The media has a lot of instructions for setting up wireless routers, but all of them relate to the direct management of the router. In the proposed material, no one explains to many users how to enter the router settings, therefore the purpose of this article will be to explain with step-by-step instructions how to enter the router settings. There is nothing complicated about this, any user will be able to independently, having repeated the recommended actions, connect and configure the router in a few minutes. Also, from this article, the reader learns about all kinds of problems that can be encountered in the work, and their solution on the spot.
Inputs
To connect, you need the router itself, a patch cord (an eight-core “twisted pair” cable, crimped on both sides with RG-45 clips, which must be included with the wireless access point) and a personal computer (or laptop).
As an example, the TP-Link router will be configured , since it is in the domestic market for most users. In fact, there is not much difference between manufacturers; there can only be differences in the address of the access point itself, in the username and password. By the way, in order to recognize them, you need to turn the device over and familiarize yourself with the information written on the basis of the router (IP-address, login, password). In most cases, IP-adress is 192.168.0.1 (possibly 192.168.1.1), and the username and password are admin.
Physical connection
The router (modem) must be connected to a power source and make sure that it is in working condition (at least one light on the indicator panel lights up). One end of the patchcord must be connected to the computer network board, and the other end of the cable to the router connector. In the device, it is customary to distinguish network inputs and outputs (often they have different colors). Only one entrance to connect to the Internet must have a WAN signature or be different in color from other ports (signed by LAN). Connecting to a computer should be made only to the LAN interface (anyone, let it be LAN 1, so as not to get confused).
When two devices are connected, the LED on the router information panel will light up, which will inform the owner that the connection has occurred. Information will also appear on the computer screen that it has been successfully added to the local network. At this stage, setting up the router in WEB-interface mode became available to the user.
Interface for control and configuration
Before entering the router settings, you need to decide on the WEB interface that will be involved. The manufacturer recommends using the standard Internet Explorer browser, but it does not always correctly display the control panel, so it’s worth a closer look at alternative programs: Mozilla Firefox, Opera Google Chrome.
Opening the browser, you need to enter IP-addrees in its address bar, which is indicated on the label at the base of the router (192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1) and press "go" (or Enter on the keyboard). In the menu that appears, you must enter the login and password, which are also registered on the bottom of the router (most likely, admin) and press the "Enter" button (or Enter on the keyboard). Successful authorization will provide the user with a router control panel.
Restrictions on computer settings
Configuring a router (modem) is not possible if the network adapter of the computer does not work in automatic mode. This can be indicated by a warning indicator in the tray (in the lower right part of the screen, near the clock). It looks like an exclamation mark in a yellow or red triangle. In such cases, it is recommended to take a pen, a sheet of paper and perform the following steps on the computer:
- Move the mouse cursor to the warning icon and right-click on it. In the menu that appears, select "Control Center".
- In the window that opens, select "Change adapter settings" on the left side face.
- From the proposed options, select the desired icon (more often it is signed as Ethernet and has a warning logo). Click on it with the right mouse button.
- Select "Properties". In the dialog box, find and place the cursor on the inscription "TCP / IPv4". Click "Properties" again.
- Copy to the sheet of paper all the settings registered manually (5 lines).
- Set the flag opposite the menu “Get automatically” in both fields. Click “OK”, and close all open tabs.
Fighting the network adapter
Setting up a TP-Link router on a computer is not possible if drivers for the network adapter are not installed on the computer. This is quite possible after reinstalling the operating system (then in the “Control Center” there simply will not be the right icon). Naturally, you need to go to the official website of the manufacturer of the motherboard (or laptop) and download the appropriate software.
A variant is possible when the search for the inscription “TCP / IPv4” is unsuccessful - in the list, except for “TCP / IPv6”, the user does not find the desired one. To do this, there is a “Install” button in the same dialog box. You must select the "Protocol" and from the proposed options point to the desired interface "TCP / IPv4". If none of the configuration options for the network adapter helped, it's time to turn to IT specialists who will certainly solve the user's problem.
Provider limitations in router settings
Many providers provide users with their own router to work on their networks. Very often, company administrators set their own passwords to access the device control panel. There are not many options in such cases: get the data for access from the provider (rarely anyone can do it) or make a complete reset (to the factory settings) of the device. The second option assumes that the router settings (password and login, in the factory version must be known to the owner) will depend on the user. Accordingly, before resetting, you need full control of the situation, because very often the provider uses non-standard settings (PPTP, VPN, PPPoE and the like) to connect. All information for the connection should be in the hands of the user.
Wireless connection to a router
If the user, before entering the router settings, detects the absence of a patch cord interface cable, or if the corresponding connector is not found in the laptop, you should not despair. Most devices support Wi-Fi access point management. To do this, you need to establish a connection between the two devices. Then open the browser and repeat the steps with entering the address of the access point.
In cases where the router does not require authorization to access Wi-Fi, experts recommend setting a password for using the wireless network, otherwise any intruder located in the router’s coverage area can not only reconfigure the access point for himself, but also harm all user devices .
Remote connection to a router
It is one thing when setting up a D-Link DIR or TP-Link router - low-cost devices are limited by the WEB interface, and users cannot access in any other way. Owners of ASUS, LinkSYS, Cisco, Zuxel and other business class routers can use a remote connection to the device or via a COM-USB interface cable. Management using the “console” snap-in is more convenient in that it can reconfigure the router for the owner’s needs in a few seconds (for this, special scripts are created that are sent to the router).
Connection is quite simple: using the Putty or Telnet program, the user gets access to the IP address (naturally, by entering the password and login during authorization). Then everything happens at the level of commands that can be found in full not only in the instructions for the router, but also on the manufacturer’s official website in the section: “Administration: step-by-step configuration of the router”.
Finally
The reader will agree that it’s easy to enter the settings of a wireless access point, the main thing is that both devices (router and personal computer) do not have manual settings. Any problem with the connection will indicate that someone has adjusted the operation of the network equipment. Having figured out how to enter the router settings, any user can easily connect to a wireless access point and get full control of the device.
The main thing that the owner of the router should know is that no matter what settings he makes, it is impossible to harm the router and the personal computer at the physical level. The maximum you can be afraid of is reinstalling Windows or resetting the access point to the factory settings. Accordingly, within this framework, you can safely know all the subtleties in the settings of the router for yourself.