Xsense Connectivity PalmRouter PR-100 User manual

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PalmRouter PR-100
Internet Sharing Router with Four-Port Switch
User Manual

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Copyright
Copyright © 2001 by Xsense Connectivity, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this documentation may be
reproduced in any form or by any means or used to make any directive work (such as translation or
transformation) without permission from Xsense Connectivity, Inc. Xsense Connectivity, Inc. reserves the
right to revise this documentation and to make changes in content without obligation among Xsense
Connectivity, Inc. to provide notification of such revision or change. All products and their associated
features are subject to change or upgrade at the time of the shipment or of the sales.
FCC Notice
This equipment has been tested and found to be FCC Rules certified. These restrictions are designed to
provide protection against harmful interference from residential installations. This equipment generates
radio frequencies that may cause interference with radio communications if not used in accordance with
the instructions. Interference may even occur during proper installation. If this equipment causes
interference, the user is suggested to correct it by one or more of the following:
 Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
 Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit that is separate from the one to which the receiver is
connected.
 Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/television technician for help.
CE Declaration of Conformity
The equipment complies with the requirements relating to electromagnetic compatibility, the essential
protection requirement of Council Directive/EEC on the approximation of the Member States relating to
Electromagnetic compatibility.
Trademarks
All products and brand names are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective
companies.
Safety Precautions
 Follow all warnings and instructions marked on the product.
 Slots and openings on the device are provided for ventilation. To protect it from overheating, these
openings must not be blocked or covered.
 Do not use or store this product in the environment that exceeds temperature and humidity
specifications. Do not place this product near a radiator or heat register, or in a built-in installation
unless adequate ventilation is provided.
 Before cleaning, unplug this product from wall outlet. Do not use liquid cleansers or aerosol cleansers.
Use a damp cloth for cleaning.
 Do not place cords or cables where they may be walked on or tripped over.
 Be sure to comply with any applicable local safety standards or regulations.
 General-purpose cables are provided with this product. The use of any other cables or requirements
mandated by local authority is user’s responsibility.
 Cables attached to devices in different locations with different power sources and grounding may
cause hazardous voltage. Consult a qualified electronic consultant before installing the product to
check if this phenomenon exists and, if necessary, take corrective action.
 Never touch un-insulated telephone wires or terminals unless the line has been disconnected.
 Avoid using telephone equipment or installing the product during an electrical storm.
 Never install this product, or any kind of telephone jacks, lines, network cables, or power connections
in wet locations.
 Never spill liquid of any kind on this product.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.0 INTRODUCTION.........................................................................................1
1.1 Features ..................................................................................................1
1.1.1 Sharing Internet Access.................................................................1
1.1.2 Support Broadband Connection ....................................................1
1.1.3 Built-in DHCP Server.....................................................................1
1.1.4 Built-in 4-Port Switched Ethernet Hub ...........................................1
1.1.6 Easy Configuration ........................................................................2
1.1.7 Security .........................................................................................2
2.0 BEFORE YOU START................................................................................3
2.1 Package Overview...................................................................................3
2.2 System and Other Requirements.............................................................3
3.0 GETTING TO KNOW PALMROUTER ........................................................4
3.1 Front Panel ..............................................................................................4
3.2 Rear Panel...............................................................................................5
4.0 INSTALLING PALMROUTER .....................................................................6
4.1 Connecting the PalmRouter to Your DSL/Cable Modem .........................6
4.2 Connecting Computers to the PalmRouter ..............................................7
5.0 CONFIGURING CLIENT COMPUTERS .....................................................9
5.1 Windows 95/98/Me TCP/IP Configuration................................................9
5.2 Assigning TCP/IP Values Manually........................................................ 11
6.0 BASIC CONFIGURATION ........................................................................13
6.1 ISP Connection Types ...........................................................................13
6.2 Access the Web-Based Config Pages ...................................................14
6.3 One Page Setup ....................................................................................15
6.3.1 Dynamic Configuration ................................................................16
6.3.2 Static Configuration .....................................................................17
6.3.3 PPPoE.........................................................................................17
6.4 Status Monitor........................................................................................19
6.5 DHCP Settings.......................................................................................20
6.6 Device Administration ............................................................................21
6.7 DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) Host .............................................................22
7.0 FIRMWARE UPGRADE............................................................................23
8.0 TROUBLESHOOTING..............................................................................24
8.1 Common Problems and Solutions .........................................................24
8.2 Frequently Asked Questions..................................................................26
APPENDIX......................................................................................................28
Specifications...............................................................................................28
GLOSSARY ....................................................................................................29

