NETGEAR ac5300 User Manual
Nighthawk X8
AC5300 Tri-Band
WiFi Router
User Manual
Model R8500
September 2015
202-11555-01
350 E. Plumeria Drive
San Jose, CA 95134
USA
Support
Thank you for purchasing this NETGEAR product.
You can visit http://support.netgear.com to register your product, get help, access the latest downloads and user manuals,
and join our community.We recommend that you use only official NETGEAR support resources.
Conformity
For regulatory compliance information, visit http://kb.netgear.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/11621..
Compliance
For regulatory compliance information, visit http://www.netgear .com/about/regulatory. See the regulatory compliance document
before connecting the power supply.
Trademarks
© NETGEAR, Inc., NETGEAR and the NETGEAR Logo are trademarks of NETGEAR, Inc. An y non_NETGEAR trademarks
are used for reference purposes only.
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Contents
Chapter 1 Hardware Setup
Unpack Your Router...............................................................................................9
Front View..............................................................................................................9
USB Ports on the Right Panel..............................................................................11
Rear Panel...........................................................................................................12
Position Your Router.............................................................................................12
Cable Your Router................................................................................................13
How Active Antennas Improve WiFi Performance................................................14
Position the Active Antennas...............................................................................15
Chapter 2 Connect to the Network and Access the Router
Connect to the Network.......................................................................................18
Wired Connection............................................................................................18
WiFi Connection..............................................................................................18
WiFi Connection Using WPS...........................................................................19
Label...............................................................................................................19
Types of Logins....................................................................................................19
Use a Web Browser to Access the Router...........................................................20
Automatic Internet Setup.................................................................................20
Log In to the Router........................................................................................21
Change the Language.........................................................................................21
Access the Router With NETGEAR genie Apps..................................................22
Chapter 3 Specify Your Internet Settings
Use the Internet Setup Wizard.............................................................................24
Manually Set Up the Internet Connection............................................................24
Specify an Internet Connection Without a Login.............................................25
Specify an Internet Connection That Uses a Login.........................................26
Specify IPv6 Internet Connections.......................................................................28
Requirements for Entering IPv6 Addresses.........................................................30
Use Auto Config for an IPv6 Internet Connection................................................30
Use Auto Detect for an IPv6 Internet Connection................................................31
Set Up an IPv6 6to4 Tunnel Internet Connection.................................................33
Set Up an IPv6 DHCP Internet Connection.........................................................34
Set Up an IPv6 Fixed Internet Connection...........................................................36
Set Up an IPv6 Pass Through Inter net Connection.............................................37
Set Up an IPv6 PPPoE Internet Connection........................................................38
Set Up an IPv6 6rd Internet Connection..............................................................39
Change the MTU Size..........................................................................................41
Chapter 4 Control Access to the Internet
Set Up Parental Controls.....................................................................................45
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Allow or Block Access to Your Network................................................................46
Use Keywords to Block Internet Sites..................................................................48
Block Services From the Internet.........................................................................50
Delete Keywords From the Blocked List...............................................................51
Avoid Blocking on a Trusted Computer................................................................52
Manage Network Access Control Lists................................................................53
Schedule When to Block Internet Sites and Services..........................................54
Set Up Security Event Email Notifications...........................................................55
Chapter 5 Tri-Band WiFi Connections
Tri-Band WiFi........................................................................................................59
How Tri-Band WiFi Improves Speed and Performance...................................59
Load Balancing...............................................................................................61
Benefits of Tri-Band WiFi.................................................................................62
Smart Connect.....................................................................................................62
Enable or Disable Smart Connect...................................................................63
Beamforming........................................................................................................64
Enable or Disable Implicit Beamforming.........................................................64
Chapter 6 Network Settings
View or Change WAN Settings............................................................................67
Set Up a Default DMZ Server..............................................................................68
Set Up Ethernet Port Aggregation.......................................................................69
View Ethernet Port Aggregation Status...............................................................71
Change the LAN TCP/IP Settings........................................................................71
Change the Router’s Device Name......................................................................73
Specify the IP Addresses That the Router Assigns.............................................74
Disable the DHCP Server Feature in the Router.................................................75
Manage Reserved LAN IP Addresses.................................................................76
