The Gaming Den

Asking this in multiple places so I can gets lots of opinions.

I'm trying to set up my wireless network. I am having two issues:

1. I can pick up a wireless signal with no effort at all. However, the ethernet ports on the router are unresponsive. What can I do to troubleshoot that? (There are compatibility issues with most wireless cards and my OS, and my xbox currently does not have a wireless card at all. Two things need to be wired in.)

2. How can I secure my network? I've figured out the ISP address for the router, however it's asking for a username and password. I don't have one .

You have some kind of manual that came with the router, right?

The first thing to do is connect to the router however you can (probably wirelessly using the network's name, that is "SSID"). Then point your browser to the router's IP address, which is probably something like "192.168.1.1".

That will pop up the request for a login and password you were talking about before. "admin" and "" (nothing) are common defaults, but the ones your router uses should be in the manual or brochure. Log in using those, and you'll be able to set up your security and see how it's responding to ethernet connections.

Getting ethernet working is useful, because sometimes when you change settings wirelessly you'll get booted from the network and have to reconnect.

For security, I suggest using WPA-PSK/TKIP or something that looks like it. Rather than having to deal with keys yourself, you can just set a password that anyone who wants to use your network needs. Unfortunately, some kinds of linux are allergic to WPA. Probably not still the case in 2009, but be warned.

You should also change the password on the router from the default.

Alright, I'll give that a try. Problem is, I don't know where the manual is, it's been in some box somewhere for over a year and I don't know which one. However, I'm about 85% sure I still have it.

If you can't find the manual, you should be able to download it from the manufacturer website. The model and serial numbers should be on the bottom so you make sure you get the right one.

If you tell us who made the router we can probably give you the default username/password. For a Netgear the uname is admin and the pword is password.

Do you have a device that definitely has a working ethernet card? Preferably a computer. If that doesn't work with the ethernet ports on the router mayber the router is fucked. Try all the ports though since sometimes only one is dodgy. Also make sure you aren't using the WAN port of the router, it should be marked, I have no idea if plugging a PC into that will work.

Securitywise. Change the wireless SSID to something other than the default. On a netgeat its NETGEAR by default and its a pain when there are several of them in range. Someone in my street has an unsecured network called NETGEAR and I got it confused with my own at first.

Set the security to WPA-PSK then use a decent length random string as the key. Or you can use a passphrase but that needs to be much longer to be secure, each word acts kinda like one character.

I also set mine so that it doesn't broadcast its presence. The network won't show up in people's lists of available connections. Plus I have it set to only allow wireless cards I give permission to with the MAC access list. These last two are probably unnecessary though.

The best security is having some noob with an unsecured network nearby. Why bother hacking mine when they can get free internet much easier from someone else?

http://www.phenoelit-us.org/dpl/dpl.html -- list of routers and settings with user names and passwords. :-D

I am personally a noob who keeps his wireless network unsecured. I'm a believer in open access. It can be risky but I've hazarded it so far.

The router is a linksys router. The ethernet port on my computer works just fine when I directly go from modem to computer, just not through the ethernet port. The ports are labeled input, 1, 2, 3, 4. Also, the wireless works just fine. A friend at work suggested that maybe the ports were borked and maybe I should get a new router.

Does the wireless let you use the net?

Cynic's link should get you the login to the setup. And the Linksys website has the user guides for download. That should get you started at least.

Ah-HA! Gopt it!

Congrats. What was the issue with the ethernet?

I had reset the settings on the router and just needed to set it up again.

That's typical for my computer problems, I think it's more complex than it is, and end up solving it by doing something simple.