3

LAN Screen

This chapter describes how to configure LAN settings.

3.1 LAN and WAN

A network is a shared communication system to which many computers are attached.

The Local Area Network (LAN) includes the computers and networking devices (such as the NXC-8160) in your home or office that you connect to a modem or router’s LAN ports.

The Wide Area Network (WAN) is another network (most likely the Internet) that you connect to a modem or router. The LAN and the WAN are two separate networks. The following graphic gives an example.

Figure 7 LAN and WAN

3.2 IP Address and Subnet Mask

Similar to the way houses on a street share a common street name, so too do computers on a LAN share one common network number.

Where you obtain your network number depends on your particular situation. If the ISP or your network administrator assigns you a block of registered IP addresses, follow their instructions in selecting the IP addresses and the subnet mask.

If the ISP did not explicitly give you an IP network number, then most likely you have a single user account and the ISP will assign you a dynamic IP address when the connection is established. If this is the case, it is recommended that you select a network number from 192.168.0.0 to 192.168.255.0 and you must enable the Network Address Translation (NAT) feature of the connected router. The Internet Assigned Number Authority (IANA) reserved this block of addresses specifically for private use; please do not use any other number unless

 

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NXC-8160 User’s Guide