NETGEAR R6900 User Manual
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NETGEAR R6900 User Manual

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Nighthawk
AC1900 Smart
WiFi Router

User Manual

Model R6900
August 2015
202-11569-01
350 E. Plumeria Drive
San Jose, CA 95134
USA

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Summary of Contents for NETGEAR R6900

  • Page 1: User Manual

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router User Manual Model R6900 August 2015 202-11569-01 350 E. Plumeria Drive San Jose, CA 95134...
  • Page 2 After installing your device, locate the serial number on the label of your product and use it to register your product at https://my.netgear.com. You must register your product before you can use NETGEAR telephone support. NETGEAR recommends registering your product through the NETGEAR webiste.

  • Page 3: Table Of Contents

    Use a Web Browser to Access the Router............21 Automatic Internet Setup.................21 Log In to the Router..................22 Change the Language..................23 Access the Router With the NETGEAR genie App..........23 Chapter 3 Specify Your Internet Settings Use the Internet Setup Wizard................26 Manually Set Up the Internet Connection............26 Specify an Internet Connection Without a Login..........27...
  • Page 4 Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 Change the MTU Size..................48 Chapter 4 Optimize Performance Prioritize Internet Traffic With Quality of Service..........51 Optimize Internet Gaming With Upstream QoS...........51 Add Upstream QoS Priority Rules...............53 Set Up QoS for Applications and Online Gaming..........53 Set Up QoS for a Router LAN Port..............55...
  • Page 5 Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 Map a USB Device to a Windows Network Drive..........95 Back Up Windows Computers With ReadySHARE Vault........95 Back Up Mac Computers With Time Machine............96 Set Up a USB Hard Drive on a Mac..............96 Prepare to Back Up a Large Amount of Data..........97 Use Time Machine to Back Up Onto a Storage Device........97...
  • Page 6 Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 Turn Off Automatic Startup of the NETGEAR USB Control Center....137 Change the NETGEAR USB Control Center Language........138 Specify the Time-Out..................138 Chapter 10 Manage the WAN and LAN Network Settings Manage the WAN Security Settings..............140 Set Up a Default DMZ Server................141...
  • Page 7 Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 Chapter 12 Manage the Router and Monitor the Traffic Update the Firmware of the Router..............186 Check for New Firmware and Update the Router..........186 Manually Upload New Firmware and Update the Router......187 Change the admin Password................188 Set Up Password Recovery................189...
  • Page 8 Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 Remove a Port Forwarding Rule..............224 Application Example: Make a Local Web Server Public........225 How the Router Implements the Port Forwarding Rule.........226 Manage Port Triggering for Services and Applications........226 Add a Port Triggering Rule................227 Change a Port Triggering Rule..............229...
  • Page 9 WiFi coverage. NETGEAR makes no express or implied representations or warranties about this product’s compatibility with any future standards. 802.11ac 1300 Mbps is approximately 3x faster than 802.11n 450 Mbps.
  • Page 10 Firmware updates with new features and bug fixes are made available from time to time at downloadcenter.netgear.com. You can check for and download new firmware manually. If the features or behavior of your product does not match what is described in this guide, you might need to update your firmware.

  • Page 11: Unpack Your Router

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 Unpack Your Router The box contains the following items. Figure 1. Package contents for the router Table 1. Legend Router Antennas (3) Ethernet cable Power adapter In some regions, a CD is included in the package.

  • Page 12: Leds And Buttons On The Top Panel

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 Attach the antennas on the threaded antenna posts. Position the antennas for the best WiFi performance. We recommend that the center antenna be vertical and that you aim the others outward at 45-degree angles, as shown.
  • Page 13 Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 Table 2. LED and button descriptions Description • Solid amber. The router is starting. Power • Blinking amber.The firmware is upgrading, or the Reset button was pressed. • Solid white. The router is ready.

  • Page 14: Ports, Buttons, And Connectors On The Back Panel

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 Description • 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.

  • Page 15: Usb Port On The Front Panel

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 • Reset button. For information about using the Reset button, see Return the Router to Its Factory Default Settings on page 193. • Ethernet LAN ports. Four Gigabit Ethernet RJ-45 LAN ports to connect the router to LAN devices.

  • Page 16: Position Your Router

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 Figure 5. Router product label Position Your Router The router lets you access your network anywhere within the operating range of your WiFi network. However, the operating distance or range of your WiFi connection can vary significantly depending on the physical placement of your router.

  • Page 17: Cable Your Router

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 • Solid metal door • Aluminum studs • Fish tanks • Mirrors • Brick • Concrete If you are using adjacent access points, use different radio frequency channels to reduce interference. Cable Your Router The following image shows how to cable your router: Figure 6.

  • Page 18: Connect To The Router

    The chapter contains the following sections: • Connect to the Router on page 18 • Use a Web Browser to Access the Router on page 21 • Change the Language on page 23 • Access the Router With the NETGEAR genie App on page 23...

  • Page 19: Connect To The Router Through An Ethernet Cable

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 Connect to the Router During and after installation, you can connect to the router’s network through a wired or WiFi connection. If you set up your computer to use a static IP address, change the settings of your computer so that it uses Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP).

  • Page 20: Wi-Fi Protected Setup Method

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 Enter the router WiFi password. The default WiFi password (also referred to as the network key or passphrase) is also on the product label. Click the Connect button. The device connects to the WiFi network of the router.

  • Page 21: Use A Web Browser To Access The Router

    ISP login program on your computer to access the Internet. When you start an Internet application, your router automatically logs you in. NETGEAR genie runs on any device with a web browser. Installation and basic setup takes about 15 minutes to complete.

  • Page 22: Log In To The Router

    238. If problems persist, register your NETGEAR product and contact NETGEAR technical support. When the router connects to the Internet, you are prompted to download and install the free NETGEAR Desktop genie app and the free ReadySHARE Vault app.

  • Page 23: Change The Language

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 To log in to the router: Launch a web browser from a computer or WiFi device that is connected to the network. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. Note You can also enter http://www.routerlogin.com or http://192.168.1.1. The procedures in this manual use http://www.routerlogin.net.
  • Page 24 Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 • Automatically repair common WiFi network problems. • Easily manage router features such as Live Parental Controls, guest access, Internet traffic meter, speed test, and more. • Share and stream music or videos.
  • Page 25 Specify Your Internet Settings Usually, the quickest way to set up the router to use your Internet connection is to allow NETGEAR genie to detect the Internet connection when you first access the router with a web browser. You can also customize or specify your Internet settings.

  • Page 26: Use The Internet Setup Wizard

    The Setup Wizard searches your Internet connection for servers and protocols to determine your Internet configuration. When the router connects to the Internet, you are prompted to download and install the free NETGEAR Desktop genie app and the free ReadySHARE Vault app.

  • Page 27: Specify An Internet Connection Without A Login

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 Specify an Internet Connection Without a Login To specify the Internet connection settings: Launch a web browser from a computer or WiFi device that is connected to the network. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens.

  • Page 28: Specify An Internet Connection That Uses A Login And Pppoe Service

    Click the Apply button. Your settings are saved. Click the Test button to test your Internet connection. If the NETGEAR website does not display within one minute, see You Cannot Access the Internet page 238. Specify an Internet Connection That Uses a Login and PPPoE...
  • Page 29 Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 The BASIC Home page displays. Select Internet. The Internet Setup page displays. For the Does your Internet connection require a login? setting, select the Yes radio button. The page adjusts. From the Internet Service Provider menu, select PPPoE as the encapsulation method.

