Netgear WNDR4500v1 User Manual

N900 Wireless Dual Band Gigabit Router WNDR4500

Setup Manual

NETGEAR, Inc.

350 E. Plumeria Drive San Jose, CA 95134 USA

November 20101 208-107xx-xx v1.0

Trademarks

NETGEAR and the NETGEAR logo are registered trademarks, and Smart Wizard is a trademark of NETGEAR. Inc. Microsoft, Windows, and Windows NT are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Other brand and product names are registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective holders.

Statement of Conditions

In the interest of improving internal design, operational function, and/or reliability, NETGEAR reserves the right to make changes to the products described in this document without notice.

NETGEAR does not assume any liability that may occur due to the use or application of the product(s) or circuit layout(s) described herein.

Contents

N900 Wireless Dual Band Gigabit Router WNDR4500 Setup Manual

Getting to Know Your Wireless Router................................................................................1

Unpacking Your New Wireless Router ..............................................................................1

Hardware Features ............................................................................................................2

Front Panel ..................................................................................................................3

Back Panel ..................................................................................................................5

Router Label ................................................................................................................6

Positioning Your Wireless Router ......................................................................................6

Installing Your Wireless Router .........................................................................................7

Updating Your Router Firmware ........................................................................................8

Installing Your Wireless Router Using

Smart Wizard ...........................................................................................................................9

Installing Your Wireless Router Manually (Advanced and Linux Users)........................11

Connecting Your N900 Wireless Gigabit Router .............................................................11

Verifying Your Connection ...............................................................................................14

Setting Up Your Router for Internet Access ....................................................................15

Configuring Your Wireless Network...................................................................................19

Accessing Your Router After Installation and Checking for New Firmware .....................19

Configuring Your Wireless Settings and Security Options ..............................................20

Setting Your SSID and Wireless Security Manually ..................................................20

Using Push 'N' Connect (WPS) to Configure Your Wireless Network .......................23

Testing Basic Wireless Connectivity ................................................................................24

Troubleshooting...................................................................................................................26

Basic Setup Checklist ......................................................................................................26

Checking Basic Router Functions ...................................................................................27

Troubleshooting Login Problems .....................................................................................29

Contents iii

Checking the Internet Service Connection ......................................................................30

Obtaining an Internet IP Address ..............................................................................30

Troubleshooting PPPoE ............................................................................................31

Troubleshooting Internet Browsing ...........................................................................32

Troubleshooting Connectivity Using the Ping Utility ........................................................32

Testing the Path from a PC to Your Router ..............................................................32

Testing the Path from a PC to the Internet ................................................................33

Technical Specifications .....................................................................................................35

Default Configuration Settings .........................................................................................35

Restoring the Default Password and Configuration Settings ...........................................38

Related Documents .............................................................................................................39

Registration and Certifications............................................................................................40

Contents iv

Installing Your Wireless Router

To help you set up your router and get on the Internet quickly, the Resource CD contains a Smart

Wizard™. The Smart Wizard walks you through the steps required to connect your router and PC(s); configure your internet settings; configure your wireless settings; and enable wireless security for your network. When you have finished, you will be Internet ready!

If you have a Linux system, you need to use the manual installation method (see

“Installing Your Wireless Router Manually (Advanced and Linux Users)” on page 11).

You can set up your N750 wireless gigabit router using one of two methods:

• Smart Wizard Setup: The Smart Wizard setup is available on your Resource CD. See

“Installing Your Wireless Router Using Smart Wizard” on page 9 to use the Smart Wizard.

– This is the easiest option. The wizard guides you through the setup process. It automates

many of the steps and verifies that the steps have been successfully completed.

– Smart Wizard requires a PC running Microsoft Windows or a Mac.

Before running the Smart Wizard on a corporate PC to set up your home router, check with your company’s network support staff. Corporate network settings or Virtual Private Network (VPN) client software may conflict with the default settings of a home router. If you are unsure about whether there might be a conflict, use a different computer.

• Manual Setup: If you cannot or prefer not to use the Smart Wizard, see “Installing Your

Wireless Router Manually (Advanced and Linux Users)” on page 11. For example, if you are

using a Linux operating system or are technically knowledgeable, select this option. If you choose to use this option and install your router manually, for best results, install and set up your router in this order:

1. Install and connect your wireless router to your network (see “Connecting Your N750

Wireless Gigabit Router” on page 11).

2. Set up your wireless router for Internet access (see “Setting Up Your Router for Internet

Access” on page 15).

3. Configure your wireless network and select wireless security settings to protect your

wireless network (see “Configuring Your Wireless Network” on page 19).

Getting to Know Your Wireless Router 7

Updating Your Router Firmware

NETGEAR is always improving the operability and features included with your router. To make it easy for you to receive the best, most up-to-date features of your router, NETGEAR provides a variety of methods for updating your product.

• The Smart Wizard installation assistant lets you check for and install updates as part of the setup activity.

• The router includes an update feature that lets you check for and install updates. You must be

logged in to the router to use this feature (see the Reference Manual for details).

These options are discussed in “Installing Your Wireless Router Manually (Advanced and Linux

Users)” on page 11.

Getting to Know Your Wireless Router 8

Installing Your Wireless Router Using

Smart Wizard

Prepare the following before you set up your router, making sure that:

• You are using a computer with either a Mac operating system or a Windows operating system (Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows 2000, or Windows XP with Service Pack 2 or above).

