Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router User Manual Model R7800 April 2016 202-11596-04 350 E.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Support Thank you for purchasing this NETGEAR product. You can visit http://support.netgear.com to register your product, get help, access the latest downloads and user manuals, and join our community. We recommend that you use only official NETGEAR support resources. Conformity For regulatory compliance information, visit http://kb.netgear.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/11621. Compliance For regulatory compliance information, visit http://www.netgear.
Contents Chapter 1 Hardware Setup Unpack Your Router...............................................................................................9 Top View.................................................................................................................9 Rear Panel...........................................................................................................11 Turn the LEDs On or Off..................................................................................
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Chapter 4 Control Access to the Internet Set Up Parental Controls.....................................................................................46 Allow or Block Access to Your Network................................................................47 Use Keywords to Block Internet Sites..................................................................48 Block Services From the Internet....................................................................
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Manually Update the Dynamic QoS Database................................................91 Participate in Dynamic QoS Analytics.............................................................91 Improve Network Connections With Universal Plug and Play..............................92 Wi-Fi Multimedia Quality of Service.....................................................................93 Chapter 7 Manage Your Network Update the Router Firmware.............................
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Specify a DNS Account That You Already Created.......................................126 Change the Dynamic DNS Settings..............................................................127 Access USB Storage Devices Through the Internet..........................................129 Remotely Access a USB Device Using ReadyCLOUD......................................129 Create a ReadyCLOUD Account...................................................................
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Chapter 13 Use VPN to Access Your Network Set Up a VPN Connection..................................................................................161 Specify VPN Service in the Router....................................................................161 Install OpenVPN Software.................................................................................162 Install OpenVPN Software on Your Windows Computer................................
Hardware Setup 1 The Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router with four high-performance antennas and quad-stream X4S architecture combines four WiFi streams to deliver WiFi connection speeds of up to 1.73 Gbps, and a combined speed of 2.53 Gbps, as follows: • 800 Mbps WiFi speed on the 2.4 GHz band • 1.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Unpack Your Router Your package contains the router, four antennas, the power adapter, and an Ethernet cable. Figure 1. Package contents Top View The status LEDs and buttons are located on the top of the router. Figure 2.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Table 1. LED and button descriptions LED Power Internet 2.4 GHz WiFi 5 GHz WiFi USB 3.0 port 1 and USB 3.0 port 2 eSATA Description • Solid amber. The router is starting. • Blinking amber. The firmware is upgrading, or the Reset button was pressed. • Solid white. The router is ready. • Blinking white. The firmware is corrupted. • Off. Power is not supplied to the router. • Solid white. The Internet connection is ready. • Solid amber.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router LED Description Ethernet ports 1–4 The LED color indicates the speed: white for Gigabit Ethernet connections and amber for 100 Mbps or 10 Mbps Ethernet connections. WiFi On/Off button with LED • Solid. A powered-on device is connected to the Ethernet port. • Blinking. The port is sending or receiving traffic. • Off. No device is connected to this Ethernet port. Pressing this button for two seconds turns the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz WiFi radios on and off.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Turn the LEDs On or Off To turn the LEDs on or off: • Slide the LED On/Off switch on the rear panel to the On or Off position. The Power LED stays lit even if the LED On/Off switch is in the Off position. Attach the Antennas The router comes with four antennas. To attach the antennas: 1. To determine where to attach the antennas, match the labels on the antennas with the labels on the router. 2. Align the antennas with the antenna posts on the router. 3.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router USB Ports on the Left Panel Two 3.0 USB ports are located on the left panel. Figure 4. USB ports eSATA Port on the Right Panel An eSATA port is located on the right panel. Figure 5.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Connect an eSATA Device To connect an eSATA device: • Use an eSATA cable to connect your device to the eSATA port on the side of the router as shown. Position Your Router The router lets you access your network anywhere within the operating range of your WiFi network. However, the operating distance or range of your WiFi connection can vary significantly depending on the physical placement of your router.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router • • Base of a cordless phone • 2.4 GHz cordless phone Place the router away from large metal surfaces, large glass surfaces, insulated walls, and items such as these: • Solid metal door • Aluminum studs • Fish tanks • Mirrors • Brick • Concrete Cable Your Router The following image shows how to cable your router: Figure 6. Router cabling To cable your router: 1.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router 3. Connect your modem to the Internet port of your router with the yellow Ethernet cable that came with your router. 4. Connect the power adapter to your router and plug the power adapter into an outlet. 5. Slide the LED On/Off switch on the rear panel to the On position. 6. Press the Power On/Off button on the rear panel of the router.
Connect to the Network and Access the Router 2 You can connect to the router’s WiFi networks or use a wired Ethernet connection. This chapter explains the ways you can connect and how to access the router and log in.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Connect to the Network You can connect to the router network through a wired or WiFi connection. If you set up your computer to use a static IP address, change the settings so that it uses Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP). Wired Connection You can connect your computer to the router using an Ethernet cable and join the router’s local area network (LAN). To connect your computer to the router with an Ethernet cable: 1.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Your WiFi device connects to the WiFi network. Label The product label shows the login information, WiFi network name and network key (password), MAC address, and serial number. Figure 7. Product label Types of Logins Separate types of logins serve different purposes. It is important that you understand the difference so that you know which login to use when. Several types of logins are associated with the router: • ISP login.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router To log in to the router: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or WiFi device that is connected to the network. 2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. Note You can also enter http://www.routerlogin.com or enter the router's IP address in this format: http://192.168.1.1. The default IP address for the router is http://192.168.1.1. If the router detects a conflict with a WAN IP address, it changes its IP address to 10.0.0.1 or 172.16.5.1.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Note If you want to change the router’s WiFi settings, use a wired connection to avoid being disconnected when the new WiFi settings take effect. 3. Launch a web browser. The page that displays depends on whether you accessed the router before or if the the router is connected to another router or gateway: • • • The first time you set up the Internet connection for your router, the browser goes to http://www.routerlogin.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router When your Internet service starts, your Internet service provider (ISP) typically gives you all the information needed to connect to the Internet. For DSL service, 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 setting (special deployment by ISP; this setting is rare) If you cannot locate this information, ask your ISP to provide it.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router 6. If the browser does not display a router page, do the following: • • • • • Make sure that the computer is connected to one of the LAN Ethernet ports or over WiFi to the router. Make sure that the router is receiving power and that its Power LED is lit. Close and reopen the browser or clear the browser cache. Browse to http://www.routerlogin.net.
