Netgear R6900 Nighthawk Ac1900 Smart Wifi Router User Manual

							Nighthawk
AC1900 Smart
WiFi Router
User Manual
Model R6900
November 2015
202-11569-02
350 E. Plumeria Drive
San Jose, CA 95134
USA 
						

							Support
Thank you for purchasing this NETGEAR product. You can visit www.netgear.com/support to register your product, get help,
access the latest downloads and user manuals, and join our community. We recommend that you use only official NETGEAR
support resources.
Compliance
For regulatory compliance information, visit http://www.netgear.com/about/regulatory.
See the regulator
y compliance document before connecting the power supply.
Trademarks
© NETGEAR, Inc., NETGEAR and the NETGEAR Logo are trademarks of NETGEAR, Inc. Any non-NETGEAR trademarks
are used f
 or reference purposes only. 2
Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 
						

							Contents
Chapter 1 Hardware Overview of the RouterUnpack Your Router........................................................................\
.....................11
Attach the Antennas
........................................................................\
.....................11
LEDs and Buttons on the Top Panel....................................................................12
Ports, Buttons, and Connectors on the Back Panel.............................................14
USB Port on the Front Panel........................................................................\
........15
Product Label on the Bottom Panel.....................................................................16
Position Your Router........................................................................\
.....................16
Cable Your Router........................................................................\
........................17
Chapter 2 Connect to the Netw

ork and Access the Router
Connect to the Router........................................................................\
..................20 Connect to the Router Through an Ethernet Cable.........................................20
Join the WiFi Network of the Router................................................................20Manual Method........................................................................\
...................20
Wi-Fi Protected Setup Method...................................................................21
T

ypes of Logins........................................................................\
.......................21
Use a Web Browser to Access the Router...........................................................22 Automatic Internet Setup........................................................................\
.........22
Log In to the Router........................................................................\
................23
Change the Language........................................................................\
.................24
Access the Router 

With the NETGEAR genie App..............................................24
Chapter 3 Specify Your Internet Settings
Use the Internet Setup Wizard........................................................................\
.....27
Man

ually Set Up the Internet Connection............................................................27
Specify an Internet Connection Without a Login.............................................28
Specify an Internet Connection That Uses a Login and PPPoE Service........29
Specify an Internet Connection That Uses a Login and PPTP or L2TP
Service........................................................................\
....................................31
Specify an IPv6 Internet Connection....................................................................33 IPv6 Internet Connections and IPv6 Addresses..............................................33
Use Auto Detect for an IPv6 Internet Connection...........................................34
Use Auto Config for an IPv6 Internet Connection...........................................36
Set Up an IPv6 6to4 Tunnel Internet Connection............................................37
Set Up an IPv6 Pass Through Internet Connection.........................................39
Set Up an IPv6 Fixed Internet Connection......................................................39
Set Up an IPv6 DHCP Internet Connection....................................................41
Set Up an IPv6 6rd Tunnel Connection...........................................................43
Set Up an IPv6 PPP

oE Internet Connection...................................................45
Manage the MTU Size........................................................................\
.................47 MTU Concepts........................................................................\
........................47 3 
						

							Change the MTU Size........................................................................\
.............48
Chapter 4 Optimize Performance
Prioritize Internet Traffic With Quality of Service..................................................51
Optimize Internet Gaming With Upstream QoS...................................................51
Add Upstream QoS Priority Rules.......................................................................53Set Up QoS for Applications and Online Gaming............................................53
Set Up QoS for a Router LAN Port..................................................................56
Set Up QoS for a MAC Address......................................................................58
Change an Upstream QoS Policy Rule...........................................................60
Delete an Upstream QoS P
olicy Rule.............................................................61
Delete All Upstream QoS Policy Rules...........................................................61
Optimize Video Streaming With Downstream QoS..............................................62
Add Do

wnstream QoS Priority Rules...................................................................64
Add a Do

wnstream QoS Policy Rule by Keyword...........................................64
Add a Downstream QoS Policy Rule by MAC Address...................................65
Change a Downstream QoS Policy Rule.........................................................67
Delete a Downstream QoS Policy Rule...........................................................67
Delete All Do

wnstream QoS Policy Rules.......................................................68
Improve Network Connections With Universal Plug and Play..............................68
Manage Wi-Fi Multimedia Quality of Service.......................................................69
Chapter 5 Contr

