LINKSYS EA6500V2 User Manual

SMART Wi-Fi Router AC1750, EA6500 v2

User Guide

Linksys EA-Series

Contents

Product Overview

EA6500 v2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

Wall-mounting placement 4

Setting Up: Basics

How to create a home network. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

What is a network? 5 How to set up a home network 5

Where to nd more help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

How to install your router How to congure your router

How to connect to Linksys Smart Wi-Fi 7 How to connect directly to your router 8 How to improve your wireless connection speed 8 How to change your network’s name and password 9 How to change your router’s local access password 9 How to change your router’s time zone 10

How to test your Internet connection speed . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

How to connect devices to your network

How to connect a computer to your network 11 How to connect a USB printer 11 How to connect other devices 12 How to view device details 13

How to set up parental controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

How to set parental controls 14

How to congure your guest network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

How to back up your router conguration How to customize Linksys Smart Wi-Fi

Using widgets 17 Customizing the Device List 17

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Using an External Drive

Overview. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

How to attach a USB drive How to use secured folder access

How to set up authorized users and shared folders 19 How to access shared folders 20

How to set up your router as a media server . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

How to connect your UPnP device to the media server 22

How to remotely access storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22

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Setting Up: Advanced

How to manually set up your router. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

How to manually set up your Internet connection 24

How to associate a router with your Linksys Smart Wi-Fi account 25 How to get the most out of your dual-band router How to control access to your network

How to improve security using the built-in rewall 29

How to set up the DHCP server on your router. . . . . . . . . . .30

How to set up DHCP reservation 31

How to access your network on the Internet . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

How to clone a MAC address How to connect to your corporate oce using a VPN How to optimize your router for gaming and voice How to enable Voice over IP on your network How to congure UPnP How to use a router as an access point How to put your new router behind an existing router

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Linksys EA-Series

Contents

To add your router to an existing router or gateway 38 To share an Internet connection 39 To extend your network 41

How to expose a device to the Internet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41

Port Forwarding and Port Triggering

How to set up port forwarding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43

How to set up port forwarding for a single port 43 How to set up port forwarding for multiple ports 44 How to set up port forwarding for a range of ports 44

How to set up port range triggering for online gaming . . . . . 45

Maintaining and Monitoring

How to back up and restore your router conguration. . . . . .47

How to upgrade the router’s rmware How to restore factory defaults How to check the status of your router

How to disable the Ethernet port status lights 50 How to test your Internet connection 50 How to congure and use logs 51

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Specications

Linksys EA6500 v2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57

Troubleshooting

Your router was not successfully set up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

Windows XP Service Pack update

Your Internet cable is not plugged in message Cannot access your router message

After setup

The Internet appears to be unavailable 55 Linksys Smart Wi-Fi does not open in your web browser 55 You cannot access Linksys Smart Wi-Fi 56 All other troubleshooting has been unsuccessful 56

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Linksys EA-Series

Product Overview

EA6500 v2

Features

Wireless-AC technology

Built with leading 802.11ac 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 wireless-AC. 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.

Advanced security

Keep Wi-Fi freeloaders and Internet threats at bay with WPA2 encryption and SPI firewall to help keep your network protected.

Benefits of gigabit

Package contents

In addition to your router, your router package includes:

• Network (Ethernet) cable

• AC power adapter

• SimpleTap™ card

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 ports and DLNA media server

The USB ports let you add an external USB drive to your network and share files at home or over the Internet. It also features a built-in DLNA media server for seamless streaming of your video and media files to an Xbox 360, PS3, or other DLNA-compatible device. You can also connect a USB printer and share it across your network.

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Product Overview

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

Linksys Smart Wi-Fi software helps you easily set up your router.

IPv6 enabled

Supports the latest Internet protocol technology to future-proof your network.

Easy to manage

Linksys Smart Wi-Fi software helps you customize your settings and quickly add multiple devices to your network:

Separate guest network

Create a separate, password-protected network for guests.

Parental controls

Limit access time and websites with parental controls.

Top view

Indicator light

• 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.

Linksys EA-Series

Product Overview

Back view

Wi-Fi Protected Setup button

USB ports

Ethernet ports

• Wi-Fi Protected Setup™ button—Press this button to easily configure

wireless security on Wi-Fi Protected Setup-enabled network devices.

• 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.

NOTE

For best performance, use CAT5E or higher rated cables on the Ethernet ports.

• Internet port—Connect an Ethernet cable (also called a network or

Internet cable) to this port, color coded yellow, and to your modem.

