NETGEAR Nighthawk CM3000 User manual

User Manual
Nighthawk® 2.5Gbps Cable Modem
Model CM3000
NETGEAR, Inc.
350 E. Plumeria DriveJanuary 2022
San Jose, CA 95134, USA202-xxxxx-01

Support
Thank you for purchasing this NETGEAR product.
You can visit https://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.
Contact your Internet service provider for technical support.
Trademarks
©NETGEAR, Inc. NETGEAR and the NETGEAR Logo are trademarks of NETGEAR, Inc.
Any non-NETGEAR trademarks are used for reference purposes only.
Compliance and Conformity
For regulatory compliance information, visit https://www.netgear.com/about/regulatory/.
See the regulatory compliance document before connecting the power supply.
Note to CATV system Installer- This reminder is provided to call the CATV systems
installer's attention to Section 820-93 of the National Electrical Code which provide
guidelines for proper grounding and in particular, specify that Coaxial cable shield shall
connected to the grounding system of the building, as close to the point of cable entry
as practical
2
Nighthawk CM3000 2.5 Gbps Cable Modem

Contents
Chapter 1 Hardware Setup
Front Panel and LEDs...........................................................................5
Rear Panel..............................................................................................6
Label.......................................................................................................8
System Requirements...........................................................................8
Install and Activate Your Cable Modem............................................9
Connect Your Cable Modem to a Computer...............................9
Activate Your Internet Service......................................................11
Perform a Speed Test....................................................................12
Chapter 2 Manage Your Network
Log in to the cable modem...............................................................14
Change the admin password............................................................14
View cable modem initialization.......................................................15
View cable modem status..................................................................16
View and clear event logs..................................................................16
Specify the cable connection starting frequency...........................17
Ethernet Port Aggregation................................................................17
Set Up Ethernet Port Aggregation...................................................18
View the Ethernet Port Aggregation Status....................................18
Change the Ethernet Port Aggregation Configuration Mode......19
Reboot the cable modem..................................................................19
Reset the cable modem to factory default settings........................20
Use the reset button on the back panel..........................................21
Use the factory reset software button..............................................21
Chapter 3 Troubleshooting
Use LEDs to Troubleshoot.................................................................23
Cannot log in to the cable modem..................................................24
Troubleshoot the cable internet connection..................................25
Chapter 4 Supplemental Information
Factory Settings..................................................................................27
Technical Specifications.....................................................................27
3

1
Hardware Setup
This chapter covers the following topics:
• Front Panel and LEDs
• Rear Panel
• Label
• System Requirements
• Install and Activate Your Cable Modem
For more information about the topics covered in this manual, visit the support website
at support.netgear.com.
4

Front Panel and LEDs
The cable modem provides status LEDs on the front.
Figure 1. Front panel
You can use the LEDs to verify status and connections. The following table lists and
describes each LED on the cable modem.
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Table 1. LED descriptions
DescriptionIconLED
•Solid white. Power is supplied to the cable modem.
•Off. No power is supplied to the cable modem.
•Solid red. The cable modem is too warm and might overheat. For
more information about this condition, see Use LEDs to Troubleshoot
on page 23.
Power
•Solid amber. One downstream channel is locked.
•Solid white. Two or more downstream channels are locked.
•Blinking white. The cable modem is scanning for a downstream
channel.
•Off. No downstream channel is locked.
Downstream
•Solid amber. One upstream channel is locked.
•Solid white. Two or more upstream channels are locked.
•Blinking white. The cable modem is scanning for an upstream
channel.
•Off. No upstream channel is locked.
Upstream
•Solid white. The cable modem is online.
•Blinking white. The cable modem is synchronizing with the cable
provider’s cable modem termination system (CMTS).
•Off. The cable modem is offline.
Online
•Solid blue. A 2.5 Gbps connection is established.
•Blinking blue. The port is sending or receiving traffic at 2.5 Gbps.
•Solid white. A 1 Gbps connection is established.
•Blinking white. The port is sending or receiving traffic at 1 Gbps.
•Solid amber. A 100 Mbps connection is established.
•Blinking amber. The port is sending or receiving traffic at 100 Mbps.
Multi Gig Port
•Solid white. A 1 Gbps connection is established.
•Solid amber. A 10 Mbps or 100 Mbps connection is established.
•Blinking white or amber. The port is sending or receiving traffic.
•Off. No device is connected to the port.
Eth1 and Eth2
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Rear Panel
The connections and button on the rear panel are shown in the following figure.
Figure 2. Rear panel
Viewed from top to bottom, the back panel contains the following components:
•Reset button. Pressing the Reset button resets the cable modem. If the Reset button
is pressed for at least seven seconds, the Power LED blinks white and the cable
modem returns to its factory settings.
•Multi Gig LAN Ethernet port. For installation and activation, connect a computer
to the Ethernet port. After you install your cable modem and activate your Internet
service, you can disconnect your computer and connect a router to the Ethernet
port.
•Aggregate Ethernet ports. If a device supports Ethernet aggregation like a NAS
or managed network switch, you can use the Ethernet aggregate ports to cable the
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Nighthawk CM3000 2.5 Gbps Cable Modem

