Wireless Broadband Router Model #: MI424WR Firmware Version: 4.0.16.1.44.28 User Manual Ver 2.
Table of Contents 1 Introduction 1 Package Contents Minimum System Requirements Features Getting to Know the Router 2 Connecting the Router 1 2 2 4 9 Setting Up the Router Computer Network Configuration Home Page 9 14 16 3 Configuring My Network Settings 19 Accessing My Network Using My Network 19 20 4 Creating a Wireless Network Overview Wireless Network Connection Configuring a Wireless Windows XP Client Connecting a Wireless Windows XP Client 27 27 28 35 37 5 Using Network Connections 41
Actiontec Wireless Broadband Router User Manual 8 Using Advanced Settings About Configuration File Restart Restoring Default Settings Diagnostics MAC Cloning System Settings Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) Firmware Upgrade Scheduler Rules Date and Time RADIUS (Client) Users ARP (Address Resolution Protocol) Table Routing Network Objects Firmware Restore Dynamic DNS IP Address Distribution DNS Server Remote Administration Protocols 9 Monitoring the Router Monitoring Connections Traffic Monitoring System Log
1 Introduction Thank you for purchasing the Actiontec Wireless Broadband Router. The Wireless Broadband Router supports Multimedia over Coax Alliance (MoCA), a new networking standard that allows digital entertainment and information to be transmitted and distributed to multiple devices over coaxial cables. The Router also supports Ethernet and Wi-Fi networking, making it the most versatile router available.
Actiontec Wireless Broadband Router User Manual s Wall-mount template s Vertical stand s Warranty Minimum System Requirements s Computer with Ethernet capability s Microsoft Windows 98SE, Me, 2000, or XP; Mac OS 9 or greater; Linux/ BSD, Unix s Internet Explorer 5.0 or higher; Netscape Navigator 7.0 or higher s TCP/IP network protocol installed on each computer Features s Supports multiple networking standards, including: WAN - Ethernet and MoCA interfaces LAN - 802.11g, 802.
Chapter 1 Introduction Intrusion detection MAC address filtering NAT DMZ hosting Access control Advanced wireless protection featuring WPA, WEP 64/128 bit encryption, 802.1x authentication, and MAC address filtering ICSA certified s Other Features DHCP server option DHCP server/PPPoE server auto-detection DNS server LAN IP and WAN IP address selection MAC address cloning Port forwarding PPPoE support QoS support (end to end layer 2/3) featuring Diffserv, 802.
Actiontec Wireless Broadband Router User Manual Getting to Know the Router This section contains a quick description of the Router’s lights (LEDs), ports, etc. The Router features several indicator lights on its front panel, and a series of ports and switches on its rear panel. Front Panel The front panel of the Router features ten indicator lights: Power, Ethernet WAN, Coax WAN, Internet, Ethernet LAN (4), Coax LAN, and Wireless.
Chapter 1 Introduction Ethernet WAN Light The Ethernet WAN light illuminates when the Router is connected to the Internet via Ethernet. If flashing, data traffic is passing across the port. Coax WAN Light The Coax WAN light glows steadily or flashes when the Router is connected to the Internet via coaxial cable. Internet Light When the Internet light glows steadily green, the Router is connected to the ISP (Internet Service Provider).
Actiontec Wireless Broadband Router User Manual Rear Panel The rear panel of the Router features seven ports (Coax, Ethernet WAN, Ethernet LAN [4], and Power), as well as a Reset button and Power switch. 10 100 10 100 10 100 3A 5VDC Reset 3 Coax 10 100 4 On/Off 2 1 Reset Coax Port The Coax port connects the Router to the ISP or other devices using a coaxial cable. Reset Button To restore the Router’s factory default settings, press and hold the Reset button for approximately ten seconds.
Chapter 1 Introduction Ethernet WAN Port The Ethernet WAN port connects the Router to the ISP using an Ethernet cable. Ethernet LAN Ports (4) The Ethernet LAN ports connect devices to the Router via Ethernet cables to create a local area network (LAN). The Ethernet LAN ports are 10/100 Mbps autosensing ports, and either a straight-through or crossover Ethernet cable can be used when connecting to the ports. Power Switch The Power switch powers the Router on and off.
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Connecting the Router 2 Connecting a computer or local network to the Wireless Broadband Router is a simple procedure, varying slightly depending on the computer’s operating system, and designed to seamlessly integrate the Router with the computer or local network. Moreover, zero-configuration is attained when taking advantage of Universal Plug-and-Play support in Windows XP.
Actiontec Wireless Broadband Router User Manual 6. Make sure the computer is powered on, then plug the other end of the yellow Ethernet cable into an Ethernet port on the computer. 7. Make sure at least one of the Ethernet LAN lights on the front of the Router glows steadily green. This may take a few moments. 8. The phone company previously installed a high-speed wall jack somewhere in the house. Locate it and note its type (Ethernet or coaxial). If Ethernet, follow steps 8a and 9a.
Chapter 2 Connecting the Router 2. The “Login” screen appears. Enter the default user name (admin) and password (password) in the appropriate text boxes, then click OK. 3. The “Login Setup” screen appears. Select a new user name and password and enter them in the appropriate text boxes (the password must be entered twice, for validation purposes).
Actiontec Wireless Broadband Router User Manual 6. Click Advanced at the top of the Home screen. The “Advanced” screen appears. 7. Click Date and Time. The “Date and Time” screen appears. 8. In the “Localization” section of the screen, select the correct time zone from the “Time Zone” drop-down list, then click OK at the bottom of the screen. The Router is now configured.
Chapter 2 Connecting the Router Connecting Other Computers/Set Top Boxes The Router can connect to other computers or set top boxes in three ways: via Ethernet, via wireless connection, or via coaxial cable. Ethernet 1. Get an Ethernet cable and plug one end into one of the open yellow Ethernet ports on the back of the Router. 2. Plug the other end of the Ethernet cable into an Ethernet port on the computer. 3. Make sure the corresponding Ethernet LAN light on the front of the Router glows steadily green.
Actiontec Wireless Broadband Router User Manual 3. Connect one end of the coaxial cable to the coaxial wall jack, and the other end to the red Coax port on the back of the Router. 4. Power up the set top box. 5. Make sure the Coax LAN light on the front of the Router glows steadily green. This may take a few minutes. When it does, the set top box is connected to the Router.
Chapter 2 Connecting the Router Windows 2000/98/Me 1. Select Network and Dialing Connections in the Control Panel. 2. Right-click on the Ethernet connection’s icon, then click Properties. 3. Select Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) component, then click Properties. 4. The “Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) Properties” window appears. 5. Click the “Obtain an IP address automatically” radio button. 6. Click the “Obtain DNS server address automatically” radio button. Windows NT 1. Click Network in the Control Panel.
Actiontec Wireless Broadband Router User Manual Home Page After logging into the Router’s MegaControl Panel (see “Configuring the Router” at the beginning of this chapter), the “Home” screen appears. The Home screen has a “Main Menu” that occupies the top of the screen. Below that, the screen is divided into three columns: “Network Status,” “My Network,” and “Entertainment/General Information.” A brief description of each continues below.
Chapter 2 Connecting the Router Network Status This section displays the status of the Router’s network and Internet connection. A green light signifies the Router is connected; a yellow light means the Router is attempting to connect; and a red light signifies the Router’s connection is down.
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Configuring My Network Settings 3 Once the Wireless Broadband Router is physically connected and the MegaControl Panel’s Home screen is displayed in a web browser, a list of the devices connected to the Router’s network appears in the “My Network” section of the screen. From here, some basic network settings can be configured.
