If you want to connect multiple devices to the internet, you need a router. A router allows you to share a single internet connection among several devices. As soon as the router is switched on, you need to configure the network settings to ensure its proper functioning.
The first step is setting up the router's IP address, which is the primary gateway for devices connected to the network. The IP address is generally set to 192.168.1.1, but it can vary according to the manufacturer. Once you know the IP address of your router, you can configure the network settings by accessing the router's administrative settings through a web browser.
On the administrative settings page, you can configure several settings, including network name, security settings, and password. One crucial setting that you must check is whether the router firmware is up to date or not. The router firmware is the operating system that runs on the router, and it is essential to keep it updated to ensure security and compatibility with the latest devices.
Another key network setting to consider is the DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) server. DHCP is responsible for assigning IP addresses to each device connected to the network. By default, DHCP is enabled, which means each device automatically gets its own IP address. But, you can configure DHCP to allocate a specific IP address to a specific device. This method is called DHCP reservation and is useful if you want to prioritize a particular device over others on the network.
Finally, it's important to secure your network by setting the appropriate security settings and password. Ideally, use WPA2 encryption for securing your network and create a strong password by including uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters.