Dual-Band Wireless A+G Broadband Router

Figure 5-22: Applications and Gaming Tab - Port Triggering

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Figure 5-23: Applications and Gaming Tab - DMZ

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Figure 5-24: Applications and Gaming Tab - QOS

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Figure 5-25: Administration Tab - Management

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Figure 5-26: Administration Tab - Log

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Figure 5-27: Incoming Log

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Figure 5-28: Outgoing Log

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Figure 5-29: Administration Tab - Diagnostics

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Figure 5-30: Ping

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Figure 5-31: Administration Tab - Factory Defaults

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Figure 5-32: Administration Tab - Firmware Upgrade

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Figure 5-33: Status Tab - Router

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Figure 5-34: Status Tab - Local Network

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Figure 5-35: DHCP Client Table

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Figure 5-36: Status Tab - Wireless

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Figure C-1: Administration Tab - Firmware Upgrade

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Figure E-1: IP Configuration Screen

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Figure E-2: MAC Address/Adapter Address

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Figure E-3: MAC Address/Physical Address

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Figure E-4: Wireless MAC Filter List

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Figure E-5: MAC Address Clone

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1

Chapter 1: Introduction

Welcome

Dual-Band Wireless A+G Broadband Router

Chapter 1: Introduction

Welcome

Thank you for choosing the Linksys Dual-Band Wireless A+G Broadband Router. The Dual-Band Wireless A+G

Broadband Router will allow you to network wirelessly better than ever, sharing Internet access, files and fun,

easily and securely.

How does the Dual-Band Wireless A+G Broadband Router do all of this? A router is a device that allows access to

an Internet connection over a network. With the Dual-Band Wireless A+G Broadband Router, this access can be

shared over the four switched ports or via the wireless broadcast at either up to 11Mbps for Wireless-B or up to

54Mbps for Wireless-A and/or Wireless-G. In addition, the whole network is protected by NAT technology. For

wireless networking, you also have a choice of wireless security methods. Additional security features, as well as

configuration options, are accessible through the easy-to-use, browser-based utility.

But what does all of this mean?

Networks are useful tools for sharing computer resources. You can access one printer from different computers

and access data located on another computer's hard drive. Networks are even used for playing multiplayer video

games. So, networks are not only useful in homes and offices, they can also be fun.

PCs on a wired network create a LAN, or Local Area Network. They are connected with Ethernet cables, which is

why the network is called “wired”.

PCs equipped with wireless cards or adapters can communicate without cumbersome cables. By sharing the

same wireless settings, within their transmission radius, they form a wireless network. This is sometimes called

a WLAN, or Wireless Local Area Network. The Dual-Band Wireless A+G Broadband Router bridges wireless

networks of 802.11a, 802.11b, and 802.11g standards and wired networks, allowing them to communicate with

each other.

With your wired and wireless networks connected to each other and the Internet, you can now share files and

Internet access—and even play games. All the while, the Dual-Band Wireless A+G Broadband Router protects

your networks from unauthorized and unwelcome users.

Linksys recommends using the Setup CD-ROM for first-time installation of the Router. If you do not wish to run

the Setup Wizard on the Setup CD-ROM, then use the instructions in this Guide to help you connect the

Dual-Band Wireless A+G Broadband Router, set it up, and configure it to bridge your different networks. These

instructions should be all you need to get the most out of the Dual-Band Wireless A+G Broadband Router.

ethernet

: an IEEE standard network protocol that

specifies how data is placed on and retrieved from

a common transmission medium.

lan

(local area network): the computers and

networking products that make up the network

in your home or office.

802.11b

: an IEEE wireless networking standard

that specifies a maximum data transfer rate of

11Mbps and an operating frequency of 2.4GHz.

802.11g

: an IEEE wireless networking standard

that specifies a maximum data transfer rate of

54Mbps, an operating frequency of 2.4GHz, and

backward compatibility with 802.11b devices.

browser

: an application program that

provides a way to look at and interact with all

the information on the World Wide Web.

mbps

: one million bits per second; a unit of

measurement for data transmission.

nat

(network address translation): NAT

technology translated IP addresses of a

local area network to a different IP address

for the Internet.

802.11a

: an IEEE wireless networking standard

that specifies a maximum data transfer rate of

54Mbps and an operating frequency of 5GHz.

2

Chapter 1: Introduction

What’s in this Guide?

Dual-Band Wireless A+G Broadband Router

What’s in this Guide?

This user guide covers the steps for setting up and using the Dual-Band Wireless A+G Broadband Router.

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Chapter 1: Introduction

This chapter describes the Router’s applications and this User Guide.

