® A Division of Cisco Systems, Inc. Dual-Band 5GHz + Dual-Band 2.4 GHz Wireless A+G 802.11a 802.11g Broadband Router WIRELESS Model No. WRT55AG ver.
Dual-Band Wireless A+G Broadband Router Copyright and Trademarks Specifications are subject to change without notice. Linksys is a registered trademark or trademark of Cisco Systems, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and certain other countries. Copyright © 2004 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Other brands and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.
Dual-Band Wireless A+G Broadband Router Table of Contents Chapter 1: Introduction 1 Welcome What’s in this Guide? 1 2 Chapter 2: Planning Your Wireless Network Network Topology Ad-Hoc versus Infrastructure Mode Network Layout Chapter 3: Getting to Know the Dual-Band Wireless A+G Broadband Router The Back Panel The Front Panel Chapter 4: Connecting the Dual-Band Wireless A+G Broadband Router Overview Hardware Installation for Connection to Your Broadband Modem Hardware Installation for Connection to A
Dual-Band Wireless A+G Broadband Router The Administration Tab - Diagnostics The Administration Tab - Factory Defaults The Administration Tab - Firmware Upgrade The Status Tab - Router The Status Tab - Local Network The Status Tab - Wireless Appendix A: Troubleshooting Common Problems and Solutions Frequently Asked Questions Appendix B: Wireless Security Security Precautions Security Threats Facing Wireless Networks Appendix C: Upgrading Firmware Appendix D: Windows Help Appendix E: Finding the MAC Addr
Dual-Band Wireless A+G Broadband Router List of Figures Figure 3-1: The Router’s Back Panel Figure 3-2: The Router’s Front Panel Figure 4-1: Connecting Your Broadband Modem Figure 4-2: Connecting Your Network Devices Figure 4-3: Connecting the Power Figure 4-4: Diagram for Connection to Another Router Figure 4-5: Connecting Another Router Figure 4-6: Connecting Your Network Devices Figure 4-7: Connecting the Power Figure 5-1: Router’s IP Address Figure 5-2: Router Login Screen Figure 5-3: Setup Tab - Basic
Dual-Band Wireless A+G Broadband Router Figure 5-22: Applications and Gaming Tab - Port Triggering Figure 5-23: Applications and Gaming Tab - DMZ Figure 5-24: Applications and Gaming Tab - QOS Figure 5-25: Administration Tab - Management Figure 5-26: Administration Tab - Log Figure 5-27: Incoming Log Figure 5-28: Outgoing Log Figure 5-29: Administration Tab - Diagnostics Figure 5-30: Ping Figure 5-31: Administration Tab - Factory Defaults Figure 5-32: Administration Tab - Firmware Upgrade Figure 5-33: Stat
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.
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. • 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. • Chapter 3: Getting to Know the Dual-Band Wireless A+G Broadband Router This chapter describes the physical features of the Router.
Dual-Band Wireless A+G Broadband Router • Appendix G: Specifications This appendix provides the technical specifications for the Router. • Appendix H: Warranty Information This appendix supplies the warranty information for the Router. • Appendix I: Regulatory Information This appendix supplies the regulatory information regarding the Router. • Appendix J: Contact Information This appendix provides contact information for a variety of Linksys resources, including Technical Support.
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.
Dual-Band Wireless A+G Broadband Router The Dual-Band Wireless A+G Broadband Router is compatible with all 802.11a, 802.11b, and 802.11g adapters, such as the Notebook Adapters (WPC55AG, WPC54G, WPC11) for your laptop computers, PCI Adapters (WMP55AG, WMP54G, WMP11) for your desktop PCs, and USB Adapters (WUSB54G, WUSB11) when you want to enjoy USB connectivity. The Router will also communicate with the Wireless PrintServer (WPS54GU2, WPS11) and Wireless Ethernet Bridges (WET54G, WET11).