Internet port

Reset button

Power port

Port activity indicators

Yellow network

activity indicator

Network or Internet port

• Green connectivity 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 connectivity indicator

• USB ports—To easily share disk storage with other users on your network

or on the Internet, connect a USB drive to one of these ports. You can also connect a USB printer and share it across your network.

• Reset button—Press and hold this button for 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 Linksys Smart Wi-Fi.

• Power port—Connect the included AC power adapter to this port.

CAUTION

Use only the adapter that came with your router.

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82 mm

Wall-mounting placement

The router has two wall-mount slots on its bottom panel. The distance between the slots is 82 mm. Two screws are needed to mount the router.

Suggested Mounting Hardware

3-5 mm

7-8 mm 1.5-2 mm

NOTE

Linksys is not responsible for damages incurred by unsecured wallmounting hardware.

Follow these instructions:

1. Determine where you want to mount the router. Make sure that the wall

you use is smooth, flat, dry, and sturdy. Also make sure the location is within reach of an electrical outlet.

2. Drill two holes into the wall. Make sure the holes are 82 mm apart.

3. Insert a screw into each hole and leave 3 mm of its head exposed.

4. Position the router so the wall-mount slots line up with the two screws.

5. Place the wall-mount slots over the screws and slide the router down

until the screws fit snugly into the wall-mount slots.

Product Overview

Wall-mounting template

Print this page at 100% size. Cut along the dotted line, and place on the wall to drill precise spacing.

Linksys EA-Series

Setting Up: Basics

How to create a home network

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). Your ISP may have provided one. The modem is a device that connects to a phone jack or your cable TV outlet.

Setting Up: Basics

Make sure that your modem is working. Your ISP can help you set up your modem and verify that it’s working correctly.

Set up your router. See “How to install your router” on page 6.

To connect a computer or other network device to the network, see “How to connect a computer to your network” on page 11 and “How to connect other devices” on page 12.

Where to find more help

In addition to this User Guide, you can find help at these locations:

• Linksys.com/support (documentation, downloads, FAQs, technical

support, live chat, forums)

• Linksys Smart Wi-Fi help (connect to Linksys Smart Wi-Fi, then click

Help at the top of the screen)

• 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

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)

Linksys EA-Series

Setting Up: Basics

How to install your router

To install your router:

Power on your new router. If replacing an existing router, disconnect it.

Connect the Internet cable from your modem to the yellow Internet port on your router. Wait until the power light on the front of the router is solid.

Connect to the secure wireless name shown in the Quick Start Guide that came with your router. (You can change the network name and password later during router setup.) If you need help connecting to the network, refer to your device documentation. Note: You will not have Internet access until router setup is complete.

Open a web browser and follow the instructions to complete your router’s setup. If instructions do not appear in the web browser, enter

linksyssmartwifi.com in the browser’s address bar.

At the end of setup, follow the on-screen instructions to set up your Linksys Smart Wi-Fi account. Use Linksys Smart Wi-Fi to easily manage your router’s settings, such as:

• Change your router’s name and password

• Set up guest access

• Configure parental controls

TIP:

Print this page, then record your router and account settings in the table below as a reference. Store your notes in a safe place. Setup also saves your setup information as a file to your computer desktop.

Network Name (SSID)

Network Password

Router Password

Guest Network Name

Guest Network Password

Linksys Smart Wi-Fi Username

Linksys Smart Wi-Fi Password

• Connect devices to your network

• Test your Internet connection speed

NOTE:

As part of the router setup process, you will be sent a verification e-mail. From your home network, click the link in the e-mail to associate your router with the Linksys Smart Wi-Fi account. Make sure that the link opens in a supported web browser, such as Internet Explorer 8 or higher, Firefox 8 or higher, Google Chrome 10 or higher, and Safari 5 (for Mac) or higher.

If you cannot click the link while behind your new Linksys router, log into Linksys Smart Wi-Fi while behind the router and add your router there. For more information, see “How to associate a router with your Linksys Smart Wi-Fi account” on page 25.

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Setting Up: Basics

How to configure your router

You can change router settings to make your network more secure or to work better with a device or game. Being able to adjust the settings while you’re away from home can help make router administration easier. You can configure your router from anywhere in the world by using Linksys Smart Wi-Fi, but you can also configure your router directly from your home network.

Linksys Smart Wi-Fi may be available for your mobile device, as well. See your device’s app store for information.

Use Linksys Smart Wi-Fi to easily manage your router’s settings, such as:

• Change your router’s name and password

• Set up guest access

• Configure parental controls

• Connect devices to your network

• Test your Internet connection speed

Your Linksys Smart Wi-Fi account can also be used to manage multiple Linksys routers. For more information, see “How to associate a router with your Linksys Smart Wi-Fi account” on page 25.

