Netgear XR500 User Manual

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XR500 Nighthawk

Pro Gaming Router

User Manual

Model XR500

April 2018 202-11808-03

350 E. Plumeria Drive

San Jose, CA 95134

USA

XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router

Support

Thank you for purchasing this NETGEAR product. You can visit www.netgear.com/support 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 the current EU Declaration of Conformity, 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. Any non-NETGEAR trademarks are used for reference purposes only.

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Contents

Chapter 1 Hardware Setup

 

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

10

LEDs, Buttons, and Ports on the Front Panel, Top Panel, and Left Side Panel....

11

Rear Panel...........................................................................................................

13

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

14

Router Label........................................................................................................

15

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

15

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

17

Turn the LEDs On or Off Using the LED On/Off Switch.......................................

17

Chapter 2 Connect to the Network and Access the Router

 

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

20

Wired Connection............................................................................................

20

WiFi Connection..............................................................................................

20

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

20

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

21

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

21

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

21

Log In to the Router........................................................................................

22

Change the Language.....................................................................................

23

Install the Router With the NETGEAR Up App....................................................

23

Access the Router With the NETGEAR genie App..............................................

24

Chapter 3 Specify Your Internet Settings

 

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

26

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

26

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....................................................

29

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

30

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

31

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

32

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

33

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

35

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

35

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

36

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

38

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

39

Chapter 4 Customize Quality of Service Settings and Optimize Gaming

 

Improve Response Time by Using the Geo Filter................................................

43

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XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router

Configure and Use the Geo Filter....................................................................

43

Ping a Device and Allow or Deny the Device a Connection............................

45

Add a Device to the Geo Filter........................................................................

45

Remove a Device From the Geo Filter............................................................

46

Manage the General Geo Filter Map Settings.................................................

47

Manage Bandwidth Allocation..............................................................................

48

Prevent Network Congestion With Anti-Bufferbloat.........................................

48

Disable Anti-Bufferbloat...................................................................................

49

Allocate Bandwidth to Devices........................................................................

50

Reset the Bandwidth Distribution....................................................................

52

Manage Traffic Prioritization.................................................................................

52

Prioritize Traffic for a Device and View Prioritization Information.....................

52

Add a Device for Traffic Prioritization...............................................................

53

Stop Traffic Prioritization for a Device..............................................................

54

Disable Automatic Traffic Prioritization............................................................

55

Chapter 5 Monitor Devices and the Network and View Router Information

 

View and Manage Devices Currently on the Network..........................................

57

View Network Usage Information.........................................................................

58

View Router System Information..........................................................................

59

Customize the Dashboard...................................................................................

61

Chapter 6 Control Access to the Internet

 

Block Access to Internet Sites.............................................................................

64

Add Keywords and Block Access to Specific Internet Sites............................

64

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

65

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

65

Block Services and Applications With Simple Outbound Firewall Rules..............

66

Block a Service or Application From Accessing the Internet...........................

66

Change an Outbound Firewall Rule for a Service or Application....................

67

Remove an Outbound Firewall Rule for a Service or Application....................

68

Set Up a Schedule for Keyword Blocking and Outbound Firewall Rules.............

68

Set Up Email Notifications for Security Events and Log Messages.....................

69

Chapter 7 Manage the Router’s Network Settings

 

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

72

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

73

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

73

Change the Router’s LAN IP Address and RIP Settings......................................

74

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

75

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

76

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

77

Reserve a LAN IP Address.............................................................................

77

Change a Reserved IP Address......................................................................

78

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

78

Set Up a Bridge to Your ISP’s Network Using a Port Group or VLAN Tag Group..79

Set Up a Bridge to Your ISP’s Network Using a Port Group............................

79

Set Up a Bridge to Your ISP’s Network Using a VLAN Tag Group...................

80

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XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router

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

81

Manage Custom Static Routes............................................................................

82

Set Up a Static Route......................................................................................

