Netgear Router WGT624 V3 User Manual

							About This Manual1-1
202-10090-01, April 2005
Chapter 1 
About This Manual
This chapter describes the intended audience, scope, conventions, and formats of this manual.
Audience, Scope, Conventions, and Formats
This reference manual assumes that the reader has basic to intermediate computer and Internet 
skills. However, basic computer network, Internet, firewall, and VPN technologies tutorial 
information is provided in the Appendices and on the Netgear website.
This guide uses the following typographical conventions:
This guide uses the following formats to highlight special messages:
This manual is written for the WGT624 v3 wireless router according to these specifications:
Table 1-1. Typographical Conventions
italicsEmphasis, books, CDs, URL names
boldUser input
fixedScreen text, file and server names, extensions, commands, IP addresses
Note: This format is used to highlight information of importance or special interest.
Table 1-2. Manual Scope
Product Version WGT624 v3 108 Mbps Wireless Firewall Router
Manual Publication Date April 2005
Note: Product updates are available on the NETGEAR, Inc. Web site at 
http://kbserver.netgear.com/products/WGT624 v3.asp. 
						

							Reference Manual for the 108 Mbps Wireless Firewall Router WGT624 v3
1-2About This Manual
202-10090-01, April 2005
How to Use This Manual
The HTML version of this manual includes the following:
• Buttons,  and  , for browsing forwards or backwards through the manual one page 
at a time
• A  button that displays the table of contents and an  button. Double-click on a 
link in the table of contents or index to navigate directly to where the topic is described in the 
manual.
• A  button to access the full NETGEAR, Inc. online knowledge base for the 
product model.
• Links to PDF versions of the full manual and individual chapters. 
						

							Reference Manual for the 108 Mbps Wireless Firewall Router WGT624 v3
About This Manual1-3
202-10090-01, April 2005
How to Print this Manual
To print this manual you can choose one of the following several options, according to your needs.
•Printing a Page in the HTML View.  
 
Each page in the HTML version of the manual is dedicated to a major topic. Use the Print 
button on the browser toolbar to print the page contents. 
•Printing a Chapter.  
 
Use the PDF of This Chapter link at the top left of any page.
– Click the PDF of This Chapter link at the top right of any page in the chapter you want to 
print. The PDF version of the chapter you were viewing opens in a browser window. 
Note:  Your computer must have the free Adobe Acrobat reader installed in order to view 
and print PDF files. The Acrobat reader is available on the Adobe Web site at  
http://www.adobe.com.
– Click the print icon in the upper left of the window. 
Tip: If your printer supports printing two pages on a single sheet of paper, you can save 
paper and printer ink by selecting this feature.
•Printing the Full Manual.  
 
Use the Complete PDF Manual link at the top left of any page.
– Click the Complete PDF Manual link at the top left of any page in the manual. The PDF 
version of the complete manual opens in a browser window. 
– Click the print icon in the upper left of the window. 
Tip: If your printer supports printing two pages on a single sheet of paper, you can save 
paper and printer ink by selecting this feature. 
						

							Reference Manual for the 108 Mbps Wireless Firewall Router WGT624 v3
1-4About This Manual
202-10090-01, April 2005 
						

							Introduction2-1
202-10090-01, April 2005
Chapter 2 
Introduction
Congratulations on your purchase of the NETGEAR® WGT624 v3 108 Mbps Wireless Firewall 
Router. The WGT624 v3 wireless router provides connection for multiple computers to the 
Internet through an external broadband access device (such as a cable modem or DSL modem) that 
is normally intended for use by a single computer. This chapter describes the features of the 
NETGEAR WGT624 v3 108 Mbps Wireless Firewall Router.
Key Features
The WGT624 v3 108 Mbps Wireless Firewall Router with 4-port switch connects your local area 
network (LAN) to the Internet through an external access device such as a cable modem or DSL 
modem.
The WGT624 v3 wireless router provides you with multiple web content filtering options, plus 
browsing activity reporting and instant alerts via e-mail. Parents and network administrators can 
establish restricted access policies based on time-of-day, web site addresses and address keywords, 
and share high-speed cable/DSL Internet access for up to 253 computers. In addition to the 
Network Address Translation (NAT) feature, the built-in firewall protects you from hackers.
With minimum setup, you can install and use the router within minutes.
The WGT624 v3 wireless router provides the following features:
• 802.11g wireless networking, with the ability to operate in 802.11g-only, 802.11-turbo-g-only, 
or 802.11b+g modes.
• Easy, web-based setup for installation and management.
• Content Filtering and Site Blocking Security.
• Built in 4-port 10/100 Mbps Switch.
• Ethernet connection to a wide area network (WAN) device, such as a cable modem or DSL 
modem.
• Extensive Protocol Support.
• Login capability.
• Front panel LEDs for easy monitoring of status and activity. 
						

