R6250 Smart WiFi Router User Manual April 2013 202-11215-01 350 East Plumeria Drive San Jose, CA 95134 USA
R6250 Smart WiFi Router Support Thank you for selecting NETGEAR products. After installing your device, locate the serial number on the label of your product and use it to register your product at https://my.netgear.com. You must register your product before you can use NETGEAR telephone support. NETGEAR recommends registering your product through the NETGEAR website. For product updates and web support, visit http://support.netgear.com. Phone (US & Canada only): 1-888-NETGEAR.
Contents Chapter 1 Hardware Setup Unpack Your Router . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Hardware Features. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Front and Side Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Rear Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Label. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
R6250 Smart WiFi Router Change the MTU Size . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 LAN Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 LAN Setup Screen Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 The Role of the Router as a DHCP Server. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Address Reservation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
R6250 Smart WiFi Router View Router Status. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 Router Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77 Internet Port . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 Wireless Settings (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80 View Logs of Web Access or Attempted Web Access . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
R6250 Smart WiFi Router LEDs Never Turn Off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116 Internet or Ethernet Port LEDs Are Off. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116 Wireless LEDs Are Off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116 The Push 'N' Connect (WPS) Button Blinks Amber . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116 Cannot Log In to the Router . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1. Hardware Setup Get t ing to kno w yo ur r out er 1 The R6250 Smart WiFi Router with AC dual band delivers AC1600 WiFi and Gigabit Ethernet speeds. It offers the best wireless coverage for large homes and is ideal for homes with 10 or more wireless devices. Compatible with next generation WiFi devices and backward compatible with 802.11 a/b/g/n devices, it enables HD streaming throughout your home.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router Unpack Your Router Open the box and remove the router, cables, and installation guide. Ethernet cable with internal shielding WiFi Router Power adapter Figure 1. Check the package contents Your box contains the following items: • R6250 Smart WiFi Router • AC power adapter (plug varies by region) • Category 5 (Cat 5) Ethernet cable • Installation guide with cabling and router setup instructions If any parts are incorrect, missing, or damaged, contact your NETGEAR dealer.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router Front and Side Panel The router front panel has the status LEDs and icons shown in the following figure. WiFi On/Off button WPS button LEDs Figure 2. Router front and side view Table 1. Front panel LED descriptions LED Description Power • • • • • Solid amber. The router is starting up. Blinking amber. The firmware is upgrading, or the Restore Factory Settings button was pressed. Solid green. The router is ready. Blinking green. The firmware is corrupted. See www.netgear.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router The WiFi and WPS buttons toggle the WiFi and WPS functions on and off. • WiFi On/Off button. Pressing and holding this button for 2 seconds turns on and off the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz wireless radios. If the Wireless LED is lit, the wireless radios are on. If this LED is off, the wireless radios are turned off and you cannot connect wirelessly to the router. • WPS button. You can use this button to use WPS to add a wireless device or computer to your wireless network.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router Label The label on the bottom of the router shows the WPS PIN, login information, MAC address, and serial number. Default access information Preset SSID Preset WiFi password Serial number and MAC address Figure 4. The label shows unique information about your router Position Your Router The router lets you access your network from virtually anywhere within the operating range of your wireless network.
2. 2 Getting Started C onnec ting to th e ro ut er This chapter explains how to use NETGEAR genie to set up your router after you complete cabling as described in the installation guide.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router Router Setup Preparation You can set up your router with the NETGEAR genie automatically, or you can use the genie menus and screens to set up your router manually. Before you start the setup process, get your ISP information and make sure the computers and devices in the network have the settings described here.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router NETGEAR genie Setup NETGEAR genie runs on any device with a web browser. Installation and basic setup takes about 15 minutes to complete. To use NETGEAR genie to set up your router: 1. Turn the router on by pressing the On/Off button. 2. Make sure that your computer or wireless device is connected to the router with an Ethernet cable (wired) or wirelessly with the preset security settings listed on the bottom label. 3. Launch your Internet browser.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router Use NETGEAR genie after Installation When you first set up your router, NETGEAR genie automatically starts when you launch an Internet browser on a computer that is connected to the router. If you want to view or change settings for the router, you can use genie again. 1. Launch your browser from a computer or wireless device that is connected to the router. 2. Type http://www.routerlogin.net or http://www.routerlogin.com. A login window displays. 3.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router Dashboard (Basic Home Screen) The router Basic Home screen has a dashboard that lets you see the status of your Internet connection and network at a glance. You can click any of the six sections of the dashboard to view and change the settings. The left column has menus. You can use the Advanced tab to access more menus and screens. Language Dashboard (Click to view details) Menus (Click the Advanced tab to view more) Help Figure 5.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router Join Your Wireless Network You can use the manual or the WPS method to join your wireless network. For instructions about how to set up a guest network, see Set Up a Guest Network on page 28. Manual Method With the manual method, choose the network that you want and type its password to connect. To connect manually: 1. On your computer or wireless device, open the software that manages your wireless connections. This software scans for all wireless networks in your area. 2.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router NETGEAR genie App and Mobile genie App The genie app is the easy dashboard for managing, monitoring, and repairing your home network. See the NETGEAR genie App User Manual for details about the genie apps. Retrieve wireless password About genie Language Menu Dashboard (Click to view details) Support Figure 6. genie app dashboard The genie app can help you with the following: • Automatically repair common wireless network problems.