83

Change a Static Route....................................................................................

83

Delete a Static Route......................................................................................

84

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

84

Chapter 8 Manage the Router’s WiFi Settings

 

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

87

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

89

Change the WiFi Mbps Mode for Download and Upload Speeds........................

90

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

90

Configure WPA/WPA2 Enterprise WiFi Security..................................................

91

Configure WEP Legacy WiFi Security..................................................................

93

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

94

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

94

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

95

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

95

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

96

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

97

Manage Implicit Beamforming.............................................................................

97

Manage Mu-MIMO...............................................................................................

98

Manage HT160 for 160 MHz WiFi Support..........................................................

99

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

99

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

100

Chapter 9 Maintain the Router

 

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

103

Check for New Firmware and Update the Router..........................................

103

Manually Upload Firmware to the Router......................................................

104

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

105

Enable admin Password Recovery....................................................................

106

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

106

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

107

Back Up the Configuration Settings..............................................................

107

Restore the Configuration Settings...............................................................

108

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

108

Manage Remote Access....................................................................................

109

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

109

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

110

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

110

Monitor and Meter Internet Traffic......................................................................

110

Start the Traffic Meter Without Traffic Volume Restrictions............................

110

Restrict Internet Traffic by Volume.................................................................

111

Restrict Internet Traffic by Connection Time..................................................

112

View the Internet Traffic Volume and Statistics..............................................

113

Unblock the Traffic Meter After the Traffic Limit Is Reached..........................

114

View and Manage the Router Activity Log.........................................................

114

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XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router

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

116

Check the Internet Connection Status, View Details, and Release and Renew the

Connection.........................................................................................................

116

Restart the Router From Its Web Interface........................................................

117

View Router Notifications...................................................................................

118

Disable or Enable LED Blinking or Turn Off LEDs.............................................

118

Chapter 10 Share USB Storage Devices Attached to the Router

 

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

121

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

121

Access a Storage Device Connected to the Router From a Windows-Based

 

Computer...........................................................................................................

121

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

122

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

123

Back Up Windows-Based Computers With ReadySHARE Vault.......................

123

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

124

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

124

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

125

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

125

Manage Access to a USB Storage Device.........................................................

126

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

128

Manage Network Folders on a USB Storage Device.........................................

128

View Network Folders on a USB Storage Device..........................................

128

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

129

Change a Network Folder on a USB Storage Device....................................

130

Approve USB Devices........................................................................................

130

Safely Remove a USB Storage Device..............................................................

131

Chapter 11 Use Dynamic DNS to Access USB Storage Devices Through the Internet

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

133

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

133

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

134

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

134

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

135

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

136

Access USB Storage Devices From a Remote Computer............................

136

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

136

Use FTP to Access Storage Devices Through the Internet...........................

137

Chapter 12 Use the Router as a Media Server

 

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

139

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

139

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

140

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

141

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

142

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XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router

Chapter 13 Share a USB Printer

 

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

144

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

144

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

144

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

145

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

146

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

146

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

147

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

147

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

147

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

148

Chapter 14 Use VPN to Access Your Network

 

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

150

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

150

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

151

Install OpenVPN Software on a Windows-Based Computer.........................

151

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

153

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

154

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

155

Use a VPN Tunnel on a Windows-Based Computer..........................................

155

Use VPN to Access the Router’s USB Storage Device and Media From a

 

Windows-Based Computer................................................................................

156

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

156

Allow VPN Client Internet Access in the Router............................................

157

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

157

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

158

Chapter 15 Use VPN to Access An External Network

 

Set Up a VPN Client Connection.......................................................................

160

Enable the VPN Client in the Router and Connect to a VPN Server..................

160

Disconnect the Router From the VPN Server....................................................

162

Chapter 16 Manage and Customize Internet Traffic Rules for Ports

 

Manage Port Forwarding to a Local Server for Services and Applications........

