Archer C2300 & A2300 V1 User Guide

Chapter 12 Customize Your Network Settings

This chapter guides you on how to configure advanced network features.

It contains the following sections:

•Change the LAN Settings

•Set Up Link Aggregation

•Configure to Support IPTV Service

•Specify DHCP Server Settings

•Set Up a Dynamic DNS Service Account

•Create Static Routes

•Specify Wireless Settings

•Use WPS for Wireless Connection

•Schedule Your Wireless Function

1. Change the LAN Settings

The router is preset with a default LAN IP 192.168.0.1, which you can use to log in to its web management page. The LAN IP address together with the Subnet Mask also defines the subnet that the connected devices are on. If the IP address conflicts with another device on your local network or your network requires a specific IP subnet, you can change it.

1.Visit http://tplinkwifi.net, and log in with your TP-Link ID or the password you set for the router.

2.Go to Advanced > Network > LAN.

3.Type in a new IP Address appropriate to your needs. And leave the Subnet Mask as the default settings.

4.Click Save.

Note:

If you have set the Virtual Server, DMZ or DHCP address reservation, and the new LAN IP address is not in the same subnet with the old one, then you should reconfigure these features.

2. Set Up Link Aggregation

The Link Aggregation feature combines two ports together to make a single highbandwidth data path, thus sustaining a higher-speed and more stable wired network.

1.Visit http://tplinkwifi.net, and log in with your TP-Link ID or the password you set for the router.

2.Go to Advanced > Network > LAN.

3.Enable Link Aggregation.

4.Select Hash Algorithm. It is recommended to keep the default settings.

5.Specify two ports for link aggregation.

6.Click Save.

3. Configure to Support IPTV Service

I want to:

Configure IPTV setup to enable Internet/IPTV/Phone service provided by my internet service provider (ISP).

How can I do that?

1.Visit http://tplinkwifi.net, and log in with your TP-Link ID or the password you set for the router.

2.Go to Advanced > Network > IPTV.

3.If your ISP provides the networking service based on IGMP technology, e.g., British Telecom(BT) and Talk Talk in UK:

1 )Check the box for IGMP Proxy and select the IGMP Version, either V2 or V3, as required by your ISP.

2 )Click Save.

3 )After configuring IGMP proxy, IPTV can work behind your router now. You can connect your set-top box to any of the router’s Ethernet port.

If IGMP is not the technology your ISP applies to provide IPTV service:

1 )Tick Enable IPTV.

2 )Select the appropriate Mode according to your ISP.

•Select Bridge if your ISP is not listed and no other parameters are required.

•Select Custom if your ISP is not listed but provides necessary parameters.

3 )After you have selected a mode, the necessary parameters, including the LAN port for IPTV connection, are predetermined. If not, select the LAN type to determine which port is used to support IPTV service.

4 )Click Save.

5 )Connect the set-top box to the corresponding LAN port which is predetermined or you have specified in Step 3.

Done!

Your IPTV setup is done now! You may need to configure your set-top box before enjoying your TV.

Tips:

Qos and IPTV cannot be enabled at the same time.

4. Specify DHCP Server Settings

By default, the DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) Server is enabled and the router acts as a DHCP server; it dynamically assigns TCP/IP parameters to client devices from the IP Address Pool. You can change the settings of the DHCP Server if necessary, and you can reserve LAN IP addresses for specified client devices.

1.Visit http://tplinkwifi.net, and log in with your TP-Link ID or the password you set for the router.

2.Go to Advanced > Network > DHCP Server.

•To specify the IP address that the router assigns:

1.Check the box for Enable DHCP Server.

2.Enter the starting and ending IP addresses in the IP Address Pool.

3.Enter other parameters if the ISP offers. The Default Gateway is automatically filled in and is the same as the LAN IP address of the router.

4.Click Save.

•To reserve an IP address for a specified client device:

1.Click Add in the Address Reservation section.

2.Click Scan or enter the MAC address of the client device.

3.Enter the IP address to reserve for the client device.

4.Enter the Description for this entry.

5.Tick the Enable This Entry checkbox and click OK.

5. Set Up a Dynamic DNS Service Account

Most ISPs assign a dynamic IP address to the router and you can use this IP address to access your router remotely. However, the IP address can change from time to time and you don’t know when it changes. In this case, you might apply the DDNS (Dynamic Domain Name Server) feature on the router to allow you and your friends to access your router and local servers (FTP, HTTP, etc.) using a domain name without checking and remembering the IP address.