Actiontec Wireless Broadband Router User Manual Using My Network Various settings can be accessed for a particular device, as follows. Access Device For devices that can be accessed (such as Internet cameras and networked hard drives), locate it in the My Network column, then click Access Devices to use the device over the network. Access Shared Folders To access the shared folders on a particular device, locate the device in the My Network column, then click Access Shared Folders.
Chapter 3 Configuring My Network Settings 3. If website blocking needs to be active all the time, select “Always” from the “When should this rule occur?” drop-down list. If the rule will only be active at certain times select “Specify Schedule” and click Add. Then, add a schedule rule (for more details about schedule rules, see the “Advanced Settings” chapter of this manual). Make sure the Router’s date and time settings for your ☞ Note: time zone are set correctly. 4.
Actiontec Wireless Broadband Router User Manual 2. Select the Internet protocol to be blocked from the “Protocol” drop-down list. 3. If this rule will be active all the time, select “Always” from the “When should this rule occur?” drop-down list. If the rule will only be active at certain times select “Specify Schedule” and click Add. Then, add a schedule rule (for more details about schedule rules, see the “Advanced Settings” chapter of this manual).
Chapter 3 Configuring My Network Settings blocked by access control. Enable Application Activating “Enable Application” (also known as port forwarding) allows the network to be exposed to the Internet in certain limited and controlled ways, enabling some applications to work from the local network (game, voice, and chat applications, for example), as well as allowing Internet access to servers in the network.
Actiontec Wireless Broadband Router User Manual that appears, enter the port number. If no port is identified, select “Same as Incoming Port.” 5. If this port will be active all the time, select “Always” from the “When should this rule occur?” drop-down list. If the rule will only be active at certain times select “Specify Schedule” and click Add. Then, add a schedule rule (for more details about schedule rules, see the “Advanced Settings” chapter of this manual). 6. Click OK to save the changes.
Chapter 3 Configuring My Network Settings 1. Click Test Connectivity. The “Diagnostics” screen appears. 2. Click Go. The Router runs a ping test, and the results are displayed in the Diagnostics screen. Rename This Device To rename a networked device, locate the device in the My Network column, then click Rename This Device. The “Rename Device” screen appears.
Actiontec Wireless Broadband Router User Manual Enter the new name of the device in the “New Name” text box and, if needed, select a new icon for the device from the “New Icon” drop-down list. Timeout for Inactive Device The amount of time a device continues to be displayed on the network after it has been disconnected is configured in the “Timeout for Inactive Device” screen. To display the screen, click Timeout for Inactive Device. Select the timeout period from the “Timeout” drop-down list.
Creating a Wireless Network 4 This chapter explains how to create a wireless network using the Wireless Broadband Router, including accessing and configuring wireless security options. Overview The Wireless Broadband Router provides the user with wireless connectivity over the 802.11b and g standards (the most common wireless standards). 802.11b has a maximum data rate of 11 Mbps, while 802.11g has a maximum data rate of 54 Mbps. Both operate in the 2.4 GHz range.
Actiontec Wireless Broadband Router User Manual Wireless Network Connection As soon as the Router is turned on, wireless networking is available. This section explains the wireless networking screens in the Router’s MegaControl Panel. Wireless Setup Clicking on the “Wireless Setup” icon at the top of the Home screen generates the “Wireless Setup” screen. This screen displays various wireless connection properties.
Chapter 4 Creating a Wireless Network SSID Broadcast Select this check box to enable SSID broadcast. If activated, the SSID of the Router’s wireless network is broadcast wirelessly. To deactivate, click in the check box to make the check mark disappear. 802.11 Mode Select the wireless communication standard compatible with the devices to be connected on the wireless network from the drop-down list. Options include 802.11b, 802.11g, or Mixed (allows both 802.11b- and 802.
Actiontec Wireless Broadband Router User Manual Configure Wireless Access Point Click Advanced at the bottom-right of the Wireless Setup screen to generate the “Configure Wireless Access Point” screen. The top half of the screen is shown in the figure, below: General This section displays general communication parameters of the Router’s wireless connection. Actiontec recommends not changing the default values in this section unless the user is familiar with these networking concepts.
Chapter 4 Creating a Wireless Network Physical Address Displays the physical address of the network card used for the network. MTU MTU (Maximum Transmission Unit) specifies the largest packet size permitted for Internet transmission. “Automatic” sets the MTU at 1500. Other choices include “Automatic by DHCP,” which sets the MTU according to the DHCP connection, and “Manual,” which allows the user to set the MTU.
Actiontec Wireless Broadband Router User Manual Advanced Wireless Options The bottom of the Configure Wireless Access Point screen comprises “Advanced Wireless Options.” Only experienced network technicians should make any changes to these settings. Transmission Rate Select the wireless transmission rate from the drop-down list, or select “Auto” to have the Router automatically select the best transmission rate. This setting adjusts the bit rate of the Router’s wireless transmissions.
Chapter 4 Creating a Wireless Network RTS Threshold Enter the RTS (Request to Send) threshold in this text box. This setting controls what size data packet the low level RF protocol issues to an RTS packet. Wireless Security Set the type of wireless security for the Router’s wireless network in this section of the screen. Make sure the “Enabled” check box is activated, then select the type of security needed from the “Stations Security Type” drop-down list. The Router comes from the factory with 802.
Actiontec Wireless Broadband Router User Manual 802.1X WEP If 802.1X WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) was chosen, no other settings need to be changed. 802.1x WEP is a robust security protocol that uses port control with dynamically changing encryption keys automatically updated over the network. 802.11x WEP uses a RADIUS (Remote Authentication Dial-in Service) server for authentication purposes. This server must be physically connected to the Router.
Chapter 4 Creating a Wireless Network 4. Enter the key in the appropriate text box in the “Encryption Key” column. If 64/40 bit was chosen in step 2, enter 10 characters. If 128/104 bit was chosen, enter 24 characters. Depending on what option was selected in step 3, enter hexadecimal or ASCII characters. 5. Click OK to save changes. Internet Connection Firewall Click in the “Enabled” check box to activate the Router’s firewall on the wireless connection.
Actiontec Wireless Broadband Router User Manual 2. Double-click the wireless connection icon. The “Wireless Network Connection” screen appears, displaying all available wireless networks in the vicinity. If the Router is connected and active, the Router’s wireless connection is displayed. Note that the connection’s status is “Not connected” and defined as “Unsecured wireless network” in the figure below. 3. Click the connection once to mark it, then click Connect at the bottom of the screen.
Chapter 4 Creating a Wireless Network Connecting a Wireless Windows XP Client This section assumes the Router is set up with WPA security. 1. Click Network Connections in the Control Panel. The “Network Connections” window appears. 2. Double-click the wireless connection icon. The “Wireless Network Connection” screen appears, displaying the Router’s wireless connection. Note that the connection is defined as “Security-enabled wireless network (WPA).
Actiontec Wireless Broadband Router User Manual 3. Click the connection once to mark it, then click Connect at the bottom of the screen. The following login window appears, asking for a “Network Key,” which is the pre-shared key used when configuring the Router’s WPA security (see the “WPA” section in this chapter). 4. Enter the pre-shared key in both text boxes and click Connect. After the connection is established, its status will change to “Connected,” as shown below.
Chapter 4 Creating a Wireless Network 2. The “Wireless Network Connection Properties” window appears. Select Wireless Networks. 3. Click the connection to highlight it, then click Properties. The connection’s “Properties Window” appears. 4. From the “Network Authentication” drop-down list, select WPA-PSK. 5. From the “Data Encryption” drop-down list, select TKIP.