164

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

164

Add a Custom Port Forwarding Service or Application.................................

165

Change a Port Forwarding Service or Application........................................

166

Remove a Port Forwarding Service or Application........................................

166

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

167

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

167

Manage Port Triggering for Services and Applications......................................

167

Add a Port Triggering Service or Application.................................................

168

Enable Port Triggering and Specify the Time-Out Value................................

169

Change a Port Triggering Service or Application...........................................

169

Remove a Port Triggering Service or Application..........................................

170

Disable Port Triggering..................................................................................

171

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XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router

Application Example: Port Triggering for Internet Relay Chat........................

171

Chapter 17 Troubleshooting

 

Quick Tips..........................................................................................................

174

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

174

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

174

Check the Network Settings..........................................................................

174

Check the WiFi Settings................................................................................

174

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

174

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

175

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

175

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

175

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

175

WiFi LEDs Are Off.........................................................................................

176

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

176

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

176

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

178

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

178

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

178

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

179

Test the Path From a Windows-Based Computer to a Remote Device.........

179

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

180

Appendix A Supplemental Information

 

Factory Settings.................................................................................................

182

Technical Specifications.....................................................................................

184

8

Hardware Setup

1

 

This user manual is for the NETGEAR XR500 Nighthawk® Pro Gaming Router.

This chapter contains the following sections:

Unpack Your Router

LEDs, Buttons, and Ports on the Front Panel, Top Panel, and Left Side Panel

Rear Panel

Attach the Antennas

Router Label

Position Your Router

Cable Your Router

Turn the LEDs On or Off Using the LED On/Off Switch

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

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XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router

Unpack Your Router

Your package contains the XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router, the four antennas, the power adapter, and an Ethernet cable.

Figure 1. Package contents

Hardware Setup

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XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router

LEDs, Buttons, and Ports on the Front Panel, Top Panel, and Left Side Panel

The status LEDs are located on the front panel, two buttons with LEDs are located on the top panel, and two USB 3.0 ports are located on the left side panel of the router.

Figure 2. Front view

Table 1. LED descriptions

LED and Button

Description

Power LED

Solid amber. The router is starting.

 

Blinking amber. The firmware is upgrading, or the Reset button was pressed.

 

Solid white. The router is ready.

 

Solid amber. The firmware is corrupted.

 

Off. Power is not supplied to the router.

Internet LED

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.

Hardware Setup

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XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router

Table 1. LED descriptions (Continued)

LED and Button

Description

2.4 GHz WiFi LED

Solid white. The 2.4 GHz WiFi radio is operating.

 

Blinking white. The router is sending or receiving WiFi traffic.

 

Off. The 2.4 GHz WiFi radio is off.

5 GHz WiFi LED

Solid white. The 5 GHz WiFi radio is operating.

 

Blinking white. The router is sending or receiving WiFi traffic.

 

Off. The 5 GHz WiFi radio is off.

Guest WiFi LED

Solid white. The guest WiFi network is operating.

 

Blinking white. The router is sending or receiving WiFi traffic.

 

Off. The guest WiFi radio is off in both the 2.4 GHz band and the 5 GHz band.

USB 3.0 port 1 LED and USB Solid white. A USB device is connected and is ready.

3.0 port 2 LED

Blinking white. 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.

Ethernet LEDs for ports 1–4 The LED color indicates the speed: white for Gigabit Ethernet connections and

 

amber for 100 Mbps or 10 Mbps Ethernet connections.

 

Solid white. The router detected a 1 Gbps link with a powered-on device.

 

Blinking white. The port is sending or receiving traffic at 1 Gbps.

 

Solid amber. The router detected a 100 Mbps or 10 Mbps link with a powered-on

 

device.

 

Blinking amber. The port is sending or receiving traffic at 100 Mbps or 10 Mbps.

 

Off. No device is connected to this Ethernet port.

WiFi/On/Off button and LED

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.

