Page 1
User Manual Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 NETGEAR, Inc. December 2018 350 E. Plumeria Drive 202-11931-02 San Jose, CA 95134, USA...
Contents Chapter 1 Hardware Overview of the Router Unpack Your Router................9 Attach the Antennas................10 LEDs and Buttons on the Top Panel..........11 Ports, Buttons, and Connectors on the Back Panel......12 USB Port on the Front Panel..............13 Router Label..................14 Position the Router................14 Cable Your Router................15 Chapter 2 Connect to the Network and Access the Router Connect to the Network..............18...
Page 4
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 MTU Concepts................37 Change the MTU Size..............39 Chapter 4 Control Access to the Internet Allow or Block Access to Your Network..........41 Use Keywords to Block Internet Sites..........42 Block Services From the Internet............44 Delete Keywords From the Blocked List..........45 Avoid Blocking on a Trusted Computer..........45...
Page 5
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 Chapter 6 Optimize Performance Optimize Internet Streaming With QoS...........81 Turn On Internet Access QoS............81 Add a QoS Rule by Device............82 Add a QoS Rule by Service............83 Edit a QoS Rule................83 Delete a QoS Rule................84 Delete All QoS Rules..............85...
Page 6
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 Map a USB Device to a Windows Network Drive......108 Access a Storage Device That Is Connected to the Router From a Mac.....................109 Back Up Windows-Based Computers With ReadySHARE Vault..110 Back Up Mac Computers With Time Machine......110 Set Up a USB Hard Drive on a Mac..........111...
Page 7
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 Turn Off Automatic Startup for NETGEAR USB Control Center.138 Change the Language for the NETGEAR USB Control Center.139 Specify the USB Control Center Time-Out.......139 Chapter 12 Manage Port Forwarding and Port Triggering Manage Port Forwarding to a Local Server........141 Set Up Port Forwarding to a Local Server.........141...
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...
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 Unpack Your Router The box contains the following items. Figure 1. Package contents Table 1. Legend Router Antennas (3) Ethernet cable Power adapter In some regions, a CD is included in the package.
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 Attach the Antennas The router comes with three antennas. To attach the antennas: 1. Remove the antenna caps from the antenna posts on the back panel of the router. 2. Align the antennas with the antenna posts.
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 LEDs and Buttons on the Top Panel The status LEDs and buttons are located on the top of the router. Table 2. LED and button descriptions LED and Button Description Power Solid amber. The router is starting.
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 Table 2. LED and button descriptions (Continued) LED and Button Description WiFi On/Off Pressing this button for two seconds turns the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz WiFi radios on and off. button with LED If this LED is solid white, the WiFi radios are on.
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 • 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.
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 Router Label The router label on the bottom panel of the router lists the login information, WiFi network name (SSID) and password (network key), serial number, and MAC address of the router. Figure 4. Router label...
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 Base of a cordless phone 2.4 GHz cordless phone 5 GHz cordless phone • Place the router away from large metal surfaces, large glass surfaces, insulated walls, and items such as these: Solid metal door...
Page 16
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 To cable your router: 1. 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. 2. Plug in and turn on your modem.
Connect to the Network and Access the Router You can connect to the router’s WiFi networks or use a wired Ethernet connection. This chapter explains the ways you can connect and how to access the router and log in. The chapter contains the following sections: •...
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 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).
With the Nighthawk app, you can easily install and manage 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. The Nighthawk app is available for iOS and Android mobile devices.
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 Log In to the Router When you first connect to your router and launch a web browser, the browser automatically displays the router web interface. If you want to view or change settings for the router later, you can use a browser to log in to the router web interface.
Specify Your Internet Settings Usually, the quickest way to set up the router to use your Internet connection is to allow your router to detect the Internet connection when you first access the router with a web browser. You can also customize or specify your Internet settings. This chapter contains the following sections: •...
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 Use the Internet Setup Wizard You can use the Setup Wizard to detect your Internet settings and automatically set up your router. The Setup Wizard is not the same as the pages that display the first time you connect to your router to set it up.