How to connect to Linksys Smart Wi-Fi

To connect to Linksys Smart Wi-Fi:

Open your computer’s web browser.

Go to www.linksyssmartwifi.com and log into your account.

If you can’t remember your password, click Forgot your password? and follow the on-screen instructions to recover it.

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Setting Up: Basics

How to disable remote access

If you want to configure your router only while you are on your home network, you should disable remote access.

To disable remote access:

Log into Linksys Smart Wi-Fi.

Under Router Settings, click Connectivity.

Click the Administration tab, then deselect Allow remote access to Linksys Smart Wi-Fi.

Click OK.

How to connect directly to your router

You can configure your router by directly accessing it on your home network instead of through the Internet-based Linksys Smart Wi-Fi.

To connect to your router while you are on your home network:

Open your computer’s web browser.

Go to www.linksyssmartwifi.com and log into your router using the router password you created when you installed your router. (When there is no Internet connection, this address re-routes directly to your router.)

How to improve your wireless connection speed

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.

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Setting Up: Basics

• 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.

• If your router is a dual-band router, split your network traffic so the high-

bandwidth traffic uses the 5GHz band. For more information, see “How to get the most out of your dual-band router” on page 26.

How to change your network’s name and password

You can change the name (SSID) and password of your network, but if you do so, all wireless devices connected to your router will lose their Internet connection until you reconnect them using the new network name and password.

To change your router’s name and password:

Log into Linksys Smart Wi-Fi. (See ““How to connect to Linksys Smart WiFi” on page 7.

Under Router Settings, click Wireless.

Click the Wireless tab, then click Edit.

• To change the network name, type a new name in the Network name

(SSID) box.

• To change the network password, type a new password in the

Password box.

Click OK to apply your changes.

TIP

If you have a dual-band router, each band (2.4 GHz and the 5GHz) can have a separate network name and password.

How to change your router’s local access password

Your router’s local access password was set when you ran the router’s setup software, but you can change it at any time. You need the router password to change router settings when you don’t have an Internet connection. When you do have an Internet connection, log into your Linksys Smart Wi-Fi account by following the directions under “How to connect to Linksys Smart Wi-Fi” on page

To change your router’s local access password

Log into Linksys Smart Wi-Fi. (See “How to connect to Linksys Smart WiFi” on page 7.

Click Connectivity under Router Settings.

Linksys EA-Series

Click the Basic tab.

Under Router Password, type the new password, then click OK.

How to change your router’s time zone

Your router’s time zone should be set to your local time zone.

Setting Up: Basics

How to test your Internet connection speed

NOTE

To run the speed test, you must be accessing the Internet by using the router you are testing. You cannot run the speed test remotely.

To test your Internet connection speed:

Log into Linksys Smart Wi-Fi. (See “How to connect to Linksys Smart WiFi” on page 7.

Click Speed Test under Apps. The Speed Test screen opens.

To set your router’s time zone:

Log into Linksys Smart Wi-Fi. (See “How to connect to Linksys Smart WiFi” on page 7.

Click Connectivity under Router Settings.

Click the Basic tab, then select your time zone in the Time Zone drop- down list and click OK.

Click Begin Test. The test measures your download and upload speeds.

Linksys EA-Series

Setting Up: Basics

NOTE

Internet connection speeds are determined by a variety of factors, including ISP account type, local and worldwide Internet traffic, and number of devices in your home that are sharing the Internet connection.

Click Restart Test to run it again, and click Show History to display the results of past tests.

How to connect devices to your network

Your Linksys router is the nerve center of your home network. Your router safely opens the Internet to your network, and all of your computers and network devices rely on your router to pass files, media, and network commands in an organized, error-free way. Whether connected wirelessly or with cables, each part of your network needs the router in order to work reliably with the other parts of your network.

How to connect a USB 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.

- OR -

• 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 Wi-Fi Protected Setup, you should use

Wi-Fi Protected Setup to connect the printer to your network. See “How to connect a network device using Wi-Fi Protected Setup” on page 12.

To connect a USB printer to your network through the router’s USB port:

Log into Linksys Smart Wi-Fi. (See “How to connect to Linksys Smart WiFi” on page 7.

Click Device List, then click Add a Device.

How to connect a computer to your network

To connect a computer to your network:

At the computer you want to connect, enter your network’s connection information into your wireless manager.

After that computer connects to your network, log into Linksys Smart WiFi, then click Device List to confirm that your router recognizes the new computer. You can use the Device List to monitor all network-attached devices.

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Setting Up: Basics

Under Select the type of device to add to your network, click USB Printer. The Add a USB printer screen opens.

