® A Division of Cisco Systems, Inc. 2.4 GHz Wireless-G 802.11g Broadband Router WIRELESS with SRX User Guide Model No. WRT54GX Wireless-G Broadband Router with SRX 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 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 Wireless-G Broadband Router. This exclamation point means there is a caution or warning and is something that could damage your property or the Wireless-G Broadband Router. This question mark provides you with a reminder about something you might need to do while using the 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". WRT54GX-UG-50225A BW Wireless-G Broadband Router with SRX 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 Wireless-G Broadband Router The Back Panel The Front Panel 6 6 7 Chapter 4: Connecting the Wireless-G Broadband Router Overview Hardware Installation for Connection to Your Broadband Modem 8 8 8 Chapter 5: Configuring the Wireless-G Broadband Router 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 Access Restrictions Tab - Internet Access The Applications and Gaming Tab - Port Range Forward The Applications and Gaming Tab - Port Triggering The Applications and Gaming Tab - DMZ The Applications and Gaming Tab - UPnP Forwarding The Administration Tab - Management The Administration Tab - Log The Administration Tab - Diagnostics 9 9 10 15 16 17 18 19 21 22 23 24 26 26 27 27 28 29 29 Wireless-G Broadband Router with SRX The Administration Tab - Factory Defaults The Administration Tab - Firmware Upgrade The Administration Tab - Config Management The Status Tab - Router The Status Tab - Local Network The Status Tab - Wireless The Status Tab - System Performance 30 30 31 31 32 33 34 Appendix A: Troubleshooting Common Problems and Solutions Frequently Asked Questions 36 36 45 Appendix B: Wireless Security Security Precautions Security Threats Facing Wireless Networks 51 51 51 Appendix C: Upgrading Firmware 54 Appendix D: Windows Help 55 Appendix E: Finding the MAC Address and IP Address for Your Ethernet Adapter 56 Windows 98SE or Me Instructions Windows 2000 or XP Instructions For the Router's Web-based Utility 56 57 57 Appendix F: Glossary Appendix G: Specifications Appendix H: Warranty Information Appendix I: Regulatory Information Appendix J: Contact Information 58 64 66 67 69 Wireless-G Broadband Router with SRX List of Figures Figure 3-1: The Router's Back Panel Figure 3-2: The Router's Reset Button Figure 3-3: The Router's LEDs Figure 4-1: The Router's Ports 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: Telstra BigPond Connection Type Figure 5-8: Optional Settings Figure 5-9: Router IP Figure 5-10: Network Address Server Settings Figure 5-11: Time Setting Figure 5-12: Setup Tab - DDNS Figure 5-13: Setup Tab - MAC Address Clone Figure 5-14: Setup Tab - Advanced Routing Figure 5-15: Setup Tab - Advanced Routing - NAT Mode Figure 5-16: Wireless Tab - Basic Wireless Settings Figure 5-17: Wireless Tab - Wireless Security (WPA Pre-Shared Key) Figure 5-18: Wireless Tab - Wireless Security (WPA RADIUS) Figure 5-19: Wireless Tab - Wireless Security (WEP) Figure 5-20: Wireless Tab - Wireless MAC Filter Figure 5-21: Wireless Tab - Wireless MAC Filter - Networked Computers Figure 5-22: Wireless Tab - Advanced Wireless Settings Figure 5-23: Security Tab - Firewall Figure 5-24: AAccess Restrictions Tab - Internet Access Figure 5-25: Internet Policy Summary Figure 5-26: List of PCs 6 6 7 8 9 10 10 11 11 12 12 13 13 14 14 15 16 17 17 18 19 19 20 21 21 22 23 24 24 25 Wireless-G Broadband Router with SRX Figure 5-27: Port Services Figure 5-28: Applications and Gaming Tab - Port Range Forward Figure 5-29: Applications and Gaming Tab - Port Triggering Figure 5-30: Applications and Gaming Tab - DMZ Figure 5-31: Applications and Gaming Tab - UPnP Forwarding Figure 5-32: Administration Tab - Management Figure 5-33: Administration Tab - Log Figure 5-34: Administration Tab - Diagnostics Figure 5-35: Administration Tab - Factory Defaults Figure 5-36: Administration Tab - Firmware Upgrade Figure 5-37: Administration Tab - Config Management Figure 5-38: Status Tab - Router Figure 5-39: Status Tab - Local Network Figure 5-40: Status Tab - Wireless Figure 5-41: Status Tab - System Performance 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: MAC Address Clone 25 26 26 27 27 28 29 29 30 30 31 31 32 33 34 54 56 56 56 57 57 Wireless-G Broadband Router with SRX Chapter 1: Introduction Welcome Thank you for choosing the Linksys Wireless-G Broadband Router with SRX. The Wireless-G Broadband Router with SRX will allow you to network wirelessly better than ever, sharing Internet access, files and fun, easily and securely. How does the Wireless-G Broadband Router with SRX 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 SRX, this access can be shared over the four switched ports or via the wireless network, broadcast at either 11Mbps for Wireless-B or 54Mbps for Wireless-G. In addition, WPA encryption provides greater security opportunities while the whole network is protected through a Stateful Packet Inspection (SPI) firewall and NAT technology. All of these security features, as well as full configurability, are accessed 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 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. The Wireless-G Broadband Router with SRX bridges wireless networks of both 802.11b and 802.11g standards and wired networks, allowing them to communicate with each other. With your networks all connected, wired, wireless, and the Internet, you can now share files and Internet access--and even play games. All the while, the Wireless-G Broadband Router with SRX protects your networks from unauthorized and unwelcome users. You should always use the Setup CD-ROM when you first install 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 SRX, 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 SRX. 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 802.11b: an IEEE wireless networking standard that specifies a maximum data transfer rate of 11Mbps and an operating frequency of 2.4GHz. 802.11b: 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 Wireless-G Broadband Router with SRX What's in this Guide? This user guide covers the steps for setting up and using the Wireless-G Broadband Router with SRX. · 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 This chapter describes the Router's physical features. · Chapter 4: Connecting the Wireless-G Broadband Router This chapter instructs you on how to connect the Router to your network. · Chapter 5: Configuring the Wireless-G Broadband Router This chapter explains how to use the Router's Web-Based Utility. · 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. · 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 Router's firmware 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 Router's MAC filtering and/or MAC address cloning feature. · Appendix F: Glossary This appendix gives a brief glossary of terms frequently used in networking. · Appendix G: Specifications This appendix provides the Router's technical specifications. Chapter 1: Introduction What's in this Guide? 2 Wireless-G Broadband Router with SRX · Appendix H: Warranty Information This appendix supplies the Router's warranty information. · Appendix I: Regulatory Information This appendix supplies the Router's regulatory information. · 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 Wireless-G Broadband Router with SRX Chapter 2: Planning Your Wireless Network Network Topology A wireless local area network is exactly like a regular local area network (LAN), except that each computer in the wireless network uses a wireless device to connect to the network. Computers in a wireless network 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 series of computers or devices connected for the purpose of data sharing, storage, and/or transmission between users. ssid: your wireless network's name. Ad-Hoc versus Infrastructure Mode Unlike wired networks, wireless networks have two different modes in which they may be set up: infrastructure and ad-hoc. An infrastructure configuration is a wireless and wired network communicating to each other through an access point. An ad-hoc configuration is wireless-equipped computers communicating directly with each other. Choosing between these two modes depends on whether or not the wireless network needs to share data or peripherals with a wired network or not. If the computers on the wireless network need to be accessible by a wired network or need to share a peripheral, such as a printer, with the wired network computers, the wireless network should be se ...