This article is dedicated to the most popular router in the domestic network equipment market - TP-Link DIR-615. Firmware, configuration and user reviews will help any newcomer to get to know the wonderful router better. The technical characteristics of the device will not interfere with the future owner, because they determine the need for a purchase.
Distinctive features of network equipment
Not every manufacturer of network equipment in the market for budget devices can boast the convenient functionality of their product when choosing specific security settings and distributing Wi-Fi. D-Link company managed to surprise its fans with the new DIR-615 router. The firmware of the network device is more reminiscent of a children's designer - the owner decides for what purpose he needs a router. Having compiled a list of needs, the user finds the necessary software on the manufacturer’s official website and downloads it to the router.
In addition to official firmware, there are many alternative options on the Internet that are created manually by enthusiasts and, as practice shows, they are no worse than the original products. In recent years, many providers also offer users turnkey solutions in the form of firmware for the router. This approach by your Internet service provider greatly simplifies home router configuration .
The first step is the most important.
Before dealing with the firmware of the D-Link DIR-615 router, it is imperative to backup the current settings. This step is critical for those users who have in their hands a fully configured and efficient router. Creating a backup, the owner of the network device solves two problems at the same time: saving the settings made independently, and the ability to return the router to its original state (for warranty service).
To create a backup copy of the settings, on the control panel, select the "System" section, the "Utilities" item, and in the window that appears, find the "Save Settings" button. The application, having thought a little, will display a dialog box with the user's file system and will offer to specify the path and name for the backup. After the end of the procedure, it is recommended to restart the router.
Setup or firmware?
Before setting up the DIR-615, many owners try first to download the latest firmware and install it on a network device. This step has two sides of the same coin. In the event that the router has an English-language interface, downloading from the official site of the Russified settings and its installation will greatly facilitate the user to configure a wireless access point and additional security settings.
On the other hand, there is a certain risk of rendering the router inoperable. A typical factory defect in the form of a malfunctioning processor or memory module may cause a malfunction. In most cases, equipment inoperability is detected during testing (some element does not work). It is one thing to return a factory-made device under warranty, and the user will have a completely different story with a self-stitched device that has failed.
Firmware Features
First of all, when downloading firmware from the manufacturer’s official website, you need to pay attention to the compliance of the revisions of the hardware and software, otherwise, by filling in inappropriate software, you can kill the router with just one click of a button. For example, a firmware with the name “DIR-615 E4” in its name will only be compatible with a router that has an E4 revision. In order to find out what kind of revision a router has, you need to turn it upside down and pay attention to the labeling of the Hardware Version.
The last 2-3 letters in the name of the firmware do not correspond to the localization region of the router, but only language support. That is, RU - Russian, BR - Brazilian and so on. There is no link to the local location of the network device, so many craftsmen, using the experience of more intelligent foreign programmers, create their own convenient solutions.
Step by step setup
Professionals recommend abandoning the chaotic method of setting up the router, and enter data on a previously compiled list. Such actions will simplify the management of the router and allow you to more effectively configure the security system of your home network. The first is configured for the DIR-615 Internet router. Accordingly, before any action, the user must find out the type of connection with the equipment of the provider. The logic here is simple:
- Internet connection is on any device to which the cable is connected - open access;
- Internet resources are available only on one computer that has its own connection settings.
In the first case, you can safely connect the router to the computer and the equipment of the provider. In the second case, you need to know the settings for the network. You can find them in the specification for the contract with the service provider or request data from the network administrator.
Internet connection
If the connection to the provider’s equipment is created without problems, skip this step. The rest will have to take a course on manual connection settings. The first thing you need to do on a personal computer is set up to automatically obtain an IP address and DNS. In the instruction manual (in notations) there is a step-by-step algorithm of actions for the user.
The DIR-615 router must be connected to the computer and go to the control panel using any browser. The “Internet” section, the “Settings” item are responsible for setting up the connection. A new dialog box will offer the user two options for solving the problem: manually configure the router or use the services of an assistant. The second option is higher priority. There is nothing complicated in the setup: the type of connection is selected, data from the contract is entered and the “Save” button is clicked. Rebooting the router at the end of the procedure is required.
Wireless network
The second step in the configuration is the commissioning of a Wi-Fi network. DIR-615 is one of the few routers in the budget class that provide great functionality to the user. Together with the assortment of settings, the owner gets additional problems with choosing the right parameters. You can get to the control menu by selecting the “Wireless Settings” section. It is recommended to use the algorithm:
- check the box next to "Enable network", determining the status of "Always";
- in the column "Name" you need to specify the name of the network that will be displayed during the search (8 characters, Cyrillic is not supported);
- select the “Mixed 802.11n” operating mode for full support of any devices;
- encryption type is better to choose "WPA" or "WPA2", and the key to install AES;
- an important parameter is the password for the DIR-615 router, it is recommended to enter a set of numbers and letters that will be unproblematic to repeat both on the laptop and on the smartphone (professionals recommend entering the serial number of the router, it cannot be lost, and it is unique);
- save settings and reboot the router.
Fine-tuning network equipment
Before configuring the DIR-615 for your own tasks (for example, port forwarding), it is recommended that you save the configuration file to the local computer. In general, professionals recommend that you make a backup before each manual intervention. A second matter in the future will help to avoid large time costs for restoring the router and setting it up from scratch.
The complexity of all D-Link routers is that in the control panel or in the operating instructions the user does not find a detailed description of the network fine-tuning. However, on the official website of the manufacturer there is a digital manual with a detailed description of all the functionality. This is done by the manufacturer specifically to protect beginners from inept actions.
Problems and their solution
There are frequent cases when for owners of the DIR-615 wireless router the firmware fails (power outage or connection to the computer, software incompatibility). In 99% of cases, such a failure incapacitates the hardware of the network equipment, turning it into an inoperable "brick". Under the guarantee, the router cannot be returned, so at your own risk, the user can resort to two options: restore the firmware in the service center for a fee or try to solve the problem on their own.
There are many ways to force “push” a new firmware into the D-Link DIR-615. The easiest way is to use the 16-bit D-Link Firmware Loader program, which can be downloaded from the Internet. It's just that it works under the Windows 2000 operating system, and not every user will be able to "make friends" with their own efforts. The second option is no less complicated - use the command line and the Telnet service to manually execute the 16-bit application (there are many working instructions on the Internet on this subject).
Finally
As practice shows, for the DIR-615 wireless router, firmware and configuration are not links in the same circuit. This is a functionality that requires an entirely different approach from the owner. An ordinary user who does not understand network equipment is not always able to do the usual Wi-Fi setting, not to mention the firmware of the device. You can’t take and flash the router in one fell swoop. The first time it can happen, but in most cases inept actions lead all device owners to a service center.
As for the convenience of the hardware setup itself and its firmware, advanced users and professionals have no complaints. There are so many proprietary software for DIR-615 on the manufacturer’s official website that many device owners do not always have enough time to try all the firmware. Each of them is unique in its own way and, of course, is 100% efficient.