  • Page 30: Specify An Internet Connection That Uses A Login And Pptp Or L2Tp Service

    Click the Apply button. Your settings are saved. Click the Test button to test your Internet connection. If the NETGEAR website does not display within one minute, see You Cannot Access the Internet page 238. Specify an Internet Connection That Uses a Login and PPTP...
  • Page 31 Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 The BASIC Home page displays. Select Internet. The Internet Setup page displays. For the Does your Internet connection require a login? setting, select the Yes radio button. The page adjusts. From the Internet Service Provider menu, select PPTP or L2TP as the encapsulation method.

  • Page 32: Specify An Ipv6 Internet Connection

    Click the Apply button. Your settings are saved. Click the Test button to test your Internet connection. If the NETGEAR website does not display within one minute, see You Cannot Access the Internet page 238. Specify an IPv6 Internet Connection The router supports many different types of IPv6 Internet connections for which you can specify the settings manually.
  • Page 33 Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 • Auto Detect. For more information, see Use Auto Detect for an IPv6 Internet Connection on page • Auto Config. For more information, see Use Auto Config for an IPv6 Internet Connection on page •...

  • Page 34: Use Auto Detect For An Ipv6 Internet Connection

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 • More than eight groups of hexadecimal quartets • More than four hexadecimal characters in a quartet • More than two colons in a row Use Auto Detect for an IPv6 Internet Connection To set up an IPv6 Internet connection through auto detection: Launch a web browser from a computer or WiFi device that is connected to the network.

  • Page 35: Use Auto Config For An Ipv6 Internet Connection

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 indicated by the underline (_) under the IPv6 address. If no address is acquired, the field displays Not Available. • Router’s IPv6 Address on LAN. This field shows the IPv6 address that is acquired for the router’s LAN interface.
  • Page 36 Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 The router automatically detects the information in the following fields: • Router’s IPv6 Address on WAN.This field shows the IPv6 address that is acquired for the router’s WAN (or Internet) interface. The number after the slash (/) is the length of the prefix, which is also indicated by the underline (_) under the IPv6 address.

  • Page 37: Set Up An Ipv6 6To4 Tunnel Internet Connection

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 • Use DHCP Server. This method passes more information to LAN devices but some IPv6 systems might not support the DHCv6 client function. • Auto Config. This is the default setting. This setting specifies how the router assigns IPv6 addresses to the devices on your home network (the LAN).
  • Page 38 Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 The router automatically detects the information in the Router’s IPv6 Address on LAN field. This field shows the IPv6 address that is acquired for the router’s LAN interface. The number after the slash (/) is the length of the prefix, which is also indicated by the underline (_) under the IPv6 address.

  • Page 39: Set Up An Ipv6 Pass Through Internet Connection

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 This setting specifies how the router assigns IPv6 addresses to the devices on your home network (the LAN). (Optional) Select the Use This Interface ID check box and specify the interface ID to be used for the IPv6 address of the router’s LAN interface.
  • Page 40 Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 A login window opens. Enter the router user name and password. The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC Home page displays.

  • Page 41: Set Up An Ipv6 Dhcp Internet Connection

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 • Use DHCP Server. This method passes more information to LAN devices but some IPv6 systems might not support the DHCv6 client function. • Auto Config. This is the default setting. This setting specifies how the router assigns IPv6 addresses to the devices on your home network (the LAN).
  • Page 42 Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 The router automatically detects the information in the following fields: • Router’s IPv6 Address on WAN.This field shows the IPv6 address that is acquired for the router’s WAN (or Internet) interface. The number after the slash (/) is the length of the prefix, which is also indicated by the underline (_) under the IPv6 address.

  • Page 43: Set Up An Ipv6 6Rd Tunnel Connection

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 • Use DHCP Server. This method passes more information to LAN devices but some IPv6 systems might not support the DHCv6 client function. • Auto Config. This is the default setting. This setting specifies how the router assigns IPv6 addresses to the devices on your home network (the LAN).
  • Page 44 Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 The router automatically detects the information in the Router’s IPv6 Address on LAN field. This field shows the IPv6 address that is acquired for the router’s LAN interface. The number after the slash (/) is the length of the prefix, which is also indicated by the underline (_) under the IPv6 address.

  • Page 45: Set Up An Ipv6 Pppoe Internet Connection

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 This setting specifies how the router assigns IPv6 addresses to the devices on your home network (the LAN). (Optional) Select the Use This Interface ID check box and specify the interface ID to be used for the IPv6 address of the router’s LAN interface.
  • Page 46 Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 The router automatically detects the information in the following fields: • Router’s IPv6 Address on WAN.This field shows the IPv6 address that is acquired for the router’s WAN (or Internet) interface. The number after the slash (/) is the length of the prefix, which is also indicated by the underline (_) under the IPv6 address.

  • Page 47: Manage The Mtu Size

    “fragmented” to accommodate the device with the smallest MTU. The best MTU setting for NETGEAR equipment is often the default value. In some situations, changing the value fixes one problem but causes another.

  • Page 48: Change The Mtu Size

    Table 3. Common MTU sizes Application 1500 The largest Ethernet packet size. This setting is typical for connections that do not use PPPoE or VPN and is the default value for NETGEAR routers, adapters, and switches. 1492 Used in PPPoE environments.
  • Page 49 Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 websites, secure login pages, or FTP or POP servers. Change the MTU only if you are sure that it is necessary for your ISP connection. To change the MTU size: Launch a web browser from a computer or WiFi device that is connected to the network.
  • Page 50 Optimize Performance You can set up the router to optimize performance for applications such as multiplayer gaming, peer-to-peer connections, or real-time communications such as instant messaging. By default, the router uses Wi-Fi Multimedia Quality of Service (WMM QoS). This chapter contains the following sections: •...

  • Page 51: Prioritize Internet Traffic With Quality Of Service

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 Prioritize Internet Traffic With Quality of Service You can use Quality of Service (QoS) to assign a high priority to gaming and streaming video from the Internet. Figure 7. You can prioritize downstream traffic, upstream traffic, or both Optimize Internet Gaming With Upstream QoS Upstream Quality of Service (QoS) assigns a high priority to Internet traffic from your Xbox gaming system.
  • Page 52 Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 Figure 8. Upstream QoS assigns high priority to gaming traffic from your Xbox We recommend that only gamers enable the Upstream QoS feature. If you do not game and you turn on this feature, some applications might not perform as well as usual.

  • Page 53: Add Upstream Qos Priority Rules

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 Select the Enable Upstream QoS (Optimized for Gaming) check box. Specify the maximum uplink bandwidth for your Internet connection: • If you know what your uplink bandwidth is, type it in the Uplink bandwidth Maximum field and select Kbps or Mbps from the menu.
  • Page 54 Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC Home page displays. Select ADVANCED > Setup > QoS Setup > Upstream QoS. Click the Setup QoS rule button.

  • Page 55: Set Up Qos For A Router Lan Port

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 In the QoS Policy for field, type the name of the application or game. From the Priority Category menu, select either Applications or Online Gaming. A list of applications or games displays. Scroll and select Add a New Application or Add a New Game, as applicable.
  • Page 56 Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 Click the Setup QoS rule button. To add a rule, scroll down to the bottom of the QoS Priority Rule list page and click the Add Priority Rule button. The QoS - Priority Rules page displays.

  • Page 57: Set Up Qos For A Mac Address

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 From the LAN Port menu, select the LAN port. The options are 1, 2, 3, and 4. From the Priority menu, select the priority for upstream traffic on this port relative to other traffic.
  • Page 58 Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 To add a rule, scroll down to the bottom of the QoS Priority Rule list page and click the Add Priority Rule button. The QoS - Priority Rules page displays. From the Priority Category menu, select MAC Address.

