NETGEAR XR500 Nighthawk User Manual
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NETGEAR XR500 Nighthawk User Manual

Pro gaming router
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XR500 Nighthawk
Pro Gaming Router

User Manual

Model XR500
April 2018
202-11808-03
350 E. Plumeria Drive
San Jose, CA 95134
USA

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Summary of Contents for NETGEAR XR500 Nighthawk

  • Page 1: User Manual

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router User Manual Model XR500 April 2018 202-11808-03 350 E. Plumeria Drive San Jose, CA 95134...
  • Page 2 For the current EU Declaration of Conformity, visit http://kb.netgear.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/11621. Compliance For regulatory compliance information, visit http://www.netgear.com/about/regulatory. See the regulatory compliance document before connecting the power supply. Trademarks NETGEAR, Inc., NETGEAR and the NETGEAR Logo are trademarks of NETGEAR, Inc. Any non-NETGEAR trademarks are used for reference purposes only.

  • Page 3: Table Of Contents

    Use a Web Browser to Access the Router............21 Automatic Internet Setup.................21 Log In to the Router..................22 Change the Language..................23 Install the Router With the NETGEAR Up App............23 Access the Router With the NETGEAR genie App..........24 Chapter 3 Specify Your Internet Settings Use the Internet Setup Wizard................26 Manually Set Up the Internet Connection............26...
  • Page 4 XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router Configure and Use the Geo Filter..............43 Ping a Device and Allow or Deny the Device a Connection......45 Add a Device to the Geo Filter................45 Remove a Device From the Geo Filter............46 Manage the General Geo Filter Map Settings..........47 Manage Bandwidth Allocation................48...
  • Page 5 XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router Set Up an IPTV Port to Lease an Intranet Port..........81 Manage Custom Static Routes................82 Set Up a Static Route..................83 Change a Static Route..................83 Delete a Static Route..................84 Improve Network Connections With Universal Plug and Play......84 Chapter 8 Manage the Router’s WiFi Settings...
  • Page 6 XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router Display Internet Port Statistics................116 Check the Internet Connection Status, View Details, and Release and Renew the Connection......................116 Restart the Router From Its Web Interface............117 View Router Notifications...................118 Disable or Enable LED Blinking or Turn Off LEDs..........118 Chapter 10 Share USB Storage Devices Attached to the Router USB Device Requirements................121...
  • Page 7 View or Change the Status of a Printer..............146 Use the Scan Feature of a Multifunction USB Printer........146 Change NETGEAR USB Control Center Settings..........147 Turn Off Automatic Startup for NETGEAR USB Control Center....147 Change the Language for the NETGEAR USB Control Center....147 Specify the USB Control Center Time-Out............148 Chapter 14 Use VPN to Access Your Network Set Up a VPN Connection..................150...
  • Page 8 XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router Application Example: Port Triggering for Internet Relay Chat......171 Chapter 17 Troubleshooting Quick Tips......................174 Sequence to Restart Your Network...............174 Check Ethernet Cable Connections..............174 Check the Network Settings................174 Check the WiFi Settings................174 Troubleshoot With the LEDs................174 Standard LED Behavior When the Router Is Powered On......175 Power LED Is Off or Blinking.................175...

  • Page 9: Chapter 1 Hardware Setup

    Attach the Antennas • Router Label • Position Your Router • Cable Your Router • Turn the LEDs On or Off Using the LED On/Off Switch For more information about the topics covered in this manual, visit the support website at netgear.com/support.

  • Page 10: Unpack Your Router

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router Unpack Your Router Your package contains the XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router, the four antennas, the power adapter, and an Ethernet cable. Figure 1. Package contents Hardware Setup...

  • Page 11: Leds, Buttons, And Ports On The Front Panel, Top Panel, And Left Side Panel

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router LEDs, Buttons, and Ports on the Front Panel, Top Panel, and Left Side Panel The status LEDs are located on the front panel, two buttons with LEDs are located on the top panel, and two USB 3.0 ports are located on the left side panel of the router.
  • Page 12 XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router Table 1. LED descriptions (Continued) LED and Button Description 2.4 GHz WiFi LED Solid white. The 2.4 GHz WiFi radio is operating. Blinking white. The router is sending or receiving WiFi traffic. Off. The 2.4 GHz WiFi radio is off.

  • Page 13: Rear Panel

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router Rear Panel The following figure shows the rear panel connectors and buttons. Figure 3. Rear panel Viewed from left to right, the rear panel contains the following components: • LED On/Off switch. If this switch is in the Off position, all the router’s LEDs, including the LEDs on the four active antennas, but not the Power LED, are turned off.

  • Page 14: Attach The Antennas

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router Attach the Antennas The router comes with four antennas. Attach two antennas to the rear panel and attach one antenna to each side panel. Figure 4. Attach the antennas and position them for best WiFi performance To attach the antennas: Align the antennas with the antenna posts on the router.

  • Page 15: Router Label

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router Router Label The router label on the top panel of the router shows the login information, WiFi Network Name (SSID), network key (password), serial number, and MAC address. Figure 5. Router label Figure 6. Location of the router label Position Your Router The router lets you access your network anywhere within the operating range of your WiFi network.
  • Page 16 XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router In addition, position your router according to the following guidelines: • Place your router near the center of the area where your computers and other devices operate, and within line of sight to your WiFi devices.

  • Page 17: Cable Your Router

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router Cable Your Router Power on your router and connect it to a modem. Figure 7. Cable your router To cable your router: Unplug your modem, remove and reinsert the backup battery if it uses one, and then plug the modem back in.
  • Page 18 XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router To turn the LEDs on or off using the LED On/Off switch: Move the LED On/Off switch on the rear panel to the On or Off position. Hardware Setup...

