LINKSYS E1200V2 User Manual

Linksys E-Series Routers
User Guide
Linksys E-Series
E1200
E1500
E2500
E3200
E4200
Linksys E-Series
E1200/E1500 Contents
E1200/E1500 Contents
Product overview
Package contents 1 Features 1 Back view 2 Bottom view 2
Setting Up: Basics
How to create a home network. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
What is a network? 10 How to set up a home network 10
Where to find more help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
How to set up your router . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
How to start Cisco Connect 11
How to improve your wireless connection speed . . . . . . . . . 12
How to test your Internet connection speed . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
How to connect devices to your network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
How to connect a computer to your network 13 How to connect a printer 15 How to connect other devices 15
How to set up parental controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
How to access parental controls 17 How to select the computers to have parental controls 18 How to set parental controls 19
How to set up guest access to your network . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
How to change your router’s name and password. . . . . . . . . 21
Setting Up: Advanced
How to open the browser-based utility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
How to manually set up your router. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
How to manually set up your Internet connection 23
How to set up the DHCP server on your router . . . . . . . . . . . 25
How to set up DHCP reservation 26
How to find your network on the Internet. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
How to clone a MAC address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
How to connect to your corporate office using a VPN . . . . . . 28
How to optimize your router for gaming and voice . . . . . . . . 28
How to remotely change your router settings . . . . . . . . . . . 30
How to enable Voice over IP on your network . . . . . . . . . . . 31
How to configure UPnP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
How to use a router as an access point . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
How to put your new router behind an existing router. . . . . . 33
To add your router to an existing router or gateway 33 To share an Internet connection 33 To extend your network 35
How to expose a device to the Internet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Improving Security
How do I know if my network is secure? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Network security following a manual setup. . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
How to set up wireless security using Wi-Fi Protected Setup . . 38
Wi-Fi Protected Setup activity light 38 Connecting a device using the Wi-Fi Protected Setup button 38 How to connect a device using its Wi-Fi Protected Setup PIN 39 How to connect a device using the router’s Wi-Fi Protected Setup PIN 39
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Linksys E-Series
How to connect a device manually 39
How to control access to your wireless network . . . . . . . . . . 40
How to improve security using the built-in firewall 41
Port Forwarding and Port Triggering
How to set up port forwarding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
How to set up port forwarding for a single port 51 How to set up port forwarding for multiple ports 52 How to set up port forwarding for a range of ports 52
How to set up port range triggering for online gaming . . . . . 53
How to configure your Xbox for online gaming . . . . . . . . . . 54
Maintaining and Monitoring
How to back up and restore your router configuration. . . . . . 55
How to restore factory defaults 55
E1200/E1500 Contents
How to upgrade the router’s firmware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
How to check the status of your router. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
How to disable the Ethernet port status lights 58 How to test your Internet connection 59 How to configure and use logs 60
Browser-based Utility Menu Structure
E1200/E1500 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Specifications
Linksys E1200 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Linksys E1500 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
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Linksys E-Series
E2500 Contents
E2500 Contents
Product overview
Package contents 3 Features 3 Back view 4 Bottom view 4
Setting Up: Basics
How to create a home network. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
What is a network? 10 How to set up a home network 10
Where to find more help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
How to set up your router . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
How to start Cisco Connect 11
How to improve your wireless connection speed . . . . . . . . . 12
How to test your Internet connection speed . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
How to connect devices to your network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
How to connect a computer to your network 13 How to connect a printer 15 How to connect other devices 15
How to set up parental controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
How to access parental controls 17 How to select the computers to have parental controls 18 How to set parental controls 19
How to set up guest access to your network . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
How to change your router’s name and password. . . . . . . . . 21
Setting Up: Advanced
How to open the browser-based utility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
How to manually set up your router. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
How to manually set up your Internet connection 23
How to get the most out of your dual-band router . . . . . . . . 23
How to set up the DHCP server on your router . . . . . . . . . . . 25
How to set up DHCP reservation 26
How to find your network on the Internet. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
How to clone a MAC address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
How to connect to your corporate office using a VPN . . . . . . 28
How to optimize your router for gaming and voice . . . . . . . . 28
How to remotely change your router settings . . . . . . . . . . . 30
How to enable Voice over IP on your network . . . . . . . . . . . 31
How to configure UPnP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
How to use a router as an access point . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
How to put your new router behind an existing router. . . . . . 33
To add your router to an existing router or gateway 33 To share an Internet connection 33 To extend your network 35
How to expose a device to the Internet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Improving Security
How do I know if my network is secure? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Network security following a manual setup. . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
How to set up wireless security using Wi-Fi Protected Setup . . 38
Wi-Fi Protected Setup activity light 38
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Linksys E-Series
Connecting a device using the Wi-Fi Protected Setup button 38 How to connect a device using its Wi-Fi Protected Setup PIN 39 How to connect a device using the router’s Wi-Fi Protected Setup PIN 39 How to connect a device manually 39
How to control access to your wireless network . . . . . . . . . . 40
How to improve security using the built-in firewall 41
Port Forwarding and Port Triggering
How to set up port forwarding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
How to set up port forwarding for a single port 51 How to set up port forwarding for multiple ports 52 How to set up port forwarding for a range of ports 52
How to set up port range triggering for online gaming . . . . . 53
How to configure your Xbox for online gaming . . . . . . . . . . 54
Maintaining and Monitoring
E2500 Contents
How to back up and restore your router configuration. . . . . . 55
How to restore factory defaults 55
How to upgrade the router’s firmware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
How to check the status of your router. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
How to disable the Ethernet port status lights 58 How to test your Internet connection 59 How to configure and use logs 60
Browser-based Utility Menu Structure
E2500 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Specifications
Linksys E2500 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
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Linksys E-Series
E3200 Contents
E3200 Contents
Product overview
Package contents 5 Features 5 Back view 6 Bottom view 6
Setting Up: Basics
How to create a home network. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
What is a network? 10 How to set up a home network 10
Where to find more help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
How to set up your router . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
How to start Cisco Connect 11
How to improve your wireless connection speed . . . . . . . . . 12