Actiontec Wireless Broadband Router User Manual 6. Enter the pre-shared key in both the “Network key” and the “Confirm network key” text boxes. 7. Click OK, then OK again. 8. When attempting to connect to the wireless network, the login window appears, pre-populated with the pre-shared key. Press Connect to connect. Since the network is now secured, only users who know the pre-shared key will be able to connect. The WPA security protocol is similar to securing network access using a password.
Using Network Connections 5 The Wireless Broadband Router supports various local area network (LAN) and wide area network (WAN, on Internet) connections via Ethernet or coaxial cables. Network connections is used to configure the various parameters of the Router’s network and Internet connections, and create new connections. The settings covered in this chapter should be configMCaution: ured by experienced network technicians only.
Actiontec Wireless Broadband Router User Manual To select a connection, click on its name. The rest of this chapter describes the different network connections available on the Router, as well as the connection types that can be created. Network (Home/Office) Select Network (Home/Office) in the Network Connections screen to generate the “Network (Home/Office) Properties” screen. This screen displays a list of the local network’s properties.
Chapter 5 Using Network Connections Configuring the Home/Office Network Click Settings in the “Network (Home/Office) Properties” screen to generate the “Configure Network (Home/Office)” screen. General The top part of the Configure Network (Home/Office) screen displays general communication parameters. Actiontec recommends not changing the default values in this section unless familiar with networking concepts. Status Displays the connection status of the network.
Actiontec Wireless Broadband Router User Manual Internet Protocol This section has three options: No IP Address, Obtain an IP Address Automatically, and Use the Following IP Address. No IP Address Select this option if the connection will have no IP address. This is useful if the connection operates under a bridge. Obtain an IP Address Automatically Select this option if the network connection is required by the ISP to obtain an IP address automatically.
Chapter 5 Using Network Connections STP Click in the device’s “STP” check box to enable Spanning Tree Protocol on the device. This protocol provides path redundancy while preventing undesirable loops in the network. Action The “Action” column contains an icon that, when clicked, generates the configuration screen of the particular device. DNS Server Domain Name System (DNS) is the method by which website or domain names are translated into IP addresses.
Actiontec Wireless Broadband Router User Manual 4. Enter the subnet mask address in the “Subnet Mask” text boxes. The subnet mask determines which portion of a destination LAN IP address is the network portion, and which portion is the host portion. 5. If Windows Internet Naming Service (WINS) is being used, enter the WINS server address in the “WINS Server” text boxes. 6.
Chapter 5 Using Network Connections To add a new product or product family, click New IP Range. This generates the “DHCP Server Pool Settings” screen. Enter the vendor class identifier (provided by the manufacturer of the product), IP range, and priority level in the appropriate text boxes. Routing The Router can be configured to use static or dynamic routing.
Actiontec Wireless Broadband Router User Manual Routing Table Clicking New Route generates the “New Route” window, where a new route can be configured. Internet Connection Firewall Click in the “Enabled” check box to activate the Router’s firewall on the LAN Bridge connection. Actiontec does NOT recommend activating this feature.
Chapter 5 Using Network Connections Configuring the Ethernet Connection Click Settings at the bottom-right of the Ethernet Properties screen to generate the “Configure Ethernet” screen. General The top part of the Configure Ethernet screen displays general communication parameters. Actiontec recommends not changing the default values in this section unless familiar with networking concepts. Status Displays the connection status of the Ethernet switch.
Actiontec Wireless Broadband Router User Manual Internet Connection Firewall Click in the “Enabled” check box to activate the Router’s firewall on the Ethernet connection. Actiontec does NOT recommend activating this feature. Additional IP Addresses Clicking New IP Address generates the “Additional IP Address Settings” screen, where additional IP addresses can be created to access the Router via the Ethernet connection.
Chapter 5 Using Network Connections Coax Connection A Coax connection connects devices (such as set-top boxes) to the Router using a coaxial cable. Click Coax in the Network Connections screen (if needed, click Advanced at the bottom of the screen to reveal the “Coax” link below “Network [Home/Office]”) to generate the “Coax Properties” screen. This screen displays a list of the connection’s properties.
Actiontec Wireless Broadband Router User Manual Configure Coax Click Settings at the bottom-right of the Coax Properties screen generates the “Configure Coax” screen. General The top part of the Configure Coax screen displays general communication parameters. Actiontec recommends not changing the default values in this section unless familiar with networking concepts. Status Displays the status of the coax connection. When should this rule occur? Displays when the rule is active.
Chapter 5 Using Network Connections Coax Link Set up the coax link options in this section of the Configure Coax screen. Options include Channel, Privacy, and Password. Channel Select the Channel from the drop-down list (select from 1-6, or “Automatic”). Privacy Toggle “Privacy” by clicking in the “Enabled” check box. If Privacy is activated, all devices connected via coaxial cable must use the same password. Actiontec recommends leaving the Privacy option deactivated.
Actiontec Wireless Broadband Router User Manual Broadband Ethernet Connection A Broadband Ethernet connection connects the Router to the Internet using an Ethernet cable. Click Broadband Connection (Ethernet) from the Network Connections screen to generate the “Broadband Connection (Ethernet) Properties” screen. This screen displays a list of the connection’s properties.
Chapter 5 Using Network Connections Configuring the Broadband Ethernet Connection Click Settings at the bottom-right of the Broadband Connection (Ethernet) Properties window to generate the “Configure Broadband Connection (Ethernet)” screen. General The top part of the screen displays general communication parameters. Actiontec recommends not changing the default values in this section unless familiar with networking concepts.
Actiontec Wireless Broadband Router User Manual MTU MTU (Maximum Transmission Unit) specifies the largest packet size permitted for Internet transmission. “Automatic, sets the MTU at 1500. Other choices include “Automatic by DHCP,” which sets the MTU according to the DHCP connection, and “Manual,” which allows the MTU to be set manually. Internet Protocol This section includes three options: No IP Address, Obtain an IP Address Automatically, and Use the Following IP Address.
Chapter 5 Using Network Connections IP Address Distribution The “IP Address Distribution” section of the Configure Broadband Connection (Ethernet) screen is used to configure the Router’s Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server parameters. DHCP automatically assigns IP addresses to network devices. If enabled, make sure to configure the network devices as “DHCP Clients.” There are three options in this section: Disabled, DHCP Server, and DHCP Relay.
Actiontec Wireless Broadband Router User Manual IP Address Distribution According to DHCP Option 60 DHCP Option 60 is used to preset a general name for a product or product family, as well as set a specific IP range and priority level. In this way, one device and its traffic can be given higher priority over another device. use this feature, the device must output a vendor class ☞ Note:forTooption 60 to assign it traffic prirority. ID To add a new product or product family, click New IP Range.
Chapter 5 Using Network Connections 3. Click in the “Default Route” check box to define this device as a the default route. 4. Click in the “Multicast - IGMP Proxy Internal” check box to activate multicasting. Routing Table Clicking New Route generates the “New Route” window, where a new route can be configured. Internet Connection Firewall Click in the “Enabled” check box to activate the Router’s firewall on the connection.
Actiontec Wireless Broadband Router User Manual Coax Broadband Connection A Coax Broadband connection connects the Router to the Internet using a coaxial cable. Click Broadband Connection (Coax) in the Network Connections screen to generate the “Broadband Connection (Coax) Properties” screen. This screen displays a list of the connection’s properties.