  • Page 59: Change An Upstream Qos Policy Rule

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 The information from the MAC Device List populates the QoS Policy for, MAC Address, and Device Name fields. If the device is not in the MAC Device List, click the Refresh button. If it still does not display, complete these fields manually.

  • Page 60: Delete An Upstream Qos Policy Rule

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 Your settings are saved. Delete an Upstream QoS Policy Rule You can delete an upstream QoS policy rule that you no longer need. To delete an upstream QoS policy rule: Launch a web browser from a computer or WiFi device that is connected to the network.

  • Page 61: Optimize Video Streaming With Downstream Qos

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 The BASIC Home page displays. Select ADVANCED > Setup > QoS Setup > Upstream QoS. The QoS Setup page displays. Click the Setup QoS rule button. The QoS Priority Rule list page displays.

  • Page 62: Add Downstream Qos Priority Rules

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 To enable downstream QoS: Launch a web browser from a computer or WiFi device that is connected to the network. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. Enter the router user name and password.

  • Page 63: Add A Downstream Qos Policy Rule By Keyword

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 • A specific keyword • A specific device by MAC address To specify prioritization of streaming traffic, create a policy for a keyword or MAC address and add the policy to the router's QoS rule table.

  • Page 64: Add A Downstream Qos Policy Rule By Mac Address

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 In the Add Rules section, leave the by Keyword radio button selected. In the Rule Name field, type the name of the rule. In the Keyword field, type a keyword. Click the Add button.

  • Page 65: Change A Downstream Qos Policy Rule

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 The BASIC Home page displays. Select ADVANCED > Setup > QoS Setup > Downstream QoS. The Downstream QoS page displays. In the Add Rules section, select the By Device radio button. If the device is in the MAC Device List, select its radio button.

  • Page 66: Delete A Downstream Qos Policy Rule

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 To change a custom downstream QoS policy rule: Launch a web browser from a computer or WiFi device that is connected to the network. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. Enter the router user name and password.

  • Page 67: Delete All Downstream Qos Policy Rules

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 The rule is removed from the QoS Rule table. Delete All Downstream QoS Policy Rules You can delete all custom downstream QoS policy rules. You cannot delete default rules that were downloaded from the streaming database.

  • Page 68: Manage Wi-Fi Multimedia Quality Of Service

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 The BASIC Home page displays. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > UPnP. The UPnP page displays. Select the Turn UPnP On check box. By default, this check box is selected. UPnP for automatic device configuration can be enabled or disabled.
  • Page 69 Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 A login window opens. Enter the router user name and password. The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC Home page displays.
  • Page 70 Control Access to the Internet The router comes with a built-in firewall that helps protect your home network from unwanted intrusions from the Internet. This chapter includes the following sections: • Set Up Parental Controls on page 71 • Allow or Block Access to Your Network on page 72 •...

  • Page 71: Chapter 5 Control Access To The Internet

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 Set Up Parental Controls The first time that you select Parental Controls from the BASIC Home page, your browser goes to the Parental Controls website. You can learn more about Parental Controls or download the application.

  • Page 72: Allow Or Block Access To Your Network

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 Because Live Parental Controls uses free OpenDNS accounts, you are prompted to log in or create a free account. Select a radio button as follows: • If you already own an OpenDNS account, leave the Yes radio button selected.
  • Page 73 Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC Home page displays. Select ADVANCED > Security > Access Control. The previous figure shows two WiFi devices connected.

  • Page 74: Manage Network Access Control Lists

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 • If you blocked all new devices from connecting, to allow the computer or device that you are currently using to continue to access the network, select the check box next to your computer or WiFi device in the table, and click the Allow button.
  • Page 75 Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 To add or remove devices that are allowed: Launch a web browser from a computer or WiFi device that is connected to the network. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. Enter the router user name and password.

  • Page 76: Add Devices To Or Remove Them From The Blocked List

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 The device is added to the allowed list on the Access Control page. To remove a device from allowed list, do the following: a. Select the check box for the device. b. Click the Delete button.

  • Page 77: Use Keywords To Block Internet Sites

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 A table displays the detected device name, MAC address, and connection type of the devices that are not connected and are blocked from accessing the network. To add a device to the blocked list, do the following: a.

  • Page 78: Set Up Blocking

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 Set Up Blocking You can set up blocking of specific keywords and domains to occur continuously or according to a schedule. To set up keyword and domain blocking: Launch a web browser from a computer or WiFi device that is connected to the network.

  • Page 79: Remove A Keyword Or Domain From The Blocked List

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 Here are some sample entries: • Specify XXX to block http://www.badstuff.com/xxx.html. • Specify .com if you want to allow only sites with domain suffixes such as .edu or .gov. • Enter a period (.) to block all Internet browsing access.

  • Page 80: Remove All Keywords And Domains From The Blocked List

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 Your settings are saved. Remove All Keywords and Domains From the Blocked List You can simultaneously remove all keywords and domains from the blocked list. To remove all keywords and domains from the blocked list: Launch a web browser from a computer or WiFi device that is connected to the network.

  • Page 81: Manage Simple Outbound Firewall Rules For Services And Applications

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 The BASIC Home page displays. Select ADVANCED > Security > Block Sites. Scroll down and select the Allow trusted IP address to visit blocked sites check box. In the Trusted IP Address field, enter the IP address of the trusted device.

  • Page 82: Add An Outbound Firewall Rule

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 For information about blocking specific keywords, URLs, or sites, see Use Keywords to Block Internet Sites on page 77. This type of blocking is another aspect of the outbound firewall. For information about...

  • Page 83: Add An Outbound Firewall Rule For A Custom Service Or Application

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 From the Service Type menu, select service or application to be covered by this rule. If the service or application does not display in the list, you can add it (see Add an Outbound Firewall Rule for a Custom Service or Application on page 83).
  • Page 84 Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 You can usually find this information by contacting the publisher of the service or application or through online user or news groups. Launch a web browser from a computer or WiFi device that is connected to the network.
  • Page 85 Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 From the Service Type menu, select User Defined. Specify a new outbound rule as described in the following table. Field Description Protocol Select the protocol (TCP or UDP) that is associated with the service or application.

  • Page 86: Change An Outbound Firewall Rule

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 The new rule is added to the Service Table on the Block Services page. Change an Outbound Firewall Rule You can change an existing outbound firewall rule. To change an outbound firewall rule: Launch a web browser from a computer or WiFi device that is connected to the network.

  • Page 87: Remove An Outbound Firewall Rule

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 Your settings are saved. The changed rule displays in the Service Table on the Block Services page. Remove an Outbound Firewall Rule You can remove an outbound firewall rule that you no longer need.

  • Page 88: Set Up A Schedule For Keyword Blocking And Outbound Firewall Rules

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 The rule is removed from the Service Table. Set Up a Schedule for Keyword Blocking and Outbound Firewall Rules You can set up a schedule that you can apply to keyword blocking (see...
  • Page 89 Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 Set up the schedule for blocking: • Days to Block. Select the check box for each day that you want to block access or specify that blocking occurs on every day by selecting the Every Day check box.

  • Page 90: Set Up Security Event Email Notifications

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 Your settings are saved. Set Up Security Event Email Notifications The router can email you its logs of router activity. The log records router activity and security events such as attempts to access blocked sites or services.
  • Page 91 Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 This email address is also used for the From address. If this field is blank, log and alert messages are not sent. In the Outgoing Mail Server Port Number field, enter the port number that the mail server uses.