ol Access to the Internet
Set Up Parental Controls........................................................................\
.............72
Allow or Block Access to Your Network................................................................73 Enable and Manage Network Access Control.................................................73
Manage Network Access Control Lists...........................................................75Add Devices to or Remove Them From the Allowed List
............................75
Add Devices to or Remove Them From the Blocked List............................77
Use Keywords to Block Internet Sites..................................................................79 Set Up Blocking........................................................................\
.......................79
Remove a Keyword or Domain From the Blocked List....................................80
Remove All Keywords and Domains From the Blocked List............................81
Specify a Trusted Computer........................................................................\
....81
Manage Simple Outbound Firewall Rules for Services and Applications............82 Add an Outbound Firewall Rule......................................................................83
Add an Outbound Firewall Rule for a Custom Service or Application.............84
Change an Outbound Firewall Rule................................................................87
Remove an Outbound Firewall Rule................................................................88
Set Up a Schedule for Keyword Blocking and Outbound Firewall Rules.............88
Set Up Security Event Email Notifications...........................................................90
Chapter 6 Share a Storage Device Attached to the Router
USB Device Requirements........................................................................\
..........94
Connect a USB De

vice to the Router...................................................................94
Access a Storage Device Connected to the Router.............................................95 Access the Storage Device From a Windows Computer.................................95
Access the Storage Device From a Mac.........................................................96 4
Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 
						

							Map a USB Device to a Windows Network Drive.................................................96
Back Up Windows Computers With ReadySHARE Vault.....................................97
Back Up Mac Computers With Time Machine......................................................98
Set Up a Storage Device on a Mac.................................................................98
Prepare to Back Up a Large Amount of Data..................................................98
Use Time Machine to Back Up Onto a Storage Device...................................99
Manage Access to a Storage Device.................................................................100
Enable FTP Access Within Your Network...........................................................102
View Network Folders on a Device....................................................................104
Add a Network Folder on a Storage Device.......................................................105
Change a Network Folder, Including Read and Write Access, on a USB Drive..107
Approve USB Devices........................................................................\
................109
Safely Remove a USB Device........................................................................\
....110
Chapter 7 Manage Dynamic DNS and Access Storage Devices Through the
Internet
Set Up and Manage Dynamic DNS...................................................................114Your Personal FTP Server........................................................................\
.....114
Set Up a Ne
w Dynamic DNS Account...........................................................115
Specify a DNS Account That You Already Created.......................................116
Change the Dynamic DNS Settings..............................................................118
Access Storage Devices Through the Internet...................................................119 Access Storage Devices From a Remote Computer.....................................119
Set Up FTP Access Through the Internet.....................................................119
Use FTP to Access Storage Devices Through the Internet
...........................121
Remotely Access a USB De
vice Using ReadyCLOUD......................................122
Create a ReadyCLOUD Account ...................................................................122
Register 

Your Router With ReadyCLOUD.....................................................123
Chapter 8 Use the Router as a Media Server
Specify ReadyDLNA Media Server Settings......................................................127
Play Music From a Storage Device With iTunes Server.....................................128
Play Media From a USB Device on TiVo............................................................129Set Up the Router to Work With TiVo............................................................130
Play Videos........................................................................\
............................130
Pla

y Music or View Photos........................................................................\
....131
Copy TiVo Files to a Computer......................................................................131
Chapter 9 Share a USB Printer
Install the Printer Driver and Cable the Printer..................................................133
Download the ReadySHARE Printer Utility........................................................133
Install the ReadySHARE Printer Utility..............................................................134
Use the Shared Pr

inter........................................................................\
..............136
Manually Connect and Print........................................................................\
..
136
Print and Release the Printer........................................................................\
136
View or Change the Status of a Printer..............................................................137
Use the Scan Feature of a Multifunction USB Printer........................................137
Manage the NETGEAR USB Control Center Settings
.......................................139 5
Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 
						

							Turn Off Automatic Startup of the NETGEAR USB Control Center...............139
Change the NETGEAR USB Control Center Language................................140
Specify the Time-Out........................................................................\
.............140
Chapter 10 Mana
ge the WAN and LAN Network Settings
Manage the WAN Security Settings...................................................................142
Set Up a Default DMZ Server........................................................................\
....142
Manage IGMP Proxying........................................................................\
.............143
Manage NAT Filtering........................................................................\
................
144
Manage the SIP Application-Level Gateway......................................................144
Manage the LAN IP Address Settings...............................................................145
Manage the Router Information Protocol Settings.............................................146
Manage the DHCP Server Address Pool...........................................................147
Manage Reserved LAN IP Addresses...............................................................148 Reserve a LAN IP Address........................................................................\
...149
Change a Reserved IP Address....................................................................149
Remove a Reserved IP Address Entry..........................................................150
Disable the Built-In DHCP Server......................................................................150
Change the Router’s Device Name....................................................................151
Set Up and Manage Custom Static Routes.......................................................152 Set Up a Static Route........................................................................\
............152
Change a Static Route

