How To Set Up a Network Router

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Here's How:

Choose a convenient location to begin installing your router such as an open floor space or table. This does not need to be the permanent location of the device. Particularly for wireless routers, you may find it necessary to re-position the unit after installing it as the cables / signals may not reach all areas needed. At the beginning, its better to choose a location where it's easiest to work with the router and worry about final placement later.
Plug in the router's electrical power source, then turn on the router by pushing the power button or plugging it in.
(Optional) Connect your Internet modem to the router. Most network modems connect via an Ethernet cable but USB connections are becoming increasingly common. The cable plugs into the router jack named "WAN" or "uplink" or "Internet." After connecting the cable, be sure to power cycle (turn off and turn back on) the modem to ensure the router recognizes it.
Connect one computer to the router. Even if the router is a wireless model, connect this first computer to the router via a network cable. Using a cable during router installation ensures the maximum reliability of the equipment. Once a wireless router installation is complete, the computer can be changed over to a wireless connection if desired.
Open the router's administration tool. From the computer connected to the router, first open your Web browser. Then enter the router's address for network administration in the Web address field and hit return to reach the router's home page.

Many routers are reached by either the Web address "http://192.168.1.1" or "http://192.168.0.1" Consult your router's documentation to determine the exact address for your model. Note that you do not need a working Internet connection for this step.
NOTE: The login address for some routers are different. If these addresses don't work, there is an easy way to find the address of your router. Simply:
1) go to start > click run
2) type cmd
3) a black box will pop up, type: ipconfig
4) remember / write down what it says beside "Default Gateway"
5) this is your router address, simply type "http://" then that IP address.

Linksys:
address: http://192.168.1.1
username: LEAVE BLANK
password: admin

Netgear:
address: http://192.168.1.1
username: admin
password: password

D-link:
address: http://192.168.0.1
username: admin
password: LEAVE BLANK

For the 1000 others go to our list CLICK HERE for List

Log in to the router. The router's home page will ask you for a username and password. Both are provided in the router's documentation. You should change the router's password for security reasons, but do this after the installation is complete to avoid unnecessary complications during the basic setup.
If you want your router to connect to the Internet, you must enter Internet connection information into that section of the router's configuration (exact location varies). If using DSL Internet, you may need to enter the PPPoE username and password. Likewise, if you have been issued a static IP address by your provider (you would need to have requested it), the static IP fields (including network mask and gateway) given to you by the provider must also must be set in the router.
If you were using a primary computer or an older network router to connect to the Internet, your provider may require you to update the MAC address of the router with the MAC address of the device you were using previously. Read How to Change a MAC Address for a detailed description of this process.
If this is a wireless router, change the network name (often called SSID). While the router comes to you with a network name set at the factory, you will never want to use this name on your network. Read How to Change the Router SSID for detailed instructions.
Verify the network connection is working between your one computer and the router. To do this, you must confirmed that the computer has received IP address information from the router. See How to Find IP Addresses for a description of this process.
(If applicable) Verify your one computer can connect to the Internet properly. Open your Web browser and visit a few Internet sites such as http://compnetworking.about.com/.
Connect additional computers to the router as needed. If connecting wirelessly, ensure the network name (SSID) of each is computer matches that of the router.
Finally, configure additional network security features as desired to guard your systems against Internet attackers. These WiFi Home Network Security Tips offer a good checklist to follow.

Tips:

When connecting devices with network cables, be sure each end of the cable connects tightly. Loose cables are one of the most common sources of network setup problems.

Configuring Your Computers

Most hardware routers use DHCP, which manages the Internet connection automatically for all the connected computers. To set up your Mac for DHCP, open the TCP/IP control panel and set configure to Use DHCP Server. Leave the other settings (Name Server Address, specifically) the same as they were before. Then close the control panel and save changes if prompted.

Troubleshooting

Once you start up a router and configure it, you shouldn’t need to change anything. If you ever run into a problem getting through to the Internet (it’s happened a couple of times in the week I’ve had the router), turn the router off and on, then repeat the configuration steps above. You may also need to choose the Reboot button from the Toolbox screen you see above (don’t reboot your computer, just the router).

Upgrading Firmware

As time goes on, the router maker may provide firmware updates via its Web site. Firmware upgrades allow them to fix bugs or improve the router itself. After downloading new firmware, use the Firmware button on the Toolbox page and follow the instructions.

Note: Some routers require that you use a Windows-based PC to upgrade firmware. If this is the case with yours, you can run the updater under an emulator like Virtual PC or borrow a friend’s PC for the task.