ASUS DDNS Service

ASUS Wireless Product Model Name Convention

2015-02-02T21:47:00.000-08:00

Here we try to explain the nameing convention of ASUS wireless product families:

Old naming

WL - [model] [protocol] [post-fix]

WL-500gP (P = premium)
WL-520gC (C = cost-down)

New naming

RT - [protocol] [model] [post-fix] : Routers

RT-G32
RT-N16
RT-AC66

RP - [protocol] [model] : Repeaters

RP-N53
RP-AC52

EA - [protocol] [model] : Extenders

EA-N66

DSL - [protocol] [model] : xDSL Modem

DSL-N10
DSL-AC68R

How to configure ASUS DDNS service with ASUSWRT

2015-02-02T20:42:00.003-08:00

How to configure ASUS DDNS with ASUSWRT firmware

DDNS (Dynamic Domain Name System) is a service that allows clients to access a specific network device through a registered domain name. This is especially useful when the target network device has a dynamic public IP address.

All ASUS wireless router is embedded with ASUS DDNS service, and new models in these years come with ASUSWRT firmware. The steps to configure DDNS service remain pretty much the same:

1. From your Mac or PC, point your browser to e.g. 192.168.1.1, login to the ASUS wireless router and enter the configuration page.

2. Click [WAN] on the first level menu (on the left-hand side):

3. Click [DDNS] on the second level menu (on the top).

4. Click 'Yes' to 'Enable the DDNS Client'.

5. Leave the 'Server' as 'WWW.ASUS.COM'.

6. Enter a 'Host Name' for your wireless router, e.g. if you enter 'alice', you should be able to access your router with 'alice.asuscomm.com'.

7. Click [Apply] to save your configuration and it's done. Wait for a few hours for the hostname to propagate through DNS system.

Please note that in order for ASUS DDNS service to work correctly, you need to let it get an public IP address. If your wireless router sit behind any other gateway or firewall, it may get a private IP (192.168.x.x, 10.x.x.x or 172.16.x.x) in this case and the DDNS service will not work.

Online demo site: http://ec2-54-202-251-7.us-west-2.compute.amazonaws.com:8080/Advanced_ASUSDDNS_Content.asp

What is ASUSWRT?

2015-02-02T20:18:00.002-08:00

About Asuswrt:

Asuswrt is a unified firmware developed by Asus for use in their recent routers. The firmware was originally based on Tomato-RT/Tomato-USB, but has since seen many changes. Asus started using this new firmware with their recent routers like the RT-N66U, but they also started moving other routers to this new firmware, like the DSL-N55 or the RT-N56.

Project homepage: https://github.com/RMerl/asuswrt-merlin/wiki/About-Asuswrt

Being mostly based on GPL code, almost all the source code and all necessary build tools is available from their website. There are a few proprietary components that are closed source (like the wireless drivers from Broadcom/Ralink). In these cases, Asus includes binary-only versions of these files. In the end, their GPL release includes everything needed to completely recompile a working firmware, with the exact same features as found in their firmware releases.

Video Tutorial:

One big advantage of Asus going with a unified firmware is that they have one single code base for all their supported routers. That way, bugfixes for one device can automatically be applied to all other supported devices. Same when they start adding new features (such as AiCloud), it's easier for them to support multiple routers at the same time with these news features. And finally, it means that support for a router does not die the minute a newer router replaces it on the market. The RT-N16 still gets updated as frequently as the RT-N66U, for instance (as they share very similar hardware).

[c|net] RT-AC87U Awarded Best Wireless Router of 2015

2015-02-02T20:07:00.001-08:00

The hefty price aside, the Asus AC2400 RT-AC87U is the most complete 802.11ac router to date, capable of satisfying all your home networking needs.

The Good The Asus AC2400 RT-AC87U Dual-band Wireless Gigabit Router has superfast Wi-Fi speed and an extremely long range. The router has the the ability to keep viruses and malware from entering your home network, monitor Internet traffic in real time, and many other helpful features.

The Bad The router is expensive, and you need compatible Wi-Fi devices to benefit from its fast performance. The USB 3.0 port is awkwardly placed and the interface doesn't include client names in the IP reservation list.

The Bottom Line The hefty price aside, the Asus AC2400 RT-AC87U is the most complete 802.11ac router to date, capable of satisfying all your home networking needs.

Ref: http://www.cnet.com/topics/networking/best-networking-devices/

What's DDNS

2014-09-03T22:28:00.001-07:00

A good guide for DDNS and more

This is much easier to understand, read full text at:
http://advancedhomeserver.com/dynamic-dns-ddns-and-a-little-more/

So what’s DDNS?
DDNS is a technique that keeps on top of the IP address your ISP assigned to you. Periodically, and fairly often, a program runs to find out what your ISP provided internet IP address is at this moment. Then a private company somewhere on the internet is contacted and associates your current IP address with an internet name you provided to them. The internet name is a composite of a name you chose and their actual domain name. When someone on the internet enters that name in a browser, they’re talking to you.

For example, Asus offers a free DDNS service for buyers of some of the products they sell. I own an Asus router and use their DDNS service. Within the router, I turned the DDNS feature on and entered a name. Asus agreed the name was unique and established the link within a couple of seconds. The router relays my current IP address to Asus DNS servers several times a day. I now have an accessible internet presence at ________.asuscomm.com.

Behind the scene, the internet DNS service sees the ‘asuscomm.com’ part of the name and routes the search to the Asus DNS servers. Asus finishes the job and matches ________.asuscomm.com to whatever my ISP has decided my IP address should be at that moment. From this, the internet knows where to find me.

How to re-use your DDNS hostname on new ASUS device

2014-09-03T22:16:00.001-07:00

Having the merit of being very easy to setup, there are still some concern regarding ASUS DDNS service about not able to re-use existing hostname on another ASUS device.

ASUS DDNS service works based on MAC address, once you have your first router registered a favorite hostname, that will be reserved for the router for long than enough. What if you bought a new ASUS router and want to re-use your favorite hostname? You can do the following:

Before your old ASUS router retire, use it to register a new hostname.
The original hostname you prefer will become available after 12 hours.
Then you can use your new ASUS router to register your preferred hostname.

Configure ASUS DDNS Service on RT-AC66U

2012-12-23T06:31:00.002-08:00

Configure ASUS DDNS Service on RT-AC66U

AiDisk is a feature that built-in to every ASUS wireless devices, it allows you to create an FTP server with just a few clicks.

1. Use any browser on your PC to connect to your ASUS router, default IP address would be http://192.168.1.1.

2. Login to the router with default username: admin and password: admin.

3. Select Network Map from the menu on the left, make sure the Internet status says that you are connected and get a public WAN IP (not some private IP like 192.168.x.x):

4. Click on the GO button and get to the WAN - DDNS settings page.

5. In the WAN - DDNS settings page, select Yes to Enable the DDNS Client.

6. Use the WWW.ASUS.COM server by default and choose a name for your FTP site (e.g. myftp), enter it to the Host Name input box.