Page 23
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 3. Enter the router admin user name and password. The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive.
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 12. 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 on page 153. Specify an Internet Connection That Uses a Login To view or change the basic Internet setup: 1.
15. Click the Apply button. Your settings are saved. 16. 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 on page 153. Specify IPv6 Internet Connections You can set up an IPv6 Internet connection if the router does not detect it automatically.
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > IPv6. The IPv6 page displays. 5. From the Internet Connection Type menu, select the IPv6 connection type: • If you are not sure, select Auto Detect so that the router detects the IPv6 type that is in use.
Page 27
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 The page adjusts. 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.
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 Your settings are saved. Use Auto Detect for an IPv6 Internet Connection To set up an IPv6 Internet connection through autodetection: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network.
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 7. (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.
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 6. Select a Remote 6to4 Relay Router radio button: • Auto. Your router uses any remote relay router that is available on the Internet. This is the default setting. • Static IP Address. Enter the static IPv4 address of the remote relay router. Your IPv6 ISP usually provides this address.
Page 31
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 With a 6rd tunnel configuration, the router follows the RFC5969 standard, supporting two ways to establish a 6rd tunnel IPv6 WAN connection: • Auto Detect mode. In IPv6 Auto Detect mode, when the router receives option 212 from the DHCPv4 option, autodetect selects the IPv6 as 6rd tunnel setting.
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 7. Select an IP Address Assignment radio button: • Use DHCP Server. This method passes more information to LAN devices but some IPv6 systems might not support the DHCPv6 client function. • Auto Config. This is the default setting.
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 5. From the Internet Connection Type menu, select Pass Through. The page adjusts, but no additional fields display. 6. Click the Apply button. Your settings are saved. Set Up an IPv6 Fixed Internet Connection To set up a fixed IPv6 Internet connection: 1.
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 7. Select an IP Address Assignment radio button: • Use DHCP Server. This method passes more information to LAN devices but some IPv6 systems might not support the DHCPv6 client function. • Auto Config. This is the default setting.
Page 35
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 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.
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 Set Up an IPv6 PPPoE Internet Connection To set up a PPPoE IPv6 Internet connection: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network.
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 Note: The default setting of the Connection Mode menu is Always On to provide a steady IPv6 connection. The router never terminates the connection. If the connection is terminated, for example, when the modem is turned off, the router attempts to reestablish the connection immediately after the PPPoE connection becomes available again.
Page 38
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 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: •...
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 Table 3. Common MTU sizes (Continued) Application 1458 Used in PPPoA environments. 1436 Used in PPTP environments or with VPN. Change the MTU Size To change the MTU size: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network.
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: • Allow or Block Access to Your Network • Use Keywords to Block Internet Sites •...
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 Allow or Block Access to Your Network You can use access control to block or allow access to your network. To set up access control: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network.
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 8. To allow the WiFi-enabled computer or mobile device you’re currently using to continue to access the network, select the check box next to your computer or device, and click the Allow button.
Page 43
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 • Enter a period (.) to block all Internet browsing access. 7. Click the Add Keyword button. The keyword is added to the keyword list. The keyword list supports up to 32 entries.
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 Block Services From the Internet You can block Internet services on your network based on the type of service. You can block the services all the time or based on a schedule. To block services: 1.
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 9. Select a filtering option: • Only This IP Address. Block services for a single computer. • IP Address Range. Block services for a range of computers with consecutive IP addresses on your network.
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 To specify a trusted computer: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network. 2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. 3. Enter the router admin user name and password.
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 6. Click the View list of allowed devices not currently connected to the network link. The list displays. 7. Select the check box for a device. 8. Use the Add button, Edit button, and Remove from the list button as needed.
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 7. If you live in a region that observes daylight saving time, select the Automatically adjust for daylight savings time check box. 8. Click the Apply button. Your settings are saved. Set Up Security Event Email Notifications The router can email you its logs of router activity.