Reserve an IP Address...................................................................................76
Edit a Reserved IP Address............................................................................77
Delete a Reserved IP Address Entry..............................................................77
Custom Static Routes..........................................................................................78
Set Up a Static Route......................................................................................78
Edit a Static Route..........................................................................................80
Delete a Static Route......................................................................................80
Set Up a Bridge for a Port Group or VLAN Tag Group.........................................81
Set Up a Bridge for a Port Group....................................................................81
Set Up a Bridge for a VLAN Tag Group...........................................................82
Use the WPS Wizard for WiFi Connections.........................................................84
Specify Basic WiFi Settings.................................................................................85
Change the WiFi Password or Security Level......................................................88
Change the WiFi Mbps Settings...........................................................................88
Set Up a Guest WiFi Network..............................................................................89
Control the WiFi Radios.......................................................................................91
Use the WIFI Button........................................................................................91
Enable or Disable the WiFi Radios..................................................................91
Set Up a WiFi Schedule.......................................................................................92
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Specify WPS Settings..........................................................................................93
Use the Router as a WiFi Access Point...............................................................94
Use the Router in Bridge Mode............................................................................97
Chapter 7 Optimize Performance
Use Dynamic QoS to Optimize Internet Traffic Management.............................101
Enable Dynamic QoS....................................................................................101
Enable or Disable the Automatic QoS Database Update..............................102
Manually Update the Dynamic QoS Database..............................................103
Participate in Dynamic QoS Analytics...........................................................104
Improve Network Connections With Universal Plug and Play............................104
Wi-Fi Multimedia Quality of Service...................................................................105
Chapter 8 Manage Your Network
Update the Router Firmware..............................................................................108
Change the admin Password.............................................................................108
Set Up Password Recovery...............................................................................109
Recover the admin Password............................................................................110
View Router Status............................................................................................111
Display Internet Port Statistics...........................................................................112
Check the Internet Connection Status...............................................................113
View and Manage Logs of Router Activity.........................................................114
View Devices Currently on the Network.............................................................116
Monitor Internet Traffictraffic metering................................................................116
Manage the Router Configuration File...............................................................118
Back Up Settings...........................................................................................118
Erase the Current Configuration Settings......................................................119
Restore Configuration Settings.....................................................................119
Set Up Remote Management............................................................................120
Use Remote Access..........................................................................................122
Access the Router with NETGEAR genie Apps.................................................122
Remotely Access Your Router Using the genie App..........................................122
Chapter 9 Share USB Storage Devices Attached to the Router
USB Device Requirements................................................................................124
Connect a USB Device to the Router.................................................................124
Access a USB Storage Device Connected to the Router From a Windows
Computer...........................................................................................................125
Map a USB Device to a Windows Network Drive...............................................126
Access a USB Storage Device That Is Connected to the Router From a Mac....126
Back Up Windows Computers With ReadySHARE Vault...................................127
Back Up Mac Computers With Time Machine....................................................128
Set Up a USB Hard Drive on a Mac..............................................................128
Prepare to Back Up a Large Amount of Data................................................128
Use Time Machine to Back Up Onto a USB Hard Disk.................................129
Use FTP Within the Network..............................................................................130
View or Change Network Folders on a USB Storage Device.............................131
Add a Network Folder on a USB Storage Device..............................................132
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Edit a Network Folder on a USB Storage Device...............................................133
Remotely Access a USB Device Using ReadyCLOUD......................................133
Create a ReadyCLOUD Account...................................................................134
Register Your Router With ReadyCLOUD.....................................................134
Safely Remove a USB Device............................................................................136
Chapter 10 Use Dynamic DNS to Access USB Storage Devices Through the
Internet
Access USB Storage Devices Through the Inter net..........................................139
Set Up FTP Access Through the Internet..........................................................140
Your Personal FTP Server.................................................................................140
Dynamic DNS....................................................................................................141
Set Up a New Dynamic DNS Account...........................................................141
Specify a DNS Account That You Already Created.......................................142