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1.0 INTRODUCTION
Congratulations on your purchase of the Xsense PalmRouter, the Economical
Internet Sharing Router with Four-Port Switch. Welcome to the Xsense Product
Family.
The PalmRouter provides home and small office PC users with an economical yet
feature-rich way to share Internet access via their DSL/Cable broadband
connection.
PalmRouter is the entry-level member of the Xsense Internet Sharing Router
family. It comes with the most essential functions and it is easier to set up and
maintain. You don't have to bother tinkering with advanced parameters for
complicated environments that you may not have. Most importantly, these
essential functions are packed into a very attractive palm-size unit that
anyone can afford.
1.1 Features
The PalmRouter is an embodiment of many essential features. The major
features are:
1.1.1 Sharing Internet Access
The PalmRouter functions as an easy-to-use communication device, which allows
you to connect a local area network (LAN) to the Internet affordably. With the
PalmRouter you can get as many as 253 PC users online simultaneously through
one DSL line or Cable, with one ISP account. The PalmRouter installs quickly and
easily, and best of all, it’s a breeze to use. PalmRouter supports dynamic, static
and PPPoE addressing and is compatible with virtually all ISPs.
1.1.2 Support Broadband Connection
The PalmRouter supports both DSL modems and Cable modems broadband
Internet connections. It has one WAN (Wide Area Network) port to connect itself
to a DSL modem or a Cable modem. This provides more than enough bandwidth
to accommodate the needs of even large groups of Internet users.
1.1.3 Built-in DHCP Server
The PalmRouter’s built-in DHCP Server dramatically reduces the amount of
efforts needed to configure and maintain connected PCs by automatically
assigning IP addresses to each one of them.
1.1.4 Built-in 4-Port Switched Ethernet Hub
In addition to providing Internet sharing capability, the PalmRouter also functions
as an N-way switched Ethernet hub, which offers four 10/100Mbps switched
RJ-45 ports that allow you to connect a series of computers to form a small LAN.
One uplink port is provided for cascading to more hubs and switches.

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1.1.6 Easy Configuration
The PalmRouter can be configured through a popular web browser, and it
features web-based management for a simple, intuitive set up. It allows for remote
administration for convenience and tech support.
1.1.7 Security
The PalmRouter provides firewall-like security through NAT (Network Address
Translation) to prevent unauthorized Internet users from accessing internal files.
NAT translates private local IP addresses into a global IP address on the Internet,
allowing a group of Internet users to share a single ISP account. Also,
PalmRouter runs in Stealth Mode when WAN Port Scanning/WAN Ping Response
Block is enabled.

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2.0 BEFORE YOU START
2.1 Package Overview
Prior to setting up your PalmRouter, make sure your PalmRouter package
includes the following items:
 One PalmRouter unit (Model Number PR-100)
 One Power Adapter
 One User Manual and Registration Card
 One Category-5 UTP Ethernet cable with RJ-45 connectors
2.2 System and Other Requirements
 ISP account with DSL/Cable Modem Broadband Internet connection
 Desktop computer(s) with 10Mbps or 10/100Mbps Ethernet connection to
support TCP/IP protocol
 Windows 95/98/Me/NT4/2000 or that of later versions
 Netscape Navigator 4.7 or Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0, or later versions
of the web browsers

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3.0 GETTING TO KNOW PALMROUTER
This chapter first gives a description of the LED indicators and ports of the
PalmRouter unit. Then it outlines the steps in installing and configuring the unit to
work with your network environment.
3.1 Front Panel
The Front Panel LED lights provide a status display indicating transmission and
other activities.
Figure 1
Power On Indicates that there is power to the unit.
Self Test On Indicates a bootup or reset process.
LAN Ports
100M On Indicates a 100Mbps connection is detected on
the corresponding port.
Off Indicates the port is running at 10Mbps.
On Indicates a proper connection with a computer.
Link/ACT
Flashing Indicates activity on the port.
On Indicates full duplex mode.
FD
Off Indicates half duplex mode.
WAN Port
Link On Indicates proper connection with the
Internet/Ethernet.
Flashing Indicates that data packets are flowing through
the port.
ACT
Off Indicates idle.
Table 1

