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My current home network connects to the Internet via PPPoE (PPP over Ethernet) through a DSL modem using a wireless router that provides DHCP to distribute local IP addresses to each computer sharing the one IP address from my ISP. The wireless router connects by Ethernet cable to the DSL modem and enables other client computers to connect wirelessly to each other and the Internet. This page describes my setup.
In a previous setup, I had a small range of static IP addresses from my ISP and I used IPNetRouter from Sustainable Softworks to have one computer act as the host to share the Internet connection of a dial-up modem. This allowed me to have my Mac and Windows computers sharing files and access the Internet. I was using MacOS 9 at the time. Following that, I upgraded to DSL and used an Internet router as a hardware firewall and it distributed addresses to each computer via DHCP like the setup described below.
I'm using a D-Link DI-624 802.11g wireless router to connect my local computers wirelessly or directly to a home LAN (local area network) where I can share the DSL Internet connection.
Model Number: AirPlus Extreme G DI-624
Serial Number: ...
MAC Number: [Note, same as WAN MAC Address]
H/W Ver: C2 F/W Ver: 2.28
[noted as Revision C on tech supt Web site]
The default wireless settings for the 802.11g wireless network is:
SSID = default Channel = 6
The SSID is the name of your network. I changed it to something memorable and unique (using no spaces in the name.) I also enabled WEP encryption. Details are in the next section.
My wireless LAN/DSL hardware setup has:
The support.dlink.com Web site has a quick install guide. Basically, the steps are:
Configure your local settings:
At this point, you should review the options for securing your wireless network in the next section, Wireless Security.
Research found it was UPnP traffic. A BSD forum page on the problem described how to disable UPnP on the router. While in the router admin screens, select the "Tools" tab and the "Misc" button. Find "UPNP Settings" and set the radio button to "Disabled". In addition to disabling it on your router, you can get more information on port 1900, port 5000 and a utility, UnPlug 'n' Pray, to disable it on your Windows box.22:40:59.013022 IP 192.168.0.1.1900 > 239.255.255.250.1900: UDP, length: 252 22:40:59.013552 IP 192.168.0.1.1900 > 239.255.255.250.1900: UDP, length: 270 22:40:59.014109 IP 192.168.0.1.1900 > 239.255.255.250.1900: UDP, length: 324 22:40:59.015067 IP 192.168.0.1.1900 > 239.255.255.250.1900: UDP, length: 316 22:40:59.016214 IP 192.168.0.1.1900 > 239.255.255.250.1900: UDP, length: 246
Using a directly-connected Mac running MacOS X, a host/configuring computer would connect via:
System Preferences: Network
Location: Automatic
Show: Built-in Ethernet
TCP/IP:
Configure: Using DHCP
I assume a Windows host/configuration computer would connect like the Windows client computers, described below. I have a Mac host and both Mac and Windows clients on my LAN.
You can modify any settings using the admin interface at http://192.168.0.1/. Once you have everything configured to your specifications and it all works, connect to your router's admin Web site, http://192.168.0.1/, and save a backup of the wireless system settings in a local file. See: Tools: System in the admin interface.
By the way, if you make a serious mistake in configuration, you can reset the router back to the factory defaults by inserting a paper clip into the "Reset" hole on the back of the unit for 10 seconds. Do not power off the router.
In the admin screens, under Home:Wireless, you have the option to enable WEP or WPA encryption to secure your network. You decide your level of security and convenience. Choices include:
While we are on the subject of security and encryption options, you should read the transcript of a SecurityNow episode on wireless encryption. The expert interviewed recommends: WPA (over WEP), TKIP to handle key generation, and a long passphrase that includes upper and lower case and punctuation characters. (You can visit a web site with a form to generate a random key that you can save to a local file for pasting into your network login.) In my client connection software, I can save a profile with this information. So, I only need to do it once. Only caveat with WPA is that, while the D-Link DI-624 and Windows XP support the WPA option, older hardware, or an older Windows OS might not.
If you decide to use WEP, you will need a hexadecimal key. You can skip enabling it in the setup wizard and do it later, if you want to use an ASCII key or you can use MacASCII Display from VersionTracker.com to convert text characters to hexadecimal characters.