  • Page 92: Usb Device Requirements

    Change a Network Folder, Including Read and Write Access, on a USB Drive on page 106 • Approve USB Devices on page 108 • Safely Remove a USB Device on page 109 For more information about ReadySHARE features, visit www.netgear.com/readyshare.

  • Page 93: Connect A Usb Device To The Router

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 USB Device Requirements The router works with most USB-compliant external flash and hard drives. For the most up-to-date list of USB devices that the router supports, visit kbserver.netgear.com/readyshare. Some USB external hard drives and flash drives require you to load the drivers onto the computer before the computer can access the USB device.

  • Page 94: Access A Storage Device Connected To The Router

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 To connect a USB device: Insert your USB storage drive into the USB port on the front panel of the router. If your USB device uses a power supply, connect it. You must use the power supply when you connect the USB device to the router.

  • Page 95: Map A Usb Device To A Windows Network Drive

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 When you connect the storage device to the router’s port, it might take up to two minutes before the storage device is ready for sharing. By default, the device is available to all computers on your local area network (LAN).

  • Page 96: Back Up Mac Computers With Time Machine

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 The following operating systems support ReadySHARE Vault: • Windows 7 • Windows 8 • Windows 8.1 • Windows 10 To back up your Windows computer: Connect a USB storage device to the router’s USB port.

  • Page 97: Prepare To Back Up A Large Amount Of Data

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 The Partition schemes display. Select the GUID Partition Table or Master Boot Record radio button. In the Format menu, select Mac OS Extended (Journaled). Click the OK button. Click the Apply button. Your settings are saved.
  • Page 98 Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 To back up your Mac onto a USB HDD: Prepare your USB HDD with a compatible format and partitions. For more information, see Set Up a USB Hard Drive on a Mac on page 96.

  • Page 99: Manage Access To A Storage Device

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 The setup is complete and the Mac automatically schedules a full backup.You can back up immediately if you want. Manage Access to a Storage Device You can specify the device name, workgroups, and network folders for a storage device connected to the USB port on the router.
  • Page 100 Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 The previous figure shows one USB device attached to the router. To specify a name that is used to access the USB device or devices that are connected to the router, in the Network/Device Name field, enter a name.
  • Page 101 112), you can also type a URL domain name. For example, if your domain name is MyName and you use the NETGEAR DDNS server, you can type ftp://MyName.mynetgear.com to access the USB device over the Internet and download or upload files.

  • Page 102: Enable Ftp Access Within Your Network

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 Your settings are saved. Enable FTP Access Within Your Network File Transfer Protocol (FTP) lets you download (receive) and upload (send) large files faster. Note For information about using FTP to access a storage device over the Internet, see...

  • Page 103: View Network Folders On A Device

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 The previous figure shows a USB device attached to the router. Select the FTP check box. Click the Apply button. Your settings are saved. View Network Folders on a Device You can view or change the network folders on a USB storage device connected to the router.

  • Page 104: Add A Network Folder On A Storage Device

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 The BASIC Home page displays. Select ADVANCED > USB Functions> ReadySHARE Storage. The previous figure shows a USB device attached to the router. The Available Networks Folder section shows the following settings: •...
  • Page 105 Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 To add a network folder: Launch a web browser from a computer or WiFi device that is connected to the network. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. Enter the router user name and password.

  • Page 106: Change A Network Folder, Including Read And Write Access, On A Usb Drive

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 If this pop-up window does not display, your web browser might be blocking pop-ups. If it is, change the browser settings to allow pop-ups. From the USB Device menu, select the USB drive.
  • Page 107 Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 To change a network folder: Launch a web browser from a computer or WiFi device that is connected to the network. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. Enter the router user name and password.

  • Page 108: Approve Usb Devices

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 Change the settings in the fields as needed. For more information about the settings, see Add a Network Folder on a Storage Device on page 104. Click the Apply button. Your settings are saved.

  • Page 109: Safely Remove A Usb Device

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 The USB Settings page displays. Select the No radio button. By default the Yes radio button is selected. This setting lets you connect and access all your USB devices. Click the Apply button.
  • Page 110 Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 To remove a USB device safely: Launch a web browser from a computer or WiFi device that is connected to the network. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. Enter the router user name and password.
  • Page 111 Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 The device goes offline and a pop-up window opens. Click the OK button. Physically disconnect the USB device. Share a Storage Device Attached to the Router...

  • Page 112: Chapter 7 Manage Dynamic Dns And Access Storage Devices Through The

    Manage Dynamic DNS and Access Storage Devices Through the Internet With Dynamic DNS, you can use the Internet and a personal domain name to access a USB storage device that is attached to a USB port on the router when you are not home. If you know the IP address of the router (and the IP address did not change), you can also access the USB storage device by using the IP address.

  • Page 113: Your Personal Ftp Server

    With your customized free URL, you can use FTP to access your network when you are not home through Dynamic DNS. To set up your FTP server, you must register for a NETGEAR Dynamic DNS (DDNS) service account and specify the account settings.

  • Page 114: Set Up A New Dynamic Dns Account

    120. Set Up a New Dynamic DNS Account NETGEAR offers you the opportunity to set up and register for a free Dynamic DNS account. To set up Dynamic DNS and register for a free NETGEAR account: Launch a web browser from a computer or WiFi device that is connected to the network.

  • Page 115: Specify A Dns Account That You Already Created

    Follow the onscreen instructions to register for your NETGEAR Dynamic DNS service. Specify a DNS Account That You Already Created If you already created a Dynamic DNS account with NETGEAR, No-IP, or Dyn, you can set up the router to use your account.
  • Page 116 Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 A login window opens. Enter the router user name and password. The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC Home page displays.

  • Page 117: Change The Dynamic Dns Settings

    • For a No-IP or Dyn account, in the User Name field, enter the user name for your account. • For a NETGEAR account, in the Email field, enter the email address for your account. In the Password (6~32 characters) field, enter the password for your DDNS account.

  • Page 118: Access Storage Devices Through The Internet

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 The BASIC Home page displays. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > Dynamic DNS. The Dynamic DNS page displays. Change your DDNS account settings as necessary. Click the Apply button. Your settings are saved.
  • Page 119 Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC Home page displays. Select ADVANCED > USB Functions> ReadySHARE Storage. The previous figure shows a USB device attached to the router.

  • Page 120: Use Ftp To Access Storage Devices Through The Internet

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 c. In the Read Access menu, select admin. The default setting is All - no password. d. In the Write Access menu, select admin. The default setting is All - no password. e. Click the Apply button.

  • Page 121: Remotely Access A Usb Device Using Readycloud

    Download or upload the file. Remotely Access a USB Device Using ReadyCLOUD NETGEAR ReadyCLOUD for routers lets you remotely access files stored on a USB storage device that is connected to the router. Before you can use ReadyCLOUD, you must create a ReadyCLOUD account and register your router.

  • Page 122: Register Your Router With Readycloud

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 Complete the fields to set up your account, and click the Create button. You are now ready to register your router with your ReadyCLOUD account. Register Your Router With ReadyCLOUD After you create a ReadyCLOUD account, you must register your router with your ReadyCLOUD account...
  • Page 123 Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 The BASIC Home page displays. Select ReadySHARE. Select the ReadyCLOUD radio button. Enter your ReadyCLOUD user name and password and click the Register button. If you did not create a ReadyCLOUD account, see Create a ReadyCLOUD Account on page 121.
  • Page 124 Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 Note If the router’s Internet connection mode is set to Dial on Demand, the router automatically changes the connection mode to Always On. This change is required for ReadyCLOUD to remotely access the USB storage device.