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3.2 Rear Panel
Figure 2
WAN Ethernet Port
One Wide Area Network port for connecting the PalmRouter to the Internet
via a DSL or Cable modem.
Uplink Buton
Used to determine the configuration of the PalmRouter’s LAN port No. 4.
Choose either UP-position (straight-through) for connecting LAN computers
to the PalmRouter or DOWN-position (uplink) for cascading a series of hubs
or switches to the PalmRouter.
LAN Ethernet Ports
Four 10/100Mbps Ethernet network (RJ-45) ports used for linking computers
and printers to form a Local Area Network with the PalmRouter.
12VDC/1.2A Power Adapter Receptacle
Plug the power adapter cable into this port to supply power to the PalmRouter
unit.

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4.0 INSTALLING PALMROUTER
Prior to connecting the PalmRouter to LAN, please be certain that your DSL or
Cable service is active and operating correctly. If you are experiencing difficulties
with the DSL or Cable service, please contact the service provider before
continuing the installation process.
4.1 Connecting the PalmRouter to Your DSL/Cable Modem
After verifying that your DSL or Cable service is functioning properly, connect the
DSL modem or Cable modem to the PalmRouter by following the instructions
below:
1. Disconnect the Ethernet cable from the computer that is currently connected
to the DSL or Cable modem if you have not done so.
2. Plug the power adapter of the PalmRouter into an AC power outlet.
3. Plug the RJ-45 connector from this cable into the WAN (Wide Area Network)
port on the rear panel of the PalmRouter. Verify WAN LED is green ensuring
proper connection (See Figure 1).
4. Leave the other end of this Ethernet cable connected to the DSL modem or
Cable modem.
Figure 3

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4.2 Connecting Computers to the PalmRouter
When you finish connecting the PalmRouter to your DSL or Cable modem, you
may now connect PC computers in your local area network to the PalmRouter.
Two methods can be implemented for the connection: (1) plugging computers
directly into the PalmRouter, and (2) connecting the PalmRouter to your LAN hub.
We suggest performing the initial installation process with just one computer
connected to the PalmRouter and add the hub later.
Connect Computers Directly to the PalmRouter:
NOTE: You will need an Ethernet cable for each additional computer connecting to
the PalmRouter.
1. Plug one RJ-45 connector (of a standard twisted-pair Ethernet cable) to the
Ethernet port on your computer.
2. Plug the other end of this cable into one of the PalmRouter’s four LAN ports.
3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 for each computer you wish to provide Internet access
to until all four PalmRouter LAN ports are filled.
NOTE: To connect more than four computers to the PalmRouter, simply plug
additional computers into a network hub and plug this hub into the PalmRouter’s
uplink port. Read below for further instructions. (See Figure 5)
Figure 4
To connect an existing LAN to the PalmRouter:
As an alternative to connecting computers directly into the PalmRouter’s LAN
ports, you can also connect a pre-existing network to the PalmRouter by uplinking
your network’s central LAN hub to the PalmRouter’s uplink port.
To connect a LAN hub to the PalmRouter’s uplink port:
1. Push the Uplink Button down (located on the PalmRouter’s rear panel just left
of the No. 4 LAN port).
2. Plug one RJ-45 connector (of a standard twisted-pair Ethernet cable) to the
PalmRouter’s No. 4 LAN port.
3. Plug the other end of this Ethernet cable into an available standard port on
the network hub. Do not run the connection from uplink port on the router to
uplink port on hub.
NOTE: Multiple network hubs can be connected to the PalmRouter’s LAN ports
No.1-3 if these hubs are equipped with uplink ports. By cascading a series of hubs,
you can connect up to 253 users to the PalmRouter.

