User Manual Nighthawk AX12 12-Stream AX6000 WiFi Router Model RAX120 March 2019 202-11873-03 NETGEAR, Inc. 350 E.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router Support Thank you for purchasing this NETGEAR product. You can visit https://www.netgear.com/support/ 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. Contact your Internet service provider for technical support. Trademarks ©NETGEAR, Inc. NETGEAR and the NETGEAR Logo are trademarks of NETGEAR, Inc.
Contents Chapter 1 Hardware Setup Unpack Your Router...........................................................................10 Top Panel LEDs and Buttons.............................................................11 Rear Panel............................................................................................13 Extend the Antennas..........................................................................14 Router Label..............................................................................
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router Set Up an IPv6 6rd Internet Connection.....................................39 Manage the MTU size.........................................................................41 MTU concepts.................................................................................41 Change the MTU size................................................................42 Chapter 4 Control Access to the Internet Allow or block access to your network...................................
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router Control the WiFi radios......................................................................80 Use the WiFi On/Off button..........................................................80 Enable or disable the WiFi radios................................................80 Set up a WiFi schedule.......................................................................81 Specify WPS settings..........................................................................
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router Set Your Time Zone..........................................................................112 Change the NTP Server...................................................................113 Specify ReadyDLNA Media Server Settings..................................114 Return the Router to Its Factory Default Settings.........................115 Use the Reset Button...................................................................115 Erase the Settings................
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router Install OpenVPN Software on Your Windows Computer.......140 Install OpenVPN Software on Your Mac Computer................143 Install OpenVPN Software on an iOS Device...........................144 Install OpenVPN Software on an Android Device...................144 Use a VPN Tunnel on Your Windows Computer..........................145 Use VPN to Access the Router’s USB Device and Media............147 Use VPN to Access Your Internet Service at Home..................
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router Test the Path From a Windows-Based Computer to a Remote Device............................................................................................168 Chapter 13 Supplemental Information Factory Settings................................................................................171 Technical Specifications..................................................................
1 Hardware Setup This chapter contains the following sections: • • • • • • • • Unpack Your Router Top Panel LEDs and Buttons Rear Panel Extend the Antennas Router Label Position Your Router Cable Your Router Turn the LEDs On or Off Using the LED On/Off Switch For more information about the topics covered in this manual, visit the support website at netgear.com/support.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router Unpack Your Router Your package contains the router, the power adapter, and an Ethernet cable. Figure 1.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router Top Panel LEDs and Buttons The status LEDs and two buttons are located on the top panel of the router. Figure 2. Top view Table 1. LED descriptions LED and Button Description Power LED Solid white. The router is ready. Blinking white. The router is not ready, firmware is upgrading, or the Reset button was pressed. Off. Power is not supplied to the router. Internet LED Solid white. The Internet connection is ready. Blinking white.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router Table 1. LED descriptions (Continued) LED and Button Description 2.4 GHz WiFi LED Solid white. The 2.4 GHz WiFi radio is operating. Blinking white. The router is sending or receiving WiFi traffic. Off. The 2.4 GHz WiFi radio is off. 5 GHz WiFi LED Solid white. The 5 GHz WiFi radio is operating. Blinking white. The router is sending or receiving WiFi traffic. Off. The 5 GHz WiFi radio is off. USB port 1 LED Solid white.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router Table 1. LED descriptions (Continued) LED and Button Description WPS LED Pressing the WPS button lets your WPS-enabled device join your router's WiFi network without typing the WiFi password. The WPS LED blinks white during the WPS process and then lights solid white when the WPS-enabled device connects to your router's WiFi network. WiFi LED Pressing the WiFi button for two seconds turns the 2.4 Ghz and 5 GHz WiFi LEDs and WiFi radios on and off.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router Viewed from left to right, the rear panel contains the following components: • LED On/Off switch. If this switch is in the Off position, the router’s LEDs, including the LEDs on the four active antennas, but not the Power LED, are turned off. • Ethernet ports. Four Gigabit Ethernet RJ-45 LAN ports. Use these ports to connect the router to LAN devices. Use Ethernet ports 1 and 2 to cable a device that supports Ethernet port aggregation to the router.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router Router Label The router label shows the login information, WiFi Network Name (SSID), network key (password), serial number, and MAC address. WiGig Figure 5. Router label 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 AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router • 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 The following factors might limit the range of your WiFi: • The thickness and number of walls the WiFi signal passes through. • Other WiFi access points in and around your home might affect your router’s signal.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router To cable your router: 1. Unplug your modem, remove and reinsert the backup battery if it uses one, and then plug the modem back in. 2. Use the Ethernet cable to connect the modem to the yellow Internet port on the router. Note: If your Internet connection does not require a modem, connect your main Ethernet cable to the yellow Internet port on the router. 3. Connect the power adapter to your router and plug the power adapter into an outlet. 4.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router To turn the LEDs on or off using the LED On/Off switch: Move the LED On/Off switch on the rear panel to the On or Off position.