Chapter 5 Using Network Connections Configuring the Coax Broadband Connection Click Settings at the bottom of the Broadband Connection (Coax) Properties screen to generate the “Configure Broadband Connection (Coax)” screen. General The top part of the screen displays general communication parameters. Actiontec recommends not changing the default values in this section unless familiar with networking concepts. Status Displays the status of the connection (“Down,” “Connected,” etc.).
Actiontec Wireless Broadband Router User Manual Physical Address Displays the physical address of the network card used for the network. MTU MTU (Maximum Transmission Unit) specifies the largest packet size permitted for Internet transmission. “Automatic” sets the MTU at 1500. Other choices include “Automatic by DHCP,” which sets the MTU according to the DHCP connection, and “Manual,” which allows the MTU to be set manually. Coax Link Configure the coax link connection in this section of the screen.
Chapter 5 Using Network Connections DNS Server Domain Name System (DNS) is the method by which website or domain names are translated into IP addresses. The connection can be set to automatically obtain a DNS server address, or an address can be set manually, according to information provided by the ISP. To configure the connection to automatically obtain a DNS server address, select Obtain DNS Server Address Automatically from the “DNS Server” drop-down list.
Actiontec Wireless Broadband Router User Manual 5. If a Windows Internet Naming Service (WINS) is being used, enter the WINS server address in the “WINS Server” text boxes. 6. Enter the amount of time a network device will be allowed to connect to the Router with its currently issued dynamic IP address in the “Lease Time in Minutes” text box. Just before the time is up, the device’s user will need to make a request to extend the lease or get a new IP address. 7.
Chapter 5 Using Network Connections Routing Table Click New Route to generate the “New Route” window, where a new route can be configured. Internet Connection Firewall Click in the “Enabled” check box to activate the Router’s firewall on the connection. Actiontec does NOT recommend activating this feature. Additional IP Addresses Click New IP Address to generate the “Additional IP Address Settings” screen, where additional IP addresses can be created to access the Router via the connection.
Actiontec Wireless Broadband Router User Manual Configuring the WAN PPPoE Connection Click Settings in the WAN PPPoE Properties screen to generate the “Configure WAN PPPoE” screen. General The top part of the Configure WAN PPPoE screen displays general communication parameters. Actiontec recommends not changing the default values in this section unless familiar with networking concepts. Status Displays the connection status of the WAN PPPoE connection. (“Down,” “Disabled,” “Connected,” etc.
Chapter 5 Using Network Connections When should this rule occur? Displays when the rule is active. To schedule rules, see “Advanced Settings” chapter. Network Select the type of connection being configured from the drop-down list (Broadband Connection, Network (Home/Office), or DMZ). Connection Type Displays the type of connection. Since this is PPPoE connection, “PPPoE” is displayed. MTU MTU (Maximum Transmission Unit) specifies the largest packet size permitted for Internet transmission.
Actiontec Wireless Broadband Router User Manual PPP Authentication Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) currently supports four authentication protocols: Password Authentication Protocol (PAP), Challenge Handshake Authentication Protocol (CHAP), and Microsoft CHAP versions 1 and 2. Select the authentication protocols the Router may use when negotiating with a PPTP server in this section. Select all the protocols if no information is available about the server’s authentication methods.
Chapter 5 Using Network Connections For each compression algorithm (BSD and Deflate), select one of the following from the drop-down list: Reject Selecting this option rejects PPP connections with peers that use the compression algorithm. If Reject is activated, throughput may diminish. Allow Selecting this option allows PPP connections with peers that use the compression algorithm. Require Selecting this option insures a connection with a peer using the compression algorithm.
Actiontec Wireless Broadband Router User Manual Routing Select Advanced or Basic from the “Routing” drop-down list. If Advanced is selected, additional options appear, as listed below. Routing Mode Select one of the following Routing modes: • Route - Select this option to cause the Router to act as a router between two networks. • NAT - Select this option to activate Network Address Translation (NAT), which translates IP addresses to a valid, public address on the Internet.
Configuring the Router’s Security 6 The Wireless Broadband Router’s security suite includes comprehensive and robust security services: Stateful Packet Inspection, a firewall, user authentication protocols, and password protection mechanisms. These features allow users to connect their computers to the Internet and be protected from the security threats. The Router’s firewall is the cornerstone of the Router’s security suite.
Actiontec Wireless Broadband Router User Manual This chapter covers these Security features: • General - select the security level for the firewall. • Access Control - restrict access from the local network to the Internet. • Port Forwarding - enable access from the Internet to specified services provided by computers on the local network. • DMZ Host - configure a network host to receive all traffic arriving at the Router which does not belong to a known session.
Chapter 6 Configuring the Router’s Security General The “General” screen is used to configure the Router’s basic security settings. The firewall regulates the flow of data between the local network and the Internet. Both incoming and outgoing data are inspected and then either accepted (allowed to pass through the Router) or rejected (barred from passing through the Router) according to a flexible and configurable set of rules.
Actiontec Wireless Broadband Router User Manual Note that is it is the origin of the request, not subsequent responses to this request, which determines whether a session can be established or not. The Router features three pre-defined security levels: Minimum, Typical, and Maximum. The table below summarizes the behavior of the Router for each of the three security levels.
Chapter 6 Configuring the Router’s Security 2. Check the “Block IP Fragments” box to protect the local network from a common type of hacker attack that uses fragmented data packets to sabotage the network. Note that VPN over IPSec and some UDP-based services make legitimate use of IP fragments. IP fragments must be allowed to pass into the local network to use these services. 3. Click OK to save changes.
Actiontec Wireless Broadband Router User Manual Allow or Restrict Services To view and allow/restrict these services: 1. Select Access Control from the left side of any Security screen. The “Access Control” screen appears. The “Allowed” section is only visible when the firewall is ☞ Note: set to “Maximum.” 2. Click Add. The “Add Access Control Rule” screen appears. To block a service, click Add in the “Blocked” section of ☞ Note: the Access Control screen.
Chapter 6 Configuring the Router’s Security 3. If this access control rule applies to all networked devices, select “Any” from the “Networked Computer/Device” list box. If this rule applies to certain devices only, select “Specify Address” and click Add. Then, add a network object (for more details about adding network objects, see the “Advanced Settings” chapter of this manual). 4. Select the Internet protocol to be allowed or blocked from the “Protocol” drop-down list. 5.
Actiontec Wireless Broadband Router User Manual Port Forwarding In its default state, the Router blocks all external users from connecting to or communicating with the network, making it safe from hackers who may try to intrude on the network and damage it.
Chapter 6 Configuring the Router’s Security 4. Select the Internet protocol to be provided from the “Protocol” drop-down list. To see all options, select All Services. 5. Select a WAN connection type from the “WAN Connection Type” drop-down list. Actiontec recommends selecting All Broadband Devices. 6. To select a port to forward communications to (this is optional), select Specify from the “Forward to Port” drop-down list, then, in the text box that appears, enter the port number.
Actiontec Wireless Broadband Router User Manual DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) Host The DMZ host feature allows one device on the network to operate outside the firewall. Designate a DMZ host: • To use an Internet service, such as an online game or video-conferencing program, not present in the Port Forwarding list and for which no port range information is available. • To expose one computer to all services without restriction or security.
Chapter 6 Configuring the Router’s Security Port Triggering Port triggering can be used for dynamic port forwarding configuration. By setting port triggering rules, inbound traffic is allowed to arrive at a specific network host using ports different than those used for the outbound traffic. The outbound traffic triggers which ports inbound traffic is directed. For example, a gaming server is accessed using UDP protocol on port 2222.
