NETGEAR Nighthawk X6 AC3000 R7850 User manual

User Manual
Nighthawk X6 AC3000 Tri-Band WiFi Router
Model R7850
NETGEAR, Inc.
350 E. Plumeria DriveSeptember 2019
San Jose, CA 95134, USA202-12026-01

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.
Compliance and Conformity
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.
Trademarks
©NETGEAR, Inc. NETGEAR and the NETGEAR Logo are trademarks of NETGEAR, Inc.
Any non-NETGEAR trademarks are used for reference purposes only.
2
Nighthawk X6 AC3000 Tri-Band WiFi Router

Contents
Chapter 1 Hardware Setup
Unpack Your Router...........................................................................10
LEDs and Buttons on the Top Panel.................................................11
Rear Panel............................................................................................13
Label.....................................................................................................14
Position your router............................................................................14
Extend the Antennas..........................................................................16
Cable Your Router..............................................................................16
Chapter 2 Connect to Network and Access the Router
Connect to the network.....................................................................19
Connect to the network using a wired connection....................19
Find and connect to the WiFi network........................................19
WiFi connection using WPS..........................................................19
Types of logins....................................................................................20
Use a web browser to access the router..........................................20
Automatic Internet Setup..............................................................20
Log in to the router........................................................................22
Install and manage your router with the Nighthawk app..............23
Change the language........................................................................23
Chapter 3 Specify Your Internet Settings
Use the Internet Setup Wizard..........................................................26
Manually set up the Internet connection.........................................26
Specify an Internet connection without a login..........................26
Specify an Internet connection that uses a login.......................28
Specify IPv6 Internet connections....................................................29
Requirements for entering IPv6 addresses.................................30
Use auto config for an IPv6 Internet connection........................30
Use auto detect for an IPv6 Internet connection........................32
Set up an IPv6 6to4 tunnel Internet connection.........................33
Set up an IPv6 6rd Internet connection.......................................34
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
Set up an IPv6 PPPoE Internet connection..................................40
3

Change the MTU size.........................................................................41
Chapter 4 Optimize Performance
Use Dynamic QoS to optimize Internet traffic management........44
Enable Dynamic QoS.....................................................................44
Enable or disable the automatic QoS database update...........45
Manually update the Dynamic QoS database............................45
Improve network connections with Universal Plug and Play........46
Wi-Fi Multimedia Quality of Service.................................................47
Chapter 5 Control Access to the Internet
Enable Circle With Disney.................................................................50
Enable Circle With Disney on your router.......................................51
Enable Circle with Disney using the Nighthawk app.....................52
Enable access control to allow or block access to the Internet....52
Use keywords to block Internet sites...............................................54
Block services from the Internet.......................................................56
Delete keywords from the blocked list............................................57
Prevent blocking on a trusted computer.........................................57
Manage network access control lists...............................................58
Schedule when to block Internet sites and services......................59
Set up security event email notifications.........................................60
Chapter 6 Share USB Storage Devices Attached to the Router
USB device requirements..................................................................63
Connect a USB storage device to the router..................................63
Access a storage device connected to the router from a
Windows-based computer................................................................64
Map a USB device to a Windows network drive.............................64
Access a storage device that is connected to the router from a
Mac.......................................................................................................65
Back up Windows-based computers with ReadySHARE Vault.....66
Back up Mac computers with Time Machine..................................66
Set up a USB hard drive on a Mac...............................................67
Prepare to back up a large amount of data................................68
Use Time Machine to back up onto a USB hard disk................68
Enable FTP access within your network...........................................70
View network folders on a storage device......................................70
Add a network folder on a USB storage device.............................71
Edit a network folder on a USB storage device..............................72
Safely remove a USB storage device...............................................73
4
Nighthawk X6 AC3000 Tri-Band WiFi Router