........................................................................\
..........154
Remove a Static Route........................................................................\
.........155
Set Up a Bridge for a Port Group or VLAN Tag Group.......................................155 Set Up a Bridge for a Port Group..................................................................155
Set Up a Bridge for a VLAN Tag Group.........................................................157
Chapter 11 Manage the WiFi Network Settings
Use WPS to Add a Device to the WiFi Network.................................................161Use WPS With the Push Button Method.......................................................161
Use WPS With the PIN Method.....................................................................162
Specify Basic WiFi Settings........................................................................\
.......163
Change the WiFi Mbps Settings........................................................................\
.165
Change the WiFi Password or Security Level....................................................167
Set Up a Guest WiFi Network........................................................................\
....167
Specify How the Router Manages WiFi Clients.................................................169 Disable Airtime Fairness........................................................................\
.......169
Disable Implicit Beamforming........................................................................\
170
Control the WiFi Radios........................................................................\
.............170 Use the WiFi On/Off Button........................................................................\
...171
Enable or Disable the WiFi Radios................................................................171
Set Up a WiFi Schedule
........................................................................\
.............172
Manage the 
WPS Settings........................................................................\
.........173
Use the Router as a WiFi Access Point.............................................................175
Use the Router in WiFi Bridge Mode..................................................................176
Set Up a WiFi Distribution System.....................................................................179 Set Up the Base Station........................................................................\
........180
Set Up the Repeater........................................................................\
.............182 6
Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 
						

							Chapter 12 Manage the Router and Monitor the Traffic
Update the Firmware of the Router....................................................................185Check for New Firmware and Update the Router..........................................185
Manually Upload New Firmware and Update the Router..............................186
Change the admin Password........................................................................\
.....187
Set Up P
assword Recovery........................................................................\
.......188
Recover the admin Password........................................................................\
....189
Manage the Configuration File of the Router.....................................................189 Back Up the Settings........................................................................\
.............189
Restore the Settings........................................................................\
..............
190
Disable LED Blinking or Turn Off LEDs..............................................................191
Return the Router to Its Factory Default Settings..............................................191 Use the Reset Button........................................................................\
............192
Erase the Settings........................................................................\
.................193
View the Status and Statistics of the Router......................................................193 View Information About the Router and the Internet and WiFi Settings........193
Display Internet Port Statistics......................................................................195
Check the Internet Connection Status..........................................................196
Manage the Activity Log........................................................................\
.............197 Vie

w the Logs........................................................................\
........................197
Specify Which Activities Are Logged.............................................................199
View Devices Currently on the Network.............................................................199
Monitor and Meter Internet Traffic......................................................................200 Start the Traffic Meter Without Traffic Volume Restrictions............................
200
View the Internet Traffic Volume and Statistics..............................................201
Restrict Internet Traffic by Volume.................................................................202
Restr

ict Internet Traffic by Connection Time..................................................204
Unblock the Traffic Meter After the Traffic Limit Is Reached..........................206
Manage the Router Remotely........................................................................\
....206
Remotely Access Your Router Using the genie App..........................................208
Chapter 13 Use VPN to Access Your Network
Set Up a VPN Connection........................................................................\
..........210Specify VPN Service in the Router................................................................210
Install OpenVPN Software on a Windows Computer....................................211
Install OpenVPN Software on a Mac Computer............................................214
Use a VPN Tunnel on a Windows Computer......................................................214
Use 

VPN to Access the Router’s USB Device and Media From a Windows
Computer........................................................................\
...................................216
Use VPN to Access Your Internet Service at Home...........................................216 Set Up VPN Client Internet Access in the Router.........................................217
Block VPN Client Internet Access in the Router............................................217
Use a VPN Tunnel to Access Your Internet Service at Home........................218
Chapter 14 Manage Port Forwarding and Port Triggering
Manage Port Forwarding to a Local Server for Services and Applications........220Forward Incoming Traffic for a Default Service or Application.......................220 7
Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 
						