  • Page 19: Chapter 2 Connect To The Network And Access The Router

    The chapter contains the following sections: • Connect to the Network • Types of Logins • Use a Web Browser to Access the Router • Install the Router With the NETGEAR Up App • Access the Router With the NETGEAR genie App...

  • Page 20: Connect To The Network

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router 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).

  • Page 21: Types Of Logins

    ISP login program on your computer to access the Internet. When you start an Internet application, your router automatically logs you in. The NETGEAR installation assistant runs on any device with a web browser. Installation and basic setup takes about 15 minutes to complete.

  • Page 22: Log In To The Router

    Contact your ISP to verify that you are using the correct configuration information. Read You Cannot Access the Internet on page 176. If problems persist, register your NETGEAR product and contact NETGEAR Technical Support. When the router connects to the Internet, you are prompted to download and install the free ReadySHARE ®...

  • Page 23: Change The Language

    Install the Router With the NETGEAR Up App With the NETGEAR Up app, you can easily install 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.

  • Page 24: Access The Router With The Netgear Genie App

    Cable Your Router on page 17. On your iOS or Android mobile device, go to the app store, search for NETGEAR Up, and download the app. On your iOS or Android mobile device, tap Settings > Wi-Fi and find and connect to your router’s WiFi network.

  • Page 25: Chapter 3 Specify Your Internet Settings

    Specify Your Internet Settings Usually, the quickest way to set up the router to use your Internet connection is to allow the installation assistant to detect the Internet connection when you first access the router with a web browser (see Automatic Internet Setup on page 21).

  • Page 26: Use The Internet Setup Wizard

    The Setup Wizard searches your Internet connection for servers and protocols to determine your Internet configuration. When the router connects to the Internet, you are prompted to download and install the free NETGEAR Desktop genie app and the free ReadySHARE Vault app.

  • Page 27: Specify An Internet Connection That Uses A Login

    Click the Apply button. Your settings are saved. 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 page 176. Specify an Internet Connection That Uses a Login To view or change the basic Internet setup: Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network.
  • Page 28 Use This MAC Address. Enter the MAC address that you want to use. Click the Apply button. Your settings are saved. 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 page 176. Specify Your Internet Settings...

  • Page 29: Specify Ipv6 Internet Connections

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router Specify IPv6 Internet Connections You can set up an IPv6 Internet connection if the router does not detect it automatically. To set up an IPv6 Internet connection: Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network.

  • Page 30: Use Auto Detect For An Ipv6 Internet Connection

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router Use Auto Detect for an IPv6 Internet Connection To set up an IPv6 Internet connection through autodetection: Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.

  • Page 31: Use Auto Config For An Ipv6 Internet Connection

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router Use Auto Config for an IPv6 Internet Connection To set up an IPv6 Internet connection through autoconfiguration: Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.

  • Page 32: Set Up An Ipv6 6To4 Tunnel Internet Connection

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router • Use DHCP Server. This method passes more information to LAN devices but some IPv6 systems might not support the DHCv6 client function. • Auto Config. This is the default setting. This setting specifies how the router assigns IPv6 addresses to the devices on your home network (the LAN).

  • Page 33: Set Up An Ipv6 6Rd Internet Connection

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router • Static IP Address. Enter the static IPv4 address of the remote relay router. Your IPv6 ISP usually provides this address. Select an IPv6 Domain Name Server (DNS) Address radio button: • Get Automatically from ISP. This is the default setting. Your ISP uses DHCP to assign your DNS servers.
  • Page 34 XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router Select Settings > Advanced Settings > IPv6. The IPv6 page displays. From the Internet Connection Type menu, select 6rd. The page adjusts. The router automatically detects the information in the following sections: • 6rd (IPv6 Rapid Development) Configuration. The router detects the service provider’s IPv4 network and attempts to establish an IPv6 6rd tunnel connection.

  • Page 35: Set Up An Ipv6 Pass Through Internet Connection

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router Set Up an IPv6 Pass Through Internet Connection In pass-through mode, the router works as a Layer 2 Ethernet switch with two ports (LAN and WAN Ethernet ports) for IPv6 packets. The router does not process any IPv6 header packets.

  • Page 36: Set Up An Ipv6 Dhcp Internet Connection

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router • Primary DNS Server. The primary DNS server that resolves IPv6 domain name records for the router. • Secondary DNS Server. The secondary DNS server that resolves IPv6 domain name records for the router. Note...
  • Page 37 XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router 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.

  • Page 38: Set Up An Ipv6 Pppoe Internet Connection

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router Set Up an IPv6 PPPoE Internet Connection To set up a PPPoE IPv6 Internet connection: Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens.

  • Page 39: Change The Mtu Size

    “fragmented” to accommodate the device with the smallest MTU. 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: •...
  • Page 40 Table 2. Common MTU sizes Application 1500 The largest Ethernet packet size. This setting is typical for connections that do not use PPPoE or VPN and is the default value for NETGEAR routers, adapters, and switches. 1492 Used in PPPoE environments. 1472 Maximum size to use for pinging.
  • Page 41 XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router Table 2. Common MTU sizes (Continued) Application 1436 Used in PPTP environments or with VPN. 1400 Maximum size for AOL DSL. Typical value to connect to dial-up ISPs. Specify Your Internet Settings...

  • Page 42: Chapter 4 Customize Quality Of Service Settings And Optimize Gaming

    Customize Quality of Service Settings and Optimize Gaming You can customize Quality of Service (QoS) settings and optimize gaming by preventing network lag and congestion, by allocating bandwidth to specific devices, and by prioritizing traffic for specific devices. This chapter contains the following sections: •...

  • Page 43: Improve Response Time By Using The Geo Filter

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router Improve Response Time by Using the Geo Filter The main cause of lag in console games such as Call of Duty, Destiny, FIFA, and many others, is the distance from you to the host or server of the game. The Geo Filter can limit the distance of these hosts or servers by blocking all hosts or servers outside the range that you can specify.
  • Page 44 XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router Set the distance radius by moving the Set Distance slider. We recommend that you set a distance radius in the range from 500 km to 3,000 km (311 mi. to 1,864 mi.). All connections outside the radius are prevented from hosting your game. If you set a radius that is less than 500 km (311 mi.), you might not find games.

  • Page 45: Ping A Device And Allow Or Deny The Device A Connection

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router Ping a Device and Allow or Deny the Device a Connection You can allow (whitelist) or block (blacklist) connections to individual devices, regardless of the distance radius of your Geo Filter. If you allow an individual connection, the device can connect to your device, even if is outside the radius of your Geo Filter.

  • Page 46: Remove A Device From The Geo Filter

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router To add a device to the Geo Filter: Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. Enter the router admin user name and password.

  • Page 47: Manage The General Geo Filter Map Settings

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router 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 Dashboard displays. Select Geo-Filter. In the Devices pane, below the device that you want to remove, click the DELETE button.

  • Page 48: Manage Bandwidth Allocation

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router Note The Flush Cloud button is for use under guidance from NETGEAR Technical Support. (Clicking the Flush Cloud button reloads the IP addresses for the Geo Filter.) To close the Settings pane, click the X.

  • Page 49: Disable Anti-Bufferbloat

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router Click the X to close the Options pane. Select how you want to apply Anti-Bufferbloat: • Apply. Select this radio button if you want to always apply Anti-Bufferbloat. If Anti-Bufferbloat is always applied, you can play games without any devices or applications causing you to lag but your total bandwidth speeds is reduced so you must change the setting back to Never when you finish gaming.

  • Page 50: Allocate Bandwidth To Devices

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router Allocate Bandwidth to Devices Some devices on your network need more bandwidth than others. For example, a device that you use for gaming or media streaming requires more bandwidth than a device that is mostly used for browsing and emails.
  • Page 51 XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router Above the graph, select the Upload radio button. The Bandwidth Allocation pane shows as the Bandwidth Allocation - Upload pane. For each device to which you want to allocate upload bandwidth, move the associated white circle to the bandwidth percentage that you want to allocate.

  • Page 52: Reset The Bandwidth Distribution

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router Reset the Bandwidth Distribution You can reset the bandwidth to default settings so that the router allocates each device an equal share of the bandwidth. You can reset the bandwidth distribution for download bandwidth and upload bandwidth separately.

  • Page 53: Add A Device For Traffic Prioritization

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router To prioritize traffic for a device and view prioritization information: Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. Enter the router admin user name and password.

  • Page 54: Stop Traffic Prioritization For A Device

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router To add a device for traffic prioritization: Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. Enter the router admin user name and password.

  • Page 55: Disable Automatic Traffic Prioritization

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router Select QoS. Scroll down to the Traffic Prioritization pane and click the trash icon next to the device. The device is removed from the Traffic Prioritization pane. Disable Automatic Traffic Prioritization By default, the router automatically prioritizes high-priority traffic such as games.You can disable this option.

  • Page 56: Chapter 5 Monitor Devices And The Network And View Router Information

    Monitor Devices and the Network and View Router Information This chapter describes how to monitor the devices on your network and the network itself and how to view the router system information. For more information about viewing the router logs, statistics, and network connection, see Maintain the Router on page 102.

  • Page 57: View And Manage Devices Currently On The Network

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router View and Manage Devices Currently on the Network You can view all computers and devices that are currently connected to your router network.You can change the settings that display on the page (you cannot change the actual settings for a device through the router), prevent a device from being displayed, and block a device from connecting to the Internet through router.

  • Page 58: View Network Usage Information

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router View Network Usage Information The router integrates deep packet inspection (DPI) so that you can view the devices, traffic categories, and applications that are using the upload and download bandwidth in your router network. You can then use...

  • Page 59: View Router System Information

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router The Category Breakdown pane displays and shows the traffic categories that are using download or upload bandwidth for your selection. You can take any of the following actions in the Category Breakdown pane: • To view traffic category volume details, point to the graph.
  • Page 60 XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router The name is crossed out and the graph excludes information about the CPU. Click the name of the CPU again to redisplay information about the CPU. To view usgae details about a CPU, point to a node on the graph.

  • Page 61: Customize The Dashboard

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router Customize the Dashboard By default, the Dashboard includes the following panes: • Internet Status • Wireless Status • Guest Wireless Status • Network Overview • CPU Usage • Installed R-Apps For information about these panes, see View Router System Information on page 59.
  • Page 62 XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router Point to a pane until the diagonal double-headed arrow displays at the lower right corner of the pane. Click the arrow and move the pane horizontally, vertically, or both. Release the pane. Monitor Devices and the Network and View Router Information...

  • Page 63: Chapter 6 Control Access To The Internet

    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: • Block Access to Internet Sites • Block Services and Applications With Simple Outbound Firewall Rules •...

