Adding a router to your network can be a good idea for several reasons.
First, it allows you to connect more than one PC to the internet at one time.
Second, it provides an extra layer of security by performing NAT and firewall capabilities. (Just about all SOHO routers do NAT.)
Third, it will allow your computers to communicate with each other to share files, printers, etc.
Setting up your new router
Unpack your router and throw away the CD that came with it (the software is not required and makes things more complicated than they need to be).
These routers usually come with one Ethernet cable for the internet connection, you will need to purchase one cable for each computer that you will be connecting to the router (or have a wireless card if the PC is wireless).
Connect one end of a cable to the “WAN” or “internet” port on your new router and the other end to your high speed modem.
Connect cables from the remaining numbered ports to each computer in your network.
After the network cables are connected,
power cycle your equipment.
Once your equipment is back up, open a command prompt by clicking start > run, type CMD and press enter.
In the command prompt window, type ipconfig and press enter. You should get some information back, your looking for the “Default Gateway” address (usually 192.168.1.1 or similar). If this doesn’t describe your situation, you will need to troubleshoot your connection.
Once you have the address of your default gateway, you will need to open a web browser and in the address bar type “http://192.168.1.1″ (replace this address with the default gateway address that you got from the IPCONFIG.)
This should bring you to a logon prompt where you will need to enter the default username and password.
After logging in, you will be at you new router’s setup page where you can customize the options.
If your connection uses DHCP, you should be all set with the default options. If your connection uses PPPOE, you may need to enter the PPPOE username and password.
HINTS
-Comcast cable and many of ther other cable providers I’ve dealt with use DHCP for the connection.
-Verizon wireless and many other DSL providers that I’ve dealt with use PPPOE.
-Don’t be afraid to contact your internet provider for assistance.
If your router has wireless capabilities, you should either secure the wireless or disable it so that people cannot get into your network whenever they feel like it.
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