7. Click the Apply button. The router will connect to ASUS DDNS server and bind your router with the host name you choose, then you can access your FTP site with URL like the following:

ftp://myftp.asuscomm.com

How to configure ASUS AiDisk and DDNS Service

2012-03-08T19:51:00.000-08:00

Configure ASUS DDNS Service through AiDisk

AiDisk is a feature that built-in to every ASUS wireless devices, it allows you to create an FTP server with a few clicks.

0. Connect to the web-based console of your router

Use any browser on your PC to connect to your ASUS router, default IP address would be http://192.168.1.1, login with default username: admin and password: admin.
First select AiDisk from the menu on the left, and then click on the GO (or Set Again) button to proceed.

1. Setup FTP account:

Select "admin rights" radio button from the list, and the admin account setting will appear. Provide a password for the admin account and click Next.

2. Choose a hostname:

The next page will have an input box prior to the ".asuscomm.com" domain name, choose a name for your FTP site and enter to the box, then click Next.

At this point, the router will send a request to the ASUS DDNS service, which will bind your router with the hostname you choose.

If the hostname is already taken, the router will prompt for another hostname.

3. Done and ready to serve.

Now you can access your FTP site with the hostname you choose, e.g.:

ftp://myftp.asuscomm.com

ASUS EA-N66 at CES 2012

2012-03-01T16:53:00.001-08:00

By Michael Kwan, January 12, 2012 @ 3:21pm

Asus also unleashed a funky EA-N66 dual-band wireless Ethernet adapter. It sorta looks like a transporter deck you can step into. We doubt Asus is releasing those to the public yet. The EA-N66 provides the same 450Mbps bandwidth but only on either the 2.4GHz or 5GHz channels. You can also set it as a repeater or an access point node for growing your network. The RT-N66U will sell for around $179, while the EA-N66 will be $59 when they are released later this month.

Not all routers are made alike, and they don’t all have to be boring grey boxes that get hidden away in the corner of a room. Asus showed off one of the latest additions to its wireless router line at CES 2012 and it turns out that its beauty goes further than skin deep.

Yes, that glossy black surface is nice and they’ve done an interesting job with that “weave” pattern on the top, but the Asus RT-N66U also happens to be really fast. You get dual 450Mbps wireless service, pushing that much bandwidth on both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz channels independently. That combines for 900Mbps of wireless speed.

There are also two high-speed, high-power USB ports on the back that allow you share external drives across your network at up to about 25MB/s, as well as sharing printers and other peripherals. Rounding out the package is a convenient web-based GUI for setup, meaning that you can get your network up and running on your smartphone or tablet if you don’t want to boot up your computer.

Asus RT-N66U - An Excellent Router You Should Consider Upgrading To

2012-03-01T16:29:00.001-08:00

By James Causian

If you are thinking of replacing your existing router for whatever reasons in your connected home or in a small office home office (SOHO) environment, then you should seriously look at the Asus RT-N66U as your replacement. If you are not a techie, reading reviews to get a sound judgment to buy a technical network product like a router can sometimes be very daunting and confusing; especially with all the technical jargons thrown into it.

For those of you non techies out there, I would like to make this article as simple as possible so that you will know whether you should buy or not buy Asus RT-N66U router by the end of this article.

What Is The Asus RT-N66U Dual-Band Wireless-N900 Router?

First of all, what is the Asus RT-N66U? In a gist, it is a simultaneous dual-band three-stream "N-900" router with one Gigabit WAN port. The "N-900" indicates that the RT-N66U can support 450 Mbps link rates when both radios are set to 20/40 or 40 mHz channel bandwidth.

Duo band allows you to split your internet usage to maximize usage. One band will be used for basic internet usage such as web surfing, email and file loading while the other band will be used for HD content streaming such as watching movies, listening to music and online gaming.

The Asus RT-N66U also has four switched Gigabit LAN ports with two USB 2.0 ports that support both drive and printer sharing. It is also designed to operate up to 300,000 Internet client data sessions and is IPv6 support. You also have up to 8 multi-user SSIDs with parental controls. Knowing that sometimes it can be daunting for the non-technical user to set-up a router, Asus also makes it easy for you to set-up the RT-N66U with its ASUSWRT dashboard user interface.

What Are The Advantages Of The Arsus RT-N66U?

The RT-N66U with the many additional improvements in it was built upon the hugely successful Asus RT-N56U resulting in a better product with better features and performance than its predecessor which was already an excellent product

It is one of the fastest consumer class routers in its price range in the market today. In terms of performance, reviewers and testers have reported that the Asus RT-N66U beat rivals like the Linksys E4200, ASUS RT-N56U, Cisco E4200V2, Netgear WNDR3800 etc flat!

Expanded coverage - if your house or office is multi levels - the RT-N66U comes with three detachable external antennas which allow omnidirectional wireless signal coverage to not only reach devices horizontally but also vertically

Easy Setup and Customizability - it is very easy to setup the RT-N66U with the ASUSWRT dashboard user interface mentioned earlier as you can set up your network right out of the box and optimize it through the dashboard. Management is also made easy with robust parental controls, real-time traffic monitor and Quality of Service done through the dashboard

If you are in a hurry or need to download many files at one go - the RT-N66U lets you simultaneously download files directly to USB storage devices and connect a printer in the other port via its two built-in USB 2.0 ports

Are you running intensive peer-to-peer applications? If you are then you can get up to a fantastic 300,000 simultaneous sessions!

The Asus RT-N66U is very solidly build.You have a good feeling with this router - knowing that it is built to last

Should you buy the Asus RT-N66U?

Buying a router is not an everyday affair and neither do you change routers every month. In fact many people use their routers for years and only change them when they break down or they need to make use of the current technology that their router cannot support. As such, if as little as half of those points highlighted above especially with regards to speed, workload and coverage meet your requirements, then it would definitely be worth your money to invest in the Asus RT-N66U router.

However it you are thinking of buying a model with a lesser specifications that may save you $50 or less, then the question is why buy the lesser model (especially so if you are in a SOHO environment)? Assuming that you would use a router for 2 years, it may only save you less than $5 a month per year with that lesser model; which is really not much for a lot of people.

Hence when you buy the Asus RT-N66U, you are actually buying into the future. You may not need to change the router again if unexpected needs and work load turn up because the Asus RT-N66U router has already the capability and capacity to handle that. Spending a few dollars more on a good router like the Asus RT-M66U now will actually give you more value in the long run. As such it may be wise consider the longer term.