  • Page 64: Block Access To Internet Sites

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router Block Access to Internet Sites You can block keywords and domains (websites) to prevent certain types of HTTP traffic from accessing your network. By default, keyword blocking is disabled and no domains are blocked. Add Keywords and Block Access to Specific Internet Sites You can add keywords to block specific Internet sites from your network.

  • Page 65: Delete Keywords From The Blocked List

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router Delete Keywords From the Blocked List To delete one or all keywords from the list: Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens.

  • Page 66: Block Services And Applications With Simple Outbound Firewall Rules

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router Your settings are saved. Block Services and Applications With Simple Outbound Firewall Rules A firewall protects one network (the trusted network, such as your LAN) from another (the untrusted network, such as the Internet), while allowing communication between the two.

  • Page 67: Change An Outbound Firewall Rule For A Service Or Application

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router To add a service that is in the Service Type menu, select the application or service. The settings for this service automatically display in the fields. To add a service or application that is not in the menu, select User Defined, and do the following: If you know that the application uses either TCP or UDP, select the appropriate protocol from the Protocol menu.

  • Page 68: Remove An Outbound Firewall Rule For A Service Or Application

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router For more information about the settings, see Block a Service or Application From Accessing the Internet on page 66. Click the Accept button. Your settings are saved. The changed rule displays in the Service Table on the Block Services page.

  • Page 69: Set Up Email Notifications For Security Events And Log Messages

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router 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 Dashboard displays. Select Settings > Content Filtering > Schedule.
  • Page 70 XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router The E-mail page displays. Select the Turn E-mail Notification On check box. In the Primary E-mail Address field, enter the email address that you want to send alerts and logs to. In the Your Outgoing Mail Server field, enter the name of your ISP outgoing (SMTP) mail server (such as mail.myISP.com).

  • Page 71: Chapter 7 Manage The Router's Network Settings

    Manage the Router’s 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.

  • Page 72: View Or Change Wan Settings

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router 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.

  • Page 73: Set Up A Default Dmz Server

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router Set Up a Default DMZ Server The default DMZ server feature is helpful when you are using some online games and videoconferencing applications that are incompatible with Network Address Translation (NAT). The router is programmed to recognize some of these applications and to work correctly with them, but other applications might not function well.

  • Page 74: Change The Router's Lan Ip Address And Rip Settings

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router To change the router’s device name: Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. Enter the router admin user name and password.

  • Page 75: Specify The Ip Addresses That The Router Assigns

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router In the IP Subnet Mask field, type the subnet mask of the router. The IP address and subnet mask identify which addresses are local to a specific device and which must be reached through a gateway or router.

  • Page 76: Disable The Dhcp Server Feature In The Router

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router 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 Dashboard displays. Select Settings > Setup > LAN Setup.

  • Page 77: Manage Reserved Lan Ip Addresses

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router The LAN Setup page displays. Clear the Use Router as DHCP Server check box. Click the Apply button. Your settings are saved. (Optional) If this service is disabled and no other DHCP server is available on your network, set your computer IP addresses manually so that the computers can access the router.

  • Page 78: Change A Reserved Ip Address

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router Click the Add button. The LAN Setup page displays again and the address is entered into the Address Reservation table on that page. Click the Apply button. Your settings are saved. The reserved address is not assigned until the next time the computer contacts the router’s DHCP server.

  • Page 79: Set Up A Bridge To Your Isp's Network Using A Port Group Or Vlan Tag Group

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router 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.

  • Page 80: Set Up A Bridge To Your Isp's Network Using A Vlan Tag Group

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router Select Settings > Advanced Settings > VLAN/Bridge Settings. The VLAN/Bridge Settings page displays. Select the Enable VLAN/Bridge group check box. The page expands. Select the By bridge group radio button. The page expands. Select a Wired Ports check box or a Wireless check box: •...

  • Page 81: Set Up An Iptv Port To Lease An Intranet Port

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router The page expands. Select the By VLAN tag group radio button. The page expands. Click the Add button. The Add VLAN Rule page displays. Specify the following settings: • Name. Enter a name for the VLAN tag group. The name can be up to 10 characters.

  • Page 82: Manage Custom Static Routes

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router The Dashboard displays. Select Settings > Advanced Settings > VLAN/Bridge Settings. The VLAN / Bridge Settings page displays. Select the Enable VLAN/Bridge Group check box. The page expands. Select the By bridge group radio button.

  • Page 83: Set Up A Static Route

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router Set Up a Static Route To set up a static route: Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. Enter the router admin user name and password.

  • Page 84: Delete A Static Route

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router 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 Dashboard displays. Select Settings > Advanced Settings > Static Routes.
  • Page 85 XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router To manage Universal Plug and Play: Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. Enter the router user name and password.

  • Page 86: Chapter 8 Manage The Router's Wifi Settings

    Manage the Router’s WiFi Settings The router comes ready for WiFi connections. You can customize the router’s WiFi settings. This chapter includes the following sections: • Specify Basic WiFi Settings • Change the WiFi Password or Security Level • Change the WiFi Mbps Mode for Download and Upload Speeds •...

  • Page 87: Specify Basic Wifi Settings

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router Specify Basic WiFi Settings The router comes with preset security. This means that the WiFi network name (SSID), network key (password), and security option (encryption protocol) are preset in the factory. You can find the preset SSID and password on the router label.
  • Page 88 XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router To specify a separate SSID and security option for each WiFi band, clear the Enable Smart Connect check box. To control the SSID broadcast, select or clear the Enable SSID Broadcast check box. When this check box is selected, the router broadcasts its SSID so that it displays when you scan for local WiFi networks on your computer or mobile device.