How to test your Internet connection speed . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
How to connect devices to your network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
How to connect a computer to your network 13 How to connect a printer 15 How to connect other devices 15
How to set up parental controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
How to access parental controls 17 How to select the computers to have parental controls 18 How to set parental controls 19
How to set up guest access to your network . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
How to change your router’s name and password. . . . . . . . . 21
Setting Up: Advanced
How to open the browser-based utility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
How to manually set up your router. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
How to manually set up your Internet connection 23
How to get the most out of your dual-band router . . . . . . . . 23
How to set up the DHCP server on your router . . . . . . . . . . . 25
How to set up DHCP reservation 26
How to find your network on the Internet. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
How to clone a MAC address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
How to connect to your corporate office using a VPN . . . . . . 28
How to optimize your router for gaming and voice . . . . . . . . 28
How to remotely change your router settings . . . . . . . . . . . 30
How to enable Voice over IP on your network . . . . . . . . . . . 31
How to configure UPnP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
How to use a router as an access point . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
How to put your new router behind an existing router. . . . . . 33
To add your router to an existing router or gateway 33 To share an Internet connection 33 To extend your network 35
How to expose a device to the Internet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Improving Security
How do I know if my network is secure? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Network security following a manual setup. . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
How to set up wireless security using Wi-Fi Protected Setup . . 38
Wi-Fi Protected Setup activity light 38
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Linksys E-Series
E3200 Contents
Connecting a device using the Wi-Fi Protected Setup button 38 How to connect a device using its Wi-Fi Protected Setup PIN 39 How to connect a device using the router’s Wi-Fi Protected Setup PIN 39 How to connect a device manually 39
How to control access to your wireless network . . . . . . . . . . 40
How to improve security using the built-in firewall 41
Using an External Drive
How to configure storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
How to create shared folders 42 How to manage group and user access to shared folders 43 How to create a group 43 How to create a new user 44 How to grant group access to a share 45
How to configure your router’s storage for remote access. . . . 46
How to configure the FTP server 46 How to share folders and set access rights 47
How to access files remotely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Port Forwarding and Port Triggering
How to disable the Ethernet port status lights 58 How to test your Internet connection 59 How to configure and use logs 60
Browser-based Utility Menu Structure
E3200 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Specifications
Linksys E3200 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
How to set up port forwarding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
How to set up port forwarding for a single port 51 How to set up port forwarding for multiple ports 52 How to set up port forwarding for a range of ports 52
How to set up port range triggering for online gaming . . . . . 53
How to configure your Xbox for online gaming . . . . . . . . . . 54
Maintaining and Monitoring
How to back up and restore your router configuration. . . . . . 55
How to restore factory defaults 55
How to upgrade the router’s firmware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
How to check the status of your router. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
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Linksys E-Series
E4200 Contents
E4200 Contents
Product overview
Package contents 7 Features 7 Top view 8 Back view 8
Setting Up: Basics
How to create a home network. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
What is a network? 10 How to set up a home network 10
Where to find more help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
How to set up your router . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
How to start Cisco Connect 11
How to improve your wireless connection speed . . . . . . . . . 12
How to test your Internet connection speed . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
How to connect devices to your network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
How to connect a computer to your network 13 How to connect a printer 15 How to connect other devices 15
How to set up parental controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
How to access parental controls 17 How to select the computers to have parental controls 18 How to set parental controls 19
How to set up guest access to your network . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
How to change your router’s name and password. . . . . . . . . 21
Setting Up: Advanced
How to open the browser-based utility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
How to manually set up your router. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
How to manually set up your Internet connection 23
How to get the most out of your dual-band router . . . . . . . . 23
How to set up the DHCP server on your router . . . . . . . . . . . 25
How to set up DHCP reservation 26
How to find your network on the Internet. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
How to clone a MAC address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
How to connect to your corporate office using a VPN . . . . . . 28
How to optimize your router for gaming and voice . . . . . . . . 28
How to remotely change your router settings . . . . . . . . . . . 30
How to enable Voice over IP on your network . . . . . . . . . . . 31
How to configure UPnP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
How to use a router as an access point . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
How to put your new router behind an existing router. . . . . . 33
To add your router to an existing router or gateway 33 To share an Internet connection 33 To extend your network 35
How to expose a device to the Internet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Improving Security
How do I know if my network is secure? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Network security following a manual setup. . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
How to set up wireless security using Wi-Fi Protected Setup . . 38
Wi-Fi Protected Setup activity light 38
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Linksys E-Series
E4200 Contents
Connecting a device using the Wi-Fi Protected Setup button 38 How to connect a device using its Wi-Fi Protected Setup PIN 39 How to connect a device using the router’s Wi-Fi Protected Setup PIN 39 How to connect a device manually 39
How to control access to your wireless network . . . . . . . . . . 40
How to improve security using the built-in firewall 41
Using an External Drive
How to configure storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
How to create shared folders 42 How to manage group and user access to shared folders 43 How to create a group 43 How to create a new user 44 How to grant group access to a share 45
How to configure your router’s storage for remote access. . . . 46
How to configure the FTP server 46 How to share folders and set access rights 47
How to access files remotely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
How to set up your router as a media server . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
How to connect your UPnP device to the media server 50
How to upgrade the router’s firmware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
How to check the status of your router. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
How to disable the Ethernet port status lights 58 How to test your Internet connection 59 How to configure and use logs 60
Browser-based Utility Menu Structure
E4200 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Specifications
Linksys E4200 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Port Forwarding and Port Triggering
How to set up port forwarding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
How to set up port forwarding for a single port 51 How to set up port forwarding for multiple ports 52 How to set up port forwarding for a range of ports 52
How to set up port range triggering for online gaming . . . . . 53
How to configure your Xbox for online gaming . . . . . . . . . . 54
Maintaining and Monitoring
How to back up and restore your router configuration. . . . . . 55
How to restore factory defaults 55
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Linksys E-Series