  • Page 125: Chapter 8 Use The Router As A Media Server

    Use the Router as a Media Server The router comes set up to work as a ReadyDLNA media server. You can set up the router to play music from iTunes Server and media from TiVo. This chapter contains the following sections: •...

  • Page 126: Specify Readydlna Media Server Settings

    Specify ReadyDLNA Media Server Settings By default, the router acts as a ReadyDLNA media server, which lets you view movies and photos on DLNA/UPnP AV-compliant media players, such as Xbox360, Playstation, and NETGEAR media players. To specify media server settings: Launch a web browser from a computer or WiFi device that is connected to the network.

  • Page 127: Play Music From A Storage Device With Itunes Server

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 Your settings are saved. Play Music From a Storage Device With iTunes Server iTunes Server lets you play music with your Windows or Mac iTunes app from a storage device that is connected to the router. You can also use the Apple Remote app from an iPhone or iPad to play music on any AirPlay devices, such as Apple TV or AirPlay-supported receivers.

  • Page 128: Play Media From A Usb Device On Tivo

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 A login window opens. c. Enter the router user name and password. The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC Home page displays.

  • Page 129: Set Up The Router To Work With Tivo

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 • Video. See and play MPEG1, and MPEG2 files. • Music. See and play MP3 files. • Pictures. View images in .JPG format. You can use the TiVo (Series 2 and up) Home Media Option to play photos and music on your Windows or Mac computer in your TiVo user interface.

  • Page 130: Play Music Or View Photos

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 Go to the bottom of the list and select the R6900. Play Music or View Photos To play music or view photos: On the TiVo, select TiVo Central > Music, Photos, & Showcases.

  • Page 131: Chapter 9 Share A Usb Printer

    Use the Shared Printer on page 134 • View or Change the Status of a Printer on page 135 • Use the Scan Feature of a Multifunction USB Printer on page 136 • Manage the NETGEAR USB Control Center Settings on page 137...

  • Page 132: Chapter 9 Share A Usb Printer

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 Install the Printer Driver and Cable the Printer Some USB printer manufacturers (for example, HP and Lexmark) request that you do not connect the USB cable until the installation software prompts you to do so.

  • Page 133: Install The Readyshare Printer Utility

    Install the ReadySHARE Printer Utility You must install the ReadySHARE Printer utility on each computer that will share the printer. After you install it, the utility displays as NETGEAR USB Control Center on your computer. To install the utility: If necessary, unzip the ReadySHARE Printer utility setup file.

  • Page 134: Use The Shared Printer

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 Some firewall software, such as Comodo, blocks NETGEAR USB Control Center from accessing the USB printer. If you do not see the USB printer displayed onscreen, you can disable the firewall temporarily to allow the utility to work.

  • Page 135: Print And Release The Printer

    If another computer is already connected to the printer, your print job goes into a queue to wait to be printed. If your document does not print, use the NETGEAR USB Control Center to check the status. View or Change the Status of a Printer on page 135.

  • Page 136: Use The Scan Feature Of A Multifunction Usb Printer

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 The printer status changes to Manually connected by Mycomputer. Now only your computer can use the printer. b. To allow the printer to be shared, click the Disconnect button. The printer is released from the connection and the status changes to Available.

  • Page 137: Manage The Netgear Usb Control Center Settings

    The scanner page displays so that you can use the USB printer for scanning. Manage the NETGEAR USB Control Center Settings You can stop the NETGEAR USB Control Center from starting automatically when you log in to Windows. You can also change the language and specify the time-out to release the printer connection.

  • Page 138: Change The Netgear Usb Control Center Language

    The Control Center - Configuration page displays. From the Language menu, select a language. Click the OK button. The next time the NETGEAR USB Control Center starts, the language changes. Specify the Time-Out To specify the time-out: Click the NETGEAR USB Control Center icon The main page displays.
  • Page 139 Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 The Control Center - Configuration page displays. In the Timeout field, type the number of minutes. The time-out is the number of minutes that a computer holds its connection to the printer when the connection is not being used.

  • Page 140: Manage The Wan Security Settings

    Manage the WAN and LAN Network Settings This chapter describes how you can manage the WAN and LAN network settings of the router. The chapter includes the following sections: • Manage the WAN Security Settings on page 140 • Set Up a Default DMZ Server on page 141 •...

  • Page 141: Set Up A Default Dmz Server

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 Manage the WAN Security Settings The WAN security settings include port scan protection and denial of service (DoS) protection, which can protect your LAN against attacks such as Syn flood, Smurf Attack, Ping of Death, and many others. By default, DoS protection is enabled and a port scan is rejected.

  • Page 142: Manage Igmp Proxying

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 The router usually detects and discards incoming traffic from the Internet that is not a response to one of your local computers or a service or application for which you set up a port forwarding or port triggering rule.

  • Page 143: Manage Nat Filtering

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 The WAN Setup page displays. Clear the Disable IGMP Proxying check box. By default, the Disable IGMP Proxying check box is selected and IGMP proxying is disabled. Click the Apply button. Your settings are saved.

  • Page 144: Manage The Sip Application-Level Gateway

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 Your settings are saved. Manage the SIP Application-Level Gateway The application-level gateway (ALG) for the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) is enabled by default for enhanced address and port translation. However, some types of VoIP and video traffic might not work well when the SIP ALG is enabled.

  • Page 145: Manage The Router Information Protocol Settings

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 To change the LAN IP address settings: Launch a web browser from a computer or WiFi device that is connected to the network. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. Enter the router user name and password.

  • Page 146: Manage The Dhcp Server Address Pool

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 To manage the RIP settings: Launch a web browser from a computer or WiFi device that is connected to the network. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. Enter the router user name and password.
  • Page 147 Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 • An IP address from the range that you define • Subnet mask • Gateway IP address (the router’s LAN IP address) • DNS server IP address (the router’s LAN IP address) To specify the pool of IP addresses that the router assigns: Launch a web browser from a computer or WiFi device that is connected to the network.

  • Page 148: Manage Reserved Lan Ip Addresses

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 This IP address must be in the same subnet as the router. By default, the starting IP address is 192.168.1.2. • In the Ending IP Address field, enter the number at the end of the range of IP addresses.

  • Page 149: Change A Reserved Ip Address

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 The reserved address is not assigned until the next time the computer or device contacts the router’s DHCP server. Reboot the computer or device, or access its IP configuration and force a DHCP release and renew.

  • Page 150: Disable The Built-In Dhcp Server

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC Home page displays. Select ADVANCED > Setup > LAN Setup. The LAN Setup page displays.

  • Page 151: Change The Router's Device Name

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 Your settings are saved. Change the Router’s Device Name The router’s device name is R6900. This device name displays in a file manager when you browse your network. To change the router’s device name: Launch a web browser from a computer or WiFi device that is connected to the network.

  • Page 152: Set Up A Static Route

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 In this case, you must define a static route, instructing your router that 134.177.0.0 is accessed through the ISDN router at 192.168.1.100. Here is an example: • Through the destination IP address and IP subnet mask, specify that this static route applies to all 134.177.x.x addresses.

  • Page 153: Change A Static Route

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 A private static route is not reported in RIP. To prevent the route from becoming active after you click the Apply button, clear the Active check box. In some situations, you might want to set up a static route but keep it disabled until a later time. By default, the Active check box is selected and a route becomes active after you click the Apply button.

  • Page 154: Remove A Static Route

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 The BASIC Home page displays. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > Static Routes. The Static Routes page displays. In the Static Routes table, select the radio button to the left of the route.