3. NETGEAR genie Basic Settings Your I ntern et con ne ction and W iFi net wor k 3 This chapter contains the following sections: • Internet Setup • Parental Controls • Basic Wireless Settings • Set Up a Guest Network • View Attached Devices For information about the ReadySHARE feature on the Basic Home tab, see Chapter 5, USB Storage and Chapter 6, ReadySHARE Printer.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router Internet Setup The Internet Setup screen is where you view or change basic ISP information. Note: You can use the Setup Wizard to detect the Internet connection and automatically set up the router. See Internet Connection Setup Wizard on page 31. To view or change the basic Internet setup: 1. From the Home screen, select Internet. Scroll to view more settings The fields that display in the Internet Setup screen depend on whether your Internet connection requires a login.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router Internet Setup Screen Fields The following descriptions explain all of the possible fields in the Internet Setup screen. The fields that display in this screen depend on whether tan ISP login is required. Does Your Internet connection require a login? Answer either yes or no. These fields display when no login is required: • Account Name (If required). Enter the account name provided by your ISP. This might also be called the host name. • Domain Name (If required).
R6250 Smart WiFi Router your account is first opened. They accept traffic only from the MAC address of that computer. This feature allows your router to use your computer’s MAC address (also called cloning). • Use Default Address. Use the default MAC address. • Use Computer MAC Address. The router captures and uses the MAC address of the computer that you are now using. You have to use the one computer that the ISP allows. • Use This MAC Address. Enter the MAC address that you want to use.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router After installation, Live Parental Controls automatically starts. 4. Click Next, read the note, and click Next again to proceed. Because Live Parental Controls uses free OpenDNS accounts, you are prompted to log in or create a free account. 5. Select the radio button that applies to you and click Next. • If you already have an OpenDNS account, leave the Yes radio button selected. • If you do not have an OpenDNS account, select the No radio button.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router After you log on or create your account, the filtering level screen displays: 6. Select the radio button for the filtering level that you want and click Next. 7. Click the Take me to the status screen button. Parental controls are now set up for the router. The dashboard shows Parental Controls as Enabled. Basic Wireless Settings The Wireless Settings screen lets you view or configure the wireless network setup. The router comes with preset security.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router NETGEAR recommends that you do not change your preset security settings. If you change your preset security settings, make a note of the new settings and store it in a safe place where you can easily find it. If you use a wireless computer to change the wireless network name (SSID) or other wireless security settings, you are disconnected when you click Apply. To avoid this problem, use a computer with a wired connection to access the router.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router Wireless Settings Screen Fields You can use this screen to view or change the wireless network settings and the security option. Enable SSID Broadcast. This feature allows the router to broadcast its SSID so wireless stations can see this wireless name (SSID) in their scanned network lists. This check box is selected by default. To turn off the SSID broadcast, clear this check box, and click Apply. Enable Wireless Isolation.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router WPA uses a passphrase for authentication and to generate the initial data encryption keys. Then it dynamically varies the encryption key. WPA-PSK uses Temporal Key Integrity Protocol (TKIP) data encryption, implements most of the IEEE 802.11i standard, and works with all wireless network interface cards, but not all wireless access points. WPA2-PSK is stronger than WPA-PSK.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router Set Up a Guest Network A guest network allows visitors at your home to use the Internet without revealing your wireless security key. You can add a guest network to each wireless network: 2.4 GHz b/g/n and 5.0 GHz a/n. To set up a guest network: 1. Select Basic > Guest Network. 2. Select any of the following wireless settings: Enable Guest Network.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router View Attached Devices Use the Attached Device screen to view all computers or devices that are currently connected to your network. To go to the Attached Devices screen: 1. From the Basic Home screen, select Attached Devices. Wired devices are connected to the router with Ethernet cables. Wireless devices have joined the wireless network. The following information is displayed: • # (number). The order in which the device joined the network. • IP Address.
4. NETGEAR genie Advanced Home S pecify cu sto m se ttings This chapter contains the following sections: • NETGEAR genie Advanced Home Screen • Internet Connection Setup Wizard • WAN Setup • LAN Setup • WPS Wizard for WiFi Connections • Quality of Service (QoS) Setup Some selections on the Advanced Home screen are described in separate chapters: • USB Storage. See Chapter 5, USB Storage. • Security. See Chapter 7, Security. • Administration. See Chapter 8, Administration.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router NETGEAR genie Advanced Home Screen The genie Advanced Home dashboard presents status information. The content is the same as what is on the Router Status screen available from the Administration menu. The genie Advanced Home screen is shown in the following figure: probably show menus too Internet Connection Setup Wizard You can use the Setup Wizard to detect your Internet settings and automatically set up your router.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router The Setup Wizard searches your Internet connection for servers and protocols to determine your ISP configuration. WAN Setup The WAN Setup screen lets you configure a DMZ (demilitarized zone) server, change the maximum transmit unit (MTU) size, and enable the router to respond to a ping on the WAN (Internet) port. To view or change the WAN settings: 1. Select Advanced > Setup > WAN Setup. 2. Specify the following settings: • Disable Port Scan and DoS Protection.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router allows your router to be discovered. Do not select this check box unless you have a specific reason. • 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).
