NETGEAR Nighthawk X4S, R7800 User Manual

Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router

User Manual

Model R7800

April 2016 202-11596-04

350 E. Plumeria Drive San Jose, CA 95134 USA

Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router

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

Contents

Chapter 1 Hardware Setup

Unpack Your Router...............................................................................................9

Top View.................................................................................................................9

Rear Panel...........................................................................................................11

Turn the LEDs On or Off..................................................................................12

Attach the Antennas.............................................................................................12

USB Ports on the Left Panel................................................................................13

eSATA Port on the Right Panel............................................................................13

Connect an eSATA Device..............................................................................14

Position Your Router.............................................................................................14

Cable Your Router................................................................................................15

Chapter 2 Connect to the Network and Access the Router

Connect to the Network.......................................................................................18

Wired Connection............................................................................................18

WiFi Connection Using WPS...........................................................................18

WiFi Connection..............................................................................................18

Label...............................................................................................................19

Types of Logins....................................................................................................19

Use a Web Browser to Access the Router...........................................................19

Automatic Internet Setup.....................................................................................20

Automatic Internet Setup With Two Routers.........................................................21

Access the Router With NETGEAR genie Apps..................................................23

Chapter 3 Specify Your Internet Settings

Use the Internet Setup Wizard.............................................................................25

Manually Set Up the Internet Connection............................................................25

Specify an Internet Connection Without a Login.............................................26

Specify an Internet Connection That Uses a Login.........................................27

Specify IPv6 Internet Connections.......................................................................29

Requirements for Entering IPv6 Addresses....................................................30

Use Auto Config for an IPv6 Internet Connection...........................................30

Use Auto Detect for an IPv6 Internet Connection...........................................32

Set Up an IPv6 6rd Internet Connection.........................................................33

Set Up an IPv6 6to4 Tunnel Internet Connection............................................35

Set Up an IPv6 Pass Through Internet Connection.........................................36

Set Up an IPv6 Fixed Internet Connection......................................................37

Set Up an IPv6 DHCP Internet Connection....................................................38

Set Up an IPv6 PPPoE Internet Connection...................................................40

Change the MTU Size..........................................................................................41

Enable British Telcom IGMP Proxy Support.........................................................44

Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router

Chapter 4 Control Access to the Internet

Set Up Parental Controls.....................................................................................46

Allow or Block Access to Your Network................................................................47

Use Keywords to Block Internet Sites..................................................................48

Block Services From the Internet....................................................................49

Delete Keywords From the Blocked List..........................................................51

Avoid Blocking on a Trusted Computer............................................................52

Manage Network Access Control Lists................................................................52

Schedule When to Block Internet Sites and Services..........................................53

Set Up Security Event Email Notifications...........................................................55

Set Up IP-MAC Binding........................................................................................56

Chapter 5 Network Settings

View or Change WAN Settings............................................................................58

Set Up a Default DMZ Server..............................................................................59

Change the Router’s Device Name......................................................................60

Change the LAN TCP/IP Settings........................................................................60

Specify the IP Addresses That the Router Assigns.............................................62

Disable the DHCP Server Feature in the Router.................................................64

Manage Reserved LAN IP Addresses.................................................................64

Reserve an IP Address...................................................................................64

Edit a Reserved IP Address............................................................................65

Delete a Reserved IP Address Entry..............................................................66

Use the WPS Wizard for WiFi Connections.........................................................66

Specify Basic WiFi Settings.................................................................................67

Change the WiFi Mbps Settings...........................................................................70

Change the WiFi Password or Security Level......................................................71

Enable or Disable WiFi 160 MHz.........................................................................72

Enable a WiFi Video Network...............................................................................72

Set Up a Guest WiFi Network..............................................................................73

Enable a Video Guest WiFi Network....................................................................75

Control the WiFi Radios.......................................................................................76

Use the WiFi On/Off Button.............................................................................76

Enable or Disable the WiFi Radios..................................................................76

Set Up a WiFi Schedule.......................................................................................77

Specify WPS Settings..........................................................................................78

Use the Router as a WiFi Access Point...............................................................79

Use the Router in Bridge Mode............................................................................80