Page 49
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 9. If your outgoing email server requires authentication, select the My Mail Server requires authentication check box, and do the following: a. In the User Name field, type the user name for the outgoing email server.
Manage 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 AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 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 AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 • Disable SIP ALG. Some voice and video communication applications do not work well with the SIP ALG. Disabling the SIP ALG might help your voice and video applications to create and accept a call through the router.
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC Home page displays. 4. Select ADVANCED > Setup > WAN Setup.
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 Change the LAN TCP/IP Settings The router is preconfigured to use private IP addresses on the LAN side and to act as a DHCP server. The router’s default LAN IP configuration is as follows: •...
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 Router Information Protocol (RIP) allows a router to exchange routing information with other routers. a. Select the RIP direction: • Both. The router broadcasts its routing table periodically and incorporates information that it receives.
Page 56
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 To specify the pool of IP addresses that the router assigns: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network. 2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens.
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 Disable the DHCP Server Feature in the Router By default, the router acts as a DHCP server. The router assigns IP, DNS server, and default gateway addresses to all computers connected to the LAN. The assigned default gateway address is the LAN address of the router.
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 Reserve an IP Address To reserve an IP address: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network. 2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens.
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC Home page displays. 4. Select ADVANCED > Setup > LAN Setup.
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 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: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network.
Page 61
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 Note: The preset SSID and password are uniquely generated for every device to protect and maximize your WiFi security. 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.
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 In some regions, not all channels are available. Do not change the channel unless you experience interference (shown by lost connections or slow data transfers). If this happens, experiment with different channels to see which is the best.
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 5. For the 2.4 GHz WiFi band, in the Wireless Network (2.4 GHz b/g/n) section, select a setting from the Mode menu: • Up to 54 Mbps. Legacy mode. This mode allows 802.11n, 802.11g, and 802.11b devices to join the network but limits 802.11n devices to functioning at up to 54...
Page 64
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 To change the WiFi password or the WiFi security: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network. 2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens.
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 Set Up a Guest WiFi Network A guest network allows visitors to use the Internet without using your WiFi security password or with a different WiFi password. By default, the guest WiFi network is disabled.
Page 66
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 • Enable SSID Broadcast. By default, the router broadcasts the SSID of the WiFi band so that WiFi stations can detect the WiFi name (SSID) in their scanned network lists. To turn off the SSID broadcast for the 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz guest WiFi network, clear the Enable SSID Broadcast check box.
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 If you cannot connect over WiFi, check the following: • If your computer or mobile device is already connected to another WiFi network in your area, disconnect it from that WiFi network and connect it to the WiFi network that the router provides.
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 A login window opens. 3. Enter the router admin user name and password. The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive.
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 6. Use the menus, radio buttons, and check boxes to set up a period during which you want to turn off the WiFi signal. 7. Click the Apply button. The Advanced Wireless Settings page displays.
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 If you clear this check box, the next time a new WiFi client uses WPS to connect to the router, the router WiFi settings change to an automatically generated random SSID and security key.
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 Note: To avoid interference with other routers or gateways in your network, we recommend 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 this router only for WiFi client access.
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC Home page displays. 5. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > Router/ AP / Bridge Mode.
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 Note: If your ISP provides instructions for how to set up a bridge for IPTV and Internet service, follow those instruction. 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.
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 8. Click the Apply button. Your settings are saved. Set Up a Bridge for a VLAN Tag Group If the devices that are connected to the router’s Ethernet LAN ports or WiFi network include an IPTV device, your ISP might require you to set up a bridge for a VLAN tag group for the router’s Internet interface.
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 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. Priority Enter a value from 0 to 7.
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 The BASIC Home page displays. 4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > VLAN/Bridge Settings. The VLAN/IPTV Setup page displays. 5. Select the Enable VLAN Tag check box. The page expands. 6. Select the By bridge group radio button.
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 ISP forwards your request to the company where you are employed, and the company firewall is likely to deny the request. In this case you must define a static route, telling your router to access 134.177.0.0 through the ISDN router at 192.168.1.100.