R6250 Smart WiFi Router 3. Type the IP address. 4. Click Apply. Your change takes effect. Change the MTU Size The maximum transmission unit (MTU) is the largest data packet a network device transmits. When one network device communicates across the Internet with another, the data packets travel through many devices along the way. If a device in the data path has a lower MTU setting than the other devices, the data packets have to be split or “fragmented” to accommodate the device with the smallest MTU.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router Table 2. Common MTU sizes (continued) MTU Application 1472 Maximum size to use for pinging. (Larger packets are fragmented.) 1468 Used in some DHCP environments. 1460 Usable by AOL if you do not have large email attachments, for example. 1436 Used in PPTP environments or with VPN. 1400 Maximum size for AOL DSL. 576 Typical value to connect to dial-up ISPs. To change the MTU size: 1. Select Advanced > Setup > WAN Setup. 2.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router To change the LAN settings: 1. Select Advanced > Setup > LAN Setup. 2. Enter the settings that you want to customize. These settings are described in the following section, LAN Setup Screen Settings. 3. Click Apply. Your changes are saved. LAN Setup Screen Settings LAN TCP/IP Setup • IP Address. The LAN IP address of the router. • IP Subnet Mask. The LAN subnet mask of the router.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router - RIP-2 carries more information. Both RIP-2B and RIP-2M send the routing data in RIP-2 format. RIP-2B uses subnet broadcasting. RIP-2M uses multicasting. Use Router as DHCP Server For most home networks, this check box is selected so that the router acts as a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server. • Starting IP Address. Specify the start of the range for the pool of IP addresses in the same subnet as the router. • Ending IP Address.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router To use disable the DHCP Server feature in the router: 1. Select Advanced > Setup > LAN Setup. 2. Clear the Use Router as DHCP Server check box. 3. Click Apply. 4. (Optional) If this service is disabled and no other DHCP server is on your network, set your computer IP addresses manually so that the can access the router.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router The following screen lets you select the method for adding the WPS client (a wireless device or computer). You can use either the push button or PIN method. 3. Select either Push Button or PIN Number. • To use the push button method, either click the WPS button on this screen, or press the WPS button on the side of the router. Within 2 minutes, go to the wireless client and press its WPS button to join the network without entering a password.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router the client running that application have to have WMM enabled. Legacy applications that do not support WMM and applications that do not require QoS, are assigned to the best effort category, which receives a lower priority than voice and video. WMM QoS is enabled by default. To disable WMM QoS: 1. Select Advanced > Setup > QoS Setup. 2. Clear the Enable WMM check box 3. Click Apply.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router The QoS Priority Rule list displays. You can edit or delete a rule by selecting its radio button and clicking either the Edit or Delete button. You can also delete all the rules by clicking the Delete All button. 4. To add a priority rule, scroll down to the bottom of the QoS Setup screen and click Add Priority Rule. 5. In the QoS Policy for field, type the name of the application or game. 6. In the Priority Category list, select either Applications or Online Gaming.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router QoS for a Router LAN Port To create a QoS policy for a device connected to one of the router’s LAN ports: 1. Select Advanced > Setup > QoS Setup. 2. Select the Turn Internet Access QoS On check box. 3. Click the Setup QoS Rule button. 4. Click the Add Priority Rule button. 5. From the Priority Category list, select Ethernet LAN Port. 6. From the QoS Policy for list, select the LAN port. 7.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router 3. From the Priority Category list, select MAC Address. 4. If the device to be prioritized appears in the MAC Device List, select its radio button. The information from the MAC Device List populates the policy name, MAC Address, and Device Name fields. If the device does not appear in the MAC Device List, click Refresh. If it still does not appear, fill in these fields manually. 5.
