Home Router Setup

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A small office home office (SOHO) LAN uses a single Internet appliance to provide connectivity.

• combines the functions of:
  • Internet router
  • DSL/cable modem
  • Ethernet switch
  • and Wi-Fi access point

A home router is a SOHO device providing Internet routing—via a full fiber, DSL, cable, or satellite link—a 4-port LAN switch, Wi-Fi, and a firewall.

Physical Placement/Secure Location

• Ideally, any router or network appliance should be placed in a secure location
  • non-malicious threat actor could damage or power off an appliance by accident
  • malicious threat actor could use physical access to
    • tamper with an appliance
    • or attach unauthorized devices to network
    • or USB ports or use the factory reset mechanism and log on with the default password
• On an enterprise network,
  • appliances are deployed in a locked equipment room and may also be protected by lockable cabinets
• In a home environment,
  • router must be placed near the minimum point of entry for the service provider’s cabling
  • not always a great deal of flexibility for choosing a location
  • router will also usually implement the wireless network
    • therefore cannot be locked in a cabinet
      • clients would suffer from reduced signal strength

Home Router Setup

1. first connect it to the provider cabling using its WAN port
   • labelled RJ45 port for a full fiber connection
   • an RJ11 port for DSL
   • or an F-connector coax port for cable

• alternatively, home router might need to be connected to an external digital modem
  • This connection will use a dual-purpose RJ45 port on the router labeled WAN/LAN

2. Power on the router
   • Connect a computer to an RJ45 LAN port to start the home router setup process
     • usually color-coded yellow
   • set to obtain an IP address automatically
   • wait for DHCP to allocate a valid IP address to the computer
3. Use a browser to open the device’s management URL
   • could be an IP address or a host/domain name
     • e.g., http://192.168.0.1 or http://www.routerlogin.com
4. management software will prompt you to change the default password to secure the administrator account
   • Enter the default password
     • listed in the documentation or printed on a sticker accompanying the router/modem
   • Choose a new, strong password of 12 characters or more
   • Optionally, change the default username
     • slightly more secure than default

Internet Access and Static Wide Area Network IP

• Most routers will use a wizard-based setup to connect to the Internet via the service provider’s network
• WAN link parameters (full fiber, DSL, or cable) are normally self-configuring
  • might need to supply a username and password
  •  If manual configuration is required, obtain the settings from your ISP
• router’s public interface IPv4 address is determined by the ISP
  • must be an address from a valid public range
  • normally auto-configured by the ISP’s DHCP service
• Some Internet access packages assign a static IP or offer an option to pay for a static address
  • static address might also be auto-configured as a DHCP reservation
  • if manual configuration is required, follow the service provider’s instructions to configure the correct address on the router’s WAN interface
• Once configured, use the router’s status page to verify that the Internet link is up

Firmware Update

• keep the firmware and driver for the home router up to date with the latest patches
  • Software instructions embedded on a hardware device such as a computer motherboard
• important because it allows you to fix security holes and support the latest security standards
• To perform a firmware update,
  • download the update from the vendor’s website
    • select the correct patch for your device make and model
  • In the management app, select the Firmware Upgrade option and browse for the firmware file you downloaded
  • Make sure that power to the device is not interrupted during the update process
  • May also be an update button in the management interface