•

Chapter 2: Planning Your Wireless Network

This chapter describes the basics of wireless networking.

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Chapter 3: Getting to Know the Dual-Band Wireless A+G Broadband Router

This chapter describes the physical features of the Router.

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Chapter 4: Connecting the Dual-Band Wireless A+G Broadband Router

This chapter instructs you on how to connect the Router to your network.

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Chapter 5: Configuring the Dual-Band Wireless A+G Broadband Router

This chapter explains how to use the Web-Based Utility to configure the settings on the Dual-Band Wireless

A+G Broadband Router.

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Appendix A: Troubleshooting

This appendix describes some problems and solutions, as well as frequently asked questions, regarding

installation and use of the Dual-Band Wireless A+G Broadband Router.

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Appendix B: Wireless Security

This appendix explains the risks of wireless networking and some solutions to reduce the risks.

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Appendix C: Upgrading Firmware

This appendix instructs you on how to upgrade the firmware on the Router should you need to do so.

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Appendix D: Windows Help

This appendix describes how you can use Windows Help for instructions about networking, such as installing

the TCP/IP protocol.

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Appendix E: Finding the MAC Address and IP Address for your Ethernet Adapter.

This appendix describes how to find the MAC address for your computer’s Ethernet adapter so you can use

the MAC filtering and/or MAC address cloning feature of the Router.

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Appendix F: Glossary

This appendix gives a brief glossary of terms frequently used in networking.

3

Chapter 1: Introduction

What’s in this Guide?

Dual-Band Wireless A+G Broadband Router

•

Appendix G: Specifications

This appendix provides the technical specifications for the Router.

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Appendix H: Warranty Information

This appendix supplies the warranty information for the Router.

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Appendix I: Regulatory Information

This appendix supplies the regulatory information regarding the Router.

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Appendix J: Contact Information

This appendix provides contact information for a variety of Linksys resources, including Technical Support.

4

Chapter 2: Planning Your Wireless Network

Network Topology

Dual-Band Wireless A+G Broadband Router

Chapter 2: Planning Your Wireless Network

Network Topology

A wireless local area network (WLAN) is exactly like a regular local area network (LAN), except that each

computer in the WLAN uses a wireless device to connect to the network. Computers in a WLAN share the same

frequency channel and SSID, which is an identification name shared by the wireless devices belonging to the

same wireless network.

Ad-Hoc versus Infrastructure Mode

Unlike wired networks, wireless networks have two different modes in which they may be set up: infrastructure

and ad-hoc. An infrastructure configuration is a WLAN and wired LAN communicating to each other through an

access point. An ad-hoc configuration is wireless-equipped computers communicating directly with each other.

Choosing between these two modes depends on whether or not the wireless network needs to share data or

peripherals with a wired network or not.

If the computers on the wireless network need to be accessible by a wired network or need to share a peripheral,

such as a printer, with the wired network computers, the wireless network should be set up in Infrastructure

mode. The basis of Infrastructure mode centers around a wireless router or an access point, such as the Dual-

Band Wireless A+G Broadband Router, which serves as the main point of communications in a wireless network.

The Router transmits data to PCs equipped with wireless network adapters, which can roam within a certain

radial range of the Router.

You can arrange the Router and multiple access points to work in succession to

extend the roaming range, and you can set up your wireless network to communicate with your Ethernet

hardware as well.

If the wireless network is relatively small and needs to share resources only with the other computers on the

wireless network, then the Ad-Hoc mode can be used. Ad-Hoc mode allows computers equipped with wireless

transmitters and receivers to communicate directly with each other, eliminating the need for a wireless router or

access point. The drawback of this mode is that in Ad-Hoc mode, wireless-equipped computers are not able to

communicate with computers on a wired network. And, of course, communication between the wireless-

equipped computers is limited by the distance and interference directly between them.

Network Layout

The Dual-Band Wireless A+G Broadband Router has been specifically designed for use with your 802.11a,

802.11b, and 802.11g products. Now, products using these standards can communicate with each other.

infrastructure

: a wireless network

that is bridged to a wired network via

an access point.

ssid

: your wireless network’s name.

ad-hoc

: a group of wireless devices

communicating directly to each other

(peer-to-peer) without the use of an

access point.

access point

: a device that allows wireless-

equipped computers and other devices to

communicate with a wired network. Also used

to expand the range of a wireless network.

adapter

: a device that adds

network functionality to your PC.

ethernet

: IEEE standard network protocol that

specifies how data is placed on and retrieved

from a common transmission medium.

network

: a series of computers or devices

connected for the purpose of data sharing,

storage, and/or transmission between users.