Actiontec Wireless Broadband Router User Manual 3. Click Add. An “Edit Service” screen appears. 3. Specify the port triggering entries by clicking New Trigger Ports and New Opened Ports and entering the protocol and protocol number in the succeeding screens. For example, to set up port triggering for the scenario laid out on the previous page, the service ports would be set to UDP and 2222, while the opened ports would be set to UDP and 3333.
Chapter 6 Configuring the Router’s Security Telnet Telnet is used to create a command-line session and gain access to all system settings and parameters using a text-based terminal. Select the Telnet port to be used by clicking in the appropriate check box, then click OK. MegaControl Panel MegaControl Panel is used to obtain access to the Router’s MegaControl Panel and gain access to all settings and parameters,using a web browser. Both secure (HTTPS) and non-secure (HTTP) access is available.
Actiontec Wireless Broadband Router User Manual Website Blocking The Router can be configured to block specific websites, preventing access to them from computers on the local network. Restrictions can also be applied to a comprehensive, automatically updated table of sites to which access is not recommended. To view the table of websites currently being blocked, select Website Blocking in any Security screen. To activate website blocking, click in the “Enable Website Blocking” check box.
Chapter 6 Configuring the Router’s Security 4. If website blocking needs to be active all the time, select Always from the “When should this rule occur?” drop-down list. If the rule will only be active at certain times, select Specify Schedule and click Add. Then, add a schedule rule (for more details about schedule rules, see the “Advanced Settings” chapter of this manual). Make sure the Router’s date and time are set correctly for ☞ Note: the local time zone. 5. Click OK to add the website to the table.
Actiontec Wireless Broadband Router User Manual Static NAT block of static addresses must be purchased from the ☞ Note:to Aconfigure this feature. IP ISP This option allows multiple static NAT IP addresses to be designated to devices on the network. Static NAT IP addresses allow devices behind a firewall and configured with private IP addresses appear to have public IP addresses on the Internet.
Chapter 6 Configuring the Router’s Security 6. Select the protocol that needs to be accessible from the public IP address by clicking in the check box next to “Enable Port Forwarding for Static NAT,” then selecting a protocol from the drop-down menu. Click OK, and OK again. Repeat these steps to add more static IP addresses from the network. Advanced Filtering Advanced filtering is designed to allow comprehensive control over the firewall’s behavior.
Actiontec Wireless Broadband Router User Manual Two sets of rules can be configured: input rules and output rules. Each set of rules comprises three subsets: initial rules, network devices rules, and final rules. These subsets determine the sequence by which the rules will be applied. Following is a description of the set ordering for inbound and outbound packets.
Chapter 6 Configuring the Router’s Security To configure advanced filtering rules, click Add next to the rule title. The “Add Advanced Filter” screen appears. To add an advanced filtering rule, define the following rule parameters: Matching To apply a firewall rule, a match must be made between IP addresses or ranges and ports. Use the “Source Address” and “Destination Address” drop-down lists to define the coupling of source and destination traffic. Port matching will be defined when selecting protocols.
Actiontec Wireless Broadband Router User Manual • Accept - Allow access to packets that match the source and destination IP addresses and protocol ports defined in upper section of the screen. The data transfer session will be handled using Stateful Packet Inspection (SPI). • Accept Packet - Allow access to packets that match the source and destination IP addresses and protocol ports defined in upper section of the screen.
Chapter 6 Configuring the Router’s Security Time The time (based on the Router’s date and time settings) the event occurred. Event There are five kinds of events listed in the system log: • Inbound Traffic - a result of an incoming packet • Outbound Traffic - a result of an outgoing packet. • Firewall Setup - configuration message • WBM Login - a user logged in to WBM • CLI Login - a user logged in to the command line interface via Telnet Event-Type Displays a textual description of the event.
Actiontec Wireless Broadband Router User Manual • ICMP replay - an ICMP (Internet Control Message Protocol) replay message has been blocked. • ICMP redirect protection - an ICMP redirected message has been blocked. • Packet invalid in connection - an invalid connection packet has been blocked. • ICMP protection - a broadcast ICMP message has been blocked. • Broadcast/Multicast protection - a packet with a broadcast/multicast source IP has been blocked.
Chapter 6 Configuring the Router’s Security • PPTP connection - a packet inquiring whether the Router is ready to receive a PPTP connection has been accepted. • AUTH:113 request - an outbound packet for AUTH protocol has been accepted (for maximum security level). • IPV6 over IPV4 - an IPv6 over IPv4 packet has been accepted. • ARP - an ARP packet has been accepted. • PPP Discover - a PPP discover packet has been accepted. • PPP Session - a PPP session packet has been accepted. • 802.1Q - a 802.
Actiontec Wireless Broadband Router User Manual • Fragmented packet, packet too big - a packet has been blocked because, after defragmentation, the packet was too big. • Fragmented packet, packet exceeds - a packet has been blocked because, after defragmentation, the packet exceeded. • Fragmented packet, no memory - a fragmented packet has been blocked because there is no memory for fragments.
Chapter 6 Configuring the Router’s Security • FTP port request to 3rd party is forbidden (Possible bounce attack) - a packet has been blocked. • Firewall Rules were changed - the firewall rule set has been modified. • User authentication - a message arrived during login time, including both successful and failed authentication. Security Log Settings To view or change the security log settings: 1. Click Settings in the Security Log screen. The “Security Log Settings” screen appears. 2.
Actiontec Wireless Broadband Router User Manual 3. Select the type of blocked events to be listed in the log: • All Blocked Connection Attempts - activating this check box generates log messages for all blocked events. • Other Blocked Events - if “All Blocked Connection Attempts” is unchecked, select specific blocked events from this list to generate log messages. 4.
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Using Parental Controls 7 The abundance of harmful information on the Internet poses a serious challenge for employers and parents alike - “How can I regulate what my employee/child does on the Internet?” The Wireless Broadband Router’s Parental Controls allows users to regulate, control, and monitor Internet access. By classifying and categorizing online content, it is possible to create numerous Internet access policies and easily apply them to networked computers.
Actiontec Wireless Broadband Router User Manual 5. The Surf Control subscription site will then be displayed in a new browser window. Follow the instructions on the website and subscribe or enroll for a free trial. A verification E-mail will be sent. Click on the link in the verification E-mail. About 20 seconds after clicking on the verification link, the subscription will be activated. 6. Return to the MegaControl Panel and click Parental Control.
Chapter 7 Parental Controls 2. Click Filtering Policy from the list on the left side of the screen. The “Filtering Policy” screen appears. 3. Click Add a Policy to generate another “Filtering Policy” screen.
Actiontec Wireless Broadband Router User Manual 4. Enter a name for the new policy in the “Name” text box. 5. Enter a description of the new policy in the “Description” text box. 6. Select the content filtering check boxes that represent content to be blocked in the “Blocked Categories” section. 7. Click OK to save the new policy. Selecting a category will automatically select all its sub-categories and deselecting a category will automatically deselect its sub-categories.
Chapter 7 Parental Controls LAN Filtering Policy To select a default filtering policy for the local network, select the policy name from the “Default Policy” drop-down list, located in the Filtering Policy screen, and click Apply. PC Filtering Policy To apply separate policies to individual home computers, do the following: 1. In the Filtering Policy screen, click Add a LAN Computer. The “LAN Computer Policy” screen appears. 2.
Actiontec Wireless Broadband Router User Manual Advanced Options The “Advanced Options” screen contains features providing additional Web filtering security. Provider Consulting Failure To decide whether to allow or block a specific website, the filter service provider is consulted about the website’s category. If an error occurs consulting the provider, the user can decide whether to block or allow access to all sites. 1. Click Parental Control in the Home screen. 2.