  • Page 89: Change The Wifi Password Or Security Level

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router Change the WiFi Password or Security Level The WiFi password is different from the admin password that you use to log in to the router. Your router comes with preset WPA2 or WPA security. We recommend that you use the preset security, but you can change the settings.

  • Page 90: Change The Wifi Mbps Mode For Download And Upload Speeds

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router Change the WiFi Mbps Mode for Download and Upload Speeds The data rate for high-speed transmissions is commonly identified as megabits per second (Mbps). By default, the router is set to operate with up to 800 Mbps in the 2.4 GHz WiFi band and up to 1,733 Mbps in the 5 GHz WiFi band.

  • Page 91: Configure Wpa/Wpa2 Enterprise Wifi Security

    Keep the default guest network name or type a custom name. The default guest WiFi network names (SSIDs) are as follows: • NETGEAR-Guest is for the 2.4 GHz WiFi band. • NETGEAR-5G-Guest is for the 5 GHz WiFi band. The guest network name is case-sensitive and can be up to 32 characters. You can configure the WiFi-enabled devices in your network to use the guest network name in addition to the main SSID.
  • Page 92 XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router If you want to change the WiFi settings of the router’s main network, use a wired connection to avoid being disconnected when the new WiFi settings take effect. To configure WPA and WPA2 enterprise security: Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network.

  • Page 93: Configure Wep Legacy Wifi Security

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router • Is your computer or mobile device connected to another WiFi network in your area? Some mobile devices automatically connect to the first open network without WiFi security that they discover. • Is your computer or mobile device trying to connect to your network with its old settings (before you changed the settings)? If so, update the WiFi network selection in your computer or mobile device to match the current settings for your network.

  • Page 94: Control The Wifi Radios

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router From the Authentication Type menu, select one of the following types: • Automatic. Clients can use either Open System or Shared Key authentication. • Shared Key. Clients can use only Shared Key authentication. From the Encryption Strength menu, select the encryption key size: •...

  • Page 95: Enable Or Disable The Wifi Radios

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router Enable or Disable the WiFi Radios If you used the WiFi On/Off button to turn off the WiFi radios, you can’t log in to the router to turn them back on. You must press the WiFi On/Off button again for two seconds to turn the WiFi radios back on.

  • Page 96: Set Up A Wifi Schedule

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router The page adjusts. Select a setup method: • Push button. Click the WPS button on this page. • PIN Number. The page adjusts again. Enter the client security PIN and click the Next button. Within two minutes, go to the WPS-enabled device and use its WPS software to connect to the WiFi network.

  • Page 97: Specify Wps Settings

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router Specify WPS Settings Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) lets you join the WiFi network without typing the WiFi password. In most situations, you do not need to change these settings. If you need to change the settings, you can...

  • Page 98: Manage Mu-Mimo

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router To disable implicit beamforming: Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. 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.

  • Page 99: Manage Ht160 For 160 Mhz Wifi Support

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router Manage HT160 for 160 MHz WiFi Support HT160 supports 160 MHz for WiFi traffic, reducing lag and improving gaming and streaming data speeds. Note that the WiFi clients that connect to the router must be capable of supporting 160 MHz, and they must be connected to the 5 GHz WiFi network.

  • Page 100: Use The Router As A Wifi Access Point Only

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router 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.
  • Page 101 XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router 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, access point, or gateway and use this router only for WiFi client access.

  • Page 102: Chapter 9 Maintain The Router

    Maintain the Router This chapter describes the settings for administering and maintaining your router. For information about monitoring devices and the network and viewing the router system information, see Monitor Devices and the Network and View Router Information on page 56. The chapter includes the following sections: •...

  • Page 103: Update The Router Firmware

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router Update the Router Firmware You can log in to the router and check to see 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.

  • Page 104: Manually Upload Firmware To The Router

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router If the login window does not open automatically, enter http://www.routerlogin.net in your web browser. 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.

  • Page 105: Change The Admin Password

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router The Firmware Update page displays. Click the Browse button. Find and select the saved firmware file on your computer. Click the Upload button. The router begins the update. WARNING: To avoid the risk of corrupting the firmware, do not interrupt the update. For example, do not close the browser, click a link, or load a new page.

  • Page 106: Enable Admin Password Recovery

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router The Dashboard displays. Select Settings > Administration > Set Password. The Set Password page displays. Type the old password in the Old Password field. This is the password that you specified the first time that you logged in to the router.

  • Page 107: Manage The Router Configuration File

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router A login window opens. Click the Cancel button. If password recovery is enabled, you are prompted to enter the serial number of the router. The serial number is on the router label. Enter the serial number of the router.

  • Page 108: Restore The Configuration Settings

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router Restore the Configuration Settings To restore the configuration settings that you backed up: Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens.

  • Page 109: Manage Remote Access

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router WARNING: Do not interrupt the restart process. After the restart process is complete, the user name is admin, the password is password, and the LAN IP address is 192.168.1.1. DHCP is enabled. Manage Remote Access You can access your router over the Internet to view or change its settings.

  • Page 110: Use Remote Access

    103. To download the latest genie app for your computer or mobile device, visit netgear.com/genie. For more information about how to set up remote access using the genie app, see the genie app user manual, which is available at downloadcenter.netgear.com/.

  • Page 111: Restrict Internet Traffic By Volume

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router 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.

  • Page 112: Restrict Internet Traffic By Connection Time

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router In the Traffic Counter section, set the traffic counter to begin at a specific time and date. In the Pop up a warning message field, enter a value in minutes to specify when the router issues a warning message before the monthly limit in hours is reached.