Change the Dynamic DNS Settings..............................................................144
Set Up Your Personal FTP Server.................................................................144
Chapter 11 Use the Router as a Media Server
Specify ReadyDLNA Media Server Settings......................................................147
Play Music From a USB Storage Device With iTunes Server.............................147
Set Up the Router's iTunes Server with iTunes.............................................148
Set Up the Router's iTunes Server with the Remote app..............................149
Play Media From a USB Device on TiVo............................................................151
Set Up the Router to Work With TiVo............................................................151
Play Videos on TiVo.......................................................................................152
Play Music or View Photos on TiVo...............................................................153
Chapter 12 Share a USB Printer
Install the Printer Driver and Cable the Printer..................................................155
Download the ReadySHARE Printer Utility........................................................155
Install the ReadySHARE Printer Utility..............................................................156
Print Using the NETGEAR USB Control Center................................................157
View or Change the Status of a Printer..............................................................158
Use the Scan Feature of a Multifunction USB Printer........................................159
Change NETGEAR USB Control Center Settings.............................................159
Turn Off Automatic Startup for NETGEAR USB Control Center....................159
Change the Language for the NETGEAR USB Control Center....................160
Specify the USB Control Center Time-Out....................................................160
Chapter 13 Use VPN to Access Your Network
Set Up a VPN Connection..................................................................................162
Specify VPN Service in the Router....................................................................162
Install OpenVPN Software on Your Computer....................................................163
Use a VPN Tunnel..............................................................................................166
Use VPN to Access the Router’s USB Device and Media..................................168
Use VPN to Access Your Internet Service at Home...........................................168
Set Up VPN Client Internet Access in the Router.........................................168
Block VPN Client Internet Access in the Router............................................169
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Use a VPN Tunnel to Access Your Internet Service at Home........................170
Chapter 14 Customize Internet Traffic Rules for Ports
Set Up Port Forwarding to a Local Server.........................................................172
Edit a Port Forwarding Service..........................................................................174
Delete a Port Forwarding Entry..........................................................................174
Application Example: Make a Local Web Server Public.....................................175
How the Router Implements the Port Forwarding Rule......................................175
Port Triggering....................................................................................................176
Add a Port Triggering Service........................................................................176
Enable Port Triggering...................................................................................178
Application Example: Port Triggering for Internet Relay Chat port triggering.178
Chapter 15 Troubleshooting
Quick Tips..........................................................................................................181
Sequence to Restart Your Network...............................................................181
Check Ethernet Cable Connections..............................................................181
Network Settings...........................................................................................181
WiFi Settings.................................................................................................181
Troubleshoot With the LEDs...............................................................................181
Standard LED Behavior When the Router Is Powered On............................181
Power LED Is Off or Blinking.........................................................................182
Power LED Stays Amber...............................................................................182
LEDs Never Tur n Off.....................................................................................182
2.4 GHz, 5 GHz-1, and 5 GHz-2 WiFi LEDs Are Off.....................................183
Internet or Ethernet Port LEDs Are Off.........................................................183
Cannot Log In to the Router...............................................................................183
Cannot Access the Internet................................................................................183
Troubleshoot Internet Browsing.........................................................................186
Troubleshoot PPPoE..........................................................................................186
Changes Not Saved...........................................................................................187
WiFi Connectivity...............................................................................................187
Troubleshoot Your Network Using the Ping Utility..............................................187
Test the LAN Path to Your Router..................................................................188
Test the Path From Your Computer to a Remote Device...............................188
Chapter 16 Supplemental Information
Factory Settings.................................................................................................191
Technical Specifications.....................................................................................192
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Hardware Setup
The Nighthawk X8 AC5300 Tri-Band WiFi Router is the next wave in WiFi with Tri-Band Quad Stream performance,
Nighthawk delivers combined WiFi speeds of up to 5.3 Gbps. Four external active antennas combined with four internal
antennas amplify and maximize WiFi range .The X8’s pow erful 1.4 Ghz dual-core processor gives you a high-perf ormance
networking engine for faster connections. Aggregate two of the Gigabit ports to double your wired speeds to
network-attached storage. Quad-Stream with MU-MIMO support allows you to enjoy simultaneous streaming to your
devices for speeds up to four times faster than traditional WiFi.
This chapter contains the following sections:
• Unpack Your Router on page 9
• Front View on page 9
• USB Ports on the Right Panel on page 11
• Rear Panel on page 12
• Position Your Router on page 12
• Cable Your Router on page 13
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• How Active Antennas Improve WiFi Performance on page 14
• Position the Active Antennas on page 15
For more information about the topics covered in this manual, visit the support website at http://support.netgear.com.
