® A Division of Cisco Systems, Inc. 2.4 GHz Wireless-G 802.11g WIRELESS Broadband Router with RangeBooster User Guide Model No. WRT54GR Wireless-G Broadband Router with RangeBooster 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 © 2006 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 Wireless-G Broadband Router with RangeBooster 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 Wireless-G Broadband Router with RangeBooster. This exclamation point means there is a caution or warning and is something that could damage your property or the Wireless-G Broadband Router with RangeBooster. This question mark provides you with a reminder about something you might need to do while using the Wireless-G Broadband Router with RangeBooster. 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". WRT54GR-UG-50719NC BW Wireless-G Broadband Router with RangeBooster Table of Contents Chapter 1: Introduction Welcome What's in this User 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 Wireless-G Broadband Router with RangeBooster The Back Panel The Front Panel 6 6 7 Chapter 4: Connecting the Wireless-G Broadband Router with RangeBooster Hardware Installation for Connection to Your Broadband Modem 8 8 Chapter 5: Configuring the Wireless-G Broadband Router with RangeBooster Overview 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 - Single Port Forwarding The Applications and Gaming Tab - Port Range Forwarding The Applications & Gaming Tab - Port Range Triggering The Applications and Gaming Tab - DMZ The Administration Tab - Management The Administration Tab - Log The Administration Tab - Diagnostics 10 10 11 15 16 17 18 19 22 23 25 26 26 28 29 30 30 31 33 34 Wireless-G Broadband Router with RangeBooster The Administration Tab - Factory Defaults The Administration Tab - Firmware Upgrade The Status Tab - Router The Status Tab - Local Network The Status Tab - Wireless Network 35 35 36 37 37 Appendix A: Troubleshooting Common Problems and Solutions Frequently Asked Questions 38 38 46 Appendix B: Wireless Security Security Precautions Security Threats Facing Wireless Networks 53 53 53 Appendix C: Upgrading Firmware Appendix D: Windows Help Appendix E: Finding the MAC Address and IP Address for Your Ethernet Adapter Windows 98SE or Me Instructions Windows 2000 or XP Instructions For the Router's Web-based Utility 56 57 58 58 58 59 Appendix F: Glossary Appendix G: Specifications Appendix H: Warranty Information Appendix I: Regulatory Information Appendix J: Contact Information 60 67 69 70 72 Wireless-G Broadband Router with RangeBooster List of Figures Figure 3-1: The Router's Back Panel Figure 3-2: The Router's Front Panel Figure 4-1: Connecting Your Internet Connection Figure 4-2: Connecting Your Network Devices Figure 4-3: Connecting the Power Figure 5-1: Password Screen Figure 5-2: Setup Tab - Basic Setup Figure 5-3: DHCP Connection Type Figure 5-4: Static IP Connection Type Figure 5-5: PPPoE Connection Type Figure 5-6: PPTP Connection Type Figure 5-7: HeartBeat Signal Connection Type Figure 5-8: Optional Settings Figure 5-9: Router IP Figure 5-10: DHCP Server Settings Figure 5-11: Static DHCP Client List Figure 5-12: DHCP Client Table Figure 5-13: Time Setting Figure 5-14: Setup Tab - DDNS.com Figure 5-15: Setup Tab - TZO.com Figure 5-16: Setup Tab - MAC Address Clone Figure 5-17: Setup Tab - Advanced Routing Figure 5-18: Setup Tab - Routing Table Figure 5-19: Wireless Tab - Basic Wireless Settings Figure 5-20: Wireless Tab - Wireless Security (WEP) Figure 5-21: Wireless Tab - Wireless Security (WPA-Personal) Figure 5-22: Wireless Tab - Wireless Security (PSK2) Figure 5-23: Wireless Tab - Wireless Security (RPSK2-Mixed) Figure 5-24: Wireless Tab - Wireless Security (WPA Enterprise) Figure 5-25: Wireless Tab - Wireless Security (PSK2 + RADIUS) Figure 5-26: Wireless Tab - Wireless Security (RADIUS) 6 7 8 9 9 10 11 11 11 12 12 13 13 13 14 14 14 14 15 15 16 17 17 18 19 19 20 20 20 21 21 Wireless-G Broadband Router with RangeBooster Figure 5-27: Wireless Tab - Wireless MAC Filter Figure 5-28: Wireless Client List Figure 5-29: Wireless Tab - Advanced Wireless Settings Figure 5-30: Security Tab - Firewall Figure 5-31: Security Tab - VPN Passthrough Figure 5-32: Access Restrictions Tab - Internet Access Policy Figure 5-33: Internet Policy Summary Figure 5-34: List of PCs Figure 5-35: Applications and Gaming Tab - Single