It's also a good idea to give your network a name in the SSID field under Home: Wireless. For better security for your home network, you might want to disable the broadcast of your network name (SSID). To do this, use the admin interface, and in either the Advanced tab and the Performance button, or the Home tab and the Wireless button and click the "Disable" radio button for SSID Broadcast. (The configuration location changed after a firmware upgrade.) Then, click the Apply button.
MacOS X client computers would connect via:
System Preferences: Network
Location: Automatic
Show: Airport
TCP/IP:
Configure: Using DHCP
Airport:
[select your named network and join with the
appropriate password.]
Windows client computers would connect via:
Start: Settings: Control Panel
Network and Dial-up Connections
Local Area Connection
Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)
[highlight/select this in list, then
click the 'Properties' button.]
- select
"Obtain an IP address automatically"
- select
"Obtain DNS server address automatically"
On Windows 2000 Professional, my Belkin Wireless Monitor application allows me to connect to the wireless network. Other versions of Windows should use similar steps.
[Instructions and download at http://support.dlink.com/]
Caution:
Do NOT upgrade firmware on any D-Link product over a wireless connection. Failure of the device may result. Use only hard-wired network connections.
Attention:
This firmware is engineered for US products only. Using this firmware on a device outside of the United States will void your warranty and may render the device unusable.
Please contact the D-Link office in your region for firmware updates that are compatible with your D-Link product.
Upgrade Steps:
Note, you will download a .bin file and Stuffit Expander on the Mac will extract it into a NML.MEM file. The upgrade process actually uses the .bin file itself. (You can trash the extracted file.)
By the way, at one point even my desktop computer was using Airport to connect wirelessly. To upgrade firmware, I connected its ethernet cable to a router port, disabled Airport and opened System Preferences: Network to use Built-in Ethernet using DHCP. Then I could log in to the admin interface for the router.
Note: I discovered the cgi URL never seems to complete — "The device is restarting..." — but waiting a couple minutes and then quitting the web browser and re-entering the admin interface showed the new firmware version.
After a firmware upgrade, all settings appear to return to defaults. Reset them by running the admin setup wizard again as described above. I also found I needed to restart my PPPoE connections. I found it in Status: Device Info. There is a configuration line in Home: WAN for Connect mode select and the choices are "Always on", "Manual" (the default), and "Connect-on demand". I selected "Always on".
Recent Upgrade History:
---
[Third Firmware Upgrade]
Current Firmware Version: 2.50
Firmware Date: Mon, 13 Sep 2004
o Added XR Mode
o Fixed Emule reboot issue
o Fixed firewall rules disappearing bug
o Fixed L2TP bug
o Fixed dhcp security hole issue
o Added multicast stream option
10/13/2004
---
[Second Firmware Upgrade]
Current Firmware Version: 2.42
Firmware Date: Wed, 31 Mar 2004
o Fixed Super G bug (found in v2.41)
o Fixed DHCP disconnect bug
o Improved WAN port connection performance
o Xbox Live compatible
4/6/2004
---
[First Firmware Upgrade]
Current Firmware Version: 2.41
Firmware Date: Tue, 25 Mar 2004
o Fixed DHCP disconnect bug
o Improved WAN port connection performance
o 3/26/2004
---
[Initial Factory Installed Firmware]
Current Firmware Version: 2.28
Firmware Date: Mon, 3 Nov 2003
---
I set up my network awhile ago. Currently, hardware vendors are continuously improving equipment, adding features, etc. You can always consult computer magazine reviews or search Google for the latest information and reviews. Here is a Geek.Com review of the D-Link wireless router. The review includes user comments at the end of the page agreeing with or disputing the review's conclusions. When I did my research prior to purchase, discussions indicated the D-Link router was superior in reliability to the Linksys router. Reviews today seem to indicate Linksys has better coverage range. i.e., one can get a connection on the back patio better with that router. You can see the range of equipment available at a vendor like CDW. See their wireless networking online catalog page. Also, Wi-Fi Planet has much information with a focus on wireless networking in business environments.
I hope this article helps you in setting up your home LAN. The wireless router distributes addresses using DHCP and also works as a barrier between your home computers and the Internet. If you are interested, there is an enormous information on the parts of and how to of home networks at the Structured Wiring How To Web site. Lots of reading to do but there are many illustrations and much detailed information. The site concludes with many links to similar and related sites.
By the way, things don't always go smoothly. I have a troubleshooting article on a DNS issue, "D-Link DI-624 Router Connection Problem", that may prove helpful.