Dual-Band Wireless A+G Broadband Router Chapter 3: Getting to Know the Dual-Band Wireless A+G Broadband Router The Back Panel The Router’s ports and Reset button are located on the back panel of the Router. IMPORTANT: If you reset the Router, all of your settings, including Internet connection, wireless, and security, will be deleted and replaced with the factory defaults. Do not reset the Router if you want to retain these settings.
Dual-Band Wireless A+G Broadband Router The Front Panel The Router’s LEDs, which indicate the status of the Router and network activities, are located on the front panel. Figure 3-2: The Router’s Front Panel Power Green. The Power LED lights up and will stay on while the Router is powered on. When the Router goes through its self-diagnostic mode during every boot-up, this LED will flash. When the diagnostic is complete, the LED will be solidly lit. DMZ Green.
Dual-Band Wireless A+G Broadband Router Chapter 4: Connecting the Dual-Band Wireless A+G Broadband Router Overview Linksys recommends using the Setup Wizard on the Setup CD-ROM for first-time installation of the Router. For advanced users, you may follow the instructions in this chapter, and then configure the Router through its Webbased Utility (refer to “Chapter 5: Configuring the Dual-Band Wireless A+G Broadband Router”).
Dual-Band Wireless A+G Broadband Router 5. Connect your network PCs or Ethernet devices to the Router’s numbered ports using standard Ethernet network cabling. Figure 4-2: Connecting Your Network Devices 6. Connect the AC power adapter to the Router's Power port. Then connect the other end to an electrical outlet. Only use the power adapter supplied with the Router. Use of a different adapter may cause product damage. IMPORTANT: Make sure you use the power adapter that is supplied with the Router.
Dual-Band Wireless A+G Broadband Router Hardware Installation for Connection to Another Router Before you install the Router, you must change the default IP address of the other router. This is mandatory because both routers may be set to the same IP address by default. If you do not change the other router’s default IP address, then you may not be able to set up the Router. First, make sure the Router is NOT connected to your network. Then follow these instructions: 1.
Dual-Band Wireless A+G Broadband Router 9. Decide which network computers or Ethernet devices you want to connect to the Router. Disconnect the selected computers or devices from the other router, and then connect them to the Router’s numbered ports using standard Ethernet network cabling. Figure 4-6: Connecting Your Network Devices 10. Connect the AC power adapter to the Router's Power port and the other end into an electrical outlet. Only use the power adapter supplied with the Router.
Dual-Band Wireless A+G Broadband Router Chapter 5: Configuring the Dual-Band Wireless A+G Broadband Router Overview Linksys recommends using the Setup Wizard on the Setup CD-ROM for first-time installation of the Router. For advanced users, you may follow the instructions in the previous chapter, “Chapter 4: Connecting the Dual-Band Wireless A+G Broadband Router”, and then configure the Router through its Web-based Utility.
Dual-Band Wireless A+G Broadband Router How to Access the Web-based Utility To access the Web-based Utility, launch Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator, and enter the Router’s default IP address, 192.168.1.1, in the Address field. Then press Enter. Figure 5-1: Router’s IP Address A password request page will appear. Leave the User Name field blank. The first time you open the Web-based Utility, use the default password admin.
Dual-Band Wireless A+G Broadband Router • Static IP. If you are required to use a permanent IP address to connect to the Internet, select Static IP. Internet IP Address. This is the Router’s IP address, when seen from the Internet. Your ISP will provide you with the IP Address you need to specify here. Subnet Mask. This is the Router’s Subnet Mask, as seen by users on the Internet (including your ISP). Your ISP will provide you with the Subnet Mask. Default Gateway.
Dual-Band Wireless A+G Broadband Router recommended size, entered in the Size field, is 1500. You should leave this value in the 1200 to 1500 range. To have the Router select the best MTU for your Internet connection, keep the default setting, Auto. Network Setup The Network Setup section changes the Router’s local network settings. Changes to the Router’s wireless network settings are performed through the Wireless tab. Router IP IP Address and Subnet Mask.