Chapter 7 Parental Controls Statistics The Router’s MegaControl Panel monitors content filtering statistics. Statistics include a record of: • Access attempts • Accessed URLs • Blocked URLs • URLs that were accessed from cache To view content filtering statistics: 1. Click Parental Control in the Home screen. 2. Click Statistics from the left side of the General screen. The “Statistics” screen appears.
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Using Advanced Settings 8 The “Advanced” section of the Wireless Broadband Router’s MegaControl Panel is intended primarily for more advanced users. Some changes to settings within this section could adversely affect the operation of the Router and the local network, and should be made with caution. To access the Router’s Advanced Settings, click Advanced at the top of the Home screen, which generates the “Advanced” screen.
Actiontec Wireless Broadband Router User Manual Universal Plug and Play - configure Universal Plug and Play settings Firmware Upgrade - download and install new versions of the Router’s firmware Scheduler Rules - schedule firewall activation Date and Time - set the local date and time Radius - manage the RADIUS (Remote Authentication Dial-in User Service) server Users - create and manage remote users ARP Table - display active devices and their IP and MAC addresses, etc.
Chapter 8 Using Advanced Settings About To view technical information regarding the Router, click About in the Advanced screen. The “About” screen appears, displaying various technical aspects concerning the Router. Configuration File Use the Router’s Configuration File feature to view, save, and load configuration files, which are used to backup and restore the Router’s current configuration: To do this: 1. Click Configuration File in the Advanced screen. The “Configuration File” screen appears. 3.
Actiontec Wireless Broadband Router User Manual Restart To restart the Router: 1. Click Restart in the Advanced screen. The “Restart” screen appears. 2. Click OK to restart the Router. This may take up to one minute. To reenter the MegaControl Panel after restarting the Router, click the web browser’s “Refresh” button. Restoring Default Settings If the Router’s factory default settings need to be restored (to build a new network from the beginning, for example), use the following procedure: 1.
Chapter 8 Using Advanced Settings Diagnostics The Diagnostics screen can assist in testing network connectivity. This feature pings (ICMP echo) an IP address and displays the results, such as the number of packets transmitted and received, round trip time, and success status. To diagnose network connectivity: 1. Click Diagnostics from the Advanced screen. The “Diagnostics” screen appears. 2. Enter the IP address or domain name to be tested in the “Destination” field. 3. Click Go. 4.
Actiontec Wireless Broadband Router User Manual MAC Cloning A MAC (Media Access Control) address is a unique hexadecimal code that identifies a device on a network. All networkable devices have a MAC address. When replacing another network device with the Router, the installation process can be simplified by copying the MAC address of the existing computer to the Router. To do this: 1. Click MAC Cloning in the Advanced screen. The “MAC Cloning” screen appears. 2.
Chapter 8 Using Advanced Settings System Settings Clicking System Settings in the Advanced screen generates the “System Settings” screen, where various system and management parameters can be configured. System Use the “System” section of this screen to configure the following two option Wireless Broadband Router’s Hostname Specify the Router’s host name by entering it into the this text box. The host name is also the Router’s URL address, so it can be entered here rather than 192.168.1.1.
Actiontec Wireless Broadband Router User Manual Local Domain Specify the network’s local domain by entering it into this text box. Actiontec MegaControl Panel Use this section to configure the following: Automatic Refresh of System Monitoring Web Pages Click in this check box to activate the automatic refresh of system monitoring web pages.
Chapter 8 Using Advanced Settings System Logging Use this section to configure the following system log options. Enable Logging Click in this check box to activate system logging. Low Capacity Notification Enabled Click in this check box to activate low capacity notification (works in tandem with “Allowed Capacity Before Email Notification” and “System Log Buffer Size” options).
Actiontec Wireless Broadband Router User Manual Allowed Capacity Before Email Notification Enter the percentage of security log buffer capacity reached to trigger an E-mail notification. Security Log Buffer Size Enter the size of the security log buffer in this text box. Remote System Notify Level This feature is used to specify the type of information received for security logging. Options include None, Error, Warning, and Information.
Chapter 8 Using Advanced Settings Auto WAN Detection When activated, Auto WAN Detection causes the Router to automatically search for a WAN connection. Enable Logging Clicking in this check box activates automatic WAN detection. PPP Timeout Enter the amount of time (in seconds) before the Router stops attempting to establish a broadband PPP connection. DHCP Timeout Enter the amount of time (in seconds) before the Router stops attempting to establish a broadband DHCP connection.
Actiontec Wireless Broadband Router User Manual Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) To access the UPnP settings perform the following: 1. Click Universal Plug and Play in the Advanced screen. The “Universal Plug and Play” settings screen appears. 2. Click in the “Allow Other Network Users to Control Wireless Broadband Router’s Network Features” check box to enable UPnP and allow UPnP services to be defined on any of the network hosts. 3.
Chapter 8 Using Advanced Settings Firmware Upgrade The Router offers a built-in mechanism for upgrading its firmware without losing custom configurations and settings. There are two methods for upgrading the firmware: • Upgrading from a local computer - use a software image file pre-downloaded to the computer’s disk drive or located on the accompanying evaluation CD. • Upgrading from the Internet - use this method to upgrade the Router’s firmware by remotely downloading an updated software image file.
Actiontec Wireless Broadband Router User Manual 2. In the “Upgrade From a Computer in the Network” section, click Upgrade Now. The “Upgrade From a Computer in the Network” screen appears. 3. Enter the path of the software image file, or press the “Browse” button to browse for the file, and click OK. Make sure to only use files with an “rmt” extension when performing the firmware upgrade procedure. 4. When loading is completed, a confirmation screen appears, asking whether to upgrade to the new version.
Chapter 8 Using Advanced Settings Automatically Check and Send E-mail If “Automatically Check for New Version and Notify via Email” is selected, enter the period of time the Router checks for a new upgrade, and the URL at which to get the upgrade, in the appropriate text boxes. The Router will then check at each time interval for firmware upgrades and, if one is available, send an E-mail to the E-mail address listed in the System Settings.
Actiontec Wireless Broadband Router User Manual Scheduler Rules Scheduler rules are used for limiting the activation of firewall rules to specific time periods, either for days of the week, or for hours of each day. To define a rule: 1. Make sure the Router’s date and time are set correctly. To do this, see the “Date and Time” section in this chapter. 2. Click Scheduler Rules in the Advanced screen. The “Scheduler Rules” screen appears. 3. Click Add. The “Set Rule Schedule” screen appears. 4.
Chapter 8 Using Advanced Settings 6. Click Add Rule Schedule. The “Edit Rule Schedule” screen appears. 7. Select or active or inactive days of the week by clicking in the appropriate text boxes. 8. If applicable, click New Hours Range Entry to define an active/inactive hourly range. The “Edit Hour Range” screen appears. Enter a start and end time in the appropriate text boxes. 9. Click OK. Make sure the Router’s date and time settings are properly ☞ Note: configured for the time zone.
Actiontec Wireless Broadband Router User Manual Date and Time To configure date, time, and daylight savings time settings perform the following: 1. Click Date and Time in the Advanced screen. The “Date and Time” screen appears. 2. Select the local time zone from the drop-down list. The Router can automatically detect daylight saving setting for selected time zones.
Chapter 8 Using Advanced Settings To perform an automatic time update: 1. Click in the “Enabled” check box in the “Automatic Time Update” section. 2. Select the protocol to be used to perform the time update by selecting either the “Time of Day” or “Network Time Protocol” radio button. 3. Specify how often to perform the update in the “Update Every” text box. 4.