5. USB Storage A ccess a nd Con figu re a USB St or age Dev ic e 5 This chapter describes how to access and configure a USB storage drive attached to your router. The USB port 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.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router Connect a USB Storage Device to the Router ReadySHARE lets you access and share or a USB drive connected the router USB port. If your USB device has special drivers, it is not compatible. To connect a USB storage device: 1. Insert your USB storage device into the USB port on the rear panel of the router. 2. If your USB device has a power supply, you must use it when you connect the USB device to the router.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router To access the USB device from a Windows computer: Use any of these methods to access the USB device: • Select Start > Run. Enter \\readyshare in the dialog box and click OK. • Open a browser and enter \\readyshare in the address bar. • Open My Network Places and enter \\readyshare in the address bar. To map the USB device to a Windows network drive: 1. Visit www.netgear.com/readyshare. 2. In the ReadySHARE USB Storage Access pane, click PC Utility.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router To access the USB drive with FTP from a remote computer: 1. Make sure that the FTP check box is selected in the Access Method section of the USB Storage (Advanced Settings) screen (see USB Storage Device Network and Access Settings on page 50). 2. Launch a web browser. 3. Type ftp:// and the Internet port IP address in the address field of the browser. For example, type ftp://10.1.65.4. If you are using Dynamic DNS, you can type the DNS name rather than the IP address. 4.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router Store Files in a Central Location for Printing This scenario is for a family that has one high-quality color printer directly attached to a computer, but not shared on the local area network (LAN). This family does not have a print server. • One family member has photos on a Macintosh computer that she wants to print. • The photo-capable color printer is directly attached to a PC, but not shared on the network. • The Mac and PC are not visible to each other on the network.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router View a USB Device Attached to the Router To view basic information about the USB storage device: 1. Select Basic > ReadySHARE. By default, the Basic radio button is selected, and the screen displays a USB storage device if it is attached to the router USB port. If you logged in to the router before you connected your USB device, you might not see your USB device in this screen. If this happens, log out and then log back in. 2.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router USB Storage Device Network and Access Settings You can set up the device name, workgroups, and network folders for your USB device. To view or change the USB storage advanced settings: 1. Select Advanced > USB Storage > Advanced Settings. 2. Specify access to the USB storage device. • Network Device Name. The default is readyshare. This is the name used to access the USB device connected to the router. • Workgroup.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router Available Network Folders You can view or change the network folders on the USB storage device. To view network folders: 1. Select Advanced > USB Storage > Advanced Settings. 2. Scroll down to the Available Networks Folder section of the screen. • Share Name. If only one device is connected, the default share name is USB_Storage. (Some router models have more than one USB port.) You can click the name, or you can type it in the address field of your web browser.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router 3. Click Create Network Folder. If the Add a Network Folder screen does not display, your web browser might be blocking pop-ups. If it is, then change the browser settings to allow pop-ups. 4. In the Folder field, browse and select the folder. 5. Fill in the Share Name field. 6. In the Read Access list and the Write Access list, select the setting that you want. The user name (account name) for All – no password is guest.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router Specify Approved USB Devices For more security, you can set up the router to share only approved USB devices. To set up approved USB devices: 1. Select Advanced > Advanced Setup > USB Settings. 2. Click the Approved Devices button. This screen shows the approved USB devices and the available USB devices. You can remove or add approved USB devices. 3. In the Available USB Devices list, select the drive that you want to approve. 4. Click Add. 5.
6. ReadySHARE Printer Manage a sh are d USB pr int er 6 ReadySHARE Printer is compatible with Macs and Windows computers. It lets you connect a USB printer to the router’s USB port, and access it wirelessly. This chapter contains the following sections: • ReadySHARE Printer • USB Control Center Utility For more about ReadySHARE features, visit www.netgear.com/readyshare.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router ReadySHARE Printer You can connect a USB printer to the router’s USB port, and share it among Windows and Mac computers on the network. To set up ReadySHARE Printer: 1. Connect the USB printer to the router’s USB port with a USB printer cable. 2. Install the USB printer driver software on each computer that will share the printer. If you do not have the printer driver, contact the printer manufacturer to find and download the most recent printer driver software. 3.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router 4. Follow the instructions to install the NETGEAR USB Control Center utility. 5. Select the language. The first time you access the utility, you are asked to select the printer.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router 6. Select the printer and click the Connect button. Once the connection is established, the status changes to Manually connected by xxx. You can click the Disconnect button at any time to release the connection. The status then changes to Available. After you click the Connect button once on each computer in the network, the utility on each of them manages the printing queue and handling. The status of the printer is Available on all of the computers.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router • You can set the value for the default time-out time from the Tools > Control Center Configuration screen. • The USB Control Center utility must be running for the computer to be able to print to the USB printer attached to the router. If you exit the utility, printing does not work. • Some firewall software, such as Comodo, blocks the ReadySHARE Print utility from accessing the USB printer.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router USB Control Center Utility The USB Control Center utility allows you to control a shared USB device from a computer that is connected to the USB port on your router. The utility allows you to control a printer and a scanner. You have to install the utility on each computer on your network from which you want to control the device. You can download this utility for a Windows or Mac computer at www.netgear.com/landing/en-us/readyshare.aspx.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router Control Center Configuration To use the Control Center Configuration screen: 1. Select Tools > Configuration. 2. Specify the following settings: • Automatically execute when logging on Windows. Enable this utility to start automatically when you are logged in to Windows. • Timeout. Specify the time-out value for holding the USB resource when it is not in use. • Language. Select the display language for this utility. 3. Click OK. Your changes are saved.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router Once the printer shows Available status, it is no longer grayed out in a Paused state in the Windows Printers and Faxes window. Figure 9. Printers and Faxes screen This USB printer is ready. The utility does not need to hold the connection of this USB printer. Once there is any print job for this printer, the USB utility connects to this USB printer automatically and prints. After the print job is done, the printer status returns to the Paused state.