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 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.
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 7. Edit the route information. 8. Click the Apply button. Your settings are saved. Delete a Static Route To delete a static route: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network.
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: •...
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 Optimize Internet Streaming With QoS You can use Quality of Service (QoS) to assign high priority to Internet streaming, applications, and services. We recommend that you enable this feature only if you use streaming Internet. When QoS assigns a high priority to streaming video, it also assigns lower priority to the rest of your Internet traffic.
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 Speedtest determines your Internet bandwidth. 8. Click the Apply button. Your settings are saved. A link displays on the bottom of the page to view bandwidth utilization. Clicking the link displays the Attached Devices page. For more information, see View Devices Currently on the Network on page 97.
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 Add a QoS Rule by Service To enable Dynamic QoS: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network. 2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens.
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 3. Enter the router admin user name and password. The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive.
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 Delete All QoS Rules To delete all QoS rules: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network. 2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens.
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 The BASIC Home page displays. 4. Select ADVANCED > Setup > QoS Setup. The WMM tab is automatically selected and the WMM page displays. 5. Clear the Enable WMM (Wi-Fi multimedia) settings (2.4GHz b/g/n) check box.
Page 87
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 6. 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.
Manage Your Router 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 • Change the admin Password • Enable admin Password Recovery • Recover the admin Password •...
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 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.
To manually upload a firmware file to your router: 1. Download the firmware for your router from the NETGEAR Download Center, save it to your desktop, and unzip the file if needed. Note: The correct firmware file uses an extension.
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 Change the admin Password You can change the default password that is used to log in to the router with the user name admin. This password is not the one that you use for WiFi access.
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 To enable password recovery: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network. 2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. 3. Enter the router admin user name and password.
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 6. Enter the saved answers to your security questions. 7. Click the Continue button. A window opens and displays your recovered password. 8. Click the Login again button. A login window opens. 9. With your recovered password, log in to the router.
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 Display Internet Port Statistics To display Internet port statistics: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network. 2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens.
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 6. To change the polling frequency, enter a time in seconds in the Poll Interval field and click the Set Interval button. To stop the polling entirely, click the Stop button. Check the Internet Connection Status To check the Internet connection status: 1.
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 8. To exit the screen, click the Close Window button. View and Manage Logs of Router Activity The log is a detailed record of the websites you accessed or attempted to access and other router actions.
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 View Devices Currently on the Network You can view all computers or devices that are currently connected to your network. To view devices on the network: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network.
Page 98
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 3. Enter the router admin user name and password. The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive.
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 12. 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 AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 3. Enter the router user name and password. The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive.
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 Remote Access You can access your router over the Internet to view or change its settings. You must know the router’s WAN IP address to use this feature. Note: Be sure to change the password for the user name admin to a secure password.
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 7. Specify the port number for accessing the router web interface. Normal web browser access uses the standard HTTP service port 80. For greater security, enter a custom port number for the remote router web interface. Choose a number from 1024 to 65535, but do not use the number of any common service port.
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 Disable LED Blinking or Turn Off LEDs The LEDs on the top panel of the router indicate activities and behavior. You can disable LED blinking for network communications, or turn off all LEDs except the Power LED.
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 After you reset the router to factory default settings, the user name is admin, the password is password, the LAN IP address is 192.168.1.1 (which is the same as www.routerlogin.net), and the DHCP server is enabled..
Page 105
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 5. Click the Erase button. The configuration is reset to factory default settings. When the reset is complete, the router restarts. This process takes about two minutes. Warning: To avoid the risk of corrupting the firmware, do not interrupt the reset.
• View or Change Network Folders on a Storage Device • Add a Network Folder on a USB Storage Device • Edit a Network Folder on a USB Storage Device • Safely Remove a USB Storage Device For more information about ReadySHARE features, visit netgear.com/readyshare.
