Linksys Router
Connecting other computers and devices to your router
4
Models: E1000, E2100L, E2000, E3000
Why do I need to keep my Easy Setup Key safe?
Your Easy Setup Key contains settings about your home network, including the network name and password. With this
information, anyone could access your home network. Your router is the “gatekeeper” to your network and everything connected
to it, including computers with personal data. So, be sure to keep the Key in a safe place.
Why is it important for me to keep my Easy Setup Key up-to-date?
The Easy Setup Key is the easiest way to connect other computers and devices to your router. Each time you change your router’s
name or password, you should always take the few minutes to update the Key. Then, when you want to connect computers
to your router, it’s an easy experience. If you have an up-to-date Key, you won’t have to find the computer where the router
settings were changed and open Cisco Connect to get those new settings.
Can I connect to my router without using the Easy Setup Key?
Although it is easiest to connect to your router using the Easy Setup Key, you can still connect manually. Simply select the
network name from the list of available wireless networks, then enter the password when prompted. Refer to you computer’s
online Help for information about connecting to networks.
If you don’t know the network password, go to the computer used to set up the router, open
Cisco Connect
, and select
Router
settings
to see the network name and password.
Why do I get an error message when I remove the Easy Setup Key from my computer?
When removing a USB flash drive from your computer, you should always eject it, which prevents any loss of data on the
flash drive. On a PC, click the
Safely Remove Hardware
icon in the task bar and follow the steps to remove the flash drive. On a
Macintosh, select the flash drive in
Finder
and choose
File
and then
Eject
.
Connecting other computers and devices to your router
How do I add more computers and devices to my router?
One of the main benefits of having a router is that you can connect more than one computer or device and share an Internet
connection. To connect another computer to your router, insert the Easy Setup Key into one of the USB ports on that computer.
This will automatically copy your router name and password settings and allow you to access your wireless network. If your
router didn’t come with an Easy Setup Key, you can easily create one. See “
How do I create an Easy Setup Key?
” on page 3 for
details.
To add a different type of device, such as a phone or gaming system, open
Cisco Connect
and choose
Computers and devices
,
and then choose
Device
.
Note:
Do not use the CD that came with the router to try to connect more computers. Use the Easy Setup Key or Cisco Connect
instead.
Using Cisco Connect
What is Cisco Connect?
Cisco Connect is a software program that allows you to access your router’s settings and its unique features. Using Cisco Connect,
you can view and change the network name and password and set up parental controls where you can restrict Internet access
to computer users in your home. You can also update and create an Easy Setup Key and turn on Safe Web Surfing.
To open Cisco Connect on a Windows PC, click the
Start
menu on your computer and then start Cisco Connect.
To open Cisco Connect on a Macintosh, navigate to the
Applications
folder in
Finder
, and then start Cisco Connect.
Why can’t I use Cisco Connect when I’m away from home?
Cisco Connect can only be opened when you are connected to your router. When you are at a coffee shop or at school, you are
connected to a different network, so Cisco Connect will not work.