7. Security C ustom ize th e Firewa ll Set t ings 7 This chapter explains how to use the basic firewall features of the router to prevent objectionable content from reaching the computers and devices on your network.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router Keyword Blocking of HTTP Traffic Use keyword blocking to prevent certain types of HTTP traffic from accessing your network. The blocking can be always or according to a schedule. To set up keyword blocking: 1. Select Advanced > Security > Block Sites. 2. Select one of the keyword blocking options: • Per Schedule. Turn on keyword blocking according to the Schedule screen settings. • Always. Turn on keyword blocking all the time, independent of the Schedule screen. 3.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router Block Services (Port Filtering) Services are functions that server computers perform at the request of client computers. For example, web servers serve web pages, time servers serve time and date information, and game hosts serve data about other players’ moves. When a computer on the Internet sends a request for service to a server computer, the requested service is identified by a service or port number.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router The Block Services Setup screen displays: 5. From the Service Type list, select the application or service to allow or block. The list displays several common services, but you are not limited to these choices. To add any additional services or applications that do not already appear, select User Defined. 6. If you know that the application uses either TCP or UDP, select the appropriate protocol. If you are not sure, select Both. 7. Enter the starting and ending port numbers.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router Using steps similar to the preceding example, the following sequence shows the effects of the port triggering rule you have defined: 1. You open an IRC client program to start a chat session on your computer. 2. Your IRC client composes a request message to an IRC server using a destination port number of 6667, the standard port number for an IRC server process. Your computer then sends this request message to your router. 3.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router browser needs to access a web server running on a computer in your local network. Using port forwarding, you can tell the router, “When you receive incoming traffic on port 80 (the standard port number for a web server process), forward it to the local computer at 192.168.1.123.” The following sequence shows the effects of the port forwarding rule you have defined: 1. The user of a remote computer opens a browser and requests a web page from www.example.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router • Port triggering requires specific outbound traffic to open the inbound ports, and the triggered ports are closed after a period of no activity. • Port forwarding is always active and does not need to be triggered. Set Up Port Forwarding to Local Servers The port forwarding feature lets you allow certain types of incoming traffic to reach servers on your local network.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router Add a Custom Service To define a service, game, or application that does not appear in the Service Name list, first determine which port number or range of numbers the application uses. You can usually determine this information by contacting the publisher of the application or user groups or news groups. When you have the port number information, follow these steps. To add a custom service: 1. Select Advanced > Advanced Setup > Port Forwarding/Port Triggering. 2.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router Application Example: Make a Local Web Server Public If you host a web server on your local network, you can use port forwarding to allow web requests from anyone on the Internet to reach your web server. To make a local web server public: 1. Assign your web server either a fixed IP address or a dynamic IP address using DHCP address reservation. In this example, your router always gives your web server an IP address of 192.168.1.33. 2.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router can usually determine this information by contacting the publisher of the application or user groups or news groups. To enable port triggering: 1. Select Advanced > Advanced Setup > Port Forwarding/Port Triggering. 2. Select the Port Triggering radio button. 3. Clear the Disable Port Triggering check box. Note: If the Disable Port Triggering check box is selected after you configure port triggering, port triggering is disabled.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router 2. In the Service Name field, type a descriptive service name. 3. In the Service User list, select Any, or select Single address and enter the IP address of one computer. • Any (the default), allows any computer on the Internet to use this service. • Single address restricts the service to a particular computer. 4. Select the service type, either TCP or UDP or both (TCP/UDP). If you are not sure, select TCP/UDP. 5.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router 3. Select your time zone from the list. If you use daylight savings time, select the Automatically adjust for daylight savings time check box. 4. Click Apply. Your settings are saved. Security Event Email Notifications To receive logs and alerts by email, provide your email information in the E-mail screen, and specify which alerts you want to receive and how often. To set up email notifications: 1. Select Advanced > Security > E-mail. 2.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router Logs are sent automatically. If the log fills up before the specified time, the log is emailed. After the log is sent, the log is cleared from the router memory. If the router cannot email the log file, the log buffer might fill up. In this case, the router overwrites the log and discards its contents. 8. Click Apply. Your settings are saved.
8. 8 Administration Manage you r ne twork This chapter describes the router settings for administering and maintaining your router and home network. This chapter includes the following sections: • Upgrade the Router Firmware • View Router Status • View Logs of Web Access or Attempted Web Access • Manage the Configuration File • Change the Password • Password Recovery For information about upgrading or checking the status of your router over the Internet, see Remote Management on page 99.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router Upgrade the Router Firmware The router firmware (routing software) is stored in flash memory. You can update the firmware from the Administration menu on the Advanced tab. You might see a message at the top of the genie screens when new firmware is available for your product. You can use the Check button on the Router Update screen to check if new firmware is available, and to update your product. To check for new firmware and update your router: 1.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router View Router Status To view router status and usage information: Select Advanced Home or select Administration > Router Status. Router Information Hardware Version. The router model. Firmware Version. The version of the router firmware. It changes if you upgrade the router firmware. GUI Language Version. The localized language of the user interface. LAN Port. • MAC Address. The Media Access Control address.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router Connection. This shows if the router is using a fixed IP address on the WAN. If the value is DHCP Client, the router obtains an IP address dynamically from the ISP. IP Subnet Mask. The IP subnet mask used by the Internet (WAN) port of the router. Domain Name Server. The Domain Name Server addresses used by the router. A Domain Name Server translates human-language URLs such as www.netgear.com into IP addresses. Show Statistics Button To view statistics: 1.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router Connection Status Button To view the Internet connection status: 1. Select Advanced Home or select Administration > Router Status. 2. In the Internet Connection pane, click the Connection Status button. The following information displays: • 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.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router Wireless Settings (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz) The following settings are displayed: Name (SSID). The wireless network name (SSID) that the router uses. Region. The geographic region where the router is being used. It might be illegal to use the wireless features of the router in some parts of the world. Channel. The operating channel of the wireless port being used. The default channel is Auto. When Auto is selected, the router finds the best operating channel available.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router View Logs of Web Access or Attempted Web Access The log is a detailed record of the websites you have accessed or attempted to access. Up to 256 entries are stored in the log. Log entries appear only when keyword blocking is enabled and no log entries are made for the trusted user. To view logs: Select Advanced > Administration > Logs. The log screen shows the following information: • Date and time. The date and time the log entry was recorded. • Source IP.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router Manage the Configuration File The configuration settings of the router are stored within the router in a configuration file. You can back up (save) this file to your computer, restore it, or reset it to the factory default settings. Back Up Settings To back up the router’s configuration settings: 1. Select Advanced > Administration > Backup Settings. 2. Click Backup Settings. A copy of the current settings is saved. 3. Choose a location to store the .
