Nothing superfluous: options and settings of the ZyXEL Keenetic Lite router

Author of the article

Andrey Korzh

System administrator, software and network technology optimization specialist

The ZyXEL Keenetic Lite router is a device with basic functionality for connecting to the network. Today the model has been improved to versions 2 and 3, but nevertheless, this budget and reliable router continues to help out owners. The article will talk about step-by-step router setup, network connection and characteristics.

Features and Specifications

Compared to more modern versions, the design of the Keenetic Lite router looks somewhat archaic. It has one removable antenna for transmitting the access point and eight indicators, four of which monitor the status of the local ports on the rear. There are five connectors. Four yellow ones, intended for home outputs and connecting to a PC, and one blue one for the Internet.

Also on the back of the Kinetic Light there are WPS and Reset buttons. The first is necessary for a simplified connection of the device to the network. The second is smaller and recessed into the body. It is only needed if there are malfunctions. By pressing the Reset button, the user resets all previously made settings on the router.

It is convenient to reduce the general characteristics to a single list:

• IPTV support (digital television technology);
• protection against hacker attacks (SPI);
• Link Dou technology (simultaneous connection to the Internet and the provider’s local network);
• PPPoE, PPPTP, L2TP, IEEE1X (standard protocols for connecting to a network);
• maximum Wi-Fi speed – 150 Mbit/s;
• Wi-Fi protocols – 802.11b/g/n;
• fast secure connection via WPS;
• Wi-Fi protection (setting a WEP/WPA-PSK/WPA2-PSK password);
• WMM mode to support wireless network level;
• frequency range – 2.4 GHz.

A more advanced model of the same brand is Zyxel Keenetic Lite III.

⇡#Testing

Firmware information

We tested the ZyXEL Keenetic Internet center with firmware version V1.00(BFW.0)D0. The main purpose of testing is to determine the performance of ZyXEL Keenetic in the operation of wired and wireless network segments, as well as when working with USB modems. The performance of the wired segment was assessed when transferring data between WAN and LAN ports, for which two identical test platforms of the following configuration were connected to each of them: Intel Pentium 4 631 3000 MHz processor, ASUS P5KPL platform (Intel G31) with a built-in gigabit network adapter Atheros L1 , Radeon X550 128 MB video card, 2048 MB DDR2-800 memory, Windows 7 Rus. The sensor programs (endpoints) of the NetIQ Chariot test package were installed on both computers. The management console of this package was installed on a computer located in the LAN segment—from there all traffic was generated. The High_Performance_Throughput.scr file was selected as the transfer script. The running time of each test stage was limited to five minutes.

Results of testing the performance of a wired Ethernet network segment

As can be seen from the histogram above, the new product demonstrates very high performance in the wired segment in full accordance with the stated characteristics. It is not difficult to guess that for a hundred-megabit interface this is the maximum result. When working with a VPN connection, the speed drops by approximately 25-35%, which, however, also corresponds to the declared characteristics of the Internet center.

Testing of the wireless communication segment was carried out according to a similar scheme, with the same set of software and with the same test platforms, to one of which was connected a Wi-Fi adapter with a PCI-Express interface - the ASUS PCE-N13 model, which provides operation in the 802.11n standard with data transfer speeds up to 300 Mbit/s. All measurements were made within one room at distances between devices from 3 to 5 meters.

Results of testing the performance of the wireless segment of the Wi-Fi network

The test results speak for themselves: ZyXEL Keenetic can be safely recommended to anyone who needs fast wireless Internet or a local network. Using this Internet center, you can watch movies over Wi-Fi and transfer large amounts of data. Well, since we are talking about data transfer, we decided to conduct additional testing - to find out the performance of an FTP server created on the basis of ZyXEL Keenetic and a Western Digital WD2500BEVS 250 GB hard drive connected to it in a Floston USB box. Alas, the results can hardly be called impressive. The speed of reading and writing files was at the level of 4 MB/s, which is very low. Well, the developers from ZyXEL still have work to do.

