How to Power Cycle your Broadband Devices

If you are experiencing network connection issue – wired or wireless, a simple Power Cycle will often correct the problem to refresh the network electronic devices and reinitialize their configuration and also help to recover from a hang or crash state.

For Broadband or DSL connection with a Cable Modem, please try the following suggestions:

• Shutdown your computer completely.

• Unplug the power cable and network cable at the back of the Modem. Wait for a few seconds.

• Connect the power cable at the back of the Modem, wait for the lights to stabilize usually after 30 seconds. Plug the network cable back to the Modem.

• Turn on the computer that’s wired to the router and see if you’re able to connect to the Internet. See if all the wireless network devices are able to connect to the Internet as well.

For Broadband or DSL connection with a Cable Modem and a Router, please try the following suggestions:

• Shutdown your computer completely.

• Unplug the power cable and network cable at the back of the Modem and the Router. Wait for a few seconds.

• Connect the power cable at the back of the Modem, wait for the lights to stabilize usually after 30 seconds.

• Connect the power cable at the back of the Router, wait for the lights to stabilize usually after 30 seconds. Connect the network cable back to the Modem and to the Router.

• Turn on the computer that’s wired to the router and see if you’re able to connect to the Internet. See if all the wireless network devices are able to connect to the Internet as well.

Note: You may repeat the process for the second time if the first Power Cycle process was not successful.

Also, so that you won’t get confuse what cable goes to the Modem or Router Ports, you may label each one.

How to Setup a D-Link Router

In this Tutorial we will be using a D-Link DIR 655 wireless router connected to a Charter Communications Cable Modem. We will not be using the D-Link installation CD but will manually configure your router.

To begin, connect a patch network cable between the Modem’s port and the Router’s WAN or Internet Port. Connect a patch network cable from one of the router’s LAN or Ethernet Ports to each device that will use a wired connection. Keep an eye on the Modem and Router’s lights until they are stabilized.

From a computer wired directly to the router, open up your favorite browser and type in http://192.168.0.1. Type the Default User Name of admin and the Password is blank.

Note: You may have to do a Power Cycle in case that you can’t access the router’s configuration page.

In the Tools Tab, change the Admin Password right away for security reason, do not use the default D-Link Admin Password.

In the Setup Tab you may either select the Internet Connection Setup Wizard or Manual Internet Connection.

In this Tutorial we will select the Manual Internet Connection option. In the Internet Connection Type we will use Dynamic IP (DHCP).

To configure the Wireless Security – Click on the Setup Tab, then Wireless Settings Tab. In here, you may choose to manually setup your wireless network or use the a Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS). Let’s choose the Manual Wireless Connection Setup.

Click on the Manual Wireless Network Setup, type your SSID (wireless network name) make sure that you do not use your router’s name (default SSID). You may leave the Mode to the default which is the Mixed Mode. You may change this later on if you’re having any wireless issues. Save the setting after the changes.

In the Wireless Security Mode, it is recommended to use WPA2. If some of your wireless devices don’t support this mode, feel free to change it but please do not use a WEP Security (not unless some of your wireless devices won’t connect to WPA2) bec. it is equivalent to a No Security. We will choose WPA2 TKIP and AES and type in a complex password but easy for you to remember. Save the setting after the changes.

Take advantage of the great features in your D-Link router such as Quality of Service (QoS), Port forwarding and Guest Zone. The Guest Zone is one of the nice feature of D-Link DIR 655 and not all routers have this type of option. If you enable this feature, you may create a separate SSID (or wireless network) other than your own SSID for Guests use only and have them connect to a separate SSID and isolate your Guests from your own wireless network for security reason.

To setup Port Forwarding, go to Advanced Tab, then Port Forwarding Tab. Make sure that you have all the Port Numbers handy for the Applications that you need to be port forwarded. Add the Application Name, TCP & UDP Ports Numbers and Schedule. Save the setting after the changes.

Optional:

Mac Cloning – You will need to enable Mac Cloning from Dynamic IP (DHCP) Internet Type section and click on Clone your PCs MAC Address if your ISP didn’t provide you with your IP information. If you are not sure about this you may contact your ISP.

You don’t have to do anything at this point if it’s not needed.

We have just concluded setting up a D-Link DIR 655 Router. Feel free to take advantage of the Support Menu just in case that you have any concerns regarding your router setting. It is located in the Support Tab. There are a few helpful information that you may utilize.

Finally, you may now connect all your wireless computers and devices (smart phones, printer, gaming console, etc.). Make sure to type in the correct pass-phrase to ensure a successful wireless connectivity. If you encounter any disconnection issues on your wired and wireless network devices, you may do a Power Cycle.

System Restore for Windows 7 and Vista

Note:  System Restore will not work if it’s Disabled or the Protection is set to Off.  Others have great results if System Restore is run in Safe Mode (restart your computer, tap F8 and select this option).  If you have installed any software/programs and Windows Updates, you will need to reinstall all of these. Your files  will be safe after this process.

Do you wish you can go back in time when your computer was all fine and worry free? You may try a System Restore. To begin, type System Restore or rstrui from Start Orb  press enter, the System Restore should be starting.

Click next…

Choose a restore point then Click Next….

Confirm your restore point and Click Finish.