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Unpack Your Router
Your package contains the Nighthawk X8 AC5300 Tri-Band WiFi Router, the power adapter, and a yellow Ethernet
cable.
Figure 1. Package contents
Front View
The status LEDs are located on the top of the router. Buttons are on the front, and the USB ports are on the right
panel.
Figure 2. Router LEDs and buttons
Hardware Setup
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Table 1. LED descriptions
DescriptionLED
Power
Internet
2.4 GHz WiFi
5 GHz WiFi 1 and 5 GHz
WiFi 2
• Solid amber.The router is starting.
• Blinking amber.The firmware is upgrading, or the Reset button was pressed.
• Solid white.The router is ready.
• Blinking white.The firmware is corrupted.
• Off. Power is not supplied to the router.
• Solid white.The Internet connection is ready.
• Solid amber.The router detected an Ethernet cable connection to the modem.
• Blinking white.The port is sending or receiving traffic.
• Off. No Ethernet cable is connected between the router and the modem.
• Solid white.The 2.4 GHz WiFi radio is operating.
• Blinking.The router is sending or receiving WiFi traffic.
• Off.The 2.4 GHz WiFi radio is off.
• Solid white.The 5 GHz WiFi radio is operating.
• Blinking.The router is sending or receiving WiFi traffic.
• Off.The 5 GHz WiFi radio is off.
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DescriptionLED
USB 3.0 port 1 and USB
2.0 port 2
Ethernet ports 1–6
• Solid white. A USB device is connected and is ready.
• Blinking. A USB device is plugged in and is trying to connect.
• Off. No USB device is connected, or someone clicked the Safely Remove Hardware button and it
is now safe to remove the attached USB device.
The LED color indicates the speed: white for Gigabit Ethernet connections and amber for 100 Mbps or
10 Mbps Ethernet connections.
• Solid. A powered-on device is connected to the Ethernet port.
• Blinking.The port is sending or receiving traffic.
• Off. No device is connected to this Ethernet port.
Table 2. Front panel button descriptions
DescriptionButton
LED
Pressing this button changes the LED mode.
• Mode one. All LEDs stay on and blink.
• Mode two. All LEDs stay on but don't blink.
• Mode three. Only the Power LED stays on and the other LEDs are off.
WPS
Pressing this button lets you use WPS to join the WiFi network without typing the WiFi password. For
more information, see Join the WiFi Network on page 9 on page 19.
Pressing this button for two seconds turns the 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz 1, and 5 GHz 2 WiFi radios on and off.WIFI
USB Ports on the Right Panel
Two USB ports are located on the right panel.To access the ports, open the USB port cover as shown.
Hardware Setup
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Figure 3. A USB 3.0 port and a USB 2.0 port are located on the right
Rear Panel
The rear panel connections and buttons are shown in the following figure.
Figure 4. Rear panel
Position Your Router
The router lets you access your network anywhere within the operating range of your WiFi network. However, the
operating distance or range of your WiFi connection can vary significantly depending on the physical placement of
your router. For example, the thickness and number of walls the WiFi signal passes through can limit the range.
Hardware Setup
12
Additionally, other WiFi access points in and around your home might affect your router’s signal. WiFi access points
are routers, repeaters, WiFi range extenders, and any other device that emits a WiFi signal for network access.
Position your router according to the following guidelines:
• Place your router near the center of the area where your computers and other devices operate, and within line
of sight to your WiFi devices.
• Make sure that the router is within reach of an AC power outlet and near Ethernet cables for wired computers.
• Place the router in an elevated location, minimizing the number walls and ceilings between the router and your
other devices.
• Place the router away from electrical devices such as these:
• Ceiling fans
• Home security systems
• Microwaves
• Computers
• Base of a cordless phone
• 2.4 GHz cordless phone
• Place the router away from large metal surf aces , large glass surf aces, insulated w alls, and items such as these:
• Solid metal door
• Aluminum studs
• Fish tanks
• Mirrors
• Brick
• Concrete
Cable Your Router
To cable your router:
1. Unplug your modem’s power, leaving the modem connected to the wall jack for your Internet service.
If your modem uses a battery backup, remove the battery.
2. Plug in and turn on your modem.
If your modem uses a battery backup, put the battery back in.
