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Router setup

The following assumes a default router configuration.

Apple:

  1. Open AirPort Utility
  2. Find the tab “Network”
  3. Change “Router Mode”
    • From: “Off (Bridge Mode)”
    • To: “DHCP and NAT”
  4. Click “Update”
  5. NB: The Router will complain about double NAT, but this can be ignored.

Why is this necessary?

It seems that Apple has set up their routers auto-configuration based on the IP address it receives from the network. When it receives an IP address defined in RFC 1918, it will be set up in Bridge Mode, which is not the best option due to how our network works.

ZyXEL (model NBG-416N or similar):

  1. Open the router administration site: http://192.168.1.1
    • NB: Default username and password: admin, 1234
  2. Click on the menu item “Network”
  3. Click on the menu item “DHCP Server”
  4. Click on the tab “Advanced”
  5. Find the section “DNS Servers”
    • Change ‘First DNS Server’
      • From ‘DNS Relay’
      • To: ‘User Defined’, enter 172.16.1.2
    • Change ‘Second DNS Server’ (if possible)
      • From ‘DNS Relay’
      • To: ‘User Defined’, enter 172.16.1.3

Why is this necessary?

Apparently ZyXEL routers seem to have a problem with relaying DNS lookups to our DNS servers located in the private IP range 172.16.0.0/12 range specified in RFC 1918. This workaround will make sure that clients ask our DNS servers directly instead of clients asking the router which would then relay this.

Other:

We strongly advise that you do NOT acquire a NETGEAR N300 (WNR2000) router. This is due to the fact that we are experiencing problems with this particular router, and as it is also the cheapest router on the market, it is also the one that most students acquire.