2 Connect to the Network and Access the Router 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 AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router Connect to the network You can connect to the router’s 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 AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router 4. Within two minutes, on your WPS-enabled device, press its WPS button or follow its instructions for WPS connections. Your WPS-enabled device connects to the WiFi network. 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 AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router If you cannot locate this information, ask your ISP to provide it. When your Internet connection is working, you no longer need to launch the ISP login program on your computer to access the Internet. When you start an Internet application, your router automatically logs you in. The NETGEAR installation assistant runs on any device with a web browser. Installation and basic setup takes about 15 minutes to complete. To automatically set up your router: 1.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router c. Read You Cannot Access the Internet on page 164. If problems persist, register your NETGEAR product and contact NETGEAR Technical Support. When the router connects to the Internet, you are prompted to download and install the free ReadySHARE Vault app. Log In to the Router When you first connect to your router and launch a web browser, the browser automatically displays the router web interface.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router To install your router using the Nighthawk app: 1. To download the app, visit https://www.netgear.com/home/apps-services/nighthawk-app/. 2. On your mobile device, tap Settings > Wi-Fi and find and connect to your router’s WiFi network. Your router’s WiFi network name (SSID) and network key (password) are on the router label. 3. Launch the Nighthawk app on your mobile device. 4.
3 Specify Your Internet Settings Usually, the quickest way to set up the router to use your Internet connection is to allow your router 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 AX12 12-Steam AX6000 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 mobile device that is connected to the router network. 2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. 3.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router 3. Enter the router admin user name and password. The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC Home page displays. 4. Select Internet. The Internet Setup page displays. 5. In the Does your Internet connection require a login? section, leave the No radio button selected. 6.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router 12. Click the Test button to test your Internet connection. If the NETGEAR website does not display within one minute, see You Cannot Access the Internet on page 164. Specify an Internet connection that uses a login To view or change the basic Internet setup: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network. 2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. 3. Enter the router admin user name and password.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router • Get Dynamically from ISP. Your ISP uses DHCP to assign your IP address. Your ISP automatically assigns these addresses. • 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. 13. Select a Domain Name Server (DNS) Address radio button: • Get Automatically from ISP. Your ISP uses DHCP to assign your DNS servers.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router 4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > IPv6. The IPv6 page displays. 5. From the Internet Connection Type menu, select the IPv6 connection type: • If you are not sure, select Auto Detect so that the router detects the IPv6 type that is in use. • If your Internet connection does not use PPPoe or DHCP, or is not fixed, but is IPv6, select Auto Config. Your Internet service provider (ISP) can provide this information. 6. Click the Apply button.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router 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. 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.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router To set up an IPv6 Internet connection by using a 6to4 tunnel: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network. 2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. 3. Enter the router admin user name and password. The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC Home page displays. 4.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router • Secured. In secured mode, which is the default mode, the router inspects both TCP and UDP packets. • Open. In open mode, the router inspects UDP packets only. 10. Click the Apply button. Your settings are saved. Set up an IPv6 pass-through Internet connection In pass-through mode, the router works as a Layer 2 Ethernet switch with two ports (LAN and WAN Ethernet ports) for IPv6 packets. The router does not process any IPv6 header packets.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router 3. Enter the router admin user name and password. The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC Home page displays. 4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > IPv6. The IPv6 page displays. 5. From the Internet Connection Type menu, select Fixed. The page adjusts. 6. Configure the fixed IPv6 addresses for the WAN connection: • IPv6 Address/Prefix Length.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router • Open. In open mode, the router inspects UDP packets only. 10. Click the Apply button. Your settings are saved. Set up an IPv6 DHCP Internet connection To set up an IPv6 Internet connection with a DHCP server: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network. 2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. 3. Enter the router admin user name and password. The user name is admin.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router xxx.yyy.zzz as the domain name. If your ISP provided a domain name, type it in this field. For example, Earthlink Cable might require a host name of home, and Comcast sometimes supplies a domain name. 8. 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 DHCv6 client function. • Auto Config. This is the default setting.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router 5. From the Internet Connection Type menu, select PPPoE. The page 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. 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 AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router 11. Select an IPv6 Filtering radio button: • Secured. In secured mode, which is the default mode, the router inspects both TCP and UDP packets. • Open. In open mode, the router inspects UDP packets only. 12. Click the Apply button. Your settings are saved. Use Auto Config for an IPv6 Internet Connection To set up an IPv6 Internet connection through autoconfiguration: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router 7. (Optional) In the DHCP Domain Name (If Required) field, enter a domain name. You can type the domain name of your IPv6 ISP. Do not enter the domain name for the IPv4 ISP here. For example, if your ISP’s mail server is mail.xxx.yyy.zzz, type xxx.yyy.zzz as the domain name. If your ISP provided a domain name, type it in this field. For example, Earthlink Cable might require a host name of home, and Comcast sometimes supplies a domain name. 8.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router With a 6rd tunnel configuration, the router follows the RFC5969 standard, supporting two ways to establish a 6rd tunnel IPv6 WAN connection: • Auto Detect mode. In IPv6 Auto Detect mode, when the router receives option 212 from the DHCPv4 option, autodetect selects the IPv6 as 6rd tunnel setting. The router uses the 6rd option information to establish the 6rd connection. • Manual mode. Select 6rd Tunnel.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router 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. This setting specifies how the router assigns IPv6 addresses to the devices on your home network (the LAN). 8.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router For example, if a secure website does not open, or displays only part of a web page, you might need to change the MTU. • You use VPN and experience severe performance problems. • You used a program to optimize MTU for performance reasons and now you are experiencing connectivity or performance problems. Note: An incorrect MTU setting can cause Internet communication problems.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router The WAN Setup page displays. 5. In the MTU Size field, enter a value from 64 to 1500. 6. Click the Apply button. Your settings are saved.