Hardware Setup
13
3. Connect your modem to the Internet port of your router with the yellow Ethernet cable that came with your router.
4. Connect the power adapter to your router and plug the power adapter into an outlet.
5. Press the Power On/Off button on the rear panel of the router.
6. To change the LED mode, press the LED button on the front panel. Pressing the LED button turns off blinking.
Pressing the LED button again turns off all LEDs except the Power LED.
How Active Antennas Improve WiFi Performance
The growing number of WiFi devices in the home combined with the increasing demand for high-speed WiFi
connectivity, places extraordinary demands on the WiFi infrastructure.To meet this demand, many WiFi routers
now use external antennas and high-power amplifiers to maximize signal po wer and extend WiFi cov erage throughout
your home.
Increased signal power on the router is important, but effective WiFi connectivity requires two-way communication
between the router and clients such as smartphones, tablets, and laptops.The client must acknowledge every WiFi
data packet sent by the router; otherwise the router resends the data pac k et. A strong signal from the router without
a corresponding boost in signal from the client to the router does not provide you with the full benefit.
Mobile devices continue to get smaller, while adding more features and reducing power consumption to extend
battery life. Since mobile de vice WiFi signal power and performance has not been improving, router technology has
evolv ed to find ways to compensate and impro ve the client-to-router WiFi signal. One passive approach to addressing
this problem is to add low noise amplifiers (LNA) on the router board to amplify the received signal.The router's
external antennas transmit the received WiFi signal to the router board.The issues with this approach are twofold.
Transmitting the signal from the external antenna to the router board reduces the signal strength and quality. In
addition, the router board injects noise from other components.The received signal deteriorates and noise is injected,
which reduces the efficacy of the received transmission.
Active antennas solve these problems. Active antennas move the powered amplification component (LNA) to the
antenna itself instead of using the router board.This eliminates signal loss during transmission since the active
antenna directly amplifies the received signal. In addition, since no noise from the router board components are
present in the antenna, the amplified signal is cleaner.
Hardware Setup
14
The router receives a much cleaner and less noisy signal for amplification, significantly impro ving the received signal
and providing a clean, powerful signal that extends WiFi coverage and performance. Active antennas help reduce
the mismatch between the sent and the received signal by compensating for the relatively poor WiFi on the client
side.This WiFi improv ement is seen across all devices-new and old b ut helps mobile devices the most, which present
the greatest connectivity challenges today.
Position the Active Antennas
The router’s f our active antennas include a built-in receiv er low noise amplifier (LNA), f or high-speed WiFi connections
and excellent range. Both the 2.4 GHz and the 5 GHz low band (WiFi Channels 36-48, and 52-64) use the active
antennas.The 5 GHz high band (WiFi Channels 100-140, and 149-65) uses the passive antenna.
The best position for the active antennas depends on the la yout f or your home or office.We recommend the following
antenna positions:
• For a large single-story home (about 2,500 to 4,000 square feet in size), position all f our antennas vertically and
place the router on a table.
• For a multi-level home, position the two antennas in the center vertically, and position the other antennas at a
45-degree outward angle.
Hardware Setup
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Hardware Setup
16
Connect to the Network and Access the Router
You can connect to the router’s WiFi networks or use a wired Ethernet connection.This chapter explains the ways you
can connect and how to access the router and log in.
The chapter contains the following sections:
• Connect to the Network on page 18
• Types of Logins on page 19
• Use a Web Browser to Access the Router on page 20
• Change the Language on page 21
• Access the Router With NETGEAR genie Apps on page 22
2
17
Connect to the Network
You can connect to the router’s network through a wired or WiFi connection. If you set up your computer to use a
static IP address, change the settings so that it uses Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP).
Wired Connection
You can connect your computer to the router using an Ethernet cable and join the router’s local area network (LAN).
The router has six Ethernet ports. Ports 1 and 2 can be used as Ethernet LAN ports or as aggregation ports to
connect to a NAS or Smart Switch that supports port aggregation (LACP).
To connect your computer to the router with an Ethernet cable:
1. Make sure that the router is receiving power (its Power LED is lit).
2. Connect an Ethernet cable to an Ethernet port on your computer.
3. Connect the other end of the Ethernet cable Ethernet port 3 on the router.
To get the fastest performance with port aggregation, for wired connections use Ethernet
Note
port 3 for the first computer, and use Ethernet port 4, 5 or 6 for the second computer, which
allows for speeds up to 2 Gbps with port aggregation.The maximum speed between port 4,
5 and 6 is limited to 1 Gbps.
