Your router is the backbone of your home network. Properly configuring your router will protect your information from prying eyes, securely connect all the devices in your home to the internet, and even keep your children from looking at things they’re not supposed to. In this Blog, You will understand how to get your router configured.

 1- Connecting to the Router

Connect your router to your computer and your modem. Use Ethernet cables to connect your modem to your router’s WAN/WLAN/Internet port, and secure your computer to the 1,2,3 or 4rth dock. Open a web browser. Your router’s configuration page can be accessed by any computer connected to the same network. When configuring your router, you will have the best results if you click a wired computer to the router with an Ethernet cable. Enter your router’s address. Routers are accessed through your web browser by entering the IP address into the address bar. The IP address varies by manufacturer, but most are the same or very close. Most routers have their default address printed in the documentation or sticker on the router itself. You can also look it up online on the manufacturer’s website, or if the given router’s address doesn’t work for you, you can simply reset your router to its default state.  Enter your username and password. Before you access the configuration page, you’ll be asked for a username and password. Most routers will come with a default username/password combo, while some allow you to proceed without entering anything. Your router’s documentation will tell you the default username and password required. They may also be printed on the router itself. “admin” is one of the most common default usernames. “admin” or “password” are two of the most common passwords. Reset your router if you can’t access it. If you’ve looked up your default address and username/password combo and still can’t access your router, you can reset it to factory defaults to clear out any changes it may have made. This is useful for second-hand routers or old modifications that you can’t remember. You can reset your router by pressing the Reset button on it. This button is usually tiny and can only be reached by a paper clip. Some routers have a button that users can press more easily. You’ll know the router is reset once you see the lights flashing. After pressing the reset button, wait 30-60 seconds and then enter the router’s address and username/password combination again. Assign the router a new username and password. Leaving your router with the default username and password is very insecure, and you should change it immediately after setting it up. You can usually find this in the Administration section of the router configuration. Choose a username and password that people can’t easily guess. Include numbers and symbols in the password to make it hard to crack.

2- Setting up a Wireless Network

Check your Internet settings. In the Internet, Setup, or Home menu of your router, check that your Internet IP address, DCHP, and DNS settings are all set. Unless your service provider informs you otherwise, these should typically be set to automatic. Many routers will provide a test button on the Internet menu page. Click it to check if your internet settings are configured correctly. Open the Wireless settings. This menu may be called Wireless, Wireless Settings, Basic Setup, or something similar. This page will display your wireless SSID, channel, encryption, and other settings. Name your network. Find the field labelled SSID. This is the name of your network, and it will appear in the list of available networks for your wireless devices. Be sure not to put personal information in your network name, as the name will be public. Make sure that the “Enable SSID Broadcast” box is checked. The Channel should be set to Auto. If you have a lot of wireless networks in your area, your router will automatically move the network to a clean channel. Choose your wireless encryption. This can also be called the Security Options. Here you’ll be able to choose which method you want to use to encrypt your network traffic. The options for most routers are WEP, WPA-PSK, and WPA2-PSK. WPA2 is the most secure encryption mode, and you should use it if all your devices support it. Only older devices do not support WPA2. Choose a passphrase. The passphrase is what you enter when a device connects to your network. A strong passphrase will help protect your network from unwanted intruders. You should always have a passphrase for your network. Apply your settings. Once you have chosen your SSID, encryption type, and passphrase, click the Apply or Save button to start your wireless network. Your router will process for a few seconds, and then your wireless network will be detectable by your wireless devices.

3- Forwarding Ports

Open the Port Forwarding menu. Users can usually find this in the Advanced section of the router’s configuration page. Add a new service or rule. Click the button to add a custom service. This will open a form where you can enter the port forwarding information. Name/Service Name – This is the program you are port forwarding for. The name is only for you to recognise in a list quickly. Protocol – Your options are TCP, UDP, and TCP/UDP. Refer to the program you are forwarding the port for to see what option you should choose. External Starting Port – This is the first port in the range of ports you want to open. External Ending Port – This is the last port in the range of ports you want to open. If you are only opening one port, enter the same port into this field. Check the box that uses the same port range for the Internal ports or fill out the same information for the Internal port fields. Internal IP address – This is the IP address for the computer that you want to open the port for. To find out the IP address for the device. Save or Apply the rule. Your router will process for a few moments and then apply the changes. Your program will now be able to access the open port for the computer you specified.

4- Blocking Websites

Open the Block Sites menu. You can find this in the configuration menu’s Security or Parental Controls section. You can block sites from being accessed by any device on your network, though you can allow specific devices to access them. You can also set a block schedule, which is especially useful for homework time or when you need to focus on work. Add a site to the block list. Your options will change depending on the router you are using. Some routers allow you to block keywords as well as specific areas. Add what you want to stop to the list. Allow trusted computers to view blocked sites. You can check a box to allow trusted IP addresses to view blocked sites. This can be useful for parents who still want access to the areas that they’ve blocked for their kids. Once you’ve checked the box, add the IP addresses you want to bypass the blocks. Set your block schedule. This may be in a separate menu from the block list. You can select which days of the week you want the block to take effect, and the time of day it is implemented. Once you are done, click the Apply button.