4 Control Access to the Internet The router comes with a built-in firewall that helps protect your home network from unwanted intrusions from the Internet.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router Allow or block access to your network You can use access control to block or allow access to your network. To set up access control: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network. 2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. 3. Enter the router admin user name and password. The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router 8. To allow the WiFi-enabled computer or mobile device you’re currently using to continue to access the network, select the check box next to your computer or device, and click the Allow button. 9. Click the Apply button. Your settings are saved. Use keywords to block Internet sites You can use keywords to block certain Internet sites from your network. You can use blocking all the time or based on a schedule. To block Internet sites: 1.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router 7. Click the Add Keyword button. The keyword is added to the keyword list. The keyword list supports up to 32 entries. 8. Click the Apply button. Keyword blocking takes effect.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router Block services from the Internet You can block Internet services on your network based on the type of service. You can block the services all the time or based on a schedule. To block services: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network. 2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. 3. Enter the router admin user name and password. The user name is admin.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router • Only This IP Address. Block services for a single computer. • IP Address Range. Block services for a range of computers with consecutive IP addresses on your network. • All lP Addresses. Block services for all computers on your network. 10. Click the Add button. Your settings are saved. Delete keywords from the blocked list To delete keywords from the list: 1. Launch a web browser from a WiFi-enabled computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router To specify a trusted computer: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network. 2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. 3. Enter the router admin user name and password. The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC Home page displays. 4. Select ADVANCED > Security > Block Sites.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router 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 settings are saved. Schedule when to block Internet sites and services When you schedule blocking, the same schedule is used to block sites and to block services. To schedule blocking: 1.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 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 mobile device that is connected to the router network. 2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. 3. Enter the router admin user name and password. The user name is admin.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router Email alerts are sent immediately when someone attempts to visit a blocked site. 11. To send logs based on a schedule, specify these settings: a. From Send logs according to this schedule menu, select the schedule type. b. From the Day menu, select the day. c. From the Time menu, select the time, and select the am or pm radio button. 12. Click the Apply button. Your settings are saved. Logs are sent automatically according to the schedule that you set.
5 Optimize Performance You can set up the router to optimize performance for applications such as multiplayer gaming, peer-to-peer connections, or real-time communications such as instant messaging. By default, the router uses Wi-Fi Multimedia Quality of Service (WMM QoS).
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router Optimize Internet Streaming With QoS You can use Quality of Service (QoS) to assign high priority to Internet streaming, applications, and services. We recommend that you enable this feature only if you use streaming Internet. When QoS assigns a high priority to streaming video, it also assigns lower priority to the rest of your Internet traffic. That means other tasks like downloading content from the Internet take longer.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router Add a Custom QoS Rule You can add a custom QoS rule to the QoS priority rule list. To add a custom QoS Rule: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network. 2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. 3. Enter the router admin user name and password. The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router 3. Enter the router admin user name and password. The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC Home page displays. 4. Select Quality of Service. The QoS Setup page displays. 5. Select the Enable Upstream QoS check box. 6. Click the Set Up QoS Rule button. The QoS priority list displays. 7. Select radio button next to the QoS rule you want to edit. 8.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router 6. Click the Set Up QoS Rule button. The QoS priority list displays. 7. Select radio button next to the QoS rule you want to delete. 8. Click the Delete button. The rule is deleted. Delete All QoS Rules To delete all QoS rules: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network. 2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. 3. Enter the router admin user name and password. The user name is admin.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router If you use applications such as multiplayer gaming, peer-to-peer connections, or real-time communications such as instant messaging, enable UPnP. To enable Universal Plug-N-Play: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router 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.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router To refresh the information in the UPnP Portmap Table, click the Refresh button. Manage Wi-Fi Multimedia Quality of Service Wi-Fi Multimedia Quality of Service (WMM QoS) prioritizes WiFi voice and video traffic over the WiFi link. WMM QoS is automatically enabled for the router. WMM QoS prioritizes WiFi data packets from different applications based on four access categories: voice, video, best effort, and background.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router key (password). That means that when you connect to the router with WiFi, you see only one SSID that connects to both bands. Note: If you enable Smart Connect and the SSID and passwords for the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands do not match, the WiFi settings for 2.4 GHz band overwrites the WiFi settings for 5 GHz band. To enable or disable Smart Connect: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network. 2. Enter http://www.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router A login window opens. 3. Enter the router admin user name and password. The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC Home page displays. 4. Select Wireless. The Wireless Setup page displays. 5. Select or clear the Enable AX check box. Selecting this check box turns on AX WiFi and clearing this check box turns off AX WiFi. 6. Click the Apply button.