  • Page 113: View The Internet Traffic Volume And Statistics

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router In the Traffic Counter section, set the traffic counter to begin at a specific time and date. In the Pop up a warning message field, enter a value in minutes to specify when the router issues a warning message before the monthly limit in hours is reached.

  • Page 114: Unblock The Traffic Meter After The Traffic Limit Is Reached

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router Unblock the Traffic Meter After the Traffic Limit Is Reached If you configured the traffic meter to disconnect and disable the Internet connection after the traffic limit is reached, you cannot access the Internet until you unblock the traffic meter.
  • Page 115 XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router Select Settings > Monitoring > Logs. The Logs page displays. Depending on the type of log entry, a log entry can show any of the following information: • Action. The action that occurred, such as whether Internet access was blocked or allowed.

  • Page 116: Display Internet Port Statistics

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router Display Internet Port Statistics To display Internet port statistics: Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. Enter the router admin user name and password.

  • Page 117: Restart The Router From Its Web Interface

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router A login window opens. 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.

  • Page 118: View Router Notifications

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router The Dashboard displays. Select System Information. The page that displays shows multiple panes. In the System Info pane, click the System Info menu icon. The Options pane displays. Click the REBOOT button. A pop-up window displays a warning.
  • Page 119 XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router A login window opens. 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.

  • Page 120: Chapter 10 Share Usb Storage Devices Attached To The Router

    Manage Access to a USB Storage Device • Use FTP Within the Network • Manage Network Folders on a USB Storage Device • Approve USB Devices • Safely Remove a USB Storage Device For more information about ReadySHARE features, visit netgear.com/readyshare.

  • Page 121: Usb Device Requirements

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router 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.

  • Page 122: Map A Usb Device To A Windows Network Drive

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router When you connect the USB storage device to the router’s port, it might take up to two minutes before it is ready for sharing. By default, the USB storage device is available to all computers on your local area network (LAN).

  • Page 123: Access A Storage Device That Is Connected To The Router From A Mac

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router Access a Storage Device That Is Connected to the Router From a Mac From a computer or device on the network, you can access a storage device that is connected to the router. To access the device from a Mac: Connect a USB storage device to a USB port on your router.

  • Page 124: Back Up Mac Computers With Time Machine

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router Download ReadySHARE Vault from netgear.com/readyshare and install it on each Windows-based computer. Launch ReadySHARE Vault. Use the dashboard or the Backup tab to set up and run your backup. Back Up Mac Computers With Time Machine You can use Time Machine to back up your Mac computers onto a USB hard drive that is connected to one of the router’s USB ports.

  • Page 125: Prepare To Back Up A Large Amount Of Data

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router Prepare to Back Up a Large Amount of Data Before you back up a large amount of data with Time Machine, we recommend that you follow this procedure. To prepare to back up a large amount of data: Upgrade the operating system of the Mac computer.

  • Page 126: Manage Access To A Usb Storage Device

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router On a Mac computer that is connected to the network, launch Finder and select Go > Connect to Server. The Connect to Server window opens. Type smb://routerlogin.net and click the Connect button. When prompted, select the Registered User radio button.
  • Page 127 Set Up and Manage Dynamic DNS on page 133), you can also type a URL domain name. For example, if your domain name is MyName and you use the NETGEAR DDNS server, you can type ftp://MyName.mynetgear.com to access the USB device over the Internet and download or upload files.

  • Page 128: Use Ftp Within The Network

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router Use FTP Within the Network File Transfer Protocol (FTP) lets you send and receive large files faster. To set up FTP access: Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network.

  • Page 129: Add A Network Folder On A Usb Storage Device

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router The Available Networks Folder section shows the following information for an attached USB device: • Share Name. The default share name is USB_Storage (as in \\readyshare\USB_Storage). • Read Access and Write Access. Show the permissions and access controls on the network folder.

  • Page 130: Change A Network Folder On A Usb Storage Device

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router Change a Network Folder on a USB Storage Device You can change network folders on a USB storage device that is connected to a router USB port. To change a network folder: Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network.

  • Page 131: Safely Remove A Usb Storage Device

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router By default the Yes radio button is selected. This setting lets you connect and access all your USB devices. Click the Approved Devices button. The USB Drive Approved Devices page displays. In the Available USB Devices table, select the USB device that you want to approve.
  • Page 132 Use Dynamic DNS to Access USB Storage Devices Through the Internet With Dynamic DNS, you can use the Internet to access USB storage devices that are attached to the router’s USB ports when you are not home. This chapter includes the following sections: •...

  • Page 133: Internet

    With a customized free URL, you can use FTP to access your network when you are not home through Dynamic DNS. Before you set up your FTP server, register for a NETGEAR Dynamic DNS (DDNS) service account and specify the account settings.

  • Page 134: Set Up A New Dynamic Dns Account

    Follow the instructions on the page 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.

  • Page 135: Change The Dynamic Dns Settings

    For a No-IP or Dyn account, in the User Name field, type the user name for your account. For a NETGEAR account at No-IP, in the Email field, type the email address for your account. In the Password (6-32 characters) field, type the password for your DDNS account.

  • Page 136: Access Usb Storage Devices Through The Internet

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router Access USB Storage Devices Through the Internet If you connect a USB storage device to the router, you can access the USB device through the Internet when you are not home. After you gain access, you can use FTP to share files on the USB device.

  • Page 137: Use Ftp To Access Storage Devices Through The Internet

    Type ftp:// and the Internet port IP address in the address field of the browser. For example, if your IP address is 10.1.65.4, type ftp://10.1.65.4. If you are using Dynamic DNS, your domain name is MyName, and you use the NETGEAR DDNS server, type the DNS name ftp://MyName.mynetgear.com.