							Add a Port Forwarding Rule With a Custom Service or Application..............221
Change a Port Forwarding Rule....................................................................223
Remove a Port Forwarding Rule...................................................................224
Application Example: Make a Local Web Server Public................................225
How the Router Implements the Port Forwarding Rule.................................225
Manage Port Triggering for Services and Applications......................................225 Add a Port Triggering Rule........................................................................\
....226
Change a P
ort Triggering Rule......................................................................228
Remove a Port Triggering Rule.....................................................................229
Specify the Time-Out for Port Triggering.......................................................230
Disable Port Triggering........................................................................\
..........231
Application Example: Port Triggering for Internet Relay Chat........................232
Chapter 15 Troubleshooting
Reboot the Router From Its Web Page..............................................................234
Quick Tips........................................................................\
..................................234Sequence to Restar

t Your Network...............................................................234
Chec

k Ethernet Cable Connections..............................................................234
WiFi Settings........................................................................\
.........................235
Netw

ork Settings........................................................................\
...................235
Troubleshoot With the LEDs........................................................................\
.......235 Standard LED Behavior When the Router Is Powered On............................235
Power LED Is Off or Blinking........................................................................\
.235
Power LED Stays Amber........................................................................\
.......236
LEDs Never Turn Off
........................................................................\
.............236
Inter
net or Ethernet Port LEDs Are Off.........................................................236
WiFi LED Is Off........................................................................\
......................237
You Cannot Log In to the Router........................................................................\
237
You Cannot Access the Internet........................................................................\
.237 Check the WAN IP Address........................................................................\
...237
T

roubleshoot PPPoE........................................................................\
.............239
T

roubleshoot Internet Browsing.....................................................................239
Changes Are Not Saved........................................................................\
............240
Troubleshoot WiFi Connectivity........................................................................\
..240
Troubleshoot Your Network Using the Ping Utility..............................................241 Test the LAN Path to Your Router
..................................................................241
T
est the Path From Your Computer to a Remote Device
...............................242
Chapter 16 Supplemental Inf
ormation
Factory Settings........................................................................\
.........................
244
Technical Specifications
........................................................................\
.............247 8
Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router Model R6900 
						

							1
Hardware Overview of the Router
The NETGEAR ®
Nightha wk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router ModelR6900, in this manual referred to as the router, delivers
combined 
WiFi connection speeds of up to AC1900 WiFi (600 Mbps 1
 on 2.4 GHz 802.11n and 1300 Mbps 2
 on 5 GHz
802.11ac). Both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz radios can be active simultaneously.
Nighthawk, powered by a dual-core 1 GHz processor, is ideal for bandwidth-hungry activities such as online gaming
and video streaming. High-powered amplifiers with antennas provide WiFi coverage anywhere around your home, inside
or out.
For gamers, Nighthawk supports upstream Quality of Service (QoS) optimized for online game play with game consoles
like Xbox. For uninterrupted HD streaming media, Nighthawk features downstream QoS to identify and prioritize streaming
traffic from websites like Netflix, YouTube, and Hulu Plus.
Nighthawk provides fast central storage, backup, and streaming to every device in your home with the USB 3.0 port (10
times faster than USB 2.0). Sharing content across your network is easy, whether you’re accessing stored photos and
music or printing over WiFi. Stream your stored media files anywhere on the network to DLNA screens. Share your
music to AirPlay-compatible devices from the USB hard drive connected to the router. Use the free NETGEAR
ReadySHARE Vault app to back up your Windows computers to a USB hard drive connected to Nighthawk.
The chapter contains the following sections:
• Unpack Your Router on page 11
• Attach the Antennas
 on page 11
• LEDs and Buttons on the 
Top Panel
 on page 12
• P
orts, Buttons, and Connectors on the Back Panel on page 
14
• USB Port on the Front Panel
 on page 15
• Product Label on the Bottom Panel
 on page 16
• P
osition Your Router
 on page 16
• Cab
le Your Router
 on page 17
1.
 Maximum WiFi signal rate derived from IEEE standard 802.11 specifications. Actual data throughput and WiFi coverage will vary. Network conditions and
environmental factors, including volume of network traffic, building materials and construction, and network overhead, lower actual data throughput rate and
WiFi coverage. NETGEAR makes no express or implied representations or warranties about this product’s compatibility with any future standards. 802.11ac
1300 Mbps is approximately 3x faster than 802.11n 450 Mbps.
2. Up to 1300 Mbps WiFi speeds can be achieved when you are connecting to other 802.11ac 1300 Mbps devices.
For more information about the topics that are covered in this manual, visit the support website at support.netgear.com. 9 
						

							Firmware updates with new features and bug fixes are made available from time to time at
downloadcenter.netgear.com. You can check for and download new firmware manually. If the features
or behavior of your product does not match what is described in this guide, you might need to update
your firmware.
Note In this manual, the terms wireless and WiFi are interchangeable.
Note 10