Set Up a Bridge for a Port Group or VLAN Tag Group.........................................82

Set Up a Bridge for a Port Group....................................................................83

Set Up a Bridge for a VLAN Tag Group...........................................................84

Set Up an IPTV Port to Lease an Intranet Port...............................................86

Chapter 6 Optimize Performance

Use Dynamic QoS to Optimize Internet Traffic Management...............................89

Enable Dynamic QoS......................................................................................89

Enable or Disable the Automatic QoS Database Update................................90

Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router

Manually Update the Dynamic QoS Database................................................91

Participate in Dynamic QoS Analytics.............................................................91

Improve Network Connections With Universal Plug and Play..............................92

Wi-Fi Multimedia Quality of Service.....................................................................93

Chapter 7 Manage Your Network

Update the Router Firmware................................................................................96

Change the admin Password...............................................................................96

Set Up Password Recovery.................................................................................97

Recover the admin Password..............................................................................98

View Router Status..............................................................................................99

Display Internet Port Statistics...........................................................................100

Check the Internet Connection Status...............................................................101

View and Manage Logs of Router Activity.........................................................102

View Devices Currently on the Network.............................................................103

Monitor Internet Traffictraffic metering................................................................104

Manage the Router Configuration File...............................................................106

Back Up Settings...........................................................................................106

Erase the Current Configuration Settings......................................................107

Restore Configuration Settings.....................................................................107

Remote Access..................................................................................................108

Set Up Remote Management........................................................................108

Use Remote Access......................................................................................109

Remotely Access Your Router Using the genie App..........................................109

Chapter 8 Share USB Storage Devices Attached to the Router

USB Device Requirements................................................................................111

Connect a Storage Device to the Router...........................................................111

Access a Storage Device Connected to the Router F rom a Windows Computer.112

Map a USB Device to a Windows Network Drive...............................................112

Access a Storage Device That Is Connected to the Router From a Mac...........113

Back Up Windows Computers With ReadySHARE Vault...................................114

Back Up Mac Computers With Time Machine....................................................114

Set Up a USB Hard Drive on a Mac..............................................................114

Prepare to Back Up a Large Amount of Data................................................115

Use Time Machine to Back Up Onto a USB Hard Disk.................................116

Use FTP Within the Network..............................................................................117

View or Change Network Folders on a Storage Device.....................................117

Add a Network Folder on a Storage Device.......................................................119

Edit a Network Folder on a Storage Device.......................................................120

Safely Remove a USB Device............................................................................121

Chapter 9 Use Dynamic DNS to Access USB Storage Devices Thr ough the Internet

Set Up and Manage Dynamic DNS...................................................................123

Set Up FTP Access Through the Internet..........................................................123

Your Personal FTP Server.................................................................................124

Set Up Your Personal FTP Server.................................................................124

Set Up a New Dynamic DNS Account...........................................................125

Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router

Specify a DNS Account That You Already Created.......................................126

Change the Dynamic DNS Settings..............................................................127

Access USB Storage Devices Through the Internet..........................................129

Remotely Access a USB Device Using ReadyCLOUD......................................129

Create a ReadyCLOUD Account...................................................................129

Download Files Onto a USB Storage Device.....................................................132

Download Files..............................................................................................132

Change the Download Settings.....................................................................133

Send Downloader Email Notifications...........................................................134

Manage Downloader Tasks...........................................................................135

View Photos on Your USB Device With Kwilt.....................................................135

Chapter 10 Use the Router as a Media Server

Specify ReadyDLNA Media Server Settings......................................................138

Play Music From a Storage Device With iTunes Server.....................................138

Set Up the Router’s iTunes Server With iTunes.............................................139

Set Up the Router’s iTunes Server With the Remote App.............................140

Play Media From a USB Device on TiVo............................................................142

Set Up the Router to Work With TiVo............................................................142

Play Videos on TiVo.......................................................................................143

Play Music or View Photos on TiVo...............................................................143

Chapter 11 Share a USB Printer

Install the Printer Driver and Cable the Printer..................................................145

Download the ReadySHARE Printer Utility........................................................145

Install the ReadySHARE Printer Utility..............................................................145

Print Using the NETGEAR USB Control Center................................................147

