® A Division of Cisco Systems, Inc. Compact Wireless-G Broadband Router WIRELESS Model No. User Guide WRT54GC Compact Wireless-G Broadband Router Copyright and Trademarks Specifications are subject to change without notice. Linksys is a registered trademark or trademark of Cisco Systems, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and certain other countries. Copyright © 2005 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Other brands and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders. WARNING: This product contains chemicals, including lead, known to the State of California to cause cancer, and birth defects or other reproductive harm. Wash hands after handling. How to Use This User Guide This User Guide has been designed to make understanding networking with the Compact Wireless-G Broadband Router easier than ever. Look for the following items when reading this User Guide: This checkmark means there is a note of interest and is something you should pay special attention to while using the Compact Wireless-G Broadband Router. This exclamation point means there is a caution or warning and is something that could damage your property or the Compact Wireless-G Broadband Router. This question mark provides you with a reminder about something you might need to do while using the Compact Wireless-G Broadband Router. In addition to these symbols, there are definitions for technical terms that are presented like this: word: definition. Also, each figure (diagram, screenshot, or other image) is provided with a figure number and description, like this: Figure 0-1: Sample Figure Description Figure numbers and descriptions can also be found in the "List of Figures" section in the "Table of Contents". WRT54GC-UG-41215NC BW Compact Wireless-G Broadband Router Table of Contents Chapter 1: Introduction Welcome What's in this Guide? 1 1 2 Chapter 2: Planning Your Wireless Network Network Topology Ad-Hoc versus Infrastructure Mode Network Layout 4 4 4 4 Chapter 3: Getting to Know the Compact Wireless-G Broadband Router The Back Panel The Front Panel The Bottom Panel The Top Panel 6 6 7 8 9 Chapter 4: Connecting the Compact Wireless-G Broadband Router Overview Hardware Installation for Connection to your Broadband Modem Hardware Installation for Connection to Another Router 10 10 10 12 Chapter 5: Configuring the Compact Wireless-G Broadband Router Overview How to Access the Web-based Utility The Setup Tab - Basic Setup The Setup Tab - DDNS The Setup Tab - MAC Address Clone The Setup Tab - Advanced Routing The Wireless Tab - Basic Wireless Settings The Wireless Tab - Wireless Security The Wireless Tab - Wireless MAC Filter The Wireless Tab - Advanced Wireless Settings The Security Tab - Firewall The Security Tab - VPN Passthrough The Access Restrictions Tab - Internet Access Policy The Applications and Gaming Tab - Port Range Forwarding The Applications & Gaming Tab - Port Range Triggering 14 14 15 15 19 20 21 22 23 25 26 28 29 29 31 33 Compact Wireless-G Broadband Router The Applications and Gaming Tab - DMZ The Administration Tab - Management The Administration Tab - Log The Administration Tab - Diagnostics The Administration Tab - Factory Defaults The Administration Tab - Firmware Upgrade The Status Tab - Router The Status Tab - Local Network The Status Tab - Wireless 34 35 37 38 39 39 40 41 42 Appendix A: Troubleshooting Common Problems and Solutions Frequently Asked Questions 43 43 51 Appendix B: Wireless Security Security Precautions Security Threats Facing Wireless Networks 58 58 58 Appendix C: Upgrading Firmware 61 Appendix D: Windows Help 62 Appendix E: Finding the MAC Address and IP Address for Your Ethernet Adapter 63 Windows 98SE or Me Instructions Windows 2000 or XP Instructions For the Router's Web-based Utility 63 63 64 Appendix F: Glossary Appendix G: Specifications Appendix H: Warranty Information Appendix I: Regulatory Information Appendix J: Contact Information 65 72 74 75 77 Compact Wireless-G Broadband Router List of Figures Figure 3-1: The Router's Back Panel Figure 3-2: The Router's Front Panel Figure 3-3: The Router's Bottom Panel Figure 3-4: The Router's Top Panel Figure 4-1: Connecting your Broadband Modem Figure 4-2: Connecting Your Network Devices Figure 4-3: Connecting the Power Figure 4-4: Diagram