6 Manage Network Settings 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 AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router View or change the 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 mobile device that is connected to the router network. 2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 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. 5. Click the Apply button. Your settings are saved.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router 5. Select the Default DMZ Server check box. 6. Type the IP address. 7. Click the Apply button. Your settings are saved. Change the Router’s Device Name The router’s default device name is based on its model number. This device name displays in the file manager when you browse your network. To change the router’s device name: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network. 2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router These addresses are part of the designated private address range for use in private networks and are suitable for most applications. If your network requires a different IP addressing scheme, you can change these settings. 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.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router • RIP-2. This format 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. 8. Click the Apply button. Your settings are saved. If you changed the LAN IP address of the router, you are disconnected when this change takes effect. 9. To reconnect, close your browser, relaunch it, and log in to the router.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router 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. This IP address must be in the same subnet as the router. 7. Click the Apply button. Your settings are saved.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router 5. Clear the Use Router as DHCP Server check box. 6. Click the Apply button. Your settings are saved. 7. (Optional) If this service is disabled and no other DHCP server is on your network, set your computer IP addresses manually so that the computers can access the router.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router The reserved address is entered into the table. The reserved address is not assigned until the next time the computer contacts the router’s DHCP server. Reboot the computer, or access its IP configuration and force a DHCP release and renew. Edit a reserved IP address To edit a reserved address entry: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network. 2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. 3.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC Home page displays. 4. Select ADVANCED > Setup > LAN Setup. The LAN Setup page displays. 5. Select the radio button next to the reserved address that you want to delete. 6. Click the Delete button. The address is removed.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router The WPS process automatically sets up yourr WPS-enabled device with the network password when it connects. The router WPS page displays a confirmation message. Specify Basic WiFi Settings The router comes with preset security. This means that the WiFi network name (SSID), network key (password), and security option (encryption protocol) are preset in the factory. You can find the preset SSID and password on the router label.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router 7. To change the network name (SSID), type a new name in the Name (SSID) field. The name can be up to 32 characters long and it is case-sensitive. The default SSID is randomly generated and is on the router label. If you change the name, make sure to write down the new name and keep it in a safe place. 8. To change the WiFi channel, select a number from the Channel menu. In some regions, not all channels are available.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router To change the WiFi password or the WiFi security: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network. 2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. 3. Enter the router admin user name and password. The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC Home page displays. 4. Select Wireless.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router 7. Click the Apply button. Your settings are saved. Change the WiFi Mode To change the WiFi mode settings: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network. 2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. 3. Enter the router admin user name and password. The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router devices to join the selected WiFi network in the 5 GHz band of the network but limits 802.11ac devices to functioning at up to 2294 Mbps. • Up to 4803 Mbps. This mode allows 802.11ax, 802.11ac, 802.11n, and 802.11a devices to join the selected WiFi network in the 5 GHz band of the network and allows 802.11ax devices to function at up to 4803 Mbps. This mode is the default mode. 7. Click the Apply button. Your settings are saved.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router Set Up a Guest WiFi Network A guest network allows visitors to use the Internet without using your WiFi security password or with a different WiFi password. By default, the guest WiFi network is disabled. You can enable and configure the guest WiFi network for each WiFi band. The router simultaneously supports the 2.4 GHz band for 802.11n, 802.11g, and 802.11b devices and the 5 GHz band for 802.11ac, 802.11n, and 802.11a devices.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router network lists. To turn off the SSID broadcast for the 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz guest WiFi network, clear the Enable SSID Broadcast check box. • Allow guests to see each other and access my local network. By default, WiFi clients that are connected to the 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz guest WiFi network cannot access WiFi devices or Ethernet devices that are connected to the main WiFi network.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router If you cannot connect over WiFi, check the following: • If your computer or mobile device is already connected to another WiFi network in your area, disconnect it from that WiFi network and connect it to the WiFi network that the router provides. Some WiFi devices automatically connect to the first open network without WiFi security that they discover.