View or Change the Status of a Printer..............................................................147

Use the Scan Feature of a Multifunction USB Printer........................................148

Change NETGEAR USB Control Center Settings.............................................148

Turn Off Automatic Startup for NETGEAR USB Control Center....................148

Change the Language for the NETGEAR USB Control Center....................149

Specify the USB Control Center Time-Out....................................................149

Chapter 12 Customize Internet Traffic Rules for Ports

Port Forwarding to a Local Server.....................................................................152

Set Up Port Forwarding to a Local Server.....................................................152

Add a Custom Port Forwarding Service........................................................153

Edit a Port Forwarding Service......................................................................154

Delete a Port Forwarding Entry.....................................................................155

Application Example: Make a Local Web Server Public................................155

How the Router Implements the Port Forwarding Rule.................................156

Port Triggering....................................................................................................156

Add a Port Triggering Service........................................................................156

Enable Port Tr iggering...................................................................................158

Application Example: Port Triggering for Internet Relay Chat port triggering.159

Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router

Chapter 13 Use VPN to Access Your Network

Set Up a VPN Connection..................................................................................161

Specify VPN Service in the Router....................................................................161

Install OpenVPN Software.................................................................................162

Install OpenVPN Software on Your Windows Computer................................162

Install OpenVPN Software on Your Mac Computer.......................................165

Install OpenVPN Software on an iOS Device................................................165

Install OpenVPN Software on an Android Device.........................................166

Use a VPN Tunnel on Your Windows Computer.................................................167

Use VPN to Access the Router’s USB Device and Media..................................169

Use VPN to Access Your Internet Service at Home...........................................169

Set Up VPN Client Internet Access in the Router.........................................169

Block VPN Client Internet Access in the Router............................................170

Use a VPN Tunnel to Access Your Internet Service at Home........................171

Change VPN Pass-Through Settings.................................................................171

Chapter 14 Troubleshooting

Quick Tips..........................................................................................................174

Sequence to Restart Your Network...............................................................174

Check Ethernet Cable Connections..............................................................174

WiFi Settings.................................................................................................174

Network Settings...........................................................................................174

Troubleshoot With the LEDs...............................................................................174

Standard LED Behavior When the Router Is Powered On............................174

Power LED Is Off or Blinking.........................................................................175

Power LED Stays Amber...............................................................................175

LEDs Never Turn Off.....................................................................................175

Internet or Ethernet Port LEDs Are Off.........................................................176

WiFi LED Is Off..............................................................................................176

You Cannot Log In to the Router........................................................................176

You Cannot Access the Internet.........................................................................177

Troubleshoot Internet Browsing.........................................................................178

Changes Are Not Saved....................................................................................178

Troubleshoot WiFi Connectivity..........................................................................179

Troubleshoot Your Network Using the Ping Utility..............................................179

Test the LAN Path to Your Router..................................................................179

Test the Path From Your Computer to a Remote Device...............................180

Chapter 15 Supplemental Information

Factory Settings.................................................................................................183

Technical Specifications.....................................................................................184

Hardware Setup

The Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router with f our high-performance antennas and quad-stream X4S architecture combines four WiFi streams to deliver WiFi connection speeds of up to 1.73 Gbps , and a combined speed of 2.53 Gbps, as follows:

• 800 Mbps WiFi speed on the 2.4 GHz band

• 1.73 Gbps on the 5 GHz band

• Multiuser MIMO (MU-MIMO) for faster speeds with simultaneously streamed data for up to three devices

• 160 MHz bandwidth support for maximum performance for mobile devices

Nighthawk X4S is ideal for homes with a high volume of network and Internet traffic from gaming and streaming.With Dynamic QoS, the router optimizes performance based on the application and the device, and automatically performs cloud updates to optimize the most popular applications and services.

Nighthawk X4S also provides fast central storage, backup, and streaming to every device in your home with two USB

3.0 ports (10 times faster than USB 2.0) and an eSA TA port. Sharing content across your network is easy , from accessing stored photos and music to printing wirelessly. Stream your stored media files on any device an ywhere on the network. Share your music with AirPlay-compatib le devices from a USB hard drive connected to the router . Use the free NETGEAR ReadySHARE Vault app to back up your Windows computers to a USB hard drive connected to Nighthawk X4S.

