NETGEAR Nighthawk X6 R7900 User manual

Quick Start Package Contents
The box contains the following items.
In some regions, a resource CD is included in the package.
Nighthawk X6
AC3000 Tri-Band WiFi Router
Model R7900
Support
Thank you for purchasing this NETGEAR product.
After installing your device, locate the serial number on the label of your product and use it to
register your product at https://my.netgear.com.
You must register your product before you can use NETGEAR telephone support. NETGEAR
recommends registering your product through the NETGEAR website.
For product updates and web support, visit http://support.netgear.com.
NETGEAR recommends that you use only the official NETGEAR support resources.
You can get the user manual online at http://downloadcenter.netgear.com or through a link in
the product’s user interface.
Trademarks
© NETGEAR, Inc., NETGEAR and the NETGEAR Logo are trademarks of NETGEAR, Inc.
Any non‑NETGEAR trademarks are used for reference purposes only.
Compliance
For the current EU Declaration of Conformity, visit
http://support.netgear.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/11621/.
For regulatory compliance information, visit
http://www.netgear.com/about/regulatory/.
See the regulatory compliance document before connecting the power supply.
NETGEAR, Inc.
350 East Plumeria Drive
San Jose, CA 95134 USA
April 2015
AC3000 Tri-Band WiFi Router
Ethernet cable
Power adapter

1. Extend the antennas.
Position the antennas for the best WiFi
performance.
NETGEAR recommends that you position
all of the antennas vertically as shown.
2. Prepare your modem.
Unplug your modem’s power. If it uses a
battery backup, remove the battery.
3. Connect your modem.
Plug in your modem. Put the battery back
in. Then cable the modem to the yellow
Internet port on the router.
4. Check the router’s LED On/Off switch.
If the LED On/Off switch on the rear panel
of the router is in the Off position, slide the
LED On/Off switch to the On position.
5. Power on the router.
The Power LED lights
amber and then turns
white when the router
is ready.
6. Connect a computer.
You can use an Ethernet cable or connect
with WiFi.
To connect with WiFi, use the WiFi network
name and password on the product label.
8. Get free apps.
During the installation process, genie
prompts you to download two free apps:
• genie app. A personal dashboard that
lets you monitor, control, and repair
your home network.
• ReadySHARE Vault app. Enables
automatic continuous backup of a
Windows computer to a USB device
that’s connected to your router.
Ethernet cable
Router
Ethernet cable
DSL or cable
Internet
Modem
Power
adapter
You can use this diagram to connect your router or follow the detailed instructions in this booklet.
7. Log in to the router.
Launch a web browser.
NETGEAR genie displays.
If you do not see genie, enter
www.routerlogin.net in the address field
of the web browser. When prompted, enter
admin for the user name and password for
the password.
Follow the genie steps to connect to the
Internet.
9. Get the user manual.
You can get the user manual online at
http://downloadcenter.netgear.com or
through a link in the product’s user interface.

1
LEDs
The LEDs on the top of the router light to indicate router activity.
You can use the LED On/Off switch on the rear panel of the router
to turn the LEDs on the top of the router on or off.
Note: The Power LED stays lit even if the LED On/Off switch is in the
Off position.
LED On/O switch
Power LED
Internet LED
2.4 GHz WiFi LED
5 GHz WiFi 1 LED
5 GHz WiFi 2 LED
USB 3.0 port LED
Guest WiFi LED
Ethernet ports 1–4 LEDs
WiFi On/O button and LED
WPS button and LED

2
Install Your Router
Make sure that your Internet service is active before you install
your router.
¾To install your router:
1. Extend the antennas.
Position the antennas for the best WiFi performance.
NETGEAR recommends that you position all of the antennas
vertically as shown.
2. Prepare your modem:
a. Unplug your modem’s power.
b. If the modem uses a battery backup, remove its batteries.
c. If your modem was already connected to another router,
disconnect the cable between your modem and that router.
Make sure that your modem is turned off and is cabled only to
the wall jack for your Internet service.
Internet
Modem
DSL or
cable