Note:

DDNS does not work if the ISP assigns a private WAN IP address (such as 192.168.1.x) to the router.

1.Visit http://tplinkwifi.net, and log in with your TP-Link ID or the password you set for the router.

2.Go to Advanced > Network > Dynamic DNS.

3.Select the DDNS Service Provider (TP-Link, NO-IP or DynDNS). It is recommended to select TP-Link so that you can enjoy TP-Link’s superior DDNS service. Otherwise, please select NO-IP or DynDNS. If you don’t have a DDNS account, you have to register first by clicking Go to register.

Note:

To enjoy TP-Link’s DDNS service, you have to log in with a TP-Link ID. If you have not logged in with one, click Log in.

4.Click Register in the Domain Name List if you have chosen TP-Link, and enter the Domain Name as needed.

If you have chosen NO-IP or DynDNS, enter the username, password and domain name of your account.

5.Click Login and Save.

Tips:

If you want to use a new DDNS account, please click logout first, and then log in with a new account.

6. Create Static Routes

Static routing is a form of routing that is configured manually by a network administrator or a user by adding entries into a routing table. The manually-configured routing information guides the router in forwarding data packets to the specific destination.

I want to:

Visit multiple networks and servers at the same time.

For example, in a small office, my PC can surf the internet through Router A, but I also want to visit my company’s network. Now I have a switch and Router B. I connect the devices as shown in the following figure so that the physical connection between my PC and my company’s server is established. To surf the internet and visit my company’s network at the same time, I need to configure the static routing.

How can I do that

1.Change the routers’ LAN IP addresses to two different IP addresses on the same subnet. Disable Router B’s DHCP function.

2.Visit http://tplinkwifi.net, and log in with your TP-Link ID or the password you set for Router A.

3.Go to Network > Static Routing.

4.Click Add and finish the settings according to the following explanations:

•Network Destination: The destination IP address that you want to assign to a static route. This IP address cannot be on the same subnet with the WAN IP or LAN IP of Router A. In the example, the IP address of the company network is the destination IP address, so here enter 172.30.30.1.

•Subnet Mask: Determines the destination network with the destination IP address. If the destination is a single IP address, enter 255.255.255.255; otherwise, enter the subnet mask of the corresponding network IP. In the example, the destination network is a single IP, so here enter 255.255.255.255.

•Default Gateway: The IP address of the gateway device to which the data packets will be sent. This IP address must be on the same subnet with the router’s IP which sends out data. In the example, the data packets will be sent to the LAN port of Router B and then to the Server, so the default gateway should be 192.168.0.2.

•Interface: Determined by the port (WAN/LAN) that sends out data packets. In the example, the data are sent to the gateway through the LAN port of Router A, so LAN should be selected.

•Description: Enter a description for this static routing entry.

5.Click Save.

6.Check the System Routing Table below. If you can find the entry you’ve set, the static routing is set successfully.

Done!

Open a web browser on your PC. Enter the company server’s IP address to visit the company network.

7. Specify Wireless Settings

The router’s wireless network name (SSID) and password, and security option are preset in the factory. The preset SSID and password can be found on the label of the router. You can customize the wireless settings according to your needs.

Visit http://tplinkwifi.net, and log in with your TP-Link ID or the password you set for the router.

•To enable or disable the wireless function:

1.Go to Basic > Wireless.

2.The wireless radio is enabled by default. If you want to disable the wireless function of the router, just uncheck the box for Enable Wireless Radio. In this case, all the wireless settings will be invalid.

•To change the wireless network name (SSID) and wireless password:

1.Go to Basic > Wireless.

2.Create a new SSID in Network Name (SSID) and customize the password for the network in Password. The value is case-sensitive.

Note:

If you change the wireless settings with a wireless device, you will be disconnected when the settings are effective. Please write down the new SSID and password for future use.

•To hide SSID:

1.Go to Basic > Wireless.

2.Select Hide SSID, and your SSID won’t display when you scan for local wireless networks on your wireless device and you need to manually join the network.

•To use the smart connect function

The smart connect function helps devices run faster by assigning them to best wireless bands based on actual conditions to balance network demands.

1.Go to Advanced > Wireless > Wireless Settings.

2.Enable Smart Connect and click Save.

3.Keep the default or set a new SSID and password, and click Save. This SSID and password will be applied both for 2.4GHz and 5GHz wireless networks.

•To change the security option:

1.Go to Advanced > Wireless > Wireless Settings.

2.Select the wireless network 2.4GHz or 5GHz.