This chapter contains the following sections:

• Unpack Your Router on page 9

• Top View on page 9

• Rear Panel on page 11

• Attach the Antennas on page 12

• USB Ports on the Left Panel on page 13

• eSATA Port on the Right Panel on page 13

• Position Your Router on page 14

• Cable Your Router on page 15

For more information about the topics covered in this manual, visit the support website at support.netgear.com.

Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router

Unpack Your Router

Your package contains the router, four antennas, the power adapter, and an Ethernet cable.

Figure 1. Package contents

Top View

The status LEDs and buttons are located on the top of the router.

Figure 2. Router LEDs and buttons

Hardware Setup

Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router

Table 1. LED and button descriptions

DescriptionLED

Power

Internet

2.4 GHz WiFi

5 GHz WiFi

• 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.

• 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.

USB 3.0 port 1 and USB

3.0 port 2

eSATA

• Off.The 5 GHz WiFi radio is off.

• 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.

• Solid white. An eSATA device is connected and is ready.

• Blinking. An eSATA device is plugged in and is trying to connect.

• Off. No eSATA device is connected.

Hardware Setup

Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router

DescriptionLED

Ethernet ports 1–4

WiFi On/Off button with LED

WPS button with LED

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.

Pressing this button for two seconds turns the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz WiFi radios on and off. If this LED is lit, the WiFi radios are on. If this LED is off, the WiFi radios are turned off and you cannot

use WiFi to connect to the router.

This button lets you use WPS to join the WiFi network without typing the WiFi password.The WPS LED blinks white during this process and then lights solid white.

You can use the LED On/Off switch on the rear panel of the router to turn the LEDs on the top of the router on or off. See Turn the LEDs On or Off on page 12.

Rear Panel

The rear panel connections and buttons are shown in the following figure.

Figure 3. Router rear panel

Pressing the Reset button restores the factory settings. See Factory Settings on page 183>.

Hardware Setup

Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router

Turn the LEDs On or Off

To turn the LEDs on or off:

• Slide the LED On/Off switch on the rear panel to the On or Off position.

The Power LED stays lit even if the LED On/Off switch is in the Off position.

Attach the Antennas

The router comes with four antennas.

To attach the antennas:

1. To determine where to attach the antennas, match the labels on the antennas with the labels on the router.

2. Align the antennas with the antenna posts on the router.

3. Attach the antennas on the threaded antenna posts.

4. Position the antennas for the best WiFi performance.

We recommend that you position all of the antennas vertically, as shown.

Hardware Setup

Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router

USB Ports on the Left Panel

Two 3.0 USB ports are located on the left panel.

Figure 4. USB ports

eSATA Port on the Right Panel

An eSATA port is located on the right panel.

Figure 5. eSATA port

Hardware Setup

Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router

Connect an eSATA Device

To connect an eSATA device:

• Use an eSATA cable to connect your device to the eSATA port on the side of the router as shown.

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.

Additionally, other WiFi access points in and around y our 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

Hardware Setup

Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router

• 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

The following image shows how to cable your router:

Figure 6. Router cabling

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

Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router

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. Slide the LED On/Off switch on the rear panel to the On position.

6. Press the Power On/Off button on the rear panel of the router.

Hardware Setup

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 19

• Automatic Internet Setup on page 20

• Automatic Internet Setup With Two Routers on page 21

• Access the Router With NETGEAR genie Apps on page 23

Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router

Connect to the Network

You can connect to the router 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).

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 to one of the numbered Ethernet ports.

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 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.

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 label on the router.

3. Join the WiFi network and enter the WiFi password.

The password is on the label on the router.

Connect to the Network and Access the Router

Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router

Your WiFi device connects to the WiFi network.

Label

The product label shows the login information, WiFi netw ork name and network ke y (password), MAC address, and serial number.

Figure 7. 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 you cannot find this login inf ormation, 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 label on the router.

• Router login.This logs you in to the router interface from a web browser as admin.

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.

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.