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 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 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 AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 Access a Storage Device Connected to the Router From a Windows-Based Computer To access the USB storage device from a Windows-based computer: 1. Connect a USB storage device to a USB port on your router.
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 6. Right-click the USB device and select Map network drive. The Map Network Drive window opens. 7. Select the drive letter to map to the new network folder. 8. Click the Finish button.
By default, the USB storage device is available to all computers on your local area network (LAN). 3. Download ReadySHARE Vault from netgear.com/readyshare and install it on each Windows-based computer. 4. Launch ReadySHARE Vault.
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 Set Up a USB Hard Drive on a Mac We recommend that you use a new USB HDD or format your old USB HDD to do the Time Machine backup for the first time. Use a blank partition to prevent some issues during backup using Time Machine.
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 4. Set Energy Saver: a. From the Apple menu, select System Preferences. The System Preferences page displays. b. Select Energy Saver. The Energy Saver page displays. c. Click the Power Adapter tab. d. Select the Wake for Wi-Fi network access check box.
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 The Connect to Server window opens. 5. Type smb://routerlogin.net and click the Connect button. 6. When prompted, select the Registered User radio button. 7. Enter admin for the name and the router admin password for the password and click the Connect button.
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC Home page displays. 4. Select ADVANCED > USB Storage > ReadySHARE.
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 • Read Access and Write Access. Show the permissions and access controls on the network folder. All–no password (the default) allows all users to access the network folder. The password for admin is the same one that you use to log in to the router.
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 7. From the USB Device menu, select the USB drive. Note: We recommend that you do not attach more than one drive to one USB port (for example, through a USB hub). 8. Click the Browse button and in the Folder field, select the folder.
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 5. In the Available Network Folders section, select the USB storage device. 6. Click the Edit button. The Edit Network Folder window opens. 7. Change the settings in the fields as needed. 8. Click the Apply button.
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 •...
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 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...
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 121.
12. 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.
9. For a No-IP or Dyn account, in the User Name field, type the user name for your account. 10. For a NETGEAR account at No-IP, in the Email field, type the email address for your account. 11. In the Password (6-32 characters) field, type the password for your DDNS account.
Page 123
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 To change your settings: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network. 2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. 3. Enter the router admin user name and password.
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.
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 4. Click the Create Account link. The Create a MyNETGEAR account page displays. 5. 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.
Page 126
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 8. After registration, visit readycloud.netgear.com. 9. Click the Sign In link, enter your ReadyCLOUD user name and password, and click the Sign In button. The ReadyCLOUD page displays the router that you registered and the contents of the USB storage device that is connected to the router.
Use the Router as a Media Server This chapter contains the following sections: • Specify ReadyDLNA Media Server Settings • Play Music From a Storage Device With iTunes Server • Set Up the Router to Work With TiVo • Change the NTP Server...
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 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.
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 All – no password in Read Access can be scanned for media files. To scan for new media files immediately, click the Rescan media files button. 6. Click the Apply button. Your settings are saved.
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC Home page displays. 6. Select ADVANCED > USB Storage > ReadySHARE > Media Server.
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 5. Launch the Remote app from your iPhone or iPad. 6. In the Remote app, click the Add a Device button. The passcode displays in the Remote app. 7. Specify the passcode in the router to set up your iTunes server.
Your settings are saved. 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: 1.
Page 133
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 The NTP Settings page displays. 5. Select the Set your preferred NTP server radio button. 6. Enter the NTP server domain name or IP address in the Primary NTP server field. 7. Click the Apply button.
You can share this USB printer among the Windows-based 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.
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. For more information about how to use the NETGEAR USB Control Center, visit https://www.netgear.com/support/product/ReadySHARE_USB_Printer.aspx.
USB printer and prints the document. If another computer is already connected to the printer, your print job goes into a queue to wait to be printed. 4. If your document does not print, use the NETGEAR USB Control Center to check the printer status.
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 5. To release the printer so that all computers on the network can use it, click the Disconnect button. The status changes to Available. Now any computers on the network can use the printer.
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.