Your computer connects to the local area network (LAN). A message might display on your computer screen
to notify you that an Ethernet cable is connected.
WiFi Connection
To find and select the WiFi network:
1. Make sure that the router is receiving power (its Power LED is lit).
2. On your computer or WiFi device, find and select the WiFi network.
The WiFi network name is on the router’s label.
3. Join the WiFi network and enter the WiFi password.
The password is on the router’s label.
Your WiFi device connects to the WiFi network.
Connect to the Network and Access the Router
18
WiFi Connection Using WPS
You can connect to the router’s WiFi network with Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) or you can find and select the WiFi
network.
To use WPS to connect to the WiFi network:
1. Make sure that the router is receiving power (its Power LED is lit).
2. Check the WPS instructions for your computer or WiFi device.
3. Press the WPS button on the router.
4. Within two minutes, on your computer or WiFi device, press its WPS button or follow its instructions for WPS
connections.
Your computer or WiFi device connects to the WiFi network.
Label
The label on the router shows the login information, WiFi netw ork name and network key (pass word), MA C address,
and serial number.
Figure 5. Product label
Types of Logins
Separate types of logins serve different purposes. It is important that you understand the difference so that you kno w
which login to use when.
Several types of logins are associated with the router:
• ISP login.The login that your ISP gave you logs you in to your Internet service.Your service provider gave you
this login information in a letter or some other way. If y ou cannot find this login information, contact your service
provider.
• WiFi network key or password.Your router is preset with a unique WiFi network name (SSID) and password
for WiFi access.This information is on the router label.
• Router login.This logs you in to the router interface from a web browser as admin.
Connect to the Network and Access the Router
19
Use a Web Browser to Access the Router
When you connect to the network (either with WiFi or with an Ethernet cable), y ou can use a web browser to access
the router to view or change its settings.When you access the router, the software automatically checks to see if
your router can connect to your Internet service.
Automatic Internet Setup
You can set up your router automatically, or you can use a web browser to access the router and set up your router
manually. Before you start the setup process, get your ISP information and make sure that the computers and
devices in the network are using the settings described here.
When your Internet service starts, your Internet service provider (ISP) typically gives you all the inf ormation needed
to connect to the Internet. For DSL service, you might need the following information to set up your router:
• The ISP configuration information for your DSL account
• ISP login name and password
• Fixed or static IP address setting (special deployment by ISP; this setting is rare)
If you cannot locate this information, ask your ISP to provide it.When your Internet connection is working, you no
longer need to launch the ISP login program on your computer to access the Internet.When you start an Internet
application, your router automatically logs you in.
NETGEAR genie runs on any device with a web browser. Installation and basic setup takes about 15 minutes to
complete.
To automatically set up your router:
1. Turn the router on by pressing the On/Off button.
2. Make sure that your computer or WiFi device is connected to the router with an Ethernet cable (wired) or over
WiFi with the preset security settings listed on the label.
If you want to change the router’s WiFi settings, use a wired connection to avoid being
Note
disconnected when the new WiFi settings take effect.
3. Launch a web browser.
The page that displays depends on whether you accessed the router before:
• The first time you set up the Internet connection for your router, the browser goes to
http://www.routerlogin.net and the Configuring the Internet Connection page displays.
• If you already set up the Internet connection, enter http://www.routerlogin.net in the address field for your
browser to start the installation process.
4. Follow the onscreen instructions.
The router connects to the Internet.
Connect to the Network and Access the Router
20
5. If the browser does not display a router page, do the following:
• Make sure that the computer is connected to one of the LAN Ethernet ports or over WiFi to the router.
• Make sure that the router is receiving power and that its Power LED is lit.
• Close and reopen the browser or clear the browser cache.
• Browse to http://www.routerlogin.net.
• If the computer is set to a static or fixed IP address (this setting is uncommon), change it to obtain an IP
address automatically from the router.
6. If the router does not connect to the Internet, do the following:
a. Review your settings. Make sure that you selected the correct options and typed everything correctly.
b. Contact your ISP to verify that you are using the correct configuration information.
c. Read Cannot Access the Internet on page 183. If problems persist, register your NETGEAR product and
contact NETGEAR technical support.