R6250 Smart WiFi Router You can also use the Reset button on the back of the router to erase the configuration and restore the factory settings. (See Factory Settings on page 124),. To erase the configuration settings: Click the Erase button. The factory default settings are restored. The user name is admin, the password to password, and the LAN IP address is 192.168.1.1. DHCP is enabled.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router 4. Click Apply. Your changes are saved. To recover your password: 1. In the address field of your browser, type www.routerlogin.net. A login window displays. 2. Click Cancel. If password recovery is enabled, you are prompted to answer two security questions. 3. Enter the saved answers to the security questions.
9. Advanced Settings S etting u p u niq ue situ at ions 9 This chapter describes the advanced features of your router. Networking knowledge is needed to implement some of these features.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router Advanced Wireless Settings You can use this screen to turn the wireless radio on and off, to specify WPS settings, to use AP mode, and to set up a wireless access list. The Fragmentation Length, CTS/RTS Threshold, and Preamble Mode options in this screen are reserved for wireless testing and advanced configuration only. Do not change these settings unless you have a specific reason to do so.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router Set Up a Wireless Schedule You can use this feature to turn off the wireless signal from your router at times when you do not need a wireless connection. For example, you could turn it off for the weekend if you leave town. To configure and enable the wireless schedule: 1. Select Advanced > Advanced Setup > Wireless Settings. The Advanced Wireless Settings screen displays. 2. Click the Add a new period button. The screen adjusts: 3.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router Set up the Router in Bridge Mode You can set up your R6250 Smart WiFi Router to run in Bridge mode. This mode lets you connect multiple devices wirelessly at the faster 802.11ac speed. To use the router in Bridge mode, you need two WiFi Routers: one set up as a router and the other set up as a bridge. R6300 Smart WiFi Router R6250 Smart WiFi Router in Bridge mode Figure 10. Router in Bridge mode with an 802.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router 3. Scroll down and select the Use other operation mode check box and the Enable Bridge mode radio button. The screen adjusts. 4. Click the setup bridge mode wireless settings button. 5. Specify the settings of the other router to which this router will connect. a. Select the wireless network frequency (2.4 GHz or 5 GHz). For 802.11ac mode, select 5 GHz. b. In the Name (SSID) field, enter the wireless network name (SSID). c. In the Security Option section, select a radio button. d.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router View or Change WPS Settings To specify WPS Settings: 1. Select Advanced > Advanced Setup > Wireless Settings. The Router’s PIN field displays the PIN that you use on a registrar (for example, from the Network Explorer on a Vista Windows computer) to configure the router’s wireless settings through WPS. 2. (Optional) Select or clear the Disable Router’s PIN check box.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router 3. Click Add. The Wireless Card Access Setup screen opens and displays a list of currently active wireless cards and their Ethernet MAC addresses. 4. If the computer or device you want is in the Available Wireless Cards list, select that radio button; otherwise, type a name and the MAC address. You can usually find the MAC address on the bottom of the wireless device.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router Wireless Access Point (AP) 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. Use an Ethernet cable to connect the Internet port of this router to a LAN port in the other router. Cable this port to a LAN port on the other router 2. Select Advanced > Advanced Setup > Wireless Settings. 3. Select the Enable Access Point Mode check box. The AP Mode section of the screen expands. 4.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router Note: If the other router or gateway in your network also has wireless capability, NETGEAR recommends that you use wireless settings on your router that are different from those on the other router or gateway to avoid interference. You could also disable the wireless radio on the other router or gateway and use your router only for wireless client access. 5. Click the Apply button. The IP address of the router changes, and you are disconnected.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router Wireless base station. The router acts as the parent access point, that bridges traffic to and from the child repeater access point. The base station also handles wireless and wired local computers. To configure this mode, you have to know the MAC addresses of the child repeater access point. Often, the MAC address is on the product label. Wireless repeater. The router sends all traffic from its local wireless or wired computers to a remote access point.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router 2. Select Advanced > Advanced Setup > Wireless Repeating Function. 3. Select the Enable Wireless Repeating Function check box. 4. Select the Wireless Base Station radio button. 5. (Optional) Select the Disable Wireless Client Association check box to prevent wireless clients from associating with the base station and allowing LAN client associations only. You can leave the check box cleared if you prefer wireless clients to be able to associate with the base stations. 6.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router To configure the router as a repeater: 1. Log in to the router that will be the repeater. 2. Select Basic > Wireless Settings and verify that the wireless settings match the base unit exactly. The wireless security option has to be set to WEP or None. 3. Select Advanced > Wireless Repeating Function. 4. Select the Enable Wireless Repeating Function check box. 5. Select the Wireless Repeater radio button. 6. Fill in the Repeater IP Address field.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router Dynamic DNS If your Internet service provider (ISP) gave you a permanently assigned IP address, you can register a domain name and have that name linked with your IP address by public Domain Name Servers (DNS). However, if your Internet account uses a dynamically assigned IP address, you do not know in advance what your IP address will be, and the address can change frequently. In this case, you can use a commercial Dynamic DNS service.