Product overview

Product overview

E1200/E1500

Package contents

In addition to your router, your router package includes:
Network (Ethernet) cable
AC power adapter
Setup CD containing router setup software and documentation

Features

Wireless-N technology
Built with leading 802.11n wireless technology, your router offers maximum speed and range to create an ultra-powerful network designed for home theater performance. Connect your computers, Internet-ready TVs, game consoles, smartphones and other Wi-Fi devices at blazingly fast transfer rates for an unrivaled experience.
SpeedBoost
Higher quality antenna technology helps maintain high speeds across greater distances throughout your home. (E1500 only; not on E1200)
State-of-the-art security
Keep Wi-Fi freeloaders and Internet threats at bay with WPA/WPA2 encryption. An SPI firewall helps keep your network protected.
Benefits of Fast Ethernet
Use the four Fast Ethernet (10/100) ports for quick file sharing between computers and servers.
Home network ready
Connect computers, printers, and more to your wireless network and the Internet. QoS traffic prioritization technology delivers maximum speed and performance so you can enjoy fast downloads and reliable gaming.
Easy to manage
Cisco Connect software helps you customize your settings and quickly add multiple devices to your network:
Separate guest network
Create a separate, secure, password-protected network for guests.
Parental controls
Limit access time and websites with parental controls.
1
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Linksys E-Series
Product overview

