ZyXEL Communications ZyAIR G-3000, User Manual

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ZyAIR G-3000 User’s Guide
Chapter 3 Wizard Setup 46
3.4.2 IP Address and Subnet Mask
Similar to the way houses on a street share a common street name, so too do computers on a
LAN share one common network number.
Where you obtain your network number depends on your particular situation. If the ISP or
your network administrator assigns you a block of registered IP addresses, follow their
instructions in selecting the IP addresses and the subnet mask.
If the ISP did not explicitly give you an IP network number, then most likely you have a single
user account and the ISP will assign you a dynamic IP address when the connection is
established. The Internet Assigned Number Authority (IANA) reserved this block of addresses
specifically for private use; please do not use any other number unless you are told otherwise.
Let's say you select 192.168.1.0 as the network number; which covers 254 individual
addresses, from 192.168.1.1 to 192.168.1.254 (zero and 255 are reserved). In other words, the
first three numbers specify the network number while the last number identifies an individual
computer on that network.
Once you have decided on the network number, pick an IP address that is easy to remember,
for instance, 192.168.1.2, for your ZyAIR, but make sure that no other device on your network
is using that IP address.
The subnet mask specifies the network number portion of an IP address. Your ZyAIR will
compute the subnet mask automatically based on the IP address that you entered. You don't
need to change the subnet mask computed by the ZyAIR unless you are instructed to do
otherwise.