights to indicate that WPS has been activated.

Blinking Green—Your router is searching for a WPS client to connect with. Solid Green—The secure connection has been established with the client.

5 Wireless network LED Off—The wireless network is off

6 Wired computer

status LEDs

7 Modem status LED This LED lights green to indicate that your modem is connected properly to your

8 Internet LED This unique LED shows you when your router is connected to the Internet. When the

Solid Green—The wireless network is ready Blinking Green—Network activity

These LEDs are labeled 1-4 and correspond to the num bered ports on the rear of your router. When a computer is properly connected to one of the wired computer ports on the rear of your router, the LED will light. Off—The wireless network is off Solid Green—A 10base-T device is connected Solid Orange—A 100base-T device is connected Blinking—Port activity

router. It blinks rapidly when information is being sent over the port between your router and the modem. Off—No WAN link Solid Green—Good WAN link Blinking Green—WAN activity

light is OFF, your router is not connected to the Internet. When the light is blinking, your router is attempting to connect to the Internet. When the light is solid green, your router is connected to the Internet. When using the “Disconnect after x minutes” feature, this LED becomes extremely useful in monitoring the status of your router’s connection. Off—Router is not connected to the Internet Blinking Green—Router is attempting to connect to the Internet Solid Green—Router is connected to the Internet

Product features

Back panel

# Component Description

1 Wired computer

ports - Blue

2 Modem port - Green This port is for connection to your cable or DSL modem. Use the cable that was

3 Reset button The Reset button is used in rare cases when your router may function improperly.

4 Power jack The 5 V DC power supply plugs into this jack.

Connect your wired (non-wireless) computers to these ports. These ports are RJ-45, 10/100 auto-negotiation, auto-uplinking por ts for standard UTP category 5 or 6 Ethernet cable. The ports are labeled 1 through 4. These ports correspond to the numbered LEDs on the front of your router.

provided with the modem to connect the modem to this port. Use of a cable other than the cable supplied with the cable modem may not work properly.

Resetting your router restores your router’s normal operation while maintaining the programmed settings. You can also restore the factory default settings by using the Reset button. Use the restore option in instances where you may have forgotten your custom password. Resetting your router—Push and release the Reset button. The lights on your router will momentarily flash. The Power/Ready light will begin to blink. When the Power/Ready light becomes solid again, the reset is complete. Restoring the Factory Defaults—Press and hold the Reset button for at least 10 seconds, then release it. The lights on your router will momentarily flash. The Power/Ready light will begin to blink. When the Power/Ready light becomes solid again, the restore is complete.

Setting up your wireless router

Modem requirements

Your cable or DSL modem must be equipped with an RJ-45 Ethernet port. Many modems have both an RJ-45 Ethernet port and a USB connection. If you have a modem with both Ethernet and USB, and are using the USB connection at this time, you will be instructed to use the RJ-45 Ethernet port during the installation procedure. If your modem has only a USB port, you can request a different type of modem from your ISP, or you can, in some cases, purchase a modem that has an RJ-45 Ethernet port on it.

Important: Always install your router first! if you are installing numerous network devices

for the first time, it is important that your router is connected and running before attempting to install other net work components such as notebook cards and desktop cards.

Setup assistant

Dynex has provided our Setup Assistant software to make installing your router a simple and easy task. You can use it to get your router up and running in minutes. The Setup Assistant requires that your computer be connected directly to your cable or DSL modem and that the Internet connection is active and working at the time of installation. If it is not, you must use the “Alternative setup method” section on page 16 to configure your router. Additionally, if you are using an operating system other than Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista, or Mac OS X v10.x, you must set up your router using the “Alternative setup method” section on page 16.

Hardware connections

To connect the hardware:

1 Unplug your modem's power cord. Put your router next to the modem and raise your

router’s antenna.

2 Locate the networking cable that connects your modem and computer. Unplug that

cable from your modem, and plug it into any gray port on the back of your router.

3 Find your new networking cable (included in the box with your router) and connect it

to the yellow port on the back of your router. Connect the other end to your modem, in the port that is now free.

4 Plug in your modem's power cord. Wait 60 seconds for the modem to start up. Plug

your router’s power supply into the black port on the back of your router. Plug the other end into the wall outlet.

5 Wait 20 seconds for your router to start up. Look at the display on the front of your

router and make sure the Wired and Router icons are lit up in green. If they are not, recheck your connections.