3.Select an option from the Security drop-down list. We recommend you don’t change the default settings unless necessary. If you select other options, configure the related parameters according to the help page.

In addition

•Mode: Select a transmission mode according to your wireless client devices. It is recommended to just leave it as default.

•Channel Width: Select a channel width (bandwidth) for the wireless network.

•Channel: Select an operating channel for the wireless network. It is recommended to leave the channel to Auto, if you are not experiencing the intermittent wireless connection issue.

•Transmit Power: Select either High, Middle or Low to specify the data transmit power. The default and recommended setting is High.

•To enable the Airtime Fairness feature

The Airtime Fairness feature can improve the overall network performace by sacrificing a little bit of network time on your slow devices. Enable Airtime Fairness when you wish to sacrifice some of the networking time from the slow devices, so that your faster devices can achieve better quality of service.

For example, you have a gaming computer next to the router in the living room, and a slower family computer upstairs. Enable the airtime fairness feature so that your gaming computer can perform as optimally as possible.

1.Go to Advanced > Wireless > Wireless Settings.

2.Select the wireless network 2.4GHz or 5GHz.

3.Tick the Enable Airtime Fairness checkbox.

4.Click Save.

•To enable the Multi-User MIMO feature

A router with the Multi-User MIMO feature serves 4 devices simultaneously while a traditional router serves only one user at a time. That means Multi-User MIMO can provide a faster, more efficient Wi-Fi network for multiusers.

Note:

Devices supporting 5GHz wireless band can enjoy the Multi-User MIMO service.

1.Go to Advanced > Wireless > Wireless Settings.

2.Select the wireless network 5GHz.

3.Check the box for Enable Multi-User MIMO.

4.Click Save.

8. Use WPS for Wireless Connection

You can use WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) feature to add a new wireless device to your existing network quickly.

8.1. Method 1: Use the WPS Button

Use this method if your client device has a WPS button.

1.Press the WPS button of the router for 1 second.

2.Press the WPS button of the client device directly.

3.The WPS LED flashes for about 2 minutes during the WPS process.

4.When the WPS LED is on, the client device has successfully connected to the router.

8.2. Method 2: Use the WPS Button on the Web Management Page

Use this method if your client device has a WPS button.

1.Visit http://tplinkwifi.net, and log in with your TP-Link ID or the password you set for the router.

2.Go to Advanced > Wireless > WPS.

3.Click Start WPS.

4.Press the WPS button of the client device directly.

5.The WPS LED of the router flashes for about 2 minutes during the WPS process.

6.When the WPS LED is on, the client device has successfully connected to the router.

8.3. Method 3: Enter the Router’s PIN on Your Client Device

Use this method if your client device asks for the router’s PIN.

1.Visit http://tplinkwifi.net, and log in with your TP-Link ID or the password you set for the router.

2.Go to Advanced > Wireless > WPS. Click Method Two--PIN.

3.Take a note of the router’s PIN. You can also click Generate to get a new PIN.

4.On the client device, enter the router’s PIN. (The default PIN is also printed on the label of the router.)

5.The WPS LED flashes for about two minutes during the WPS process.

6.When the WPS LED is on, the client device has successfully connected to the router.

Note:

The WPS function cannot be configured if the wireless function of the router is disabled. Please make sure the wireless function is enabled before configuring the WPS.

8.4. Method 4: Enter the Client Device’s PIN on the Router

1.Visit http://tplinkwifi.net, and log in with your TP-Link ID or the password you set for the router.

2.Go to Advanced > Wireless > WPS. Click Method Two--PIN.

3.Select Client’s PIN.

4.Enter the client device’s PIN in the field. Then click the Connect button.

5.Connect successfully will appear on the above screen, which means the client device has successfully connected to the router.

9. Schedule Your Wireless Function

This feature allows you to turn off the wireless netowrks at a specific time automatically when you do not need the wireless connection.

1.Visit http://tplinkwifi.net, and log in with your TP-Link ID or the password you set for the router.

2.Go to Advanced > Wireless > Wireless Schedule.

3.Toggle on the button to enable the Wireless Schedule feature.

4.Click Add to set the Wireless Off Time, and click Save.

5.Repeat Step 3 and 4 to set another entry if needed.

Note:

•Make sure that the time of the router is correct before applying this function. For details, refer to Set Up System Time.

•The wireless LEDs (2.4GHz and 5GHz) will be off if the wireless schedule takes effect.

•The wireless network(s) will be automatically turned on after the time period you have set.