  • Page 138: Chapter 12 Use The Router As A Media Server

    Use the Router as a Media Server The router comes set up to work as a ReadyDLNA media server. You can set up the router to play music from iTunes server and media from TiVo. This chapter contains the following sections: •...

  • Page 139: Specify Readydlna Media Server Settings

    Specify ReadyDLNA Media Server Settings By default, the router functions 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. To specify media server settings: Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network.

  • Page 140: Set Up The Router's Itunes Server With Itunes

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router iPad. You can also use the Apple Remote app from an iPhone or iPad to play music on any AirPlay devices, such as Apple TV or AirPlay-supported receivers. Supported music file formats are MP3, AAC, and FLAC. The maximum number of music files supported is 10,000.

  • Page 141: Set Up The Router's Itunes Server With The Remote App

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router Set Up the Router’s iTunes Server With the Remote App You can play music from a USB storage device that is connected to your router on your iPhone or iPad using the Apple Remote app.

  • Page 142: Set Up The Router To Work With Tivo

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router Set Up the Router to Work With TiVo You can set up your TiVo to access media files stored on a USB storage device that is connected to your router. The TiVo must be on the same network as the router. This feature supports the following file formats: •...

  • Page 143: Chapter 13 Share A Usb Printer

    The ReadySHARE Printer utility lets you share a USB printer that is connected to the USB port on your router. 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.

  • Page 144: Install The Printer Driver And Cable The Printer

    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.

  • Page 145: Print Using The Netgear Usb Control Center

    If your document does not print, use the NETGEAR USB Control Center to check the printer status. To release the printer so that all computers on the network can use it, click the Disconnect button.

  • Page 146: View Or Change The Status Of A Printer

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router View or Change the Status of a Printer To view or change the status: Click the NETGEAR USB Control Center icon The NETGEAR USB Control Center page displays. The Status column shows the status for each device: •...

  • Page 147: Change Netgear Usb Control Center Settings

    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.

  • Page 148: Specify The Usb Control Center Time-Out

    Specify the USB Control Center Time-Out Specify the time-out to release the printer connection. To specify the time-out: Click the NETGEAR USB Control Center icon Select Tools > Configuration. The NETGEAR USB Control Center page displays. In the Timeout field, type the number of minutes.

  • Page 149: Chapter 14 Use Vpn To Access Your Network

    Use VPN to Access Your Network You can use OpenVPN software to remotely access your router using virtual private networking (VPN). This chapter describes how to set up VPN service in the router and use VPN access. The chapter includes the following sections: •...

  • Page 150: Set Up A Vpn Connection

    To use a DDNS service, register for an account with a host name (sometimes called a domain name). You use the host name to access your network. The router supports these accounts: NETGEAR, No-IP, and Dyn. For more information, see Set Up and Manage Dynamic DNS on page 133.

  • Page 151: Install Openvpn Software

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router Note By default, the Auto radio button is selected, which lets the router use an automatic detection system that enables VPN access only for necessary services and sites and might not include full Internet access. For information about the other options, see...
  • Page 152 XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router To install the OpenVPN client utility on your computer, click the openVPN-install-xxx.exe file. Click the Next button. Read the License Agreement and click the I Agree button. Leave the check boxes selected as shown in the previous figure, and click the Next button.

  • Page 153: Install Openvpn Software On Your Mac Computer

    In the local area connection list, find the local area connection with the device name TAP-Windows Adapter. Select the local area connection and change its name (not its device name) to NETGEAR-VPN. If you do not change the VPN interface name, the VPN tunnel connection will fail.

  • Page 154: Install Openvpn Software On An Ios Device

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router Select Settings > Advanced Settings > VPN Service. The VPN Service page displays. If you did not yet enable VPN service, select the Enable VPN Service check box and click the Apply button. Your settings are saved.

  • Page 155: Install Openvpn Software On An Android Device

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router Note that when you open the file, a list of apps displays. Select the OpenVPN Connect app to .ovpn open the file. .ovpn For more information about using OpenVPN on your iOS device, visit http://www.vpngate.net/en/howto_openvpn.aspx#ios.

  • Page 156: Use Vpn To Access The Router's Usb Storage Device And Media From A Windows-Based Computer

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router same LAN IP scheme, when the VPN tunnel is established, you cannot access your home router or your home network with the OpenVPN software. The default LAN IP address scheme for the router is 192.x.x.x. The most common IP schemes are 192.x.x.x, 172.x.x.x, and 10.x.x.x.

  • Page 157: Allow Vpn Client Internet Access In The Router

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router Then router lets you use a VPN connection to access your own Internet service when you are away from home. You might want to do this if you travel to a geographic location that does not support all the Internet services that you use at home.

  • Page 158: Use A Vpn Tunnel To Access Your Internet Service At Home

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router access. You can change the settings to allow access to your home network only and block access to the Internet. To allow VPN clients to access your home network only: Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network.

  • Page 159: Chapter 15 Use Vpn To Access An External Network

    Use VPN to Access An External Network You can use the router as a VPN client (as opposed to a VPN server) to let devices on the router s network securely access an external network using virtual private networking (VPN). This chapter describes how to set up the router as a VPN client and use VPN access.