Back view

Power port
Ethernet ports
Ethernet ports—Connect Ethernet cables (also called network cables)
to these Fast Ethernet (10/100) ports, color coded blue, and to wired Ethernet network devices on your network.
Internet port—Connect an Ethernet cable (also called a network or
Internet cable) to this port, color coded yellow, and to your modem.
Wi-Fi Protected Setup™ button—Press this button to easily configure wireless security on Wi-Fi Protected Setup-enabled network devices. For more information, see “How to set up wireless security using Wi-Fi Protected Setup” on page 38.
Power indicator—Stays on steadily while power is connected and
following a successful Wi-Fi Protected Setup connection. Flashes slowly during bootup, during firmware upgrades, and during a Wi-Fi Protected Setup connection. Flashes quickly when there is a Wi-Fi Protected Setup error.
Internet port
Wi-Fi Protected Setup button
Power indicator
Port activity indicator
Green network activity indicator
Network and Internet port
Green activity indicator—On Ethernet ports, stays on when a cable
connects the port to another Ethernet port. On the Internet port, stays on while connected to a modem. On both port types, it flashes while transferring data.

Bottom view

Power—Connect the included AC power adapter to this port.
CAUTION
Use only the adapter that came with your router.
Reset button—Press and hold this button for 5-10 seconds (until the
port lights flash at the same time) to reset the router to its factory defaults. You can also restore the defaults using the browser-based utility. For more information, see “How to restore factory defaults” on page 55.
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Linksys E-Series
Product overview

E2500

Package contents

In addition to your router, your router package includes:
Network (Ethernet) cable
AC power adapter
Setup CD containing router setup software and documentation

Features

Wireless-N technology
Built with leading 802.11n wireless technology, your router offers maximum speed and range to create an ultra-powerful network designed for home theater performance. Connect your computers, Internet-ready TVs, game consoles, smartphones and other Wi-Fi devices at blazingly fast transfer rates for an unrivaled experience.
The power of dual band
Double your network bandwidth with simultaneous dual-band N (2.4 and 5 GHz). The dual-band feature is designed to avoid interference and optimize throughput for smoother and faster HD video streaming, file transfers, and wireless gaming.
State-of-the-art security
Keep Wi-Fi freeloaders and Internet threats at bay with WPA/WPA2 encryption. An SPI firewall helps keep your network protected.
Benefits of Fast Ethernet
Use the four Fast Ethernet (10/100) ports for quick file sharing between computers and servers.
Network ready
Connect computers, printers, scanners, and more to your wireless network and the Internet. QoS traffic prioritization technology delivers maximum speed and performance so you can enjoy fast downloads and reliable VoIP.
Easy to manage
Cisco Connect software helps you customize your settings and quickly add multiple devices to your network:
Separate guest network
Create a separate, secure, password-protected network for guests.
Parental controls
Limit access time and websites with parental controls.
3
Linksys E-Series
Product overview

Back view

Power port
Internet port
Ethernet ports Wi-Fi Protected Setup button
Ethernet ports—Connect Ethernet cables (also called network cables)
to these Fast Ethernet (10/100) ports, color coded blue, and to wired Ethernet network devices on your network.
Internet port—Connect an Ethernet cable (also called a network or
Internet cable) to this port, color coded yellow, and to your modem.
Wi-Fi Protected Setup™ button—Press this button to easily configure wireless security on Wi-Fi Protected Setup-enabled network devices. For more information, see “How to set up wireless security using Wi-Fi Protected Setup” on page 38.
Power indicator—Stays on steadily while power is connected and
following a successful Wi-Fi Protected Setup connection. Flashes slowly during bootup, during firmware upgrades, and during a Wi-Fi Protected Setup connection. Flashes quickly when there is a Wi-Fi Protected Setup error.
Power indicator
Port activity indicator
Green network activity indicator
Network and Internet port
Green activity indicator—On Ethernet ports, stays on when a cable
connects the port to another Ethernet port. On the Internet port, stays on while connected to a modem. On both port types, it flashes while transferring data.

