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Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router User Manual Model R7000P July 2017 202-11702-02 350 E. Plumeria Drive San Jose, CA 95134...
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For the current EU Declaration of Conformity, visit http://kb.netgear.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/11621. Compliance For regulatory compliance information, visit http://www.netgear.com/about/regulatory. See the regulatory compliance document before connecting the power supply. Trademarks NETGEAR, Inc., NETGEAR and the NETGEAR Logo are trademarks of NETGEAR, Inc. Any non_NETGEAR trademarks are used for reference purposes only.
Use a Web Browser to Access the Router............18 Automatic Internet Setup.................18 Log In to the Router..................20 Install the Router With the NETGEAR Up App............20 Change the Language..................20 Access the Router With the NETGEAR genie App..........21 Chapter 3 Specify Your Internet Settings Use the Internet Setup Wizard................23...
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Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router Chapter 4 Control Access to the Internet Set Up Parental Controls..................39 Enable Circle With Disney................39 Enable Circle With Disney On Your Router............39 Enable Circle With Disney Using the Circle App..........40 Enable Standard Parental Controls..............41 Allow or Block Access to Your Network..............41 Use Keywords to Block Internet Sites..............42 Delete Keywords From the Blocked List...............43 Avoid Blocking on a Trusted Computer..............44...
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Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router Set Up a Static Route..................70 Edit a Static Route..................71 Delete a Static Route..................72 Chapter 6 Optimize Performance Use Dynamic QoS to Optimize Internet Traffic Management.......74 Enable Dynamic QoS..................74 Enable or Disable the Automatic QoS Database Update........74 Improve Network Connections With Universal Plug and Play......75 Wi-Fi Multimedia Quality of Service..............76 Enable or Disable Smart Connect................77...
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View or Change the Status of a Printer..............122 Use the Scan Feature of a Multifunction USB Printer........122 Change NETGEAR USB Control Center Settings..........123 Turn Off Automatic Startup for NETGEAR USB Control Center....123 Change the Language for the NETGEAR USB Control Center....123 Specify the USB Control Center Time-Out............123 Chapter 12 Use VPN to Access Your Network Set Up a VPN Connection..................126...
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Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router Install OpenVPN Software on Your Windows Computer........127 Install OpenVPN Software on Your Mac Computer........130 Install OpenVPN Software on an iOS Device..........130 Install OpenVPN Software on an Android Device.........131 Use a VPN Tunnel on Your Windows Computer..........132 Use VPN to Access the Router’s USB Device and Media........133 Use VPN to Access Your Internet Service at Home...........134 Set Up VPN Client Internet Access in the Router.........134...
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Cable Your Router on page 14 • Position Your Router on page 13 • Disable or Enable LED Blinking or Turn Off LEDs on page 14 For more information about the topics covered in this manual, visit the support website at support.netgear.com.
Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router Unpack Your Router Your package contains the Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router, the power adapter, and a yellow Ethernet cable. Figure 1. Package contents Attach the Antennas The router comes with three antennas. To attach the antennas: Remove the antenna caps from the antenna posts on the router.
Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router Front View The router has status LEDs on top and a USB 3.0 port on the front Figure 2. Front view LED Descriptions The following tables describe the LEDs and buttons on the top of the router. Table 1.
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Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router Table 1. LED descriptions (Continued) Description 2.4 GHz WiFi • Solid white. The 2.4 GHz WiFi radio is operating. • Blinking. The router is sending or receiving WiFi traffic. • Off. The 2.4 GHz WiFi radio is off. 5 GHz WiFi •...
Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router Table 1. LED descriptions (Continued) Description WiFi On/Off button with LED Pressing this button for two seconds turns the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz WiFi radios on and off. If this LED is lit, the WiFi radios are on. If this LED is off, the WiFi radios are turned off and you cannot use WiFi to connect to the router.
Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router • Power On/Off button. Press the Power On/Off button to provide power to the router. • DC power connector. Connect the power adapter that came in the product package to the DC power connector. Position Your Router The router lets you access your network anywhere within the operating range of your WiFi network.
Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router Cable Your Router Power on your router and connect it to a modem. Figure 4. Cable your router To cable your router: Unplug your modem’s power, leaving the modem connected to the wall jack for your Internet service. If your modem uses a battery backup, remove the battery.
