NETGEAR Nighthawk AXE7300 RAXE290 User manual

User Manual
Nighthawk AXE7300 Tri-Band WiFi 6E Router
Model RAXE290
NETGEAR, Inc.
350 E. Plumeria DriveAugust 2022
San Jose, CA 95134, USA202-12615-01

Support and Community
Visit netgear.com/support to get your questions answered and access the latest
downloads.
You can also check out our NETGEAR Community for helpful advice at
community.netgear.com.
Regulatory and Legal
Si ce produit est vendu au Canada, vous pouvez accéder à ce document en français
canadien à https://www.netgear.com/support/download/.
(If this product is sold in Canada, you can access this document in Canadian French at
https://www.netgear.com/support/download/.)
For regulatory compliance information including the EU Declaration of Conformity, visit
https://www.netgear.com/about/regulatory/.
See the regulatory compliance document before connecting the power supply.
For NETGEAR’s Privacy Policy, visit https://www.netgear.com/about/privacy-policy.
By using this device, you are agreeing to NETGEAR’s Terms and Conditions at
https://www.netgear.com/about/terms-and-conditions. If you do not agree, return the
device to your place of purchase within your return period.
Do not use this device outdoors.
Applicable to 6 GHz devices only: Only use the device indoors. The operation of 6 GHz
devices is prohibited on oil platforms, cars, trains, boats, and aircraft, except that
operation of this device is permitted in large aircraft while flying above 10,000 feet.
Operation of transmitters in the 5.925-7.125 GHz band is prohibited for control of or
communications with unmanned aircraft systems.
Trademarks
Trademarks© NETGEAR, Inc., NETGEAR, and the NETGEAR Logo are trademarks of
NETGEAR, Inc. Any non-NETGEAR trademarks are used for reference purposes only.
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Contents
Chapter 1 Hardware Setup
Unpack your router.............................................................................10
Top panel LEDs and buttons.............................................................11
Rear panel............................................................................................14
Router label.........................................................................................15
Extend the antennas...........................................................................16
Position your router............................................................................16
Connect your router to a modem.....................................................17
About the speed of your Internet connection................................18
Wall-mount your router.....................................................................19
Chapter 2 Connect to the network and access the router
Connect to the router network.........................................................21
Connect to the router using a wired connection.......................21
Connect to the router WiFi network............................................21
Connect to the WiFi network using WPS....................................21
Types of logins....................................................................................22
Install and manage your router with the Nighthawk app..............22
Use a web browser to access the router..........................................23
Automatic Internet setup..............................................................23
Log in to the router........................................................................25
Change the language........................................................................25
Chapter 3 Specify Your Internet Settings
Use the Internet Setup Wizard..........................................................28
Manually set up the Internet connection.........................................28
Specify an Internet connection without a login..........................28
Specify an Internet connection that uses a login.......................30
Get Multi-Gig Internet with the Multi-Gig port...........................32
Specify IPv6 Internet connections....................................................33
Requirements for entering IPv6 addresses.................................33
Use auto detect for an IPv6 Internet connection........................34
Set up an IPv6 6to4 tunnel Internet connection.........................35
Set up an IPv6 pass-through Internet connection......................36
Set up an IPv6 fixed Internet connection....................................37
Set up an IPv6 DHCP Internet connection..................................38
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Set up an IPv6 PPPoE Internet connection..................................40
Use auto config for an IPv6 Internet connection........................42
Set up an IPv6 6rd Internet connection.......................................43
Manage the MTU size.........................................................................45
MTU concepts.................................................................................45
Change the MTU size....................................................................46
Chapter 4 Control Access to the Internet
Manage NETGEAR Armor.................................................................49
Activate Armor using the Nighthawk app...................................49
View or change your NETGEAR Armor settings using the
Nighthawk app...............................................................................49
Network access control list................................................................50
Enable the network access control list, set the access rule, and
allow or block connected devices...............................................50
Manage allowed devices currently not on the network............52
Manage blocked devices currently not on the network...........54
Use keywords to block Internet sites...............................................56
Delete keywords from the blocked list............................................57
Block services from the Internet.......................................................57
Prevent blocking on a trusted computer.........................................59
Schedule when to block Internet sites and services......................59
Set up security event email notifications.........................................60
Chapter 5 Manage WiFi Settings
Use the WPS Wizard for WiFi connections......................................63
Use the WPS Wizard with the push button.................................63
Use the WPS Wizard with a PIN number.....................................64
Specify basic WiFi settings................................................................64
Change the WiFi mode......................................................................66
Change the WiFi mode if AX WiFi is enabled............................67
Change the WiFi mode if AX WiFi is disabled...........................68