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3. Connect your modem:
a. Plug in, then turn on your modem.
b. If you removed the batteries, replace them.
c. With the yellow Ethernet cable that came with the router,
connect your modem to the yellow Internet port on your
router.
4. Check the router’s LED On/Off switch.
If the LED On/Off switch on the rear panel of the router is
in the Off position, slide the LED On/Off switch to the On
position.
DSL or
cable
Modem
Internet
Router
Ethernet
cable
LED On/O switch

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5. Add power to the router:
a. Connect the power adapter to the router and plug the
power adapter into an outlet.
b. Wait for the Power LED on the front panel to light amber
and turn white.
If no LEDs are lit, press the Power On/Off button on the
rear panel of the router.
6. Connect a computer.
You can use an Ethernet cable or connect with WiFi:
• For a wired connection, use an Ethernet cable (not included)
to connect your computer to a black Ethernet port on your
router.
• To connect with WiFi, use the WiFi settings on the product
label.
Ethernet
cable
Modem
DSL or
cable
Ethernet
cable
Internet
Power
adapter
Router
Router
Ethernet
cable
Modem
Internet
Power
adapter
DSL or
cable

5
7. Launch a web browser.
The first time that you connect to the router, the genie screen
displays. Follow the genie steps to connect to the Internet.
If the genie screen does not display, try the following:
• Close and reopen the browser.
• Make sure that your computer is connected to one of the
four black Ethernet ports on the router, or that you are
connected to your WiFi network.
• Make sure that the router is receiving full power, and that
its Power LED is lit.
• If your computer is set to a static or fixed IP address (this is
uncommon), change it to obtain an IP address automatically
from the router.
If you still do not see the genie screen, log in to the router so
that genie can detect your Internet connection.
¾To log in to the router:
1. Launch a web browser.
2. Enter www.routerlogin.net in the address field of the
browser.
A login screen displays.
3. Enter admin for the user name and password for the
password.
The BASIC Home screen displays. If your Internet connection
is not set up yet, genie automatically detects your Internet
connection.

6
WiFi Network Name and Password
The preset WiFi network name (SSID) and password (network key)
are unique to your router, like a serial number. Because the router
automatically uses WiFi security, you don’t need to set it up. The
WiFi settings are on the product label.
NETGEAR recommends that you use the preset WiFi settings
because you can check the product label if you forget them.
NETGEAR genie lets you change these settings. If you do so, write
down the new WiFi settings and store them in a safe place.
You can write the WiFi settings from your product label in this space
for easy reference.
WiFi network name (SSID):
Network key (password):
If you change the WiFi settings, write the new settings here for
easy reference and store this booklet in a safe place.
WiFi network name (SSID):
Network key (password):

7
Join the WiFi Network
You can either use Wi‑Fi Protected Setup (WPS) or select your WiFi
network and type its password. For help with the WPS button on
your computer or WiFi device, check the instructions or online help
that came with that computer or device. Some older equipment
cannot use WPS.
¾To join the network using WPS:
1. Press the WPS button on the router for 3–5 seconds.
The WPS LED on the router blinks white.
2. Within two minutes, on your computer or WiFi device, press its
WPS button or click its onscreen WPS button.
The WPS LED on the router lights solid white when the
computer or WiFi device connects to your router.
3. Repeat this process to add other computers or WiFi devices.
¾To select your network and enter its password:
1. Open the software utility that manages your WiFi connections
on the computer or WiFi device that you want to connect to
your router.
This utility scans for WiFi networks in your area.
2. Find and select your router’s WiFi network name (SSID).
The SSID is on the product label.
3. Enter the router’s password (or your custom password if you
changed it) and click the Connect button.
The password is on the product label.
4. Repeat Step 1 through Step 3 to add other computers or WiFi
devices.

8
View or Change the Router Settings
After you use genie to set up the router, you can log in to the router
to view or change its settings.
Log In to the Router
¾To log in to the router:
1. Connect a computer or WiFi device to the router.
You can use an Ethernet cable or connect with WiFi.
• For a wired connection, use an Ethernet cable (not included)
to connect your computer to a black Ethernet port on your
router.
• To connect with WiFi, select and join your WiFi network.
2. Launch a web browser.
3. Enter www.routerlogin.net in the address field of the
browser.
A login screen displays.
4. Enter admin for the user name and password for the
password.
The BASIC Home screen displays.
Change the admin Password
¾To change the admin password:
1. Launch a web browser.
2. Enter www.routerlogin.net in the address field of the
browser.
A login screen displays.

