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User Manual

Quick overview of the Internet connection options

Keenetic router devices are primarily targeted to reliably connect to the Internet — via Ethernet or optical fibre line, over wireless ISP's Access Point or DSL line, and also via 3G/4G/LTE mobile network.

One can combine a Keenetic device with any PON terminal or an xDSL-to-Ethernet modem that was preinstalled by ISP as well.

Following is an overview of the various means of Internet connectivity that Keenetic routers support.

Leased line Internet connection

Any of the Keenetic models feature a robust Internet connection over a dedicated Ethernet line. Following types are supported: IPoE (this is the most common type of 'plain' Ethernet connection, with no login and password used for ISP authentication), or authentication types - PPPoE, PPTP, L2TP and 802.1x. Virtual network tag-based VLAN 802.1q is supported, and all of the connectivity types mentioned provide IPv4/IPv6 access. A Keenetic and a PON terminal can be used together for the expansion or additional protection of a home network.

Internet connection via an optical fibre link

Our flagship models allow connecting to the Internet using an SFP Gigabit Ethernet module (available separately). Presently, many telecom operators and Internet access providers benefit from using Active Ethernet technology to connect remote offices and private homes via fibre optic cable. That makes it possible to achieve gigabit speeds at almost any distance, the length of the communication line being limited only by the type of SFP module applied (550 m, 2 km, 10 km, 40 km, 80 km). Copper Ethernet end-user connection, meanwhile, can be relied upon within a distance of 100 meters at maximum.

Internet connection via cellular 3G/4G/LTE network

Keenetic routers with a USB port onboard support a cellular 3G/4G modem connection (over 150 different modems are supported). This way, all devices on the local network can access the Internet through a single USB dongle at the same time.The USB modem uplink can be used as the primary and only means of Internet access or serve as a backup for any other active main connection. With the USB hub or a two-port equipped model, it is possible to connect multiple USB modems from different operators at once.

Internet connection via Wi-Fi (WISP)

One might need to connect an existing home network to the Internet via Wi-Fi. That may be the case of your ISP' aerial Access Point, your loyal neighbour's wireless, an open network at a nearby cafe, or an emergency backup connection to a hotspot on a mobile phone when the primary ISP fails.

When travelling with many gadgets, WISP mode makes a convenient way for connecting to a hotel Wi-Fi network. Simply enter the hotel wireless system credentials into the Keenetic WISP configuration. All your mobile devices won't require even changing their settings to access the Internet, being already connected to your Keenetic device's pre-configured secure Wi-Fi access point.

Connecting to multiple ISPs and an Internet channel reservation

With a Keenetic router, it is possible to take advantage of multiple ISP connections simultaneously (network topology like that would be called Multi-WAN). For example, you can set up basic connection redundancy by utilising two Ethernet cables from separate ISPs. If the primary provider's network fails, Keenetic will automatically switch over to a backup channel. The Multi-WAN function is supported by all of the Keenetic models with no exception.

Note

Before you connect, please refer to the following checklist. Setting up your router might require that the connection details are available (usually, that kind of info would be possible to obtain from an internet service provider's technical support service or is already included in the contract appendices):

  • Whether the login (user name) and password are used to access the Internet;

  • If a login and password are required, access protocol must be specified; it commonly is either of those — PPTPL2TP or PPPoE;

  • When connecting by PPTP or L2TP protocols, the IP address or domain name of the VPN server is also required;

  • In many cases, it is useful to know whether the IP address from ISP is a permanent assignment or a dynamic one, and what's more important, whether it is a direct public address or a masqueraded IP;

  • If you are assigned a permanent (static) IP address, it is needed to know this address, as well as other IP parameters (subnet mask, default gateway, and ISP's DNS server address) to complete configuration manually;

  • Sometimes, ISPs register the MAC address of your side of the line (it is often called the CPE MAC lockdown). If that is the case, it is useful to know which MAC address is registered with your ISP and whether it can be changed. If your ISP contract strictly specifies the MAC address of another device, such as your computer, we recommend that you inform the technical support service of the MAC address of the router printed on its label before connecting. The need might be, Keenetic routers allow Changing the WAN MAC address of the device during the connection setup process.