Change the WiFi password or the WiFi security.............................70
Set up a guest WiFi network.............................................................72
Configure WPA/WPA2 Enterprise WiFi security.............................75
Control the WiFi radios......................................................................77
Use the WiFi On/Off button..........................................................77
Enable or disable the WiFi radios................................................77
Enable or disable AX WiFi.................................................................78
Enable or disable 20/40 MHz coexistence for the 2.4 GHz radio.79
Enable or disable OFDMA................................................................80
Change the transmission power control.........................................81
Set up a WiFi schedule.......................................................................81
Enable or disable Smart Connect.....................................................82
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Enable or disable implicit beamforming.........................................83
Enable or disable MU-MIMO............................................................84
Enable or disable PMF.......................................................................84
Enable or disable WPA3 H2E............................................................85
Chapter 6 Manage Network Settings
View or change the WAN settings....................................................88
Set up a default DMZ server..............................................................89
Change the router’s device name....................................................90
Change the LAN TCP/IP settings......................................................90
Specify the IP addresses that the router assigns............................92
Disable the DHCP server feature in the router...............................93
Manage reserved LAN IP addresses................................................94
Reserve an IP address....................................................................94
Edit a reserved IP address............................................................95
Delete a reserved IP address entry..............................................96
Set up a bridge for a port group or VLAN tag group....................96
Set up a bridge for a port group or an IPTV port.......................96
Set up a bridge for a VLAN tag group........................................98
Manage custom static routes............................................................99
Set up a static route.....................................................................100
Edit a static route.........................................................................101
Delete a static route....................................................................102
Set up the router as a WiFi access point.......................................102
Set up the router in bridge mode..................................................103
Return the router to router mode...................................................105
Improve network connections with Universal Plug and Play......105
Enable or disable flow control for Ethernet ports........................107
Manage Ethernet port aggregation to a LAN device..................108
Set up LAN port aggregation to a LAN device........................108
View or change the router LAN port aggregation mode.......110
Chapter 7 Optimize Performance
Use Dynamic QoS to optimize Internet traffic management......113
Enable Dynamic QoS..................................................................113
Enable or disable the automatic QoS database update.........114
Manually update the dynamic QoS database..........................115
Wi-Fi Multimedia Quality of Service...............................................115
Chapter 8 Manage Your Router
Update the router firmware............................................................118
Check for new firmware and update the router......................118
Manually upload firmware to the router...................................119
Manage the firmware update settings......................................120
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Change the admin password..........................................................120
Enable admin password reset........................................................121
Reset the admin password..............................................................122
Always use HTTPS to access the router.........................................123
View information about the router and the Internet and WiFi
settings...............................................................................................124
Display the statistics of the Internet port.......................................124
Check the Internet connection status............................................126
View devices currently on the network..........................................127
Monitor Internet traffic.....................................................................128
Manage the router configuration file.............................................129
Back up the settings....................................................................130
Erase the settings.........................................................................130
Restore the settings.....................................................................131
Disable LED blinking or turn off LEDs............................................131
Set your time zone............................................................................132
Set the NTP server............................................................................133
Connect to your router with Anywhere Access............................133
Specify ReadyDLNA media server settings...................................134
Return the router to its factory default settings............................135
Use the Reset button...................................................................135
Erase the settings.........................................................................136
Chapter 9 Share USB Storage Devices Attached to the Router
USB device requirements................................................................138
Connect a USB storage device to the router................................138
Access a storage device connected to the router from a
Windows-based computer..............................................................139
Map a USB device to a Windows network drive...........................139
Access a storage device that is connected to the router from a
Mac.....................................................................................................140
Enable FTP access within your network.........................................141