							Reference Manual for the 108 Mbps Wireless Firewall Router WGT624 v3
2-2Introduction
202-10090-01, April 2005
• Flash memory for firmware upgrade.
802.11g Wireless Networking
The WGT624 v3 wireless router includes an 802.11g wireless access point, providing continuous, 
high-speed 54 Mbps access between your wireless and Ethernet devices. The access point 
provides:
• 802.11g wireless networking at up to 108 Mbps.
• 802.11g wireless networking, with the ability to operate in 802.11g-only, 802.11b-only, or 
802.11g and b modes, providing backwards compatibility with 802.11b devices or dedicating 
the wireless network to the higher bandwidth 802.11g devices.
• 64-bit and 128-bit WEP encryption security.
• WEP keys can be generated manually or by passphrase.
• WPA-PSK support. Support for Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) data encryption which 
provides strong data encryption and authentication based on a pre-shared key.
• Wireless access can be restricted by MAC address.
• Wireless network name broadcast can be turned off so that only devices that have the network 
name (SSID) can connect.
A Powerful, True Firewall with Content Filtering
Unlike simple Internet sharing NAT routers, the WGT624 v3 is a true firewall, using stateful 
packet inspection to defend against hacker attacks. Its firewall features include:
• Denial of Service (DoS) protection.
Automatically detects and thwarts DoS attacks such as Ping of Death, SYN Flood, LAND 
Attack, and IP Spoofing.
• Blocks unwanted traffic from the Internet to your LAN.
• Blocks access from your LAN to Internet locations or services that you specify as off-limits.
• Logs security incidents.
The WGT624 v3 will log security events such as blocked incoming traffic, port scans, attacks, 
and administrator logins. You can configure the router to email the log to you at specified 
intervals. You can also configure the router to send immediate alert messages to your email 
address or email pager whenever a significant event occurs. 
						

							Reference Manual for the 108 Mbps Wireless Firewall Router WGT624 v3
Introduction2-3
202-10090-01, April 2005
• The WGT624 v3 prevents objectionable content from reaching your PCs. The router allows 
you to control access to Internet content by screening for keywords within web addresses. You 
can configure the router to log and report attempts to access objectionable Internet sites.
Security
The WGT624 v3 wireless 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 4-port 10/100 switch, the WGT624 v3 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 Uplink
TM 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 WGT624 v3 wireless 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.” 
						

							Reference Manual for the 108 Mbps Wireless Firewall Router WGT624 v3
2-4Introduction
202-10090-01, April 2005
• IP Address Sharing by NAT 
The WGT624 v3 wireless 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.
• Automatic Configuration of Attached PCs by DHCP 
The WGT624 v3 wireless router dynamically assigns network configuration information, 
including IP, gateway, and domain name server (DNS) addresses, to attached PCs on the LAN 
using the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP). This feature greatly simplifies 
configuration of PCs on your local network.
• DNS Proxy 
When DHCP is enabled and no DNS addresses are specified, the router provides its own 
address as a DNS server to the attached PCs. The router obtains actual DNS addresses from 
the ISP during connection setup and forwards DNS requests from the LAN.
• PPP over Ethernet (PPPoE) 
PPPoE is a protocol for connecting remote hosts to the Internet over a DSL connection by 
simulating a dial-up connection. This feature eliminates the need to run a login program such 
as Entersys or WinPOET on your PC.
Easy Installation and Management
You can install, configure, and operate the WGT624 v3 108 Mbps Wireless Firewall Router within 
minutes after connecting it to the network. The following features simplify installation and 
management tasks:
• Browser-based management 
Browser-based configuration allows you to easily configure your router from almost any type 
of personal computer, such as Windows, Macintosh, or Linux. A user-friendly Setup Wizard is 
provided and online help documentation is built into the browser-based web Management 
Interface.
• Smart Wizard
 
The WGT624 v3 wireless router Smart Wizard automatically senses the type of Internet 
connection, asking you only for the information required for your type of ISP account.
• Firmware Auto-Update 
The WGT624 v3 wireless router automatically checks the Internet to see if a newer version of 
firmware is available. If so, it asks you if you want to install the upgrade. This lets you take 
advantage of product enhancements for your WGT624 v3 as soon as they become available. 
						

							Reference Manual for the 108 Mbps Wireless Firewall Router WGT624 v3
Introduction2-5
202-10090-01, April 2005
• Visual monitoring 
The WGT624 v3 wireless router’s front panel LEDs provide an easy way to monitor its status 
and activity.
Maintenance and Support
NETGEAR offers the following features to help you maximize your use of the WGT624 v3 
wireless router:
• Flash memory for firmware upgrade
• Free technical support seven days a week, twenty-four hours a day
Package Contents
The product package should contain the following items:
• WGT624 v3 108 Mbps Wireless Firewall Router.
•AC power adapter.
• Vertical stand.
• Category 5 (CAT5) Ethernet cable.
•108 Mbps Wireless Router WGRT624 v3 Resource CD, including:
— Application Notes and other helpful information.
• 108 Mbps Wireless Firewall Router WGT624 Installation Guide.
• Registration and Warranty Card.
• Support Information Card.
If any of the parts are incorrect, missing, or damaged, contact your NETGEAR dealer. Keep the 
carton, including the original packing materials, in case you need to return the router for repair. 
						

							Reference Manual for the 108 Mbps Wireless Firewall Router WGT624 v3
2-6Introduction
202-10090-01, April 2005
The Router’s Front Panel
The front panel of the WGT624 v3 wireless router contains the status LEDs described below. 
Figure 2-1:  WGT624 v3 Front Panel
You can use some of the LEDs to verify connections. Viewed from left to right, Ta b l e  2 - 1 
describes the LEDs on the front panel of the router. These LEDs are green when lit.
Table 2-1. LED Descriptions  
LabelActivityDescription
PowerOn
OffPower is supplied to the router.
Power is not supplied to the router.
Internet On 
BlinkThe Internet (Wide Area Network) port has detected a link with an 
attached device.
Data is being transmitted or received by the Internet port.
WirelessOn Indicates that the Wireless port is initialized. 
Local On (Green)
Blink (Green)
On (Amber)
Blink (Amber)
OffThe Local (LAN) port has detected link with a 100 Mbps device.
Data is being transmitted or received at 100 Mbps.
The Local port has detected link with a 10 Mbps device.
Data is being transmitted or received at 10 Mbps.
No link is detected on this port.