Reference Manual for Cable/DSL Wireless Router WGR614

6-4

Advanced Configuration

Some online games and videoconferencing applications are incompatible with NAT. The WGR614

router is programmed to recognize some of these applications and to work properly with them, but

there are other applications that may not function well. In some cases, one local PC can run the

application properly if that PC’s IP address is entered as the default in the PORTS Menu. If one

local PC acts as a game or videoconferencing host, enter its IP address as the default.

Configuring WAN Setup Options

The WAN Setup options let you configure a DMZ server, change the MTU size and enable the

router to respond to a Ping on the WAN port. These options are discussed below.

Figure 6-2:

WAN Setup menu.

•

Connect Automatically, as Required

Normally, this option should be Enabled, so that an Internet connection will be made

automatically, whenever Internet-bound traffic is detected. In locations where Internet access

is billed by the minute, if this causes high connection costs, you can disable this setting.

If disabled, you must connect manually, using the sub-screen accessed from the Router Status

menu “Show WAN Status” screen.

•

Disable SPI Firewall

Normally, this option should be Enabled, so that your local network will be protected by the

Stateful Packet Inspection (SPI) firewall included in the WGR614. However, certain

communications functions like VPN may require turning off the SPI feature.

•

Setting Up a Default DMZ Server

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Reference Manual for Cable/DSL Wireless Router WGR614

Advanced Configuration

6-5

The default DMZ server feature is helpful when using some online games and

videoconferencing applications that are incompatible with NAT. The router is programmed to

recognize some of these applications and to work properly with them, but there are other

applications that may not function well. In some cases, one local PC can run the application

properly if that PC’s IP address is entered as the default DMZ server.

Incoming traffic from the Internet is normally discarded by the router unless the traffic is a

response to one of your local computers or a service that you have configured in the Ports menu.

Instead of discarding this traffic, you can have it forwarded to one computer on your network. This

computer is called the Default DMZ Server.

The WAN Setup menu, shown below lets you configure a Default DMZ Server.

To assign a computer or server to be a Default DMZ server, follow these steps:

1.

Click WAN Setup link on the Advanced section of the main menu.

2.

Type the IP address for that server. To remove the default DMZ server, replace the IP address

numbers with all zeros.

3.

Click Apply.

•

Respond to Ping on Internet WAN Port

If you want the router to respond to a 'ping' from the Internet, click the ‘Respond to Ping on

Internet WAN Port’ check box. This should only be used as a diagnostic tool, since it allows

your router to be discovered. Don't check this box unless you have a specific reason to do so.

•

Setting the MTU Size

The default MTU size is usually fine. The normal MTU (Maximum Transmit Unit) value for

most Ethernet networks is 1500 Bytes. For some ISPs, particularly some using PPPoE, you

may need to reduce the MTU. This should not be done unless you are sure it is necessary for

your ISP.

Any packets sent through the router that are larger than the configured MTU size will be

repackaged into smaller packets to meet the MTU requirement. To change the MTU size:

Under MTU Size, enter a new size between 64 and 1500. Then, click Apply to save the new

configuration.

Note:

DMZ servers pose a security risk. A computer designated as the default DMZ

server loses much of the protection of the firewall, and is exposed to exploits from the

Internet. If compromised, the DMZ server can be used to attack your network.

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6-6

Advanced Configuration

Using a Dynamic DNS Service

If your network has a permanently assigned IP address, you can register a domain name and have

that name linked with your IP address by public Domain Name Servers (DNS). However, if your

Internet account uses a dynamically assigned IP address, you will not know in advance what your

IP address will be, and the address can change frequently. In this case, you can use a commercial

dynamic DNS service which will allow you to register your domain to their IP address, and will

forward traffic directed at your domain to whatever your current IP address happens to be.

The router contains a client that can connect to many popular dynamic DNS services. You can

select one of these services and obtain an account with them. Then, whenever your ISP-assigned

IP address changes, your router will automatically contact your dynamic DNS service provider,

log in to your account, and register your new IP address.

From the Main Menu of the browser interface, under Advanced, click on Dynamic DNS. To

configure Dynamic DNS:

1.

Register for an account with one of the dynamic DNS service providers whose names appear

in the ‘Select Service Provider’ box. For example, for dyndns.org, go to www.dyndns.org.

2.

Select the Use a Dynamic DNS service check box.

3.

Select the name of your dynamic DNS Service Provider.

4.

Type the Host Name (or domain name) that your dynamic DNS service provider gave you.

5.

Type the User Name for your dynamic DNS account.

6.

Type the Password (or key) for your dynamic DNS account.

7.

If your dynamic DNS provider allows the use of wildcards in resolving your URL, you may

select the Use wildcards check box to activate this feature.

For example, the wildcard feature will cause *.yourhost.dyndns.org to be aliased to the same

IP address as yourhost.dyndns.org

8.

Click Apply to save your configuration.

Note:

If your ISP assigns a private WAN IP address (such as 192.168.x.x or 10.x.x.x),

the dynamic DNS service will not work because private addresses will not be routed on

the Internet.

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Reference Manual for Cable/DSL Wireless Router WGR614

Advanced Configuration

6-7

Using LAN IP Setup Options

The LAN IP Setup feature is under the Advanced heading of the main menu. This feature allows

configuration of LAN IP services such as DHCP and RIP. From the Main Menu of the browser

interface, under Advanced, click on LAN IP Setup to view the LAN IP Setup menu, shown below.

Figure 6-3:

LAN IP Setup Menu

The router is shipped preconfigured to use private IP addresses on the LAN side, and to act as a

DHCP server. The router’s default LAN IP configuration is:

•

LAN IP addresses—192.168.0.1

•

Subnet mask—255.255.255.0

These addresses are part of the IETF-designated private address range for use in private networks,

and should be suitable in most applications. If your network has a requirement to use a different IP

addressing scheme, you can make those changes in this menu.

The LAN IP parameters are:

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Reference Manual for Cable/DSL Wireless Router WGR614

6-8

Advanced Configuration

•

IP Address

This is the LAN IP address of the router.

•

IP Subnet Mask

This is the LAN Subnet Mask of the router. Combined with the IP address, the IP Subnet Mask

allows a device to know which other addresses are local to it, and which must be reached

through a gateway or router.

•

RIP Direction

RIP (Router Information Protocol) allows a router to exchange routing information with other

routers. The RIP Direction selection controls how the router sends and receives RIP packets.

Both is the default.

—

When set to Both or Out Only, the router will broadcast its routing table periodically.

—

When set to Both or In Only, it will incorporate the RIP information that it receives.

—

When set to None, it will not send any RIP packets and will ignore any RIP packets

received.

•

RIP Version

This controls the format and the broadcasting method of the RIP packets that the router sends.

(It recognizes both formats when receiving.) By default, this is set for RIP-1.

—

RIP-1 is universally supported. RIP-1 is probably adequate for most networks, unless you

have an unusual network setup.

—

RIP-2 carries more information. RIP-2B uses subnet broadcasting.

Using the Router as a DHCP server

By default, the router will function as a DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) server,

allowing it to assign IP, DNS server, and default gateway addresses to all computers connected to

the router's LAN. The assigned default gateway address is the LAN address of the router. IP

addresses will be assigned to the attached PCs from a pool of addresses specified in this menu.

Each pool address is tested before it is assigned to avoid duplicate addresses on the LAN.

Note:

If you change the LAN IP address of the router while connected through the

browser, you will be disconnected. You may need to restart your computer for the new IP

address setting to take effect.

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