Dual-Band Wireless A+G Broadband Router Start IP Address. Enter a value for the DHCP server to start with when issuing IP addresses. Because the Router’s default IP address is 192.168.1.1, the Starting IP Address must be 192.168.1.2 or greater, but smaller than 192.168.1.254. The default Starting IP Address is 192.168.1.100. Maximum Number of Users. Enter the maximum number of PCs that you want the DHCP server to assign IP addresses to. This number cannot be greater than 253. The default is 50.
Dual-Band Wireless A+G Broadband Router The Setup Tab - MAC Address Clone A MAC address is a 12-digit code assigned to a unique piece of hardware for identification. Some ISPs will require you to register a MAC address in order to access the Internet. If you do not wish to re-register the MAC address with your ISP, you may assign the MAC address you have currently registered with your ISP to the Router with the MAC Address Clone feature. MAC Address Clone Enabled/Disabled.
Dual-Band Wireless A+G Broadband Router The Wireless Tab - Basic Wireless Settings The basic settings for wireless networking are set on this screen. Wireless Network Wireless-A Settings If you are using a Wireless-A network, then configure these settings. Mode. To enable Wireless-A (802.11a) networking, select Enabled. Otherwise, select Disabled. Turbo Mode. Using this mode enables high-speed connections but severely limits range.
Dual-Band Wireless A+G Broadband Router Network Name (SSID). The SSID is the network name shared by all devices in a wireless network. The SSID must be identical for all devices in the wireless network. It is case-sensitive and must not exceed 32 keyboard characters in length. Make sure this setting is the same for all devices in your wireless network. For added security, you should change the default SSID (linksys-g) to a unique name. Channel.
Dual-Band Wireless A+G Broadband Router The Wireless Tab - Wireless Security The Wireless Security settings configure the security of your wireless network. There are three wireless security mode options supported by the Router: Pre-Shared Key, Pre-Shared Key + RADIUS, and WEP. (WEP stands for Wired Equivalent Privacy, while RADIUS stands for Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service.) These three are briefly discussed here.
Dual-Band Wireless A+G Broadband Router WEP. WEP is a basic encryption method, which is not as secure as the other two methods, Pre-Shared Key and Pre-Shared Key + RADIUS. Select a level of WEP encryption, 40/64-bit, 128-bit, or 152-bit. If you want to use a Passphrase, then enter it in the Passphrase field and click the Generate button. If you want to enter the WEP key manually, then enter it in the WEP Key 1-4 field(s). To indicate which WEP key to use, select the appropriate TX Key number.
Dual-Band Wireless A+G Broadband Router The Wireless Tab - Wireless MAC Filter Wireless access can be filtered by using the MAC addresses of the wireless devices transmitting within your network’s radius. Wireless MAC Filter Access Restrictions To filter wireless users by MAC Address, either permitting or blocking access, click Enabled. If you do not wish to filter users by MAC Address, select Disabled. Prevent PCs listed below from accessing the wireless network.
Dual-Band Wireless A+G Broadband Router The Wireless Tab - Advanced Wireless Settings This tab is used to set up the Router’s advanced wireless functions. These settings should only be adjusted by an expert administrator as incorrect settings can reduce wireless performance. Advanced Wireless Wireless-A Settings Authentication Type. The default is set to Open System (Default) authentication, when the sender and the recipient do NOT use a WEP key for authentication.
Dual-Band Wireless A+G Broadband Router Threshold. Setting the Fragmentation Threshold too low may result in poor network performance. Only minor reduction of the default value is recommended. In most cases, it should remain at its default value of 2346. RTS Threshold. Should you encounter inconsistent data flow, only minor reduction of the default value, 2346, is recommended. If a network packet is smaller than the preset RTS threshold size, the RTS/CTS mechanism will not be enabled.