View network folders on a storage device....................................141
Add a network folder on a USB storage device...........................142
Edit a network folder on a USB storage device............................143
Safely remove a USB storage device.............................................144
Chapter 10 Use Dynamic DNS to Access USB Storage Devices
Through the Internet
Set up and manage Dynamic DNS.................................................146
Set up a new Dynamic DNS account.........................................146
Specify a DNS account that you already created.....................147
Change the Dynamic DNS settings...........................................148
Your personal FTP server................................................................148
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Set up your personal FTP server................................................149
Set up FTP access through the Internet....................................149
Set up HTTPS access through the Internet....................................150
Access USB storage devices through the Internet.......................151
Chapter 11 Use OpenVPN to Access Your Network
About VPN connections..................................................................154
LAN IP addressing in VPN networks..............................................154
Enable OpenVPN service in the router..........................................155
Install OpenVPN software on a VPN client....................................156
Install OpenVPN software on a Windows-based computer....157
Install OpenVPN software on a Mac computer........................158
Install OpenVPN software on an iOS device............................159
Install OpenVPN software on an Android device....................160
Use VPN to access your Internet service at home........................161
Allow VPN client Internet access in the router.........................161
Block VPN client Internet access in the router.........................162
Use VPN to remotely access a USB storage device attached to the
router.................................................................................................163
Chapter 12 Manage port forwarding and port triggering
Manage port forwarding to a local server.....................................165
Set up port forwarding to a local server...................................165
Add a custom port forwarding service.....................................166
Edit a port forwarding service....................................................167
Delete a port forwarding entry..................................................168
Application example: Make a local web server public...........168
How the router implements the port forwarding rule.............169
Port triggering..................................................................................169
Add a port triggering service.....................................................170
Enable port triggering................................................................171
Application example: Port triggering for Internet relay chat port
triggering......................................................................................171
Chapter 13 Troubleshooting
Quick tips...........................................................................................174
Sequence to restart your network.............................................174
Check the power adapter and Ethernet cable connections...174
Check the WiFi settings..............................................................174
Check the network settings........................................................174
Troubleshoot with the LEDs............................................................175
Standard LED behavior when the router is powered on........175
Power LED is off or blinking.......................................................175
LEDs never turn off......................................................................175
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Internet or Ethernet LAN port LEDs are off..............................176
WiFi LED is off..............................................................................176
You cannot log in to the router.......................................................176
You cannot access the Internet.......................................................177
Troubleshoot Internet browsing.....................................................179
Changes are not saved....................................................................179
Troubleshoot WiFi connectivity......................................................180
Troubleshoot your network using the ping utility........................180
Test the LAN path to your router...............................................180
Test the path from a Windows-based computer to a remote
device............................................................................................181
Chapter 14 Supplemental Information
Factory settings.................................................................................184
Technical specifications...................................................................185
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1
Hardware Setup
This chapter contains the following sections:
• Unpack your router
• Top panel LEDs and buttons
• Rear panel
• Router label
• Extend the antennas
• Position your router
• Connect your router to a modem
• About the speed of your Internet connection
• Wall-mount your router
For more information about the topics covered in this manual, visit the support website
at netgear.com/support.
9

Unpack your router
Your package contains the router, the power adapter, and an Ethernet cable.
Figure 1. Package contents
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Top panel LEDs and buttons
The status LEDs and two buttons are located on the top panel of the router.
Figure 2. Top view
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Table 1. LED descriptions
DescriptionLED and Button
Solid white: The router is ready.
Solid Amber: The router is booting.
Blinking amber: Firmware is upgrading, or the router is being reset to factory
defaults.
Off: Power is not supplied to the router.
Power LED
Solid white: The Internet connection is ready.
Blinking white: The port is sending or receiving traffic.
Solid Amber: An Ethernet cable is connected to the Internet port but the Internet
connection is not ready.
Blinking amber: The traffic meter is enabled and the traffic limit is almost
reached.
Off: No Ethernet cable is connected between the router and the modem.
Internet LED
Solid white: The 2.4 GHz WiFi radio is operating.
Blinking white: The router is sending or receiving WiFi traffic.
Off: The 2.4 GHz WiFi radio is off.
2.4 GHz WiFi LED
Solid white: The 5 GHz WiFi radio is operating.
Blinking white: The router is sending or receiving WiFi traffic.
Off: The 5 GHz WiFi radio is off.