Specify Your Internet Settings 3 Usually, the quickest way to set up the router to use your Internet connection is to allow the genie to detect the Internet connection when you first access the router with a web browser.You can also customize or specify your Internet settings.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Use the Internet Setup Wizard You can use the Setup Wizard to detect your Internet settings and automatically set up your router. The Setup Wizard is not the same as the pages that display the first time you connect to your router to set it up. To use the Setup Wizard: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or WiFi device that is connected to the network. 2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. 3. Enter the router user name and password.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Specify an Internet Connection Without a Login To specify the Internet connection settings: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or WiFi device that is connected to the network. 2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. 3. Enter the router user name and password. The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC Home page displays. 4. Select Internet.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router • Use Static IP Address. Enter the IP address, IP subnet mask, and the gateway IP address that your ISP assigned. The gateway is the ISP router to which your router connects. 9. Select a Domain Name Server (DNS) Address radio button: • Get Automatically from ISP. Your ISP uses DHCP to assign your DNS servers. Your ISP automatically assigns this address. • Use These DNS Servers. If you know that your ISP requires specific servers, select this option.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router 5. For the Does your Internet connection require a login? setting, select the Yes radio button. 6. From the Internet Service Provider menu, select the encapsulation method: PPPoE, L2TP, or PPTP. 7. In the Login field, enter the login name that your ISP gave you. This login name is often an email address. 8. In the Password field, type the password that you use to log in to your Internet service. 9.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router • Get Automatically from ISP. Your ISP uses DHCP to assign your DNS servers. Your ISP automatically assigns this address. • Use These DNS Servers. If you know that your ISP requires specific servers, select this option. Enter the IP address of your ISP’s primary DNS server. If a secondary DNS server address is available, enter it also. 14. Select a Router MAC Address radio button: • Use Default Address. Use the default MAC address. • Use Computer MAC Address.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router • Set Up an IPv6 6rd Internet Connection on page 33 • Set Up an IPv6 6to4 Tunnel Internet Connection on page 35 • Set Up an IPv6 Pass Through Internet Connection on page 36 • Set Up an IPv6 Fixed Internet Connection on page 37 • Set Up an IPv6 DHCP Internet Connection on page 38 • Set Up an IPv6 PPPoE Internet Connection on page 40 6. Click the Apply button. Your settings are saved.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router The router automatically detects the information in the following fields: • Router’s IPv6 Address on WAN. This field shows the IPv6 address that is acquired for the router’s WAN (or Internet) interface. The number after the slash (/) is the length of the prefix, which is also indicated by the underline (_) under the IPv6 address. If no address is acquired, the field displays Not Available. • Router’s IPv6 Address on LAN.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router 9. (Optional) Select the Use This Interface ID check box and specify the interface ID to be used for the IPv6 address of the router’s LAN interface. If you do not specify an ID here, the router generates one automatically from its MAC address. 10. Click the Apply button. Your settings are saved. Use Auto Detect for an IPv6 Internet Connection To set up an IPv6 Internet connection through autodetection: 1.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router • Connection Type. This field indicates the connection type that is detected. • Router’s IPv6 Address on WAN. This field shows the IPv6 address that is acquired for the router’s WAN (or Internet) interface. The number after the slash (/) is the length of the prefix, which is also indicated by the underline (_) under the IPv6 address. If no address is acquired, the field displays Not Available. • Router’s IPv6 Address on LAN.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router To set up an IPv6 6rd Internet connection: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or WiFi device that is connected to the network. 2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. 3. Enter the router user name and password. The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC Home page displays. 4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > IPv6. 5.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router • Get Automatically from ISP. Your ISP uses DHCP to assign your DNS servers. Your ISP automatically assigns this address. • Use These DNS Servers. If you know that your ISP requires specific servers, select this option. Enter the IP address of your ISP’s primary DNS server. If a secondary DNS server address is available, enter it also. 7. Select an IP Address Assignment radio button: • Use DHCP Server.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router 6. Select a Remote 6to4 Relay Router radio button: • Auto. Your router uses any remote relay router that is available on the Internet. This is the default setting. • Static IP Address. Enter the static IPv4 address of the remote relay router. Your IPv6 ISP usually provides this address. 7. Select an IP Address Assignment radio button: • Use DHCP Server.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Your settings are saved. Set Up an IPv6 Fixed Internet Connection To set up a fixed IPv6 Internet connection: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or WiFi device that is connected to the network. 2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. 3. Enter the router user name and password. The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC Home page displays. 4.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Note If you do not specify the DNS servers, the router uses the DNS servers that are configured for the IPv4 Internet connection on the Internet Setup page. (See Manually Set Up the Internet Connection on page 25.) 7. Select an IP Address Assignment radio button: • Use DHCP Server. This method passes more information to LAN devices but some IPv6 systems might not support the DHCPv6 client function. • Auto Config. This is the default setting.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router 5. From the Internet Connection Type menu, select DHCP. The router automatically detects the information in the following fields: • Router’s IPv6 Address on WAN. This field shows the IPv6 address that is acquired for the router’s WAN (or Internet) interface. The number after the slash (/) is the length of the prefix, which is also indicated by the underline (_) under the IPv6 address. If no address is acquired, the field displays Not Available.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router If you do not specify an ID here, the router generates one automatically from its MAC address. 10. Click the Apply button. Your settings are saved. Set Up an IPv6 PPPoE Internet Connection To set up a PPPoE IPv6 Internet connection: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or WiFi device that is connected to the network. 2. Type http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. 3. Enter the router user name and password. The user name is admin.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router • Router’s IPv6 Address on WAN. This field shows the IPv6 address that is acquired for the router’s WAN (or Internet) interface. The number after the slash (/) is the length of the prefix, which is also indicated by the underline (_) under the IPv6 address. If no address is acquired, the field displays Not Available. • Router’s IPv6 Address on LAN. This field shows the IPv6 address that is acquired for the router’s LAN interface.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router If a device in the data path uses a lower MTU setting than the other devices, the data packets must be split or “fragmented” to accommodate the device with the smallest MTU. The best MTU setting for NETGEAR equipment is often the default value. In some situations, changing the value fixes one problem but causes another.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router 4. Select ADVANCED > Setup > WAN Setup. 5. In the MTU Size field, enter a value from 64 to 1500. 6. Click the Apply button. Your settings are saved. If you suspect an MTU problem, a common solution is to change the MTU to 1400. If you are willing to experiment, you can gradually reduce the MTU from the maximum value of 1500 until the problem goes away. The following table describes common MTU sizes and applications. Table 2.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router MTU Application 1400 Maximum size for AOL DSL. 576 Typical value to connect to dial-up ISPs. Enable British Telcom IGMP Proxy Support You must use this feature only for British Telcom (BT) Internet Protocol television (IPTV) service. It might also work with TalkTalk IPTV service. To enable BT IGMP proxy support: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or WiFi device that is connected to the network. 2. Type http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. 3.