Chapter 7 Use Dynamic DNS to Access USB Storage Devices
Through the Internet
Set up and manage Dynamic DNS...................................................75
Set up FTP access through the Internet...........................................75
Your personal FTP server...................................................................76
Set up your personal FTP server..................................................76
Set up a new Dynamic DNS account...........................................77
Specify a DNS account that you already created.......................77
Change the Dynamic DNS settings.............................................78
Access USB storage devices through the Internet.........................79
Remotely access a USB device using ReadyCLOUD......................80
Create a ReadyCLOUD account...................................................80
Register your router with ReadyCLOUD.....................................80
Chapter 8 Share a USB Printer
Install the printer driver and cable the printer................................83
Download the ReadySHARE printer utility......................................83
Install the ReadySHARE printer utility..............................................83
Print using the NETGEAR USB Control Center...............................84
Chapter 9 Manage Network Settings
View or change the WAN settings....................................................87
Set up a default DMZ server..............................................................88
Change the Router’s Device Name..................................................89
Change the LAN TCP/IP settings......................................................89
Specify the IP addresses that the router assigns............................91
Disable the DHCP server feature in the router...............................92
Manage reserved LAN IP addresses................................................93
Reserve an IP address....................................................................93
Edit a reserved IP address............................................................94
Delete a reserved IP address entry..............................................94
Use the WPS Wizard for WiFi connections......................................95
Specify Basic WiFi Settings................................................................96
Change the WiFi Mode......................................................................97
Change the WiFi password or the WiFi security.............................99
Enable or disable Smart Connect..................................................100
Set up a guest WiFi network...........................................................101
Control the WiFi radios....................................................................103
Use the WiFi On/Off button.......................................................103
Enable or disable the WiFi radios..............................................103
Set up a WiFi schedule....................................................................104
Specify WPS settings........................................................................105
Set up the router as a WiFi access point.......................................106
5
Nighthawk X6 AC3000 Tri-Band WiFi Router

Set up the router in bridge mode..................................................107
Set up a bridge for a port group or VLAN tag group..................108
Set up a bridge for a port group...............................................109
Set up a bridge for a VLAN tag group......................................110
Manage custom static routes..........................................................111
Set up a static route.....................................................................112
Edit a static route.........................................................................113
Delete a static route....................................................................113
Enable or disable implicit beamforming.......................................114
Chapter 10 Manage Your Router
Update the router firmware............................................................116
Check for new firmware and update the router......................116
Manually upload firmware to the router...................................117
Change the admin password..........................................................118
Enable admin password recovery..................................................118
Recover the admin password.........................................................119
View information about the router and the Internet and WiFi
settings...............................................................................................120
Display the statistics of the Internet port.......................................121
Check the Internet connection status............................................122
View and manage logs of router activity.......................................123
View devices currently on the network..........................................124
Monitor Internet traffic.....................................................................124
Manage the router configuration file.............................................126
Back up the settings....................................................................126
Erase the settings.........................................................................126
Restore the settings.....................................................................127
Remote access..................................................................................128
Set up remote management......................................................128
Use remote access.......................................................................129
Remotely access your router using the Nighthawk app..............129
Disable LED blinking or turn off LEDs............................................130
Set your time zone............................................................................130
Return the router to its factory default settings............................131
Use the Reset button...................................................................131
Erase the settings.........................................................................132
Chapter 11 Use VPN to Access Your Network
Set Up a VPN Connection...............................................................134
Specify VPN Service in the Router..................................................134
Install OpenVPN Software...............................................................135
Install OpenVPN Software on Your Windows Computer.......135
Install OpenVPN Software on Your Mac Computer................138
6
Nighthawk X6 AC3000 Tri-Band WiFi Router

Install OpenVPN Software on an iOS Device...........................139
Install OpenVPN Software on an Android Device...................139
Use a VPN Tunnel on Your Windows Computer..........................140
Use VPN to Access the Router’s USB Device and Media............142
Use VPN to Access Your Internet Service at Home......................142
Set Up VPN Client Internet Access in the Router.....................143
Block VPN Client Internet Access in the Router.......................143
Use a VPN Tunnel to Access Your Internet Service at Home..144
Chapter 12 Manage Port Forwarding and Port Triggering
Manage Port Forwarding to a Local Server..................................147
Set Up Port Forwarding to a Local Server.................................147
Add a Custom Port Forwarding Service...................................148
Edit a Port Forwarding Service...................................................149
Delete a Port Forwarding Entry..................................................150
Application Example: Make a Local Web Server Public.........150
How the Router Implements the Port Forwarding Rule..........151
Port Triggering.................................................................................151
Add a Port Triggering Service....................................................152
Enable Port Triggering................................................................153
Application Example: Port Triggering for Internet Relay Chat port
triggering......................................................................................153
Chapter 13 Troubleshooting
Quick tips...........................................................................................156
Sequence to restart your network.............................................156
Check the power adapter and Ethernet cable connections...156
Check the WiFi settings..............................................................156
Check the network settings........................................................156
Troubleshoot with the LEDs............................................................157
Standard LED behavior when the router is powered on........157
Power LED is off or blinking.......................................................157
LEDs never turn off......................................................................157
Internet or Ethernet LAN port LEDs are off..............................158
WiFi LED is off..............................................................................158
You cannot log in to the router.......................................................158
You cannot access the Internet.......................................................159
Troubleshoot Internet browsing.....................................................161
Changes are not saved....................................................................161
Troubleshoot WiFi connectivity......................................................162
Troubleshoot your network using the ping utility........................162
Test the LAN path to your router...............................................162
Test the path from a Windows-based computer to a remote
device............................................................................................163
7
Nighthawk X6 AC3000 Tri-Band WiFi Router