device to your cable modem. Use two Ethernet cables to connect these ports to the
aggregated ports on a target network device.
•Coaxial cable port. Connect the cable port to a cable wall outlet.
•DC power connector. Connect the power adapter that came in the product package
to the DC power connector.
Label
The cable modem label shows the login information, MAC address, and serial number.
Figure 3. Cable modem label
System Requirements
You need the following to install your cable modem:
•Compatible operating system:
- Windows 10
- Windows 8
- Windows 7
- Windows Vista
- Windows XP
- Windows 2000
- Mac OS
- Other operating systems running a TCP/IP network
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Nighthawk CM3000 2.5 Gbps Cable Modem

•Compatible web browser:
-Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 or later
-Firefox 2.0 or later
-Safari 1.4 or later
- Google Chrome 11.0 or later
•Cable broadband Internet service
Install and Activate Your Cable Modem
The cable modem provides a connection between your cable Internet provider’s network
and your computer, router, or WiFi router.
Connect Your Cable Modem to a Computer
After you install the cable modem and activate your Internet service, you can disconnect
the computer and connect a router to the cable modem.
To connect your cable modem directly to a computer:
1. Turn off and disconnect existing modems and routers.
If you are replacing a modem that is currently connected in your home, unplug the
modem and plug the new cable modem into the same outlet.
2. Connect a coaxial cable.
Use a coaxial cable to connect the cable port on the cable modem to a cable wall
outlet. Make sure that the cable is tightly connected. We recommend that you connect
your cable modem directly to a cable wall outlet.
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Nighthawk CM3000 2.5 Gbps Cable Modem

If you must share the connection, use a 3.5dB (1 to 2) splitter.
3. Connect the power adapter to the cable modem and plug the power adapter into
an electrical outlet.
The cable modem might reset multiple times when it is powered on.
4. Wait for the cable modem to come online.
The cable modem comes online when the Internet LED stops blinking and lights
solid white. This process might take up to 10 minutes.
After 10 minutes, if the Online LED doesn’t light solid, make sure that the cable outlet
is working or call your Internet service provider (ISP) to make sure you have service.
Note: When the Online LED lights solid, your cable modem is not connected to the
Internet yet. You must connect a router or computer to your cable modem and then
activate your cable modem with your cable Internet provider.
5. Connect a router to your cable modem.
a. Connect the LAN port on the cable modem to the WAN or Internet port on the
router.
b. Your cable modem comes with two plugs that cover the Ethernet 1 and Ethernet
2 ports. You can remove the plugs to connect a router that supports Ethernet
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Nighthawk CM3000 2.5 Gbps Cable Modem