Control Access to the Internet 4 The router comes with a built-in firewall that helps protect your home network from unwanted intrusions from the Internet.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Set Up Parental Controls The first time that you select Parental Controls from the BASIC Home page, your browser goes to the Live Parental Controls website, where you can learn more about Parental Controls and download the application. After you set up and enable Parental Controls, you can change the web filtering level for each device on the network through the network map page on the genie app. To set up Parental Controls: 1.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router a. Complete the fields. b. Click the Next button. After you log on or create your account, the filtering level page displays. 10. Select a filtering level and click the Next button. The Setup is complete page displays. 11. Click the Take me to the status screen button. The Status page displays. Parental controls are now set up for the router. 12. To enable Parental Controls, click the Enable Live Parental Controls button.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router You must select this check box before you can specify an access rule and use the Allow and Block buttons. When this check box is cleared, all devices are allowed to connect, even if a device is in the blocked list. 6. Select an access rule: • Allow all new devices to connect. With this setting, if you add a new device, it can access your network. You don’t need to enter its MAC address on this page. We recommend that you leave this radio button selected.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router 4. Select ADVANCED > Security >Block Sites. 5. Select a keyword blocking option: • Per Schedule. Turn on keyword blocking according to a schedule that you set. (See Schedule When to Block Internet Sites and Services on page 53.) • Always. Turn on keyword blocking all the time, independent of the Schedule page. 6. In the Type keyword or domain name here field, enter a keyword or domain that you want to block. For example: • Specify XXX to block http://www.badstuff.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router 3. Enter the router user name and password. The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC Home page displays. 4. Select ADVANCED > Security > Block Services. 5. Specify when to block the services: • To block the services all the time, select the Always radio button. • To block the services based on a schedule, select the Per Schedule radio button.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router a. If you know that the application uses either TCP or UDP, select the appropriate protocol. Otherwise, select TCP/UDP (both). b. Enter the starting port and ending port numbers. If the service uses a single port number, enter that number in both fields. To find out which port numbers the service or application uses, you can contact the publisher of the application, ask user groups or newsgroups, or search on the Internet. 9.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Avoid Blocking on a Trusted Computer You can exempt one trusted computer from blocking. The computer that you exempt must be assigned a fixed IP address. You can use the reserved IP address feature to specify the IP address. See Manage Reserved LAN IP Addresses on page 64. To specify a trusted computer: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or WiFi device that is connected to the network. 2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. 3.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router 4. Select ADVANCED > Security > Access Control. 5. Select the Turn on Access Control radio button. 6. Click the View list of allowed devices not currently connected to the network link. The list displays. 7. Select the check box for a device. 8. Use the Add button, Edit button, and Remove from the list button as needed. 9. Click the Apply button. Your changes take effect.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router To schedule blocking: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or WiFi device that is connected to the network. 2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. 3. Enter the router user name and password. The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC Home page displays. 4. Select ADVANCED > Security > Schedule. 5. Specify when to block keywords and services: • Days to Block.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Set Up Security Event Email Notifications The router can email you its logs of router activity. The log records router activity and security events such as attempts to access blocked sites or services. To set up email notifications: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or WiFi device that is connected to the network. 2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. 3. Enter the router user name and password. The user name is admin.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router a. In the User Name field, type the user name for the outgoing email server. b. In the Password field, type the password for the outgoing email server. 9. To send alerts when someone attempts to visit a blocked site, select the Send Alerts Immediately check box. Email alerts are sent immediately when someone attempts to visit a blocked site. 10. To send logs based on a schedule, specify these settings: a.
Network Settings 5 The router comes ready for WiFi, Ethernet, and USB connections. You can customize the router’s network settings. We recommend that you install the router and connect it to the Internet before you change its network settings.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router View or Change WAN Settings You can view or configure wide area network (WAN) settings for the Internet port.You can set up a DMZ (demilitarized zone) server, change the maximum transmit unit (MTU) size, and enable the router to respond to a ping to its WAN (Internet) port. To view or change the WAN settings: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or WiFi device that is connected to the network. 2. Type http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. 3.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router • Disable IGMP Proxying. IGMP proxying allows a computer on the local area network (LAN) to receive the multicast traffic it is interested in from the Internet. If you do not need this feature, you can select this check box to disable it. • MTU Size (in bytes). The normal MTU (maximum transmit unit) value for most Ethernet networks is 1500 bytes, or 1492 bytes for PPPoE connections. Change the MTU only if you are sure that it is necessary for your ISP connection.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router 4. Select ADVANCED > Setup > WAN Setup. The WAN Setup page displays. 5. Select the Default DMZ Server check box. 6. Type the IP address. 7. Click the Apply button. Your change takes effect. Change the Router’s Device Name The router’s default device name is based on its model number, such as R7500 or R7800. This device name displays in the file manager when you browse your network. To change the router’s device name: 1.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router You might want to change these settings if you need a specific IP subnet that one or more devices on the network use, or if you use competing subnets with the same IP scheme. To change the LAN TCP/IP settings: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or WiFi device that is connected to the network. 2. Type http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. 3. Enter the router user name and password. The user name is admin. The default password is password.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router a. Select the RIP direction: • Both. The router broadcasts its routing table periodically and incorporates information that it receives. • Out Only. The router broadcasts its routing table periodically. • In Only. The router incorporates the RIP information that it receives. b. Select the RIP version: • Disabled. This is the default setting. • RIP-1. This format is universally supported.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router 4. Select ADVANCED > Setup > LAN Setup. Your router might display information that is different from this example. 5. Make sure that the Use Router as DHCP Server check box is selected. 6. Specify the range of IP addresses that the router assigns: a. In the Starting IP Address field, type the lowest number in the range. This IP address must be in the same subnet as the router. b. In the Ending IP Address field, type the number at the end of the range of IP addresses.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Disable the DHCP Server Feature in the Router By default, the router acts as a DHCP server. The router assigns IP, DNS server, and default gateway addresses to all computers connected to the LAN. The assigned default gateway address is the LAN address of the router. You can use another device on your network as the DHCP server or specify the network settings of all your computers. To disable the DHCP server feature in the router: 1.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router The BASIC Home page displays. 4. Select ADVANCED > Setup > LAN Setup. The LAN Setup page displays. 5. In the Address Reservation section, click the Add button. 6. In the IP Address field, type the IP address to assign to the computer or server. Choose an IP address from the router’s LAN subnet, such as 192.168.1.x. 7. Type the MAC address of the computer or server.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Your changes are saved. Delete a Reserved IP Address Entry To delete a reserved address entry: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or WiFi device that is connected to the network. 2. Type http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. 3. Enter the router user name and password. The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC Home page displays. 4. Select ADVANCED > Setup > LAN Setup.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router The WPS page displays. 6. Select a setup method: • Push button. Click the WPS button on this screen. • PIN Number. The page adjusts. Enter the client security PIN and click the Next button. 7. Within two minutes, go to the client device and use its WPS software to connect to the WiFi network. The WPS process automatically sets up your WiFi computer with the network password when it connects. The router WPS page displays a confirmation message.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router 4. Select Wireless. You can specify the settings for the 2.4 GHz band and for the 5 GHz band. Your router might display information that is different from this example. 5. From the Region menu, select your region. In some locations, you cannot change this setting. 6. To control the SSID broadcast, select or clear the Enable SSID Broadcast check box.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router • Is your computer or WiFi device connected to another WiFi network in your area? Some WiFi devices automatically connect to the first open network without WiFi security that they discover. • Is your computer or WiFi device trying to connect to your network with its old settings (before you changed the settings)? If so, update the WiFi network selection in your computer or WiFi device to match the current settings for your network.