Follow the on-screen instructions for downloading and installing the VUSB (virtual USB) software for your computer.

To connect a wireless printer to your network:

Follow the printer’s instructions to connect it to your network. Use the connection information available in Linksys Smart Wi-Fi or saved to your computer desktop.

After that printer connects to your network, log into Linksys Smart Wi-Fi, then click Device List to confirm that your router recognizes the new printer.

Because of the wide variety of devices and methods of connecting, you must manually enter network information into the devices for a successful network connection.

TIP

For more instructions on connecting a game console to your network, see also:

• “How to optimize your router for gaming and voice” on page 34

• “How to set up port forwarding” on page 43

• “How to set up port range triggering for online gaming” on page 45

How to manually connect a network device

To manually connect a device to your network:

Follow the device’s instructions to connect it to your network. Use the connection information available in Linksys Smart Wi-Fi or saved to your computer desktop.

After the device connects to your network, log into Linksys Smart Wi-Fi, then click Device List to confirm that your router recognizes the new device.

How to connect a network device using Wi-Fi Protected Setup

To connect a device using Wi-Fi Protected Setup™:

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

Plug in and turn on the network device. If the device does not support Wi-Fi Protected Setup, follow its instructions for a standard network installation.

Log into Linksys Smart Wi-Fi. (See “How to connect to Linksys Smart WiFi” on page 7.

Under Wireless, click the Wi-Fi Protected Setup tab.

Use one of the following methods to complete the setup:

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Setting Up: Basics

• If the device has a Wi-Fi Protected Setup button, press that button,

then click the Wi-Fi Protected Setup button in Linksys Smart Wi-Fi or press the button on the back of your router.

• If the device has a Wi-Fi Protected Setup PIN, type that number into

the Device PIN box in Linksys Smart Wi-Fi, then click Register.

How to view device details

You can use Linksys Smart Wi-Fi to view any network device’s network infomation.

To view network device details:

Log into Linksys Smart Wi-Fi. (See “How to connect to Linksys Smart WiFi” on page 7.

Under Apps, click Device List. The Device List screen opens.

Click the i in the lower-right corner of the device.

• If the device’s own setup asks for the router’s Wi-Fi Protected Setup

PIN, enter the number that appears under Router PIN in Linksys Smart Wi-Fi.

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Setting Up: Basics

Information about the device appears on the screen.

Click OK.

How to set up parental controls

With your router, you can use parental controls to:

• Set the times that Internet access is allowed.

• Block websites that you specify or based on their content.

• Set the above restrictions for specific computers.

TIP

When someone tries to open a blocked website, a Linksys Smart Wi-Fi login page appears. To view the blocked content, you must log into your Linksys Smart Wi-Fi account and change the parental control restrictions.

How to set parental controls

To set parental controls:

Log into Linksys Smart Wi-Fi. (See “How to connect to Linksys Smart WiFi” on page 7.

Under Apps, click Parental Controls. The Parental Controls screen opens.

To turn on parental controls, click the Enable parental controls button so that ON is displayed.

TIP

It’s not necessary to set parental controls over each computer on your home network. You can set the controls on only those computers that children can access.

To select a computer to apply parental controls to, click the name of the computer in the Restrict Internet access on list.

To block Internet access on the selected computer(s), under Block Internet access:

• Click Never to allow Internet access.

• Click Always to always block Internet access.

• Click Specific Times to set the times when Internet access is allowed.

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Setting Up: Basics

• Click Edit to change the Internet access schedule. You can click and

drag to select or deselect a block of time.

To block specific websites:

Under Block specific sites, click Add.

Type the web address (URL) of the website to block, then click OK. You can block up to ten websites.

TIP

It’s easier to copy and paste a web address than it is to type it in. Copy the address from your browser’s web address box, then paste it into an available box in the Block Specific Sites screen of Linksys Smart Wi-Fi.

How to configure your guest network

You can use your router’s guest network to provide your guests with access to the Internet, while restricting their access to other resources on your local network. To prevent unauthorized users from using your Internet access, your guest network requires that a password be entered for Internet access. The guest network is enabled by default.

File Edit View Go Shortcuts Options Help

http://mynetwork/guest/login

Enter the Guest Password for Internet Access:

web browser - guest access login - Linksys E4200

http://mynetwork/guest/login

Enter the Guest Password for Internet Access:

Local Network

Guest Network

Local Access and Guest Access Diagram

Your wireless network’s guest network and password were set when you ran the router’s setup software, but you can change them at any time.

Done

Click OK to apply your changes.