5 GHz WiFi LED
Solid white: The 6 GHz WiFi radio is operating.
Blinking white: The router is sending or receiving WiFi traffic.
Off: The 6 GHz WiFi radio is off.
6 GHz WiFi LED
The LED color indicates the speed: white for 1 Gbps Ethernet connections and
amber for 100 Mbps or 10 Mbps Ethernet connections.
Solid white: The router detected a 1 Gbps link with a powered-on device.
Blinking white: The port is sending or receiving traffic at 1 Gbps.
Solid amber: The router detected a 100 Mbps or 10 Mbps link with a
powered-on device.
Blinking amber: The port is sending or receiving traffic at 100 Mbps or 10 Mbps.
Off: No device is connected to this Ethernet port.
LAN ports 1–4 LEDs
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Table 1. LED descriptions (Continued)
DescriptionLED and Button
The LED color indicates the speed: white for a 2.5 Gbps connection (Multi-Gig
Internet port only) and amber for a 1 Gbps or 100 Mbps Ethernet connection.
Solid white (Multi-Gig Internet port only): The router detected a 2.5 Gbps link
with a powered-on device.
Blinking white (Multi-Gig Internet port only): The port is sending or receiving
traffic at 2.5 Gbps.
Solid amber: The router detected a 1 Gbps or 100 Mbps link with a powered-on
device.
Blinking amber: The port is sending or receiving traffic at 1 Gbps or 10 Mbps.
Off: No device is connected to this Ethernet port.
LAN port 5 LED for either
the Multi-Gig Internet port
or the 1G Internet port
Solid white: A USB device is connected to USB 3.0 port and is ready.
Blinking white: A USB device is plugged in to USB 3.0 port and is trying to
connect.
Off: No USB device is connected to USB 3.0 port, or someone clicked the Safely
Remove Hardware button and it is now safe to remove the attached USB device.
USB 3.0 port LED
Pressing the WiFi button for two seconds turns WiFi LED and WiFi radios on
and off.
Solid white: The WiFi radios are on.
Off: The WiFi radios are turned off and you cannot use WiFi to connect to the
router.
WiFi LED and button
Pressing the WPS button lets your WPS-enabled device join your router’s WiFi
network without typing the WiFi password.
Solid white: The WiFi radios are on and WPS is enabled.
Blinking white: The WPS process is active (the WPS button was pressed). When
the WPS-enabled device connects to your router’s WiFi network, the LED lights
solid white.
Fast-blinking white: The WPS-enabled device did not connect to your router’s
WiFi network.
WPS LED and button
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Rear panel
The following figure shows the rear panel connectors and buttons.
Figure 3. Rear panel
The rear panel contains the following components:
1. Reset button: Pressing the Reset button resets the router.
If the Reset button is pressed for at least 10 seconds and the Power LED blinks white,
the router returns to its factory settings. For information about the factory settings,
see Factory settings on page 184.
2. 1G Internet port/Ethernet LAN port 5: One Gigabit Ethernet RJ-45 WAN port to
connect your router to an Internet modem such as a cable modem or DSL modem.
If you do not use the 1G Internet port for your Internet connection (for example, if
you set up a Multi-Gig Internet connection using the Multi-Gig 2.5G/1G Ethernet
port), you can use the 1G Internet port as an extra LAN port. Therefore, the port is
also labeled LAN 5.
3. LAN ports: Use the four Gigabit Ethernet RJ-45 LAN ports to connect Ethernet LAN
devices to your router.
The router supports LAN port aggregation: You can use Ethernet ports 3 and 4 to
set up a port aggregation link to a LAN device that also supports Ethernet port
aggregation. For more information, see Manage Ethernet port aggregation to a LAN
device on page 108.
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4. Multi-Gig 2.5G/1G Internet/Ethernet LAN port 5: Use a Category 5e (Cat5e)
Ethernet cable or higher rated Ethernet cable to connect a high-speed modem for
a high-speed Internet connection. For more information, see Get Multi-Gig Internet
with the Multi-Gig port on page 32.
If you do not use the 2.5G/1G Internet port for your Internet connection (for example,
if you set up a Gigabit Internet connection using the 1G Internet port), you can use
the 2.5G/1G Internet port as an extra LAN port. For example, you can connect a
high-speed LAN device such as a Multi-Gig Ethernet switch or ReadyNAS storage
system to the port. Therefore, the port is also labeled LAN 5.