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Change the WiFi Mbps Settings The data rate for high-speed transmissions is commonly identified as megabits per second (Mbps). By default, the router is set to operate with up to 600 Mbps in the 2.4 GHz WiFi band and up to 1,733 Mbps in the 5 GHz WiFi band. You can select slower settings. To change the WiFi Mbps settings: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or WiFi device that is connected to the network. 2. Type http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router the secondary channel. If that happens, the router runs in 20 MHz mode to coexist with that network. If you want the router to always run in 40 MHz mode, clear this check box. 7. Click the Apply button. Your settings are saved. Change the WiFi Password or Security Level Your router comes with preset WPA2 or WPA security. The password that you enter to connect to your network is unique to your router and is on the label on the router.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Enable or Disable WiFi 160 MHz The WiFi 160 MHz setting reduces lag and improves streaming speed. Note that the WiFi clients must have 160 MHz support, and they must be connected to the 5 GHz WiFi network. You can enable or disable WiFi the HT160 setting. If your computer is connected with WiFi when you change the MU-MIMO setting, you are disconnected when you click the Apply button. To avoid this problem, use a computer with a wired connection to access the router.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC Home page displays. 4. Select Wireless. The Wireless Setup page displays. 5. Scroll down to the Wireless Network (5 GHz 802.11a/n/ac) section of the page. 6. Select the Enable Video Network check box. 7. Click the Apply button. Your settings are saved.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router 4. Select Guest Network. Your router might display information that is different from this example. 5. Scroll to the section of the page for the guest WiFi network that you want to set up. The default guest WiFi network names (SSIDs) are as follows: • NETGEAR-Guest is for the 2.4 GHz WiFi band. • NETGEAR-5G-Guest is for the 5 GHz WiFi band. 6. Leave the Enable SSID Broadcast check box selected.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Enable a Video Guest WiFi Network Guest networks allow visitors at your home to use the Internet without using your WiFi security key. For optimal HD streaming performance for your guests, you can enable a 5 GHz guest video network. When this the video network feature is enabled, the router uses video reliability algorithms to reduce jitter and packet loss during video streaming. To set up a guest network: 1.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Control the WiFi Radios The router’s internal WiFi radios broadcast signals in the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz ranges. By default, they are on so that you can connect over WiFi to the router. When the WiFi radios are off, you can still use an Ethernet cable for a LAN connection to the router. You can turn the WiFi radios on and off with the WiFi On/Off button on the router, or you can log in to the router and enable or disable the WiFi radios.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router 4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > Wireless Settings. Your router might display information that is different from this example. 5. In the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz sections, select or clear the Enable Wireless Router Radio check boxes. Clearing these check boxes turns off the WiFi feature of the router for each band. 6. Click the Apply button. If you turned off both WiFi radios, the WiFi On/Off LED and the WPS LED turn off.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router The BASIC Home page displays. 4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > Wireless Settings. 5. Click the Add a new period button. 6. Use the menus, radio buttons, and check boxes to set up a period during which you want to turn off the WiFi signal. 7. Click the Apply button. 8. Select the Turn off wireless signal by schedule check box to activate the schedule. 9. Click the Apply button. Your settings are saved.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router If you clear this check box, the next time a new WiFi client uses WPS to connect to the router, the router WiFi settings change to an automatically generated random SSID and security key. 7. Click the Apply button. Your changes are saved. Use the Router as a WiFi Access Point You can set up the router to run as an access point (AP) on the same local network as another router. To set up the router as an AP: 1.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router 5. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > Wireless AP. 6. Select the Enable AP Mode check box. 7. Scroll down and select an IP address setting: • Get dynamically from existing router. The other router on the network assigns an IP address to this router while this router is in AP mode. • Enable fixed IP settings on this device (not recommended). Use this setting if you want to manually assign a specific IP address to this router while it is in AP mode.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Figure 8. Router in bridge mode with an 802.11ac WiFi connection Installing your router as a bridge offers the following benefits: • You can take advantage of gigabit WiFi speeds on current devices. • Use gigabit WiFi for applications like video and gaming. • Connect multiple devices like a NAS, smart TV, NeoTV, Blu-ray player, and game consoles at gigabit WiFi speeds using a WiFi link. • Avoid the need for separate WiFi adapters for each device.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router 3. Type http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. 4. Enter the router user name and password. The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC Home page displays. 5. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > Wireless Bridge. The Wireless Bridge page displays. 6. Select the Enable Bridge Mode check box. 7. Click the Setup Bridge Mode Wireless Settings button. 8.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Note If your ISP provides directions on how to set up a bridge for IPTV and Internet service, follow those directions. Set Up a Bridge for a Port Group If the devices that are connected to the router’s Ethernet LAN port or WiFi network include an IPTV device, your ISP might require you to set up a bridge for a port group for the router’s Internet interface.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Note You must select at least one Wired Ports or Wireless check box. You can select more than one check box. 8. Click the Apply button. Your settings are saved. Set Up a Bridge for a VLAN Tag Group If the devices that are connected to the router’s Ethernet LAN ports or WiFi network include an IPTV device, your ISP might require you to set up a bridge for a VLAN tag group for the router’s Internet interface.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router 5. Select the Enable VLAN/Bridge Group check box. 6. Select the By VLAN tag group radio button. 7. Specify the settings as described in the following table. Field Description Name Enter a name for the VLAN tag group. The name can be up to 10 characters. VLAN ID Enter a value from 1 to 4094. Priority Enter a value from 0 to 7. Select the check box for a wired LAN port or WiFi port.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Set Up an IPTV Port to Lease an Intranet Port You can set up the router to create an Internet Protocol television (IPTV) port that can lease an IP address from your IPTV service provider. Use this feature only if you subscribe to an IPTV service and your IPTV service requires an intranet address. Some IPTV ports cannot work behind NAT because the IPTV port requires an IP address within the Internet service provider's network (intranet address).
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Note You must select at least one Wired Ports or Wireless check box. You can select more than one check box. 8. Click the Apply button. Your settings are saved.
Optimize Performance 6 You can set up the router to optimize performance for applications such as Internet gaming, high-definition video streaming, and VoIP communication. By default, the router uses Wi-Fi Multimedia Quality of Service (WMM QoS).
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Use Dynamic QoS to Optimize Internet Traffic Management Dynamic Quality of Service (QoS) helps improve your router’s Internet traffic management capabilities through better application and device identification, bandwidth allocation, and traffic prioritization techniques. Dynamic QoS resolves traffic congestion when the Internet bandwidth is limited and different demands compete for bandwidth. Figure 9.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router 5. Select the Dynamic QoS check box. 6. Specify your Internet bandwidth. You must specify your Internet bandwidth so that Dynamic QoS can perform bandwidth allocation and traffic prioritization. We recommend that you use Speedtest to detect your Internet bandwidth. To use Speedtest, do the following: a. For more accurate Speedtest results, make sure that no other devices are accessing the Internet. b. Click the Speedtest button.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Manually Update the Dynamic QoS Database The router uses a QoS database of the most popular applications and services to implement Dynamic QoS. By default, the router automatically updates this database when you enable Dynamic QoS, but if you turned off the automatic update feature, you can manually update the database. To manually update the Dynamic QoS database: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or WiFi device that is connected to the network. 2.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router 4. Select Dynamic QoS. The Dynamic QoS page displays. 5. Make sure that you enabled Dynamic QoS. For more information about enabling Dynamic QoS, see Enable Dynamic QoS on page 89. 6. Select the Help improve the Dynamic QoS feature by sharing analytics with NETGEAR check box. A pop-up window displays detailed information about sharing analytics. The Yes radio button is selected by default. 7. Read the information and click the Submit button. 8. Click the Apply button.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router The advertisement period specifies how often the router broadcasts its UPnP information. This value can range from 1 to 1440 minutes. The default period is 30 minutes. Shorter durations ensure that control points receive current device status at the expense of more network traffic. Longer durations can compromise the freshness of the device status but can significantly reduce network traffic. 7. Type the advertisement time to live in hops.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router 7. Clear the Enable WMM (Wi-Fi multimedia) settings (5 GHz a/n/ac) check box. 8. Click the Apply button. Your settings are saved.