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Setting Up: Basics

To set up guest access to your network:

Log into Linksys Smart Wi-Fi. (See ““How to connect to Linksys Smart WiFi” on page 7.

Under Apps, click Guest Access. Your guest network, which was set up during your router installation, is displayed.

• To turn guest access on or off, click the Allow guest access button.

• The guest network name is based on your 2.4GHz network name and

is automatically generated.

• To change the guest network password, click in the box next to Guest

network password, then type the new password.

Click OK to apply your changes.

TIP

The first time your guest tries to access the Internet through a web browser, they will see the Guest access screen. To continue, they must enter the password you provided in the Password field, then click LOGIN.

How to back up your router configuration

When you are done setting up your router, you should back up its settings so that you can restore them later, if necessary. For instructions, see “How to back up and restore your router configuration” on page 47.

• To change the number of simultaneous guest network users you want

to allow, click the drop-down box under Total guests allowed, then click the number that you want.

TIP

To keep your guest network secure, click Change to change the guest password when the guest no longer needs access to the account.

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Setting Up: Basics

How to customize Linksys Smart Wi-Fi

You can customize your Linksys Smart Wi-Fi home page by adding or removing widgets. Widgets are miniature versions of menus that let you change basic settings or check the status of your network.

Using widgets

To add a widget:

Log into Linksys Smart Wi-Fi. (See “How to connect to Linksys Smart WiFi” on page 7.

Open a menu, then select Show widget on the homepage in the upperright corner.

To remove a widget:

On the home page, click the × in the upper-right corner of the widget you want to remove.

Customizing the Device List

You can change the icon and text description of each device on your network.

To change the device appearance:

In the Device List, click the device you want to change the appearance for. The device’s information screen opens.

To change the description, click Edit, type the new name, then click OK.

To change the icon, click Change, click a new icon, then click OK.

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Using an External Drive

Overview

You can attach most USB drives (including a thumb drive or a high-capacity external drive) to the USB port on your router. You can then use the drive as networked storage, as a media server (for media-enabled devices such as a networked TV), and as an FTP (File Transfer Protocol) server. You can also specify which users can access the content on the drive. Menus are subject to change.

To view the status and settings of your attached drive:

Log into Linksys Smart Wi-Fi. (See “How to connect to Linksys Smart WiFi” on page 7.

Click USB Storage under Apps. The Status tab displays information such as:

• Drive capacity and use

• Secured folder access status

• Addresses for accessing shared folders, the FTP server, and media

server

How to attach a USB drive

If a USB drive is already connected to the router, and you want to attach a different drive to that USB port, you should safely disconnect the old drive first.

To safely remove a USB drive from the router:

Log into Linksys Smart Wi-Fi, then click USB Storage under Apps.

In the Status tab, click Safely remove drive.

Disconnect the old drive from the router.

To attach a USB drive to the router:

Connect the USB drive to an available USB port on the back of your router. Your router detects the drive.

To update the USB Storage screen, you may need to click Refresh.

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How to use secured folder access

Why would I need to use secured folder access? By default, when you connect a USB drive to your router, the entire contents of the drive are available for read and write access to anyone on your local network (no login credentials are required). However, you can also make the drive and its folders secure, so that only authorized users can access the drive’s contents.

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When Secure Folder Access is on, the entire USB drive is secured.

In the Authorized users list, type a Username and Password for each new user.

How to set up authorized users and shared folders

To enable access to shared folders:

Log into Linksys Smart Wi-Fi. (See “How to connect to Linksys Smart WiFi” on page 7.

Click USB Storage under Apps, then click the Folder Access tab.

Click the setting for Secure Folder Access to turn it on.

The Authorized users list appears.

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Two accounts, Admin and Guest, are already set up and cannot be deleted.

Select the permissions to give the user.

• Read Only lets the user read (open) the file.

• Read & Write lets the user read, rename, overwrite, or delete the file.

The user can also save new files to the folder.

Click Select Share. The Select Existing Share dialog box opens.

If you already have the shared folder set up:

Select the check box next to each share you want to grant access to, then click OK.

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If you need to set up the shared folder:

Click Create new share. The Create New Share dialog box opens.

Click Add User.

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In the Authorized users list, you can also:

• Click Edit to change a user’s credentials.

• Click Shares to change the shares that a user can access.

• Click Delete to delete the user account.

How to access shared folders

To access shared folders while on your network:

While in Linksys Smart Wi-Fi, click USB Storage under Apps.

In the Status tab, note the information under Folder Access. This is the address you will need to access the shared folders from a file manager.

Click the button next to the folder that you want to share.

• To view subfolders, click the icon next to the folder name.

• To return to a parent folder, click the icon at the top of the list.

