Thread: Configuring The Router

Do not judge by looks, or so the saying goes - certainly not with routers. These simple looking boxes comes power packed with loads of functions, most of them absolutely necessary to keep your network secure. To do this, one needs to connect to the router through a Web interface.

Look at the manual of your router or at the back of the router for an access address and a username and password. This is the default address for the router set by the manu¬facturer. Open up your browser and access the URL men¬tioned. In our case, we use 192.168.1.1 for our router. Enter the user name and password to get connected to the interface. If that doesn't work, you might need to disable any previous manually entered network settings used for previous networks. Click on Start > Control Panel > Network Connections. Right-click on your adapter and click Properties. Click on Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) and click Properties. Click on Obtain an IP address automatically or enter an IP address in the same range as your router.



Manufacturer usually set the router to use the brand or model number as the network name. Change it to something simpler or meaningful by clicking on Wireless > Basic Network Settings. Change the value of Network Name or ssm to something else. Click Save Settings to finish.

Another thing that needs to be changed when you buy a new router is the administration password, so that no else can access your router. Click on the Administration link. In the Management tab, enter a new router password and re¬enter it to confirm. Click Save Settings when done.