User Manual
Table Of Contents
- Contents
- 1. Hardware Overview of the Router
- 2. Connect to the Router’s Network and Automatically Set Up the Internet Connection
- 3. Specify Your Internet Settings
- Use the Internet Setup Wizard
- Manually set up the Internet connection
- Specify IPv6 Internet connections
- Requirements for entering IPv6 addresses
- Use Auto Config for an IPv6 Internet Connection
- Use Auto Detect for an IPv6 Internet Connection
- Set up an IPv6 6to4 tunnel Internet connection
- Set Up an IPv6 6rd Internet Connection
- Set up an IPv6 pass-through Internet connection
- Set up an IPv6 fixed Internet connection
- Set up an IPv6 DHCP Internet connection
- Set Up an IPv6 PPPoE Internet Connection
- Manage the MTU size
- 4. Control Access to the Internet
- 5. Manage Network Settings
- View or Change WAN Settings
- Set up a default DMZ server
- Change the Router’s Device Name
- Change the LAN TCP/IP settings
- Specify the IP addresses that the router assigns
- Disable the DHCP server feature in the router
- Manage reserved LAN IP addresses
- Use the WPS Wizard for WiFi connections
- Specify Basic WiFi Settings
- Change the WiFi Mbps Settings
- Change the WiFi Password or the WiFi Security
- Set up a guest WiFi network
- Control the WiFi radios
- Set up a WiFi schedule
- Specify WPS settings
- Set up the router as a WiFi access point
- Set up the router in bridge mode
- Set up a bridge for a port group or VLAN tag group
- Manage custom static routes
- 6. Optimize Performance
- 7. Manage Your Router
- Update the router firmware
- Change the admin password
- Enable admin password recovery
- Recover the admin password
- View information about the router and the Internet and WiFi settings
- Display the statistics of the Internet port
- Check the Internet connection status
- View and manage logs of router activity
- View devices currently on the network
- Monitor Internet Traffic
- Manage the router configuration file
- Remote access
- Remotely access your router using the Nighthawk app
- Disable LED blinking or turn off LEDs
- Return the router to its factory default settings
- 8. Share USB Storage Devices Attached to the Router
- USB device requirements
- Connect a USB storage device to the router
- Access a storage device connected to the router from a Windows-based computer
- Map a USB device to a Windows network drive
- Access a storage device that is connected to the router from a Mac
- Back up Windows-based computers with ReadySHARE Vault
- Back up Mac computers with Time Machine
- Enable FTP access within your network
- View network folders on a storage device
- Add a network folder on a USB storage device
- Edit a network folder on a USB storage device
- Safely remove a USB storage device
- 9. Use Dynamic DNS to Access USB Storage Devices Through the Internet
- 10. Use the Router as a Media Server
- 11. Share a USB Printer
- 12. Manage Port Forwarding and Port Triggering
- 13. Troubleshooting
- 14. Supplemental Information
LEDs and Buttons on the Top Panel
The status LEDs and buttons are located on the top of the router.
Table 2. LED and button descriptions
DescriptionLED and Button
Solid amber. The router is starting.
Blinking amber. The firmware is upgrading, or the Reset button was pressed.
Solid white. The router is ready.
Blinking white. The firmware is corrupted.
Off. Power is not supplied to the router.
Power
Solid white. The Internet connection is ready.
Solid amber. The router detected an Ethernet cable connection to the modem.
Off. No Ethernet cable is connected between the router and the modem.
Internet
Solid white. The 2.4 GHz WiFi radio is operating.
Blinking white. The router is sending or receiving WiFi traffic.
Off. The 2.4 GHz WiFi radio is off.
2.4 GHz WiFi
Solid white. The 5 GHz WiFi radio is operating.
Blinking white. The router is sending or receiving WiFi traffic.
Off. The 5 GHz WiFi radio is off.
5 GHz WiFi
Solid white. The guest WiFi network is operating.
Blinking white. The router is sending or receiving WiFi traffic.
Off. The guest WiFi network is off.
Guest WiFi
Solid white. A USB device is connected and is ready.
Blinking white. A USB device is plugged in and is trying to connect.
Off. No USB device is connected, or someone clicked the Safely Remove Hardware button
and it is now safe to remove the attached USB device.
USB 3.0 port
The LED color indicates the speed: white for Gigabit Ethernet connections and amber for 100
Mbps or 10 Mbps Ethernet connections.
Solid white or solid amber. A powered-on device is connected to the Ethernet port.
Blinking white or blinking amber. The port is sending or receiving traffic.
Off. No device is connected to this Ethernet port.
Ethernet ports 1–4
Pressing this button for two seconds turns the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz WiFi radios on and off.
If this LED is solid white, the WiFi radios are on. If this LED is off, the WiFi radios are turned off
and you cannot use WiFi to connect to the router.
WiFi On/Off
button with LED
This button lets you use WPS to join the WiFi network without typing the WiFi password. The
WPS LED blinks white during this process and then lights solid white.
WPS button with
LED
For information about disabling LED blinking for network communications and turning
off all LEDs except the Power LED, see Disable LED blinking or turn off LEDs on page
103.
User Manual12Hardware Overview of the
Router
Nighthawk AC2100 Smart WiFi Router Model R7200