Manage Your Network 7 This chapter describes the router settings for administering and maintaining your router and home network.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Update the Router Firmware The router firmware (routing software) is stored in flash memory. You might see a message at the top of the router pages when new firmware is available. You can respond to that message to update the firmware or you can check to see if new firmware is available and update your product. To check for new firmware and update your router: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or WiFi device that is connected to the network. 2.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Note Be sure to change the password for the user name admin to a secure password. The ideal password contains no dictionary words from any language and contains uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. It can be up to 30 characters. To set the password for the user name admin: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or WiFi device that is connected to the network. 2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. 3.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router To set up password recovery: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or WiFi device that is connected to the network. 2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. 3. Enter the router user name and password. The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC Home page displays. 4. Select ADVANCED > Administration > Set Password. The Set Password page displays. 5.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router A login window opens. 9. With your recovered password, log in to the router. View Router Status To view the router status and usage information: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or WiFi device that is connected to the network. 2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. 3. Enter the router user name and password. The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC Home page displays.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Display Internet Port Statistics To display Internet port statistics: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or WiFi device that is connected to the network. 2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. 3. Enter the router user name and password. The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC Home page displays. 4. Click the ADVANCED tab. The ADVANCED Home page displays. 5.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router • Up Time. The time elapsed since this port acquired the link. • Poll Interval. The interval at which the statistics are updated on this page. 6. To change the polling frequency, enter a time in seconds in the Poll Interval field and click the Set Interval button. To stop the polling entirely, click the Stop button. Check the Internet Connection Status To check the Internet connection status: 1.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router • IP Address. The IP address that is assigned to the router. • Subnet Mask. The subnet mask that is assigned to the router. • Default Gateway. The IP address for the default gateway that the router communicates with. • DHCP Server. The IP address for the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol server that provides the TCP/IP configuration for all the computers that are connected to the router. • DNS Server.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router 4. Select ADVANCED > Administration > Logs. The Logs page shows the following information: • Action. The action that occurred, such as whether Internet access was blocked or allowed. • Source IP. The IP address of the initiating device for this log entry. • Target address. The name or IP address of the website or news group visited or to which access was attempted. • Date and time. The date and time the log entry was recorded. 5.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router To view devices on the network: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or WiFi device that is connected to the network. 2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. 3. Enter the router user name and password. The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC Home page displays. 4. Select Attached Devices.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router 4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > Traffic Meter. 5. Select the Enable Traffic Meter check box. 6. To control the volume of Internet traffic, use either the traffic volume control feature or the connection time control feature: • • Select the Traffic volume control by radio button and then select one of the following options: • No Limit. No restriction is applied when the traffic limit is reached. • Download only.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router 10. Click the Apply button. The Internet Traffic Statistics section helps you to monitor the data traffic. 11. To update the Traffic Statistics section, click the Refresh button. 12. To display more information about the data traffic on your router and to change the poll interval, click the Traffic Status button. Manage the Router Configuration File The configuration settings of the router are stored within the router in a configuration file.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Erase the Current Configuration Settings You can erase the current configuration and restore the factory default settings. You might want to do this if you move the router to a different network. (See Factory Settings on page 183.) To erase the configuration settings: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or WiFi device that is connected to the network. 2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. 3. Enter the router user name and password.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router WARNING: Do not interrupt the reboot process. Remote Access You can access your router over the Internet to view or change its settings. You must know the router’s WAN IP address to use this feature. For information about remote access using Dynamic DNS, see Set Up and Manage Dynamic DNS on page 123. Note Be sure to change the password for the user name admin to a secure password.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router 6. In the Allow Remote Access By section, specify the external IP addresses to be allowed to access the router’s remote management. Note For enhanced security, restrict access to as few external IP addresses as practical. Select one of the following: • Only This Computer. Allow access from a single IP address on the Internet. Enter the IP address to be allowed access. • IP Address Range. Allow access from a range of IP addresses on the Internet.
Share USB Storage Devices Attached to the Router 8 This chapter describes how to access and manage storage devices attached to your router. ReadySHARE lets you access and share USB storage devices connected to the router. (If your storage device uses special drivers, it is not compatible.) Note The USB ports on the router can be used only to connect USB storage devices like flash drives or hard drives or a printer. Do not connect computers, USB modems, CD drives, or DVD drives to the router USB port.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router USB Device Requirements The router works with most USB-compliant external flash and hard drives. For the most up-to-date list of USB devices that the router supports, visit kb.netgear.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/18985/~/readyshare-usb-drives-compatibility-list. Some USB external hard drives and flash drives require you to load the drivers onto the computer before the computer can access the USB device. Such USB devices do not work with the router.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router To connect a USB device: 1. Insert your USB storage drive into a USB port on the side panel of the router. 2. If your USB device uses a power supply, connect it. You must use the power supply when you connect the USB device to the router. When you connect the USB device to the router USB port, it might take up to two minutes before it is ready for sharing. By default, the USB device is available to all computers on your local area network (LAN).
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router 4. Click the OK button. 5. Right-click the USB device and select Map network drive. 6. Select the drive letter to map to the new network folder. 7. Click the Finish button. The USB device is mapped to the drive letter that you specified. 8. To connect to the USB storage device as a different user, select the Connect using different credentials check box, click the Finish button, and do the following: a. Type the user name and password. b. Click the OK button.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Back Up Windows Computers With ReadySHARE Vault Your router comes with free backup software for all the Windows computers in your home. Connect a USB hard disk drive (HDD) or an eSATA storage device to the router for centralized, continuous, and automatic backup. The following operating systems support ReadySHARE Vault: • Windows XP SP3 • Windows 7 • Windows 8 • Windows 8.1 To back up your Windows computer: 1.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router 6. Click the Options button. The Partition schemes display. 7. Select the GUID Partition Table or Master Boot Record radio button. 8. In the Format menu, select Mac OS Extended (Journaled). 9. Click the OK button. 10. Click the Apply button. Your settings are saved. Prepare to Back Up a Large Amount of Data Before you back up a large amount of data with Time Machine, NETGEAR recommends that you follow this procedure. To prepare to back up a large amount of data: 1.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Use Time Machine to Back Up Onto a USB Hard Disk You can use Time Machine to back up your Mac computers onto a USB hard disk drive (HDD) that is connected to one of the router’s USB ports. To back up your Mac onto a USB hard disk drive: 1. Prepare your USB device with a compatible format and partitions. For more information, see Set Up a USB Hard Drive on a Mac on page 114. 2.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router When the setup is complete, the Mac automatically schedules a full backup. You can back up immediately if you want. Use FTP Within the Network File Transfer Protocol (FTP) lets you send and receive large files faster. To set up FTP access: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or WiFi device that is connected to the network. 2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. 3. Enter the router user name and password. The user name is admin.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router 4. Select ADVANCED > ReadySHARE > ReadySHARE Storage > Advanced Settings. 5. Scroll down to the Available Networks Folder section and adjust the following settings: • Share Name. If only one USB device is connected, the default share name is USB_Storage. You can click the name or you can type it in the address field of your web browser. If Not Shared is shown, the default share was deleted and no other share for the root folder exists.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Add a Network Folder on a Storage Device You can add network folders on a USB or eSATA storage device connected to the router ports. To add a network folder: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or WiFi device that is connected to the network. 2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. 3. Enter the router user name and password. The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and password are case-sensitive.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router The user name (account name) for All–no password is guest. The password for admin is the same one that is used to log in to the router. By default, it is password. 8. Click the Apply button. The folder is added on the storage device. Edit a Network Folder on a Storage Device You can edit network folders on storage devices connected to the router USB ports or the eSATA port. To edit a network folder: 1.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router 6. Change the settings in the fields as needed. 7. Click the Apply button. Your changes are saved. Safely Remove a USB Device Before you physically disconnect a USB device from the router USB port, log in to the router and take the drive offline. To remove a USB disk drive safely: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or WiFi device that is connected to the network. 2. Enterhttp://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. 3.