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3. Enter admin for the user name and password for the
password.
The BASIC Home screen displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > Administration > Set Password.
The Set Password screen displays.
5. Type your old password and type the new password twice.
6. To be able to recover the password, select the Enable
Password Recovery check box.
NETGEAR recommends that you enable password recovery.
7. Select two security questions and provide answers to them.
8. Click the Apply button.
Your changes are saved.
Recover a Forgotten admin Password
The default password for the admin user name is password. If you
changed the password and enabled the password recovery feature,
you can retrieve this password.
¾To retrieve a forgotten admin password:
1. Launch a web browser.
2. Enter www.routerlogin.net in the address field of the
browser.
A login screen displays.
3. Click the Cancel button.
If password recovery is enabled, you are prompted to enter the
serial number of the router. The serial number is on the product
label.
4. Enter the serial number of the router.
The serial number is on the product label.

10
5. Click the Continue button.
A screen displays requesting the answers to your security
questions.
6. Enter the saved answers to your security questions.
7. Click the Continue button.
A screen displays your recovered password.
8. Click the Login again button.
A login screen displays.
9. With your recovered password, log in to the router.
Find a Forgotten WiFi Security Password
The preset WiFi password is on the product label. If you changed
your WiFi password and forgot what it is, log in to the router to
view its current WiFi password.
¾To connect to the router and view its WiFi password:
1. Use an Ethernet cable to connect your computer to a black
Ethernet port on the router.
2. Launch a web browser.
3. Enter www.routerlogin.net in the address field.
A login screen displays.
4. Enter the router user name and password.
The default user name is admin and the default password is
password. You can use the default credentials if you did not
change them.
The BASIC Home screen displays.
5. Select Wireless Settings.
The Security Options section of the screen displays your WiFi
password.

11
Enable Dynamic Quality of Service
Dynamic Quality of Service (QoS) resolves Internet traffic
congestion when you have limited Internet bandwidth and
competing demands by using better application and device
identification, bandwidth allocation, and traffic prioritization
techniques.
If you like gaming and streaming videos, then you can benefit from
enabling Dynamic QoS.
Note: If you use a gigabit Internet connection, or your Internet
download and upload speed is 300 Mbps or faster, then you don’t
need to use Dynamic QoS.
¾To enable Dynamic QoS:
1. Launch a web browser.
2. Enter www.routerlogin.net in the address field of the
browser.
A login screen displays.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin and the default password is password.
You can use the default credentials if you did not change them.
The BASIC Home screen displays.
4. Select Dynamic QoS.
The Dynamic QoS screen displays:
5. Select the Enable Dynamic QoS check box.
6. Specify your Internet bandwidth.
You can use Speedtest to detect your Internet bandwidth or
you can enter your Internet bandwidth manually. NETGEAR
recommends that you use Speedtest.

12
To use Speedtest to detect your Internet bandwidth:
a. For more accurate Speedtest results, make sure that no
other devices are accessing the Internet.
b. Click the Speedtest button.
Speedtest determines your Internet bandwidth.
7. Click the Apply button.
Your settings are saved.
8. To view bandwidth utilization by device and application, click
the Click here to see bandwidth utilization by device and
application link at the bottom of the screen.
For more information, see the user manual, which is available
online at http://downloadcenter.netgear.com or through a link
in the router’s user interface.

13
Share a USB Device on the WiFi Network
ReadySHARE lets you access and share a USB device connected to
the router’s USB port. (If your USB device uses special drivers, it is
not compatible.)
¾To access the USB device from a Windows computer:
1. Connect your USB device to the USB port on the router.
If your USB device uses a power supply, you must use it when
you connect the USB device to the router.
When you connect the USB device to the router’s USB port, it
might take up to two minutes before it is ready for sharing. By
default, the USB device is available to all computers on your
local area network (LAN).
2. On a Windows computer that is connected to the network,
select Start > Run, enter \\readyshare in the dialog box, and
click the OK button.
A window automatically opens and displays the files and folders
on the device.