for Connection to Another Router Figure 4-5: Connecting Another Router Figure 4-6: Connecting Your Network Devices Figure 4-7: Connecting the Power Figure 5-1: Router's IP Address Figure 5-2: Router Login Screen Figure 5-3: Setup Tab - Basic Setup Figure 5-4: Static IP Connection Type Figure 5-5: PPPoE Connection Type Figure 5-6: PPTP Connection Type Figure 5-7: Static DHCP Client List Figure 5-8: DHCP Client Table Figure 5-9: DynDNS.org Figure 5-10: TZO.com Figure 5-11: Setup Tab - MAC Address Clone Figure 5-12: Setup Tab - Advanced Routing (Gateway) Figure 5-13: Setup Tab - Advanced Routing (Router) Figure 5-14: Wireless Tab - Basic Wireless Settings Figure 5-15: Wireless Tab - Wireless Security (WEP) Figure 5-16: Wireless Tab - Wireless Security (WPA Personal) Figure 5-17: Wireless Tab - Wireless Security (WPA2 Personal) Figure 5-18: Wireless Tab - Wireless Security (WPA2 Mixed Mode) Figure 5-19: Wireless Tab - Wireless MAC Filter 6 7 8 9 10 11 11 12 12 13 13 15 15 15 16 16 17 18 18 19 20 20 21 21 22 23 23 24 24 25 Compact Wireless-G Broadband Router Figure 5-20: Wireless Tab - Wireless Client List Figure 5-21: Wireless Tab - Advanced Wireless Settings Figure 5-22: Security Tab - Firewall Figure 5-23: Security Tab - VPN Passthrough Figure 5-24: Access Restrictions Tab - Internet Access Policy Figure 5-25: Access Restrictions Tab - Summary Figure 5-26: Access Restrictions Tab - Internet Access PCs List Figure 5-27: Applications and Gaming Tab - Port Range Forwarding Figure 5-28: Applications and Gaming Tab - Port Triggering Figure 5-29: Applications and Gaming Tab - DMZ Figure 5-30: Administration Tab - Management Figure 5-31: Administration Tab - Log Figure 5-32: Incoming Log Figure 5-33: Administration Tab - Diagnostics Figure 5-34: Ping Test Figure 5-35: Traceroute Test Figure 5-36: Administration Tab - Factory Defaults Figure 5-37: Administration Tab - Firmware Upgrade Figure 5-38: Status Tab - Router Figure 5-39: Status Tab - Local Network Figure 5-40: DHCP Client Table Figure 5-41: Status Tab - Wireless Figure C-1: Administration Tab - Firmware Upgrade Figure E-1: IP Configuration Screen Figure E-2: MAC Address/Adapter Address Figure E-3: MAC Address/Physical Address Figure E-4: Wireless MAC Filter List Figure E-5: MAC Address Clone 25 26 28 29 29 30 30 31 33 34 35 37 37 38 38 38 39 39 40 41 41 42 61 63 63 63 64 64 Compact Wireless-G Broadband Router Chapter 1: Introduction Welcome Thank you for choosing the Linksys Compact Wireless-G Broadband Router. The Compact Wireless-G Broadband Router will allow you to network wirelessly better than ever, sharing Internet access, files and fun, easily and securely. How does the Compact Wireless-G Broadband Router do all of this? A router is a device that allows access to an Internet connection over a network. With the Compact Wireless-G Broadband Router, this access can be shared over the four switched ports or via the wireless broadcast at either up to 11Mbps for Wireless-B or up to 54Mbps for Wireless-G. In addition, the whole network is protected by NAT technology. For wireless networking, you also have a choice of wireless security methods. Additional security features, as well as configuration options, are accessible through the easy-to-use, browser-based utility. But what does all of this mean? Networks are useful tools for sharing computer resources. You can access one printer from different computers and access data located on another computer's hard drive. Networks are even used for playing multiplayer video games. So, networks are not only useful in homes and offices, they can also be fun. PCs on a wired network create a LAN, or Local Area Network. They are connected with Ethernet cables, which is why the network is called "wired". PCs equipped with wireless cards or adapters can communicate without cumbersome cables. By sharing the same wireless settings, within their transmission radius, they form a wireless network. This is sometimes called a WLAN, or Wireless Local Area Network. The Compact Wireless-G Broadband Router bridges wireless networks of 802.11a, 802.11b, and 802.11g standards and wired networks, allowing them to communicate with each other. With your wired and wireless networks connected to each other and the Internet, you can now share files and Internet access--and