Setting up your wireless router

Running the Setup Assistant

To run the Setup Assistant:

1 Shut down any programs that are running on your computer at this time. 2 Turn off any firewall or Internet-connection-sharing software on your computer. 3 Insert the included CD into your computer. The Setup Assistant will automatically

appear on your computer's screen within 15 seconds. Click GO to run the Setup Assistant, then follow the on-screen instructions.

Important : Run the Setup Assistant from the computer that is directly connected to your

route r.

Note for Windows users: If the Setup Assistant does not start up automatically, select your

CD drive from My Computer and double-click the file named SetupAssistant to start the Setup Assistant.

4 When the Confirmation screen opens, verify that you have completed all QIG steps by

checking the box to the right of the arrow, then click Next to continue.

Setting up your wireless router

Setup Assistant will indicate each time a step in the setup has been completed.

When it is time to name your network, the Setup Assistant will open the Naming your network screen.

The default wireless network name or Service Set Identifier (SSID) is the name of your wireless network that your computers or devices with wireless network adapters will connect to.

5 You can either accept the default name or change it to something unique. If you

change it, write down the name for future reference. Click Next to continue.

Setting up your wireless router

6 If your Internet account requires a login and password, you will be prompted with a

screen similar to the illustration above. Select your country or ISP from the lists. The Setup Assistant will now configure your router by sending data to your router and

restarting it. Wait for the on-screen instructions.

Caution : Do not disconnect any cable or power off your router while your router is rebooting.

Doing so will render your router inoperable.

After configuring your router, the Setup Assistant checks your connection to the Internet.

This completes your router installation. You will see the Congratulations screen when your router can connect to the Internet. You can begin surfing by opening your browser and going to any Web site.

7 You can use the Setup Assistant to set up your other wired and wireless computers to

connect to the Internet by clicking Next. If you decide to add computers to your router later, select Exit the Assistant, then click Next.

Troubleshooting the setup

To troubleshoot the setup:

• If the Setup Assistant is not able to connect to the Internet, you will see the following screen. Follow the on-screen instructions to go through the troubleshooting steps.

Setting up your wireless router

To use the optional assistance to connect to other computers:

1 This optional step will help you to connect additional wired and wireless computers to

your network. Follow the on-screen instructions.

At this point, your router is set up and working properly. It is now time to connect your other computers.

Connecting computers wirelessly

Computers with wireless network adapters can use this network. If you still need to install those adapters, do this now. Then follow their instructions on how to connect. When you do so, look for your network: John's Home Wi-Fi.

Connecting computers with wired cables

Computers with wired network adapters can use this network. If you still need to install those adapters, do this now. Then connect an Ethernet cable between your computer's network port and one of the available LAN ports (labeled connections to computers) on the back of your router.]

Once you have verified that your other wired and wireless computers are properly connected, your network is set up and working. You can now surf the Internet. Click Next to go back to the main menu.

Wireless security setup

Make sure that your complete the basic setup of your router before setting up security. Make sure that all of your computers (wired and wireless) can successfully connect to the Internet through your router.

To set up security:

1 On a computer that has a wired (cable) connection to your router, open a Web browser.

In the address field, type 192.168.2.1 (or the IP address you customized), then click

Enter.

2 In the menu at left, go to the wireless section and click Security.

If asked to log in, enter your password. or if you have not yet set a custom password, leave this field blank. Then click, Submit.

Setting up your wireless router

3 You will be asked to pick a security type. We recommend WPA2-PSK as the security

mode and then WPA-PSK+WPA2-PSK as the Authentication, as it is the most secure and easiest to use. Once you have made your choice, click Apply Changes.

4 In the Pre-shared key field, type a security key that is easy for you to remember. Using

some punctuation will increase your network's security (for example, “My favorite team is the Tigers!”). Click Apply Changes.

5 Now go to each of your wireless computers. Use the wireless utility software on each to

do the following (see you wireless adapter's user manual for more detailed instructions):

a. Find your wireless network and connect to it. b. When prompted, enter the phrase you created above.

Note: If a computer does not accept the phrase, it likely does not yet support WPA/WPA2. Go

to your wireless adapter manufacturer's Web site and check for a driver update.

6 If you do not want to update your computer's wireless adapter to work with

WPA/WPA2, return to Step 4 and choose WEP.