WPS button and LED

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.

Note If the LED On/Off switch on the rear panel is moved to the Off position, all the LEDs except the Power LED are turned off.

Hardware Setup

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XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router

Rear Panel

The following figure shows the rear panel connectors and buttons.

Figure 3. Rear panel

Viewed from left to right, the rear panel contains the following components:

LED On/Off switch. If this switch is in the Off position, all the router’s LEDs, including the LEDs on the four active antennas, but not the Power LED, are turned off.

Reset button. Pressing the Reset button resets the router.

If you press the Reset button for up to 30 seconds or until the Power LED starts blinking amber, the router returns to its factory settings. For information about the factory settings, see Factory Settings on page 182.

One antenna connector.

Ethernet ports. Four Gigabit Ethernet RJ-45 LAN ports named Eth4 to Eth1. Use these ports to connect the router to LAN devices.

Internet port. One yellow Gigabit Ethernet RJ-45 WAN port to connect the router to an Internet modem such as a cable modem or DLS modem.

One antenna connector.

DC power connector. Connect the power adapter that came in the product package to the DC power connector.

Power On/Off button. Press the Power On/Off button to provide power to the router.

Hardware Setup

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XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router

Attach the Antennas

The router comes with four antennas. Attach two antennas to the rear panel and attach one antenna to each side panel.

Figure 4. Attach the antennas and position them for best WiFi performance

To attach the antennas:

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

2.Attach the antennas on the threaded antenna posts.

3.Position the antennas for the best WiFi performance.

We recommend that you position all of the antennas as shown in the previous figure. Position the antennas on the rear panel vertically and position the antennas on the side panels at a 45 degree angle.

Hardware Setup

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Netgear XR500 User Manual

XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router

Router Label

The router label on the top panel of the router shows the login information, WiFi Network Name (SSID), network key (password), serial number, and MAC address.

Figure 5. Router label

Figure 6. Location of the router label

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.

To take full advantage of the 11ad advanced feature, your router must be placed within 20 feet and within line of sight of the 11ad enabled device that you are connecting to it.

Hardware Setup

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XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router

In addition, 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

-5 GHz cordless phone

Place the router away from large metal surfaces, large glass surfaces, insulated walls, and items such as these:

-Solid metal door

-Aluminum studs

-Fish tanks

-Mirrors

-Brick

-Concrete

The following factors might limit the range of your WiFi:

The thickness and number of walls the WiFi signal passes through.

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.

Hardware Setup

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XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router

Cable Your Router

Power on your router and connect it to a modem.

Figure 7. Cable your router

To cable your router:

1.Unplug your modem, remove and reinsert the backup battery if it uses one, and then plug the modem back in.

2.Use the Ethernet cable to connect the modem to the yellow Internet port on the router.

Note If your Internet connection does not require a modem, connect your main Ethernet cable to the yellow Internet port on the router.

3.Connect the power adapter to your router and plug the power adapter into an outlet.

4.Press the Power On/Off button on the rear panel of the router. The router’s Power LED lights solid white when the router is ready.

Turn the LEDs On or Off Using the LED On/Off Switch

You can turn off the router LEDs using the LED On/Off switch on the rear panel of the router. Note that the Power LED stays lit even if the LED On/Off switch is in the Off position.

Note You can also log in to the router to disable or enable LED blinking or turn off the LEDs (see Disable or Enable LED Blinking or Turn Off LEDs on page 118).

Hardware Setup

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XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router

To turn the LEDs on or off using the LED On/Off switch:

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

Hardware Setup

18

Connect to the Network and Access the

2

Router

You can connect to the router’s WiFi networks or use a wired Ethernet connection. This chapter describes the ways you can connect and how to access the router and log in.

The chapter contains the following sections:

Connect to the Network

Types of Logins

Use a Web Browser to Access the Router

Install the Router With the NETGEAR Up App

Access the Router With the NETGEAR genie App

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XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router

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 provides four Ethernet ports.

