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User’s Guide

10

4.2. Security

Router Password:

Changing the password for the AP Router is as easy as typing the password into

the

Enter

New Password

field. Then, type it again into the Re-enter to confirm.

* Click the

Apply

button to save the setting.

Use the default password when you first open the configuration pages, after you have configured

these settings, you should set a new password for the Router (using the Security screen). This will

increase security, protecting the Router from unauthorized changes.

VPN Pass-Through:

Virtual Private Networking (VPN) is typically used for work-related networking.

For VPN tunnels, the Router supports IPSec Pass-Through, L2TP Pass-Through, and PPTP Pass-

Through.

•

IPSec

- Internet Protocol Security (IPSec) is a

suite of protocols used to implement secure

exchange of packets at the IP layer. To allow IPSec tunnels to pass through the Router, IPSec

Pass-Through is enabled by default. To disable IPSec Pass-Through, uncheck the box next to

IPSec

.

•

L2TP

- Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol is a protocol used to tunnel Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP)

over the Internet. To allow L2TP tunnels to pass through the Router, L2TP Pass-Through is

enabled by default. To disable L2TP Pass-Through, uncheck the box next to

L2TP

.

•

PPTP

- Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol is the method used to enable VPN sessions to a

Windows NT 4.0 or 2000 server. To allow PPTP tunnels to pass through the Router, PPTP

Pass-Through is enabled by default. To disable PPTP Pass-Through, uncheck the box next to

PPTP

.

Web Filters:

Using the Web Filters feature, you may enable up to four different filters.

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User’s Guide

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•

Proxy

- Use of WAN proxy servers may compromise network security. Denying Proxy will

disable access to any WAN proxy servers. To enable proxy filtering, click the box next to

Proxy

.

•

Java

- Java is a programming language for websites. If you deny Java, you run the risk of not

having access to Internet sites created using this programming language. To enable Java

filtering, click the box next to

Java

.

•

ActiveX -

ActiveX is a programming language for websites. If you deny ActiveX, you run the

risk of not having access to Internet sites created using this programming language. To enable

ActiveX filtering, click the box next to

ActiveX

.

•

Cookies

- A cookie is data stored on your PC and used by Internet sites when you interact with

them. To enable cookie filtering, click the box next to

Cookies

.

DMZ:

The DMZ hosting feature allows one local user to be exposed to the Internet for use of a

special-purpose service such as Internet gaming or videoconferencing. DMZ hosting forwards all the

ports at the same time to one PC. The Port Forwarding feature is more secure because it only opens

the ports you want to have opened, while DMZ hosting opens all the ports of one computer, exposing

the computer so the Internet can see it.

Any PC whose port is being forwarded must have its DHCP client function disabled and should have a

new static IP address assigned to it because its IP address may change when using the DHCP

function.

1.

To expose one PC, select

Enable

.

2.

Enter the computer's IP address in the

DMZ Host IP Address

field.

3.

Click the

Apply

button.

Block WAN Request:

By enabling the Block WAN Request feature, you can prevent your network

from being "pinged," or detected, by other Internet users. The Block WAN Request feature also

reinforces your network security by hiding your network ports. Both functions of the Block WAN

Request feature make it more difficult for outside users to work their way into your network. This

feature is enabled by default. Select

Disable

to disable this feature.

* Check all the settings and click

Apply

to save them.

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User’s Guide

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4.3. System

Restore Factory Defaults:

Click the

Yes

button to reset all configuration settings to factory default

values. Note: Any settings you have saved will be lost when the default settings are restored. Click the

No

button to disable the Restore Factory Defaults feature.

*Click the

Apply

button to save the setting.

Firmware Upgrade:

Click the

Upgrade

button to load new firmware onto the Router. New firmware

versions are posted at

www.sparklan.com

and can be downloaded for free. If the Router is not

experiencing difficulties, then there is no need to download a more recent firmware version, unless

that version has a new feature that you want to use.