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router 3. Enter the router admin user name and password. The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC Home page displays. 4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > Wireless Settings. The Wireless Settings page displays. 5. Do one of the following for your router's wireless networks: • Turn off the WiFi radio. Clear the Enable Wireless Router Radio check box.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router 7. Click the Apply button. The Wireless Settings page displays. 8. Select the Turn off wireless signal by schedule check box to activate the schedule. 9. Click the Apply button. Your settings are saved. Specify WPS settings Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) lets you join the WiFi network without typing the WiFi password. To specify WPS settings: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network. 2. Enter http://www.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router 7. Click the Apply button. Your settings are saved. Set up 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. Use an Ethernet cable to connect the Internet port of this router to an Ethernet port on the other router. 2. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network. 3. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router The IP address of the router changes, and you are disconnected. 9. To reconnect, close and restart your browser and type http://www.routerlogin.net. Set Up the Router in Bridge Mode You can use your router in bridge mode to connect multiple devices wirelessly at the faster 802.11ax speed. You need two routers: one set up as a router and the other set up as a bridge.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router The page adjusts. 7. Click the setup bride mode wireless settings button. The Wireless Settings window opens. 8. Specify the settings of the other router to which this router will connect: a. Select the wireless network from the menu: • Wireless Networks (2.4Ghz b/g/n/ax) • Wireless Networks (5Ghz a/n/ac/ax) For 802.11ac or 802.11ax mode, select 5 GHz. b. In the Name (SSID) file, enter the wireless network name (SSID). c.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router The Router / AP / Bridge Mode page displays. 5. Select Router Mode. The page adjusts. 6. Click the Apply button. Your settings are saved. Set up a bridge for a port group or VLAN tag group Some devices, such as an IPTV, cannot function behind the router’s network address translation (NAT) service or firewall.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router 4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > VLAN/Bridge Settings. The VLAN/Bridge Settings page displays. 5. Select the Enable VLAN/Bridge Setup check box. The page expands. 6. Select the By bridge group radio button. The page expands. 7.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 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 > Advanced Setup > VLAN/Bridge Settings. The VLAN/Bridge Settings page displays. 5. Select the Enable VLAN/Bridge Setup check box. The page expands. 6. Select the By VLAN tag group radio button. The page expands. 7. Click the Add button. The Add VLAN Rule page displays. 8.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router Set up an IPTV 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 AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router 8. Click the Apply button. Your settings are saved. Manage custom static routes Typically, you do not need to add static routes unless you use multiple routers or multiple IP subnets on your network. As an example of when a static route is needed, consider the following case: • Your main Internet access is through a cable modem to an ISP. • Your home network includes an ISDN router for connecting to the company where you are employed.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router 3. Enter the router admin user name and password. The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC Home page displays. 4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > Static Routes. The Static Routes page displays. 5. Click the Add button. The page adjusts. 6. In the Route Name field, type a name for this static route (for identification purposes only). 7.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router Edit a static route To edit a static route: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network. 2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. 3. Enter the router admin user name and password. The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC Home page displays. 4.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router 5. In the table, select the radio button for the route. 6. Click the Delete button. The route is removed from the table. Enable or disable MU-MIMO Multiuser multiple input, multiple output (MU-MIMO) improves performance when multiple MU-MIMO-capable WiFi clients transfer data at the same time. WiFi clients must support MU-MIMO, and they must be connected to a 5 GHz WiFi band. This feature is enabled by default, but you can disable it.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router Ethernet Port Aggregation Ethernet aggregation lets aggregate two Ethernet ports on your router to improve the aggregated file transfer speed. To set up Ethernet port aggregation, connect a device that supports Ethernet port aggregation and 802.3ad to Ethernet aggregate ports 1 and 2 on your router. Note that Ethernet port aggregation is also referred to as link aggregation, teaming port, and port trunking.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router 3. Log in to your router and enable Ethernet port aggregation: a. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network. b. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. c. Enter the router admin user name and password. The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC Home page displays. d.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router 3. Enter the router admin user name and password. The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC Home page displays. 4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > Ethernet Port Aggregation. The Ethernet Port Aggregation page displays. 5. Select an Ethernet port aggregation mode: • Disable. This mode is selected by default.