port aggregation. For more information, see Ethernet Port Aggregation on page
17.
c. Power on the router.
d. Connect your computer or mobile device to the router.
6. Reboot the computer.
Activate Your Internet Service
Before you activate your Internet service, gather the following information:
•Your cable Internet provider account information
•Cable modem model number, which is CM3000
•Cable modem serial number, which is on the cable modem label. See Label on page
8
•Cable modem MAC address, which is on the cable modem label. See Label on page
8
The following is contact information for cable Internet providers that support your cable
modem.
Table 2. Cable Internet provider contact information
Contact InformationCable
Internet
Provider
https://cox.com/activate
1-888-556-1193
Cox
https://support.mediacomcable.com/
1-855-Mediacom (1-855-633-4226)
Mediacom
https://install.optimum.com/JointInstall/
1-877-810-6750
Optimum
https://support.sparklight.com/
1-877-692-2253
Sparklight
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Table 2. Cable Internet provider contact information (Continued)
Contact InformationCable
Internet
Provider
https://activate.spectrum.net/
1-833-267-6094
Spectrum
Download the Xfinity app via the App Store or Google
Play.
https://xfinity.com/support/articles/activate-internet-gateway-modem
https://www.xfinity.com/support/internet
Xfinity
Note: Your cable Internet provider’s contact information might change. You can find
the contact information in your monthly Internet service billing statement.
To activate your Internet service:
1. Visit your cable Internet provider’s website and follow the onscreen instructions to
activate your Internet service.
2. If you are unable to activate your Internet service using the instructions on your cable
Internet provider’s website, call your cable Internet provider for support.
3. Perform an Internet speed test to verify that you are receiving the subscribed data
rate.
Perform a Speed Test
To determine the accurate Internet speed, visit the speed test website of your cable
Internet provider and perform a speed test.
If your actual speed is lower than your subscribed speed, contact your cable Internet
provider.
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Nighthawk CM3000 2.5 Gbps Cable Modem

2
Manage Your Network
After you set up the cable modem, you do not need to log in to the cable modem for
normal operation. However, you can log in to the cable modem to change a very limited
number of settings and monitor the cable modem.
This chapter includes the following sections:
• Log in to the cable modem
• Change the admin password
• View cable modem initialization
• View cable modem status
• View and clear event logs
• Specify the cable connection starting frequency
• Ethernet Port Aggregation
• Set Up Ethernet Port Aggregation
• View the Ethernet Port Aggregation Status
• Change the Ethernet Port Aggregation Configuration Mode
• Reboot the cable modem
• Reset the cable modem to factory default settings
13

Log in to the cable modem
To log in to the cable modem:
1. Connect a computer to your cable modem.
You can connect a computer to your cable modem using the following methods:
•Connect a computer to your cable modem using an Ethernet connection.
•Connect a WiFi router to your cable modem using an Ethernet connection, and
then connect a computer to your router using a WiFi or Ethernet connection.
2. Launch a web browser.
3. Enter http://192.168.100.1.
A login window opens.
4. Enter the admin user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is printed on the product label. The
user name and password are case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
Change the admin password
You can change the default password that is used to log in to the cable modem with
the admin user name.
Note: Be sure to change the password for the user name admin to a secure password.
The ideal password contains no dictionary words from any language and contains
uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. It must be at least 6 and up
to 32 characters.
To set the password for the user name admin:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer that is connected to your cable modem.
2. Enter or http://192.168.100.1.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the admin user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is printed on the product label. The
user name and password are case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
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Nighthawk CM3000 2.5 Gbps Cable Modem

4. Select ADVANCED > Administration > Set Password.
The Set Password page displays.
5. Type the old password, and type the new password twice.
6. Click the Apply button.
Your settings are saved.
View cable modem initialization
You can track the initialization procedure of the cable modem and get details about
the downstream and upstream cable channel. The time is displayed after the cable
modem is initialized.
The cable modem automatically goes through the following steps in the provisioning
process:
1. Scans and locks the downstream frequency and then ranges the upstream channels.
2. Obtains a WAN address for the cable modem.
3. Connects to the Internet.
To view the status of the cable modem initialization:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer that is connected to your cable modem.
2. Enter http://192.168.100.1.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the admin user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is printed on the product label. The
user name and password are case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select Cable Connection.
The Cable Connection page displays.
The Startup Procedure section displays the initialization progress. The page also
displays the status of all downstream and upstream channels. (You must scroll down
to view all the channels.) The number of downstream and upstream channels that
are locked depends on the number of channels that your Internet provider uses.
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View cable modem status
To view cable modem status and usage information:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer that is connected to your cable modem.
2. Enter http://192.168.100.1.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the admin user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is printed on the product label. The
user name and password are case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Click the ADVANCED tab.
The ADVANCED Home page displays information about your cable modem.
View and clear event logs
Event logs capture important cable modem events.
To view and clear the event logs:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer that is connected to your cable modem.
2. Enter http://192.168.100.1.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the admin user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is printed on the product label. The
user name and password are case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > Administration > Event Log.
The Event Log page displays the following information:
•Time. The time the event was recorded.
•Priority. The severity for this event.
•Description. A description of this event.
5. To refresh the page, click the Refresh button.
6. To clear the log entries, click the Clear Log button.
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Nighthawk CM3000 2.5 Gbps Cable Modem

