Installation

Hardware installation is fairly straightforward.  Connect your cable or DSL modem to the WAN port of the DI-604 then connect each PC to the available 4 LAN ports.  The rest is done through the DI-604's web-based interface.  Let's take a closer look at all its features via the interface.

You can easily gain access to the interface by entering the routers default IP address in your web browser.  A dialog will prompt you to enter the username/pass which can later be changed for your protection.

The first great feature you'll see is the router's built-in setup wizard.   If your clueless as to how your broadband connection is setup, this wizard will guide you through and get you online in just 4 easy steps.  The wizard is great for those who have no prior experience with routers or for first time broadband users. 

We will show you all the great features this little router packs by providing a detailed look at the different menu's available.

DI-604 Home Menu

From the home menu, you'll have access to the router's WAN, LAN and DHCP settings.  The WAN settings will allow you to choose your connection type depending on your ISP and whether you have cable or DSL.   Other important info you'll find here is the router's MAC address and DNS entries.  You also have your MTU value (only available when upgrading to the lastest firmware).  Normally, this defaults to the proper value depending on your connection type.  Example: Cable would automatically default to 1500.  DHCP screen should show your clients connected and allows you to make additional changes.  The information shown on these two screens are basically a more detailed look of what you saw if you ran the configuration wizard.

DI-604 Advanced Menu

The first two screens in the advanced menu is where you'll find the router's port forwarding capabilities.  The Virtual Server screen is where a majority of server type applications can be configured.  (Example: FTP and email).  Conveniently, most common applications are already pre-configured for you.  You can even schedule the time period of each scenario.  This is great for those looking for the most secure connection possible.  The applications menu is where you would configure applications that typically require you to forward multiple ports for example Mirc or other chat applications that offer file transfers.  Again, we see a list of pre-configured settings for some common applications such as video conferencing and gaming networks.  Personally, I really like seeing some of the most common applications already configured for you.  A majority of PC users are not familiar with the ports each application uses to communicate and this saves you quite a bit of time.

The next two screens is where we have access to the DI-604's advanced firewall features.  Let's have a closer look!

First we take a look at the filters screen which is where we can manage each users access to certain tasks including URL blocking.   For example, you can request to block access to web addresses than contain certain keywords (pornography, etc.).  This section is great, especially for parents looking to have some control on what your children see on the internet.  The firewall screen is where you can create specific "rules" to manage all incoming and outgoing connections.  For example, you can set it to deny access for specific IP addresses.  This section is mainly for advanced users looking for maximum control of all inbound and outbound connections.

Next: Additional Features & Conclusion