3. In the Network Address Server Settings (DHCP) section (see Figure 3.22), click Enable. 84 Networking with Microsoft ® Windows Vista ™ 3 FIGURE 3.22 On most Linksys routers, use the Setup tab’s Basic Setup subtab to enable the DHCP server. 4. Use the Starting IP Address text box to specify the first address in the range of IP addresses that the server can assign. 5. Use the Maximum Number of DHCP Users text box to limit the num- ber of DHCP leases that the server can assign. This isn’t important on a small network, and the default value of 50 is more than enough. 6. Use the Client Lease Time text box to specify the time, in minutes, that each client can keep its IP address. The default value of 0—which cor- responds to one day—is fine for most small networks. 7. At the bottom of the page, click Save Settings. The router reports that the Settings are successful. 8. Click Continue. Netgear On most Netgear routers, here are the steps to follow to enable the DHCP server: 1. Under Advanced, click the LAN IP Setup link. The LAN IP Setup page appears, as shown in Figure 3.23. 2. Click to activate the Use Router as DHCP Server check box. 3. Use the Starting IP Address text box to specify the first address in the range of IP addresses that the server can assign. You can see a list of DHCP clients on most Linksys routers by clicking the Status tab, clicking the Local Network subtab, and then click- ing DHCP Clients Table. note Please purchase PDF Split-Merge on www.verypdf.com to remove this watermark. FIGURE 3.23 On most Netgear routers, use the LAN IP Setup page to enable the DHCP server. Modifying Wireless Settings If your router includes a wireless access point (AP), you need to configure a few settings before making wireless connections to the AP. On most routers, you can configure the following settings: Network name This is the name of your wireless network, which is often called the service set identifier, or SSID. All routers come with a default SSID, usually some variation on the man- ufacturer’s name, such as linksys or belkin54g. Changing the SSID to something memorable will help you to identify your network in Vista’s list of available wireless networks, and it will avoid confusion with other nearby wireless networks that still use the default name. CHAPTER 3 Configuring Your Router 85 3 4. Use the Ending IP Address text box to specify the last address in the range of IP addresses that the server can assign. 5. Click Apply. You can see the list of DHCP clients on most Netgear routers by clicking the LAN IP Setup link under Advanced and then scrolling to the Address Reservation section. note Please purchase PDF Split-Merge on www.verypdf.com to remove this watermark. SSID broadcasting This setting determines whether your router broadcasts the SSID, which makes the wireless network visible in Windows Vista’s list of available networks. It’s best to enable SSID broadcasting when you first make your con- nections to the wireless network. However, Windows Vista can remember the networks you’ve connected to in the past, so you can later disable SSID broadcasting as a security measure. (Although see Chapter 15, “Implementing Wireless Security,” for some important information on just how secure this tactic really is.) ➔ For more information on disabling SSID broadcasting, see “Disabling Network SSID Broad- casting,” p. 347. Wireless mode This tells the router which Wi-Fi standard—802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, or 802.11b—to implement. If your router supports more than one standard, you can con- figure the router to use multiple standards (for exam- ple, both 802.11b and 802.11g; this is often called mixed mode) or just a single standard. For example, if all your wireless devices use 802.11g, you should con- figure the router to use only that standard. Wireless channel This setting determines the radio frequency (RF) band that the wireless AP uses to transmit and receive signals. For successful wireless networking connections, all your net- working devices must use the same channel. The next few sections show you how to configure these wireless settings in var- ious routers. Belkin Follow these steps to configure wireless settings on most Belkin routers: 1. Under Wireless, click the Channel and SSID link to display the Channel and SSID page, shown in Figure 3.24. 2. Use the SSID text box to specify the network name you want to use. 3. Use the ESSID Broadcast group to click either Enable or Disable. 4. Use the Wireless Mode list to select a wireless mode. 5. Use the Wireless Channel list to select a frequency (or click Auto to let the router select the correct frequency automatically). 6. Click Apply Changes. 86 Networking with Microsoft ® Windows Vista ™ 3 Please purchase PDF Split-Merge on www.verypdf.com to remove this watermark. FIGURE 3.24 On most Belkin routers, use the Channel and SSID page to configure the wireless settings. D-Link On most D-Link routers, here are the steps to follow to configure wireless set- tings: 1. Click the Setup tab (or, on some D-Link routers, the Basic tab). 2. Click Wireless Settings to display the Wireless Network page, shown in Figure 3.25. CHAPTER 3 Configuring Your Router 87 3 FIGURE 3.25 On your D-Link router, use the Wireless Network page to change the wireless settings. Please purchase PDF Split-Merge on www.verypdf.com to remove this watermark. 