Use Dynamic DNS to Access USB Storage Devices Through the Internet 9 With Dynamic DNS, you can use the Internet to access USB devices attached to the router’s USB ports when you’re not home.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Set Up and Manage Dynamic DNS Internet service providers (ISPs) assign numbers called IP addresses to identify each Internet account. Most ISPs use dynamically assigned IP addresses. This means that the IP address can change at any time. You can use the IP address to access your network remotely, but most people don’t know what their IP addresses are or when this number changes.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Your Personal FTP Server With your customized free URL, you can use FTP to access your network when you aren’t home through Dynamic DNS. To set up your FTP server, you must register for a NETGEAR Dynamic DNS (DDNS) service account and specify the account settings. See Set Up a New Dynamic DNS Account on page 125. Figure 11.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Your router must use a direct Internet connection. It cannot connect to a different router to access the Internet. 3. Connect a storage device to the router. 4. If your USB device uses a power supply, connect it. You must use the power supply when you connect the USB device to the router. When you connect the USB device to the router USB port, it might take up to two minutes before it is ready for sharing.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router 4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > Dynamic DNS. 5. Select the Use a Dynamic DNS Service check box. 6. From the Service Provider menu, select NETGEAR. You can select another service provider. 7. Select the No radio button. 8. In the Host Name field, type the name that you want to use for your URL. The host name is sometimes called the domain name. Your free URL includes the host name that you specify and ends with mynetgear.com. For example, specify MyName.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router 3. Enter the router user name and password. The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC Home page displays. 4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > Dynamic DNS. 5. Select the Use a Dynamic DNS Service check box. 6. From the Service Provider menu, select your provider. 7. Select the Yes radio button. The page adjusts and displays the Show Status, Cancel, and Apply buttons. 8.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router To change your settings: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or WiFi device that is connected to the network. 2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. 3. Enter the router user name and password. The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC Home page displays. 4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > Dynamic DNS. The Dynamic DNS page displays. 5.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Access USB Storage Devices Through the Internet You can access USB storage devices through the Internet when you’re not home. To access devices from a remote computer: 1. Launch a web browser on a computer that is not on your home network. 2. Connect to your home router: • To connect with Dynamic DNS, type the DNS name. To use a Dynamic DNS account, you must enter the account information on the Dynamic DNS page. See Set Up and Manage Dynamic DNS on page 123.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router 4. Click the Create Account link. 5. Complete the fields to set up your account, and click the Create button. You are now ready to register your router with your ReadyCLOUD account. Register Your Router With ReadyCLOUD After you create a ReadyCLOUD account, you must register your router with your ReadyCLOUD account. To register your router with your ReadyCLOUD account: 1. Visit kb.netgear.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router 6. Select ADVANCED > USB Functions > ReadySHARE Storage. The ReadySHARE page displays. 7. Click the ReadyCLOUD tab. 8. Enter your ReadyCLOUD user name and password and click the Register button. If you did not create a ReadyCLOUD account, see Create a ReadyCLOUD Account on page 129. The router is registered with ReadyCLOUD. Note If the router’s Internet connection mode is set to Dial on Demand, the router automatically changes the connection mode to Always On.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Download Files Onto a USB Storage Device NETGEAR Downloader is a download agent that runs on the router. You can use it to download files onto a USB HDD that is connected to the router so that you do not need to keep the computer running. Download Files To access devices from a remote computer: 1. Connect your USB storage device to the router USB port. 2. If your USB device uses a power supply, connect it.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router 10. Click the Add button. The router begins the download. 11. To display the downloading status, click the Refresh button. 12. Click the Apply button. Your settings are saved. You can use the Pause, Resume, and Delete buttons to manage the downloading tasks. The completed downloading tasks display in the Downloaded Files section.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Your settings are saved. Send Downloader Email Notifications The router can email you when a downloader task is finished. To set up email notifications when a downloader task is finished: 1. Launch a web browser on a computer that is not on your home network. 2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. 3. Enter the router user name and password. The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and password are case-sensitive.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Manage Downloader Tasks To manage downloader tasks: 1. Launch a web browser on a computer that is not on your home network. 2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. 3. Enter the router user name and password. The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC Home page displays. 4. Select NETGEAR Downloader (BETA). 5. Make any needed changes. 6. Click the Apply button.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router When you connect the USB device to the router USB port, it might take up to two minutes before it is ready for sharing. By default, the USB device is available to all computers on your local area network (LAN). 4. Make sure that the router is connected to the Internet. 5. Connect your iOS device to the router’s WiFi network. If you set up a guest network, make sure that you are not connected to the guest network. 6.