The NETGEAR USB Control Center page displays. 3. From the Language menu, select a language. 4. Click the OK button. The next time NETGEAR USB Control Center starts, the language changes. Specify the USB Control Center Time-Out Specify the time-out to release the printer connection.
Manage Port Forwarding and Port Triggering 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: • Manage Port Forwarding to a Local Server •...
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 Manage 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 AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 11. Click the Add button. The service displays in the menu. Add a Custom Port Forwarding Service The router lists default services and applications that you can use in port forwarding rules. If the service or application is not predefined, you can add a port forwarding rule with a custom service or application.
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 You can enter a port range and fixed ports in one rule, for example, external (30–50, 78, 100–102), internal (40–60, 99, 200–202). With this rule, external ports 30–50 are forwarded to internal ports 40–60.
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 Delete a Port Forwarding Entry To delete a port forwarding entry: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network. 2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens.
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 How the Router Implements the Port Forwarding Rule The following sequence shows the effects of a port forwarding rule: 1. When you type the URL www.example.com in your browser, the browser sends a web page request message with the following destination information: •...
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 Note: If you use applications such as multiplayer gaming, peer-to-peer connections, real-time communications such as instant messaging, or remote assistance (a feature in Windows XP), enable Universal Plug and Play (UPnP). Add a Port Triggering Service To add a port triggering service: 1.
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 Enable Port Triggering To enable port triggering: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network. 2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. 3. Enter the router admin user name and password.
Page 148
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 you can tell the router, “When you initiate a session with destination port 6667, you must also allow incoming traffic on port 113 to reach the originating computer.” The following sequence shows the effects of this port triggering rule: 1.
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 for product and contact information. The chapter contains the following sections: •...
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 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: 1. Turn off and unplug the modem. 2. Turn off the router.
• 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.
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 If the error persists, a hardware problem might be the cause. Contact Technical Support at netgear.com/support. Internet or Ethernet Port LEDs Are Off If either the Ethernet port LEDs or the Internet LED does not light when the Ethernet connection is made, check the following: •...
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.
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 If your router is still unable to obtain an IP address from the ISP, the problem might be one of the following: Your Internet service provider (ISP) might require a login program. Ask your ISP whether they require •...
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 Typically, your ISP provides the addresses of one or two DNS servers for your use. If you entered a DNS address during the router’s configuration, restart your computer. Alternatively, you can configure your computer manually with a DNS address, as explained in the documentation for your computer.
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 Note: Be sure to click the Apply button if you change settings. 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...
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 If the path is not functioning correctly, one of the following problems might be occurring: Wrong physical connections • For a wired connection, make sure that the numbered LAN port LED is lit for the port to which you are connected.
Page 158
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 of a single computer connected to that modem. If your ISP does this, configure your router to “clone” or “spoof” the MAC address from the authorized computer. Troubleshooting User Manual...
Supplemental Information This appendix includes technical information about your router. The appendix covers the following topics: • Factory Settings • Technical Specifications...
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 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 103.
Page 161
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 Table 4. Router factory default settings (Continued) Feature Default Settings Time adjusted for daylight Disabled saving time Firewall and WAN security Inbound (communications Disabled (except traffic on port 80, the HTTP port) coming in from the Internet)
WiFi Maximum WiFi signal rate complies with the IEEE 802.11 standard. Note that NETGEAR makes no express or implied representations or warranties about this product’s compatibility with any future WiFi standards. 802.11ac 1300 Mbps is approximately 2x faster than 802.11n 600 Mbps.
Page 164
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router Model AC2600 Table 5. Router specifications (Continued) Feature Description Operating frequency range 2.4 GHz band • US: 2.412–2.462 GHz • Europe: 2.412–2.472 GHz • Australia: 2.412–2.472 GHz • Japan: 2.412–2.472 GHz 5 GHz band • US: 5.18–5.24 + 5.745–5.825 GHz •...
Need help?
Do you have a question about the Nighthawk AC2600 and is the answer not in the manual?
Questions and answers