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Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router • Enable blinking on Internet LED, LAN LED, Wireless LED and USB LED when data traffic is detected. Allows standard LED behavior. This feature is selected by default. • Disable blinking on Internet LED, LAN LED, Wireless LED and USB LED when data traffic is detected.
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Types of Logins on page 18 • Use a Web Browser to Access the Router on page 18 • Install the Router With the NETGEAR Up App on page 20 • Change the Language on page 20 • Access the Router With the NETGEAR genie App...
Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router Connect to the Network 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 so that it uses Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP). Wired Connection You can connect your computer to the router using an Ethernet cable and join the router’s local area network (LAN).
Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router Label The label on the router shows the login information, WiFi network name and network key (password), MAC address, and serial number. Figure 5. Product label Types of Logins Separate types of logins serve different purposes. It is important that you understand the difference so that you know which login to use when.
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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.
Install the Router With the NETGEAR Up App With the NETGEAR Up app, you can easily install your router. The app automatically updates the router to the latest firmware, allows you to personalize your WiFi network, and even helps register your router with NETGEAR.
When prompted, click the OK button to confirm this change. The page refreshes with the language that you selected. Access the Router With the NETGEAR genie App The genie app is the easy dashboard for managing, monitoring, and repairing your home network. The genie app can help you with the following: •...
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Specify Your Internet Settings Usually, the quickest way to set up the router to use your Internet connection is to allow the 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.
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.
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 147. Specify an Internet Connection That Uses a Login To view or change the basic Internet setup: Launch a web browser from a WiFi-enabled computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
Use This MAC Address. Enter the MAC address that you want to use. 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 147. Specify IPv6 Internet Connections You can set up an IPv6 Internet connection if the router does not detect it automatically.
Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router To set up an IPv6 Internet connection: 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. The user name is admin.
Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router Use Auto Config for an IPv6 Internet Connection To set up an IPv6 Internet connection through autoconfiguration: Launch a web browser from a WiFi-enabled computer or mobile device that is connected to the network. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens.
Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router If you do not specify an ID here, the router generates one automatically from its MAC address. Select an IPv6 Filtering radio button: • Secured. In secured mode, which is the default mode, the router inspects both TCP and UDP packets. •...
Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router If you do not specify an ID here, the router generates one automatically from its MAC address. Select an IPv6 Filtering radio button: • Secured. In secured mode, which is the default mode, the router inspects both TCP and UDP packets. •...
Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router (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. If you do not specify an ID here, the router generates one automatically from its MAC address. Select an IPv6 Filtering radio button: •...
Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router • 6rd (IPv6 Rapid Development) Configuration. The router detects the service provider’s IPv4 network and attempts to establish an IPv6 6rd tunnel connection. If the IPv4 network returns 6rd parameters to the router, the page adjusts to display the correct settings in this section. •...
Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router The IPv6 page displays. From the Internet Connection Type menu, select Pass Through. The page adjusts, but no additional fields display. Click the Apply button. Your settings are saved. Set Up an IPv6 Fixed Internet Connection To set up a fixed IPv6 Internet connection: Launch a web browser from a WiFi-enabled computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router This setting specifies how the router assigns IPv6 addresses to the devices on your home network (the LAN). In the IPv6 Address/Prefix Length fields, specify the static IPv6 address and prefix length of the router’s LAN interface.
Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router You can type the domain name of your IPv6 ISP. Do not enter the domain name for the IPv4 ISP here. For example, if your ISP’s mail server is mail.xxx.yyy.zzz, type xxx.yyy.zzz as the domain name. If your ISP provided a domain name, type it in this field.
Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router 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.
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“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. Leave the MTU unchanged unless one of these situations occurs: •...
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Table 2. 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. 1472 Maximum size to use for pinging.
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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 39 • Allow or Block Access to Your Network on page 41 •...
OpenDNS parental control that let's you to change the web filtering level for each device on the network. To set up standard parental controls, you must download the NETGEAR genie app on your mobile device.
Tap the AWESOME button. Select a subscription plan and follow the onscreen instructions to set up your preferences. Circle with Disney is enabled on your NETGEAR router. Enable Circle With Disney Using the Circle App Before enabling Circle, make sure that your router is in router mode. Your router must be in router mode to work with Circle.
Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router Enable Standard Parental Controls NETGEAR's standard parental controls is an OpenDNS parental control that let's you to change the web filtering level for each device on the network. To set up standard parental controls, you must download the NETGEAR genie app on your mobile device.
Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router The BASIC Home page displays. Select ADVANCED > Security > Access Control. The Access Control page displays. Select the Turn on Access Control check box. You must select this check box before you can specify an access rule and use the Allow and Block buttons.
Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router The Block Sites page displays. Select a keyword blocking option: • Per Schedule.Turn on keyword blocking according to a schedule that you set. For more information, Schedule When to Block Internet Sites and Services on page 46. •...
Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router Avoid Blocking on a Trusted Computer You can exempt one trusted computer from blocking. The computer that you exempt must be assigned a fixed IP address. You can use the reserved IP address feature to specify the IP address. See Manage Reserved LAN IP Addresses on page 54.
Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router • To block the services based on a schedule, select the Per Schedule radio button. For information about how to specify the schedule, see Schedule When to Block Internet Sites and Services on page 46. Click the Add button.
Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router Click the View list of allowed devices not currently connected to the network link. The list displays. Select the check box for a device. Use the Add button, Edit button, and Remove from the list button as needed. Click the Apply button.
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Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router To set up email notifications: Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. 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.
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Network Settings The router comes ready for WiFi, Ethernet, and USB connections. You can customize the router’s network settings. We recommend that you install the router and connect it to the Internet before you change its network settings. This chapter includes the following sections: •...
Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router View or Change WAN Settings You can view or configure wide area network (WAN) settings for the Internet port. You can set up a DMZ (demilitarized zone) server, change the maximum transmit unit (MTU) size, and enable the router to respond to a ping to its WAN (Internet) port.
Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router Set Up a Default DMZ Server The default DMZ server feature is helpful when you are using some online games and videoconferencing applications that are incompatible with Network Address Translation (NAT). The router is programmed to recognize some of these applications and to work correctly with them, but other applications might not function well.
Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router 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. Select ADVANCED > Setup > LAN Setup. The LAN Setup page displays.
Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router The IP address and subnet mask identify which addresses are local to a specific device and which must be reached through a gateway or router. Change the RIP settings. Router Information Protocol (RIP) allows a router to exchange routing information with other routers. Select the RIP direction: •...
Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router Select ADVANCED > Setup > LAN Setup. The LAN Setup page displays. Make sure that the Use Router as DHCP Server check box is selected. Specify the range of IP addresses that the router assigns: In the Starting IP Address field, type the lowest number in the range.
Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router Your settings are saved. (Optional) If this service is disabled and no other DHCP server is on your network, set your computer IP addresses manually so that the computers can access the router. Manage Reserved LAN IP Addresses When you specify a reserved IP address for a computer on the LAN, that computer always receives the same IP address each time it accesses the router’s DHCP server.
Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router Edit a Reserved IP Address To edit a reserved address entry: Launch a web browser from a computer or WiFi device that is connected to the network. Type http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. Enter the router user name and password. The user name is admin.
Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router Use the WPS Wizard for WiFi Connections The WPS Wizard helps you add a WPS-enabled device to your WiFi network without typing the WiFi password. To use the WPS Wizard: Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network. Type http://www.routerlogin.net.
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Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router To specify basic WiFi settings: Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network. Type http://www.routerlogin.net. 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.
Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router • Is your computer or mobile device connected to another WiFi network in your area? Some WiFi devices automatically connect to the first open network without WiFi security that they discover. • Is your computer or mobile device trying to connect to your network with its old settings (before you changed the settings)? If so, update the WiFi network selection in your computer or mobile device to match the current settings for your network.
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.
Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router Allowing the router to broadcast its WiFi network name (SSID) makes it easier to find your network and connect to it. If you clear this check box, that creates a hidden network. Give the guest network a name. The guest network name is case-sensitive and can be up to 32 characters.You then manually configure the WiFi-enabled devices in your network to use the guest network name in addition to the main SSID.
Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > Wireless Settings. The Advanced Wireless Settings page displays. 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. Click the Apply button.
Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router To specify WPS settings: Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network. Type http://www.routerlogin.net. 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.
Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router Scroll down below the WPS Settings section and clear the Enable Implicit BEAMFORMING check box. Click the Apply button. Your settings are saved. If you connected over WiFi to the network, you are disconnected from the network and must reconnect. Manage Airtime Fairness Airtime fairness ensures that all clients receive equal time on the network.
Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router 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. Scroll down below the WPS Settings section and clear the Enable MU-MIMO check box.
Note To avoid interference with other routers or gateways in 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 R7000P router only for WiFi client access.
Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router To set up the router in bridge mode: Make a note of the WiFi settings of the other router to which this router will connect. You must know the SSID, WiFi security mode, wireless password, and operating frequency (either 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz).
Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router Note If your ISP provides directions on how to set up a bridge for IPTV and Internet service, follow those directions. Set Up a Bridge for a Port Group If the devices that are connected to the router’s Ethernet LAN port or WiFi network include an IPTV device, your ISP might require you to set up a bridge for a port group for the router’s Internet interface.
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Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router If you are subscribed to IPTV service, the router might require VLAN tags to distinguish between the Internet traffic and the IPTV traffic. A bridge with a VLAN tag group prevents packets that are sent between the IPTV device and the router’s Internet port from being processed through the router’s network address translation (NAT) service.
Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router The VLAN tag group is added. Click the Apply button. Your settings are saved. Set Up an IPTV Port to Lease an Intranet Port You can set up the router to create an Internet Protocol television (IPTV) port that can lease an IP address from your IPTV service provider.
Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router Custom Static Routes Typically, you do not need to add static routes unless you use multiple routers or multiple IP subnets on your network. As an example of when a static route is needed, consider the following case: •...
Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router So limit access to the LAN only, select the Private check box. If the Private check box is selected, the static route is not reported in RIP. Select the Active check box to make this route effective. Type the IP address of the final destination.
Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router Delete a Static Route To delete a static route: Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. Enter the router user name and password. The user name is admin.
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Optimize Performance You can set up the router to optimize performance for applications such as Internet gaming, high-definition video streaming, and VoIP communication. By default, the router uses Wi-Fi Multimedia Quality of Service (WMM QoS). This chapter contains the following sections: •...
Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router Use Dynamic QoS to Optimize Internet Traffic Management Dynamic Quality of Service (QoS) helps improve your router’s Internet traffic management capabilities through better application and device identification, bandwidth allocation, and traffic prioritization techniques. Dynamic QoS resolves traffic congestion when the Internet bandwidth is limited and different demands compete for bandwidth.
Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router To enable or disable the automatic Dynamic QoS database update: Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. Enter the router user name and password. The user name is admin.
Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router Type the advertisement period in minutes. The advertisement period specifies how often the router broadcasts its UPnP information. This value can range from 1 to 1440 minutes. The default period is 30 minutes. Shorter durations ensure that control points receive current device status at the expense of more network traffic.
Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router Clear the Enable WMM (Wi-Fi multimedia) settings (5 GHz a/n/ac) check box. Click the Apply button. Your settings are saved. Enable or Disable Smart Connect Smart Connect selects the fastest WiFi band for your device. For Smart Connect to work, the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands must use the same WiFi network name (SSID) and network key (password).
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Manage Your Network This chapter describes the router settings for administering and maintaining your router and home network. The chapter includes the following sections: • Update the Router Firmware on page 79 • Change the admin Password and Enable Password Recovery on page 80 •...
Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router Update the Router Firmware You can log in to the router and check if new firmware is available, or you can manually load a specific firmware version to your router. Check for New Firmware and Update the Router The router firmware (routing software) is stored in flash memory.
We recoommend that you connect a computer to the router using an Ethernet connection to upload the firmware. To manually upload a firmware file to your router: Download the firmware for your router from the NETGEAR Download Center, save it to your desktop, and unzip the file. Note The correct firmware file uses an .img or .chk extension.
Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router 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. To change the admin user name and enable password recovery: Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router Select the Enable Password Recovery check box. Select two security questions and provide answers to them. Click the Apply button. Your settings are saved. Recover the admin Password To recover your password: Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net in the address field.
Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router Your router's status displays. If your router is set up to lease an intranet address from your Internet service provider (ISP), the Internet Port pane displays the IP Address, Connection, and Subnet Mask intranet values in parentheses. Display Internet Port Statistics To display Internet port statistics: Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router Check the Internet Connection Status To check the Internet connection status if the router is connected to a WAN Ethernet connection: Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net in the address field.
Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router 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. Select ADVANCED > Administration > Logs. The Logs page displays the following information: •...
Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router Monitor Internet Traffic Traffic metering allows you to monitor the volume of Internet traffic that passes through the router Internet port. You can set limits for traffic volume. To monitor Internet traffic: Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router To update the Traffic Statistics section, click the Refresh button. To display more information about the data traffic on your router and to change the poll interval, click the Traffic Status button. Manage the Router Configuration File The configuration settings of the router are stored within the router in a configuration file.
Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router The Backup Settings page displays. Click the Erase button. The factory default settings are restored. The user name is admin, the password is password, and the LAN IP address is 192.168.1.1. DHCP is enabled. Restore Configuration Settings To restore configuration settings that you backed up: Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router Set Up Remote Management To set up remote management: Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net in the address field. A login window opens. Enter the router user name and password.
Router on page 79. 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, see the genie app user manual, which is available at downloadcenter.netgear.com/.
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99 • Edit a Network Folder on a USB Storage Device on page 99 • Set Up NETGEAR Downloader on page 100 • Safely Remove a USB Storage Device on page 102 For more information about ReadySHARE features, visit netgear.com/readyshare.
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 kb.netgear.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/18985/~/readyshare-usb-drives-compatibility-list. Some USB external hard drives and flash drives require you to load the drivers onto the computer before the computer can access the USB storage device.
Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router To connect a USB device: Insert your USB storage drive into a USB port on the router. The blue, USB 3.0 port on the front of the router performs faster than the USB 2.0 port on the rear panel of the router.
Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router Right-click the USB device and select Map network drive. Select the drive letter to map to the new network folder. Click the Finish button. The USB storage device is mapped to the drive letter that you specified. To connect to the USB storage device as a different user, select the Connect using different credentials check box, click the Finish button, and do the following: Type the user name and password.
By default, the USB storage device is available to all computers on your local area network (LAN). Download ReadySHARE Vault from netgear.com/readyshare and install it on each Windows computer. Launch ReadySHARE Vault. Use the dashboard or the Backup tab to set up and run your backup.
Your settings are saved. Prepare to Back Up a Large Amount of Data Before you back up a large amount of data with Time Machine, NETGEAR recommends that you follow this procedure. To prepare to back up a large amount of data: Upgrade the operating system of the Mac computer.
Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router To back up your Mac onto a USB hard disk drive: Prepare your USB device with a compatible format and partitions. For more information, see Set Up a USB Hard Drive on a Mac on page 95. If you plan to back up a large amount of data, see Prepare to Back Up a Large Amount of Data on page...
Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router 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. Select ADVANCED > USB Functions > ReadySHARE Storage. The USB Storage (Advanced Settings) page displays.
Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router Your settings are saved. Add a Network Folder on a USB Storage Device You can add network folders on a USB storage device connected to a router USB port. To add a network folder: Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
Set Up NETGEAR Downloader NETGEAR Downloader is a download agent that runs on the router. You can use it to download files onto a USB HDD that is connected to the router so that you do not need to keep the computer running.
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 > NETGEAR Downloader (BETA) > Downloader Settings. The NETGEAR Downloader Settings page displays. Make any needed changes.
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 > NETGEAR Downloader (BETA) > Downloader Settings. The NETGEAR Downloader Settings page displays. Click the Configure Email button.
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Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router 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 USB Storage (Advanced Settings) page displays. In the Available Network Folders sections, select the USB storage device.
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Use Dynamic DNS to Access USB Storage Devices Through the Internet With Dynamic DNS, you can use the Internet to access USB devices attached to the router’s USB ports when you’re not home. This chapter includes the following sections: • Set Up and Manage Dynamic DNS on page 105 •...
Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router Set Up and Manage Dynamic DNS Internet service providers (ISPs) assign numbers called IP addresses to identify each Internet account. Most ISPs use dynamically assigned IP addresses. This means that the IP address can change at any time. You can use the IP address to access your network remotely, but most people don’t know what their IP addresses are or when this number changes.
With your customized free URL, you can use FTP to access your network when you aren’t 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. See Set Up a New Dynamic DNS Account on page 107.