Bottom view

Power—Connect the included AC power adapter to this port.
CAUTION
Use only the adapter that came with your router.
Reset button—Press and hold this button for 5-10 seconds (until the
port lights flash at the same time) to reset the router to its factory defaults. You can also restore the defaults using the browser-based utility. For more information, see “How to restore factory defaults” on page 55.
4
Linksys E-Series
Product overview

E3200

Package contents

In addition to your router, your router package includes:
Network (Ethernet) cable
AC power adapter
Setup CD containing router setup software and documentation

Features

Wireless-N technology
Built with leading 802.11n wireless technology, your router offers maximum speed and range to create an ultra-powerful network designed for home theater performance. Connect your computers, Internet-ready TVs, game consoles, smartphones and other Wi-Fi devices at blazingly fast transfer rates.
The power of dual band
Double your network bandwidth with simultaneous dual-band N (2.4 and 5 GHz). The dual-band feature is designed to avoid interference and optimize throughput for smoother and faster HD video streaming, file transfers, and wireless gaming.
SpeedBoost
Higher quality antenna technology helps maintain high speeds across greater distances throughout your home.
State-of-the-art security
Keep Wi-Fi freeloaders and Internet threats at bay with WPA/WPA2 encryption. An SPI firewall helps keep your network protected.
Benefits of gigabit
Use the four Gigabit Ethernet (10/100/1000) ports for quick file sharing (up to 10× faster than standard Ethernet) between other Gigabit-enabled devices like computers and servers.
Built-in USB port
The USB port lets you add an external USB drive to your network and share files at home or over the Internet. You can also connect a USB printer and share it across your network.
Home theater ready
Bring the ultimate entertainment experience to your home by connecting computers, Internet-ready TVs, game consoles, media players, and more to your wireless network and the Internet. Simultaneous dual-band N and QoS traffic prioritization technology delivers maximum speed and performance so you can enjoy fast downloads, smooth video and music streaming, and reliable gaming and VoIP.
Easy to manage
Cisco Connect software helps you customize your settings and quickly add multiple devices to your network:
Parental controls
Limit access time and websites with parental controls.
Separate guest network
Create a separate, secure, password-protected network for guests.
5
Linksys E-Series
Product overview

Back view

Power port
Internet port
Ethernet ports Wi-Fi Protected Setup button
USB port—To easily share disk storage with other users on your network
or on the Internet, connect a USB drive to this port. For more information, see “Using an External Drive” on page 42.
Ethernet ports—Connect Ethernet cables (also called network cables)
to these Gigabit (10/100/1000) ports, color coded blue, and to wired Ethernet network devices on your network.
Internet port—Connect an Ethernet cable (also called a network or
Internet cable) to this port, color coded yellow, and to your modem.
Power indicatorUSB port
Port activity indicators
Yellow network
activity indicator
Network or Internet port
Green network activity indicator—On Ethernet ports, turns on when a
cable connects the port to another Gigabit Ethernet port. On the Internet port, turns on while connected to a modem.
Yellow activity indicator—Flashes to indicate network activity over
that port.
Green network activity indicator

Bottom view

Wi-Fi Protected Setup™ button—Press this button to easily configure wireless security on Wi-Fi Protected Setup-enabled network devices. For more information, see “How to set up wireless security using Wi-Fi Protected Setup” on page 38.
Power indicator—Stays on steadily while power is connected and
following a successful Wi-Fi Protected Setup connection. Flashes slowly during bootup, during firmware upgrades, and during a Wi-Fi Protected Setup connection. Flashes quickly when there is a Wi-Fi Protected Setup error.
Power—Connect the included AC power adapter to this port.
CAUTION
Use only the adapter that came with your router.
Reset button—Press and hold this button for 5-10 seconds (until the
port lights flash at the same time) to reset the router to its factory defaults. You can also restore the defaults using the browser-based utility. For more information, see “How to restore factory defaults” on page 55.
6
Linksys E-Series
Product overview

E4200

Package contents

In addition to your router, your router package includes:
Network (Ethernet) cable
AC power adapter
Setup CD containing router setup software and documentation