Act now and enjoy the benefits immediately. Click on this link to buy the Asus RT-N66U.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_Causian

ASUS RT-N66U

2012-02-01T14:21:00.000-08:00

Dual-Band Wireless-N900 Gigabit Router

2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Concurrent Dual-Band Transmissions for Strong Signal Strength and Ultra-Fast Connection Rates up to 900Mbps

Gigabit Ethernet Ports for the Fastest, Most Reliable Internet Performance

Download Master for Wireless Data Storage and Access to Router-Connected USB Storage Devices

Expanded Wireless Coverage with Detachable High-Powered Antennas

File Sharing, Printer Sharing, and 3G Sharing via Two Multi-Functional Built-in USB Ports

ASUSWRT Dashboard UI for Easy Setup, Signal Monitoring, and Network Application Control

Incredible Performance with Incredible Control

The ASUS RT-N66U dual-band wireless-N900 gigabit router delivers incredible performance and coverage range. With new ASUSWRT UI, quickly setup your network, customize user access, and monitor signal strength. Following the award-winning RT-N56U, the RT-N66U increases Wi-Fi speed for both 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz transmission by 50% up to 900Mbps that makes it ideal for bandwidth demanding tasks such as 3D HD video steaming, multiplayer gaming, USB hard drive file sharing, and USB connected printer sharing. Built-in Wi-Fi amplifiers make the RT-N66U the perfect wireless router for larger, multi-level homes and buildings with signal range that reaches virtually any area.

Whether you’re a tech-savvy enthusiast or a first-time user, the RT-N66U is exceptional easy to use with CD-free, Quick Installation Setup (QIS) that lets you plug-n-surf right out of the box and connect PCs, smartphones, tablets, and other wireless devices quickly. Thanks to its refined interface tools, you get control like never before, letting you monitor signal strength, setup parental settings, and other useful functions in a robust yet intuitive way.

Designed for Class-Leading Speed and Range

Designed with the latest in networking technology, the RT-N66U delivers exceptionally fast wired and wireless connectivity. What’s more, it comes with a powerful detachable Wi-Fi antenna to further extend wireless range.

Dual-Band Connectivity for Lag-Free Entertainment

Delivering both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz concurrent bands up to 450Mbps and 450Mbps respectively, the RT-N66U has a total speed of up to 900Mbps connectivity to provide speed with stability. Perform basic internet tasks like Web browsing and file downloading under the 2.4 GHz band, while also simultaneously streaming 3D HD content and other demanding applications smoothly on the 5 GHz band.

Optimized and Reliable Wireless Coverage via Ai Radar

ASUS Ai Radar intelligently strengthens connections to wireless devices. With high-powered amplification and beam package, it provides optimized signals in any direction with better coverage to improve data throughput.

Easy Setup Through Your Tablet, Smartphone, or PC

With the RT-N66U, setup is simple. Simply power and connect the router and then open a bowser on a Wi-Fi-enabled device like a laptop or tablet. You will be taken to a setup page with a prompt to enter the ID/password from your Internet provider and that’s it! Now setting up your network is easier than ever.

Powerful functions, easiest management

With the ASUSWRT Dashboard UI, setup, monitor, and control network applications all in one intuitive area. The whole new dashboard interface lets you manage all clients and settings on a single graphical interface and provides 1-click updates.

Optimize Your Network for You

Do you game a lot, or spend most of your time streaming videos? Whatever your planned use is, the RT-N66U has a Quality of Service (QoS) that lets you select how much bandwidth is prioritized for virtually any task. Plus, the traffic monitor allows you to check your Web usage in a clear and graphical interface.

Two Multi-Functional Built-in USB ports

Featuring connectivity to devices, FTPs, SAMBA, UPnP AV servers, and DLNA support, the RT-N66U makes sharing and networking easier with two built-in USB ports. Download HTTP, FTP, and P2P files to a router-connected USB storage device all day without the need of PC. Additionally, the twin USB ports allow network printer and file server connections, so you perform multiple tasks at once.

Download and Stream From Anywhere

Download Master and DLNA server lets you download and play multimedia files stored on a router-attached USB storage device on DLNA-compatible devices such as PC, tablet, PS3, XBOX, and Internet TV. Download Master can also download files while a PC is turned off, and allows you to manage and monitor download status remotely.

Powerful Online Multitasking up to 300,000 Data Sessions

Support f or a massive data pipeline of up to 300,000 data sessions means the RT-N66U has around 20 times the networking capacity of other conventional routers for exceptionally smooth performance.

Separate and Secure Wi-Fi Network via Guest Network Access

The RT-N66U supports up to three wireless networks over the 2.4 GHz band and three over the 5 GHz band, so it can protect computers from any unauthorized access, hacking and virus attacks. The parental control allows you to set up your kids' computer access times.

VPN Server Enabled

Easily set up a VPN server to surf the Web and access data—no matter where you are. Featuring MPPE encryption, your data transmission will be secure and confidential.

Flexible Installation with Versatile Design

Wall-mountable, the RT-N66U fits nearly any space in the home or office.

Actual data throughput will vary from network conditions and environmental factors.

All specifications are subject to change without notice. Please check with your supplier for exact offers. Products may not be available in all markets.
PCB color and bundled software versions are subject to change without notice.
Brand and product names mentioned are trademarks of their respective companies.

VORTEZ Gold Award for ASUS RT-N13U

2012-01-09T17:36:00.000-08:00

Introduction

Source: VORTEZ

Product on Review: Asus RT-N13U Wireless Router
Manufacturer: Asus

Home networking has taken a giant leap over the past few years as more of us are using computers within the household. Building a network in the home can have some great benefits.

The best place to start building any network is at the router, as this will govern how and where the signals are sent. A router basically does all the hard work for you whilst you can enjoy sharing resources.

Now when faced with buying a router, there are some typical brands out there that will almost always be aligned with home networking. Names such as Netgear, D-Link and Linksys. But today we have an offering from Asus, a manufacturer that has expanded into many departments over the last decade. You would typically find Asus under other sections such as Monitors, optical drives, graphics cards and of course motherboards where they have a solid reputation for being market leaders, so today it comes as a nice surprise for me to be reviewing one of their routers. If previous products are anything to go by, this their latest wireless router will be a great performer.

Asus have this to say about the RT-N13U:

The ASUS RT-N13U wireless router is the latest in the line of quality routers from ASUS that aims to provide users with a host of easy-to-use wireless features. Among them, the EZ UI lets users set up and manage wireless connections, printers, and scanners with exceptional ease. It also facilitates troubleshooting, sharing of multimedia content and documents, as well as the allocation of bandwidth to different activities based on user preferences. With more wireless connectivity options, the ASUS RT-N13U can also support 24/7 downloads—even when the PC is turned off. It is also a stylish performer that complements any home or office with its clean design and hidden internal antenna.

So without any further delay let us look at the Asus RT-N13U…

Features and Specifications

The Asus RT-N13U comes with a host of features. Throughout each of these features the one thing that Asus set out to achieve is to ensure the end user can perform various tasks with ease. Below are the features that the RT-N13U boasts. (taken from Asus.