Actiontec Wireless Broadband Router User Manual 2. Click New User, which generates the “User Settings” screen. When adding a user, specify the following parameters: • Full Name - The user’s full name. • User Name - The name a remote user will use to access the home or office network. This entry is case-sensitive. • New Password/Retype New Password - The password for the user (and enter again to confirm). • Permissions - The level of access the user is allowed. Options include Administrator or Limited.
Chapter 8 Using Advanced Settings 3. Select the “System” and “Security” notification levels in the “System Notify Level” and “Security Notify Level” drop-down lists. Changing any of the user parameters will prompt the con☞ Note: nection associated with the user to terminate. For changes to take effect, activate the connection manually after modifying user parameters. ARP (Address Resolution Protocol) Table Clicking ARP Table in the Advanced screen generates the “ARP Table” screen.
Actiontec Wireless Broadband Router User Manual Routing rules can be added, edited, or deleted from the Routing screen. To add a router, click New Route. The “Route Settings” screen appears. When adding a routing rule, the following parameters must be specified: • Rule Name- Select the type of network from the drop-down list. • Destination - The destination is the destination host, subnet address, network address, or default route. The destination for a default route is 0.0.0.0.
Chapter 8 Using Advanced Settings IGMP multicasting enables UPnP capabilities over networks and may also be useful when connected to the Internet through the Router. When an application running on a computer in the network sends out a request to join a multicast group, the Router intercepts and processes the request. If the Router is set to “Minimum Security” no further action is required.
Actiontec Wireless Broadband Router User Manual To define a network object: 1. Click Network Objects in the Advanced screen. The “Network Objects” screen appears. 2. Click Add. The “Edit Network Object” screen appears. 3. Specify a name for the network object in the “Description” text box. 4. Click Add. The “Edit Item” screen appears. 5. Select the type of network object type from the “Network Object Type” list box. Options include IP address, IP Subnet, IP Range, MAC Address, and Host Name. 6.
Chapter 8 Using Advanced Settings Firmware Restore Firmware restore lets the Router’s firmware return to an earlier version, if the current version is unstable or does not meet specified needs. Click Firmware Restore from the Advanced screen to generate the “Firmware Restore” screen. The screen displays the “Active Firmware” and the “Backup Firmware.” To restore the firmware to the backup firmware, click Restore Backup Firmware. A confirmation screen appears.
Actiontec Wireless Broadband Router User Manual Opening a Dynamic DNS Account To use Dynamic DNS, a free Dynamic DNS account must be opened at http:// www.dyndns.org/account/create.html. When applying for an account, a user name and password must be specified. Have them available when customizing the Router’s Dynamic DNS feature. For more information regarding Dynamic DNS, refer to http://www.dyndns.org. Setting up Dynamic DNS To set up Dynamic DNS on the Router, click Dynamic DNS in the Advanced screen.
Chapter 8 Using Advanced Settings User Name Enter the Dynamic DNS user name in this text box. Password Enter the Dynamic DNS password in this text box. Host Name Enter the full Dynamic DNS domain in this text box. Wildcard Select the “Wildcard” check box to have any URL that includes the domain name (here.yourhost.dyndns.org, for example) to connect. Mail Exchanger Enter the mail exchange server address. This will redirect all E-mails arriving at the Dynamic DNS address to the mail server.
Actiontec Wireless Broadband Router User Manual The host can choose to renew an expiring lease or let it expire. If it chooses to renew a lease, it will also receive current information about network services, as it did with the original lease, allowing it to update its network configurations to reflect any changes that occurred since it first connected to the network.
Chapter 8 Using Advanced Settings Editing DHCP Server Settings To edit the DHCP server settings for a device: 1. Click the appropriate icon in the “Action” column. The “DHCP Settings” screen for the device appears. 2. Select the “IP Address Distribution” from the drop-down list. Options include DHCP Server, DHCP Relay, or Disable. 3. Complete the following fields: • Start IP Address Range, End IP Address Range - determines the number of hosts connected to the network in this subnet.
Actiontec Wireless Broadband Router User Manual • Lease Time - each device will be assigned an IP address by the DHCP server for a limited time (“Lease Time”) when it connects to the network. When the lease expires, the server will determine if the computer has disconnected from the network. If it has, the server may reassign this IP address to a newly-connected computer. This feature ensures that IP addresses not in use will become available for other computers on the network.
Chapter 8 Using Advanced Settings To define a new connection with a fixed IP address: 1. Click New Static Connection in the DHCP Connections screen. The “DHCP Connection Settings” screen appears. 2. Enter a host name for this connection. 3. Enter the fixed IP address to assign to the computer. 4. Enter the MAC address of the computer’s network card. 5. Click the OK to save changes.
Actiontec Wireless Broadband Router User Manual The Router’s DNS also provides the following services: • Shares a common database of domain names and IP addresses with the DHCP server. • Supports multiple subnets within the local network simultaneously. • Automatically appends a domain name to unqualified names. • Allows new domain names to be added to the database using the MegaControl Panel. • Permits a computer to have multiple host names.
Chapter 8 Using Advanced Settings 2. Enter the computer’s host name in the “Host Name” text box. 3. Enter the computer’s IP address in the “IP Address” text boxes. 4. Click OK to save the changes. To edit the host name or IP address of an entry: 1. Click the appropriate “Edit” icon in the Action column. The “DNS Entry” screen appears. 2. If the host was manually added to the DNS Table, its host name and/or IP address can be modified. Otherwise, only modify its host name. 3. Click OK to save the changes.
Actiontec Wireless Broadband Router User Manual Protocols Protocols features a list of preset and user-defined applications and common port settings. Protocols can be used in various security features, such as Access Control and Port Forwarding. New protocols can be added to support new applications or existing ones can be edited when needed. To define a protocol: 1. Click Protocols in the Advanced screen. The “Protocols” screen appears. 2. Click Add at the bottom of the screen.
Chapter 8 Using Advanced Settings 3. Name the service in the “Service Name” text box and, if needed, enter a description of the service in the “Service Description” text box, then click Add Service Ports. The ”Edit Service Server Ports” screen appears. 4. Select a protocol from the “Protocol” drop-down list. To create a new protocol, select “Other.” After selecting a protocol, the screen will refresh, displaying the relevant text boxes needed to edit the particular protocol. 5.
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Monitoring the Router 9 The Wireless Broadband Router’s System Monitoring screens display important system information, including: • Key network device parameters • Network traffic statistics • System log • Amount of time since the Router was last started Monitoring Connections 1. Click System Monitoring at the top of the Home screen to display the “Full System/System-wide Monitoring of Connections” screen, which comprises a table summarizing the monitored connection data. 2.
Actiontec Wireless Broadband Router User Manual Traffic Monitoring The Router constantly monitors traffic within the local network and between the local network and the Internet. You can view up-to-the-second statistical information about data received from and transmitted to the Internet, and about data received from and transmitted to computers in the local network, by clicking Traffic Monitoring. This generates the “Traffic Monitoring” screen.
Chapter 9 Monitoring the Router System Log The System Log displays a list of the most recent activities of the Router. Click System Log to generate the “System Log” screen. Router Status To display the amount of time since the Router was last started, click Router Status. The “Router Status” screen appears.
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Troubleshooting 10 This chapter contains a list of problems that may be encountered while using the Wireless Broadband Router, and techniques to try and overcome the problem. Note that these techniques may not solve the problem (or problems). Accessing the Router if Locked Out If the Router’s connection is lost while making configuration changes, a setting that locks access to the MegaControl Panel may have inadvertantly been activated.
