Reference Manual for the 54 Mbps Wireless Router WGR614 v4

Security

The WGR614 v4 router is equipped with several features designed to maintain security, as described in this section.

PCs Hidden by NAT

NAT opens a temporary path to the Internet for requests originating from the local network. Requests originating from outside the LAN are discarded, preventing users outside the LAN from finding and directly accessing the PCs on the LAN.

Port Forwarding with NAT

Although NAT prevents Internet locations from directly accessing the PCs on the LAN, the router allows you to direct incoming traffic to specific PCs based on the service port number of the incoming request, or to one designated “DMZ” host computer. You can specify forwarding of single ports or ranges of ports.

Autosensing Ethernet Connections with Auto Uplink

With its internal 8-port 10/100 switch, the WGR614 v4 can connect to either a 10 Mbps standard Ethernet network or a 100 Mbps Fast Ethernet network. Both the LAN and WAN interfaces are autosensing and capable of full-duplex or half-duplex operation.

The router incorporates Auto UplinkTM technology. Each Ethernet port will automatically sense whether the Ethernet cable plugged into the port should have a ‘normal’ connection such as to a PC or an ‘uplink’ connection such as to a switch or hub. That port will then configure itself to the correct configuration. This feature also eliminates the need to worry about crossover cables, as Auto Uplink will accommodate either type of cable to make the right connection.

Extensive Protocol Support

The WGR614 v4 router supports the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) and Routing Information Protocol (RIP). For further information about TCP/IP, refer to Appendix B, “Network, Routing, Firewall, and Basics.”

IP Address Sharing by NAT

The WGR614 v4 router allows several networked PCs to share an Internet account using only a single IP address, which may be statically or dynamically assigned by your Internet service provider (ISP). This technique, known as NAT, allows the use of an inexpensive single-user ISP account.

Introduction

2-3

December 2003

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NETGEAR WGR614 v4 manual Security, Autosensing Ethernet Connections with Auto Uplink, Extensive Protocol Support