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Netgear RT314 Cable/DSL Router The RT314 utilizes a NAT (Network Address Translation) so that the machines on your network are assigned their own “fake” IPs behind the firewall. So your network is secure and individual machines are able to communicate between each other. These sub or fake IPs are what distinguishes machines behind the firewall from one another. Let me take a second to touch on the Router assigned IPs. This effectively makes machines behind the firewall “invisible” to the outside world. Yet another level of security. Lets take a look at the unit itself.
The front of the unit has a power LED as well as an activity LED and two LED for each port to give you at a glance information you may need. Another noteworthy item about the unit's physical construction is four small mounting slots so you have the option of putting the RT314 on your desk or hang it like a picture on the side and out of the way. Let’s take a look at set up and the functional value of our Netgear RT314. Installation There are four ports on the back of the unit that are for plugging your machines into. In addition to these, is the uplink port that is for connection to your cable/DSL modem as well as an AC power port. There is also a 9 pin manager port and a connection to ground the router. After connecting all the appropriate points in the back, it is on to setup. Access to the router is via a preset IP from, you guessed it, behind the firewall, that you enter in your web browser. This is how you access the setup and configuration screens. Setup is pretty straight forward thanks to the "wizard" to help lead you through it. The Netgear Installation Wizard made set up remarkably easy. You access the wizard/settings panels by typing http://192.168.0.1 in your Internet browser's address box. Once there you are prompted for information on several input screens. I found the input to be simple and the explanation of each item asked, to be quite good. Access to advanced settings can also be made via Telnet. This allows the user or network administrator to adjust items such as passwords, configurations, and so on. Here is a shot of Telnet.
The only feature I used here outside of changing passwords is the SVA Server Setup. Some online games may be problematic with the use of a router. Some packets may be stopped by the firewall, subsequently keeping you from online multiplayer excitement. We tested out the RT314 with several online games, including Quake3, Unreal Tournament, Serious Sam, Starcraft, and Crimson Skies. Crimson Skies was the only game we had to go into Telnet and adjust the settings, so that all unassigned packets got routed to the machine we had online Crimson Skies installed on. In this case you would go to option 15, which is the SVA server setup. Displayed below.
This process is as easy as typing in the "invisible" IP the router assigned, to the machine you are playing on and rebooting. Obtaining the "fake" IP was as easy as typing winipcfg in the run screen of Windows on the PC you want to identify. You then enter this IP in place of the 0.0.0.0. All unassigned packets are now routed to that identified machine and any multiplayer problems disappear after rebooting.
Don't be fooled! I took the piles of junk off my desk and put in behind me when I snapped this pic! And for those astute few; yes that is a painting of Randy Mamola. One of the greatest GP motorcycle racers that has ever lived!
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pages Copyright © 2000 - 2008 by R. Dean Barker.
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