even play games. All the while, the Compact Wireless-G Broadband Router protects your networks from unauthorized and unwelcome users. Linksys recommends using the Setup CD-ROM for first-time installation of the Router. If you do not wish to run the Setup Wizard on the Setup CD-ROM, then use the instructions in this Guide to help you connect the Compact Wireless-G Broadband Router, set it up, and configure it to bridge your different networks. These instructions should be all you need to get the most out of the Compact Wireless-G Broadband Router. nat (network address translation): NAT technology translated IP addresses of a local area network to a different IP address for the Internet. mbps: one million bits per second; a unit of measurement for data transmission. browser: an application program that provides a way to look at and interact with all the information on the World Wide Web. lan (local area network): the computers and networking products that make up the network in your home or office. ethernet: an IEEE standard network protocol that specifies how data is placed on and retrieved from a common transmission medium. 802.11b: an IEEE wireless networking standard that specifies a maximum data transfer rate of 11Mbps and an operating frequency of 2.4GHz. 802.11g: an IEEE wireless networking standard that specifies a maximum data transfer rate of 54Mbps, an operating frequency of 2.4GHz, and backward compatibility with 802.11b devices. Chapter 1: Introduction Welcome 1 Compact Wireless-G Broadband Router What's in this Guide? This user guide covers the steps for setting up and using the Compact Wireless-G Broadband Router. · Chapter 1: Introduction This chapter describes the Router's applications and this User Guide. · Chapter 2: Planning Your Wireless Network This chapter describes the basics of wireless networking. · Chapter 3: Getting to Know the Compact Wireless-G Broadband Router This chapter describes the physical features of the Router. · Chapter 4: Connecting the Compact Wireless-G Broadband Router This chapter instructs you on how to connect the Router to your network. · Chapter 5: Configuring the Compact Wireless-G Broadband Router This chapter explains how to use the Web-Based Utility to configure the settings on the Compact Wireless-G Broadband Router. · Appendix A: Troubleshooting This appendix describes some problems and solutions, as well as frequently asked questions, regarding installation and use of the Compact Wireless-G Broadband Router. · Appendix B: Wireless Security This appendix explains the risks of wireless networking and some solutions to reduce the risks. · Appendix C: Upgrading Firmware This appendix instructs you on how to upgrade the firmware on the Router should you need to do so. · Appendix D: Windows Help This appendix describes how you can use Windows Help for instructions about networking, such as installing the TCP/IP protocol. · Appendix E: Finding the MAC Address and IP Address for your Ethernet Adapter. This appendix describes how to find the MAC address for your computer's Ethernet adapter so you can use the MAC filtering and/or MAC address cloning feature of the Router. · Appendix F: Glossary This appendix gives a brief glossary of terms frequently used in networking. Chapter 1: Introduction What's in this Guide? 2 Compact Wireless-G Broadband Router · Appendix G: Specifications This appendix provides the technical specifications for the Router. · Appendix H: Warranty Information This appendix supplies the warranty information for the Router. · Appendix I: Regulatory Information This appendix supplies the regulatory information regarding the Router. · Appendix J: Contact Information This appendix provides contact information for a variety of Linksys resources, including Technical Support. Chapter 1: Introduction What's in this Guide? 3 Compact Wireless-G Broadband Router Chapter 2: Planning Your Wireless Network Network Topology A wireless local area network (WLAN) is exactly like a regular local area network (LAN), except that each computer in the WLAN uses a wireless device to connect to the network. Computers in a WLAN share the same frequency channel and SSID, which is an identification name shared by the wireless devices belonging to the same wireless network. network: a ser ...