7 Manage Your Router This chapter describes the router settings for administering and maintaining your router and home network.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router Update the Router Firmware You can log in to the router and check if new firmware is available, or you can manually load a specific firmware version to your router. Check for New Firmware and Update the Router 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.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router When the upload is complete, your router restarts. The update process typically takes about one minute. Read the new firmware release notes to find out if you must reconfigure the router after updating. Manually Upload Firmware to the Router If you want to upload a specific firmware version, or your router fails to update its firmware automatically, follow these instructions.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router Change the admin Password You can change the default password that is used to log in to the router with the user name admin. This password is not the one that you use for WiFi access. 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.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router A login window opens. 3. Enter the router admin user name and password. The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. 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. Select the Enable Password Recovery check box. 6. Select two security questions and provide answers to them. 7.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router A login window opens. 9. With your recovered password, log in to the router. View Information About the Router and the Internet and WiFi Settings You can view router information, the Internet port status, and WiFi settings. To view information about the router and the Internet, modem, and WiFi settings: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network. 2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. 3.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router Display Internet Port Statistics To display Internet port statistics: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network. 2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. 3. Enter the router admin user name and password. The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC Home page displays. 4.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router To stop the polling entirely, click the Stop button. Check the Internet Connection Status To check the Internet connection status: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network. 2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. 3. Enter the router admin user name and password. The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router View and Manage Logs of Router Activity The log is a detailed record of the websites you accessed or attempted to access and other router actions. Up to 256 entries are stored in the log. To view and manage logs: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network. 2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. 3. Enter the router admin user name and password. The user name is admin.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router View Devices Currently on the Network You can view all computers or devices that are currently connected to your network. To view devices on the network: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network. 2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. 3. Enter the router admin user name and password. The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC Home page displays. 4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > Traffic Meter. The Traffic Meter page displays. 5. Select the Enable Traffic Meter check box. 6.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router Manage the Router 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. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network. 2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. 3.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router The BASIC Home page displays. 4. Select ADVANCED > Administration > Backup Settings. The Backup Settings page displays. 5. Click the Erase button. The configuration is reset to factory default settings. When the reset is complete, the router restarts. This process takes about two minutes. WARNING: To avoid the risk of corrupting the firmware, do not interrupt the reset. For example, do not close the browser, click a link, or load a new page.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router 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. 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. See Change the admin Password on page 100.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router 7. Specify the port number for accessing the router web interface. Normal web browser access uses the standard HTTP service port 80. For greater security, enter a custom port number for the remote router web interface. Choose a number from 1024 to 65535, but do not use the number of any common service port. The default is 8443, which is a common alternate for HTTP. 8. Click the Apply button. Your settings are saved. Use Remote Access To use remote access: 1.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router Disable LED Blinking or Turn Off LEDs The LEDs on the top panel of the router indicate activities and behavior. You can disable LED blinking for network communications, or turn off all LEDs except the Power LED. To disable LED blinking or turn off the LEDs: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network. 2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. 3. Enter the router user name and password.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router 4. Select ADVANCED > Administration > NTP Settings. The NTP Settings page displays. 5. Select your time zone from the menu. 6. If you live in a region that observes daylight saving time, select the Automatically adjust for daylight savings time check box. 7. Click the Apply button. Your settings are saved. Change the NTP Server By default, the router uses the NETGEAR NTP server to sync the network time. You can change the NTP server to your preferred NTP server.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 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 mobile device that is connected to the router network. 2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. 3.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router Return the Router to Its Factory Default Settings Under some circumstances (for example, if you lost track of the changes that you made to the router settings or you move the router to a different network), you might want to erase the configuration and reset the router to factory default settings.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router To erase the settings: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router 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 password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC Home page displays. 4. Select ADVANCED > Administration > Backup Settings.
8 Share USB Storage Devices Attached to the Router 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. Do not connect computers, USB modems, CD drives, or DVD drives to the router USB port.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 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 storage device. Such USB storage devices do not work with the router.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router Access a Storage Device Connected to the Router From a Windows-Based Computer To access the USB storage device from a Windows-based computer: 1. Connect a USB storage device to a USB port on your router. 2. If your USB storage device uses a power supply, connect it. You must use the power supply when you connect the USB storage device to the router.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router 6. Right-click the USB device and select Map network drive. The Map Network Drive window opens. 7. Select the drive letter to map to the new network folder. 8. Click the Finish button. The USB storage device is mapped to the drive letter that you specified. 9. 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.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router A window automatically opens and displays the files and folders on the USB storage device. Back Up Windows-Based Computers With ReadySHARE Vault Your router comes with free backup software for all the Windows-based computers in your home. Connect a USB hard disk drive (HDD) to the router for centralized, continuous, and automatic backup. The following operating systems support ReadySHARE Vault: • Windows 7 • Windows 8 • Windows 8.