Use the Router as a Media Server 10 The router comes set up to work as a ReadyDLNA media server. You can set up the router to play music from iTunes Server and media from TiVo.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Specify ReadyDLNA Media Server Settings By default, the router acts as a ReadyDLNA media server, which lets you view movies and photos on DLNA/UPnP AV-compliant media players, such as Xbox360, Playstation, and NETGEAR media players. To specify media server settings: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or WiFi device that is connected to the network. 2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. 3. Enter the router user name and password.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Figure 12. Play music on a USB device with iTunes Set Up the Router’s iTunes Server With iTunes You can play music from a USB device that is connected to your router with iTunes on your Windows or Mac computer using Home Sharing. To set up Home Sharing, you need an Apple account and the latest version of iTunes installed on your computer. To set up the router’s iTunes server to play music on iTunes: 1. Connect a USB storage device to a USB port on your router. 2.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router The BASIC Home page displays. 6. Select ADVANCED > ReadySHARE > Media Server. The Media Server (Settings) page displays. 7. Select the Enable iTunes Media Server (Music Only) check box. 8. Click the Apply button. Your settings are saved. 9. On your Windows or Mac computer, launch iTunes. 10. Select File > Home Sharing > Turn On Home Sharing. The Home Sharing page displays. 11. Enter your Apple ID email address and password. 12. Click the Turn On Home Sharing button.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router 6. Click the Add a Device button. 7. Specify the passcode in the router to set up your iTunes server. a. Launch a web browser from a computer or WiFi device that is connected to your router's network. b. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. c. Enter the router user name and password. The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC Home page displays. d.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Your settings are saved. Your iPhone or iPad pairs with the router and the iTunes Server is ready. The router displays in the Remote app. 8. In the Remote app, tap the router your iPhone or iPad is connected to. The music that is on the USB device that is connected to the router displays in the app. Play Media From a USB Device on TiVo You can set up your TiVo to access media files stored on a USB device that is connected to your router.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Play Videos on TiVo To play videos: 1. On the TiVo, select TiVo Central > My Shows. 2. Go to the bottom of the list and select the router model. Play Music or View Photos on TiVo To play music or view photos: 1. On the TiVo, select TiVo Central > Music, Photos, & Showcases. 2. Select an item to play or watch.
Share a USB Printer 11 The ReadySHARE Printer utility lets you share a USB printer that is connected to the USB port on your router. You can share this USB printer among the Windows and Mac computers on your network. For more information about the features available in the NETGEAR USB Control Center, see the ReadySHARE Printer User Manual, which is available at http://downloadcenter.netgear.com.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Install the Printer Driver and Cable the Printer Some USB printer manufacturers (for example, HP and Lexmark) request that you do not connect the USB cable until the installation software prompts you to do so. To install the driver and cable the printer: 1. On each computer on your network that shares the USB printer, install the driver software for the USB printer. If you cannot locate the printer driver, contact the printer manufacturer. 2.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router To install the utility: 1. If necessary, unzip the ReadySHARE Printer utility setup file. 2. Double-click the ReadySHARE Printer utility setup file that you downloaded. 3. Follow the wizard instructions to install the NETGEAR USB Control Center. 4. Select a language from the menu and click the OK button. The USB printer connected to the router displays in the NETGEAR USB Control Center window.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Print Using the NETGEAR USB Control Center For each computer, after you click the Connect and Disconnect buttons once, the utility automatically manages the printing queue and handling. By default, the utility starts automatically whenever you log on to Windows and runs in the background. To print a document using the NETGEAR USB Control Center: 1. Click the NETGEAR USB Control Center icon . The NETGEAR USB Control Center page displays. 2.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router a. Click the Connect button on your computer. On the other user’s computer, a message displays that another user wants to connect to the printer. b. On the other user's computer, click the Accept button. The printer is released from the connection and the status changes to Available. 3. To print from your computer when the status shows Waiting to Connect, do the following: a. Click the Connect button. The printer status changes to Manually connected by Mycomputer.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router To turn off automatic NETGEAR USB Control Center startup: 1. Click the NETGEAR USB Control Center icon . The NETGEAR USB Control Center page displays. 2. Select Tools > Configuration. The Control Center - Configuration page displays. 3. Clear the Automatically execute when logging on Windows check box. 4. Click the OK button. Your settings are saved. Change the Language for the NETGEAR USB Control Center To change the language: 1.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router The time-out is the number of minutes that a computer holds its connection to the printer when the connection isn’t being used. 4. Click the OK button. Your settings are saved.
Customize Internet Traffic Rules for Ports 12 You can use port forwarding and port triggering to set up rules for Internet traffic. You need networking knowledge to set up these features.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Port Forwarding to a Local Server If your home network includes a server, you can allow certain types of incoming traffic to reach the server. For example, you might want to make a local web server, FTP server, or game server visible and available to the Internet. The router can forward incoming traffic with specific protocols to computers on your local network.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router If the service that you want to add is not in the menu, create a custom service. See Add a Custom Port Forwarding Service on page 153. 10. In the Server IP Address field, enter the IP address of the computer that will provide the service. 11. Click the Add button. The service displays in the menu. Add a Custom Port Forwarding Service To add a custom service: 1. Find out which port number or range of numbers the application uses.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router 9. From the Protocol menu, select the protocol. If you are unsure, select TCP/UDP. 10. In the External port range field, enter the port numbers. 11. Specify the internal ports by one of these methods: • Leave the Use the same port range for Internal port check box selected. • Type the port numbers in the Internal Port Range field. You can enter a port range and fixed ports in one rule. For example, external (30-50, 78, 100-102), internal (40-60, 99, 200-202).
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Delete a Port Forwarding Entry To delete a port forwarding entry: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or WiFi device that is connected to the network. 2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. 3. Enter therouter user name and password. The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC Home page displays. 4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > Port Forwarding/Port Triggering.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router How the Router Implements the Port Forwarding Rule The following sequence shows the effects of a port forwarding rule: 1. When you type the URL www.example.com in your browser, the browser sends a web page request message with the following destination information: • Destination address. The IP address of www.example.com, which is the address of your router. • Destination port number. 80, which is the standard port number for a web server process. 2.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router 3. Enter the router user name and password. The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC Home page displays. 4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > Port Forwarding/Port Triggering. The Port Forwarding/Port Triggering page displays. 5. Select the Port Triggering radio button. 6. Click the Add Service button. 7. In the Service Name field, type a descriptive service name. 8.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router 10. In the Triggering Port field, enter the number of the outbound traffic port that will open the inbound ports. 11. In the Connection Type, Starting Port, and Ending Port fields, enter the inbound connection information. 12. Click the Apply button. The service is now in the Portmap Table. You must enable port triggering before the router uses port triggering. See Enable Port Triggering on page 158. Enable Port Triggering To enable port triggering: 1.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router This value controls how long the inbound ports stay open when the router detects no activity. This value is required because the router cannot detect when the application terminates. 8. Click the Apply button. Your settings are saved. Application Example: Port Triggering for Internet Relay Chat Some application servers, such as FTP and IRC servers, send replies to multiple port numbers.