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.
For a No-IP or Dyn account, in the User Name field, type the user name for your account. For a NETGEAR account at No-IP, in the Email field, type the email address for your account. In the Password (6-32 characters) field, type the password for your DDNS account.
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.
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Always On. This change is required for ReadyCLOUD to remotely access the USB storage device. After registration, visit readycloud.netgear.com. Click the Sign In link, enter your ReadyCLOUD user name and password, and click the Sign In button.
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Use the Router as a Media Server This chapter contains the following sections: • Specify ReadyDLNA Media Server Settings on page 112 • Play Music From a Storage Device With iTunes Server on page 112 • Play Media From a USB Device on TiVo on page 115 •...
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 mobile device that is connected to the network.
Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router 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. Figure 7. Play music on a USB device with iTunes Set Up the Router’s iTunes Server With iTunes You can play music from a USB device that is connected to your router with iTunes on your Windows or Mac computer using Home Sharing.
Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router Click the Media Server tab. The Media Server (Settings) page displays. Select the Enable iTunes Server (Music Only) check box. Click the Apply button. Your settings are saved. On your Windows or Mac computer, launch iTunes. Select File >...
Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router 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 > ReadySHARE > ReadySHARE Storage. The USB Storage (Advanced Settings) page displays. Click the Media Server tab.
Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router Select ADVANCED > USB Functions > ReadySHARE Storage. The USB Storage (Advanced Settings) page displays. Click the Media Server tab. The Media Server (Settings) page displays. Make sure that the Enable TiVo support check box is selected. If you changed the settings, click the Apply button.
Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router Change the NTP Server By default, the router uses the NETGEAR NTP server to sync the network time. You can change the NTP server to your preferred NTP server. To change the NTP server to your preferred NTP server: Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
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The ReadySHARE Printer utility lets you share a USB printer that is connected to the USB port on your router. You can share this USB printer among the Windows and Mac computers on your network. For more information about the features available in the NETGEAR USB Control Center, see the ReadySHARE Printer User Manual, which is available at http://downloadcenter.netgear.com.
The utility works on Windows and Mac computers. To download the utility: Visit NETGEAR.com/readyshare. Click the PRINT - Learn how you can print wirelessly from many devices link. Click one of the following links to download the ReadySHARE Printer utility setup file: •...
Select a language from the menu and click the OK button. The USB printer connected to the router displays in the NETGEAR USB Control Center window. Some firewall software, such as Comodo, blocks the NETGEAR USB Control Center from accessing the USB printer.
If your document does not print, use the NETGEAR USB Control Center to check the printer status. To release the printer so that all computers on the network can use it, click the Disconnect button.
Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router View or Change the Status of a Printer To view or change the status: Click the NETGEAR USB Control Center icon The NETGEAR USB Control Center page displays. The Status column shows the status for each device: •...
The scanner window opens so that you can use the USB printer for scanning. Change 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.
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Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router Select Tools > Configuration. The NETGEAR USB Control Center 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 isn’t being used.
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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 126 •...
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.
Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router The BASIC Home page displays. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > VPN Service. The VPN page displays. Select the Enable VPN Service check box. To change the TUN mode service type, select the UCP or TCP radio button. To change the TUN mode service port, type the port number that you want to use in the field.
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Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router Visit openvpn.net/index.php/download/community-downloads.html to download the OpenVPN client utility. In the Windows Installer section of the page, double-click the openVPN-install-xxx.exe link. Download and install the Open VPN software on your computer, click the openVPN-install-xxx.exe file. Click the Next button. Read the License Agreement and click the I Agree button.
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In the local area connection list, find the local area connection with the device name TAP-Windows Adapter. 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.
Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router For more information about using OpenVPN on your Windows computer, visit https://openvpn.net/index.php/open-source/documentation/howto.html#quick. Install OpenVPN Software on Your Mac Computer You must install this software on each Mac computer that you plan to use for VPN connections to your router.
Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router 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 > VPN Service. The VPN Service page displays. Make sure that the Enable VPN Service check box is selected.
Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router On your computer, unzip the configuration files that you downloaded and send the files to your Android device. Open the files on your Android device. Open the .ovpn file using the OpenVPN Connect app. For more information about using OpenVPN on your Android device, visit http://www.vpngate.net/en/howto_openvpn.aspx#android.
Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router 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.Then every time you use this shortcut, OpenVPN automatically runs with administrator privileges.
Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router To access the USB device, click the ReadySHARE icon. To access media on the router’s network, click the remote router icon. Use VPN to Access Your Internet Service at Home When you’re away from home and you access the Internet, you usually use a local Internet service provider. For example, at a coffee shop you might be given a code that lets you use the coffee shop’s Internet service account to surf the web.
Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router 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. If you changed this setting to allow Internet access, you can change it back. To allow VPN clients to access only your home network: Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.
Customize Internet Traffic Rules for Ports You can use port forwarding and port triggering to set up rules for Internet traffic.You need networking knowledge to set up these features. This chapter includes the following sections: • Port Forwarding to a Local Server on page 137 •...
Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router Port Forwarding to a Local Server If your home network includes a server, 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.
Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router Add a Custom Port Forwarding Service To add a custom service: Find out which port number or range of numbers the application uses. You can usually find this information by contacting the publisher of the application or user groups or news groups.
Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router 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. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > Port Forwarding/Port Triggering. The Port Forwarding/Port Triggering page displays.
Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router To make a local web server public: Assign your web server either a fixed IP address or a dynamic IP address using DHCP address reservation. In this example, your router always gives your web server an IP address of 192.168.1.33. On the Port Forwarding/Port Triggering page, configure the router to forward the HTTP service to the local address of your web server at 192.168.1.33.
Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router Port forwarding creates a static mapping of a port number or range of ports to a single local computer. Port triggering can dynamically open ports to any computer when needed and close the ports when they are no longer needed.
Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router Enable Port Triggering To enable port triggering: Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. Enter the router user name and password. The user name is admin.
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Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router Translation (NAT) on the source address and port, and sends this request message through the Internet to the IRC server. Noting your port triggering rule and observing the destination port number of 6667, your router creates another session entry to send any incoming port 113 traffic to your computer.
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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 http://support.netgear.com product and contact information. The chapter contains the following sections: •...
Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router Quick Tips This section describes tips for troubleshooting some common problems. Sequence to Restart Your Network If you must restart your network, follow this sequence: Turn off and unplug the modem. Turn off the router. Plug in the modem and turn it on.
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.
Make sure that Caps Lock is off when you enter this information. • If you are attempting to set up your NETGEAR router as a replacement for an ADSL gateway in your network, the router cannot perform many gateway services. For example, the router cannot convert ADSL or cable data into Ethernet networking information.
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Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router 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. Click the ADVANCED tab. The ADVANCED Home page displays.
Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router Troubleshoot Internet Browsing If your router can obtain an IP address but your computer is unable to load any web pages from the Internet, it might be for the following reasons: • The traffic meter is enabled, and the limit was reached. By configuring the traffic meter not to block Internet access when the traffic limit is reached, you can resume Internet access.
Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router If your WiFi device finds your network but the signal strength is weak, check these conditions: • 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.
Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router 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. In the Windows Run window, type ping -n 10 <IP address>...
Supplemental Information This chapter includes technical information about your router. The chapter covers the following topics: • Factory Settings on page 153 • Technical Specifications on page 154...
Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router Factory Settings You can return the router to its factory settings. Use the end of a paper clip or a similar object to press and hold the Reset button on the back of the router for at least seven seconds. The router resets and returns to the factory configuration settings shown in the following table.
Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router Table 3. Factory default settings (Continued) Feature Default Setting Wireless Wireless communication Enabled SSID name See router label. Security WPA2-PSK (AES) Broadcast SSID Enabled Transmission speed Auto Country/region United States in the US; otherwise, varies by region RF channel Auto for 2.4 GHz, CH 44 for WW SKU, and CH 153 for North America SKU...
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Nighthawk AC2300 Smart WiFi Router Table 4. Router specifications (Continued) Feature Description Electromagnetic emissions FCC Part 15 Class B EN 55022 (CISPR 22), Class B C-Tick N10947 10BASE-T or 100BASE-TX or 1000BASE-T, RJ-45 10BASE-T or 100BASE-TX or 1000BASE-T, RJ-45 Wireless Maximum WiFi signal rate complies with the IEEE 802.11 standard.