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router Static Routes Static routes provide more routing information to your router. Typically, you do not need to add static routes. You have to configure static routes only for unusual cases such as multiple routers or multiple IP subnets on your network. As an example of when a static route is needed, consider the following case: • Your primary Internet access is through a cable modem to an ISP.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router 6. Type the IP address of the final destination. 7. Type the IP subnet mask for this destination. If the destination is a single host, type 255.255.255.255. 8. Type the gateway IP address, which has to be on the same LAN segment as the router. 9. Type a number from 1 through 15 as the metric value. This value represents the number of routers between your network and the destination. Usually, a setting of 2 or 3 works, but if this is a direct connection, set it to 1. 10.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router To set up remote management: 1. Select Advanced > Advanced Setup > Remote Management. 2. Select the Turn Remote Management On check box. 3. Under Allow Remote Access By, 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. • To allow access from a single IP address on the Internet, select Only This Computer.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router Universal Plug and Play Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) helps devices, such as Internet appliances and computers, access the network and connect to other devices as needed. UPnP devices can automatically discover the services from other registered UPnP devices on the network. If you use applications such as multiplayer gaming, peer-to-peer connections, or real-time communications such as instant messaging or remote assistance (a feature in Windows XP), you should enable UPnP.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router Portmap Table also displays what type of port is open and whether that port is still active for each IP address. 6. (Optional) To refresh the information in the UPnP Portmap Table, click the Refresh button. IPv6 You can use this feature to set up an IPv6 Internet connection type if genie does not detect it automatically. To set up an IPv6 Internet connection type: 1. Select Advanced > Advanced Setup > IPv6. 2.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router Auto Detect To set up an IPv6 Internet connection through auto detection: 1. Select Advanced > Advanced Setup > IPv6. The IPv6 screen displays. 2. In the Internet Connection Type list, select Auto Detect. The screen adjusts: The router automatically detects the information in the following fields: • Connection Type. This field indicates the connection type that is detected. • Router’s IPv6 Address on WAN.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router IPv6 Auto Config To set up an IPv6 Internet connection through auto configuration: 1. Select Advanced > Advanced Setup > IPv6. The IPv6 screen displays. 2. In the Internet Connection Type list, select Auto Config. The screen adjusts: 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.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router • Use DHCP Server. This method passes more information to LAN devices, but some IPv6 systems might not support the DHCv6 client function. • Auto Config. This is the default setting. 6. (Optional) Select the Use This Interface ID check box, and specify the interface ID that you want 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. 7. Click the Apply button.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router 3. Configure the remote 6to4 relay router settings by selecting one of the following buttons: • 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. This address is usually provided by your IPv6 ISP. 4.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router The screen adjusts: 3. Configure the fixed IPv6 addresses for the WAN connection. The following fields are included in this screen: • IPv6 Address/Prefix Length. The IPv6 address and prefix length of the router WAN interface. • Default IPv6 Gateway. The IPv6 address of the default IPv6 gateway, which is supposed to be on the router’s WAN interface. • Primary DNS Server. The primary DNS server that resolves IPv6 domain name records for the router. • Secondary DNS Server.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router IPv6 DHCP To set up an IPv6 Internet connection with a DHCP server: 1. Select Advanced > Advanced Setup > IPv6. The IPv6 screen displays. 2. In the Internet Connection Type list, select DHCP. The screen adjusts: 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.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router • Use DHCP Server. This method passes more information to LAN devices, but some IPv6 systems might not support the DHCv6 client function. • Auto Config. This is the default setting. 6. (Optional) Select the Use This Interface ID check box, and specify the interface ID that you want 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. 7. Click the Apply button.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router This is usually the name that you use in your email address. For example, if your main mail account is JerAB@ISP.com, then you would type JerAB in this field. Some ISPs (like Mindspring, Earthlink, and T-DSL) require that you use your full email address when you log in. If your ISP requires your full email address, type it in this field. 4. In the Password field, enter the password for the ISP connection. 5. In the Service Name name field, enter a service name.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router Traffic Meter Traffic metering allows you to monitor the volume of Internet traffic that passes through the router Internet port. You can set limits for traffic volume. To monitor Internet traffic: 1. Click Advanced > Advanced Setup > Traffic Meter. Scroll to view more settings 2. Select the Enable Traffic Meter check box. 3. (Optional) Control the volume of Internet traffic.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router • The Internet LED flashes green or amber. • The Internet connection is disconnected and disabled. 7. Click the Apply button. The Internet Traffic Statistics section helps you to monitor the data traffic. Click the Refresh button to update the Traffic Statistics section. Click the Traffic Status button to display more information about the data traffic on your router and to change the poll interval.