Configure an All-in-one Printer Easily with EZ UI

The ASUS RT-N13U wireless router features EZ UI, a powerful graphical user interface that provides intuitive setup and easy management of printers and other networked resources. It features a suite of innovative connectivity solutions including EZ All-in-One Printer, QIS, Ai Disk, Dr. Surf, EZ QoS, and Network Map.

EZ All-in-One Printer allows multiple users to share printers and scanners without a dedicated server managing the process. It increases office efficiency by handling multiple printing requests simultaneously. Additionally, convenient scanning can be done on the printers with auto-installation of drivers. No loading of additional programs is required. For easy configuration, EZ All-in-One Printer supports and detects all the major printer brands on the market.

QIS (Quick Internet Setup) facilitates device connection to the Internet in three easy steps. With Ai Disk, users can easily set up a file-sharing server at home in three simple steps. Dr. Surf offers real-time diagnostics for rapid troubleshooting. EZ QoS lets users easily prioritize application bandwidth for an optimal experience. Network Map provides a complete overview of network status for easy monitoring.

Set Up Effortlessly with EZ Switch
For more advanced users, the ASUS RT-N13U features the exclusive EZ switch with three modes to meet various wireless network requirements. If a user wants to set up an ADSL network at home, they can set the EZ Switch to router mode, whereas if they want to use wireless connectivity, the EZ Switch can be set to repeater mode. Lastly, if the user has another router at home, they may choose the AP mode, which allows them to share the network.

Internal Antenna—A Stylishly Well-received Connection
Another innovative feature of the ASUS RT-N13U is its design. It features an internal antenna, which provides wider coverage than an external antenna. Furthermore, with an optimized antenna isolation configuration, users can get even better connectivity, as well as extremely clear reception for the best performance with minimal adjustments. Finally, with a clean and minimalist exterior, the ASUS RT-N13U is a stylish and contemporary addition to any home.

ASUS RT-N13U

The RT-N13U Wireless Router comes presented in a nice little blue and white box. On the box are the highlighted features, the one to engage your full attention is the text saying that this router comes with a built in print server. We will be taking a look into these features as we progress through the review. On the rear of the box there is a more detailed explanation with diagrams of how these features actually work.

Opening the box up reveals the contents – User manual guide, warranty card, installation CD, CAT5 cable, power adaptor, and the RT-N13U itself.

Taking the RT-N13U out of the box, this wireless router really does look the part. It’s bright white finish will look great on the desk. It stands upright which is the opposite of how most routers would usually sit. Unfortunately there isn’t a way of lying this router flat, but this shouldn’t be a problem. Observing the front we have various lights. These are (from top to bottom):

- 4 LAN indicators - if a computer is plugged into port 1, this will light up blue
- Internet indicator - if you have your internet cable plugged in at the back this will light up blue
- Wireless indicator – this will light up blue if a wireless connection is present
- Power indicator – this will light up blue if there is power to the unit
- WPS – this will launch the wireless protection setup.

Focussing our attention on the rear of the router is (from top to bottom):

- USB 2.0 connector – this is for plugging in printer or USB dongle/HDD for FTP storage
- 4 LAN ports – allowing you to connect up to 4 workstations
- 1 Internet (Ethernet) port – this is for obtaining your internet connection (this router is not internet ready)
- Power socket – here the power adaptor is plugged into

On the underside of the RT-N13U are some other buttons. There is a hard reset button that will restore your router to factory defaults if you happen to lock yourself out of the admin panel or simply want to return all settings to default status. There is also another button that allows you to switch into 3 different operation modes – Router, Repeater and AP (Access Point). There is also some information such as the default username and password and SSID for this router should you not realise what these are. As a good practise you should always change the username and password prior to logging in to prevent unauthorised access and misuse.

Note the PIN Code printed on the tag

The unit looks and feels sturdy. All of the buttons, and features from the outside are easy to use and see. In the next section we will see how easy this router is to configure and get going. Looking at the assortment of features and seeing how easy they are to get along with.

Configuration

To test the RT-N13U I will be using a Dell D630 laptop and a desktop computer. These will be later used to transfer files so that we can observe the speeds at which data is transferred.

Setting up the router I started by inserting the CD into the optical drive, the wizard automatically loads up and presents you with a screen asking you what you would like to install. I chose to “Install ASUS Wireless Router Utilities”.

To access the admin panel so that I can configure any settings was easy. I just opened up a web browser and typed in the IP address on the underside of the router: 192.168.1.1 this then took me to a secure login, I typed in admin and admin for the username and password. After hitting ok I was presented with the following screen:

This gave me a detailed summary of how my current network looks. To the right hand side the settings that I setup with the wizard earlier are there. Including the SSID and Passphrase. I must say that the interface looks great and is easy navigated. It’s not hard to find your way around and even if you do have trouble setting up your network the DR. Surf in the top right hand section of the admin panel will give you hints such as “The Ethernet cable is not plugged in” so that you can quickly sort out any problems.

Under the Operations Mode tab you are presented with the 3 modes, Router, Repeater or AP. This is to be used in conjunction with the buttons on the underside of the router that I mentioned earlier. For each that you click on you can see a diagram, giving you a clear picture of how a network would look like. Very helpful.

We will skip the AiDISK and look at this in the next section. So the next feature to engage our attention is the EzQOS Bandwidth Management. In this section we can manage how much bandwidth is used for certain operations under particular protocols. For example. We can assign higher priority to gaming and internet applications and lesser priority to FTP. This is a clever feature and surely very useful if you share the router with others and you wish to control bandwidth usage easier.

The advanced tab in the admin panel gives you many avenues and controls. I won’t go any further with screenshots but as you can see from the advanced tab screenshot there are a huge amount of options there that advanced users can take advantage of.

AiDISK and other features

Now we come to one of my favourite features of the Asus RT-N13U. The AiDisk is a feature that allows you to create an FTP server along-side your router. By plugging in a USB device such as a pen drive or external HDD and following the wizard you can create a domain and access files when you are away from home. All you need to make sure is that the router is switched on, there is no need for your computer to be switched on. This makes accessing those necessary files possible and without the need to mess about with getting others at home to switch on the computer and send files. The wizard will take literally only take a moment to complete and within minutes you can have your FTP server setup. A truly amazing feature, 24/7 access to your files – wherever, whenever. Below is each stage of the wizard.

Print Server
The print server is also a very hand feature that can be setup in minutes. All you have to do is plug the USB lead into the back of the router, launch the print server installation from off the Asus CD and away you go. This is particularly useful for me as I do not have a printer installed on any of my computers; the printer is installed on another machine in the house. Every time I need to print I need to switch this computer on. This feature takes away that need, I can simply have the printer plugged into the RT-N13U wireless router and the printer is now accessible. Superb!

Download Master
Yet another feature – it seems that the Asus RT-N13U is loaded with helpful features. This last feature that I will be commenting on is a very handy one. It allows you to drag and drop .torrent files into a download manager. Not only does this allow for these types of files but also HTTP and FTP.