14
¾To access the USB device from a Mac:
1. Connect a USB device to the USB port on the router.
If your USB device uses a power supply, you must use it when
you connect the USB device to the router.
When you connect the USB device to the router’s USB port, it
might take up to two minutes before it is ready for sharing. By
default, the USB device is available to all computers on your
local area network (LAN).
2. On a Mac that is connected to the network, launch Finder and
select Go > Connect to Server.
The Connect to server screen displays.
3. Enter the smb://readyshare in the Server Address field and
click the Connect button.
4. When prompted, select the Guest radio button.
If you set up access control on the router and you allowed your
Mac to access the network, select the Registered User radio
button and enter admin for the name and password for the
password. For more information about access control, see the
user manual, which is available online at
http://downloadcenter.netgear.com or through a link in the
router’s user interface.
5. Click the Connect button.
A window automatically opens and displays the files and folders
on the device.

15
ReadySHARE Vault Backup App
Your router comes with free backup software for all the Windows
computers in your home. Connect a USB hard disk drive (HDD)
to the USB port on your router for centralized, continuous, and
automatic backup.
Note: The following operating systems support ReadySHARE Vault:
• Windows XP SP3
• Windows 7
• Windows 8
• Windows 8.1
¾To back up your Windows computer:
1. Connect a USB HDD to a USB port on the router.
For best performance, connect a USB 3.0 HDD to the blue USB
3.0 port on the router.
2. Download ReadySHARE Vault from
www.netgear.com/readyshare and install it on each Windows
computer.
3. Launch ReadySHARE Vault.
4. Use the dashboard or the Backup tab to set up and run your
backup jobs.

16
Share a USB Printer
You can connect a USB printer to a USB port on the router and print
wirelessly.
¾To set up ReadySHARE Printer:
1. Connect the USB printer to a USB port on the router with a USB
printer cable.
2. On each computer that will share the printer, do the following:
a. Install the current USB printer driver software (available
from the printer manufacturer).
b. Download the NETGEAR USB Control Center utility from
www.netgear.com/readyshare and install it.
c. Select the language.
3. If prompted, select the printer and click the Connect button
for each computer.
When the first computer connects, the status changes to
Manually connected by xxx.
For each computer, when you complete Step 3, the printer
status displays as Available.

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More Premium Features
Your router lets you do the following and more:
• Play music from a USB device with iTunes Server.
• Set up a secure VPN service connection to your home network.
• Create a personal FTP server with a custom URL.
iTunes Server
iTunes Server lets you play music with your Windows or Mac
iTunes app from a USB device that is connected to the router USB
port. You can also use the Apple Remote app from an iPhone or
iPad to play music on any AirPlay devices, such as Apple TV or
AirPlay‑supported receivers.
¾To specify iTunes Server settings:
1. On your iPhone or iPad, find and connect to the WiFi network.
2. Download the Remote app from the Apple App Store.
3. Launch the Remote app from your iPhone or iPad.
4. Click the Add a Device button.
A passcode displays.
5. Specify the passcode in the router:
a. Launch a web browser.
b. Enter www.routerlogin.net in the address field of the
browser.
A login screen displays.
c. Enter the router user name and password.
The default user name is admin and the default password
is password. You can use the default credentials if you did
not change them.

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The BASIC Home screen displays.
d. Select ADVANCED > USB Storage > Media Server.
The Media Server (Settings) screen displays.
e. Select the Enable iTunes Server (Music Only) check box
and click the Apply button.
f. Enter the passcode and click the Allow Control button.
Your changes take effect.
On your iPhone or iPad, the ReadySHARE music library displays
in the Remote app. You can play this music on any Airplay
devices.
VPN Service
VPN service allows remote access to your home network with a
secure connection. After you set up VPN service, you can use VPN
to access the router’s USB device and media and to access your
Internet service at home. To set up VPN service, follow these high‑
level steps:
1. Specify the VPN service.
2. Install OpenVPN software on your computer.
3. Use a VPN tunnel.
These steps are explained in detail in the user manual, which is
available online at http://downloadcenter.netgear.com or through a
link in the router’s user interface.