Note: When you upgrade the Router's firmware, you may lose its configuration settings, so

make sure you write down the Router’s settings before you upgrade its firmware.

To upgrade the Router's firmware:

1.

Download the firmware upgrade file from the Sparklan website.

2.

Extract the firmware upgrade file.

3.

Click the

Upgrade

button.

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User’s Guide

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4.

On the

Firmware Upgrade

screen, click the

Browse

button to find the firmware upgrade file.

5.

Double-click the firmware upgrade file.

6.

Click the

Upgrade

button, and follow the on-screen instructions.

Note: Do not power off the Router or press the Reset button while the firmware is being

upgraded.

Multicast Pass-Through:

IP Multicasting occurs when a single data transmission is sent to multiple

recipients at the same time. Using the Multicast Pass-Through feature, the Router allows IP multicast

packets to be forwarded to the appropriate computers. Keep the default setting,

Enable

, to support the

feature, or select

Disable

to disable it.

MAC Cloning:

The Router's MAC address is a 12-digit code assigned to a unique piece of hardware

for identification. Some ISPs require that you register the MAC address of your network card/adapter,

which was connected to your cable or DSL modem during installation. If your ISP requires MAC

address registration, find your adapter’s MAC address by following the instructions for your PC’s

operating system.

For Windows 98 and Millennium:

1.

Click the

Start

button, and select

Run

.

2.

Type

winipcfg

in the field provided, and press the

OK

key.

3.

Select the Ethernet adapter you are using.

4.

Click

More Info

.

5.

Write down your adapter's MAC address.

For Windows 2000 and XP:

1.

Click the

Start

button, and select

Run

.

2.

Type

cmd

in the field provided, and press the

OK

key.

3.

At the command prompt, run

ipconfig /all

, and look at your adapter’s physical address.

4.

Write down your adapter's MAC address.

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To clone your network adapter's MAC address onto the Router and avoid calling your ISP to change

the registered MAC address, follow these instructions:

1.

Select

Enable

.

2.

Enter your adapter's MAC address in the

MAC Address

field.

3.

Click the

Apply

button.

To disable MAC address cloning, keep the default setting,

Disable

.

Remote Management:

This feature allows you to manage your Router from a remote location, via the

Internet. To disable this feature, keep the default setting,

Disable

. To enable this feature, select

Enable

, and use the specified port (default is

8080

) on your PC to remotely manage the Router. You

must also change the Router’s default password to one of your own, if you haven't already. A unique

password will increase security.

To remotely manage the Router, enter

(the x's represent the Router's

Internet IP address, and 8080 represents the specified port) in your web browser's

Address

field. You

will be asked for the Router's password. After successfully entering the password, you will be able to

access the Router's web-based utility.

Note: If the Remote Management feature is enabled, anyone who knows the Router's Internet IP

address and password will be able to alter the Router's settings.

MTU:

MTU is the Maximum Transmission Unit. It specifies the largest packet size permitted for

Internet transmission. Keep the default setting,

Auto

, to have the Router select the best MTU for your

Internet connection. To specify a MTU size, select

Manual

, and enter the value desired (default is

1400

). You should leave this value in the 1200 to 1500 range.

Log:

The Router can keep logs of all incoming or outgoing traffic for your Internet connection. This

feature is disabled by default. To keep activity logs, select

Enable

.

To keep a permanent record of activity logs as a file on your PC's hard drive, Logviewer software must

be used. This software is downloadable from the Sparklan website

, www.sparklan.com

. In the

Send

Log to

field, enter the fixed IP address of the PC running the Logviewer software. The Router will send

updated logs to that PC.

To see a temporary log of the Router's most recent incoming traffic, click the

Incoming Access Log

button. To see a temporary log of the Router's most recent outgoing traffic, click the

Outgoing

Access Log

button.

*Click the

Apply

button to save the setting.