Conclusion

Although my analysis of the Asus RT-N13U has been quite thorough I thought it was necessary to post some kind of graph to show roughly what transfer rates are like. So for this test I simply transferred a 14.5MB MP3 file from my desktop machine that was wired into RT-N13U over wireless to a laptop on the network (download). Once this file had been transferred, I then sent the file back to the desktop machine (upload) and observed both transfer by timing using a stopwatch. Below are the results.

To conclude then, the Asus RT-N13U is a fantastic wireless router that is quite literally all singing all dancing. It comes with a multitude of features that will suite most people’s needs and what’s so likeable about this product is that you won’t have to spend hours of time setting things up. The interface is easy to understand, and if you do get stuck DR. Surf is sure to help out and point you in the right direction!

I can’t fault this router at all, it comes in at around the £55 ($89 / €60) mark which is very competitive for a 300Mbps Wireless N router. Consider the support and features included in this package and you are onto a winner. A very versatile product indeed.

The only downside that I can see with the RT-N13U is that it only has one USB, if I want to host my files and use a print server I cannot do this. It’s one or the other. So to take advantage of both these features, we really need to see two USB ports.

Pros
+ Easy to setup
+ Many useful features
+ Affordable
+ Very versatile – use as a router, repeater or AP
+ Access your files wherever, whenever

Cons
- Only one USB port

I award the Asus RT-N13U the Vortez GOLD award for its excellence. We would like to thank Asus for supplying this router. Discuss this review at our forums.

ASUS AiDisk Introduction

2012-01-06T18:37:00.001-08:00

ASUS AiDisk

Hassle-free file sharing

Enjoy file sharing with your friends anywhere, anytime!

The AiDisk wizard will take you from start to setup in just 3 easy steps, All without the need for instruction manuals.

AiDisk allows you to customize the format of your device hostname, e.g.

ftp://yourname.asuscomm.com

Never need to remember difficult IP address or URLs again!

AiDisk works with the ASUS DDNS service, enables easy and fast sharing with friends, and you can easily download your personal data from anywhere, backup or upload your important work data to your hard disk drive at home.

For a list of supported models, please visit http://asusddns.appspot.com.

ASUS Black Diamond RT-N56U

2012-01-05T18:52:00.000-08:00

The Black Diamond is a solid router. Its speed and reliability alone chalk it up to awesome in my book. Even more is the dual-band connectivity, which basically amounts to having two routers in one. If you put an excess of clients or traffic through your router, this will definitely help cut latency and increase throughput.

Furthermore, the admin interface is much better than any other router I've used. With easy client management and a refreshing new UI, it makes complex tasks easier and accessible by mainstream users.

My only complaint with the Black Diamond is price. At about $130 online, this is truly an enthusiast device. If you're just looking for a standard router for your house or apartment, this product is not for you. The Black Diamond is geared towards heavy users, with high range needs, lots of clients connected, and high traffic.

The USB-N13 is also a solid product. It performs well at all distances, and is reliable. At about $20 online, it is a perfect wireless solution for an under performing laptop or a desktop without wireless capabilities.

Both the Black Diamond and the USB-N13 earn the OCIA.net Gold Seal of Approval for their individual quality and performance; and they're even better as a team.

ASUS EZ UI Hands-on Experience Site

2012-01-05T18:45:00.000-08:00

http://event.asus.com/2009/networks/dummy_ui/en/

EZ UI Hands-on Experience

Feel the ease of installing and managing your network now

ASUS EZ UI

2012-01-05T18:40:00.001-08:00

Intuitive EZ UI

A hassle-free way to install and manage wireless home network

• Plug-n-Surf	• Network Map	• Intelligent Helper - Dr. Surf
• EZ Bandwidth Prioritization	• EZ Printer Sharing	• EZ File Sharing

• Plug-n-Surf

CD-free setup lets you connect to the Internet in 3 simple steps

• Network Map

Manual-free network map facilitates advance settings such as Internet security in a few simple clicks.

• Intelligent Helper - Dr Surf

Dr. Surf Supports Automatic Diagnostics and Troubleshooting of WAN, LAN and Device Connectivity Issue.

• EZ Bandwidth Prioritization

Enjoy lag-free multi-tasking by prioritizing data traffic on intuitive graphical interface for either gaming, video streaming, Internet surfing or file sharing.

Before prioritizing:	After priortizing:

• EZ Printer Sharing

Enjoy simultaneous printing and scanning simply by connecting the All-in-One Printer to the router.

• EZ File Sharing

Enjoy instantly file sharing with friends and family by attaching an USB hard disk to the router.

ASUS NAS-M25 BT Manager

2012-01-05T18:35:00.000-08:00

To manage the NAS-M25 BT status on your Android device any time, anywhere. This App can control the torrents(start, stop remove) and monitor, restrict the NAS upload/download speed.

ASUS NAS-M25 BT Manager Screenshots

Asus just took the wrapping off its new NAS Storage device, it is called the Asus NAS-M25 Storage Server. According to the company, the NAS-M25 is ideal for both Office and Home users. It comes with two bays that accommodates two 3.5-inch SATA drives that enables up to 6TB of storage. The device measures 211 x 129 x 120 mm which makes it compact enough to be storage on just about any workstation. Under the hood, there is a 1.2GHz Marvell processor, 512MB of RAM and is bundled with Farstone Total Backup Recovery 7 software. Connectivity options includes three USB 2.0 ports, Gigabit Ethernet, it has a 10-second system backups and super-fast recovery plus users has the option to set up the device as FTP, iTunes or printer server. It is presently available on the European Market for a price of approximately €212.90.

The 2-bay storage server has just launched by Asus in European market, the Asus NAS-M25. The device is comes with a glossy white coating and a dual-bay NAS that capable of two 3.5-inch SATA drives (up to 6TB).

Asus NAS-M25 storage server is powered by a 1.2GHz Marvell ARM processor, 512MB of DDR2 RAM, 128MB flash and bundled with Farstone Total Backup Recovery 7 software that enabling 10-second system backups and super-fast recovery.

Dimensions of Asus NAS-M25 are 211 x 129 x 120 mm and weight 970g. It has brings three USB 2.0 ports and Gigabit Ethernet LAN.

NAS-M25 is support for FTP, file sharing, iTunes, and printer server. Cost of Asus NAS-M25 2-bay storage server is €212.90.

ASUS AiDisk

2012-01-02T20:18:00.000-08:00

3 minutes complete FTP setting via ASUS AiDisk

With the bundled AiDisk quick installation guide included in the box, users can rest easy and not worry about complicated settings.

Users will be able to easily create their own FTP servers with easily recognized and meaningful hostname like: ftp://yourname.asuscomm.com , instead of a hard to remember IP addresses or URLs.