  • Page 155: Set Up A Bridge For A Port Group

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 to the ISP’s network directly, you can enable the bridge between the device and the router’s Internet port or add new VLAN tag groups to the bridge. Note If your ISP provides directions on how to set up a bridge for IPTV and Internet service, follow those directions.

  • Page 156: Set Up A Bridge For A Vlan Tag Group

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 Select a Wired Ports check box or a Wireless check box. • If your device is connected to an Ethernet port on the router, select the Wired Ports check box that corresponds to the Ethernet port on the router to which the device is connected.
  • Page 157 Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 To add a VLAN tag group and enable the bridge: Launch a web browser from a computer or WiFi device that is connected to the network. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. Enter the router user name and password.
  • Page 158 Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 Specify the settings as described in the following table. Field Description Name Enter a name for the VLAN tag group. The name can be up to 10 characters. VLAN ID Enter a value from 1 to 4094.

  • Page 159: Use Wps To Add A Device To The Wifi Network

    Manage the WiFi Network Settings This chapter describes how you can manage the WiFi network settings of the router. The chapter includes the following sections: • Use WPS to Add a Device to the WiFi Network on page 159 • Specify Basic WiFi Settings on page 162 •...

  • Page 160: Use Wps With The Push Button Method

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 Use WPS to Add a Device to the WiFi Network WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) lets you connect a computer or WiFi device to the router’s network without entering the WiFi network passphrase or key. Instead, you use a WPS button or enter a PIN to connect.

  • Page 161: Use Wps With The Pin Method

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 By default, the Push Button (recommended) radio button is selected. Either click the button onscreen or press the WPS button on the right side panel of the router. For two minutes, the router attempts to find the WiFi device (that is, the client) that you want to join the router’s main WiFi network.

  • Page 162: Specify Basic Wifi Settings

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 The BASIC Home page displays. Select ADVANCED > WPS Wizard. The page displays a description of the WPS method. Click the Next button. The Add WPS Client page adjusts. The Push Button (recommended) radio button is selected by default.
  • Page 163 Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 Note The preset SSID and password are uniquely generated for every device to protect and maximize your WiFi security. We recommend that you do not change your preset security settings. If you change your preset security settings, make a note of the new settings and store it in a safe place where you can easily find it.
  • Page 164 Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 You can specify the settings for the 2.4 GHz band and for the 5 GHz band. Your router might display information that is different from this example. From the Region menu, select your region.

  • Page 165: Change The Wifi Mbps Settings

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 When you use multiple access points, it is better if adjacent access points use different channels to reduce interference. The recommended channel spacing between adjacent access points is four channels (for example, use Channels 1 and 5, or 6 and 10).

  • Page 166: Change The Wifi Password Or Security Level

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 Your router might display information that is different from this example. For the 2.4 GHz WiFi band, in the Wireless Network (2.4GHz b/g/n) section, select a setting from the Mode menu. Up to 600 Mbps is the default setting, which allows 802.11n, 802.11g, and 802.11b WiFi devices to join the network.

  • Page 167: Set Up A Guest Wifi Network

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 Note If the WiFi Mbps setting is Up to 54 Mbps for the 2.4 GHz radio band (see Change the WiFi Mbps Settings on page 165), the WEP legacy security option is also available.
  • Page 168 Scroll to the section of the page for the guest WiFi network that you want to set up. The default guest WiFi network names (SSIDs) are as follows: • NETGEAR-Guest is for the 2.4 GHz WiFi band. • NETGEAR-5G-Guest is for the 5 GHz WiFi band.

  • Page 169: Specify How The Router Manages Wifi Clients

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 The WPA2 options use the newest standard for the strongest security. WPA2 is the default setting. Note If the WiFi Mbps setting is Up to 54 Mbps for the 2.4 GHz radio band of the main...

  • Page 170: Disable Implicit Beamforming

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 If you connected over WiFi to the network, you are disconnected from the network and must reconnect. Disable Implicit Beamforming Implicit beamforming contrasts with explicit beamforming, which means that your router actively tracks clients and directs power to the router antenna closest to the client.

  • Page 171: Use The Wifi On/Off Button

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 Use the WiFi On/Off Button To turn the WiFi radios off and on with the WiFi On/Off button: • Press the WiFi On/Off button on the top of the router for two seconds.

  • Page 172: Set Up A Wifi Schedule

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 Your router might display information that is different from this example. In the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz sections, select or clear the Enable Wireless Router Radio check boxes. Clearing these check boxes turns off the WiFi feature of the router for each band.

  • Page 173: Manage The Wps Settings

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC Home page displays. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > Wireless Settings. The Wireless Settings page displays.
  • Page 174 Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 A login window opens. Enter the router user name and password. The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC Home page displays.

  • Page 175: Use The Router As A Wifi Access Point

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 Warning If you clear a Keep Existing Wireless Settings check box and use WPS to add a computer or WiFi device to the router’s WiFi network, the associated SSID and passphrase are automatically generated and other WiFi devices that are already connected to the router’s WiFi network might be disconnected.

  • Page 176: Use The Router In Wifi Bridge Mode

    Note To avoid interference with other routers or gateways on your network, NETGEAR recommends that you use different WiFi settings on each router. You can also turn off the WiFi radio on the other router or gateway and use the router only for WiFi client access.
  • Page 177 Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 Figure 13. Router in bridge mode with an 802.11ac WiFi connection Installing a router as a bridge offers the following benefits: • You can take advantage of gigabit WiFi speeds on current devices.
  • Page 178 Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 A login window opens. Enter the router user name and password. The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC Home page displays.

  • Page 179: Set Up A Wifi Distribution System

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 a. From the Choose a Wireless Network menu, select the WiFi network frequency (2.4 GHz or 5 GHz). For 802.11ac mode, select 5 GHz. b. In the Name (SSID) field, enter the WiFi network name (SSID).

  • Page 180: Set Up The Base Station

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 For you to use the WiFi repeating function, WPA2-PSK [AES], WPA-PSK [TKIP] + WPA2-PSK [AES], or WPA/WPA2 Enterprise security for your router cannot be enabled and the router cannot use the auto channel feature. If you want to use security, the only type of security that is supported with the WiFi repeating function is WEP legacy security, which requires the 2.4 GHz radio band to function in the Up...
  • Page 181 Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 The Wireless Setup page displays. Make sure that the WiFi settings match the requirements for the WiFi repeating function. For you to use the WiFi repeating function, the WiFi security option must be set to None and the router cannot use the auto channel feature.

  • Page 182: Set Up The Repeater

    Use a wired Ethernet connection to set up the repeater unit to avoid conflicts with the WiFi connection to the base station. If you are using the router as the base station with a non-NETGEAR router as the repeater, you might need to change more configuration settings. In particular, disable the DHCP server function on the access point that is the repeater.
  • Page 183 Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 The Wireless Repeating Function page displays. Select either the Enable Wireless Repeating Function (2.4GHz b/g/n) check box or the Enable Wireless Repeating Function (5GHz a/n/ac) check box. Maker sure that the Wireless Repeater radio button is selected.
  • Page 184 Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 A computer on any WiFi or wired LAN segment of the repeater can connect to the Internet or share files and printers with any other computer or server connected to the other access point that functions as the base station.
  • Page 185 Manage the Router and Monitor the Traffic This chapter describes how you can manage the settings for administering and maintaining your router and monitor the network. The chapter includes the following sections: • Update the Firmware of the Router on page 186 •...

  • Page 186: Update The Firmware Of The Router

    The router firmware is stored in flash memory. You can check to see if new firmware is available and update the router to the new firmware. You can also visit the NETGEAR support website, download the firmware manually, and update the router to the new firmware.

  • Page 187: Manually Upload New Firmware And Update The Router

    Locate and select the firmware file on your computer: a. Click the Browse button. b. Navigate to the firmware file. The file ends in .chk. An example of a firmware file name is R6900-V1.0.0.2_1.0.2.chk. c. Select the firmware file. Click the Upload button.

  • Page 188: Change The Admin Password

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 Warning To avoid the risk of corrupting the firmware, do not interrupt the upload. For example, do not close the browser, click a link, or load a new page. Do not turn off the router. Wait until the router finishes restarting and the Power LED turns solid white.

  • Page 189: Set Up Password Recovery

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 The BASIC Home page displays. Select ADVANCED > Administration > Set Password. Type the old password, and type the new password twice. To be able to recover the password, select the Enable Password Recovery check box.

  • Page 190: Recover The Admin Password

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 Your settings are saved. Recover the admin Password To recover your password: In the address field of your browser, enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. Click the Cancel button. If password recovery is enabled, you are prompted to enter the serial number of the router.

  • Page 191: Restore The Settings

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC Home page displays. Select ADVANCED > Administration > Backup Settings. The Backup Settings page displays.

  • Page 192: Disable Led Blinking Or Turn Off Leds

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 Warning To avoid the risk of corrupting the firmware, do not interrupt the restoration. For example, do not close the browser, click a link, or load a new page. Do not turn off the router. Wait until the router finishes restarting and the Power LED turns solid white.

  • Page 193: Return The Router To Its Factory Default Settings

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 Your settings are saved. Return the Router to Its Factory Default Settings Under some circumstances (for example, if you lost track of the changes that you made to the router settings or you move the router to a different network), you might want to erase the configuration and reset it to factory default settings.

  • Page 194: Erase The Settings

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 browser, click a link, or load a new page. Do not turn off the router. Wait until the router finishes restarting and the Power LED turns solid white. Erase the Settings Note This process erases all settings that you configured in the router.

  • Page 195: View Information About The Router And The Internet And Wifi Settings

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 View Information About the Router and the Internet and WiFi Settings You can view router information, the Internet port status, and WiFi settings. To view information about the router and the Internet, modem, and WiFi settings: Launch a web browser from a computer or WiFi device that is connected to the network.

  • Page 196: Display Internet Port Statistics

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 The information onscreen uses the following color coding: • A green flag indicates that the Internet connection is fine and no problems exist. For a WiFi network, the network is enabled and secured.

  • Page 197: Check The Internet Connection Status

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 • System Up Time. The time elapsed since the router was last restarted. • Port. The statistics for the WAN (Internet) and LAN (Ethernet) ports. For each port, the pop-up window displays the following information: •...

  • Page 198: Manage The Activity Log

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 The following information displays: • IP Address. The IP address that is assigned to the router. • Subnet Mask. The subnet mask that is assigned to the router. • Default Gateway. The IP address for the default gateway that the router communicates with.
  • Page 199 Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 A login window opens. Enter the router user name and password. The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC Home page displays.

  • Page 200: Specify Which Activities Are Logged

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 The router emails the logs to the address that you specified (see Set Up Security Event Email Notifications on page 90). Specify Which Activities Are Logged You can specify which activities are logged. These activities display in the log and are forwarded to the syslog server if you enabled the syslog server function.

  • Page 201: Monitor And Meter Internet Traffic

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 The BASIC Home page displays. Select Attached Devices. The Attached Devices page displays devices that are connected to the router through Ethernet (using a wired connection) or connected to a WiFi band in the WiFi network.

  • Page 202: View The Traffic Statistics And Traffic Status

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 Select the Enable Traffic Meter check box. By default, no traffic limit is specified and the traffic volume is not controlled. In the Traffic Counter section, set the traffic counter to begin at a specific time and date.

  • Page 203: Restrict Internet Traffic By Volume

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC Home page displays. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > Traffic Meter. The Traffic Meter page displays.
  • Page 204 Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 A login window opens. Enter the router user name and password. The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC Home page displays.

  • Page 205: Restrict Internet Traffic By Connection Time

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 • Turn the Internet LED to flashing white/amber. This setting is optional. When the traffic limit is reached, the Internet LED blinks alternating white and amber. • Disconnect and disable the Internet connection. This setting is optional. When the traffic limit is reached, the Internet connection is disconnected and disabled.
  • Page 206 Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 Select the Enable Traffic Meter check box. Select the Connection time control radio button. Note The router must be connected to the Internet for you to be able to select the Connection time control radio button.

  • Page 207: Unblock The Traffic Meter After The Traffic Limit Is Reached

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 • Disconnect and disable the Internet connection. This setting is optional. When the traffic limit is reached, the Internet connection is disconnected and disabled. Click the Apply button. Your settings are saved and the router restarts.
  • Page 208 Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 Note Be sure to change the password for the user name admin to a secure password. The ideal password contains no dictionary words from any language and contains uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. It can be up to 30 characters.

  • Page 209: Remotely Access Your Router Using The Genie App

    For more information about how to update your router’s firmware, see Update the Firmware of the Router on page 186. To download the latest genie app for your computer or mobile device, visit netgear.com/genie. For more information about how to set up remote access using the genie app, visit kb.netgear.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/26253/.

  • Page 210: Chapter 13 Use Vpn To Access Your Network

    Use VPN to Access Your Network You can use OpenVPN software to remotely access your router using virtual private networking (VPN). This chapter explains how to set up and use VPN access. The chapter includes the following sections: • Set Up a VPN Connection on page 211 •...

  • Page 211: Set Up A Vpn Connection

    VPN uses DDNS or a static IP address to connect with your router. To use a DDNS service, register for an account with a host name (sometimes called a domain name). You use the host name to access your network. The router supports these accounts: NETGEAR, No-IP, and Dyn.

  • Page 212: Install Openvpn Software On Your Computer

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 A login window opens. Enter the router user name and password. The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC Home page displays.
  • Page 213 Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 Click the Next button. Read the License Agreement and click the I Agree button. Leave the check boxes selected as shown in the previous figure, and click the Next button. To specify the destination folder, click the Browse button, select a destination folder, and click the Next button.

  • Page 214: Use A Vpn Tunnel

    In the local area connection list, find the local area connection with the device name TAP-Windows Adapter. c. Select the local area connection and change its name (not its device name) to NETGEAR-VPN. If you do not change the VPN interface name, the VPN tunnel connection will fail.
  • Page 215 Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 To open a VPN tunnel: Launch the OpenVPN application with administrator privileges. The OpenVPN icon displays in the Windows taskbar. You can create a shortcut to the VPN program, then use the shortcut to access the settings and select the run as administrator check box.

  • Page 216: Use Vpn To Access The Router's Usb Device And Media

    If the icons do not display, click the Refresh button to update the page. If the local LAN and the remote LAN are using the same IP scheme, the remote ReadyDLNA: R6900 icon does not display in the Media Devices section and the R6900 (Gateway) icon does not display in the Network Infrastructure section.

  • Page 217: Set Up Vpn Client Internet Access In The Router

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 Set Up VPN Client Internet Access in the Router By default, the router is set up to allow VPN connections only to your home network, but you can change the setting to allow Internet access. Accessing the Internet remotely through a VPN might be slower than accessing the Internet directly.

  • Page 218: Block Vpn Client Internet Access In The Router

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 For a client device with Windows 64-bit system, the VPN client is installed at C:\Program files\OpenVPN\config\ by default. Block VPN Client Internet Access in the Router By default, the router is set up to allow VPN connections only to your home network, not to the Internet service for your home network.

