DS Network Setup:Configuring the Router
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Recommended Router
The guidelines that follow apply to the Netgear RP614. Other routers may be used to achieve the same goal (ie to create a subnetwork in a specific IP address range) but detailed setup instructions for alternative devices will not be given here. Note - whichever router is used, it must have an ethernet WAN (outside) port. A standard DSL modem router with a "telephone" style socket port is not suitable.
The following instuctions assume the RP614 router being used has the standard factory default configuration. If this is not the case, the product should be reset to factory defaults by using the button on the back of the device. The instructions shown apply to an RP614v4 with firmware v1.0.5_04.23. If a different version of hardware or firmware is being used the instructions and screenshots may be slightly different.
Subnetwork
The router here is being used to create a 192.168.72.x subnetwork (ie all IP addresses in the range 192.168.72.0... 255) as shown in the diagram.
This enables a fully functional, isolated network to be constructed without the need to configure any existing router that is being used for internet access. This is desirable since changes to an internet router, supplied by an Internet Service Provider (ISP), may invalidate the warranty or affect the level of technical support offered by the ISP in the event of any interruptions or faults relating to the internet connection.
[Note:In the very unlikely case that your internet router has an IP address of 192.168.72.x - configure the router to create a subnet in a different range (example 192.168.73.x) by modifying the IP addresses in the following instructions accordingly.]
Configuration
Switch off or disable any wireless connection on your PC, then connect your PC to the router LAN port directly with an ethernet cable. The PC should be set to obtain IP address automatically by DHCP. At this stage only the PC and the router should be connected. Leave any other devices disconnected. The installation CD which comes with the router is not required at this stage.
Open a browser and go to http://routerlogin.net - you will get a login prompt.
The username is "admin" - the password is "password"
The first page reads "Would you like help setting up your network?" click "No" and then "Next". This will take you to a "Basic Settings" page. Ignore these settings and go straight to "Advanced / LAN IP Setup".
Change the IP address to 192.168.72.1 as follows:
Set ""IP Address" to "192.168.72.1"
Change the DHCP range to 192.168.72.100...200 as follows:
Set "Starting IP Address" to "192.168.72.100"
Set "Ending IP Address" to "192.168.72.200"
The LAN IP Setup page should now look like this:
Click "Apply". The router will now reboot and return with its new IP configuration.
To ensure that your PC has a new valid IP address, either reboot the PC, or (better) open a command prompt (start / programs / accessories / command prompt) and type "ipconfig" then enter. This will show the IP address of the network adaptor (NIC).
If it's still showing 192.168.1.2, type "ipconfig /release" then enter. When the prompt reappears, type "ipconfig /renew" then enter. This will force it to refresh its IP address which should now be 192.168.72.100
Appendix
IP Address Reservation
The RP614 can be configured to consistently assign the same IP address to a particular device. It does this by maintaining a list of every device which sent a DHCP request, with each device being recognised by its unique MAC address. Dynamic IP assignment (DHCP) allows all IP addresses to be managed from one location (ie the DHCP server on the router). Fixed IP allows a device to be located at a consistent address on the network enabling browser shortcuts to be created for the device's web interface etc. Address reservation gives us the "best of both worlds" by allowing dynamic assignment of a static IP address. To reserve an IP address for a particular device goto the RP614 LAN IP Setup page then click "Add" under Address Reservation. You should find each device listed. Click on a device to fix its IP address.
Network Positioning
In the diagram shown, since Device 1 and Device 2 reside in separate subnets, some advanced configuration would be required to allow Device 2 to access Device 1.
To allow all home PCs to access the DS system, NAS, etc., without the need for any advanced configuration of the internet router, it is best to position all devices in the 192.168.72.x subnet as shown below. When a device is moved into the subnet it will normally have to be rebooted to get its new (192.168.72.x) IP address, after which it should perform just as before.
Wireless access to the subnet can be provided by positioning the recommended WAP within the subnet.
[Note: In this configuration, if the internet router has an integrated wireless access point (WAP), it will not be able to access any devices on the 192.168.72.x subnet]
Port Forwarding
If you have configured port-forwarding on your internet router, to allow incoming connections to particular devices, then you may need to port-forward through both routers. If the devices requiring port-forwarding don't need access to the DS subnet, then connect these devices directly to the internet router and no further configuration is required. If they do need access to the DS subnet, configure both routers as follows:
Step 1: Fix the WAN IP address of RP614 router
In the normal setup above the WAN IP address was left as normal DHCP. The best way to fix the RP614 WAN IP address is to fix it (address reservation) in the DHCP server on the internet router. If this is not possible (and some routers don't allow this) then you would have to set the RP614 WAN address as manually in the RP614. In this case you will also need to set the default gateway and DNS server addresses to the internet router LAN address.
Step 2: Modify port forwarding in internet router:
Change the existing port-forwarding rules on the internet router to direct the relevant traffic to the RP614 router WAN IP address which you set in Step 1.
Step 3: Add port forwarding in RP614 router
Put the same port-forwarding rule in place, but put the IP address of the device, in the subnet, that needs to receive the traffic.