Alternative setup method

The Web-Based Advanced User Interface is a Web-based tool that you can use to set up your router if you do not want to use the Setup Assistant. You can also use it to manage advanced functions of your router. From the Web-Based Advanced User Interface, you can perform the following tasks:

• View your router’s current settings and status

• Configure your router to connect to your ISP with the settings that they provided you

• Change the current network settings such as the Internal IP address, the IP address pool, DHCP settings, and more

• Set your router’s firewall to work with specific applications (port forwarding)

• Set up security features such as client restrictions, MAC address filtering, WEP, and WPA

• Enable the DMZ feature for a single computer on your network

• Change your router’s internal password

• Enable/Disable UPnP (Universal Plug-and-Play)

• Reset your router

• Back up your configuration settings

• Reset your router’s default settings

• Update your router’s firmware

To connect your router:

1 Turn off the power to your modem by unplugging the power supply from the modem. 2 Locate the network cable that is connected between your modem and your computer

and unplug it from your computer, leaving the other end connected to your modem.

3 Plug the loose end of the cable you just unplugged into the port on the back of your

router labeled Modem.

4 Connect a new network cable (not included) from the back of the computer to one of

the wired computer ports labeled 1-4.

Note: It does not matter which numbered port you choose.

5 Turn your cable or DSL modem on by reconnecting the power supply to the modem. 6 Plug the power cord into the wall, then plug the cord into your router’s power jack.

Setting up your wireless router

7 Make sure that your modem is connected to your router by checking the lights on the

front of your router. The green light labeled Modem should be on if your modem is connected correctly to your router. If it is not, recheck your connections.

8 Make sure that your computer is connected properly to your router by checking the

lights labeled 1-4. The light that corresponds to the numbered port connected to your computer should be on if your computer is connected properly. If it is not, recheck your connections.

To set up your computer's network settings to work with a DHCP server:

• See “Manually configuring network settings” on page 46 for directions.

Configuring your router using the Web-Based Advanced User Interface:

1 Open your Internet browser, then access your router’s Web-Based Advanced User

Interface by typing “192.168.2.1” in the address line (you do not need to type anything else such as “http://” or “www”), then press Enter. The router’s home page opens.

Note: If you have difficulty accessing your router’s Web-Based Advanced User Interface, go to

“Manually configuring network settings” on page 46.

2 To make any changes to your router’s settings, you have to log in. Click Login, or click

any one of the links on the home page to go to the login screen.

3 In the login screen, leave the password blank (your router shipped with no password

entered) and click Submit to log in.

4 After you have logged in to make changes, there are two ways that the computer can

be logged out. Clicking Logout will log the computer out.

- OR The login will time out after a specified period of time. The default login time-out is

10 minutes. This can be changed from 1 to 99 minutes. For more information, see “Changing the Login Time-Out setting” on page 44.

Using the Web-Based Advanced User Interface

The home page is the first page you will see when you access the Web-Based Advanced User Interface (UI). The home page shows you a quick view of your router’s status and settings. All advanced setup pages can be reached from this page.

Setting up your wireless router

Quick-Navigation links—You can go directly to any of your router’s UI pages by clicking directly on these links. The links are divided into logical categories and grouped by tabs to make finding a particular setting easier to find. Clicking the purple header of each tab will show you a short description of the tab's function.

Home button—T he Home button is available in every page of the UI. Pressing this button will take you back to the home page.

Internet status indicator—This indicator is visible in all pages of the UI, indicating the connection status of your router. When the indicator says Connection OK in green, your router is connected to the Internet. When your router is not connected to the Internet, the indicator will read No Connection in red. The indicator is automatically updated when you make changes to the settings of your router.

Login/Logout button—This button lets you log in and out of your router with the press of one button. When you are logged into your router, this button will change to read Logout. Logging into your router will take you to a separate login page where you will need to enter a password. When you are logged into your router, you can make changes to the settings. When you are finished making changes, you can log out of your router by clicking the

Logout button. Help button—Th e Help button gives you access to your router’s help pages. LAN Settings—Shows you the settings of the Local Area Network (LAN) side of your router.

Changes can be made to the settings by clicking any one of the links (IP Address, Subnet Mask, DHCP Server) or by clicking the LAN quick-navigation link on the left side of the screen.

Featur es—Shows the status of your router’s NAT, firewall, and wireless features. Changes can be made to the settings by clicking any one of the links or by clicking the quick-navigation links on the left side of the screen.

Internet Settings—Shows the settings of the Internet/WAN side of your router that connects to the Internet. Changes to any of these settings can be made by clicking the links or by clicking the Internet/WAN quick-navigation link on the left side of the screen.

Version Info—Shows the firmware version, boot-code version, hardware version, and serial number of your router.

Page Name—The page you are on can be identified by this name. This User Guide will sometimes refer to pages by name. For instance LAN > LAN Settings refers to the LAN Settings page.