• To select the entire drive, select Share entire storage device.

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• The share name automatically changes to the name of

the folder you selected.

• You cannot select more than one folder for each share.

• To use a different share name, type the name in the Share name

field.

Click OK.

Select the check box next to each share you want to grant access to, then click OK.

Enter the access address into your file manager.

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You can also usually locate the folder by browsing through your computer’s file manager.

Enter your user account name and password. The drive’s contents (files and folders) appear in a window.

Use the file manager to open, copy, or view the folder’s contents.

Linksys EA-Series

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File managers display content in many ways, but you can usually use these common actions to navigate through folders:

• Click or double-click a folder name to open it.

• Click, double-click, or right-click a file to open, copy, or view it.

• Drag a file from another window and drop it into the shared

folder’s window to copy it to the shared folder. (To copy a file to the shared folder, your user account must have write access.)

How to set up your router as a media server

What is a media server and how would I use it? A media server lets you share media content across your network. Your router can act as a media server if it has a USB drive attached and if you have UPnP AV (Audio and Video)-enabled or DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance)-certified devices in your home. Examples of UPnP AV-enabled devices include digital media players, gaming consoles with a built-in media player, and digital picture frames.

For example, if you have a digital media adapter that sends content to your entertainment system, and if your router’s set up as a media server, then the digital media adapter can access your router’s attached USB drive.

To configure your router as a media server:

Log into Linksys Smart Wi-Fi. (See “How to connect to Linksys Smart WiFi” on page 7.

Click USB Storage under Apps. The USB Storage screen opens.

Click the Media Access tab.

Click the setting for Enable Media Server to turn it on.

You can specify which folders are used by the media server, add and delete folders, and specify how often the folders are scanned for new content.

NOTE

The EA3500 does not support the media server feature.

Linksys EA-Series

Click Add New Folder. The Add a new folder dialog box opens.

How to connect your UPnP device to the media server

After you set up your router’s media server, you need to connect an UPnPcompatible device (such as an UPnP-compatible game console or digital media player) to the network so that you can play the media server’s content.

To connect an UPnP device to your router’s media server:

Connect your UPnP device to your home network with wired (Ethernet cable) or wireless networking. If you are connecting wirelessly, you need to know your network’s name and password. See your device’s documentation for help.

On your UPnP device, change the media source to the media server name you specified on your router. (See “How to set up your router as a media server” on page 21)

See your UPnP device’s documentation for help with playing media on the device.

How to remotely access storage

Click the button next to the folder that you want to share, then click OK.

• To view subfolders, click the icon next to the folder name.

• To return to a parent folder, click the icon at the top of the list.

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• The share name automatically changes to the name of the

folder you selected.

• You cannot select more than one folder at a time.

Click OK again to save changes.

Why would I need to access my router’s storage remotely? After you enable

the router’s FTP (File Transfer Protocol) server, you can access the attached drive’s files from anywhere by using either a web browser or FTP software.

To set up the FTP server:

Log into Linksys Smart Wi-Fi. (See “How to connect to Linksys Smart WiFi” on page 7.

Click USB Storage under Apps. The USB Storage screen opens.

Click the FTP Server tab.

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Click the setting for Enable FTP Server to turn it on.

We recommend that you keep the default settings for FTP Port and Encoding, unless you are an advanced user and have reason to change

them.

Click OK.

Click the Status tab.

Note the information under FTP Server. This is the information you will need to access the attached storage remotely.

To access the attached storage using a web browser:

Open a web browser.

In the browser’s Address or URL field, type the address that was provided on the Status tab above, starting with ftp://... If you have DDNS (Dynamic Domain Name Service), you can use your router’s domain name instead.

Enter your user account name and password. This is the same User Name and Password that were set up in the shared folders Authorized users list. See “How to set up authorized users and shared folders” on page 19.

The drive’s contents (files and folders) appear in a browser window.

• The address that was provided on the Status tab above, starting

with ftp://... If you have DDNS (Dynamic Domain Name Service), you can use your router’s domain name instead.

• The user account name and password. This is the same User Name

and Password that were set up in the shared folders Authorized users list. See “How to set up authorized users and shared folders” on page 19.

• The port and encoding specified during your FTP server setup

(usually port 21, and UTF-8 encoding)

Refer to the software’s help to determine how to download and upload files.

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FTP software and web browsers display FTP content in many ways, but you can usually use these common actions to navigate through FTP folders:

• Click a folder name to open it.

• Click a double period (..) or Up to a higher level directory to

open a parent folder.

• Click or right-click a file to download or view it.

• Drag a file from another window and drop it into the FTP

window to upload it. (To upload a file, your user account must have write access.)