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 an Ethernet port on the router. Your computer connects to the local area network (LAN).

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 mobile device, find and select the WiFi network. The WiFi network name is on the router label.

3.Join the WiFi network and enter the WiFi password. The password is on the router label.

Your WiFi mobile connects to the WiFi network.

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 mobile device.

3.Press the WPS button on the router.

4.Within two minutes, on your computer or mobile device, press its WPS button or follow its instructions for WPS connections.

Your computer or mobile device connects to the WiFi network.

Connect to the Network and Access the Router

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XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router

Types of Logins

Separate types of logins serve different purposes. It is important that you understand the difference so that you know 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 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 web 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), you 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 information 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 automatically set up your router:

1.Make sure that the router is powered on.

2.Make sure that your computer or mobile device is connected to the router with an Ethernet cable (wired) or over WiFi with the preset security settings listed on the label.

Note If you want to change the router’s WiFi settings, use a wired connection to avoid being disconnected when the new WiFi settings take effect.

Connect to the Network and Access the Router

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XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router

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 instructions on the page. The router connects to the Internet.

Note During the setup process, you are required to change the default router password. The ideal secure password contains no dictionary words from any language and contains uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. The password can be up to 30 characters.

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 176. 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 ReadySHARE Vault®app.

Log In to the Router

After you automatically set up your router (see Automatic Internet Setup on page 21), the next time that you connect to your router and launch a web browser, the browser automatically displays the router web interface. If you want to view or change settings for the router later, you can use a browser to log in to the router web interface.

To log in to the router:

1.Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network.

2.Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.

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Note You can also enter http://www.routerlogin.com or http://192.168.1.1.The procedures in this manual use http://www.routerlogin.net.

A login window opens.

3.Enter the router admin user name and password.

The router admin user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive.

The Dashboard displays. By default, the Dashboard shows the following panes:

Internet Status

Wireless Status

Guest Wireless Status

Network Overview

CPU Usage

Installed R-Apps

For information about these panes, see View Router System Information on page 59.

For information about how you can change the panes that are shown on the Dashboard, see Customize the Dashboard on page 61.

Change the Language

By default, the language is set to Auto.

To change the language:

1.Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile 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 Dashboard displays.

4.In the upper right corner, click the globe icon and select a language from the Language menu. The page refreshes with the language that you selected.

Install the Router With the NETGEAR Up App

With the NETGEAR Up app, you can easily install your router. The app automatically updates the router to the latest firmware, allows you to personalize your WiFi network, and even helps register your router with NETGEAR.

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The NETGEAR Up app is available for iOS and Android mobile devices.

To install your router using the NETGEAR Up app:

1.Cable your router.

For more information, see Cable Your Router on page 17.

2.On your iOS or Android mobile device, go to the app store, search for NETGEAR Up, and download the app.

3.On your iOS or Android mobile device, tap Settings > Wi-Fi and find and connect to your router’s WiFi network.

Your router’s WiFi network name (SSID) and network key (password) are on the router label.

4.Launch the NETGEAR Up app on your mobile device.

5.Follow the instructions that display on the app to install your router and connect to the Internet.

Access the Router With the NETGEAR genie App

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 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 netgear.com/genie.

2.Follow the instructions on the page to install the app on your smartphone, tablet, or computer.

3.Launch the genie app.

The genie app dashboard displays.

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Specify Your Internet Settings

3

 

Usually, the quickest way to set up the router to use your Internet connection is to allow the installation assistant to detect the Internet connection when you first access the router with a web browser (see Automatic Internet Setup on page 21). You can also customize or specify your Internet settings.

This chapter contains the following sections:

Use the Internet Setup Wizard

Manually Set Up the Internet Connection

Specify IPv6 Internet Connections

Change the MTU Size

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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 mobile device that is connected to the router network.