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Figure 5

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5.0 CONFIGURING CLIENT COMPUTERS
Congratulations on installing the PalmRouter’s hardware! Next we will show you
how to enable communication between the PalmRouter and client computers.
Part of the process of enabling communication involves setting the IP addresses
for the computer. These computers must have their IP addresses configured such
that they share the same subnet numbering scheme, as does the PalmRouter’s
default IP address. We will explain this in more detail later in the chapter.
Configuring the IP addresses is a simple task that can be performed through your
computer’s TCP/IP control panel. We have provided instructions for the
configuration process for PC users. Find the appropriate set of instructions in the
following pages.
5.1 Windows 95/98/Me TCP/IP Configuration
1. Double-click the Control Panel icon in My Computer folder or locate it in the
Start Menu. The sub-folder Control Panel is located under Settings.
2. In the Control Panel, double-click the Network icon. The network interface
card (installed on your computer) appears along with the network protocol on
the Configuration list.
Figure 6
3. Double-click TCP/IP protocol on the list. If TCP/IP does not appear on the
list, you must install the TCP/IP protocol first as illustrated in step 4. Clients
with TCP/IP already installed may skip to step 5.
4. To install the TCP/IP protocol:
a. Keep your copy of Windows 95/98/Me CD-ROM on hand. (You will
need it for this installation.)
b. Click the Add button from the Configuration list of the Network window.
A new window appears.
c. Double-click Protocol. Then, in the Select Network Protocol window,

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choose Microsoft on the Manufacturers list, and select TCP/IP on the
right side of the list.
Figure 7
Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the installation process. It
should prompt for a restart and then follow on with step 5, as you will now find
a TCP/IP Protocol in your Network control panel.
5. After double-clicking the installed TCP/IP protocol, the TCP/IP Properties
window appears. To automatically assign computer’s TCP/IP, the
PalmRouter’s DHCP server must perform the following functions:
a. Click the IP Address tab from the TCP/IP Properties window. (See
Figure 8)
Figure 8
b. Select the item Obtain IP address automatically to allow the built-in
DHCP server of the PalmRouter to assign an IP address and other
TCP/IP configuration information to the client automatically. Do this for
every client which needs Internet access through the PalmRouter.

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6. After specifying the settings of TCP/IP click OK and restart Windows to allow
the settings to take effect.
7. Repeat steps from 1 to 6 for each client PC on you Local Area Network.
When all of your client PCs are configured, please go to Chapter 6 to set up
your PalmRouter.
Note: If you already have a DHCP server on your network that assigns local IP
addresses to each computer, then you should turn off the built-in DHCP server in the
PalmRouter. Refer to Section 6.5 to learn about how to turn off the DHCP server in the
PalmRouter.
5.2 Assigning TCP/IP Values Manually
If you already have a DHCP server on the network, or if you prefer not to use the
PalmRouter’s DHCP server to assign TCP/IP values automatically, you can input
these values manually. To manage a computer’s address manually, perform the
following steps:
Click the IP Address tab from the TCP/IP properties window.
1. Select the item Specify an IP address to manually input unique IP address
and Subnet Mask. Do this for every client which needs Internet access
through the PalmRouter. (See Figure 9)
2. In the IP Address field enter “192.168.1.x” where x is any variable of your
choice ranging from 2 to 253. Enter “255.255.255.0” in the Subnet Mask
field.
NOTE: No two computers on the LAN are allowed to adopt the same IP address
or an IP address conflict will occur.
Figure 9

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3. Click the Gateway tab and enter the PalmRouter’s Private IP Address
“192.168.1.1” in the Gateway IP address field and click Add. The Gateway
IP address value must be the same as the PalmRouter's IP address to keep
the proper IP numbering scheme.
Figure 10
4. Click the DNS Configuration tab, choose Enable DNS and input a unique
Host Name that simply is the computer’s name on the network. Enter the
DNS IP addresses provided by your ISP in the proper order into the DNS
Server Search Order field and click Add.
Figure 11
5. Click OK to close out of both windows and you will be prompted to restart the
computer to activate these changes.

