Hardware Setup

11

N900 Wireless Dual Band Gigabit Router WNDR4500

Back Panel

The back panel has the connections shown in the following figure.

USB ports

LAN Ethernet ports 1–4

Internet port

Power On/Off button

Power

Reset button

Figure 3. Router, rear view

See

Factory Settings

on page

114 for information about restoring factory settings.

Hardware Setup

12

N900 Wireless Dual Band Gigabit Router WNDR4500

Label

The label on the bottom of the router shows the WPS PIN, login information, MAC address,

and serial number.

MAC address

Serial number

Preset WiFi Password

Default Access Information

Preset SSID

Figure 4. The label shows unique information about your router

13

2

2.

Getting Started with NETGEAR Genie

Connecting to the router

This chapter explains how to use NETGEAR Genie to set up your router after you complete

cabling as described in the installation guide and in the previous chapter in this book.

This chapter contains the following sections:

•

Router Setup Preparation

•

Types of Logins and Access

•

NETGEAR Genie Setup

•

Use NETGEAR Genie after Installation

•

Upgrade Router Firmware

•

Router Dashboard (Basic Home Screen)

•

Add Wireless Devices or Computers to Your Network

Getting Started with NETGEAR Genie

14

N900 Wireless Dual Band Gigabit Router WNDR4500

Router Setup Preparation

You can set up your router with the NETGEAR Genie automatically, or you can use the Genie

menus and screens to set up your router manually. However, before you start the setup

process, you need to have your ISP information on hand and make sure the laptops, PCs,

and other devices in the network have the settings described here.

Use Standard TCP/IP Properties for DHCP

If you set up your computer to use a static IP address, you need to change the settings so

that it uses Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP).

Gather ISP Information

If you have DSL broadband service, you might need the following information to set up your

router and to check that your Internet configuration is correct. Your Internet service provider

(ISP) should have provided you with all of the information needed to connect to the Internet. If

you cannot locate this information, ask your ISP to provide it. When your Internet connection

is working, you no longer need to launch the ISP’s login program on your computer to access

the Internet. When you start an Internet application, your router automatically logs you in.

•

The ISP configuration information for your DSL account

•

ISP login name and password

•

Fixed or static IP address settings (special deployment by ISP; this is rare)

Wireless Devices and Security Settings

Make sure that the wireless device or computer that you are using supports WPA or WPA2

wireless security, which is the wireless security supported by the router.

Types of Logins and Access

There are separate types of logins that have different purposes. It is important that you

understand the difference so that you know which login to use when.

•

Router login

logs you in to the router interface from NETGEAR Genie. See

Use

NETGEAR Genie after Installation

on page

16 for details about this login.

•

ISP login

logs you in to your Internet service. Your service provider has provided you with

this login information in a letter or some other way. If you cannot find this login

information, contact your service provider.

•

Wireless network key or password

. Your router is preset with a unique wireless

network name (SSID) and password for wireless access. This information is on the label

located on the bottom of your router.

Getting Started with NETGEAR Genie

15

N900 Wireless Dual Band Gigabit Router WNDR4500

NETGEAR Genie Setup

NETGEAR Genie runs on any device with a web browser. It is the easiest way to set up the

router because it automates many of the steps and verifies that those steps have been

successfully completed. It takes about 15

minutes to complete.



To use NETGEAR Genie to set up your router:

1.

Turn the router on by pressing the

On/Off

button, if not done yet.

2.

Make sure that your device is connected with an Ethernet cable (wired) or wirelessly (with

the preset security settings listed on the bottom label) to your router.

3.

Launch your Internet browser.

•

If this is the first time you are setting up the Internet connection for your router, the

browser automatically goes to http://www.routerlogin.net, and the NETGEAR Genie

screen displays.

•

If you already used the NETGEAR Genie, type

in the

address field for your browser to display the NETGEAR Genie screen. See

Use

NETGEAR Genie after Installation

on page

16.

4.

Follow the onscreen instructions to complete NETGEAR Genie setup. NETGEAR Genie

guides you through connecting the router to the Internet.

If the browser cannot display the web page:

•

Make sure that the computer is connected to one of the four LAN Ethernet ports, or

wirelessly to the router.

•

Make sure that the router is fully up and running. Its wireless LED should turn on.

•

Close and re-open the browser to make sure the browser does not cache the previous

page.

•

Browse to

http://routerlogin.net

.

•

If the computer is set to a static or fixed IP address (this is uncommon), change it to

obtain an IP address automatically from the router.

If the router does not connect to the Internet:

1.

Review your settings to be sure that you have selected the correct options and typed

everything correctly.

2.

Contact your ISP to verify that you have the correct configuration information.

3.

Read

Chapter 10, Troubleshooting

. If problems persist, register your NETGEAR product and

contact NETGEAR technical support.