• You have an Internet service connection through an Internet Service Provider (ISP).

• Your PC has a wired Ethernet connection (not a wireless connection).

• For cable modem service, that you use the computer you first used to set up your Internet service.

The NETGEAR Smart Wizard takes you through the procedure to connect your router and PC(s). It then helps you to configure your wireless settings and enable wireless security for your network. The Smart Wizard guides you through the setup and configuration process by automating many of the steps. At each step in the setup process, the Smart Wizard checks to ensure that the steps you perform are successfully completed.

The wizard setup process takes about 20 minutes to complete.

To set up your router using the Smart Wizard:

1. To start the Smart Wizard:

• For Windows users,

– Insert the Resource CD into your PC. The CD will automatically start and detect the

language you are using on your PC. Select a different language option, if you prefer.

If the CD does not automatically start, browse the CD and double-click

on .

– In the CD’s menu, click Setup to start the Smart Wizard.

• For Mac users, double-click the MacWizard program.

2. When the Smart Wizard prompts you to Check for Firmware Updates, click Yes to check the

NETGEAR website for new router firmware; or check No to check for updates later (see

“Accessing Your Router After Installation and Checking for New Firmware” on page 19).

Installing Your Wireless Router Using Smart Wizard 9

3. Follow the instructions and prompts to complete the installation.

The Smart Wizard guides you through installing your router, connecting your router to the Internet, configuring your wireless network settings, and selecting the optimum security protection for your network. If you choose not to select a security option during installation, you can always access the router’s user interface later to select a security option (see “Setting

Your SSID and Wireless Security Manually” on page 20 or “Using Push 'N' Connect (WPS) to Configure Your Wireless Network” on page 23).

To ensure optimum performance of your high-speed wireless router, the wireless adapter card for each computer in your network should support the

same technology as your router (see the online User Manual for more

information).

At the close of installation:

• For Windows users, the Smart Wizard places a Router_Setup.html file on your

computer’s desktop so that you can view the router settings. It also places the Router Login shortcut on the desktop for you to access the router’s main menu.

• For Mac users, the Smart Wizard places a Router_Setup.pdf file on your desktop.

You are now connected to the Internet!

After connecting to the Internet, you can:

• Log in to the router and check for new firmware. Refer to the bottom label for the default login information, or see the steps in “Accessing Your Router After Installation and Checking for

New Firmware” on page 19.

• Set up additional wireless computers in your network for Internet access (see “Configuring

Your Wireless Settings and Security Options” on page 20).

For advanced features not covered in this manual, see the Reference Manual on your Resource CD. A link to the online Reference Manual also is available from the router interface.

The factory default state is restored when you use the restore factory settings button. See “Restoring the Default Password and Configuration Settings” on page 38 for more information about this feature.

Installing Your Wireless Router Using Smart Wizard 10

Installing Your Wireless Router Manually

(Advanced and Linux Users)

Before installing and connecting your router manually, review the list below and make sure that you have all of the necessary information.

• A DSL or cable service connection to an Internet Service Provider (ISP).

• The configuration information your ISP gave you. Depending on how your Internet account was set up, you might need the following information to set up your N750 wireless gigabit router and access the Internet:

– Host and Domain Name

– Internet Login Name and Password (frequently an email address and password)

– Domain Name Server (DNS) Addresses

– Fixed or Static IP Address

Your ISP should have provided you with all the information needed to connect to the Internet. If you cannot locate this information, contact your ISP.

If you have not already done so:

• Check the package contents of your router to ensure that it is complete (see “Unpacking Your

New Wireless Router” on page 1”).

• Select an optimum location for your N750 wireless gigabit router after reviewing the guidelines presented in “Positioning Your Wireless Router” on page 6.”

Connecting Your N750 Wireless Gigabit Router

Before you install your N750 wireless gigabit router, make sure that the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) Property settings on your computer are set to “automatically obtain an IP address” using DHCP and “Obtain DNS server address automatically.” You can check these settings by looking at the TCP/IP Properties of your Internal Network Connections, which are accessible through the

Installing Your Wireless Router Manually (Advanced and Linux Users) 11

Control Panel of your computer. If you are unsure about this, refer to the documentation for your computer or see the link to TCP/IP Addressing in “Related Documents” on page 39.

If you are replacing an existing router, disconnect it completely from your network and set it aside before starting to install your new router.

There are two steps to setting up your N750 wireless gigabit router:

1. Connect the router to the ADSL or cable modem, and connect a computer to the router.

2. Configure the router to use your Internet service.

To connect your N750 wireless gigabit router:

1. Connect the N750 wireless gigabit router, the computer, and the modem.

a. Turn off your computer.

b. Turn off and unplug the cable or ADSL broadband modem. If your modem has a backup

battery, remove it as well.

c. Locate the Ethernet cable (1) that connects your computer to the modem.

Figure 5

2. Disconnect the cable from the modem (2). You will connect it to the router later.

3. Locate the Ethernet cable that came with the NETGEAR product. Securely insert that Ethernet

cable into your modem and into the Internet port of the N750 wireless gigabit router (3).

Installing Your Wireless Router Manually (Advanced and Linux Users) 12

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