ASUS Revamps Router Management With EZ UI

Consumers generally don't have to setup or tweak router settings but once or twice a year, if that. But for those who find themselves locked into WLAN GUIs for work or pleasure with any semblance of regularity, you'll understand just how wonderful it is to see someone working on a better way.

ASUS has recently introduced its EZ UI, which it's calling the "world's most user-friendly network solution for manual-free setup and easy management." Quite the tongue-twister, huh? What this all boils down to is a fresh new user interface for its networking routers, which will help users configure, manage and setup their network without getting their heart rates up too high. The UI brings together a half dozen key features including QIS, Network Map, Dr. Surf, AiDisk, EZQoS and EZ MFP.

For a breakdown on what all six of those do, along with a chart showing which components are available on which ASUS product, have a look below.

Breeze Through Lengthy Setup Procedures with QIS
ASUS QIS (Quick Internet Setup) automates setup procedures for network devices by intelligently detecting the type of Internet connection each individual user has, eliminating the need for guess work or reference to complex manuals. Apart from that, it also comes ready with a foolproof, easy-to-follow setup guide to take users through the entire setup process in just two clean steps. ASUS QIS is featured on the ASUS WL-500GP_V2, WL-520GU, RT-N11, RT-N13, RT-N15, WL-600G, DSL_N13, and WL-AM604G models.

Get the Big Picture with Network Map
Network Map provides users with a complete overview of the network device map at a glance. Useful information such as WAN/LAN connection status, SSID and encryption level, number of wired and wireless devices connected and even the number of USB devices connected are all available on demand. Without the hassle of accessing multiple control consoles, users are now able to have a bird’s eye view of their entire network status. Network map comes standard on the ASUS WL-500GP_V2, WL-520GU, RT-N13, RT-N15, WL-600G, DSL_N13, and WL-AM604G router models.

Share Resources More Effectively with EZMFP
Yet another ASUS exclusive innovation, EZ MFP empowers network devices with the ability to share printing and scanning devices wirelessly with multiple users, without the need for a server. EZ MFP also eliminates the hassle of disconnection and reconnection found in most print servers when multiple users attempt to access the printing device. By intelligently switching in between users, EZ MFP allows multiple connections to simultaneously access a single printing device. Users looking out for this useful feature will find the ASUS WL-500GP_V2, WL-520GU, WL-600G, and DSL_N13 router models meeting their every need.

Real-time Diagnostics with Dr. Surf
Dr. Surf is a useful application that offers real-time diagnostics, and displays a comprehensive device map showing the devices are connected, clearly listed WAN/LAN status, and simple settings for encryption and WPS etc. for helpful troubleshooting. Instead of just showing an error page on the IE browser, Dr. Surf will attempt to aid users in connecting to the Internet by helping users to complete their WAN settings. This intuitive feature is available on the ASUS WL-500GP_V2, WL-520GU, RT-N13, RT-N15, WL-600G, DSL_N13 and WL-AM604G router models

Easy and Hassle-free File Sharing with ASUS AiDisk
Manual-free, AiDisk employs a wizard to help users easily setup in just three steps, and utilizes the ASUS DDNS service for easy file-sharing. The built-up DDNS server is absolutely free, and allows users to register unique hostnames associated with their dynamic IP addresses (e.g. ftp://yourname.asuscomm.com) instead of hard-to-remember IP addresses. In addition, connecting a USB hard disk to a network device allows users to create a mini FTP server at home for easy file sharing among friends and family. With the ability to log into AiDisk via notebooks, PDAs or smart phones while connected to the Internet, backups of important files to the home disk can thus be performed instantly! This feature can be exclusively found on the ASUS WL-500GP_V2, WL-600G and DSL_N13 router models.

ASUS RT-N13U

2012-01-02T19:55:00.000-08:00

RT-N13U

Wireless N Router with All-in-One Printer Server

N Series Wi-Fi Router

Auto detect your internet connection type and manual free setup
Download Master: 24 hours downloading even PC is shut down
USB port for FTP/All-in-One Printer sharing
Universal repeater mode : extend your wireless signal coverage only by 3 steps

EZ All-in-One Printer sharing

The new ASUS wireless router distinguishes itself with the "auto switching" function. It not only enables multiple users to use multifuntion printer wirelessly without a PC or server turned on 24 hours a day, but also rules out the trouble of repeating "disconnecting" and "re-connecting" when users switch. When different users are to use the printer, the router switches automatically, which enables different users to use the printer simultaneously. After plugging in the USB printer into ASUS wireless router and running the ASUS Network Printer Setup program, each user can enjoy easy scanning and easy printing.

*For complete printer support list, please click here.

EZ Switch - Switch your Operation Mode only ONE-TOUCH

The ASUS’ newly designed EZ Switch provides three operation mode, user can change it more easily, only ONE-TOUCH.

3 minutes complete FTP setting via ASUS AiDisk

AiDisk combines simple FTP settings with the ASUS DDNS service to share files with friends easily no matter when and where the user is. By simply utilizing the RT-N13U with a USB hard disk, users will be able to create a mini FTP server at home and only requires them to setup an account and password and select the file they want to share. With the bundled AiDisk quick installation guide included in the box, users can rest easy and not worry about complicated settings. Users will be able to easily create their own FTP servers with easily recognized and meaningful hostname like: ftp://yourname.asuscomm.com , instead of a hard to remember IP addresses or URLs.

Enhanced Download Master

24/7 Non-Stop BT Download:

HTTP, FTP, BT (BitTorrent) download protocols can be download automatically from the internet. You can keep downloading even when PC is off.


• Right-Click to Download. Point to the access you want to download and Right-Click your mouse. The program will start downloading.	• Double Click BT(BitTorrent) seed, “Download Master” program will run automatically.
* Need to install Download Master utility in PC side to monitor download status.

New BT Engine
New BT Download Engine, Enhanced Download Speed.

* The actual download performance varies to the health of the torrents and the network environment.
** Available for 6 torrents downloading at the same time.

QIS(Quick Internet Setup)

After buying router and preparing for setup, just connect to the router and QIS will automatically guide users to their browser's default home pages. Manual Free!


Step1:	Step2:	Stpe3:
Open your Internet browser (Ex. IE) and QIS will detect connection type automatically.	Follow the instructions and enter necessary information	Now you can navigate in the Internet as free as can be!

Network Map

Straight-forward design to help users to

Display the whole network status and clearly provide WAN/LAN status
Securely connect to your wireless network and prevent intruders from using it
Manage your network in minutes
Try our EZ UI software

Dr. Surf

Dr. Surf, your personal wireless doctor, can automatically offer real-time diagnostics. Auto-detect Connection Problems

If there is any problem for internet connection, Dr. Surf can auto-detect and provide possible solutions.
Ex. Your cable is not connect with the router.

