Hardware Setup

16

N450 Wireless Router WNR2500

Verify the Cabling

Verify that your router is cabled correctly and the cables are attached securely by checking

the router LEDs:

•

The Power LED is solid green when the router is turned on.

•

The WiFi LED is solid green.

•

The Internet LED is solid green.

•

The LAN LEDs (1 through 4) are solid green or solid amber for any computers cabled

to the router by an Ethernet cable.

17

2

2.

Get Started with NETGEAR genie

Connect 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

•

BASIC Home Screen

•

Change the Password

•

Password Recovery

•

Add Wireless Devices or Computers to Your Network

Get Started with NETGEAR genie

18

N450 Wireless Router WNR2500

Router Setup Preparation

You can set up your router with 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 must have your ISP information about hand and make sure the laptops,

computers, 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

For DSL broadband service, when your Internet service starts, your Internet service provider

(ISP) typically gives you all the information needed to connect to the Internet. You might need

this information to set up the router to use your Internet service. 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 login program on your computer to access the Internet. When

you start an Internet application, your router automatically logs you in. You might need the

following information to set up your router:

•

The ISP configuration information for your DSL account

•

ISP login name and password

•

Fixed or static IP address settings (special deployment by ISP; this situation 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. For information

about the router’s preconfigured security settings, see

Basic Wireless Settings

on page

28.

Types of Logins and Access

Different types of logins have different purposes: It is important that you understand the

difference so that you know which login to use when.

•

Router login

. The user name admin logs you in to the router user interface from

NETGEAR genie. For more information, see

Use NETGEAR genie after Installation

on

page

20.

•

ISP login

. The login that your ISP provided logs you in to your Internet service. Your

service provider provided you with this login information in a letter or some other way. If

you cannot find this login information, contact your service provider.

Get Started with NETGEAR genie

19

N450 Wireless Router WNR2500

•

Wireless network login

. Your router is preset with a unique wireless network name

(SSID) and password for wireless access. This information is on the label on your router.

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.

Connect the router to a power source.

2.

Make sure that your device is connected with an Ethernet cable to your router.

3.

Launch your Internet browser.

•

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

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

screen displays.

•

If you already used NETGEAR genie, type

in the

address field for your browser to display the NETGEAR genie screen. For more

information, see

Use NETGEAR genie after Installation

on page

20.

4.

Follow the onscreen instructions to complete the 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 running. If it is, its WiFi LED is lit.

•

Close and reopen the browser to make sure that 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 situation is uncommon), change

it to obtain an IP address automatically from the router.

If the router does not connect to the Internet:

1.

To be sure that you have selected the correct options and typed everything correctly,

review the router’s settings.

2.

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

3.

Read

Chapter 9, Troubleshooting

. If problems persist, register your NETGEAR product and

contact NETGEAR technical support.

Get Started with NETGEAR genie

20

N450 Wireless Router WNR2500

Use NETGEAR genie after Installation

When you first set up your router, NETGEAR genie automatically starts when you launch an

Internet browser on a computer that is connected to the router.



To use NETGEAR genie again to view or change settings for the router:

1.

Launch your browser from a computer or wireless device that is connected to the router.

2.

Enter

in the web browser address bar.

A login screen displays.

admin

********

3.

Enter

admin

for the router user name and

password

for the router password, both in

lowercase letters.

Note:

The router user name and password are different from the user name

and password for logging in to your Internet connection. For more information,

see

Types of Logins and Access

on page

18.

4.

Click the

OK

button.

Upgrade Router Firmware

When you set up your router and are connected to the Internet, the router automatically

checks for you to see if newer firmware is available. If it is, a message is displayed on the top

of the screen. The message might be

A router firmware upgrade is available

, or a similar

message.



To upgrade the firmware after the router has detected newer firmware and displays a

message:

1.

Click the message.

The Firmware Upgrade Assistant displays.

2.

Click the

Yes

button.

The router upgrades to the latest firmware. After the upgrade, the router restarts.