Specify the cable connection starting
frequency
The starting frequency is automatically generated. For most Internet connections, you
do not need to specify this information. If you must enter a starting frequency, contact
your Internet provider.
To change the starting frequency:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer that is connected to your cable modem.
2. Enter http://192.168.100.1.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the admin user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is printed on the product label. The
user name and password are case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select Cable Connection.
The Cable Connection page displays the status of all downstream and upstream
channels.
5. In the Starting Frequency field, type a number as instructed by your cable Internet
provider.
6. Click the Apply button.
Your settings are saved.
Ethernet Port Aggregation
Ethernet aggregation lets you use the LAN 1 and 2 ports on your cable modem to
improve the aggregated transfer speed. Note that Ethernet port aggregation is also
referred to as link aggregation, teaming port, and port trunking. If a router or computer
supports Ethernet aggregation, you can connect your router or computer to the LAN 1
and 2 ports on your cable modem.
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Nighthawk CM3000 2.5 Gbps Cable Modem

To set up Ethernet port aggregation with your cable modem, you need the following:
•A service provider that offers an Internet speed that's over 1 Gbps.
•A router or computer that supports the following:
- 802.3ad LACP
- Ethernet port aggregation on its WAN ports
WARNING: To avoid causing broadcast looping, which can shut down your network,
do not connect an unmanaged switch to the LAN 1 and 2 port on your cable modem.
Set Up Ethernet Port Aggregation
To set up Ethernet port aggregation:
1. Configure your router or computer before connecting it to the cable modem.
For information about how to set up Ethernet port aggregation on your router or
computer, see the documentation that came with your router or computer.
2. Connect the Ethernet ports on your router or computer that support Ethernet port
aggregation to the LAN 1 and 2 ports on your cable modem.
For information about viewing your cable modem's Ethernet port aggregation status,
see View the Ethernet Port Aggregation Status on page 18.
View the Ethernet Port Aggregation Status
To view your cable modem's Ethernet port aggregation status:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer that is connected to your cable modem.
2. Enter http://192.168.100.1.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the admin user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and
password are case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > Ethernet Port Aggregation.
The Ethernet Port Aggregation page displays the Ethernet port aggregation status
on the page.
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Nighthawk CM3000 2.5 Gbps Cable Modem

Change the Ethernet Port Aggregation
Configuration Mode
To change your cable modem's Ethernet port aggregation configuration mode:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer that is connected to your cable modem.
2. Enter http://192.168.100.1.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the admin user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and
password are case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > Ethernet Port Aggregation.
The Ethernet Port Aggregation page displays.
5. Select a configuration mode:
•Disable. This is the default mode. This mode disables the Ethernet port
aggregation function on the cable modem. Do not use the LAN 2 port if you select
this mode.
• Enable (LACP-IEEE 803.3ad). The cable modem communicates with the router
or computer that is connected to the LAN 2 port on your cable modem and checks
to see if Ethernet port aggregation is supported on the router or computer. If
Ethernet port aggregation is supported, the cable modem automatically trunks
the LAN 2 port. If not, the LAN 2 port will not pass traffic.
Reboot the cable modem
Rebooting the cable modem disconnects all network connections to the cable modem’s
local area network (LAN). After the cable modem is finished booting and reestablishes
a connection with the Internet, the devices on your network reconnect to the cable
modem’s LAN.
To reboot the cable modem:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer that is connected to your cable modem.
2. Enter http://192.168.100.1.
A login window opens.
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Nighthawk CM3000 2.5 Gbps Cable Modem

3. Enter the admin user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is printed on the product label. The
user name and password are case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Click the ADVANCED tab.
The ADVANCED Home page displays.
5. Click the Reboot button.
A confirmation message displays.
6. Click the OK button.
The cable modem reboots.
Reset the cable modem to factory default
settings
To reset the cable modem to factory default settings, you can use either the Reset
button on the back panel of the cable modem or the Factory reset software button.
However, if you changed the default password that you use to access the cable modem
and lost the password, you must use the Reset button on the back panel.
After you reset the cable modem to factory default settings, the password is printed on
the product label. The LAN IP address is always 192.168.100.1. You cannot change this
LAN IP address.
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