The following instructions guide you through some basic steps to set up and secure your network. For detailed information about all the features and functions of your Netgear router, please consult the User's Guide, available at http://kbserver.netgear.com/.

After getting started and completing the initial setup, please follow the measures to secure your network. The Netgear has no security protection by default. Unless you secure it, anyone in the neighborhood with a wireless-capable computer can use your Internet connection. Once someone gains access, he or she can use it for whatever purpose they wish, legal or not.

Getting Started

Physically Connecting the Netgear

1. Plug an Ethernet cable into the DSL modem. Plug the other end of the cable into the WAN/Internet port on the Netgear.
2. Using an Ethernet cable, plug any wired computers into any of the 4 Ethernet ports on the Netgear.

Accessing the Netgear Configuration Screen

The Netgear is configured using a web browser. After you have connected your computer to the Netgear router, follow these steps:

1. Launch your web browser. Enter "http://192.168.1.1" into the address bar and press the Enter or Return key.
2. You will see a welcome screen. Click OK. Your router will now detect your connection.
3. A page will appear stating whether a Dynamic or Static IP connection has been detected. Click Next.
4. If your connection is DHCP (Dynamic) as most Cruzio connections are, it will be automatically configured. If you purchased a Static IP address, you will be prompted to enter the Static IP information from your Cruzio login sheet. The router will update and test these new settings and then a wireless settings page will appear.
5. Choose a short, recognizable name for your wireless network. This will make your wireless network easy to identify in a list of networks. Enter this name in the "Enter your Wireless Network name (SSID)" box, then click Next.
6. You will be asked if you want to protect your wireless network with security features. Click Yes.
7. The following screens will help you configure your wireless security settings. First, choose WPA-PSK and click Next (If your computer does not have Windows XP SP2 or above, or OSX 10.3 or above installed please refer to the WEP section at the end of this document).
8. Enter an 8-63 character passphrase in the passphrase box. Click Next.
9. You will now be prompted to change your Router Admin Password. Enter a password that you will be able to remember. You will need this password to access the router if you ever need to make changes to your configuration.
10. A Network Settings Summary page will appear. Click Next.
11. Your Router Setup is complete. Once the next screen has loaded, click Close.

If you ever wish to change any of these settings, you can do so by entering "http://192.168.1.1" into the address bar of your web browser and pressing the Enter or Return key.

General Security Measures

Changing the Admin Password

Leaving the password as "password" is not a good idea. It should be changed to something more secure. To change the password, go to the Netgear Settings screen and:

1. Click the Set Password link on the left side of the page.
2. Enter the old password, and then enter the new password twice for confirmation. Click Apply.
3. The next time you access the Netgear Settings screen, you will need to enter the new Admin password.

Disabling the Wireless LAN

If wireless access is not necessary, you should disable the wireless part of the Netgear. This will prevent anyone from accessing the network wirelessly. (If you are using the wireless features, please skip down to "Wireless Security Measures".) From the Netgear Settings screen:

1. On the left, under Advanced, click the Wireless Settings link.
2. Uncheck the box next to the Enable Wireless Router Radio button. Click Apply.

You are done securing your wired network. No further action is required.

Wireless Security Measures

Enabling WPA Encryption

Enabling WPA-PSK* will require anyone wishing to access the Internet through your wireless network to enter a password. After the correct password is entered, a connection is established, and all data sent from the Netgear to the computer and back is encrypted. From the Netgear configuration screen:

1. On the left, under Basic Settings, click the Wireless Settings link.
2. Under Security Options, choose WPA-PSK.
3. Enter an 8-63 character passphrase in the passphrase box. Click Apply.
4. When you connect to your wireless network from a computer, you will need to enter the passphrase. In most cases your computer will offer to store the password for you.

Enabling WEP Encryption

*If your computer's operating system does not support WPA-PSK (usually, your computer needs to run Windows XP, Mac OS X 10.3 or newer), enabling WEP is preferable to disabling security altogether. From the Netgear configuration screen:

1. On the left, under Basic Settings, click the Wireless Settings link.
2. Under Security Options, choose WEP.
3. In the Authentication Type menu, select Open System.
4. Set the Encryption Strength to 128 bit.
5. Type a 26 digit password into "key 1". Click Apply.
6. When you connect to your wireless network from a computer, you will need to enter the password.