Setting up your wireless router

Configure your router for connection to your Internet Service Provider (ISP)

The Internet/WAN tab is where you will set up your router to connect to your Internet Service Provider (ISP). Your router is capable of connecting to virtually any ISP’s system provided you have correctly configured your router’s settings for your ISP’s connection type. Your ISP connection settings are provided to you by your ISP.

To configure your router with the settings that your ISP gave you:

1 Click Connection Type on the left side of the screen, then select the connection type

you use.

2 If your ISP gave you DNS settings, click DNS to enter DNS address entries for ISPs that

require specific settings.

3 Click MAC address to clone your computer's MAC address or type a specific WAN MAC

address, if required by your ISP. When you have finished making settings, the Internet Status indicator will read

connection OK if your router is set up properly.

To set your Connection Type:

1 Click Connection Type from the menu on the left side of the screen. The Connection

Type page opens. From this page, you can select the type of connection you use by clicking the button next to your connection type and then clicking Next.

Setting your Internet Service Provider (ISP) connection type to dynamic IP

A dynamic connection type is the most common connection type used with cable modems. Setting the connection type to dynamic in many cases is enough to complete the connection to your ISP. Some dynamic connection types may require a host name. You can enter your host name in the space provided if you were assigned one. Your host name is assigned by your ISP. Some dynamic connections may require that you clone the MAC address of the PC that was originally connected to the modem.

Setting up your wireless router

Change WAN MAC Address

If your ISP requires a specific MAC address to connect to the service, you can enter a specific MAC address or clone the current computer's MAC address through this link.

Setting your Internet Service Provider (ISP) connection type to static IP

A static IP address connection type is less common than other connection types. If your ISP uses static IP addressing, you will need your IP address, subnet mask, and ISP gateway address. This information is available from your ISP or on the paperwork that your ISP left with you. Type your information, then click Apply Changes. After you apply the changes, the Internet Status indicator will read connection OK if your router is set up correctly.

Setting up your wireless router

Setting your ISP connection type to PPPoE

Most DSL providers use PPPoE as the connection type. If you use a DSL modem to connect to the Internet, your ISP may use PPPoE to log you into the service. If you have an Internet connection in your home or small office that doesn't require a modem, you may also use PPPoE.

Your connection type is PPPoE if:

• Your ISP gave you a user name and password, which is required to connect to the Internet.

• Your ISP gave you software such as WinPOET or Enternet300 that you use to connect to the Internet.

• You have to double-click a desktop icon other than your browser to get on the Internet.

Enter the following:

User Name–This space is provided to type your user name that was assigned by your ISP. Password–Type your password and retype it into the Retype Password box to confirm it. Service Name–A service name is rarely required by an ISP. If you are not sure if your ISP

requires a service name, leave this blank. MTU–The MTU setting should never be changed unless your ISP gives you a specific MTU

setting. Making changes to the MTU setting can cause problems with your Internet connection including disconnection from the Internet, slow Internet access, and problems with Internet applications working properly.

Disconnect after X–The Disconnect feature is used to automatically disconnect your router from your ISP when there is no activity for a specified period of time. For instance, placing a check mark next to this option and entering 5 into the minute field will cause your router to disconnect from the Internet after five minutes of no Internet activity. This option should be used if you pay for your Internet service by the minute.

Setting up your wireless router

Setting custom Domain Name Server (DNS) settings

A Domain Name Server is a server located on the Internet that translates Universal Resource Locators (URLs) like “www.dynex.com” into IP addresses. Many Internet Service Providers (ISPs) do not require you to enter this information into your router. The Automatic from ISP box should be checked if your ISP did not give you a specific DNS address. If you are using a static IP connection type, then you may need to enter a specific DNS address and secondary DNS address for your connection to work properly. If your connection type is dynamic or PPPoE, it is likely that you do not have to enter a DNS address. Leave the Automatic from ISP box checked. To enter the DNS address settings, uncheck the Automatic from ISP box and enter your DNS entries in the spaces provided. Click Apply Changes to save the settings.

Configuring your WAN Media Access Controller (MAC) address

All network components including cards, adapters, and routers, have a unique serial number called a MAC address. Your Internet Service Provider may record the MAC address of your computer's adapter and only let that particular computer connect to the Internet service. When you install your router, its own MAC address will be “seen” by the ISP and may cause the connection not to work. Dynex has provided the ability to clone (copy) the MAC address of the computer into your router. This MAC address, in turn, will be seen by the ISP’s system as the original MAC address and will allow the connection to work. If you are not sure whether your ISP needs to see the original MAC address, simply clone the MAC address of the computer that was originally connected to the modem. Cloning the address will not cause any problems with your network.

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