When the router connects to the Internet, you are prompted to download and install the free NETGEAR Desktop
genie app and the free ReadySHARE Vault app.
Log In to the Router
When you first connect to your router and launch a web browser, the browser automatically displays the router’s
web page. If you want to view or change settings for the router later, you can use a browser to log in to the router’s
web page.
To log in to the router:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or WiFi device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
You can also enter http://www.routerlogin.com or http://192.168.1.1.The procedures in
Note
this manual use http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin.The default password is password.The user name and password are case-sensitive .
The BASIC Home page displays.
Change the Language
By default, the language is set to Auto.
Connect to the Network and Access the Router
21
To change the language:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or WiFi device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin.The default password is password.The user name and password are case-sensitive .
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. In the upper right corner, select a language from the menu.
5. When prompted, click the OK button to confirm this change.
The page refreshes with the language that you selected.
Access the RouterWith NETGEAR genie Apps
The genie app is the easy dashboard for managing, monitoring, and repairing your home network.The genie app
can help you with the following:
• Automatically repair common WiFi network problems.
• Easily manage router features like Live Parental Controls, guest access, Internet traffic meter, speed test, and
more.
To use the genie app to access the router:
1. Visit the NETGEAR genie web page at www.NETGEAR.com/genie.
2. Follow the onscreen instructions to install the app on your smartphone, tablet, or computer.
3. Launch the genie app.
The genie app dashboard page displays.
Connect to the Network and Access the Router
22
Specify Your Internet Settings
Usually, the quickest way to set up the router to use your Internet connection is to allow the genie to detect the Internet
connection when you first access the router with a web browser .Y ou can also customiz e or specify your Internet settings.
This chapter contains the following sections:
• Use the Internet Setup Wizard on page 24
• Manually Set Up the Internet Connection on page 24
• Specify IPv6 Internet Connections on page 28
• Change the MTU Size on page 41
3
23
Use the Internet Setup Wizard
You can use the Setup Wizard to detect your Internet settings and automatically set up your router.The Setup
Wizard is not the same as the pages that display the first time you connect to your router to set it up.
To use the Setup Wizard:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or WiFi device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin.The default password is password.The user name and password are case-sensitive .
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > Setup Wizard.
5. Select the Yes radio button.
If you select the No radio button, you are taken to the Internet Setup page (see Manually Set Up the Internet
Connection on page 24).
6. Click the Next button.
The Setup Wizard searches your Internet connection for servers and protocols to determine your Internet
configuration.
When the router connects to the Internet, you are prompted to download and install the free NETGEAR Desktop
genie app and the free ReadySHARE Vault app.
Manually Set Up the Internet Connection
You can view or change the router’s Internet connection settings.
Specify Your Internet Settings
24
Specify an Internet Connection Without a Login
To specify the Internet connection settings:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or WiFi device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin.The default password is password.The user name and password are case-sensitive .
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select Internet.
Your router might display information that is different from this example.
5. For the Does your Internet connection require a login? setting, leave the No radio button selected.
6. If your Internet connection requires an account name or host name, type it in the Account Name (If Required)
field.
7. If your Internet connection requires a domain name, type it in the Domain Name (If Required) field.
For the other sections on this page, the default settings usually work, but you can change them.
8. Select an Internet IP Address radio button:
• Get Dynamically from ISP.Your ISP uses DHCP to assign your IP address.Your ISP automatically assigns
these addresses.
• Use Static IP Address. Enter the IP address, IP subnet mask, and the gateway IP address that your ISP
assigned.The gateway is the ISP router to which your router connects.
9. Select a Domain Name Server (DNS) Address radio button:
Specify Your Internet Settings
25
• Get Automatically from ISP.Your ISP uses DHCP to assign your DNS servers.Your ISP automatically
assigns this address.
• Use These DNS Servers. If you know that your ISP requires specific servers, select this option. Enter the
IP address of your ISP’s primary DNS server. If a secondary DNS server address is available, enter it also.
10. Select a Router MAC Address radio button:
• Use Default Address. Use the default MAC address.
• Use Computer MAC Address.The router captures and uses the MAC address of the computer that you
are now using.You must use the one computer that the ISP allows.
• Use This MAC Address. Enter the MAC address that you want to use.
11. Click the Apply button.
Your settings are saved.