Use VPN to Access Your Network 13 You can use OpenVPN software to remotely access your router using virtual private networking (VPN). This chapter explains how to set up and use VPN access.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Set Up a VPN Connection A virtual private network (VPN) lets you use the Internet to securely access your network when you aren’t home. Figure 13. VPN provides a secure tunnel between your home network and a remote computer This type of VPN access is called a client-to-gateway tunnel.The computer is the client, and the router is the gateway.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router The BASIC Home page displays. 4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > VPN Service. The VPN page displays. 5. Select the Enable VPN Service check box. By default, the VPN uses the UDP service type and uses port 12974. If you want to customize the service type and port, we recommend that you change these settings before you install the OpenVPN software. 6. To change the service type, scroll down and select the TCP radio button. 7.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router 7. Click the For Windows button to download the OpenVPN configuration files. 8. Visit openvpn.net/index.php/download/community-downloads.html to download the OpenVPN client utility. 9. In the Windows Installer section of the page, double-click the openVPN-install-xxx.exe link. 10. Download and install the Open VPN software on your computer, click the openVPN-install-xxx.exe file. 11. Click the Next button. 12. Read the License Agreement and click the I Agree button.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router 14. To specify the destination folder, click the Browse button and select a destination folder. 15. Click the Install button. The window displays the progress of the installation and then displays the final installation page. 16. Click the Finish button. 17. Unzip the configuration files that you downloaded and copy them to the folder where the VPN client is installed on your device.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router If you do not change the VPN interface name, the VPN tunnel connection will fail. For more information about using OpenVPN on your Windows computer, visit https://openvpn.net/index.php/open-source/documentation/howto.html#quick. Install OpenVPN Software on Your Mac Computer You must install this software on each Mac computer that you plan to use for VPN connections to your router. To install VPN client software on your Mac computer: 1.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router To install VPN client software on an iOS device: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or WiFi device that is connected to the network. 2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. 3. Enter the router user name and password. The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC Home page displays. 4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > VPN Service. The VPN Service page displays. 5.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router 4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > VPN Service. The VPN Service page displays. 5. Make sure that the Enable VPN Service check box is selected. 6. Specify any VPN service settings on the page. For more information, see Specify VPN Service in the Router on page 161. 7. Click the For Smart Phone button to download the OpenVPN configuration files. 8. On your Android device, download and install the OpenVPN Connect app from the Google Play Store. 9.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router To open a VPN tunnel: 1. Launch the OpenVPN application with administrator privileges. The OpenVPN icon displays in the Windows taskbar. Tip You can create a shortcut to the VPN program, then use the shortcut to access the settings and select the run as administrator check box.Then every time you use this shortcut, OpenVPN automatically runs with administrator privileges. 2. Right-click the OpenVPN icon. 3. Select Connect. The VPN connection is established.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Use VPN to Access the Router’s USB Device and Media To access a USB device and download files: 1. In Windows file manager, select the Network folder. The network resources display. The ReadySHARE icon is in the Computer section and the remote router icon is in the Media Devices section (if DLNA is enabled in the router). 2. If the icons do not display, click the Refresh button to update the screen.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router 3. Enter the router user name and password. The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC Home page displays. 4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > VPN Service. The VPN page displays. 5. Select the Enable VPN Service radio button. 6. Scroll down to the Clients will use this VPN connection to access section, and select the All sites on the Internet & Home Network radio button.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router 6. Scroll down to the Clients will use this VPN connection to access section, and select the Home Network only radio button. This is the default setting. The VPN connection is only to your home network, not to the Internet service for your home network. 7. Click the Apply button. Your settings are saved. 8. Click For Windows or For Non Windows button and download the configuration files for your VPN clients. 9.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC Home page displays. 4. Select ADVANCED > Setup > WAN Setup. 5. To disable VPN pass-through for one or more protocols, select the corresponding Disable radio buttons in the VPN Pass-Through section. By default, VPN pass-through is enabled for all protocols for which the router supports pass-through (IPSec, PPTP, and L2TP). 6. Click the Apply button.
Troubleshooting 14 This chapter provides information to help you diagnose and solve problems you might experience with your router. If you do not find the solution here, check the NETGEAR support site at http://support.netgear.com for product and contact information.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Quick Tips This section describes tips for troubleshooting some common problems. Sequence to Restart Your Network If you must restart your network, follow this sequence: 1. Turn off and unplug the modem. 2. Turn off the router. 3. Plug in the modem and turn it on. Wait two minutes. 4. Turn on the router and wait two minutes. Check Ethernet Cable Connections If your device does not power on, make sure that the Ethernet cables are securely plugged in.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router 1. When power is first applied, verify that the Power LED is lit. 2. After about two minutes, verify the following: • • • The Power LED is solid white. The Internet LED is lit. The WiFi LED is lit unless you turned off the WiFi radio. You can use the LEDs on the front panel of the router for troubleshooting. Power LED Is Off or Blinking This could occur for a number of reasons.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Internet or Ethernet Port LEDs Are Off If either the Ethernet port LEDs or the Internet LED does not light when the Ethernet connection is made, check the following: • Make sure that the Ethernet cable connections are secure at the router and at the modem or computer. • Make sure that power is turned on to the connected modem or computer. • Be sure that you are using the correct cable.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router You Cannot Access the Internet If you can access your router but not the Internet, check to see if the router can obtain an IP address from your Internet service provider (ISP). Unless your ISP provides a fixed IP address, your router requests an IP address from the ISP. You can determine whether the request was successful using the ADVANCED Home page. To check the WAN IP address: 1.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router A DNS server is a host on the Internet that translates Internet names (such as www addresses) to numeric IP addresses. Typically, your ISP provides the addresses of one or two DNS servers for your use. If you entered a DNS address during the router’s configuration, reboot your computer, and verify the DNS address.You can configure your computer manually with DNS addresses, as explained in your operating system documentation.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Troubleshoot WiFi Connectivity If you are experiencing trouble connecting over WiFi to the router, try to isolate the problem: • Does the WiFi device or computer that you are using find your WiFi network? If not, check the WiFi LED on the front of the router. If it is off, you can press the WiFi On/Off button on the router to turn the router WiFi radios back on.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Reply from < IP address >: bytes=32 time=NN ms TTL=xxx If the path is not working, you see this message: Request timed out If the path is not functioning correctly, one of the following problems might be occuring: • Wrong physical connections For a wired connection, make sure that the numbered LAN port LED is lit for the port to which you are connected. Check to see that the appropriate LEDs are lit for your network devices.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Many broadband ISPs restrict access by allowing traffic only from the MAC address of your broadband modem. Some ISPs additionally restrict access to the MAC address of a single computer connected to that modem. If your ISP does this, configure your router to “clone” or “spoof” the MAC address from the authorized computer.
Supplemental Information This appendix includes technical information about your router.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Factory Settings You can return the router to its factory settings. Use the end of a paper clip or a similar object to press and hold the Reset button on the back of the router for at least seven seconds. The router resets and returns to the factory configuration settings shown in the following table. Table 3. Factory default settings Feature Router login Internet connection Local network (LAN) Firewall Default Setting User login URL www.routerlogin.com or www.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Feature Wireless Default Setting Wireless communication Enabled SSID name See router label Security WPA2-PSK (AES) Broadcast SSID Enabled Transmission speed Auto Country/region United States in the US; otherwise, varies by region RF channel Auto for 2.4GHz, CH 44 for WW SKU and CH 153 for North America SKU Operating mode Up to 600 Mbps at 2.4 GHz, 1733 Mbps at 5 GHz 1 1 Maximum wireless signal rate derived from IEEE Standard 802.11 specifications.
Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Feature Description Electromagnetic emissions FCC Part 15 Class B EN 55 022 (CISPR 22), Class B C-Tick N10947 LAN 10BASE-T or 100BASE-TX or 1000BASE-T, RJ-45 WAN 10BASE-T or 100BASE-TX or 1000BASE-T, RJ-45 Wireless Maximum WiFi signal rate complies with the IEEE 802.11 standard. Radio data rates Auto Rate Sensing Data encoding standards 2 • IEEE® 802.11 b/g/n 2.4 GHz–256 QAM support • IEEE® 802.11 a/n/ac 5.