  • Page 219: Chapter 14 Manage Port Forwarding And Port Triggering

    Manage Port Forwarding and Port Triggering You can use port forwarding and port triggering to set up rules for Internet traffic for services and applications. You need networking knowledge to set up these features. This chapter includes the following sections: •...

  • Page 220: Forward Incoming Traffic For A Default Service Or Application

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 Manage Port Forwarding to a Local Server for Services and Applications If a server is part of your network, you can allow certain types of incoming traffic to reach the server. For example, you might want to make a local web server, FTP server, or game server visible and available to the Internet.

  • Page 221: Add A Port Forwarding Rule With A Custom Service Or Application

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 Make sure that the Port Forwarding radio button is selected. From the Service Name menu, select the service or application. If the service or application that you want to add is not in the list, create a port forwarding rule with a...
  • Page 222 Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC Home page displays. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > Port Forwarding / Port Triggering.

  • Page 223: Change A Port Forwarding Rule

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 Field Description • Leave the Use the same port range for Internal port check box selected. • In the Internal Starting Port field, enter the starting port number for the service or application. The Internal Ending Port field is populated automatically.

  • Page 224: Remove A Port Forwarding Rule

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 The previous figure shows two custom port forwarding rules. Make sure that the Port Forwarding radio button is selected. In the table, select the radio button next to the service or application name.

  • Page 225: Application Example: Make A Local Web Server Public

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 The BASIC Home page displays. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > Port Forwarding / Port Triggering. The previous figure shows two custom port forwarding rules. Make sure that the Port Forwarding radio button is selected.

  • Page 226: How The Router Implements The Port Forwarding Rule

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 Dynamic DNS makes it much easier to access a server from the Internet because you can enter the name in the web browser. Otherwise, you must know the IP address that the ISP assigned, which typically changes.

  • Page 227: Add A Port Triggering Rule

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 Add a Port Triggering Rule The router does not provide default services and applications for port triggering rules. You must define a custom service or application for each port triggering rule. To add a port triggering rule: Launch a web browser from a computer or WiFi device that is connected to the network.
  • Page 228 Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 Specify a new port triggering rule with a custom service or application as described in the following table. Field Description Service Service Name Enter the name of the custom service or application. Service User...

  • Page 229: Change A Port Triggering Rule

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 Field Description Ending Port Enter the end port number for the inbound connection. Click the Apply button. Your settings are saved and the rule is added to the Port Triggering Portmap Table on the Port Forwarding / Port Triggering page.

  • Page 230: Remove A Port Triggering Rule

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 The previous figure shows two port triggering rules. In the Port Triggering Portmap Table, select the radio button next to the service or application name. Click the Edit Service button. The Port Triggering - Services page displays.

  • Page 231: Specify The Time-Out For Port Triggering

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 The BASIC Home page displays. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > Port Forwarding / Port Triggering. The Port Forwarding / Port Triggering page displays. Select the Port Triggering radio button. The previous figure shows two port triggering rules.

  • Page 232: Disable Port Triggering

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 The BASIC Home page displays. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > Port Forwarding / Port Triggering. The Port Forwarding / Port Triggering page displays. Select the Port Triggering radio button. The port triggering settings display.

  • Page 233: Application Example: Port Triggering For Internet Relay Chat

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 Your settings are saved. Application Example: Port Triggering for Internet Relay Chat Some application servers, such as FTP and IRC servers, send replies to multiple port numbers. Using port triggering, you can tell the router to open more incoming ports when a particular outgoing port starts a session.

  • Page 234: Reboot The Router From Its Web Page

    Troubleshooting This chapter provides information to help you diagnose and solve problems you might experience with your router. If you do not find the solution here, check the NETGEAR support site at support.netgear.com for product and contact information. The chapter contains the following sections: •...

  • Page 235: Quick Tips

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 Reboot the Router From Its Web Page You or NETGEAR technical support can reboot the router from its web page, either locally or remotely, for example, when the router seems to be unstable or is not operating normally.

  • Page 236: Wifi Settings

    Make sure that the power adapter is securely connected to your router and securely connected to a working power outlet. • Make sure that you are using the power adapter that NETGEAR supplied for this product. • If the Power LED blinks slowly and continuously, the router firmware is corrupted. This can happen if a firmware upgrade is interrupted, or if the router detects a problem with the firmware.

  • Page 237: Power Led Stays Amber

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 persists, it is likely that a hardware problem exists. For recovery instructions, or help with a hardware problem, contact technical support at netgear.com/support. Power LED Stays Amber When the router is turned on, the Power LED turns amber for up to 2 minutes and then turns white. If the LED does not turn white, this indicates a problem with the router.

  • Page 238: You Cannot Log In To The Router

    If you are attempting to set up your router as a replacement for an ADSL gateway in your network, the router cannot perform many gateway services. For example, the router cannot convert DSL or cable data into Ethernet networking information. NETGEAR does not support such a configuration. You Cannot Access the Internet If you can access your router but not the Internet, check to see if the router can obtain an IP address from your Internet service provider (ISP).
  • Page 239 Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 A login window opens. Enter the router user name and password. The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC Home page displays.

  • Page 240: Troubleshoot Pppoe

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 Tools > Internet Options, click the Connections tab, and select Never dial a connection. Other browsers provide similar options. Troubleshoot PPPoE If you are using PPPoE, try troubleshooting your Internet connection. To troubleshoot a PPPoE connection: Launch a web browser from a computer or WiFi device that is connected to the network.

  • Page 241: Changes Are Not Saved

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 By configuring the traffic meter not to block Internet access when the traffic limit is reached, you can resume Internet access. If your ISP sets a usage limit, they might charge you for the overage.

  • Page 242: Troubleshoot Your Network Using The Ping Utility

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 • Is your router too far from your computer or too close? Place your computer near the router but at least 6 feet (1.8 meters) away and see whether the signal strength improves.

  • Page 243: Test The Path From Your Computer To A Remote Device

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 Verify that the IP address for your router and your computer are correct and that the addresses are on the same subnet. Test the Path From Your Computer to a Remote Device To test the path from your computer to a remote device: From the Windows toolbar, click the Start button and select Run.

  • Page 244: Chapter 16 Supplemental Information

    Supplemental Information This appendix includes technical information about your router. The appendix covers the following topics: • Factory Settings on page 245 • Technical Specifications on page 248...

  • Page 245: Factory Settings

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 Factory Settings You can reset the router to the factory default settings that are shown in the following table. For more information about resetting the router to its factory settings, see Return the Router to Its Factory Default Settings on page 193.
  • Page 246 Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 Feature Default Behavior • North America: Pacific Standard Time Time zone • Europe: GMT • Other continents: Varies by region Time adjusted for daylight saving time Disabled Firewall and WAN security Inbound (communications coming in from the...
  • Page 247 Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 Feature Default Behavior Transmission speed Auto Note Throughput can vary. Network conditions and environmental factors, including volume of network traffic, building materials and construction, and network overhead, affect the data throughput rate. •...

  • Page 248: Technical Specifications

    Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 Feature Default Behavior Router’s PIN Enabled; see the router’s web page (select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > Wireless Settings) Keep Existing Wireless Settings Enabled Technical Specifications Table 11. R6900 router specifications Feature Description...
  • Page 249 Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 Feature Description Radio data rates Auto-rate sensing • IEEE 802.11 b/g/n 2.4 GHz Data encoding standards • IEEE 802.11 a/n/ac 5.0 GHz Maximum computers per WiFi Limited by the amount of WiFi network traffic generated by each node network (typically 50–70 nodes)

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