Features

Wireless-N technology
Built with leading 802.11n wireless technology, your router offers maximum speed and range to create an ultra-powerful network designed for home theater performance. Connect your computers, Internet-ready TVs, game consoles, smartphones and other Wi-Fi devices at blazingly fast transfer rates for an unrivaled experience.
The power of dual band
Double your network bandwidth with simultaneous dual-band N (2.4 and 5 GHz). The dual-band feature is designed to avoid interference and optimize throughput for smoother and faster HD video streaming, file transfers, and wireless gaming.
SpeedBoost
Higher quality antenna technology helps maintain high speeds across greater distances throughout your home.
State-of-the-art security
Keep Wi-Fi freeloaders and Internet threats at bay with WPA/WPA2 encryption. An SPI firewall helps keep your network protected.
Benefits of gigabit
Use the four Gigabit Ethernet (10/100/1000) ports for quick file sharing (up to 10× faster than standard Ethernet) between other Gigabit-enabled devices like computers and servers.
Built-in USB port and UPnP media server
The USB storage port lets you add an external USB drive to your network and share files at home or over the Internet. It also features a built-in UPnP AV media server for seamless streaming of your video and media files to an Xbox 360, PS3, or other UPnP-compatible device.
Home theater ready
Bring the ultimate entertainment experience to your home by connecting computers, Internet-ready TVs, game consoles, media players, and more to your wireless network and the Internet. Simultaneous dual-band N and QoS traffic prioritization technology delivers maximum speed and performance so you can enjoy fast downloads, smooth video and music streaming, and reliable gaming and VoIP.
Quick to install
Cisco Connect software helps you easily set up your router.
7
Linksys E-Series
Product overview
Easy to manage
Cisco Connect software helps you customize your settings and quickly add multiple devices to your network:
Separate guest network
Create a separate, secure, password-protected network for guests.
Parental controls
Limit access time and websites with parental controls.

Top view

Indicator light

Back view

Ethernet ports
Ethernet ports—Connect Ethernet cables (also called network cables)
to these Gigabit (10/100/1000) ports, color coded blue, and to wired Ethernet network devices on your network.
Internet port—Connect an Ethernet cable (also called a network or
Internet cable) to this port, color coded yellow, and to your modem.
Wi-Fi Protected Setup™ button—Press this button to easily configure
wireless security on Wi-Fi Protected Setup-enabled network devices. For more information, see “How to set up wireless security using Wi-Fi Protected Setup” on page 38.
USB port—To easily share disk storage with other users on your network
or on the Internet, connect a USB drive to this port. For more information, see “Using an External Drive” on page 42.
Internet port Power port
Wi-Fi Protected Setup button
Reset button
USB port
Indicator light—Stays on steadily while power is connected and
following a successful Wi-Fi Protected Setup connection. Pulses slowly during bootup, during firmware upgrades, and during a Wi-Fi Protected Setup connection. Flashes quickly when there is a Wi-Fi Protected Setup error.
Reset button—Press and hold this button for 5-10 seconds (until the
port lights flash at the same time) to reset the router to its factory defaults. You can also restore the defaults using the browser-based utility. For more information, see “How to restore factory defaults” on page 55.
Power—Connect the included AC power adapter to this port.
CAUTION
Use only the adapter that came with your router.
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Linksys E-Series
Port activity indicators
Product overview
Yellow network
activity indicator
Network or Internet port
Green network activity indicator—On Ethernet ports, turns on when a
cable connects the port to another Gigabit Ethernet port. On the Internet port, turns on while connected to a modem.
Yellow network activity indicator—Flashes to indicate network activity
over that port.
Green network activity indicator
9
Linksys E-Series

Setting Up: Basics

How to create a home network

ALL
For

What is a network?

A network is any group of devices that can communicate with each other. A home network can also include Internet access, which requires a router like this one.
A typical home network may include multiple computers, a printer, a modem, and a router. A large home network may also have a switch, additional routers, access points, and many Internet-capable media devices such as TVs, game consoles, and web cameras.
Modem—Connects a computer or a router to your ISP (Internet Service
Provider).
Router—Connects your wireless and wired network devices to each
other and to the modem (and to your ISP).
Switch—Allows you to connect several wired network devices to your
home network. Your router has a built-in network switch (the Ethernet ports). If you have more wired network devices than available Ethernet ports on your router, you will need an additional switch to consolidate the wired connections.

How to set up a home network

1.
Purchase the proper equipment. For a network that includes Internet access, you’ll need:
Computers with an Ethernet port or wireless networking capabilities
A modem for connecting to your ISP (typically supplied by your ISP)
A router to connect your computers with each other and to the modem
Internet service to your home, provided by an ISP (Internet Service
Provider)

Setting Up: Basics

2.
Make sure that your modem is working. Your ISP can help you set up your modem and verify that it’s working correctly.
3.
Set up your router. See “How to set up your router” on page 10.
4.
To connect a computer or other network device to the network, see “How to connect a computer to your network” on page 13 and “How to connect other devices” on page 15.