Click a file to download it to your computer, or click and drag a file from your computer’s file manager to the browser window to upload a file (only if you have read and write access).

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To access the attached storage using FTP client software:

Run your FTP client software.

Refer to the software’s help to determine how to connect to an FTP site. Use the following information to connect:

Linksys EA-Series

Setting Up: Advanced

How to manually set up your router

Although running your router’s setup software is the easiest way to set up and maintain your router, advanced users may want to manually configure their router. Be careful when changing settings using this method.

To manually set up your router:

Connect your router’s power adapter to a power outlet.

To connect to your router by using a cable:

Connect an Ethernet cable to the computer and to an available numbered Ethernet (blue) port on the back of your router.

Disconnect the cable from the router’s Internet port.

To connect to your router wirelessly:

Make sure that your computer’s wireless networking is turned on.

Open a web browser on the computer, then go to www.linksyssmartwifi.com. (When there is no Internet connection, this address re-routes directly to your router.)

Click I have read and accepted the License Terms for using this software, read the license agreement, then select the checkbox.

Select I want to skip Setup and and configure my router manually, then click Next.

Enter admin as the user name, then enter the default password (admin). The main menu opens.

After you finish changing settings, click Save and close the browser window.

How to manually set up your Internet connection

Running Setup configures your router’s Internet connection. However, for some ISPs (Internet Service Providers), especially those outside of the United States, you may need to manually configure your router’s Internet connection.

How to configure basic Internet connection settings

To manually configure your router’s Internet connection:

Connect to your router and log in using the instructions under “How to manually set up your router” on page 24.

Under Router Settings, click Connectivity. The Connectivity page opens to the Basic tab.

Next to Type of Internet Connection, click Edit.

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For descriptions of the settings, click Help at the top of the screen.

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Select your ISP’s Internet connection type from the drop-down list. Complete the Optional Settings only if required by your ISP.

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For field descriptions, click Help at the top of the screen.

Click OK.

IPv6 Internet connection settings

IPv6 is a new IP protocol that uses simplified packet headers and requires IPSec. It also has improved support for mobile IP and computing devices.

NOTE

To use your router’s IPv6 Internet connection settings, IPv6 service from your ISP (Internet service provider) is required. For more information on this service, ask your ISP.

Setting Up: Advanced

Click Edit. You can now change the following settings:

• IPv6 - Automatic—Select Enabled to use IPv6 for all network

addressing.

• DUID (device user ID)—Used by DHCP to identify network clients.

• 6rd Tunnel—Allows your router to send IPv6 IP addresses over IPv4

networks. To enable this option, IPv6-Automatic must be unselected. To let your router handle the 6rd Tunnel settings (such as prefixes and address masks), change the 6rd tunnel setting to Automatic. Select Manual to change these settings manually.

• Prefix—Enter the prefix address used for the tunnel provided by your

ISP.

• Prefix Length—Enter the prefix length used for the tunnel provided

by your ISP.

• Border Relay—Enter the border relay address used for the tunnel

provided by your ISP.

To manually configure your router’s IPv6 settings:

Use an Ethernet cable to connect an Ethernet port on your router to the Ethernet port on your computer.

Log into Linksys Smart Wi-Fi. (See “How to connect to Linksys Smart WiFi” on page 7.

Under Router Settings, click Connectivity. The Connectivity page opens.

Click the Internet Settings tab, then click IPV6.

• IPv4 mask length—Enter the IPv4 address mask length used for the

tunnel provided by your ISP.

Click OK.

How to associate a router with your Linksys Smart Wi-Fi account

To associate an additional router to your Linksys Smart Wi-Fi account:

Run Setup for the additional router. When Setup is complete, you are prompted to create a new Linksys Smart Wi-Fi account.

Instead of creating a new account, click Login at the top of the screen. You are prompted to enter your account user name (e-mail address) and password.

Enter your original Linksys Smart Wi-Fi account user name and password, then click Login. The additional router is added to your Linksys Smart Wi-Fi account.

To configure the additional router, log into Linksys Smart Wi-Fi, then select the router’s SSID (network name) from the drop-down list at the top of the screen.

Linksys EA-Series

Setting Up: Advanced

How to get the most out of your dualband router

I bought a dual band router, but I’m not sure that I’m getting the most out of it. What should I check? Of the many reasons for owning a dual-band

router, the most common is to ensure available bandwidth for streaming highdefinition video. At the same time, owners want to make sure that their video streams won’t be interrupted by other wireless network traffic. To get the most out of your dual-band router, you can:

• Upgrade your wireless clients

• Split your traffic

Upgrade your wireless clients

If you have network adapters that support only legacy wireless network standards such as 802.11b, you should consider upgrading them with Wireless-N (802.11n) network adapters. Wireless-B (802.11b) devices can slow your entire wireless network. For the best performance, all of your wireless devices should support Wireless-N. You can then select Wireless-N Only as your Network Mode below.