EZQoS - Quality of Service

With ASUS unique EZQoS engine, users can easily allocate bandwidth according to their individual needs by simply clicking on the buttons, such as voice or gaming, and assign more or less bandwidth to streamline multiple network activities (FTP, Games, P2P) to work smoothly at the same time

ASUS WL-330N3G

2012-01-02T19:13:00.000-08:00

WL-330N3G

6-in-1 Wireless-N Mobile Router, world's smallest multi-role device

Ultra-portability with Footprint Smaller Than a Credit Card
Industry-leading 6-in-1 Multi-role Functionality: Router, Access Point, Universal Repeater, Ethernet Adapter, Hotspot, 3G Sharing
Plug-n-Surf Installation with Graphic Management
Easily powered via USB port
Up to 98% faster connecting speed in 150Mbps configuration when compared to similar routers

The ASUS WL-330N3G is the world’s smallest wireless router, featuring six integrated modes within its compact size. With 802.11n, 150Mbits per second and the six different modes (Network adapter, access point, wireless router, repeater, Hotspot (Wi-Fi account sharing), 3G sharing modes), the WL-330N3G brings you the highest mobility and flexibility in staying connecting, especially when traveling. There’s no need to even take a power adapter with you because the WL-330N3G can also draw power from a USB port. Equipped with an easy to use graphical user interface, the WL-330N3G is easy to setup and manage, even for those less familiar with wireless configurations.

Ultra-portability with Footprint Smaller Than a Credit Card

Its footprint is smaller than a credit card, making it very easy to carry and literally pocket sized, but not at the expense of functionality. This is a full wireless router designed for those on the move, especially businessmen, commuters, students and mobile professionals.

Wireless N - Extreme Wireless Speed

Complies with the IEEE 802.11n wireless standard. Create home or office wireless networks with up to 18x the speed and 6x the range of conventional 802.11g networks. Enjoy bandwidth intensive HD movie and music streaming, VoIP calls, online gaming and more, smoothly and lag-free without the worry of data loss over large areas.

Plug-n-Surf Installation with Graphic Management

The ASUS WL-330N3G's wizard-based setup makes it extremely easy to configure, even for novices. The fast process is extremely simple thanks to ASUS Plug-n-Surf and network detection. This intuitive router setup means users don't need to read through long manuals, and can get online with great freedom and no hassle.

Industry-leading 6-in-1 Multi-role Functionality

Delivering spectacular utility and value, the WL-330N3G works as six different devices rolled into one. What’s worth highlighting first is its Hotspot Mode and 3G sharing Mode. As a hotspot, it can serve as a mobile Wi-Fi connection for several devices at no extra cost. While in 3G sharing mode, it provides internet connectivity for several devices through the 3G network. This mode works in conjunction with a 3G USB adapter. The other four modes allow your devices to get connected in different scenarios!

Router Mode

In the hotel room
In Wireless Router mode, the WL-330N3G connects to the modem through a network cable and shares the wireless network. NAT, firewall, UPnP and DHCP server are default enabled.

Access Point Mode

In the meeting room
In Access Point mode, the WL-330N3G connects to a wired/wireless router through a network cable to establish wireless signal sharing. In this mode, firewall, IP sharing and NAT functions are default disabled.

Universal Repeater Mode

In the house
In Repeater mode, just choose a wireless signal you want to enhance in the FW page then the WL-330N3G will extend its signal coverage.

Ethernet Adapter mode

In the office
In wireless network adapter mode, it can connect any Ethernet-enabled device to your wireless home network with the WL-330N3G. This mode is perfect for home entertainment devices such as an Xbox 360, PS3, TiVo, Blu-ray player, and more.

Hotspot mode

In a coffe shop
In Hotspot (Wi-Fi Account sharing) mode, the WL-330N3G connects to a wireless hotspot that requires authorization/payment (e.g. Hotel, Airport, and Coffee shop Wi-Fi service). With only one payment, you can share a wireless signal to all other Wi-Fi devices at noextra cost.

3G sharing mode:

In the car
In 3G sharing mode, you can turn the WL-330N3G into a 3G wireless router. It's easy to setup; just choose your location and ISP name in the FW page, or key in the APN, PIN and dialup number info provided by your 3G operator. Then connect the 3G dongle with the WL-330N3G. When the "3G LED" light turns Solid Blue, that means a connection is established.

ASUS RT-N56U

2012-01-02T19:10:00.000-08:00

RT-N56U

Dual-Band 300+300Mbps Wireless-N Router, Gigabit LAN, USB x2, AP

Dual-band for lag-free entertainment
5X faster gigabit internet surfing with hardware NAT
Powerful Online Multitasking at up to 300,000 Data Sessions
Twin USB ports enable multi-role usability

Exquisite Design, Top Performance!

ASUS RT-N56U is rated as not only the world's fastest router, but this incredible technology is housed within an award winning and stylish design. The RT-N56U comes equipped with dual-band technology that simultaneously allows both 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands, with data speeds of up to 300Mbps concurrently. With Network Address Translation (NAT), the RT-N56U is a one-of-a-kind router which delivers up to 1000Mbps true gigabit throughput that is up to five times faster than conventional gigabit routers. The RT-N56U combines its wireless technology with a massive data pipeline capable of up to 300,000 data concurrent sessions, thus multiple data transfers to many users are a breeze. In all, the ASUS RT-N56U is one highly advanced router with both exquisite design and the best performance available.

World's Fastest Router*

The RT-N56U is rated highly by SmallNetBuilder.com, the world's trusted media review website for networking devices. SmallNetBuilder tested the RT-N56U against its competitors, and it came out tops in 5GHz upload/download throughput. In light of this, SmallNetBuilder concluded the RT-N56U was one of the best performance Gigabit and dual-band Wireless routers in the market.

The first and only router to receive the CNET Editor's Choice Award

The ASUS RT-N56U was presented with the internationally recognized iF 2010 award for its exquisite design. In addition to this, the outstanding performance of RT-N56U has also won it more than 80 distinguished accolades, including the CNET Editor's Choice 2011 award, making it the first ever router to win this coveted title.

Dual-band for Lag-free Entertainment

Double your wireless performance and bandwidth with simultaneous 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands speed up to 300Mbps concurrently. While basic internet applications like browsing or file downloading can occur in 2.4GHz, wireless HD content streaming takes place in the 5GHz band at the same time, so both achieve optimized speeds and you enjoy smooth, buffer-free HD content streaming.

Gigabit Internet Surfing with Hardware NAT

Equipped with a capable hardware NAT acceleration engine and built-in Gigabit Ethernet, it gives you full Gigabit internet performance, making its WAN to LAN throughput up to 2-5 times that of traditional software-based NAT Gigabit routers.

Plug-n-surf and Hassle-free Management

ASUS EZ UI offers you an intuitive router setup without read manuals. What's more, you can enjoy simultaneous printing and scanning by connecting an All-in-one printer to the router via the USB port. Also connect external hard disks to enjoy instant file sharing with family and friends! EZ Quality of Service (EZQoS) Bandwidth Management also gives users a simple way to optimize Internet speeds for gaming, browsing, file sharing, and VoIP/ media streaming. With the EZQoS, all users need to do is just click on the image they want to set and it will adjust instantly.