Performance testing results with Yota 4G modem

For a snack, we left testing the new product with the Yota modem (model Samsung SWC-U200). Of course, this testing was conditional, since the reception quality and signal transmission speed of 4G modems depend on a very large number of factors, but you can at least superficially evaluate the capabilities of the new product using this test. Testing was carried out using the Internet service SpeedTest.net in the north-west of Moscow on Friday evening. The results are presented in the screenshot above.

Login to router settings

To configure the ZyXEL Keenetic Lite router, you must first enter the router settings menu.

The action is carried out through the website of an Internet browser on a PC. In the address bar of the browser you need to enter the following - 192.168.1.1 and press Enter on the keyboard. When the router and PC drivers are functioning normally, a window for authorization opens.

In the window that appears, enter “admin” in the “User name” line. The “Password” line can be filled in differently depending on the standard settings of the router. There is a white label affixed to the back cover of the device, which contains authorization data. After entering the data by pressing the “Login” button on the PC, the user is taken to the router settings. There are two options for setting up the router: “Quick setup” and “Web configurator” (manual setup). Let's look at each of them in detail.

⇡#Options

Contents of delivery

The new product comes in a well-recognized white box, on the bottom of which you can find the full technical specifications of the product. Inside, in addition to the device itself, we found a classic set of accessories for ZyXEL Internet centers:

• power adapter,
• Ethernet cable 1.7 m long,
• CD with proprietary software and a detailed Russian-language user manual in PDF format,
• paper user manual and other accompanying documents.

Automatic setup

1. After entering the settings of the Zyxel Keenetic Lite router, in the window displayed, you must select the “Quick setup” item;

2. After launching the Net Friend program, the proposed list indicates the address of the provider. If the required provider is not in the list, you should click on the “My provider is not in the list” item.

3. The next step involves filling out the data from the contract manually. The MAC address is located on the label on the back cover of the Zixel device. In some cases, it must be reported to the provider’s technical support.
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4. A page opens where the automatically configured IP protocol parameters are already indicated.
5. The agreement with the operator contains a login and password. Enter the data in the required fields. After this, a window appears showing the current status and characteristics of the Internet connection. If there are any problems, solutions will be suggested.

There is now an Internet connection, and if the connection is stable and normal, the Internet connection indicator on the front panel of the device will light up.

⇡#Conclusions

What happened was what should have happened with ZyXEL Keenetic Internet centers - they evolved. We did not see any revolutionary changes when testing the top model of the new line, but we can definitely say that this is a modern device worthy of purchase, which has all the necessary functions for successful competition.

Among the advantages of ZyXEL Keenetic, one should note a fairly high speed of data transfer over a wireless network, smooth operation with USB modems of 3G/4G networks, the ability to connect external media and create an FTP or Internet server based on them, a built-in BitTorrent client, new software an open-source platform that allows third-party developers to write programs for it, and the presence of a TVport function. In addition, one cannot fail to mention the well-functioning operation of the software, which does not require answers to questions in the style of “Why doesn’t it work?” or “Why does it hang?” and scouring the Internet in search of alternative firmware. However, the new line still has room to develop. For example, it would be nice to see a ZyXEL Internet center with a gigabit network interface - according to ZyXEL representatives, such a model is already in the company’s plans.

Manual setting

After authorization, the main page of the ZyXEL Keenetic Lite router opens.

We configure the router manually as follows. On the left side of the site there is a menu column where you work with the main parameters. Let's look at setting up a router using the example of some operators.

1. select the “Internet” section and establish a connection through the “Connection” item;
2. the page contains a method for selecting an IP address, MAC address. Save the values ​​with the “Apply” button;
3. select the “Authorization” item;
4. using the PPPoE protocol to gain access to the network. We indicate the data from the contract;
5. After filling out the username and password (also from the contract), click on the “Apply” button.