5. USB-C 3.0 port: Use the USB-C 3.0 port to connect a storage device to your router.
6. Power On/Off button: Press the Power On/Off button to provide power to the
router.
7. DC power connector: Connect the power adapter that came in your product package
to the DC power connector.
Router label
The router label shows the login information, WiFi Network Name (SSID), network key
(password), serial number, and MAC address.
The following image is an example of what your router label might look like:
Figure 4. RAXE290 router label
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Extend the antennas
Before you install your router, extend the antennas as shown in the following figure.
Figure 5. Position the antennas
Position your router
The router lets you access your network anywhere within the operating range of your
WiFi network. However, the operating distance or range of your WiFi connection can
vary significantly depending on the physical placement of your router.
In addition, position your router according to the following guidelines:
•Place your router near the center of the area where your computers and other devices
operate, and within line of sight to your WiFi devices.
•Make sure that the router is within reach of an AC power outlet and near Ethernet
cables for wired computers.
•Place the router in an elevated location, minimizing the number walls and ceilings
between the router and your other devices.
•Place the router away from electrical devices such as these:
-Ceiling fans
- Home security systems
- Microwaves
- Computers
-Base of a cordless phone
- 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz cordless phones
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•Place the router away from large metal surfaces, large glass surfaces, insulated walls,
and items such as these:
- Solid metal door
- Aluminum studs
- Fish tanks
- Mirrors
- Brick
- Concrete
The following factors might limit the range of your WiFi:
•The thickness and number of walls the WiFi signal passes through can limit the range.
•Other WiFi access points in and around your home might affect your router’s signal.
WiFi access points are routers, repeaters, WiFi range extenders, and any other
devices that emit a WiFi signal for network access.
Connect your router to a modem
Before you can set up your router, you need to connect it to your existing modem.
Note: If your Internet connection does not require a modem, you can connect your
main Internet Ethernet cable to your router.
After you connected your router to a modem and powered it on, finish your router's
installation process using the Nighthawk app or router web interface. For more
information, see Connect to the network and access the router on page 20.
Figure 6. Router connected to a modem
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To connect your router to a modem and power it on:
1. If you own a modem, unplug the power from your modem, remove and reinsert the
modem's backup battery if it uses one, and then plug the modem back in.
2. Use the Ethernet cable that came with your router to connect an Ethernet port on
the modem to the yellow Internet port on the router.
Note: If your Internet connection does not require a modem, connect your main
Ethernet cable to the yellow Internet port on the router.
3. Connect the power adapter to your router and plug the power adapter into a power
outlet.
4. If the Power LED does not automatically light, press the Power On/Off button on
the rear panel of the router.
The router’s Power LED lights solid white when the router is ready.
About the speed of your Internet connection
If your ISP offers Internet speeds up to 1 Gbps, use the yellow 1G Internet port to connect
the router to your modem. This is the most likely setup for your Internet connection.
However, if your ISP offers Internet speeds faster than 1 Gbps, you can use the yellow
Multi-Gig 2.5G/1G Internet port on your router for your Internet connection (see Get
Multi-Gig Internet with the Multi-Gig port on page 32). The Multi-Gig port supports
speeds of up to 2.5 Gbps.
The Internet port that you do not use for your Internet connection can function as an
extra LAN port (that is, as a LAN 5 port).
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Wall-mount your router
You can wall-mount your router using the wall-mounting holes on the bottom of your
router.
Note: We recommend using M3 x 20 mm screws.
Figure 7. Bottom of the RAXE290 router
To wall-mount your router:
1. Drill holes in the wall where you want to wall-mount your router.
2. Insert wall anchors in the holes.
3. Insert screws into the wall anchors, leaving 3/16 inch (0.5 cm) of each screw exposed.
4. Align the router’s wall-mounting holes with the screws and mount your router.
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2
Connect to the network and access
the router
You can connect to the router’s WiFi networks or use a wired Ethernet connection. This
chapter explains the ways you can connect and how to access the router and log in.
The chapter contains the following sections:
• Connect to the router network
• Types of logins
• Install and manage your router with the Nighthawk app
• Use a web browser to access the router
• Change the language
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