3. Make sure the Enable Wireless check box is activated. 4. Use the Wireless Network Name text box to specify the network name you want to use. 5. If you want the router to automatically select the correct channel for your network, leave the Enable Auto Channel Scan check box acti- vated; otherwise, deactivate Enable Auto Channel Scan, and then use the Wireless Channel list to select a frequency. 6. If you want the router to only use 802.11g, click to activate the 802.11g Only Mode check box. 7. To prevent the router from broadcasting the network name, click to activate the Enable Hidden Wireless check box. 8. Click Save Settings. The router restarts to put the new settings into effect. Linksys Follow these steps to configure wireless settings on most Linksys routers: 1. Click the Wireless tab. 2. Click the Basic Wireless Settings subtab, shown in Figure 3.26. 88 Networking with Microsoft ® Windows Vista ™ 3 FIGURE 3.26 On most Linksys routers, use the Wireless tab’s Basic Wireless Settings subtab to configure the wireless AP. 3. Use the Wireless Network Mode list to select a wireless mode. 4. Use the Wireless Network Name (SSID) text box to specify the network name you want to use. Please purchase PDF Split-Merge on www.verypdf.com to remove this watermark. 5. Use the Wireless Channel list to select a frequency. 6. Use the Wireless SSID Broadcast group to click either Enable or Disable. 7. At the bottom of the page, click Save Settings. The router reports that the Settings are successful. 8. Click Continue. Netgear On most Netgear routers, here are the steps to follow to configure the wireless AP settings: 1. Under Setup, click the Wireless Settings link. The Wireless Settings page appears, as shown in Figure 3.27. CHAPTER 3 Configuring Your Router 89 3 FIGURE 3.27 On most Netgear routers, use the Wireless Settings page to configure the wireless AP. 3. Use the Name (SSID) text box to specify the network name you want to use. 4. Use the Channel list to select a frequency. 5. Use the Mode list to select a wireless mode. 6. Click Apply. 7. Under Advanced, click the Wireless Settings link to display the Advanced Wireless Settings page. 8. Use the Enable SSID Broadcast check box to toggle SSID broadcasting on and off. 9. Click Apply. Please purchase PDF Split-Merge on www.verypdf.com to remove this watermark. Checking the Router Status All routers come with a status page that provides you with the router’s current settings in various categories, including the following: ■ The router’s current firmware version and serial number. ■ The router’s Media Access Control (MAC) address and internal IP address. ■ Whether features such as the DHCP server, network address translation (NAT), and the firewall are enabled or disabled. ■ The wireless network settings (SSID, mode, channel, and so on). ■ Internet connection settings such as the external MAC address, the external IP address, and the addresses for your ISP’s gateway and DNS servers. The next few sections show you how to display the status page for various routers. Belkin To view the status page in most Belkin routers, click the Home link in the top navigation bar. Figure 3.28 shows an example of the Status page that appears. 90 Networking with Microsoft ® Windows Vista ™ 3 FIGURE 3.28 On most Belkin routers, click the Home link in the top navigation bar to display the Status page. Please purchase PDF Split-Merge on www.verypdf.com to remove this watermark. D-Link On most D-Link routers, here are the steps to follow to view the status page: 1. Click the Status tab, (or, on some D-Link routers, the Basic tab). 2. Click Device Info to display the Device Information page, shown in Figure 3.29. CHAPTER 3 Configuring Your Router 91 3 FIGURE 3.29 On your D-Link router, use the Device Information page to view the router’s status. Linksys Follow these steps to display the status pages on most Linksys routers: 1. Click the Status tab. 2. Click the Router subtab, shown in Figure 3.30. 3. Click the Local Network subtab to see the router’s internal MAC and IP addresses, as well as the current DHCP server settings. 4. Click the Wireless subtab to see the router’s wireless mode, SSID, and channel. Please purchase PDF Split-Merge on www.verypdf.com to remove this watermark. FIGURE 3.30 On most Linksys routers, use the Status tab’s Router subtab to view the current router settings. Netgear On most Netgear routers, here are the steps to follow to view the router status: 1. Under Maintenance, click the Router Status link. The Router Status page appears, as shown in Figure 3.31. 2. To view statistics related to the router’s WAN, LAN, and WLAN connec- tions, click the Show Statistics button. 3. To view the WAN connection status, click the Connection Status button. 