Actiontec Wireless Broadband Router User Manual LAN Connection Failure • Ensure the Router is properly installed, the LAN connections are correct, and the power is on. • Confirm the computer and Router are on the same network segment. If unsure, let the computer get the IP address automatically by initiating the DHCP function, then verify the computer is using an IP address within the default range (192.168.1.2 through 198.168.1.254).
Chapter 10 Troubleshooting Are the Router’s Ethernet ports auto-sensing? Yes. Either a straight-through or crossover Ethernet cable can be used. Can I use an 802.11b wireless card to connect to the Router? Yes, the Router can interface with 802.11b cards or 802.11g cards. The 802.11g standard is backward compatible with the 802.11b standard. The Router can be setup to handle just “g” wireless cards, just “b” wireless cards, or both.
Actiontec Wireless Broadband Router User Manual I cannot access the Router’s Graphical User Interface? What should I do? If you cannot access the Router’s Graphical User Interface, make sure the computer connected to the Router is set up to dynamically receive an IP address. I have an FTP or Web server on my network.
Quality Of Service A Network-based applications and traffic are growing at a high rate, producing an ever-increasing demand for bandwidth and network capacity. For obvious reasons, bandwidth and capacity cannot be expanded infinitely, requiring that bandwidthdemanding services be delivered over existing infrastructure, without incurring additional expensive investments.
Actiontec Wireless Broadband Router User Manual The matching of packets by rules is connection-based, known as Stateful Packet Inspection (SPI), using the Router’s firewall mechanism. Once a packet matches a rule, all subsequent packets with the same attributes receive the same QoS parameters, both inbound and outbound. Connection-based QoS also allows inheriting QoS parameters by some of the applications that open subsequent connections.
Appendix A Quality of Service Setting Priority Rules To set priority rules: 1. Click Quality of Service on the top of the Home screen. The “Traffic Priority” screen appears. This screen is divided into two identical sections, one for “QoS input rules” and the other for “QoS output rules,” which are for prioritizing the inbound and outbound traffic, respectively. Each section lists all the devices on which rules can be set. Rules can be set on all devices at once by clicking Add in the “All Devices” row.
Actiontec Wireless Broadband Router User Manual Set the following parameters: Source Address - The source address of the packets sent to or received from the network object. To add an address: 1. Select Specify Address from the drop-down list. The screen refreshes and an “Add” link appears. 2. Click Add, then add a new network object (see the “Advanced Settings” chapter to learn how to add a network object). Clicking Add is the same as clicking “New Entry” in the “Network Objects” screen.
Appendix A Quality of Service Traffic Shaping Traffic Shaping is the solution for managing and avoiding congestion where the network meets limited broadband bandwidth. Typical networks use a 100 Mbps Ethernet LAN with a 100 Mbps WAN interface router. This is where most bottlenecks occur A traffic shaper is essentially a regulated queue that accepts uneven and/or bursty flows of packets and transmits them in a steady, predictable stream so that the network is not overwhelmed with traffic.
Actiontec Wireless Broadband Router User Manual 2. Click Add. The “Add Device Traffic Shaping” screen appears. 3. Select the device for which the traffic will be shaped. The drop-down list includes all the Router’s devices, as well as the option to select all devices in each category (e.g., “All LAN Devices,” “All WAN Devices”). In this example, select the default WAN device option. 4. Click OK.
Appendix A Quality of Service Shaping Classes The bandwidth of a device can be divided to reserve constant portions of bandwidth to predefined traffic types. Such a portion is known as a shaping class. When not used by its predefined traffic type or owner (for example VoIP), the class will be available to all other traffic. However, when needed, the entire class is reserved solely for its owner. Also, the maximum bandwidth that a class uses can be limited, even if the entire bandwidth is available.
Actiontec Wireless Broadband Router User Manual Configure the following parameters: Name Enter the name of the class in this text box. Class Priority The class can be granted one of eight priority levels, zero being the highest and seven the lowest (opposite the rules priority levels). This level sets the priority of a class in comparison to other classes on the device. Tx Bandwidth Tx bandwidth is the reserved transmission bandwidth in kilobits per second.
Appendix A Quality of Service Class Rules Class rules define which packets belong to the class. They must be defined in order to associate packets that meet them with the shaping class. Without class rules, the shaping class will have no effect. Each class can have outbound and/or inbound rules for outgoing and incoming traffic, respectively. For example, all outgoing packets from computer A in the network can be defined as belonging to the VoIP class.
Actiontec Wireless Broadband Router User Manual Protocol - Select a specific traffic protocol from the drop-down list, or add a new one. To add a new traffic protocol: 1. Select Specify Protocol from the drop-down list. The screen will refresh and an “Add” link appears. 2. Click Add, and add a new protocol. This is the same as clicking “New Entry” in the “Protocols” screen. DSCP -Use this drop-down list to mark a DSCP value on packets matching a connection that matches this rule.
Appendix A Quality of Service QoS for ingress data has the following limitations, which do not exist for outgoing data: • QoS can only be applied to TCP streams (UDP streams cannot be delayed) • No borrowing mechanism • When reserving Rx bandwidth, it is strictly taken from the bandwidth of all other classes Furthermore, the Router cannot control the behavior of the ISP, which may not have proper QoS handling. Unfortunately, this is a common situation.
Actiontec Wireless Broadband Router User Manual 1. Click Quality of Service at the top of the Home screen, then click DSCP Settings. The “DSCP Settings” screen appears. 2. To edit an existing entry, click the appropriate icon in the “Action” column. To add a new entry, click Add. In either case, the “Edit DSCP Settings” screen appears. 3. Configure the following parameters: DSCP Value (hex) - Enter the DSCP value as a hexadecimal value. 802.1p Priority - Select a 802.
Appendix A Quality of Service 802.1p Settings The IEEE 802.1p priority marking method is a standard for prioritizing network traffic at the data link/Mac sub-layer. 802.1p traffic is simply classified and sent to the destination, with no bandwidth reservations established. The 802.1p header includes a 3-bit prioritization field, which allows packets to be grouped into eight levels of priority. By default, the highest priority is seven, which might be assigned to network-critical traffic.
Actiontec Wireless Broadband Router User Manual Class Statistics The Router provides accurate, real-time information on the traffic moving through the defined device classes. For example, the amount of packets sent, dropped, or delayed are just a few of the parameters monitored per each shaping class. To view class statistics, click Quality of Service at the top of the Home screen, then click Class Statistics. The following screen appears.
Specifications B General Model Number MI424WR (4-Port Wireless Broadband Router) Standards IEEE 802.3x IEEE 802.3u IEEE 802.11b, g (Wireless) IP IP version 4 MoCA Two channels (WAN, LAN) WAN MoCA frequency: 975 MHz - 1025 MHz (single channel) LAN MoCA frequency: 1125 MHz - 1425 MHz (6 channel) Firewall ICSA certified Speed LAN Ethernet: 10/100 Mbps auto-sensing Wireless: 802.
Actiontec Wireless Broadband Router User Manual Wireless Operating Range Indoors Up to 91 M (300 ft.) Outdoors Up to 533 M (1750 ft.
Notices Regulatory Compliance Notices Class B Equipment This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications.
Actiontec Wireless Broadband Router User Manual 2. This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause unwanted operation. To comply with FCC RF exposure compliance require☞ Note: ments, the antenna used for this transmitter must be installed to provide a separation distance of at least 20 cm from all persons and must not be co-located or operating in conjunction with any other antenna or transmitter.
