Linksys Router Settings
This document is intended for reference purposes. Sonic.net technical support representatives are not trained in advanced router configuration. All images are from a stock Linksys BEFSR41v3 four-port router.
The Basics
The following should be kept in mind when configuring a Linksys router:
- No changes take effect without clicking the "Save Settings" button. Switching between categories and subcategories without clicking the "Save Settings" button first with result in changes being lost.
- Changes to the router configuration can affect all systems that are connected through the router.
- The default administrative password is the same for all routers of the same model. Do no enable remote administration without changing the administrative password.
- No router's security should be considered to be absolute. Using a router does not obviate the need for firewalls and antiviral solutions.
Accessing your Configuration
A Linksys BEFSR41v3 router can be configured by setting the client computer to obtain its IP address via DHCP, or by statically assigning an address such as 192.168.1.100 with a gateway of 192.168.1.1 and subnet mask of 255.255.255.0. A computer that is configured this way can access the Linksys router's administrative interface by navigating to http://192.168.1.1/ in a web browser. By default, the login name is blank, and the password is "admin." It is strongly recommended that this password be changed immediately upon setting up the router.
Upon authenticating, the administration interface should appear. There are five main categories for configuration; this document will touch upon two of them, and provide screenshots of the remainder for reference.
Setup
In the Setup category, only the Basic Setup subcategory normally needs any attention paid to it. In this subcategory, you can specify whether the router is to obtain its IP information via DHCP or statically. Other options are available that do not apply to Sonic.net. You can also disable or enable the local DHCP capabilities of the router here.
DHCP:
Static:
The remaining Setup subcategories are beyond the scope of this document:
Security
Linksys router security settings are beyond the scope of this document.
Applications & Gaming
Linksys router Applications & Gaming settings are beyond the scope of this document.
Administration
The first subcategory in Administration is vital, as it allows you to change your administrative password. It is considered poor practice to leave the password as the factory default, and we strongly advise all customers with routers to customize their administrative passwords.
This is also the subcategory in which remove administration and remote upgrade can be enabled or disabled.
The following subcategories are beyond the scope of this document:
The other Administration subcategory that can be extremely useful is Factory Defaults. As implied by its title, this allows you to restore your original factory settings and start over. This can be invaluable when encountering truly strange problems. This can also be accomplished by holding down the Reset button on the back of the router for 30 seconds.
Status
The Status category is beyond the scope of this document.
