Router Software & Admin Interface

Router Software & Admin Interface

Once you have connected the router to your LAN and WAN, make sure to restart your cable/fiber/dsl modem. Access your browser and you will get access to the installation wizard. If that does not happen, point your browser towards 192.168.1.1 (default router IP with login admin/admin if needed) or try and type in www.routerlogin.net

Our settings are immediately detected, the router assigns an IP over DHCP to us and we are good to go. The internet connection works as the router found a firmware update. We will want to update immediately, always update ASAP in these times of security breaches and vulnerabilities.

Once you've logged into the logon screen (username and passwords for SSID WIFI and router can be found on the sticker at the back side of the router). Below, you can see the main menu with options and an overview of the router functionality. One of the first things the router will check, is to see if there is new firmware available. In our case, yes. Please do the update, and always keep your firmware up to snuff for security reasons. This router can automatically detect new firmware and install it, a very cool feature to have.

Installation overall for the XR500 was very straightforward, all was up and running in about 10 minutes, after which you stumble into the new DumaOS user interface 

Netgear has some nice gaming specific extras/optimizations. The DumaOS interface lets you see what is going on with your network with a single look.

It contains graphs showing real-time CPU and bandwidth usage, currently installed apps, guest networking status, Wi-Fi status, and Internet status. Off to the left is a menu system with Geo-Filter, QoS, Device Manager, Network Monitor, System Information, and Settings tabs.

A handy Geo targeter helps you reducing lag by limiting the distance to the host servers you play on. Basically, you just select a radius, and it will block connections that are further away, ensuring you have a good ping.

Players and servers outside of your range will be excluded. You can create custom Geo-Filter profiles for each system on your network and assign different ranges for each online game. The service promises better ping / less packet loss.

The QoS engine is pretty cool, Quality of Service shapes your traffic. So initially the router runs a speed test and accurately measures the speed of your Internet connection (400Mb/s down, 40Mb/s up). This is then entered into the QoS engine, making sure that bandwidth is available (prioritized), even when copying large files locally over a gigabit connection. It's simple but clever stuff. 

The new DumaOS software interface is a definite positive for Netgear and among the best I've seen in any router, very responsive as well.