• Zyxel Keenetic Start router - overview of functions, configuration and firmware update

    Any device or program is constantly being improved and requires updates, no matter the Windows operating system, Skype or network router. Updates are necessary to increase the speed of a device or program, to add new features or fix existing bugs. Therefore, when purchasing any device, I recommend updating the firmware first. In my practice, there have been cases when I was unable to configure the functionality of the device in any way; only updating the firmware helped.

    In this article I will describe step by step the process of updating the firmware of the Zyxel Keenetic Lite router (for the Zyxel Keenetic Lite 4G everything will be similar, so this article is also suitable for this Internet center).

    First of all, you need to configure the network on your computer/laptop to automatic acquisition of IP address and DNS server .
    We connect Zyxel to a 220V network. We connect the network cable to any of the 4 ports (except WAN), the second end of the cable to the computer/laptop. Open the browser (you can use any browser, but according to Zyxel’s recommendation, it is better to use IE) and enter the address 192.168.1.1 and press Enter.

    A window will appear asking you to enter your login and password; the default login is used. admin, password- 1234 . Click " OK».


    The Zyxel Keenetic Lite/4G system monitor window will open. You will see the software version there.


    But this is not enough, now you need to look at the sticker, which is located on the bottom panel of the case. Internet center Zyxel Keenetic Lite / 4G. In the lower left corner you will see the revision of your network device.

    At the time of writing, there were 2 versions of revision A and B. Revision B (Rev.B) differs from revision A (Rev.A) in the following characteristics:
    - Uses a new processor that is approximately 10% faster and has lower power consumption.
    - The connector for the detachable external omnidirectional Wi-Fi antenna is now located on the other side on the rear panel.
    - Added internal Wi-Fi antenna. Now the device uses both external and internal antennas (Diversity technology). The internal antenna does not increase the coverage area, but provides additional sensitivity, increases communication reliability when working with a wireless access point, and is designed to combat reception “dead zones.”
    - The WPS button for quickly setting up a Wi-Fi network is now located on the rear panel.
    - The non-volatile flash memory of the Internet center has been doubled and is now 8 MB.
    After we have found out the installed software version and revision, download the latest firmware Zyxel Keenetic Lite or Zyxel Keenetic 4G (download the firmware designed specifically for your router model!!!). If you downloaded the archive, you need to unzip it.

    Let's return to the Zyxel Keenetic Lite/ 4G web interface. Click " System - Firmware", button " Review" and select the downloaded file with the bin extension. After that, click “ Update».


    A warning window will appear indicating that you do not need to disconnect the router during the firmware update process, click “ OK».


    After this, within a few minutes, you will see the firmware update process.


    Then you will be asked to enter your username and password to connect to the Zyxel Keenetic Lite/4G Internet center. Let me remind you that the default login is admin, password is 1234.
    As a result, you will be taken to the updated web interface of the Zyxel Keenetic Lite/ 4G router. You will see the new firmware version in the software version line.
    The next thing I recommend doing is changing the password for connecting to Zyxel Keenetic Lite/ 4G. To do this, connect to the web interface of the router, go to “ System - Users».

    Hello! Zyxel Keenetic Lite is a router with wireless network support that will allow you to combine your gadgets into a single network. The wireless module of this device supports data transfer rates of up to 300 Mbit/s. It is also worth saying that this is a rather “modest” device, since apart from the standard LAN connectors and a connector for connecting an antenna, there is nothing else. But if you do not pursue the goal of creating file storage or connecting 3G/4G modules, then Zyxel Keenetic Lite is an excellent choice for home and small office.

    Zyxel Keenetic Lite firmware may be needed if problems arise in the operation of the device or when a new version of software is released that eliminates identified errors.

    Firmware:

    http://zyxel.ru/support/download

    Instructions for firmware Zyxel Keenetic Lite

    1. Download the archive with the official firmware version from the manufacturer’s website (select your product model to download in the drop-down menu) and extract the files to any folder on your local disk. It is not recommended to install third-party versions, as this may lead to failure of this device.
    2. Using a cable, connect the router to your computer or laptop.
    3. In the settings of the network card (to the connector of which the device is connected), you need to enter settings for "Internet Protocol version 4 (TCP/IPv4)": IP address - 192.168.1.2; Subnet mask is 255.255.255.0.
    4. Open the browser and enter the address of our Zyxel Keenetic Lite in the address bar: 192.168.1.1 . In the window that appears asking for authorization, enter login: admin, password: 1234(this data is on a sticker that is pasted on the bottom of the router).
    5. Next we go to the section "System" subsection "Configuration", a small list of files should load. Among them we find a file with the name "firmware" and click on it with the left mouse button, after which a new window will appear - "File Management". Here we need to click the button "Select file" and specify the path to the new firmware file. To download new firmware to Zyxel Keenetic Lite, you need to click the "Replace" button.
    6. The device update process takes some time (2-5 minutes); during this period, you cannot perform any actions on the computer, or turn off the power to any of the devices.
    7. After completing the procedure for installing the new firmware, you need to restart the Zyxel router and re-enter the necessary settings for Internet access. You can check these settings with your provider.

    Zyxel Keenetic Internet centers are multifunctional devices that allow the user to solve a wide variety of tasks related to managing a local network and Internet access. This multifunctionality is provided by the NDMS operating system. Therefore, if we talk about updating the firmware of Keenetic devices, this process is identical for most routers of this model range that use this operating system. Let's look at how this is done using the Zyxel Keenetic 4G router as an example.

    NDMS is a fairly flexible operating system. It can be updated in several ways. Let's look at them in more detail.

    Method 1: Update via the Internet

    This method of updating the firmware is the most optimal. It does not require any specific knowledge from the user and almost completely eliminates the possibility of error on his part. Everything is done in a few clicks of the mouse. To start the update process, you must:


    After the process is completed, the router will reboot and you will see the following message in the system monitoring window:


    This means that everything went well and the latest firmware version is being used.

    Method 2: Update from file

    In cases where there is no Internet connection or the user prefers to update the firmware manually, NDMS provides the ability to update from a previously downloaded file. All actions are carried out in two stages. First you need to do the following:

    After the file with the firmware is saved in a convenient location on the computer for the user, you can proceed to the actual update process. For this you will need:


    After selecting a file, the button is activated "Replace", by clicking on which you can start the firmware update process. As in the previous case, everything will take a few minutes, then the router will reboot with the new version of NDMS.

    These are the ways to update the firmware on Zyxel Keenetic Internet centers. As you can see, there is nothing complicated in this procedure and even novice users can do it.

    Zyxel Keenetic Giga is a representative of a new generation of network equipment, an Internet center designed to work in Gigabit Ethernet networks, meeting all modern requirements for building networks. Among its features are four Gigabit LAN ports, two antennas with 5 dBi gain and 2 USB ports that allow you to connect a print server, USB drive or even a 3G/4G modem.

    You can connect many devices to your router in different ways.

    Keenetic Giga will help you create and configure a local (home, office) network with a wide variety of devices:

    • PCs and TVs via LAN, including devices with new network controllers operating at speeds of up to 1 GB;
    • mobile devices via Wi-Fi - high-speed access point with a total throughput of up to 300 Mbit/s, wide range;
    • network printer, accessible both via USB and Wi-Fi;
    • FTP access to drives from an external network;
    • IPTV receiver for watching TV without loss of quality.

    How to configure a switch

    To configure the Zyxel Keenetic Giga, you need to connect it to your computer using a LAN cable connected to the PC’s network card and any of the switch’s subscriber ports. The Kinetic Giga control interface should open in the browser, the start page of which is a quick setup. If nothing like this happens, manually enter my.keenetic.net or the IP address 192.168.1.1 in the address bar, after which the start page will appear.

    At the top left is the “NetFriend Quick Setup” button. NetFriend is a program for configuring the Keenetic Giga switch, containing a database of existing Internet providers. To configure, you can find and select your operator in this database, and the main parameters will be set automatically.

    In addition to this utility, there is an option to quickly configure the Internet center without choosing a provider:

    1. Make sure your computer's network card is set to "obtain an IP address automatically."
    2. Insert the Internet cable into connector “0” on the back panel of the device.
    3. On the start page of the web interface, click the “Quick setup” button.

    1. On the MAC address binding page, select the appropriate option - in accordance with the provider's policy regarding binding by MAC address.

    1. Select the type of IP acquisition: received automatically or issued by your provider. In the second case, you need to enter the data specified in the contract in the appropriate fields.

    1. If the connection asks for a username and password, enter them on the next page. If they are not there, simply skip this item by checking the box “I do not have a password to access the Internet.”

    1. And the last thing is choosing the connection type. Find your option and enter the details corresponding to your connection protocol.

    Once the setup is complete, the router will have access to the Internet and will probably start downloading updates. After updating the program, Keenetic Giga will reboot and display a page with a report on the Internet connection, on which all information about the connection will be displayed. By clicking the “Go online” button, you will be taken to the browser home page and can start working online.

    And by clicking on “Web Configurator”, you will be taken to the Giga web interface for more detailed settings. The completely Russified control menu of Keenetic Giga is structured in the form of a tree of subsections, so it will not be difficult to find the necessary functions. Setting up a Wi-Fi access point, for example, is done in the “Wi-Fi Network” section. Here you can enable the access point, assign an SSID (network name), select the standard and broadcast channel number, configure security and other parameters necessary for wireless connections.

    Firmware update

    The Keenetic Giga Internet center also provides the ability to update or reinstall software if necessary. The firmware is performed according to the following algorithm:

    1. Download the file containing the new software version (extension *.bin) to your computer.
    2. Connect the Giga switch to the computer (LAN cable between the PC’s network card and the subscriber port).
    3. Login to the web interface.

    1. In the “System” section, select “Firmware”, enter the path to the file with the new firmware and click “Update”.

    1. Wait for the process to complete. The switch will reboot - this is a sign that the firmware has been successfully updated.

    Conclusion

    The Keenetic Giga Internet center from Zyxel is a universal switch for creating a home network with almost any needs. It can act as a simple router, distributing the Internet with hundred-megabit adapters, and as a full-fledged modern switch with more demanding equipment (gigabit network controllers, USB drives, print servers, mobile modems, etc.).

    Setting up and flashing the Giga switch will not be difficult even for ordinary users - its software is optimized for hassle-free navigation and quick setup. Do you have experience using gigabit routers for local networks? Tell us about it in the comments.

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