Connect to the Network and Access the Router

Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router

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 enter the router's IP address in this

Note

format: http://192.168.1.1.The default IP address for the router is http://192.168.1.1. If the router detects a conflict with a WAN IP address, it changes its IP address to 10.0.0.1 or

172.16.5.1.The procedures in 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 passw or d.The user name and password are case-sensitiv e . The BASIC Home page displays.

Automatic Internet Setup

You can let the NETGEAR installation assistant set up your router automatically, or you can 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. If you are installing a new router on a network that already includes a router, see Automatic Internet Setup With Two Routers on page 21.

When your Internet service starts, y our 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.

The NETGEAR installation assistant runs on any device with a web browser . Installation and basic setup takes about 15 minutes to complete.

To use the NETGEAR installation assistant 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.

Connect to the Network and Access the Router

Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router

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 or if the the router is connected to another router or gateway:

• 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 the NETGEAR installation assistant detects that the router is connected to another router or gateway, you

are prompted to set up the router in router mode or access point mode. See Automatic Internet Setup With

Two Routers on page 21.

• 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 NETGEAR installation assistant guides you through connecting the router to the Internet.

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 You Cannot Access the Internet on page 177. If problems persist, register your 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.

Automatic Internet Setup With Two Routers

You can let the NETGEAR installation assistant set up your router automatically, or you can 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. If you are connecting only one router to your Internet connection, see Automatic Internet Setup on page 20.

Connect to the Network and Access the Router

Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi 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)

The NETGEAR installation assistant runs on any device with a web browser . Installation and basic setup takes about 15 minutes to complete.

To use the NETGEAR installation assistant to automatically set up your router on a network with another 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 or if the the router is connected to another router or gateway:

• 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 the NETGEAR installation assistant detects that the router is connected to another router or gateway, you

are prompted to set up the router in router mode or access point mode.

• 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. Select the Help Me Choose radio button or Let Me Choose radio button:

• Help Me Choose. If y ou select this radio button, the NETGEAR installation assistant asks y ou a few questions

to determine if you should set the router in router mode or access point mode.We recommend that you select the Help Me Choose radio button.

• Let Me Choose. If y ou select this radio b utton, you must select the Router Mode r adio button or the Access

Point Mode radio b utton.Y ou can change the mode by running the Setup Wizard again. F or more information,

see Use the Internet Setup Wizard on page 25.

5. Follow the onscreen instructions.

The NETGEAR installation assistant guides you through connecting the router to the Internet.

Connect to the Network and Access the Router

Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router

6. 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.

7. 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 You Cannot Access the Internet on page 177. If problems persist, register your 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.

Access the Router With 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

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 25

• Manually Set Up the Internet Connection on page 25

• Specify IPv6 Internet Connections on page 29

• Change the MTU Size on page 41

• Enable British Telcom IGMP Proxy Support on page 44

Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router

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 passw or d.The user name and password are case-sensitiv e . 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 25).

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

Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router

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 passw or d.The user name and password are case-sensitiv e . 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.

Specify Your Internet Settings

Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router

• 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:

• 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 You Cannot Access the Internet on page 177.

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 passw or d.The user name and password are case-sensitiv e . The BASIC Home page displays.

4. Select Internet.

Specify Your Internet Settings

Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router

5. For the Does your Internet connection require a login? setting, select the Yes radio button.

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:

Specify Your Internet Settings

Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router

• 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.

• 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 You Cannot Access the Internet on page 177.

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 passw or d.The user name and password are case-sensitiv e . The BASIC Home page displays.

4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > IPv6.

The IPv6 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 32

• Use Auto Config for an IPv6 Internet Connection on page 30

Specify Your Internet Settings

Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router

• Set Up an IPv6 6rd Internet Connection on page 33

• Set Up an IPv6 6to4 Tunnel Internet Connection on page 35

• Set Up an IPv6 Pass Through Internet Connection on page 36

• Set Up an IPv6 Fixed Internet Connection on page 37

• Set Up an IPv6 DHCP Internet Connection on page 38

• Set Up an IPv6 PPPoE Internet Connection on page 40

6. Click the Apply button.

Your settings are saved.

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 passw or d.The user name and password are case-sensitiv e . 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.

Specify Your Internet Settings

+ 155 hidden pages

NETGEAR Nighthawk X4S, R7800 User Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual