NETGEAR WPN824 User Manual

Reference Manual for the RangeMax Wireless Router WPN824

NETGEAR, Inc.

4500 G reat A m erica P arkway Santa Clara, CA 950 54 U SA

2 02-1 0072-01 March 2005

202-10072-01, March 2005

NETGEAR 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. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Compliance Notice: Radio Frequency Notice

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to  part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:

• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.

• Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.

• Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected.

• Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help. EN 55 022 Declaration of Conformance

This is to certify that the RangeMax Wireless Router WPN824 is shielded against the generation of radio interference in accordance with the application of Council Directive 89/336/EEC, Article 4a. Conformity is declared by the application of EN 55 022 Class B (CISPR 22).

Bestätigung des Herstellers/Importeurs Es wird hiermit bestätigt, daß das RangeMax Wireless Router WPN824 gemäß der im BMPT-AmtsblVfg 243/1991 und

Vfg 46/1992 aufgeführten Bestimmungen entstört ist. Das vorschriftsmäßige Betreiben einiger Geräte (z.B. Te stsender) kann jedoch gewissen Beschränkungen unterliegen. Lesen Sie dazu bitte die Anmerkungen in der Betriebsanleitung.

Das Bundesamt für Zulassungen in der Telekommunikation wurde davon unterrichtet, daß dieses Gerät auf den Markt gebracht wurde und es ist berechtigt, die Serie auf die Erfüllung der Vorschriften hin zu überprüfen.

Certificate of the Manufacturer/Importer It is hereby certified that the RangeMax Wireless Router WPN824 has been suppressed in accordance with the

conditions set out in the BMPT-AmtsblVfg 243/1991 and Vfg 46/1992. The operation of some equipment (for example, test transmitters) in accordance with the regulations may, however, be subject to certain restrictions. Please refer to the notes in the operating instructions.

Federal Office for Telecommunications Approvals has been notified of the placing of this equipment on the market and has been granted the right to test the series for compliance with the regulations.

202-10072-01, March 2005

Voluntary Control Council for Interference (VCCI) Statement This equipment is in the second category (information equipment to be used in a residential area or an adjacent area

thereto) and conforms to the standards set by the Voluntary Control Council for Interference by Data Processing Equipment and Electronic Office Machines aimed at preventing radio interference in such residential areas.

When used near a radio or TV receiver, it may become the cause of radio interference. Read instructions for correct handling.

Customer Support Refer to the Support Information Card that shipped with your RangeMax Wireless Router WPN824.

World Wide Web NETGEAR maintains a World Wide Web home page that you can access at the universal resource locator (URL)

http://www.netgear.com. A direct connection to the Internet and a Web browser such as Internet Explorer or Netscape are required.

Product and Publication Details

Model Number: WPN824 Publication Date: March 2005 Product Family: rou ter Product Name: RangeMax Wireless Router WPN824 Home or Business Product: Home Language: English Publication Part Number: 202-1 0072-01

202-10072-01, March 2005

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Contents

Chapter 1  About This Manual

Audience, Scope, Co nventions, and Formats ................................................................1-1

How to Use This M anual ................................................................................................1-2

How to Print this M anual .................................................................................................1-3

Chapter 2  Introduction

Key Features ..................................................................................................................2-1

RangeMax™ M ulti-In , M ulti-Out (M IM O) Technology ............................ ... ... .... ... ... ..2-2

802.11g Wireless Networking ...................................................................................2-2

A P owerful, True Firewall with Content Filtering ......................................................2-3

Security ....................................................................................................................2-3

Autosensing Ethernet Connections with Auto Uplink ...............................................2-4

Extensive Protocol Support ......................................................................................2-4

Easy Installation and M anagement ..........................................................................2-5

M aintenance and Support ......... ... ... ... .... ... ... ... ... .... ... ... .......................................... ..2-5

NE TGEAR Related Products ..........................................................................................2-6

Package Contents ..........................................................................................................2-6

The R outer’s Front Panel .........................................................................................2-6

The R outer’s Rear Panel .........................................................................................2-7

A R oad M ap for ‘How to Get There From H ere’ .............................................................2-8

Chapter 3  Connecting the Router to the Internet

Prepare to Install Your W ireless Router ..........................................................................3-1

First, Use the Smart W izard to Configure the Wireless Router ......................................3-2

Now, Set U p a Computer for Wireless Connectivity .......................................................3-3

Troubleshooting Tips ......................................................................................................3-4

Overview of How to Access the Wireless Router ...........................................................3-5

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H ow to L og O n to th e W ire le ss R ou te r A fte r 

Configuration Settings Have Been Applied ..............................................................3-6

How to B ypass the Configuration Assistant ........................................... ... ... .... ... ... ..3-8

How to Manually Configure Your Internet Connection .................. ... ... .... ... ... ... ... .... ... ... ..3-9

Using the Smart Setup Wizard .....................................................................................3-11

NE TGEAR Product Registration, Support, and D ocumentation ...................................3-12

Chapter 4  Wireless Configuration

Observe Performance, Placement, and Range Guidelines .................... ... ... ... ... .... ... ... ..4-1

Implement Appropriate W ireless Security ......................................................................4-2

Understanding Wireless Settings ...................................................................................4-4

Information to Gather Before Changing Basic Wireless Settings ............................. 4-7

D efault Factory Settings ...........................................................................................4-8

How to Set U p and Test Basic Wireless Connectivity ..............................................4-8

How to Configure WEP ..........................................................................................4-10

How to Configure WPA-P SK Wireless Security ............................................................4-12

How to Restrict W ireless Access by MAC Address ......................................................4-13

Chapter 5  Content Filtering

Content Filtering Overview .............................................................................................5-1

Blocking Access to Internet Sites ...................................................................................5-2

Blocking Access to Internet Services .............................................................................5-3

Configuring a User D efined Service ....................................... ... ... .... ... ... ... ... .... ... ... ..5-4

Configuring Services Blocking by IP Address Range ..............................................5-5

Scheduling When Blocking Will Be Enforced .................................................................5-5

Viewing Logs of W eb A ccess or A ttem pted W eb Access ...............................................5-6

Configuri ng E-Mail Alert and W eb Access Log N otifications ..........................................5-7

Chapter 6  Maintenance

Viewing Wireless Router Status Information ...................................................................6-1

Viewing a List of Attached D evices .................................................................................6-5

Configuration File Managem ent ......... ... ... .... ................................... ... .... ... ... ... ... .... ... ... ..6 -6

Restoring and Backing Up the Configuration ........................................................... 6-6

Erasing the Configuration .........................................................................................6-7

Upgrading the Router Software ....................................... ... ... .........................................6 -7

Changing the Administrator Password ...........................................................................6-9

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Chapter 7  Troubleshooting

Basic Functioning ...........................................................................................................7-1

Power Light N ot O n ..................................................................................................7-1

Lights N eve r Turn Off ...............................................................................................7-2

LAN or WAN P ort Lights Not On ..............................................................................7-2

Troubleshooting the Web Configuration Interface ..........................................................7-3

Troubleshooting the ISP Connection ..............................................................................7-4

Troubleshooting a TCP/IP N etwork Using a Ping U tility .................................................7-5

Testing the LAN P ath to Your Router .......................................................................7-5

Testing the Path from Your Computer to a Remote D evice ................................ .....7-6

Restoring the D efault Configuration and Password ........................................................7-7

Problems with D ate and Time .........................................................................................7-8

Chapter 8  Advanced Configuration of the Router

Configuring Advanced W ireless Settings .......................................................................8-1

Wireless Card Access List .......................................................................................8-3

Wireless Card Access Setup ....................................................................................8-4

Configuring Port Triggering and Port Forwarding ......................... ... ... .... ... ... ... ... .... ... ... ..8-5

Configuring Port Forwarding to Local Servers ................................................................8-8

Adding a Custom Service ............................................. ... .... ... ... ... .... ... ... ... ... .... ........ 8-9

Editing or D eleting a Port Forwarding Entry ...........................................................8-10

Local Web and FTP Server E xample .....................................................................8-10

M ultiple Computers for H alf Life, KALI or Quake III Example ................................8-10

Configuring the WAN Setup Options ............................................................................8-11

Connect Automatically, as R equired ......................................................................8-11

D isabling the SPI Firewall ......................................................................................8-12

Setting Up a D efault D M Z Server ...........................................................................8-12

Responding to Ping on Internet WAN P ort .............................................................8-12

Setting the M TU Size ...................................... ... .... ... ... ... .... ... ... ... .... ... ... ... ... ..........8-13

Using the LAN IP Setup Options ..................................................................................8-13

Configuring LAN TCP/IP Setup Parameters ..........................................................8-14

Using the Router as a D HCP server ......................................................................8-15

Using Address Reservation ....................................................................................8-16

Using a D ynamic DN S Service .....................................................................................8-16

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Configuring Static Routes .............................................................................................8-17

Enabling Remote M anagement Access .......................................................................8-19

Using Universal Plug and Play (UP nP) ........................................................................ 8-20

Appendix A  Technical Specifications

Appendix B  Network, Routing, Firewall, and Basics

Related Publications ...................................................................................................... B-1

Basic Router Concepts .................................................................................................. B-1

What is a Router? ................................................................................................... B-1

Routing Information Protocol ........................................................ .... ... ... ... ... ........... B-2

IP Addresses and the Internet ............................... ... .... ... ... ... .... ... ... ... .... ... ... ................. B-2

Netm ask ....................................... ................................................................ ...........B -4

Subnet Addressing .................................................................................................. B-4

Private IP Addresses ........................................................................ ... ... ... ... .... ... ... . B-7

Single IP Address Operation Using NAT ....................................................................... B-7

M AC Addresses and Address Resolution Protocol ................................................. B-8

Related D ocuments ................................................................................................. B-9

D omain Name Server .............................................................................................. B-9

IP Configu ration by D HC P ........................ .... ... ... ... ... .... ... ... ... .... ... ... ... .... ... ... ... ... .... ... .. B-10

Internet Security and Firewalls .................................................................................... B-10

What is a Firewall? ................................................................................................ B-10

Stateful Packet Inspection ............................... ... ... ... .... ... ... ... .... ... ... ... ... .... ... ...B-11

D enial of Service Attack ..................................................................................B-11

Ethernet Cabling .................................... ... .... ... ... ... ... .... ... ... ... .... ... ................................B-11

Category 5 Cable Quality ...................................................................................... B-12

Inside Twisted Pair Cab les ................................. .... ... ... ... .... ... ... ... .... ... ... ... ... .... ... .. B-13

Uplink Switches, Crossover Cables, and M D I/M D IX Switching ............................ B -14

Appendix C  Preparing Your Network

What You N eed To Use a Router with a Broadband M odem ......................................... C-1

Cabling and Computer Hardware ............................................................................ C-1

Computer N etwork Configuration Requirements ............................. ... ... ... ... .... ... ... . C-1

Internet Configuration Requirements ...................................................................... C-2

Where D o I Get the Internet Configuration Parameters? ........................................C-2

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Record Your Internet Connection Information ......................................................... C-3

Preparing Your Computers for TCP/IP N etworking ................................... ... ... ... .... ... .... C-3

Configuring Windows 95, 98, and M e for TCP/IP N etworking ...................... ... ... .... ... ... . C-4

Install or Verify W indows Networking Components .................................................C-4

E n ab li n g D H C P to A u tom a tica lly C on fig u re T C P /I P S e ttin gs 

in Windows 95B, 98, and M e .................................... ... ... .... ... ... ... .... ... ....................C-6

Selecting Windows’ Internet Access Method .......................................................... C-8

Verifyi ng TCP /IP P roperties .................................................................................... C-8

C onfiguring W indows N T4, 2000 or XP for IP N etworking ................................. ........... C -9

Install or Verify W indows Networking Components .................................................C-9

D H C P C onfiguration of TC P /IP in W ind ows XP, 2000, or N T4 ............................. C -1 0

D HC P Configuration of TCP /IP in Windows XP ................................................... C-10

D H C P C onfiguration of TC P /IP in W indows 2000 ................................................C-1 2

D HC P Configuration of TCP /IP in Windows NT4 ..................................................C-15

Verifying TCP /IP P roperties for W indows XP, 2000, and N T4 .................. ............ C -1 7

Configuring the M acintosh for TCP /IP Networking ......................................................C-18

M acOS 8.6 or 9.x ...................................... ... ... ... .... ... ... ... .... .................................. C-18

M acOS X ...................... ... ... ... .... ... ... ... .... ... ... .......................................... ... ... .... ... .. C-18

Verifying TCP /IP Properties for M acintosh Computers .........................................C-19

Verifying the Readiness of Your Internet Account ....................................................... C-20

Are Login Protocols Used? ...................................................................................C-20

What Is Your Configuration Information? .............................................................. C-20

Obtaining ISP Configuration Information for W ind ows C om pu ters ....................... C -21

Obtaining ISP Configuration Information for M acintosh C om p uters ..................... C -22

Restarting the N etwork ................................................................................................ C-23

Appendix D  Wireless Networking Basics

Wireless Networking Overview .............. ... .... ... ... ... ... .... ... ... ... .... ... ... ... .... ... ... ... ... .... ... ... . D -1

Infrastructure M ode .................................................................................................D -1

Ad H oc Mode (Peer-to-P eer Workgroup) ................................................................D -2

Network Name: Extended Service Set Identification (ESSID ) ................................D -2

Authentication and W EP D ata Encryption ....................... ... ... .... ... ... ... .... ... ... ... ... .... ... ... . D -2

802.11 Authentication .............................................................................................. D -3

Op en System Authentication ..................................................... ... .... ... ... .................D -3

Shared Key Authentication ........................................ .......................................... ... . D -4

Overview of W EP P arameters ................................................................................D -5

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Key Size .................................................................................................................. D -6

WE P Configuration Options ............ ... .... ... ... ... ... .... ... ... ... .... ... ................................. D -7

Wireless Channels .............................................................. ... .... ... ................................. D -7

WPA and WPA2 Wireless Security ................................................................................ D -8

How Does WPA Compare to WE P? ........................................................................D -9

How Does WPA Compare to WPA2 (IEEE 802.11i)? ............................................ D -1 0

What are the Key Features of WPA and WPA2 Security? ....................................D -10

WPA/WPA2 Authentication: Enterprise-level User 

Authentication via 802.1x/E AP and R AD IU S .................................................. D -12

WPA/WPA2 D ata Encryption Key M anagement ............................................. D -14

Is WPA/WPA2 Perfect? ................................ ... ... .... ... ... ... .... ... ... ... .... ... ... ... ... .... ... .. D -16

Product Support for W PA/WPA2 ........................................................................... D -16

Supporting a Mixture of WPA, WPA2, and WEP 

Wireless Clients is D iscouraged ...................................... ... ... .... ... ... ... ... .... ... .. D -16

Changes to Wirele ss Access Points ............................................................... D -17

Changes to Wireless Network Adapters ......................................................... D -17

Changes to Wireless Client Programs ............................................................ D -18

Glossary

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Chapter 1

About This Manual

This chapter describes the intended audience, scope, conventions, and formats of this manual.

Audience, Scope, Conventions, and Formats

This reference manual assumes that the reader has basic to intermediate computer and Internet skills. However, basic computer network, Internet, firewall, and VPN technologies tutorial information is provided in the Appendices and on the Netgear website.

This guide uses the following typographical conventions:

Table 1-1. Typographical Conventions

italics Emphasis, books, CD s, U R L n ames

bold User input

fixed Screen text, file and server names, extensions, commands, IP addresses

This guide uses the following formats to highlight special messages:

Note: This format is used to highlight information of importance or special interest.

This manual is written for the WPN824 router according to these specifications:

Table 1-2. Manual Scope

P rod u ct Version R an geM ax W ireless R ou ter W P N 82 4 M anual P ublication D ate M arch 2005

Note: Product updates are available on the NETGEAR, Inc. Web site at

http://kbserver.netgear.com/products/WPN824.asp.

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How to Use This Manual

The HTML version of this manual includes the following:

• Buttons, and , for browsing forwards or backwards through the manual one page at a time

• A button that displays the table of contents and an button. Double-click on a link in the table of contents or index to navigate directly to where the topic is described in the manual.

• A button to access the full NETGEAR, Inc. online knowledge base for the product model.

• Links to PDF versions of the full manual and individual chapters.

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How to Print this Manual

To print this manual you can choose one of the following several options, according to your needs.

• Printing a Page in the HTML View. 



Each page in the HTML version of the manual is dedicated to a major topic. Use the Print button on the browser toolbar to print the page contents.

• Printing a Chapter. 



Use the PDF of This Chapter link at the top left of any page. – Click the PDF of This Chapter link at the top right of any page in the chapter you want to

print. The PDF version of the chapter you were viewing opens in a browser window. Note: Your computer must have the free Adobe Acrobat reader installed in order to view

and print PDF files. The Acrobat reader is available on the Adobe Web site at 

http://www.adobe.com.

– Click the print icon in the upper left of the window.

Tip: If your printer supports printing two pages on a single sheet of paper, you can save paper and printer ink by selecting this feature.

• Printing the Full Manual. 



Use the Complete PDF Manual link at the top left of any page. – Click the Complete PDF Manual link at the top left of any page in the manual. The PDF

version of the complete manual opens in a browser window.

– Click the print icon in the upper left of the window.

Tip: If your printer supports printing two pages on a single sheet of paper, you can save paper and printer ink by selecting this feature.

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Chapter 2

Introduction

Congratulations on your purchase of the NETGEAR® RangeMax Wireless Router WPN824. The WPN824 router provides connection for multiple computers to the Internet through an external broadband access device (such as a cable modem or DSL modem) that is normally intended for use by a single computer. This chapter describes the features of the NETGEAR RangeMax Wireless Router WPN824.

Key Features

Note: This manual provides information on the complete features as of the date of publication. Earlier versions of this product may not have all the features presented in this manual. Go to http://kbserver.netgear.com/products/WPN824.asp where you will find product firmware updates for your WPN824.

The RangeMax Wireless Router WPN824 with 4-port switch connects your local area network (LAN) to the Internet through an external access device such as a cable modem or DSL modem.

The WPN824 router provides you with multiple Web content filtering options, plus browsing activity reporting and instant alerts via e-mail. Parents and network administrators can establish restricted access policies based on time-of-day, Web site addresses and address keywords, and share high-speed cable/DSL Internet access for up to 253 computers. In addition to the Network Address Translation (NAT) feature, the built-in firewall protects you from hackers.

With minimum setup, you can install and use the router within minutes. The WPN824 router provides the following features:

• RangeMax™ Multi-In, Multi-Out (MIMO) technology

• 802.11g wireless networking, with the ability to operate in 802.11g-only, 802.11-turbo-g-only, or 802.11b+g modes.

• Easy, Web-based setup for installation and management.

• Content Filtering and Site Blocking Security.

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• Built in 4-port 10/100 Mbps Switch.

• Ethernet connection to a wide area network (WAN) device, such as a cable modem or DSL modem.

• Extensive Protocol Support.

• Login capability.

• Front panel LEDs for easy monitoring of status and activity.

• Flash memory for firmware upgrades.

RangeMax™ Multi-In, Multi-Out (MIMO) Technology

Netgear’s RangeMax Multi-In, Multi-Out (MIMO) technology provides ten times more coverage than standard 802.11g alone by eliminating “dead spots” in your area of coverage where you use your wireless computers. Your whole house or office suite now becomes a “hot spot” without requiring any range extenders, repeaters, or external antennas. RangeMax maintains your high speed throughout your home, not just when you are close to your router.

RangeMax is an advanced Smart MIMO (Multi-In, Multi-Out) technology that uses seven internal antennas. RangeMax constantly surveys your home environment for physical barriers and interference and adjusts the wireless signal to compensate for these performance blockers.

For example, if you carry your laptop from the family room to the bedroom, RangeMax automatically senses the change and selects from over 100 possible antenna configurations to deliver you the fastest, clearest connection so that everyone can enjoy consistently high-speed connections, everywhere in your house with no drop-outs and no dead spots.

RangeMax is also 100% compatible with your existing 802.11b/ g products (i.e., 802.1 1b, 802.1 1 g, Centrino, and SuperG™ wireless clients) and boosts their range and speed by up to 50%.

802.11g Wireless Networking

The WPN824 router includes an 802.11g wireless access point, providing continuous, high-speed 108 Mbps access between your wireless and Ethernet devices. The access point provides:

• 802.11g wireless networking at up to 108 Mbps.

• 802.11g wireless networking, with the ability to operate in 802.11g-only, 802.11b-only, or

802.11g and b modes, providing backwards compatibility with 802.11b devices or dedicating the wireless network to the higher bandwidth 802.11g devices.

• 64-bit and 128-bit WEP encryption security.

• WEP keys can be generated manually or by passphrase.

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• WPA-PSK support. Support for Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) data encryption which provides strong data encryption and authentication based on a pre-shared key.

• Wireless access can be restricted by MAC address.

• Wireless network name broadcast can be turned off so that only devices that have the network name (SSID) can connect.

A Powerful, True Firewall with Content Filtering

Unlike simple Internet sharing NAT routers, the WPN824 is a true firewall, using stateful packet inspection to defend against hacker attacks. Its firewall features include:

• Denial of Service (DoS) protection. Automatically detects and thwarts DoS attacks such as Ping of Death, SYN Flood, LAND

Attack, and IP Spoofing.

• Blocks unwanted traffic from the Internet to your LAN.

• Blocks access from your LAN to Internet locations or services that you specify as off-limits.

• Logs security incidents. The WPN824 will log security events such as blocked incoming traffic, port scans, attacks,

and administrator logins. You can configure the router to E-mail the log to you at specified intervals. You can also configure the router to send immediate alert messages to your E-mail address or E-mail pager whenever a significant event occurs.

• The WPN824 prevents objectionable content from reaching your computers. The router allows you to control access to Internet content by screening for keywords within Web addresses. You can configure the router to log and report attempts to access objectionable Internet sites.

Security

The WPN824 router is equipped with several features designed to maintain security, as described in this section.

• Computers Hidden by NAT NAT opens a temporary path to the Internet for requests originating from the local network. Requests originating from outside the LAN are discarded, preventing users outside the LAN from finding and directly accessing the computers on the LAN.

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• Port Forwarding with NAT Although NAT prevents Internet locations from directly accessing the computers on the LAN, the router allows you to direct incoming traffic to specific computers based on the service port number of the incoming request, or to one designated “DMZ” host computer. You can specify forwarding of single ports or ranges of ports.

Autosensing Ethernet Connections with Auto Uplink

With its internal 4-port 10/100 switch, the WPN824 can connect to either a 10 Mbps standard Ethernet network or a 100 Mbps Fast Ethernet network. Both the LAN and WAN interfaces are autosensing and capable of full-duplex or half-duplex operation.

The router incorporates Auto Uplink

technology. Each Ethernet port will automatically sense whether the Ethernet cable plugged into the port should have a ‘normal’ connection such as to a computer or an ‘uplink’ connection such as to a switch or hub. That port will then configure itself to the correct configuration. This feature also eliminates the need to worry about crossover cables, as Auto Uplink will accommodate either type of cable to make the right connection.

Extensive Protocol Support

The WPN824 router supports the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol  (TCP/IP) and Routing Information Protocol (RIP). For further information about TCP/IP, refer to

Appendix B, “Network, Routing, Firewall, and Basics.”

• IP Address Sharing by NAT

The WPN824 router allows several networked computers to share an Internet account using only a single IP address, which may be statically or dynamically assigned by your Internet service provider (ISP). This technique, known as NAT, allows the use of an inexpensive single-user ISP account.

• Automatic Configuration of Attached computers by DHCP

The WPN824 router dynamically assigns network configuration information, including IP, gateway, and domain name server (DNS) addresses, to attached computers on the LAN using the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP). This feature greatly simplifies configuration of computers on your local network.

• DNS Proxy

When DHCP is enabled and no DNS addresses are specified, the router provides its own address as a DNS server to the attached computers. The router obtains actual DNS addresses from the ISP during connection setup and forwards DNS requests from the LAN.

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• PPP over Ethernet (PPPoE)

PPPoE is a protocol for connecting remote hosts to the Internet over a DSL connection by simulating a dial-up connection. This feature eliminates the need to run a login program such as Entersys or WinPOET on your computer.

Easy Installation and Management

You can install, configure, and operate the RangeMax Wireless Router WPN824 within minutes after connecting it to the network. The following features simplify installation and management tasks:

• Browser-based management

Browser-based configuration allows you to easily configure your router from almost any type of personal computer, such as Windows, Macintosh, or Linux. A user-friendly Setup Wizard is provided and online help documentation is built into the browser-based Web Management Interface.

• Smart Wizard

The WPN824 router Smart Wizard automatically senses the type of Internet connection, asking you only for the information required for your type of ISP account.



• Firmware Update

The WPN824 router can be updated if a newer version of firmware is available. This lets you take advantage of product enhancements for your WPN824 as soon as they become available.

• Visual monitoring

The WPN824 router’s front panel LEDs provide an easy way to monitor its status and activity.

Maintenance and Support

NETGEAR offers the following features to help you maximize your use of the WPN824 router:

• Flash memory for firmware upgrades.

• Free technical support seven days a week, twenty-four hours a day, for 90 days from the date

of purchase.

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NETGEAR Related Products

NETGEAR products related to the RangeMax Wireless Router WPN824 are as follows:

• RangeMax Wireless USB 2.0 Adapter (WPN111)

• RangeMax Wireless PCI Adapter (WPN311)

• RangeMax Wireless PC Card (WPN511)

Package Contents

The product package should contain the following items:

• RangeMax Wireless Router WPN824.

•AC power adapter.

• Vertical stand.

• Category 5 (CAT5) Ethernet cable.

• NETGEAR RangeMax Wireless Router WPN824 Resource CD, including:

— This manual. — Application Notes and other helpful information.

• Wireless Home Router Setup Guide.

• Warranty and Support Information Card. If any of the parts are incorrect, missing, or damaged, contact your NETGEAR dealer. Keep the

carton, including the original packing materials, in case you need to return the router for repair.

The Router’s Front Panel

The front panel of the WPN824 router contains the status lights described below.

Power

Figure 2-1: WPN824 Front Panel

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Test

Wireless

Internet Port

LANPort4

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You can use the status lights to verify connections. Viewed from left to right, the table below describes the lights on the front panel of the router.

Table 2-1. Status Light Descriptions

Label Activity Description

Power On G reen Solid

Off

Test On

Off

Wireless On

Off

Internet On

Blink

LAN On (Green)

Blink (G reen) On (Amber) Blink (Amber) Off

P ower is supplied and the router it has passed its diagnostic test. P ower is n ot s u p p li e d to th e r o u ter.

The unit is performing the power on self test diagnostic. The unit successfully completed the power on self test diagnostic.

The W ireless port is in itialized and the wireless fea ture is enabled. The wireless feature is turned off or there is a problem.

The Internet port has detected a link with an attached device. D ata is being transmitted or received by th e Internet port.

T h e L A N ( l oca l a re a n e two rk ) p o rt h a s d ete cte d li n k with a 1 00 M b p s device. D ata is being transmitted or received at 100 M bps. The Local port has d etected link with a 1 0 M bps de vice. D ata is being transm itted or re ceived at 1 0 M bps. N o li n k i s d e te c te d on th i s p ort.

The Router’s Rear Panel

The rear panel of the WPN824 router contains the items listed below.

LEDs to show which antenna is on

Internet Port

Reset Button

Seven integrated antennas inside

Power

4 LAN Ports

Figure 1-2: WPN824 Rear Panel

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

• AC power adapter outlet for 12 V DC @ 1A output, 22W maximum

• Four Local (LAN) 10/100 Mbps Ethernet ports for connecting the router to the local

computers

• Internet (WAN) Ethernet port for connecting the router to a cable or DSL modem

• Factory Default Reset push button for Restoring the Default Configuration and Password

A Road Map for ‘How to Get There From Here’

The introduction and adoption of any new technology can be a difficult process. Broadband Internet service is considered so useful that more and more people want to set up networks in their home to share a broadband connection. Wireless technology has removed one of the barriers to networking—running wires. It allows more people to try networking while at the same time exposes them to the inherent complexity of networking. General networking concepts, setup, and maintenance can be difficult to understand. In addition, wireless technology adds issues, such as range, interference, signal quality, and security to the picture.

To help overcome potential barriers to successfully using home networks, the table below identifies how to accomplish such things as connecting to a wireless network, assuring appropriate security measures are taken, browsing the Internet through your wireless connection, exchanging files with other computers and using printers in the combined wireless and wired network.

Table 2-1. A Road Map for How to Get There From Here

If I Want To? What Do I Do? What’s Needed? How Do I? Set up a

wireless network

1. Set up the RangeMax W ireless Router WPN824

2 . I d e n tify th e wi re les s

network name (SSID) and, if used, the wireless se c u ri ty se ttin g s .

3. Set up the wireless co m p u ters with th e settings from ste p

• A wireless network

• A co m p u ter with in th e operating range of the wireless network. F or guidelines about the range of wireless networks , see

“Observe Performance, Placement, and R ange Guidelines” on page 4-1”.

To s e t u p th e W P N 8 2 4 , se e

C h a p te r 3 , “C on n ectin g th e R o u ter to th e I n te rn e t” and f ollow

the instructions provided. To learn about wireless

n e twork in g tech n ology, s ee

Appendix 4, “Wireless Configuration” for a gen eral

in tro d u ction . 

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Table 2-1. A Road Map for How to Get There From Here (continued)

If I Want To? What Do I Do? What’s Needed? How Do I? Protect my

wireless connection

from s n oop i n g, hacking, or inform a tion th e ft.

