ROUTER USER MANUAL
Table Of Contents
- Contents
- 1. Hardware Setup
- 2. Connect to the Network and Access the Router
- 3. Specify Your Internet Settings
- Use the Internet Setup Wizard
- Manually Set Up the Internet Connection
- Specify IPv6 Internet Connections
- Requirements for Entering IPv6 Addresses
- Use Auto Detect for an IPv6 Internet Connection
- Use Auto Config for an IPv6 Internet Connection
- Set Up an IPv6 6to4 Tunnel Internet Connection
- Set Up an IPv6 6rd Internet Connection
- Set Up an IPv6 Pass Through Internet Connection
- Set Up an IPv6 Fixed Internet Connection
- Set Up an IPv6 DHCP Internet Connection
- Set Up an IPv6 PPPoE Internet Connection
- Change the MTU Size
- 4. Customize Quality of Service Settings and Optimize Gaming
- 5. Monitor Devices and the Network and View Router Information
- 6. Control Access to the Internet
- 7. Manage the Router’s Network Settings
- View or Change WAN Settings
- Set Up a Default DMZ Server
- Change the Router’s Device Name
- Change the Router’s LAN IP Address and RIP Settings
- Specify the IP Addresses That the Router Assigns
- Disable the DHCP Server Feature in the Router
- Manage Reserved LAN IP Addresses
- Set Up a Bridge to Your ISP’s Network Using a Port Group or VLAN Tag Group
- Manage Custom Static Routes
- Improve Network Connections With Universal Plug and Play
- 8. Manage the Router’s WiFi Settings
- Specify Basic WiFi Settings
- Change the WiFi Password or Security Level
- Change the WiFi Mbps Mode for Download and Upload Speeds
- Set Up a Guest WiFi Network
- Configure WPA/WPA2 Enterprise WiFi Security
- Configure WEP Legacy WiFi Security
- Control the WiFi Radios
- Use the WPS Wizard for WiFi Connections
- Set Up a WiFi Schedule
- Specify WPS Settings
- Manage Implicit Beamforming
- Manage MU-MIMO
- Manage HT160 for 160 MHz WiFi Support
- Disable Wi-Fi Multimedia Quality of Service
- Use the Router as a WiFi Access Point Only
- 9. Maintain the Router
- Update the Router Firmware
- Change the admin Password
- Enable admin Password Recovery
- Recover the admin Password
- Manage the Router Configuration File
- Manage Remote Access
- Remotely Access Your Router Using the Nighthawk App
- Monitor and Meter Internet Traffic
- View and Manage the Router Activity Log
- Display Internet Port Statistics
- Check the Internet Connection Status, View Details, and Release and Renew the Connection
- Restart the Router From Its Web Interface
- View Router Notifications
- Disable or Enable LED Blinking or Turn Off LEDs
- 10. Share USB Storage Devices Attached to the Router
- USB device requirements
- Connect a USB storage device to the router
- Access a storage device connected to the router from a Windows-based computer
- Map a USB device to a Windows network drive
- Access a Storage Device That Is Connected to the Router From a Mac
- Back up Windows-based computers with ReadySHARE Vault
- Back up Mac computers with Time Machine
- Manage Access to a USB Storage Device
- Use FTP Within the Network
- Manage Network Folders on a USB Storage Device
- Approve USB Devices
- Safely Remove a USB Storage Device
- 11. Use Dynamic DNS to Access USB Storage Devices Through the Internet
- 12. Use the Router as a Media Server
- 13. Share a USB Printer
- 14. Use VPN to Access Your Network
- 15. Use VPN to Access An External Network
- 16. Manage and Customize Internet Traffic Rules for Ports
- 17. Troubleshooting
- A. Supplemental Information
Set Up a VPN Client Connection
In addition to using a virtual private network (VPN) to securely access your own network
over the Internet when you are not home (see Use VPN to Access Your Network on page
172), you can also set up the router as a VPN client to let devices on the routersnetwork
securely access an external network, while protection your own network identity and
preventing a distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack. An external network can be a
gaming network, a business network behind a firewall, or an Internet service that might
not be accessible from your geographical location without using a VPN server in another
country.
Similar to using the router as a VPN server, this type of VPN access is also called a
client-to-gateway tunnel, but in this situation the router functions as the client and an
external gateway (that is not on the routersnetwork) functions as the VPN server.
A VPN creates a secure, encrypted tunnel over the Internet between your router and a
VPN server. The VPN client on the router redirects the Internet connection so that the
router first connects to a VPN server (which could be in another country) and then to
the Internet. All devices that are connected to your router are assigned new IP addresses
from the VPN server, which hides the actual location of your router and the devices that
are connected to it. After the VPN connection is established, you use your web browser
and any apps as you would normally do.
Note: The router comes with a commercial VPN service provider predefined called
HideMyAss. To use the VPN client feature in the router, you need a license from either
of those providers. However, if you want to use a free VPN service on a device on your
routersnetwork, you can download the servicesVPN client on your device and establish
a connection to the free VPN server. Such as a connection serves only that individual
device, not all devices on the routersnetwork.
To use the VPN client feature, you must log in to the router, enable the routersVPN
client, and establish a connection to an external VPN server (see Enable the VPN Client
in the Router and Connect to a VPN Server on page 186).
Enable the VPN Client in the Router and
Connect to a VPN Server
The router comes with a commercial VPN service provider (HideMyAss) predefined. To
use the VPN client feature in the router, you need a license from the HideMyAss server
provider.
User Manual186Use VPN to Access An External
Network
XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router