12. Click the Test button to test your Internet connection.
If the NETGEAR website does not display within one minute, see Cannot Access the Internet on page 183
Specify an Internet Connection That Uses a Login
To view or change the basic Internet setup:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or WiFi device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin.The default password is password.The user name and password are case-sensitive .
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select Internet.
5. For the Does your Internet connection require a login? setting, select the Yes radio button.
Specify Your Internet Settings
26
6. From the Internet Service Provider menu, select the encapsulation method: PPPoE, L2TP, or PPTP.
7. In the Login field, enter the login name that your ISP gave you.
This login name is often an email address.
8. In the Password field, type the password that you use to log in to your Internet service.
9. If your ISP requires a service name, type it in the Service Name (if Required) field.
10. From the Connection Mode menu, select Always On, Dial on Demand, or Manually Connect.
11. To change the number of minutes until the Internet login times out, in the Idle Timeout (In minutes) field, type
the number of minutes.
This is how long the router keeps the Internet connection active when no one on the network is using the Internet
connection. A value of 0 (zero) means never log out.
12. Select an Internet IP Address radio button:
• Get Dynamically from ISP.Your ISP uses DHCP to assign your IP address.Your ISP automatically assigns
these addresses.
• Use Static IP Address. Enter the IP address, IP subnet mask, and the gateway IP address that your ISP
assigned.The gateway is the ISP router to which your router connects.
13. Select a Domain Name Server (DNS) Address radio button:
• Get Automatically from ISP.Your ISP uses DHCP to assign your DNS servers.Your ISP automatically
assigns this address.
• Use These DNS Servers. If you know that your ISP requires specific servers, select this option. Enter the
IP address of your ISP’s primary DNS server. If a secondary DNS server address is available, enter it also.
14. Select a Router MAC Address radio button:
• Use Default Address. Use the default MAC address.
• Use Computer MAC Address.The router captures and uses the MAC address of the computer that you
are now using.You must use the one computer that the ISP allows.
Specify Your Internet Settings
27
• Use This MAC Address. Enter the MAC address that you want to use.
15. Click the Apply button.
Your settings are saved.
16. Click the Test button to test your Internet connection.
If the NETGEAR website does not display within one minute, see Cannot Access the Internet on page 183.
Specify IPv6 Internet Connections
You can set up an IPv6 Internet connection if the router does not detect it automatically.
To set up an IPv6 Internet connection:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or WiFi device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin.The default password is password.The user name and password are case-sensitive .
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > IPv6.
The Basic Settings page displays.
5. From the Internet Connection Type menu, select the IPv6 connection type:
• If your ISP did not provide details, select IPv6 Tunnel.
• If you are not sure, select Auto Detect so that the router detects the IPv6 type that is in use.
• If your Internet connection does not use PPPoe or DHCP, or is not fixed, but is IPv6, select Auto Config.
Your Internet service provider (ISP) can provide this information. For more information about IPv6 Internet
connection, see the following sections:
• Use Auto Detect for an IPv6 Internet Connection on page 31
• Use Auto Config for an IPv6 Internet Connection on page 30
• Set Up an IPv6 6to4 Tunnel Internet Connection on page 33
• Set Up an IPv6 Pass Through Internet Connection on page 37
• Set Up an IPv6 Fixed Internet Connection on page 36
• Set Up an IPv6 DHCP Internet Connection on page 34
Specify Your Internet Settings
28
• Set Up an IPv6 PPPoE Internet Connection on page 38
• Set Up an IPv6 6rd Internet Connection on page 39
6. Click the Apply button.
Your settings are saved.
Specify Your Internet Settings
29
Requirements for Entering IPv6 Addresses
IPv6 addresses are denoted by eight groups of hexadecimal quartets that are separated by colons.You can reduce
any four-digit group of zeros within an IPv6 address to a single zero or omit it.The following errors invalidate an
IPv6 address:
• More than eight groups of hexadecimal quartets
• More than four hexadecimal characters in a quartet
• More than two colons in a row
Use Auto Config for an IPv6 Internet Connection
To set up an IPv6 Internet connection through autoconfiguration:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or WiFi device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin.The default password is password.The user name and password are case-sensitive .
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > IPv6.
The IPv6 page displays.
5. From the Internet Connection Type menu, select Auto Config.
The router automatically detects the information in the following fields:
Specify Your Internet Settings
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