| How to configure a router | | | | - Preferred DNS serverchanging the way of |
| Original version by Lukasz Sawicki | | | | address assignment to dynamic (DHCP), or setting |
| Proper configuration of the router is the | | | | fixed IP address from the router's |
| precondition for networking and Internet access. | | | | range,connecting the computer with LAN port of |
| Let's begin with the description of its functions. In | | | | the router. |
| general, router is a network device that is a | | | | |
| communication node between the sending and | | | | Example of assigning a fixed IP address for TCP |
| receiving endpoint. The control of the traffic is | | | | IP protocol. This option is used when the router |
| called routing. Router creates a routing table or | | | | does not assign addresses automatically. At this |
| routing information base (RIB) that stores the | | | | stage there is no need to enter default gateway |
| best routes to certain network destinations, or | | | | nor DNS servers parameters. |
| the "routing metrics" associated with those | | | | After restarting the computer, there is possibility |
| routes, and the path to the next hop router. It | | | | of connecting with the router (via Internet |
| allows to direct the packets to specified | | | | browser). The logged in user (the initial user name |
| destinations. The routing process means | | | | and password are given in the user's manual) can |
| interaction of at least two subnets. | | | | configure the router. |
| The immense growth of the number of Internet | | | | |
| users is the reason of remedial measures that | | | | The login window |
| overcome the limits of Ipv4 (Internet Protocol | | | | The easiest way of configuring the router is use |
| version 4). One of the measures is routing. It | | | | of "Quick Setup" option. |
| means linking of internal network with a pool of | | | | |
| "private" IP addresses to the public network. | | | | The first dialog box |
| Simply the router uses less (external) IP | | | | To begin configuration we should choose Next. |
| addresses than the number of supported | | | | It is important to select adequate kind of WAN |
| computers in the local network. The diagram | | | | connection type: |
| below depicts the typical solution. | | | | There are three possibilities: |
| | | | - PPPoE - in the case of network using PPPoE |
| Example of routing with NAT function | | | | protocol (rather untypical), |
| Router configuration example is based on the | | | | - Dynamic IP - the router will get IP address |
| TP-Link TL-WR542G device | | | | automatically (the most common option), |
| Notice: TP-Link TL-WR542G N2950 does not | | | | - Static IP - in the case of fixed IP address. |
| support ADSL service (it is not equipped with | | | | |
| ADSL modem). | | | | Choice of WAN connection type |
| Router connects two or more logical subnets, e.g. | | | | For Static IP option there are needed the settings |
| external network with Internet access (WAN) | | | | of the NIC (to be entered). In the case of |
| with local network (LAN), making a bridge for | | | | Dynamic IP this box will be omitted: |
| information exchange. Without proper | | | | In this box there are entered adequate settings |
| configuration the connection will be impossible. In | | | | (previously taken down or given by the ISP) |
| most cases, router acts as a specialized computer | | | | After configuring WAN port parameters the next |
| (replacing a standard computer) working in | | | | step is setup of Access Point: |
| external network, with software and hardware | | | | Planning to use access point, it is needed: |
| tailored to the tasks of routing and forwarding. It | | | | - to select suitable channel, |
| allows to create internal (local) network. | | | | - to set SSID, |
| In this case, the computer configuration involves: | | | | - to choose the region (country), |
| - taking down all settings of the NIC (working in | | | | - to set data encryption and cryptographic keys |
| external network), | | | | (in the tab Wireless >> Wireless Settings). |
| - IP address | | | | ...... |
| - Subnet mask | | | | [This is not complete article. For full version go to |
| - Default gateway | | | | DIPOL WLAN, TV-SAT, CCTV web site. |