Wireless-G Broadband Router 3What’s an IP Address?IP stands for Internet Protocol. Every device on an IP-based network, includingPCs, print servers, and routers, requires an IP address to identify its “location,” oraddress, on the network. This applies to both the Internet and LAN connections.There are two ways of assigning an IP address to your network devices. You canassign static IP addresses or use the Router to assign IP addresses dynamically.Static IP AddressesA static IP address is a fixed IP address that you assign manually to a PC orother device on the network. Since a static IP address remains valid until youdisable it, static IP addressing ensures that the device assigned it will alwayshave that same IP address until you change it. Static IP addresses must beunique and are commonly used with network devices such as server PCs orprint servers.If you use the Router to share your cable or DSL Internet connection, contactyour ISP to find out if they have assigned a static IP address to your account.If so, you will need that static IP address when configuring the Router. You canget that information from your ISP.IP AddressesNote: Since the Router is a device that connects two networks, itneeds two IP addresses—one for the LAN, and one for the Internet. Inthis User Guide, you’ll see references to the “Internet IP address” andthe “LAN IP address.”Since the Router uses NAT technology, the only IP address that can beseen from the Internet for your network is the Router’s Internet IPaddress.However, even this Internet IP address can be blocked, so that theRouter and network seem invisible to the Internet—see the BlockWAN Requests description under Filters in “Chapter 6: The Router’sWeb-based Utility.”Instant Wireless® Series2• Compatibility with Draft 802.11g (2.4GHz) and 802.11b (2.4GHz) Standards• Setup Wizard for Easy Installation• Wireless Security with up to 128-bit WEP Encryption• Enhanced Security Management Functions: Internet Access Policies withTime Schedules, Website Blocking, IP and MAC Address Filtering; PortFiltering; Wireless MAC Address Filtering; and NAT Technology• Access Your Corporate Network Remotely through Virtual PrivateNetworking (VPN)—Supports IPSec and PPTP Pass-Through• Supports Dynamic Domain Name System (DDNS) Service, Static andDynamic Routing (RIP1 and 2), DMZ Hosting• Web-based Utility for Easy Configuration from Any Web Browser• DHCP Server Capability to Assign IP Addresses Automatically• All Ethernet Ports Support Auto-Crossover (MDI/MDI-X)—No Need forCrossover Cables• Free Technical Support—24 Hours a Day, 7 Days a Week, Toll-Free US Calls• 1-Year Limited WarrantySimply put, a router is a network device that connects two networks together. In this instance, the Router connects your Local Area Network (LAN), or thegroup of PCs in your home or office, to the Internet. The Router processes andregulates the data that travels between these two networks.The Router’s NAT feature protects your network of PCs so users on the public,Internet side cannot “see” your PCs. This is how your network remains private.The Router protects your network by inspecting every packet coming inthrough the Internet port before delivery to the appropriate PC on your net-work. The Router inspects Internet port services like the web server, ftp server,or other Internet applications, and, if allowed, it will forward the packet to theappropriate PC on the LAN side.Remember that the Router’s ports connect to two sides. The LAN ports connectto the LAN, and the Internet port connects to the Internet. The LAN andInternet ports transmit data at 10/100Mbps.The Router’s FunctionsFeatures
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