Note: S e cu re I n te rn e t site s su c h as b a n ks a n d o n li n e m e rch a n ts u s e en cryp tio n s e cu rity b u i l t i n to b rowse rs like Internet Explorer and N etscape. Any wireless networking security features you might implement are in a d d iti o n to th os e a l re a d y in p la ce on s ecu re I n te rn e t site s .

Share Windows PC files and printers at

home in a combined wireless and wired network.

Note: For shar ing fi les and printers on other typ es of computers like M acintosh or L inu x, refer to th e p ro d u ct documentation th a t ca m e with th ose computers.

1 . A ssu re th a t th e

wireless network has security features enabled.

2. C onfigure my W P N 8 2 4 with th e se c u ri ty se ttin g s of the wireless network.

3. Use Windows security features.

1. U se the W indows Printers and Fax fe a tu re s to loca te av ail abl e printers in the combined wireless and wired network in your home.

2. U se the W indows Add a Printer wizard to ad d a c ce ss to a n e two rk p rin te r from th e P C you are using to wirelessly connect to th e n e twork .

3. Fr om the Fil e menu of an application such as M icrosoft Word, use the P rint S e tu p fe a tu re to direct your print ou tp u t to th e p ri n te r in th e n e twork .

•A wireless network WEP or WPA security enabled.

• W irel ess networking equ ip m e n t th a t su p p orts WEP or WPA, such as the WPN824.

• W indows comput er s (wir ed and wireless) I am using to co n n e c t to th e n etwork need to be configured with th e W in d o ws C l i e n t a n d File and P rint Sharing.

• W indows comput er s (wir ed and wireless) I am using to co n n e c t to th e n etwork need to be configured with the same W indows Workgroup or Domain se tti n g s a s th e o th e r W indows computers in the combined wireless and wired network.

• Any Windows netw orking secur i ty access ri ghts such as login user name/ password that have been assigned in the W indows network must be provided when W ind ows prompt s for such inform ation.

• If so -called W indows ‘peer ’ networking is being used, th e p ri n te r n e ed s to b e enabled for sharing.

To learn about wireless n e twork in g se c u ri ty, se e

“Wireless N et w orking B asics” on page D-1.

T o use W EP security features, see “Implement Appropriate

W ireless S ecu rity” on p age 4 -2”

and configure your WPN824 accordi ngl y.

W indows D omain settings are usually managed by corporate computer support groups.

W indows Workgroup settings are commonly managed by individuals who want to set up sm a l l n e twork s in th e i r h om es , or small offices.

For assistance with setting up Window s netwo rking , refer to the P C N etworking Tutorial on the

NETGEAR RangeMax Wireless Router WPN824 Resource CD

and the Help information provided in the W indows system you are using.

For assistance with setting up printers in W indows, refer to the H elp and S u p p ort inform ation th a t co m e s wi th th e vers i o n of the W indows operating systems you are using.

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Chapter 3

Connecting the Router to the Internet

This chapter describes how to set up the router on your local area network (LAN) and connect to the Internet. You will find out how to configure your RangeMax Wireless Router WPN824 for Internet access using the Setup Wizard, or how to manually configure your Internet connection.

Follow these instructions to set up your router.

Prepare to Install Your Wireless Router

• Observe the wireless placement and range guidelines in “Observe Performance, Placement,

and Range Guidelines” on page 4-1.

• For Cable Modem Service: When you perform the wireless router setup steps be sure to use the computer you first registered with your cable ISP.

• For DSL Service: You may need information such as the DSL login name/e-mail address and password in order to complete the wireless router setup.

Before proceeding with the wireless router installation, familiarize yourself with the contents of the NETGEAR RangeMax Wireless Router WPN824 Resource CD, especially this manual and the animated tutorials for configuring networking on PCs.

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First, Use the Smart Wizard to Configure the Wireless Router

Insert the Resource CD in the CD drive of your PC. The following screen appears. Click Setup and follow the prompts.

Figure 3-1: NETGEAR Smart Wizard installation assistant

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Now, Set Up a Computer for Wireless Connectivity

You are now connected to the Internet and the wireless feature of the wireless router is enabled! Next, configure your wireless computer.

1. CONFIGURE THE COMPUTER’S WIRELESS ADAPTER SETTINGS

:LUHOHVV$GDSWHULQD 1RWHERRN&RPSXWHU

Figure 3-2: Configure wireless computer

NETGEAR, Inc. wireless adapters display a list of available wireless networks, and, when wireless security is disabled, you simply choose yours from the list and connect.

For a non-NETGEAR wireless adapter, configure it to match your settings exactly. If you changed the default Network Name (SSID), be sure to use the correct Network Name (SSID) you set in the wireless router.

WIRELESS FEATURE DEFAULT SETTING

Network Name (SSID) NETGEAR

WEP Security Disabled

Warning: The Network Name (SSID) is case sensitive. Typing nETgear will not work.