Troubleshoot 404 Error Message When Trying to Log In to Plex
Account..............................................................................................164
Chapter 14 Supplemental Information
Factory Settings................................................................................166
Technical Specifications..................................................................168
8
Nighthawk X6 AC3000 Tri-Band WiFi Router

1
Hardware Setup
This chapter contains the following sections:
• Unpack Your Router
• LEDs and Buttons on the Top Panel
• Rear Panel
• Label
• Position your router
• Extend the Antennas
• Cable 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, power adapter, and an Ethernet cable.
Figure 1. Package contents
User Manual10Hardware Setup
Nighthawk X6 AC3000 Tri-Band WiFi Router

LEDs and Buttons on the Top Panel
The status LEDs, WiFi On/Off button, and WPS button are located on the top panel of
the router.
Figure 2. Router LEDs and buttons
The following table describes the LEDs and buttons on the top of the router.
User Manual11Hardware Setup
Nighthawk X6 AC3000 Tri-Band WiFi Router

Table 1. LED descriptions
DescriptionLED
•Solid amber. The router is starting.
•Blinking amber. The firmware is upgrading, or the Reset button was pressed.
•Solid white. The router is ready.
•Blinking white. The router is not ready, the firmware is upgrading, or the Reset button
was pressed.
•Off. Power is not supplied to the router.
Power
•Solid white. The Internet connection is ready.
•Solid amber. The router detected an Ethernet cable connection to the modem.
•Off. No Ethernet cable is connected between the router and the modem.
Internet
•Solid white. The 2.4 GHz WiFi radio is operating.
•Blinking. The router is sending or receiving WiFi traffic.
•Off. The 2.4 GHz WiFi radio is off.
2.4 GHz WiFi
•Solid white. The 5 GHz-1 WiFi radio is operating.
•Blinking. The router is sending or receiving WiFi traffic.
•Off. The 5 GHz-1 WiFi radio is off.
5 GHz 1 WiFi
•Solid white. The 5 GHz-2 WiFi radio is operating.
•Blinking. The router is sending or receiving WiFi traffic.
•Off. The 5 GHz-2 WiFi radio is off.
5 GHz 2 WiFi
•Solid white. A USB device is connected and is ready.
•Blinking. A USB device is plugged in and is trying to connect.
•Off. No USB device is connected, or someone clicked the Safely Remove Hardware
button and it is now safe to remove the attached USB device.
USB 3.0 port
USB 2.0 port
The LED color indicates the speed: white for Gigabit Ethernet connections and amber for
100 Mbps or 10 Mbps Ethernet connections.
•Solid. A powered-on device is connected to the Ethernet port.
•Blinking. The port is sending or receiving traffic.
•Off. No device is connected to this Ethernet port.
Ethernet ports 1–4
User Manual12Hardware Setup
Nighthawk X6 AC3000 Tri-Band WiFi Router

Table 1. LED descriptions (Continued)
DescriptionLED
Pressing this button for two seconds turns the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz WiFi radios on and off.
If this LED is lit, the WiFi radios are on. If this LED is off, the WiFi radios are turned off and
you cannot use WiFi to connect to the router.
WiFi On/Off button with
LED
This button lets you use WPS to join the WiFi network without typing the WiFi password.
The WPS LED blinks white during this process and then lights solid white.
WPS button with LED
Note: If the LED On/Off switch is moved to the Off position, all the LEDs except the
Power LED are turned off.
Rear Panel
The rear panel connections and buttons are shown in the following figure.
Figure 3. Rear panel
Viewed from left to right, the rear panel contains the following components:
•USB 2.0 port. One USB 2.0 port to connect USB storage devices.
•LED On/Off switch. If this switch is in the Off position, all the router’s LEDs, except
the Power LED, are turned off. The Power LED stays lit even if the LED On/Off switch
is in the Off position.
•Ethernet ports. Four Gigabit Ethernet RJ-45 LAN ports to connect the router to LAN
devices.
•USB 3.0 port. One USB 3.0 port to connect USB storage devices.
•WAN port. Use the yellow Gigabit Ethernet RJ-45 WAN port to connect the router
to a modem.
•Reset button. Press the Reset button for at least seven seconds to reset the router.
The Power LED blinks white and the router returns to its factory settings.
User Manual13Hardware Setup
Nighthawk X6 AC3000 Tri-Band WiFi Router

