routing & switching
Changing the settings on your router can feel like a daunting task. But as most IT professionals know, default settings aren’t necessarily the best settings, even if abiding by them requires zero effort or intervention. Default settings tend to be insecure and are rarely the best option for supporting network connectivity. As is the case with most hardware, there are always hidden features waiting to be taken advantage of by an ambitious IT pro. Adjusting your IT infrastructure settings is important for optimizing and securing your network, whether in a small business or corporate environment.
In fact, you don’t have to be an expert or even particularly technology-savvy to make the most of the router settings options available to you. With the right advice in hand, you can configure router settings to suit your organization’s individual requirements.
What Is a Switch?
Switches can be used to connect numerous devices together on the same network. Local area network (LAN) switches are used for controlling and directing the data flow to networked resources, at the level of the access layer. A switch is sometimes referred to as a network bridge.
Why would you want to configure a router as a switch? Every year, Wi-Fi technology becomes increasingly advanced, which means your old router might soon be unable to support your current Wi-Fi needs. But this doesn’t mean it’s useless. The Ethernet networking element of the router remains useful, allowing consumers to use it as a network switch. A switch is useful whenever you want to share an Ethernet cable between numerous devices.
How to Configure Router Settings
As this guide has already explained, router programming has numerous benefits. Below, I’ve given a short explanation of how to get started configuring router settings according to best practices.
Accessing Your Router
Before you can learn how to configure router settings, you’ll first need to know how to access them as an administrator. If you’re using the network also used by the router, then this is the first thing you should try; go to your web browser and type in the following IP addresses, one after the other, into the search bar.
- 168.0.1
- 168.1.1
- 168.2.2
- 0.1.1
- 0.0.1
- 10.1.1
Accessing Your Router
If a welcome page pops up, or a login window, then you’re in. But if these IP addresses don’t give you access, then you’ll have to go through the longer process. First, go to your settings and click on “Network & Internet.” Then select “View your network properties.” You should see “Default gateway” and a number beside it. This number is your router IP address. Type this address into your web browser’s search bar and a login or welcome page should appear. From this point, you’ll need to log in as an administrator. Admin info should be on the back of the router.
Router and Switch Configuration Benefits
One of the great advantages of router and switch configuration is you can increase security in several ways. The most basic thing you can do is change the router password from its default to something more secure and unique. This prevents hackers from accessing your router settings. Via the router, a hacker could potentially disable wireless security for your network, meaning they could access sensitive or confidential business data without you ever knowing about it.
routing & switching
Changing the settings on your router can feel like a daunting task. But as most IT professionals know, default settings aren’t necessarily the best settings, even if abiding by them requires zero effort or intervention. Default settings tend to be insecure and are rarely the best option for supporting network connectivity. As is the case with most hardware, there are always hidden features waiting to be taken advantage of by an ambitious IT pro. Adjusting your IT infrastructure settings is important for optimizing and securing your network, whether in a small business or corporate environment.
In fact, you don’t have to be an expert or even particularly technology-savvy to make the most of the router settings options available to you. With the right advice in hand, you can configure router settings to suit your organization’s individual requirements.
What Is a Switch?
Switches can be used to connect numerous devices together on the same network. Local area network (LAN) switches are used for controlling and directing the data flow to networked resources, at the level of the access layer. A switch is sometimes referred to as a network bridge.
Why would you want to configure a router as a switch? Every year, Wi-Fi technology becomes increasingly advanced, which means your old router might soon be unable to support your current Wi-Fi needs. But this doesn’t mean it’s useless. The Ethernet networking element of the router remains useful, allowing consumers to use it as a network switch. A switch is useful whenever you want to share an Ethernet cable between numerous devices.
How to Configure Router Settings
As this guide has already explained, router programming has numerous benefits. Below, I’ve given a short explanation of how to get started configuring router settings according to best practices.
Accessing Your Router
Before you can learn how to configure router settings, you’ll first need to know how to access them as an administrator. If you’re using the network also used by the router, then this is the first thing you should try; go to your web browser and type in the following IP addresses, one after the other, into the search bar.
- 168.0.1
- 168.1.1
- 168.2.2
- 0.1.1
- 0.0.1
- 10.1.1
Accessing Your Router
If a welcome page pops up, or a login window, then you’re in. But if these IP addresses don’t give you access, then you’ll have to go through the longer process. First, go to your settings and click on “Network & Internet.” Then select “View your network properties.” You should see “Default gateway” and a number beside it. This number is your router IP address. Type this address into your web browser’s search bar and a login or welcome page should appear. From this point, you’ll need to log in as an administrator. Admin info should be on the back of the router.
Router and Switch Configuration Benefits
One of the great advantages of router and switch configuration is you can increase security in several ways. The most basic thing you can do is change the router password from its default to something more secure and unique. This prevents hackers from accessing your router settings. Via the router, a hacker could potentially disable wireless security for your network, meaning they could access sensitive or confidential business data without you ever knowing about it.