NOTE

If you select Wireless-N Only, you may need to temporarily change your network settings to Mixed to provide access to guests without Wireless-N networking.

• Even though you are connected to your own wireless network, you are

still sharing “air time” with nearby networks.

• The 5GHz band is much less crowded than the 2.4 GHz band, so it’s ideal

for streaming multimedia.

• The 5GHz band has more available channels, so it is more likely that you

will have your own, interference-free channel for your wireless network.

By default, your dual-band router uses the same network name on both the

2.4GHz band and the 5GHz band. The easiest way to segment your traffic is to rename one of your wireless networks. With a separate, descriptive name, it will be easy to connect to the right network.

To reconfigure your wireless network:

Log into Linksys Smart Wi-Fi. (See “How to connect to Linksys Smart WiFi” on page 7.

Under Router Settings, click Wireless. The Wireless page opens to the Wireless tab.

Split your traffic

The best way to improve your multimedia wireless performance is to split your wireless traffic between your router’s two bands (ranges of radio frequencies). Your router supports the 2.4 GHz band and the 5 GHz band, and handles the two bands as two separate wireless networks to help manage the traffic.

The most common way to split wireless traffic is to use the 2.4GHz band for basic Internet tasks such as web browsing, email, and downloads, and use the 5.0GHz band for streaming multimedia. There are several reasons for this approach:

• Although the 2.4GHz band may be more crowded with wireless traffic

from your neighbors, it’s fine for basic Internet traffic that is not timesensitive (such as e-mail).

Click Edit next to the network band you want to modify. Change any of the settings below:

Enabled—Deselect this checkbox to disable the network band.

Network name (SSID)—You can provide a unique SSID for each band

of your wireless network. The name must not exceed 32 characters.

Password—You can provide a unique password for each band of

your wireless network.

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Network mode—Your choice depends upon the clients that will

connect to your network. If all of your devices are Wireless-N capable, you can select Wireless-N Only for either or both bands.

On the 2.4 GHz band, you can select:

• Mixed

• Wireless-N Only

• Wireless-G Only

On the 5 GHz band, you can select:

• Mixed (default), which accepts connections from 802.11a or

802.11n clients

• Wireless-N Only (802.11n only)

• Wireless-AC Only

Security mode—You can set up different security options for the

5GHz and 2.4GHz networks. If the security mode you select requires a passphrase, a Passphrase field appears, and you must enter a passphrase. You can select:

• None (no security)

• WEP

• WPA Personal

• WPA Enterprise

• WPA2 Personal

• WPA2 Enterprise

• WPA2/WPA Mixed Personal

• WPA2/WPA Mixed Enterprise

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Wireless-N networks should use the WP2-Personal security mode for best performance.

Channel width—We recommend that you keep the default (Auto)

setting for each band. In Auto mode, the router and the network clients automatically switch to the 40MHz mode if:

• Your wireless clients support the 40 MHz mode (sometimes

called Bonded mode) in which two 20MHz channels are bonded together for better performance.

• There is no adjacent interference.

Setting Up: Advanced

With more available channels and less chance of interference on the 5GHz band, you have the option to force the 40MHz mode.

On the 2.4GHz band, you can select:

• Auto (20 MHz or 40 Mhz)

• 20 MHz Only

On the 5GHz band, you can select:

• Auto (automatically selects from the options below)

• 20 MHz Only

• 40 MHz Only

• 80 MHz Only

Channel—Choose the operating channel for each band. Your

router will automatically select the channel with the least amount of interference if you leave the default Auto setting. We recommend keeping the default settings for both bands.

To save your changes, click OK.

How to control access to your network

Why would I need to control access to my wireless network? By default, Setup enables industry-standard WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access) security using WPA2/WPA mixed mode. If you set up your wireless network manually and have not enabled wireless security, your wireless network will be an “open” network that almost anyone nearby with a Wi-Fi-enabled device could access.

What is MAC filtering? If you choose not to use the built-in security features of your router, you can still control access to your wireless network using MAC filtering. Every network device has a unique, 12-digit MAC (Media Access Control) address. Using MAC filtering, you can allow only known MAC addresses (known devices) onto your network. You can also exclude specific MAC addresses or deny them access to your wireless network.

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MAC filtering is not strong security. The best way to secure your network is to use the router’s WPA2 security setting.

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