Port Forwarding Figure 5-36: Applications and Gaming Tab - Port Range Forward Figure 5-37: Applications and Gaming Tab - Port Triggering Figure 5-38: Applications and Gaming Tab - DMZ Figure 5-39: Administration Tab - Management Figure 5-40: Administration Tab - Log Figure 5-41: Administration Tab - Incoming Log Figure 5-42: Administration Tab - Diagnostics Figure 5-43: The Ping Test Figure 5-44: The Traceroute Test Figure 5-45: Administration Tab - Factory Defaults Figure 5-46: Administration Tab - Firmware Upgrade Figure 5-47: Status Tab - Router Figure 5-48: Status Tab - Router with PPPoE IP Connection Figure 5-49: Status Tab - Local Network Figure 5-50: DHCP Clients Table Figure 5-51: Status Tab - Wireless Network Figure C-1: Upgrade Firmware Figure E-1: IP Configuration Screen Figure E-2: MAC Address/Adapter Address Figure E-3: MAC Address/Physical Address Figure E-4: MAC Address Filter List Figure E-5: Wireless Client List Figure E-6: MAC Address Cloning 22 22 23 25 26 26 27 27 28 29 30 30 31 33 33 34 34 34 35 35 36 36 37 37 37 56 58 58 58 59 59 59 Wireless-G Broadband Router with RangeBooster Chapter 1: Introduction Welcome Thank you for choosing the Linksys Wireless-G Broadband Router with RangeBooster. The Wireless-G Broadband Router with RangeBooster will allow you to network wirelessly better than ever, sharing Internet access, files and fun, easily and securely and with a greater range of up to twice as far as standard Wireless-G. How does the Wireless-G Broadband Router with RangeBooster do all of this? A router is a device that allows access to an Internet connection over a network. With the Wireless-G Broadband Router with RangeBooster, this access can be shared over the four switched ports or via the wireless broadcast at up to 11Mbps for Wireless-B or up to 54Mbps for Wireless-G. Use the WPA standard to secure your wireless network while the whole network is protected through a Stateful Packet Inspection (SPI) firewall and Network Address Translation (NAT) technology. You can also access the Router's features 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 Wireless-G Broadband Router with RangeBooster bridges wireless networks of both 802.11b and 802.11g standards and wired networks, allowing them to communicate with each other. 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 Wireless-G Broadband Router with RangeBooster, 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 Wireless-G Broadband Router with RangeBooster. wpa (wi-fi protected access): a wireless security protocol using TKIP (Temporal Key Integrity Protocol) encryption, which can be used in conjunction with a RADIUS server. spi (stateful packet inspection) firewall: a technology that inspects incoming packets of information before allowing them to enter the network. firewall: Security measures that protect the resources of a local network from intruders. nat (network address translation): NAT technology translates IP addresses of a local area network to a different IP address for the Internet. lan (local area network): The computers and networking products that make up the network in your home or office. Chapter 1: Introduction Welcome 1 Wireless-G Broadband Router with RangeBooster What's in this User Guide? This user guide covers the steps for setting up and using the Wireless-G Broadband Router with RangeBooster. · 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 Wireless-G Broadband Router with RangeBooster This chapter describes the physical features of the Router. · Chapter 4: Connecting the Wireless-G Broadband Router with RangeBooster This chapter instructs you on how to connect the Router to your network. · Chapter 5: Configuring the Wireless-G Broadband Router with RangeBooster This chapter explains how to use the Web-based Utility to configure the settings on the Wireless-G Broadband Router with RangeBooster. · Appendix A: Troubleshooting This appendix describes some problems and solutions, as well as frequently asked questions, regarding installation and use of the Wireless-G Broadband Router with RangeBooster. · 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 User Guide? 2 Wireless-G Broadband Router with RangeBooster · 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 User Guide? 3 Wireless-G Broadband Router with RangeBooster 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 wir ...