  • Page 160: Set Up A Vpn Client Connection

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router Set Up a VPN Client Connection In addition to using a virtual private network (VPN) to securely access your own network over the Internet when you are not home (see Use VPN to Access Your Network on page 149), you can also set up the router as a VPN client to let devices on the router s network securely access an external network, while protection...
  • Page 161 XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router Select Settings > Advanced Settings > VPN Client. The VPN Client page displays. Select the Enable VPN Client check box. The VPN settings on the page becomes available. If you do not own a license a predefined VPN services, do the following: From the VPN Server menu, select a VPN provider.

  • Page 162: Disconnect The Router From The Vpn Server

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router Disconnect the Router From the VPN Server To disconnect the router from the VPN server and terminate the VPN connection: Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network.

  • Page 163: Chapter 16 Manage And Customize Internet Traffic Rules For Ports

    Manage and Customize Internet Traffic Rules for Ports 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 for Services and Applications •...

  • Page 164: Manage Port Forwarding To A Local Server For Services And Applications

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router Manage Port Forwarding to a Local Server for Services and Applications 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.

  • Page 165: Add A Custom Port Forwarding Service Or Application

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router Add a Custom Port Forwarding Service or Application The router comes with default services and applications that you can use for port forwarding. If the service or application is not predefined, you can add a custom port forwarding service or application.

  • Page 166: Change A Port Forwarding Service Or Application

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router Change a Port Forwarding Service or Application To change a port forwarding service or application: Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens.

  • Page 167: Application Example: Make A Local Web Server Public

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router Application Example: Make a Local Web Server Public If you host a web server on your local network, you can use port forwarding to allow web requests from anyone on the Internet to reach your web server.

  • Page 168: Add A Port Triggering Service Or Application

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router router temporarily opens the incoming port or ports that you specify for your port triggering service or application and forwards that incoming traffic to that destination. Port forwarding creates a static mapping of a port number or range of ports to a single local computer. Port triggering can dynamically open ports to any computer when needed and close the ports when they are no longer needed.

  • Page 169: Enable Port Triggering And Specify The Time-Out Value

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router Your settings are saved, the page closes, the Port Triggering page displays again, and the service or application is added to the Port Triggering Portmap Table. You must make sure that port triggering is enabled before the router can use port triggering. See...

  • Page 170: Remove A Port Triggering Service Or Application

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router 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 Dashboard displays. Select Settings > Advanced Settings > Port Triggering.

  • Page 171: Disable Port Triggering

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router Disable Port Triggering By default, port triggering is enabled. You can disable port triggering temporarily without removing any port triggering services or applications from the Port Triggering Portmap Table. To disable port triggering: Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network.
  • Page 172 XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router The IRC server sends a return message to your router using the NAT-assigned source port (for example, port 33333) as the destination port and sends an “identify” message to your router with destination port 113.

  • Page 173: Chapter 17 Troubleshooting

    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 netgear.com/support for product and contact information. The chapter contains the following sections: •...

  • Page 174: Quick Tips

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router 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: Turn off and unplug the modem. Turn off the router.

  • Page 175: Standard Led Behavior When The Router Is Powered On

    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. This can happen if a firmware update is interrupted, or if the router detects a problem with the firmware.

  • Page 176: Wifi Leds Are Off

    • 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. NETGEAR does not support such a configuration.
  • Page 177 XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router To check the WAN IP address: Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network. Select an external site such as netgear.com. Type http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens.

  • Page 178: Troubleshoot Internet Browsing

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router If your computer obtains its information from the router by DHCP, reboot the computer and verify the gateway address. • You might be running login software that is no longer needed. If your ISP provided a program to log you in to the Internet (such as WinPoET), you no longer need to run that software after installing your router.

  • Page 179: Troubleshoot Your Network Using The Ping Utility

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router of the router and computer or mobile device must match exactly. The default SSID and password are on the router label (see Router Label on page 15). • Does the computer or mobile device that you are using find your WiFi network? If not, check the WiFi LED on the front of the router.

  • Page 180: Test The Lan Path To Your Router

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router • Check to see that IP address of your router is listed as the default gateway for your computer. If DHCP assigns the IP configuration of your computers, this information is not visible in your computer Network Control Panel.

  • Page 181: Appendix A Supplemental Information

    Supplemental Information This appendix includes technical information about your router. The appendix contains the following sections: • Factory Settings • Technical Specifications...

  • Page 182: Factory Settings

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router Factory Settings You can return the router to its factory settings. Use the end of a paper clip or a similar object to press and hold the Reset button on the back of the router for up to 30 seconds or until the Power LED starts blinking amber.
  • Page 183 XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router Table 3. Router model XR500 factory default settings (Continued) Feature Default Setting General WiFi WiFi communication Enabled settings Smart Connect Enabled 20/40 MHz Coexistence Enabled SSID name See router label Broadcast SSID Enabled Security WPA2-PSK (AES) RF channel 2.4 GHz: Auto...

  • Page 184: Technical Specifications

    XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router Technical Specifications Table 4. Router model XR500 technical specifications Feature Description Data and routing protocols TCP/IP, RIP-1, RIP-2, DHCP, PPPoE, PPTP, Bigpond, Dynamic DNS, UPnP, and Power adapter North America: 100–240V, 50/60 Hz input UK, Australia: 100–240V, 50/60 Hz, input Europe: 100–240V, 50/60 Hz input...
  • Page 185 Maximum wireless signal rate derived from IEEE Standard 802.11 specifications. Actual throughput can vary. Network conditions and environmental factors, including volume of network traffic, building materials and construction, and network overhead, lower actual data throughput rate. NETGEAR makes no express or implied representations or warranties about this product’s compatibility with any future standards. Note For more information, see the data sheet, which is available at downloadcenter.netgear.com.

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