After this, a connection to the Internet occurs, which can be determined by the constant light of the indicator on the device panel.

Setting up Rostelecom involves obtaining a PPPoe connection. When connecting via dynamic IP, do not enter the password and username from the agreement with the operator. In the “Connection” item, you must select a method for automatically configuring IP parameters. Next, you need to manually write down the MAC address of the router. In the “Internet Access Protocol” item, select “Dynamic IP” and click on the “Apply” command.

Static IP means selecting a manual entry in the “Connection” item. After clicking the “Apply” button in the open window, enter the contract data. It is also necessary to fill in your username and password. Then click on “Apply”.

Setting up a network connection with the Beeline operator follows the principle of previous providers:

1. Go to the “Authorization” menu;
2. Select L2TP in the “Internet Access Protocol” or “Internet Access Protocol” item;
3. Fill in the login or password specified in the provider agreement;
4. Click “Apply”.

Port forwarding is necessary when using programs such as uTorrent. This can be done using the UPnP service built into the program itself. In the settings, select the “Configurations” menu and go to the “Connections” item. You need to check the boxes for “UPnP redirection”, “In firewall exception” and “NAT-PMP redirection”. Now port forwarding works properly.

Connecting Zyxel keenetic lite to a computer or laptop

Having unpacked the router, you will probably intuitively guess how to connect it to your computer. But still, let me explain to you how to do this.

“Do not try to set up a router via WiFi for the first time; it is best if you connect to it via wire. As described below."

Let's go through a simple sequence of actions.

1. We screw the antenna onto the spinal connector.
2. Insert the plug from the router’s power supply into the “POWER” connector. Assemble the power supply into the outlet.
3. We insert the short wire included in the Patchcord kit into any of the “LAN” ports, and insert the other end of the wire into the network card of a computer or laptop.
4. We insert the Internet cable from your provider into a special “WAN” port, highlighted in blue on the router.

After connecting Zuxel to the computer, we need to make sure that it makes a correct connection to the network card of your computer or laptop.

It is best to immediately make sure that the network card settings are set correctly.

On Windows XP:

Go to “Start”, then find “Control Panel” and click on it. In the window that opens, click on the link “Switch to category view”; if there is no such inscription, then you have already switched. We look for the icon that says “Network connection” and double-click on it.

Then right-click on the “Local Area Connection” shortcut and select “Properties” from the drop-down menu. In the window that appears, select “Internet Protocols TCP/IP” from the list with check marks and click the “Properties” button. Then we check that the dots are opposite the words “Obtaining an IP address automatically” and “Obtaining a DNS server address automatically.”

On Windows 7, 8, 8.1:

In the lower right corner, you should have a "Network" icon. Right-click on the icon and select “Network and Sharing Center.”

A window will open in which we click on the link opposite the inscription “Connection:”, for me it is “Local Area Connection”

Then we carry out the same actions as shown in the figure below.

Wi-Fi connection and settings

You must start setting up Wi-Fi after establishing a connection to the Internet.

Standard wireless network setup is carried out through the router interface.

1. The main page contains the “Wi-Fi Network” item, select;
2. "Compound";
3. On the page that opens, select the “Enable wireless access point” checkbox;
4. Set any network name;
5. The connection standard must be specified - 802.11 g/n;
6. “Speed” and “Channel” are set by default;
7. Click “Apply”.

Now you have an open Wi-Fi access point; to protect it, open the “Security” block. Enter WPA2-PSK in the required lines. Next, you need to supplement the protection with a personal password. Click on the “Apply” button, and the Wi-Fi setup for secure Internet access is completed.

Reviews

Here are a few reviews about the Lite series router found on the websites:

1. “Keenetic works when people don’t even remember about it. The design and the clear Russian-language menu are attractive.”
2. “I bought a router after I bought a laptop. I’m pleased with its stability, but I’m disappointed with its low power.”
3. A “Wi-Fi” router marked Lite is a very good device for Internet lovers, those who are tired of getting tangled up in wires.”

