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An Introduction to LANs and the Internet
Simply put, a router is a network device that connects two networks together.
In this instance, the Router connects your Local Area Network (LAN), or the
group of PCs in your home or office, to the Internet. The Router processes and
regulates the data that travels between these two networks.
Think of the Router as a network device with two sides: the first side is made
up of your private LAN. The other, public side is the Internet, outside of your
home or office.
The Router's NAT technology protects your network of PCs so users on the
public, Internet side cannot "see" your PCs. This is how your LAN, or network,
remains private. The Router protects your network by inspecting the first pack-
et coming in through the Internet port before delivery to the final destination
on the LAN port. The Router inspects Internet port services like the web serv-
er, ftp server, or other Internet applications, and, if allowed, it will forward the
packet to the appropriate PC on the LAN side.
Remember that the Router's ports connect to two sides: your 10/100 LAN
port(s) and the Internet port. The LAN port(s), as well as the broadband or
Internet port, transmit data at 10 Mbps or 100 Mbps.
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IP Addresses
What's an IP Address?
IP stands for Internet Protocol. Every device on an IP-based network, includ-
ing PCs, print servers, and routers, requires an IP address to identify its "loca-
tion," or address, on the network. This applies to both the Internet and LAN
connections.
There are two ways of assigning an IP address to your network devices.
Static IP Addresses
A static IP address is a fixed IP address that you assign manually to a PC or
other device on the network. Since a static IP address remains valid until you
disable it, static IP addressing ensures that the device assigned it will always
have that same IP address until you change it. Static IP addresses are com-
monly used with network devices such as server PCs or print servers.
Note: Since the Router is a device that connects two networks, it
needs two IP addresses—one for the LAN side, and one for the
Internet side. In this User Guide, you'll see references to the "Internet
IP address" and the "Local or LAN IP address."
Since the Router has NAT security, the only IP address that can be seen
from the Internet for your network is the Router's Internet IP address.
However, even this Internet IP address for the Router can be blocked,
so that the Router and network seem invisible to the Internet—see the
Block Anonymous Internet Requests description under Security =>
Filter in "Chapter 6: The Router's Web-based Utility."
If you use the Router to share your cable or DSL Internet connection, contact
your ISP to find out if they have assigned a static IP address to your account.
If so, you will need that static IP address when configuring the Router. You can
get the information from your ISP.
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