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router Note: The following instructions might be different depending on the macOS your computer is using. For more instructions about backing up your computer with Time Machine, see the Apple support site. Set Up a USB Hard Drive on a Mac We recommend that you use a new USB HDD or format your old USB HDD to do the Time Machine backup for the first time. Use a blank partition to prevent some issues during backup using Time Machine.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router Prepare to Back Up a Large Amount of Data Before you back up a large amount of data with Time Machine, we recommend that you follow this procedure. To prepare to back up a large amount of data: 1. Upgrade the operating system of the Mac computer. 2. Verify and repair the backup disk and the local disk. 3. Verify and repair the permissions on the local disk. 4. Set Energy Saver: a. From the Apple menu, select System Preferences.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router 3. If your USB HDD uses a power supply, connect it. You must use the power supply when you connect the USB HDD to the router. When you connect the USB HDD to the router’s port, it might take up to two minutes before it is ready for sharing. By default, the USB HDD is available to all computers on your local area network (LAN). 4. On a Mac computer that is connected to the network, launch Finder and select Go > Connect to Server. The Connect to Server window opens.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router To enable FTP access within your network: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network. 2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. 3. Enter the router admin user name and password. The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC Home page displays. 4.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router 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. Click the link to change this setting. • Read Access and Write Access.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router 5. Click the Create Network Folder button. The Add Folder window opens. If this window does not open, your web browser might be blocking pop-ups. If it is, change the browser settings to allow pop-ups. 6. From the USB Device menu, select the USB drive. Note: We recommend that you do not attach more than one drive to one USB port (for example, through a USB hub). 7. Click the Browse button and in the Folder field, select the folder. 8.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router The BASIC Home page displays. 4. Select ADVANCED > ReadySHARE > Advanced Settings. The USB Storage (Advanced Settings) page displays. 5. In the Available Network Folders section, select the USB storage device. 6. Click the Edit button. The Edit Network Folder window opens. 7. Change the settings in the fields as needed. 8. Click the Apply button. Your settings are saved.
9 Use Dynamic DNS to Access USB Storage Devices Through the Internet 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 AX12 12-Steam AX6000 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 AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router 8. In the Read Access menu, select admin. 9. In the Write Access menu, select admin. 10. Click the Apply button. Your settings are saved. 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 132.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router Set Up a New Dynamic DNS Account To set up Dynamic DNS and register for a free NETGEAR account: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network. 2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. 3. Enter the router admin user name and password. The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router A login window opens. 3. Enter the router admin user name and password. The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. 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. Select the Use a Dynamic DNS Service check box. 6. From the Service Provider menu, select your provider. 7.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. 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. Change your DDNS account settings as necessary. 6. Click the Apply button. Your settings are saved.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 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 130.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router 4. Click the Create Account link. The Create a MyNETGEAR account page displays. 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.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router 8. Click the Sign In link, enter your ReadyCLOUD user name and password, and click the Sign In button. The ReadyCLOUD page displays the router that you registered and the contents of the USB storage device that is connected to the router.
10 Use VPN to Access Your Network 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 AX12 12-Steam AX6000 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. This type of VPN access is called a client-to-gateway tunnel. The computer is the client, and the router is the gateway. To use the VPN feature, you must log in to the router and enable VPN, and you must install and run VPN client software on the computer. VPN uses DDNS or a static IP address to connect with your router.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router 6. To change the service type, scroll down and select the TCP radio button. 7. To change the port, scroll down to the Service Port field, and type the port number that you want to use. 8. Click the Apply button. Your changes are saved. VPN is enabled in the router, but you must install and set up OpenVPN software on your computer before you can use a VPN connection.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router 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. 13. Leave the check boxes selected as shown, and click the Next button.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 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 AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router c. Select the local area connection and change its name (not its device name) to NETGEAR-VPN. 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.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router Install OpenVPN Software on an iOS Device You must install this software on each iOS device that you plan to use for VPN connections to your router. To install VPN client software on an iOS device: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router 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 AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router To install VPN client software on an Android device: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router 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 password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC Home page displays. 4.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router established, you cannot access your home router or your home network with the OpenVPN software. The default LAN IP address scheme for the router is 192.x.x.x. The most common IP schemes are 192.x.x.x, 172.x.x.x, and 10.x.x.x. If you experience a conflict, change the IP scheme either for your home network or for the network with the client VPN computer. For information about changing these settings, see Change the LAN TCP/IP settings on page 66.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router Use VPN to Access the Router’s USB Device and Media To access a USB device and download files from you Windows-based computer using VPN: 1. On your Windows-based computer, open the Windows file manager and select Network. Note: See your computer's documentation for information about how to display the network resources. The network resources display.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router Set Up VPN Client Internet Access in the Router By default, the router is set up to allow VPN connections only to your home network, but you can change the settings to allow Internet access. Accessing the Internet remotely through a VPN might be slower than accessing the Internet directly. To allow VPN clients to use your home Internet service: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network. 2. Enter http://www.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router To allow VPN clients to access only your home network: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router 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 password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC Home page displays. 4.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router 4. When the VPN connection is established, launch your Internet browser.