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6.0 BASIC CONFIGURATION
Now that you have completed the configuration of TCP/IP addresses on the client
computer(s), you may begin configuring the PalmRouter’s Internet settings. This
can be done through a standard Web browser (such as Netscape Navigator 4.7 or
Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 and higher).
6.1 ISP Connection Types
Before you begin with setting the PalmRouter configuration, you must verify that
you have one of the following ISP connections:
 Static: If your connection is static, your ISP has provided you with the
necessary values for IP Address, Subnet Mask, Default Gateway/Router
Address and Domain Name Server addresses.
These would have been configured in the TCP/IP control panel for your
computer to connect to the Internet directly through the modem.
 Dynamic: The PalmRouter, by default, is configured for a dynamic
connection and can dynamically obtain a WAN IP Address from the ISP so
there is no further configuration needed. Although, we suggest inputting the
DNS numbers into both the TCP/IP control panel of the computer and the
DNS fields on the One Page Setup screen. If you do not have these DNS
numbers, you can obtain them from your ISP.
 PPPoE:
Dynamic PPPoE: The majority of PPPoE connections are dynamic and only
require the configuration of the PPPoE section. However, we do suggest
inputting the DNS numbers into both the TCP/IP control panel of the
computer and the DNS fields on the One Page Setup screen. Such ISPs
using PPPoE are PacBell, BellAtlantic, BellSouth, Southwestern Bell, Bell
Sympatico, Earthlink/Mindspring among others.
Static PPPoE: If your service is Static PPPoE, you will need to input the
static values into the One Page Setup and then continue on to configure the
PPPoE section. However, this type of account is uncommon.
NOTE: Some cable modem ISPs (i.e. Media One, Time Warner, Roadrunner) may
require a MAC Address (hardware address of a network device) to be registered. In
this case, you will need to provide the Public IP MAC Address to your ISP found on
the One Page Setup screen. See the FAQs on our website for further detail. To access
the PalmRouter’s One Page Setup screen, follow the instructions below.

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6.2 Access the Web-Based Config Pages
1. Launch your web browser.
2. In the URL field, type the PalmRouter's default IP address (192.168.1.1) and
hit Enter key on the keyboard. This is the area where you would normally
enter a Web site address such as “www.xsense.com”. There must be no
Proxy settings configured in your browser preferences.
3. The Username and Password window will then appear. Leave the Username
field blank and type “admin” as the default password for the PalmRouter. If it
does not appear, check your cable connections and TCP/IP settings. Also,
see the Troubleshooting Section.
Note: Password is case sensitive so verify that Caps Lock is off.
4. Click OK.
Figure 12
Note: It is recommended to change the default “admin” password of your PalmRouter
for security purposes. This can be done n the “Device Admin.” page of the web-based
configuration of the PalmRouter. For more information on the “Device Admin.” page
please refer to Section 6.6 on this manual.

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6.3 One Page Setup
The One Page Setup window now appears. Note that this page is divided into two
basic sections: LAN IP Address and WAN IP Address.
Figure 13
Host Name: This is an optional section. Some ISPs, such as The @Home
Network and Cox Cable, require a host name for authentication purposes in order
to be recognized by their systems. Your ISP should provide this if it is needed for
their systems. See our FAQ about this issue on our website at www.xsense.com.

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Domain Name: A domain is a set of network resources (printers, databases,
servers, etc.) for a group of users. Once the user has logged in and been
authenticated by the domain, they have access to the resources. If your ISP
doesn’t require a Domain Name, and most do not, then leave this field blank.
LAN IP Address: Here, the PalmRouter’s internal IP Address can be changed,
such as in the case of the PalmRouter connecting to a much larger corporate LAN
network. However, we recommend that you do not alter the default IP address
“192.168.1.1” unless some modifications are necessary to be made for your
network environment.
WAN IP Address: By default, this section is configured for a dynamic connection.
However, this section can be used to manually enter IP address information
provided by your ISP. You will not need to make changes to the default values in
this section if the ISP automatically assigns IP addresses. However, if it provides
you with a static IP address, you will need to enter this information by following the
instructions below.
6.3.1 Dynamic Configuration
The PalmRouter is setup for a dynamic connection by default. It is suggested to
obtain the proper DNS addresses from your ISP and enter them both in the One
Page Setup screen of the PalmRouter and in the TCP/IP control panel of the
computer.
PalmRouter DNS Configuration
1. Connect to the One Page Setup screen.
2. Enter your DNS addresses into the DNS 1, 2 and 3 fields. Leave field 3 blank
if you only have two DNS numbers.
3. Click Apply to save changes.
PC DNS Configuration
1. Open your Network control Panel.
2. Choose the TCP/IP option for your NIC card and click Properties.
3. Click the DNS tab.
4. Choose Enable DNS and enter a unique Host Name.
5. Enter the DNS addresses in the DNS Server Search Order and click Add.
6. Click OK, then OK and restart the computer when prompted.
After the Domain Name Server addresses have been inputted into both the
TCP/IP control panel and the DNS fields on the One Page Setup, you can open
your browser to establish a connection to the Internet.