Where to find more help

ALL
For
In addition to this User Guide, you can find help at these locations:
Linksys.com/support (documentation, downloads, FAQs, technical
support, live chat, forums)
Setup CD (Troubleshooting Guide, legal and regulatory notices)
Cisco Connect help (run Cisco Connect, then click Learn More where
available)
Browser-based utility context-sensitive help (open the utility, then click
Help in the right-side column.)

How to set up your router

ALL
For
The easiest and fastest way to set up your router is to run the Cisco Connect setup software. You can find Cisco Connect on the CD that came with your router or download it from the router’s support site at Linksys.com/support. Cisco Connect shows you how to connect your router to your home network, step by step. To get started, see “How to start Cisco Connect” below.
If you are an advanced user, you can set up your router manually using the browser-based utility. To get started, see “How to open the browser-based utility” on page 22.
10
10
Linksys E-Series
Setting Up: Basics

How to start Cisco Connect

When you run the setup CD, Cisco Connect (your router’s setup software) is automatically installed onto your computer. You can then use Cisco Connect to easily manage your router. To install Cisco Connect on another computer after your router has been set up, see “How to install Cisco Connect on another computer” on page 12.
NOTES:
Your Cisco Connect CD works with only this router model.
If you lose your setup CD, you can download the software from
Linksys.com/support.
To start Cisco Connect for the first time:
1.
Insert the CD into your CD or DVD drive.
2.
Click Set up your Linksys Router.
If you do not see this:
For Windows, click Start, Computer, then double-click the CD drive
and the Setup icon.
For Mac, double-click the CD icon on your desktop, then double-click
the Setup icon.
3.
Follow the on-screen instructions to complete your router setup. When setup has finished, Cisco Connect has also been installed onto your hard drive.
After your router has been set up and Cisco Connect has been installed, you can use Cisco Connect to easily manage many of your router’s settings.
To start Cisco Connect on a Windows computer:
1.
Click Start, All Programs, then click Cisco Connect. The Cisco Connect main menu opens.
To start Cisco Connect on a Mac OS X computer:
1.
Open the Applications folder, then double-click the Cisco Connect icon. The Cisco Connect main menu opens.
To install Cisco Connect on another computer:
1.
See “How to connect a computer using an Easy Setup Key” on page 13. When finished, Cisco Connect has also been installed onto the computer’s hard drive.
CAUTION
After your router has been set up, do not run the setup CD to install Cisco Connect to another computer. If you run the setup CD again, you will be prompted to enter the router’s network name (SSID) and password.
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Linksys E-Series
Setting Up: Basics

How to improve your wireless connection speed

ALL
For
Follow these tips to improve your network’s wireless connection speed:
Make sure that your router is in a good location:
For the widest coverage area, install your router near the center of
your home, and near the ceiling, if possible.
Avoid placing the router on or near metal objects (such as file cabinets
and metal furniture), reflective surfaces (such as glass or mirrors), or masonry walls.
Any obstruction can weaken the wireless signal (even non-metallic
objects), so the fewer obstructions between the router and the wireless device, the better.
Place the router in a location away from other electronics, motors, and
fluorescent lighting.
Many environmental variables can affect the router’s performance, so
if your wireless signal is weak, place the router in several locations and test the signal strength to determine the ideal position.
If possible, upgrade wireless network interfaces (such as wireless
network cards in computers) from older wireless standards to 802.11n. If a wirelessly networked device uses an older standard, the performance of the entire wireless network may be slower.