10. 10 Troubleshooting This chapter provides information to help you diagnose and solve problems you might have 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.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router Quick Tips This section describes tips for troubleshooting some common problems. Sequence to Restart Your Network When you need to 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 2 minutes. 4. Turn on the router and wait 2 minutes. Check Ethernet Cable Connections If your device does not power on, make sure that the Ethernet cables are securely plugged in.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router Troubleshoot with the LEDs After you turn on power to the router, the following sequence of events should occur: 1. When power is first applied, verify that the Power/Test LED is lit. 2. Verify that the Power/Test LED turns amber within a few seconds, indicating that the self-test is running. 3. After approximately 30 seconds, verify the following: • The Power/Test LED is solid green. • The Internet LED is lit.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router LEDs Never Turn Off When the router is turned on, the LEDs turn on for about 10 seconds and then turn off. If all the LEDs stay on, there is a fault within the router. If all LEDs are still on 1 minute after power-up: • Cycle the power to see if the router recovers. • Press and hold the Reset button to return the router to its factory settings. For more information, see Troubleshoot Your Network Using the Ping Utility on page 121.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router Cannot Log In to the Router If you are unable to log in to the router from a computer on your local network, check the following: • If you are using an Ethernet-connected computer, check the Ethernet connection between the computer and the router as described in the previous section. • Make sure that the IP address of your computer is on the same subnet as the router. If you are using the recommended addressing scheme, your computer’s address should be in the range of 192.168.1.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router 4. Check that an IP address is shown for the Internet port. If 0.0.0.0 is shown, your router has not obtained an IP address from your ISP. If your router cannot obtain an IP address from the ISP, you might need to force your cable or DSL modem to recognize your new router by restarting your network. For more information, see Sequence to Restart Your Network on page 114.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router Troubleshoot PPPoE If you are using PPPoE, try troubleshooting your Internet connection. To troubleshoot a PPPoE connection: 1. Select Administration > Router Status. 2. Click Connection Status. 3. Check the Connection Status display to see if your PPPoE connection is up and working. 4. If any of the field s on the Connection Status screen indicate Failed, you can attempt to reconnect by clicking Connect. The router continues to attempt to connect indefinitely. 5.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router Changes Not Saved If the router does not save the changes you make in the router interface, check the following: • When entering configuration settings, always click the Apply button before moving to another screen or tab, or your changes are lost. • Click the Refresh or Reload button in the web browser. The changes might have occurred, but the old settings might be in the web browser’s cache.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router Troubleshoot Your Network Using the Ping Utility Most network devices and routers contain a ping utility that sends an echo request packet to the designated device. The device then responds with an echo reply. You can easily troubleshoot a network is easy using the ping utility in your computer or workstation. Test the LAN Path to Your Router You can ping the router from your computer to verify that the LAN path to your router is set up correctly.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router Test the Path from Your Computer to a Remote Device After verifying that the LAN path works correctly, test the path from your computer to a remote device. 1. From the Windows toolbar, click the Start button, and then select Run. 2. In the Windows Run window, type: ping -n 10 where is the IP address of a remote device such as your ISP’s DNS server. If the path is functioning correctly, replies like those shown in the previous section are displayed.
A.
R6250 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 7 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) Default behavior User login URL www.routerlogin.com or www.routerlogin.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router Table 3. Factory default settings (continued) Feature Wireless Firewall Default behavior 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 6 until region selected Operating mode Up to 145 Mbps at 2.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router Technical Specifications Table 4. R6250 Router specifications Feature Description Data and routing protocols TCP/IP, RIP-1, RIP-2, DHCP, PPPoE, PPTP, Bigpond, Dynamic DNS, UPnP, and SMB Power adapter • • • • Dimensions Dimensions: 195 x 199 x 65 mm (7.68 x 7.84 x 2.56 in) Weight Weight: 417 (0.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router Table 4. R6250 Router specifications (continued) Feature Description Operating frequency range 2.4 GHz 2.412–2.462 GHz (US) 2.412–2.472 GHz (Japan) 2.412–2.472 GHz (Europe ETSI) 5 GHz 5.18–5.24 + 5.745–5.825 GHz (US) 5.18–5.24 GHz (Europe ETSI) FCC: 5.25–5.35 GHz (DFS band) 5.47–5.725 GHz (DFS band) 5600–5650 MHz is disabled and unavailable for use CE (Europe ETSI): 5.25–5.35 GHz (DFS band) 5.47–5.725 GHz (DFS band) 802.
B. Notification of Compliance N E T GEAR Dua l Ban d - W ir eles s B Regulatory Compliance Information This section includes user requirements for operating this product in accordance with National laws for usage of radio spectrum and operation of radio devices. Failure of the end-user to comply with the applicable requirements may result in unlawful operation and adverse action against the end-user by the applicable National regulatory authority.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router FCC Radio Frequency Interference Warnings & Instructions This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation.
R6250 Smart WiFi Router NOTE IMPORTANTE: Déclaration d'exposition aux radiations: Cet équipement est conforme aux limites d'exposition aux rayonnements IC établies pour un environnement non contrôlé. Cet équipement doit être installé et utilisé avec un minimum de 20 cm de distance entre la source de rayonnement et votre corps.
