User's Manual

What’s an IP Address?
IP stands for Internet Protocol. Every device on an IP-based network, includ-
ing PCs, print servers, and routers, requires an IP address to identify its “loca-
tion,” or address, on the network. This applies to both the WAN and LAN con-
nections.
There are two ways of assigning an IP address to your network devices.
Static IP Addresses
A static IP address is a fixed IP address that you assign manually to a PC or
other device on the network. Since a static IP address remains valid until you
disable it, static IP addressing insures that the device assigned it will have that
same IP address until you change it. Static IP addresses are commonly used
with network devices such as server PCs or print servers.
If you use the Router to share your cable or DSL Internet connection, contact
your ISP to find out if they have assigned a static IP address to your account.
If so, you will need that static IP address when configuring the Router. You can
get the information from your ISP.
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IP Addresses
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Since the Router is a device that connects two networks, it needs two
IP addresses—one for the LAN side, and one for the WAN side. In this User
Guide, you’ll see references to the “WAN IP address” and the “LAN IP
address.”
Since the Router has firewall security (NAT), only the Router’s WAN IP address
can be seen from the Internet.
However, even the WAN IP address can be blocked, so that the Router and
network seem invisible to the Internet—This is shown in the Filters section in
“Chapter 5: Using the Routers Web-Based Utility”.
Instant Wireless
TM
Series
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