2.Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens.

3.Enter the router admin user name and password.

The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive.

The Dashboard displays.

4.Select Settings > Setup > Setup Wizard. The Setup Wizard page displays.

5.Select the Yes radio button.

If you select the No radio button, after you click the Next button, you are taken to the Internet Setup page (see Manually Set Up the Internet Connection on page 26).

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 an Internet Connection Without a Login

To specify the Internet connection settings:

1.Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to therouter network.

2.Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens.

3.Enter the router admin user name and password.

The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive.

The Dashboard displays.

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4.Select Settings > Internet Setup. The Internet Setup page displays.

5.In the Does your Internet connection require a login? section, leave the No radio button selected.

6.If your Internet connection requires an account name or host name, click the Edit button in the Account Name section and enter the account name.

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:

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 176.

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 mobile device that is connected to the router network.

2.Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens.

3.Enter the router admin user name and password.

The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive.

The Dashboard displays.

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4.Select Settings > Internet Setup. The Internet Setup page displays.

5.In the Does your Internet connection require a login? section, 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 period 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.

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 176.

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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 mobile device that is connected to the router network.

2.Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens.

3.Enter the router admin user name and password.

The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive.

The Dashboard displays.

4.Select Settings > Advanced Settings > IPv6. The IPv6 page displays.

5.From the Internet Connection Type menu, select the IPv6 connection type:

If you are not sure, select Auto Detect so that the router detects the IPv6 type that is in use. For more information, see Use Auto Detect for an IPv6 Internet Connection on page 30.

If your Internet connection does not use PPPoE or DHCP, or is not fixed, but is IPv6, select Auto Config.

For more information, see Use Auto Config for an IPv6 Internet Connection on page 31.

For information about the other IPv6 connection types that the router supports, see the following sections:

Set Up an IPv6 6to4 Tunnel Internet Connection on page 32

Set Up an IPv6 6rd Internet Connection on page 33

Set Up an IPv6 Pass Through Internet Connection on page 35

Set Up an IPv6 Fixed Internet Connection on page 35

Set Up an IPv6 DHCP Internet Connection on page 36

Set Up an IPv6 PPPoE Internet Connection on page 38

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

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Use Auto Detect for an IPv6 Internet Connection

To set up an IPv6 Internet connection through autodetection:

1.Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network.

2.Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens.

3.Enter the router admin user name and password.

The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive.

The Dashboard displays.

4.Select Settings > Advanced Settings > IPv6. The IPv6 page displays.

5.From the Internet Connection Type menu, select Auto Detect. The page adjusts.

The router automatically detects the information in the following fields:

Connection Type. This field indicates the connection type that is detected.

Router’s IPv6 Address on WAN. This field shows the IPv6 address that is acquired for the router’s WAN (or Internet) interface. The number after the slash (/) is the length of the prefix, which is also indicated by the underline (_) under the IPv6 address. If no address is acquired, the field displays Not Available.

Router’s IPv6 Address on LAN. This field shows the IPv6 address that is acquired for the router’s LAN interface. The number after the slash (/) is the length of the prefix, which is also indicated by the underline (_) under the IPv6 address. If no address is acquired, the field displays Not Available.

6.Select an IP Address Assignment radio button:

Use DHCP Server. This method passes more information to LAN devices but some IPv6 systems might not support the DHCv6 client function.

Auto Config. This is the default setting.

This setting specifies how the router assigns IPv6 addresses to the devices on your home network (the LAN).

7.(Optional) Select the Use This Interface ID check box and specify the interface ID to be used for the IPv6 address of the router’s LAN interface.

If you do not specify an ID here, the router generates one automatically from its MAC address.

8.Select an IPv6 Filtering radio button:

Secured. In secured mode, which is the default mode, the router inspects both TCP and UDP packets.

Open. In open mode, the router inspects UDP packets only.

9.Click the Apply button. Your settings are saved.

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