2. VERIFY WIRELESS CONNECTIVITY

Verify wireless connectivity. Connect to the Internet or log in to the wireless router from a computer with a wireless adapter. For wireless connectivity problems, see “Troubleshooting

Tips” on page 3-4.

You are now wirelessly connected to the Internet! Implement wireless security according to the instructions in “Implement Appropriate Wireless Security” on page 4-2.

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Troubleshooting Tips

Here are some tips for correcting simple problems you may have.

Be sure to restart your network in this sequence:

1) Turn off the modem, wireless router, and computer; 2) Turn on the modem, wait two minutes; 3) Turn on the wireless router and wait 1 minute; 4) Turn on the computer.

Make sure the Ethernet cables are securely plugged in.

• The Internet status light on the wireless router will be lit if the Ethernet cable to the wireless router from the modem is plugged in securely and the modem and wireless router are turned on.

• For each powered on computer connected to the wireless router with a securely plugged in Ethernet cable, the corresponding wireless router LAN port status light will be lit. The label on the bottom of the wireless router identifies the number of each LAN port.

Make sure the wireless settings in the computer and router match exactly.

The Wireless Network Name (SSID) and WEP settings of the router and wireless computer must match exactly.

Make sure the network settings of the computer are correct.

• LAN and wirelessly connected computers must be configured to obtain an IP address automatically via DHCP. Please see Appendix C, “Preparing Your Network” or the animated tutorials on the CD for help with this.

• Some cable modem ISPs require you to use the MAC address of the computer registered on the account. If so, in the Router MAC Address section of the Basic Settings menu, select “Use this Computer’s MAC Address.” The router will then capture and use the MAC address of the computer that you are now using. You must be using the computer that is registered with the ISP. Click Apply to save your settings. Restart the network in the correct sequence.

Check the router status lights to verify correct router operation.

• If the Power light does not turn solid green within 2 minutes after turning the router on, reset the router according to the instructions in “Restoring the Default Configuration and Password”

on page 7-7.

• If the Wireless light does not come on, verify that the wireless feature is turned on according to the instructions in “Understanding Wireless Settings” on page 4-4.

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Overview of How to Access the Wireless Router

The table below describes how you access the wireless router, depending on the state of the wireless router.

Table 3-1. Ways to access the router

Router State Access Options Description Factory Default

Note: The

wireless router is supplied in the factory default state. Also,

h e fa ctory d e fau lt

state is restored when you use the fa cto ry re se t b u tton . See“R e s tori n g th e

Default Configuration and P assword” on page 7-7 for m ore

information on this fea tu re.

Configuration Settings Have Been Applied

Automatic Access via th e S m a rt W iza rd Configu ration A ssistant

M anually enter a U R L to b yp a s s th e S m art W izard C onfiguration A ssistant

E n ter th e sta n d a rd U R L to a cce ss th e

wireless router

E n ter th e I P a d d r e ss of the wireless

to a cce s s th e

router wireless router.

Any time a browser is opened on any computer connected to

wireless router, the wireless router will

th e

automatically connect to that browser and display the Configuration Assistant welcome page.

There is no need to enter the wireless router URL in the

browser, or provide the login user name and password.

You can bypass the Smart W izard Configuration A ssistant fea tu re b y typ in g 

http://www.routerlogin.net/basicsetting.htm

in th e b rowse r a d d re ss b a r a n d clickin g E n te r. Y ou will n ot b e prompted for a user name or pas sword.

This will enable you to manually conf igur e the wireless router even when it is in the fa ctory default state. When manually configuring the router, you must complete the configuration by clicking A pply when finished entering your settings. If you d o n ot d o s o , a b rows e r on an y P C co n n e c te d to th e rou te r wi l l a u tom a ti ca lly d i s p la y th e rou te r' s C on figu ra tion A ssi s tan t W e l c o m e p age ra th e r th a n th e b rows er’s h om e p age .

C on n e ct to th e wi re le s s rou te r b y ty p in g e ith e r of th ese U R L s in th e a d d re s s fi e ld o f you r b ro ws e r, th e n click E nte r:

• http://www.routerlogin.net

• http://www.routerlogin.com The wireless rou ter will p rom pt you to enter the u ser nam e of admin and the password. The default password is password.

C on n e ct to th e wi re le s s rou te r b y ty p in g th e I P a d d re ss of th e wireless router in the address field of your browser, then clic k Enter. 192.168.1.1 is the default IP address of the wireless rou ter. Th e wireless rou ter will p rom p t you to enter the u ser name of admin and the password. The default password is p assword.

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How to Log On to the Wireless Router After  Configuration Settings Have Been Applied

1. Connect to t he wireless router by typing http://www.routerlogin.netin the address field of your

browser, then click Enter.

Figure 3-3: Login address

For security reasons, the router has its own user name and password. When prompted, enter

admin for the router user name and password for the router password, both in lower case

letters. To change the password, see “Changing the Administrator Password” on page 6-9. Note: The router user name and password are not the same as any user name or password you

may use to log in to your Internet connection.

Figure 3-4: Login window

Once you have entered your user name and password, your Web browser should find the WPN824 router and display the home page as shown in below.

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