•DC power connector. Connect the power adapter that came in the product package
to the DC power connector.
•Power On/Off button. Press the Power On/Off button to provide power to the
router.
Label
The label on the router shows the login information, WiFi Network Name (SSID), network
key (Password), serial number, and MAC address.
Figure 4. Router label
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
User Manual14Hardware Setup
Nighthawk X6 AC3000 Tri-Band WiFi Router

- Microwaves
- Computers
-Base of a cordless phone
- 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz cordless phones
•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.
User Manual15Hardware Setup
Nighthawk X6 AC3000 Tri-Band WiFi Router

Extend the Antennas
Position the antennas for the best WiFi performance.
To extend the antennas:
Position all of the antennas vertically as shown.
Cable Your Router
Power on your router and connect it to a modem.
90° 90°
Figure 5. Cable your router
User Manual16Hardware Setup
Nighthawk X6 AC3000 Tri-Band WiFi Router

To cable your router:
1. Unplug your modem’s power, leaving the modem connected to the wall jack for
your Internet service.
If your modem uses a battery backup, remove the battery.
2. Plug in and turn on your modem.
If your modem uses a battery backup, put the battery back in.
3. Connect your modem to the Internet port of your router with the Ethernet cable that
came with your router.
4. Connect the power adapter to your router and plug the power adapter into an outlet.
5. Press the Power On/Off button on the rear panel of the router.
User Manual17Hardware Setup
Nighthawk X6 AC3000 Tri-Band WiFi Router

2
Connect to 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 network
• Types of logins
• Use a web browser to access the router
• Install and manage your router with the Nighthawk app
• Change the language
18

Connect to the network
You can connect to the router’s network through a wired or WiFi connection. If you set
up your computer to use a static IP address, change the settings so that it uses Dynamic
Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP).
Connect to the network using a wired connection
You can connect your computer to the router using an Ethernet cable and join the
router’s local area network (LAN).
To connect your computer to the router with an Ethernet cable:
1. Make sure that the router is receiving power (its Power LED is lit).
2. Connect an Ethernet cable to an Ethernet port on your computer.
3. Connect the other end of the Ethernet cable a LAN port on the router.
Your computer connects to the local area network (LAN).
Find and connect to the WiFi network
To find and select the WiFi network:
1. Make sure that the router is receiving power (its Power LED is lit).
2. On your computer or WiFi device, find and select the WiFi network.
The WiFi network name is on the router label.
3. Join the WiFi network and enter the WiFi password.
The password is on the router label.
Your device connects to the WiFi network.
WiFi connection using WPS
You can connect your WPS-enabled device to the router’s WiFi network with Wi-Fi
Protected Setup (WPS) or you can find and select the WiFi network.
To use WPS to connect to the WiFi network:
1. Make sure that the router is receiving power (its Power LED is lit).
2. Check the WPS instructions for your WPS-enabled device.
3. Press the WPS button on the router.
User Manual19Connect to Network and Access
the Router
Nighthawk X6 AC3000 Tri-Band WiFi Router

4. Within two minutes, on your WPS-enabled device, press its WPS button or follow
its instructions for WPS connections.
Your WPS-enabled device connects to the WiFi network.
Types of logins
Separate types of logins serve different purposes. It is important that you understand
the differences so that you know which login to use when.
Several types of logins are associated with the router:
•ISP login. The login that your Internet service provider (ISP) gave you logs you in to
your Internet service. Your ISP gave you this login information in a letter or some
other way. If you cannot find this login information, contact your ISP.
•WiFi network key, WiFi passphrase, or WiFi password. Your router is preset with
a unique WiFi network name (SSID) and password for WiFi access. This information
is on the router label.
•NETGEAR account login. The free NETGEAR account that you need to register your
router and manage your subscriptions. If you do not own a NETGEAR account, you
can create one.
•Router login. The router login password that you need to log in to the router with
the admin user name when you use a web browser to access the router.
Use a web browser to access the router
When you connect to the network (either with WiFi or with an Ethernet cable), you can
use a web browser to access the router to view or change its settings. When you access
the router, the software automatically checks to see if your router can connect to your
Internet service.
Automatic Internet Setup
You can set up your router automatically, or you can use a web browser to access the
router and set up your router manually. Before you start the setup process, get your ISP
information and make sure that the computers and devices in the network are using
the settings described here.
User Manual20Connect to Network and Access
the Router
Nighthawk X6 AC3000 Tri-Band WiFi Router