How to test your Internet connection speed

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For
To test your Internet connection speed:
1.
Run Cisco Connect, then click Change under Router settings. The Router settings screen opens.
2.
Click Launch Test under Internet Speed. The Internet speed test screen opens.
3.
Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the test.
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Linksys E-Series

How to connect devices to your network

ALL
For

How to connect a computer to your network

You can connect a computer to your network using an Easy Setup Key (the easiest way) or manually.
How to connect a computer using an Easy Setup Key
To use an Easy Setup Key, you first need to create one using any available USB drive. After it has been created, you can use the same key to connect several computers to your network.
2.
Click Computer.
Setting Up: Basics
TIP
The Easy Setup Key stores network information (name, password, security type, and security key) so you don’t have to remember them.
To create an Easy Setup Key:
1.
Run Cisco Connect, then click Add device under Computers and devices. The Computers and other devices screen opens.
3.
Select No, I don’t have an Easy Setup Key, then click Next.
4.
Insert a USB drive into an available USB port on your computer. This USB drive will be your new Easy Setup Key.
Cisco Connect detects the newly attached USB drive and copies the router’s settings and a copy of Cisco Connect to it.
5.
When the files have finished copying, remove the Easy Setup Key from your computer. You can now use it to install Cisco Connect onto other computers and to connect them to the network.
6.
Click Close.
13
Linksys E-Series
Setting Up: Basics
To use your Easy Setup Key to connect a computer to your network:
1.
Run Cisco Connect, then click Add device under Computers and devices. The Computers and other devices screen opens.
2.
Click Computer.
3.
Select Yes, I have an Easy Setup Key, then click Next. The Connecting another computer screen opens.
4.
Insert the Easy Setup Key into an available USB port on the computer that you want to connect to the network. The Connecting another computer screen opens.
If you do not see this, use Windows Explorer or Finder to view the Easy Setup Key files, then double-click Connect.
5.
Click Connect to your router, then follow the on-screen instructions.
6.
Return to the computer running Cisco Connect, then click Next.
7.
Enter a name for the newly connected computer, then click Finish.
How to connect a computer manually
To connect a computer without using an Easy Setup Key, you will need to print or take note of some information.
To manually connect a computer to your network:
1.
Run Cisco Connect, then click Add device under Computers and devices. The Computers and other devices screen opens.
2.
Click Computer.
3.
Select I want to connect manually using my wireless settings, then click Next. A screen opens that displays network information.
4.
Write down the Network name (SSID), Security Key, and Security Type information, or click Print these settings if you have a printer attached.
5.
At the computer you want to connect, enter the network information into your wireless manager.
6.
After that computer connects to your network, return to the computer running Cisco Connect, then click Next.
7.
Click Connect to your Linksys router, then follow the on-screen instructions.
8.
When you are prompted to enter a name for the newly connected computer, enter the name, then click Finish.
IMPORTANT
When you manually connect a computer to the network, the computer will not have Cisco Connect installed on it.
14
Linksys E-Series

How to connect a printer

When you install a printer that requires a cable, you can:
Follow the printer’s instructions for setting it up, then follow your
computer’s operating system instructions to share the printer with your network.
TIP
Setting up your printer this way does not require Cisco Connect.
- OR -
If your router is a Linksys E3200, you can connect a USB printer to the
router’s USB port to make the printer available to any networked computer.
When you set up a wireless printer, you need to make sure that:
Your printer has been completely set up except for being connected to
the network.
Your printer supports the WPA/WPA2 wireless encryption standard.
If your wireless printer supports WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup), you should
use WPS to connect it to your network. See “How to set up wireless security using Wi-Fi Protected Setup” on page 38.
To connect a wireless printer to your network:
1.
Run Cisco Connect, then click Add device under Computers and devices. The Computers and other devices screen opens.
Setting Up: Basics
2.
Click Printer, then click Wireless printer. A screen opens that displays network information.
3.
Write down the Network name (SSID), Security Key, and Security Type information, or click Print these settings if you have a different printer already connected.
4.
Follow your printer’s instructions for entering the wireless network information into your printer.
5.
After the printer connects to your network, click Next in Cisco Connect.
6.
Return to the computer running Cisco Connect, then click Next. The
Name your printer screen opens.
7.
Enter a name for the printer, then click Finish.
8.
Follow your computer operating system’s instructions for adding the new printer to your list of available printers.
To connect a USB printer to your network through the router’s USB port:
E3200
For
1.
Run Cisco Connect, then click Add device under Computers and devices. The Computers and other devices screen opens.
2.
Click Printer, then click USB Printer.
3.
Follow the on-screen instructions for connecting the printer. This process may take several minutes.
4.
Repeat Steps 1-3 on each computer you want to print from. For information on installing Cisco Connect onto other computers, see “To install Cisco Connect on another computer:” on page 11.

How to connect other devices

Many other types of wireless network devices can connect to your home network, including:
Game consoles
Internet-capable TVs and media players
Digital music players
Smart phones
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