Important Notes: 

If the first Restore point didn’t resolve your issue, you may try another Restore Point.

Setting up an AP or Client Bridge Router Behind a Firewall or Security Appliance

This Tutorial can be utilized in a business network environment. This is based on my knowledge on how to configure a Buffalo AP (Access Points)/Bridge Router (other Brand and Model of AP/Bridge Routers may have some similar features) that’s connected behind a Sonicwall TZ 210 or any Firewall/Security Appliance. An installation CD is not required in this entire Tutorial, please leave it up to me to guide you.

Pre-requisites: A broadband connection, A Windows Server 2003 and above (best to use a Windows 2008 Server R2) configured with Dynamic Host configuration Protocol (DHCP) and Domain Name System (DNS), a Security or Firewall Appliance, an AP/Bridge Wireless Router capable (we will use a Buffalo AP/Bridge in this Tutorial), wired computers, wireless computers and other wireless devices such as IPad, Tablets & Smart Phones.

Additional information: Your Firewall or Security Appliance must have the Network Address Translation (NAT) enabled. Make sure that DHCP is disabled from your Firewall/Security Appliance.

Make a note of the existing Subnet of your network, for example: 192.168.1.X which we will be using in this Tutorial. Also, write the IP Address, Subnet, Gateway and DNS Server that you will be going to assign in the LAN configuration of your Router. Note that the Gateway will be your router’s new IP Address.

Note: The network cables that are connected from the Modem and Network Switch to the Sonicwall’s WAN and LAN Ports will remain untouchable in this entire tutorial. It is important to remember not to disconnect or unplug any of these network cables.

To begin, connect the power cable into the Buffalo Router, wait for the lights to stabilize. Connect a patch network cable from the WAN or Internet Port of the Router to the Sonicwall Port (X2, X3 etc.). Connect another patch network cable coming from a computer to another open ethernet port (X2 or X3) of the Sonicwall device.

While your computer is connected directly to the Sonicwall device, modify the Local Area Network (LAN) setting. In this guide, we will be using the network subnet of 192.168.11.X (Buffalo’s Router Subnet).
In Windows 7 and Vista – Click on the Start button type ncpa.cpl then press enter to open up the Local Area Connection screen. Double click on Local Area Connection, then click on Properties, double-click Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IP v4).

In Windows XP – Click on Start, type ncpa.cpl then press enter to open up the Local Area Connection screen.
Double click on Local Area Connection, then click on Properties, double-click on Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IP v4).
Type the IP Address, Subnet Mask, Default Gateway and DNS Server of your Network. In this tutorial we will assign an IP Address of 192.168.11.5, Subnet Mask of 255.255.255.0 and a Default gateway of 192.168.11.1. Leave the DNS Servers empty.

 

Open up a browser from your computer and type the Buffalo Router’s default IP of 192.168.11.1, it will prompt you to change the default User Name and Password, just in case you will need to enter the default.
Username: admin
Password: password

Make sure to use a complex password. Think of a combination letters, numbers and symbols for your router’s new password but easier for you to remember.

In the Basic Setup Tab Disable the WAN Connection Type.

In the Network Settings Tab, go to Network Setup, type in the Router’s New IP,  Subnet Mask, Gateway and Local DNS for example 192.168.1.3. Remember, this is from your network’s current Subnet configuration.  Make sure to disable DHCP to avoid any conflicts and verify that DHCP is enabled in your Windows Server.

In the Wireless Tab, then Basic Settings, you may choose if you’d like to setup your Router as an AP (Access Points) or Client Bridge. I’d prefer a Client Bridge for a greater wireless coverage. Select Client Bridge (Router).

Assign an SSID for your wireless network. Do not use your Router’s Name.

You may manually or use Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) to secure your wireless network by using WPA2, do not use any network security lower than WPA2, you do not want your wireless network to be vulnerable from outside unseen malicious objects and threats. You may auto generate the pass-phrase or manually assign a complex password for your wireless network.

In the Security page, verify that the Firewall is Enabled.

Save all the settings.

Important Notes: Some ISPs may require a MAC Cloning. You will need to contact your ISP regarding this. To do this, go to Setup, then MAC Address Clone, then enable.

Change the LAN’s setting of your computer back to Obtain an Auto IP address automatically. Go to Control Panel>Network and Internet>Network and Sharing Center>Local Area Connection.

Unplug the network cable from the Buffalo Router’s WAN Port and unplug the network cable coming from the Sonicwall’s X2 or X3 Port. Unplug the power cable from the Buffalo router and wait for 30 seconds, then plug the power cable back again, wait for all the lights to stabilize. Now, connect the network cable to the Sonicwall’s X2 or X3 Port and connect the other end into the LAN Port of the Buffalo Router. You may now connect all your wireless devices to your new SSID (wireless network name), make sure that you have the proper pass-phrase typed in.

Open up your browser from any of your computers (wired and wireless) and see if you’re able to log on to your router using the new Router’s IP which in this Tutorial we assigned a 192.168.1.X. You may enable or modify other great features of your new router.

I hope that this Tutorial helped you connect an AP/Bridge Router into your Security or Firewall Appliance. Utilize the great features of your new router if you have them, for example the NAS, Guest Zone and FTP would be great to have.