92 Networking with Microsoft ® Windows Vista ™ 3 Please purchase PDF Split-Merge on www.verypdf.com to remove this watermark. FIGURE 3.31 On most Netgear routers, use the Router Status page to see the router’s current settings. Testing Your Router’s Capabilities Microsoft offers a useful Internet Explorer add-on called the Internet Connectivity Evaluation Tool that examines your router and determines whether it supports several advanced features that Windows Vista can take advantage of to maximize Internet and network performance. The tests performed by the Internet Connectivity Evaluation Tool include the following: ■ Network Address Translation Type. This test determines the NAT sup- port provided by your router. Specifically, the tool checks to see whether your router supports cone NAT or symmetric NAT. Cone NAT means that when a client with a specific internal address uses a port, all exter- nal hosts can communicate with the client by sending data through that port to the external address. Symmetric NAT means that when a client with a specific internal address uses a port to communicate with an external host, NAT creates a unique mapping for the internal address and port, and only that external host can use the mapping. If the client uses the same port to communicate with a different external CHAPTER 3 Configuring Your Router 93 3 Please purchase PDF Split-Merge on www.verypdf.com to remove this watermark. [...]... ensures that Windows Vista will immediately recognize the NIC after you install it, and you’ll be able to start networking right away First, you need to determine whether the NIC comes with a driver that works with Windows Vista Check out the box to see whether it displays the Windows Vista logo You have two ways to proceed: ■ If you see the Windows Vista logo on the box, it means the CD that comes with the... ISP provided Ethernet port USB port FIGURE 4.9 Almost all newer broadband modems come with both an ethernet (RJ-45) and a USB port Please purchase PDF Split-Merge on www.verypdf.com to remove this watermark 4 108 Networking with Microsoft Windows Vista™ Turn on the broadband modem and wait until it makes a connection with the line All broadband modems have an LED on the front that lights up to indicate... Chapter 3 how to configure the wireless settings on your router’s wireless access point (AP) With that chore complete and with a wireless NIC installed, you’re ready to access your wireless network Note, however, Please purchase PDF Split-Merge on www.verypdf.com to remove this watermark 4 114 Networking with Microsoft Windows Vista™ that although connections to wired networks are automatic, Vista doesn’t... comes with two RJ-11 (phone) jacks, usually labeled Line and Phone Run a phone cable from the wall jack to the Line port on the phone filter, and run a second phone cable from the Phone port on the filter to your telephone You need to do this for each telephone in your home or office Please purchase PDF Split-Merge on www.verypdf.com to remove this watermark 4 106 Networking with Microsoft Windows. .. that slot cover is out, you can tighten the screw on the other slot cover Please purchase PDF Split-Merge on www.verypdf.com to remove this watermark 4 102 Networking with Microsoft Windows Vista™ Slot cover 4 PCI slot FIGURE 4.1 An empty PCI slot with slot cover ■ If you’re removing an existing PCI or PCIe card to make room for the NIC, remove the screw that attaches the card’s metal bracket to the... watermark 104 Networking with Microsoft Windows Vista™ 10 Replace the access panel and move the computer back to its original location 11 Reattach the cables using the same ports (If the computer has an existing motherboard NIC and you had an Ethernet cable attached to that NIC, be sure to attach the cable to the new NIC, instead.) 12 Power up the computer Making Sure the NIC Installed Properly With the... Network Adapters and then click Next The wizard displays lists of network adapter manufacturers and models Please purchase PDF Split-Merge on www.verypdf.com to remove this watermark 4 100 Networking with Microsoft Windows Vista™ 8 Click Have Disk to display the Install from Disk dialog box 9 Click Browse to open the Locate File dialog box 10 Navigate to the folder containing the NIC’s downloaded driver... FIGURE 3.32 Use the Internet Connectivity Evaluation Tool to test various advanced features of your router Please purchase PDF Split-Merge on www.verypdf.com to remove this watermark 96 Networking with Microsoft Windows Vista™ From Here ■ If you need a bit of router background, see “Understanding Routers,” p 24 ■ For more about DHCP, see “The Router and Dynamic IP Addressing,” p 26 ■ After you enable... www.verypdf.com to remove this watermark C H A P T E R 4 B y now, you’ve assembled your ethernet devices (see Chapter 1, “Understanding Ethernet Networking ) and your wireless networking devices (see Chapter 2, “Understanding Wireless Networking ), and you’ve set up your router for networking and Internet access (see Chapter 3, “Configuring Your Router”) All that’s left now is to put everything together to create... Network Cable ■ Changing the Computer and Workgroup Name ■ Making Wireless Network Connections ■ From Here Please purchase PDF Split-Merge on www.verypdf.com to remove this watermark 98 Networking with Microsoft Windows Vista™ Inserting an Internal NIC If you have an internal NIC that you need to install, and you don’t have someone who is hardware savvy that you can dragoon into doing the job for . URL: http://www .microsoft. com /windows/ using/tools/igd/default.mspx 2. Accept the license agreement and click Continue. 94 Networking with Microsoft ® Windows Vista ™ 3 Please. correct frequency automatically). 6. Click Apply Changes. 86 Networking with Microsoft ® Windows Vista ™ 3 Please purchase PDF Split-Merge on www.verypdf.com