11 Manage Port Forwarding and Port Triggering 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 AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router Manage 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 AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router 11. Click the Add button. The service displays in the menu. Add a Custom Port Forwarding Service The router lists default services and applications that you can use in port forwarding rules. If the service or application is not predefined, you can add a port forwarding rule with a custom service or application. To add a custom service: 1. Find out which port number or range of numbers the application uses.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router 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). With this rule, external ports 30–50 are forwarded to internal ports 40–60. 12. In the Internal IP address field, type the IP address or select the radio button for an attached device listed in the table. 13. Click the Apply button. The service is now in the list on the Port Forwarding/Port Triggering page.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router Delete a Port Forwarding Entry To delete a port forwarding entry: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network. 2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. 3. Enter the router admin user name and password. The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC Home page displays. 4.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 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 AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router Add a Port Triggering Service To add a port triggering service: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network. 2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. 3. Enter the router admin user name and password. The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC Home page displays. 4.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router Enable Port Triggering To enable port triggering: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network. 2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. 3. Enter the router admin user name and password. The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC Home page displays. 4.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router also allow incoming traffic on port 113 to reach the originating computer.” The following sequence shows the effects of this port triggering rule: 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.
12 Troubleshooting 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 AX12 12-Steam AX6000 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 AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router Troubleshoot With the LEDs By default, the router is set with standard LED settings. Standard LED Behavior When the Router Is Powered On After you turn on power to the router, verify that the following sequence of events occurs: 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 lit. • The Internet LED is lit. • The WiFi LED is lit (unless you turned off the WiFi radio).
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router If the error persists, a hardware problem might be the cause. Contact Technical Support at netgear.com/support. 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.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router • Make sure that Java, JavaScript, or ActiveX is enabled in your browser. If you are using Internet Explorer, click the Refresh button to be sure that the Java applet is loaded. • Try quitting the browser and launching it again. • Make sure that you are using the correct login information. The user name is admin, and the default password is password. Make sure that Caps Lock is off when you enter this information.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router If your router is still unable to obtain an IP address from the ISP, the problem might be one of the following: • Your Internet service provider (ISP) might require a login program. Ask your ISP whether they require PPP over Ethernet (PPPoE) or some other type of login. • If your ISP requires a login, the login name and password might be set incorrectly. • Your ISP might check for your computer’s host name.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router By configuring the traffic meter not to block Internet access when the traffic limit is reached, you can resume Internet access. If your ISP sets a usage limit, they might charge you for the overage. • Your computer might not recognize any DNS server addresses. 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.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router • Does your WiFi device support the security that you are using for your WiFi network (WPA, WPA2, or WPA3)? • If you want to view the WiFi settings for the router, use an Ethernet cable to connect a computer to a LAN port on the router. Then log in to the router, and select BASIC > Wireless. Note: Be sure to click the Apply button if you change settings.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router 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 occurring: • 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 AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router • If your ISP assigned a host name to your computer, enter that host name as the account name on the Internet Setup page. • Your ISP might be rejecting the Ethernet MAC addresses of all but one of your computers. 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.
13 Supplemental Information This chapter includes technical information about your router.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 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) Default setting User login URL www.routerlogin.com or www.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router Table 3. Factory default settings (Continued) Feature Wireless Default setting SSID name See router label Security WPA2-PSK (AES) Broadcast SSID Enabled Transmission speed Auto1 Country/region United States in the US; otherwise, varies by region RF channel Auto for 2.4 GHz, CH 44 for WW SKU, and CH 153 for North America SKU Operating mode Up to 1.2 Gbps at 2.4 GHz Up to 4.
Nighthawk AX12 12-Steam AX6000 WiFi Router Table 4. Router specifications (Continued) Feature Description WAN Compatible with 10BASE-T, 100BASE-TX, 1000BASE-T, or RJ-45 WiFi Maximum WiFi signal rate complies with the IEEE® 802.11 standard.2 • 2.4 GHz AX: 4x4 (Tx/Rx) 1024 QAM 40 MHz, up to 1.2 Gbps • 5GHz AX: 4x4 (Tx/Rx) 1024 QAM 160MHz, up to 4.8Gbps • Backwards compatible with 802.11a/b/g/n/ac WiFi Radio data rates Auto Rate Sensing Data encoding standards IEEE 802.11ax 2.
Support Thank you for purchasing this NETGEAR product. You can visit www.netgear.com/support 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. Si ce produit est vendu au Canada, vous pouvez accéder à ce document en français canadien à http://downloadcenter.netgear.com/other/.
Package Contents Rear Panel 1 2 3 4 7 6 5 8 Router Ethernet cable Power adapter (varies by region) 1 LED On/Off switch 4 Multi-Gig Ethernet port 2 Ethernet ports 1–4 5 Reset button Note: Ethernet ports 1 and 2 can be used for Ethernet port aggregation. 6 USB ports 1 and 2 7 Power On/Off button 8 DC Power connector Router WiFi Network Name and Password A sticker on your router displays the preset WiFi network name, password, and QR code.