Podgornov Ilya Vladimirovich All articles on our site are audited by a technical consultant. If you have any questions, you can always ask them on his page.

Setting up IP TV

Setting up IP TV is possible if the provider has support for such technology.

The router already has default settings for connecting to a set-top box. We connect it to one of the 4 connectors on the back of the device and the connection is established automatically. If the router requires manual configuration, you need to do the following:

1. In the router settings, go to the “IP-TV” menu;
2. Change the TVport mode to “Assign LAN connector”;
3. The submenu “Connector for IP TV receiver” opens, where we select the number of the socket into which you connected the TV set-top box;
4. If you need to enter a VLAN identifier, we will find out the code from your provider. All data required to fill in the relevant fields is specified in the provider agreement.
5. Click the “Apply” button, turn on the set-top box, after which it should synchronize with the TV.

Change Password

Changing the password for Zyxel Keenetic Lite is necessary if the user has forgotten it or wants to save his personal password.

To perform this operation you will need the following:

1. In the router settings, go to the “System” menu and click on the “Password” item;
2. In the “Password” field that appears, enter the desired Latin letters and numbers up to 15 characters;
3. In the “Password Confirmation” field, enter the same value as in step 2;
4. Click the “Apply” button. After this, the password for entering the router settings has been successfully changed.

Repeater mode

The repeater mode in the ZyXEL Keenetic Lite router is configured as follows:

1. Since a wireless Wi-Fi bridge is required, we set the appropriate marker in the main menu of the “System” section;
2. Click “Apply”;
3. A list of sections with settings will open, where we open the “Wi-Fi Client” block;
4. In the “Browse available Wi-Fi networks” menu, you must select your repeater network by name;
5. Click “Connect” and wait for synchronization between devices to complete.

Wi-Fi in amplifier mode works in connection with an additional device, which is considered a signal repeater. This is necessary in cases where one router is not enough for all available rooms in a house or office. Internet connection in some places is poor or completely lost.

Wireless connection

To configure the Wi-Fi module, you should go to the web menu of the router settings - no matter which of the three in question, select the section with the same name at the bottom of the window.

In the Access Point tab, activate the module, come up with a name for the network - if necessary, you can make it invisible, which will further secure the connection; create a password.

Firmware update

The router's firmware is performed when there are malfunctions and an update to the device's operating system is required. To do this, perform the following steps:

1. From the official Keenetic website download the latest firmware version – Rev.A or Rev.B (this is indicated on the back of the router);
2. In the router settings in the browser, select the “System” menu;
3. Open the “Firmware” tab;
4. Using the “Browse” button, upload the newly downloaded file and click “Update”.

While the firmware is being updated, you cannot touch the router settings or turn it off.

Conclusion

The Internet center is the basic model of the Keeneti router line from the manufacturer Zyxel. It organizes a local network for home and office, which includes both devices that receive Internet information via Ethernet cable lines and wireless subscribers.

The input port is designed to receive information from the provider via high-speed FTTx lines. Despite the lack of access to some functions necessary for professionals in its interface, the router is quite a sufficient device for the average user.

pros

The positive aspects include stability of operation with support for all connection standards of network operators. The software is compatible with new generation televisions without loading the main processor. The built-in NetFriend utility configures the router online. You can add the presence of WPS Mode, which allows you to quickly log into a wireless local network if you do not have information about the security parameters required for this.

Minuses

The router is at the very beginning of the Keenetic line. By today's standards, it has some disadvantages:

• the absence of a USB connector on the case, which allows you to connect external drives and printers, 3G/4G modems for using the router without being tied to a provider cable in the coverage area of ​​mobile Internet operators;
• the presence of only one Wi-Fi antenna, which does not allow achieving a significant coverage area of ​​the Wi-Fi network;
• inability to switch the router into repeater (repeater), amplifier, adapter modes, which expand the working area of ​​the wireless network when using several routers that support them.