Powerful Online Multitasking at up to 300,000 Data Sessions

Support for a massive data pipeline of up to 300,000 data sessions means the RT-N56U has around 20 times the networking capacity of other high session routers, so multiple data transfer jobs don't slow down even during heavy load.

Ai Radar Optimized and Reliable Wireless Coverage

Five internal antennas built inside of the RT-N56U are tasked to provide the best stable wireless signal to users. ASUS Ai Radar‘s unique design increases wireless signal coverage and quality without consuming additional power. This technology simply adapts beam patterns to local conditions to enable higher-gain directional signal emulation. Ai Radar shapes signals to offer the strongest possible output, transforming what may be a weak omnidirectional signal to a stronger unidirectional one, improving throughput at same time.


Others blast signals everywhere, leading to signal loss.	ASUS RT-N56U locks the wireless clients to provide dedicated and stable signals.

Wireless N - Extreme Wireless Speed

The ASUS RT-N56U complies with the IEEE 802.11n wireless standard. Create home or office wireless networks with up to 18x the speed and 6x the range of conventional 802.11g networks. Enjoy bandwidth intensive HD movie and music streaming, VoIP calls, online gaming and more, smoothly and lag-free without the worry of data loss over large areas.

Multi-Function Twin USB Ports

With effortless connectivity to a range of devices and FTP, SAMBA, UPnP AV server and DLNA standard compatible all supported, sharing and networking become easier than ever. Plus, the RT-N56U can continue downloading FTTP, FTP and BitTorrent file to the USB disk all day even when your PC is turned off. Additionally, the twin USB ports allow the router to offer printer and file server functions, so you enjoy simultaneous wireless printing, scanning and file sharing via the comfort of standardized USB!

*Plug-n-Share Disk Support List
*All-in-One Printer Server Support

ASUS NAS-M25

2012-01-02T19:03:00.000-08:00

NAS-M25

2-bay Gigabit network storage server

10 second system backup and super-fast recovery

Home entertainment center with virtual DVD, UPnP media and iTunes server

Powerful 1.2GHz CPU and 512MB DDR2 Memory

Effortlessly manage and share huge files remotely

Asus brings the Home Server TS mini and the new NAS-M25 network attached storage server to the CeBit 2010. The Home Server allows multiple home and remote users to view digital photos, watch videos and does other media streamings. It can back up data from up to 10 home computers. The TS mini is available at Amazon.

The NAS-M25, on the other hand, has 4TB of storage capacity and is capable of full-system backups. It allows multiple users to share files via an FTP site.

Massive Storage at Blazing Speeds

NAS-M25 offers ten second system backup and fast restore for every application and circumstance, with DLNA compatibility and 200X read speeds making it ideal for use in entertainment centers. It enables easy slide-and-snap 3.5" hard drive installation, and the friendly user interface and durable design ensure great value and longevity.

Triple Protection
Ultimate data protection with triple security: integrated ultra-fast snapshot backup, system image and RAID 1 mirroring.
Snapshot Backup
Backup your hard drive in ten seconds, undo any undesired changes in two minutes, and fully recover your PC in a snap.
Universal restore
Bring your system back to its original state, move it to a new computer or even create a virtual machine, all hassle-free.

*NAS HDD Support List

Perfect for Home Entertainment

Up to 6TB (After FW 1.0.1.0) storage and iTunes, virtual DVD, UPnP, Samba and FTP server - all supported through the intuitive user interface. Expand your libraries and increase your storage in a snap, then stream media remotely. Plus, full DLNA compatibility for easy access to a host of devices from notebooks to game consoles, with built-in TwonkyMedia server.

Screwless Hard Drive Installation

Superior Reliability

Fast 1.2GHz CPU, 512MB RAM and 128MB flash memory. The inclusion of dual firmware design makes the NAS-M25 uniquely stable and reliable, as it automatically restores full operational capabilities in the event of one of the firmware versions suffering any difficulties. Uses durable conductive polymer solid state capacitors for extreme longevity even when put to strenuous use, ensuring the NAS-M25 can be relied on for every application.

24/7 Downloads with Your PC Powered Off

The enhanced download engine lets you download HTTP, FTP and BitTorrent files 24/7 automatically even when your PC is turned off. The BT engine also supports the latest DHT, PEX and encryption. The Android app manages torrents wherever available.

Other Features

ASUS DDNS Support
Built-in easy-to-use ASUS Dynamic DNS (DDNS) service - just one step to register a unique domain with ASUS DDNS servers. Use an easy to remember domain name to connect to NAS when away from home - no more having to remember a lenghty IP address.

Web Multimedia Player
In addition to streaming multimedia files though UPnP servers, the NAS-M25 also provides HTML and Flash-based multimedia players, so you can easily play multimedia files through your browser.

Web File Management
Alongside Network Place (Samba) and FTP, the NAS-M25 offers a friendly web-based remote access user interface for effortless management and sharing of even the biggest files.

One Touch USB Auto Backup
Just press the auto backup button and data on digital cameras, camcorders and USB drives connected to the front USB port can be automatically copied to NAS. Content can be also be shared and streamed via UPnP server.

File Server
Create multiple user accounts with different authority levels and quotas for Samba (Windows My Network Places), FTP NFS and web file management.

Printer Server
Printers can be easily shared over a network by connecting them to the NAS-M25's USB port.

iTunes Server
Store and share music files to Mac OS or Windows with iTunes clients over a network. Password protection prevents unauthorized sharing.

FTP Server
You can manage the access authority of the FTP server and share your files with friends and customers easily in a few steps. The FTP server includes extensive support for SSL/TLS modes, with bandwidth and connection controls.

S.M.A.R.T HDD Scanning
The NAS-M25 supports S.M.A.R.T (Self-Monitoring Analysis and Reporting Technology), which monitors the health status of hard drives and checks for potential problems. If any appear, the NAS-M25 auto reports them to administrators by email alert.

UPS Support
The USB port supports UPS status monitoring and auto shutdown. It helps users save data in time and avoid loss during power failures and surges.

Configuration Guide

2012-01-02T18:42:00.001-08:00

This page will guide you through the steps of setting up a domain name with your ASUS router and ASUS DDNS Service.

0. Initial Setup

Power ON your ASUS router, and wire-connect your PC to it with a network cable.
Use a browser on the PC to access the homepage of your ASUS router.
By default it is available at http://192.168.1.1, you shall see the homepage as in Fig.1

1. Network Map

The homepage shows the 'Network Map' of your environment, including:
(1a). Your ADSL or Cable MODEM (usually leased from your ISP).
(1b). Your ASUS router (WL-520GU in this example).
(1c). PCs wired or wirelessly connected to the router (click on it will get a list of IP addresses).
(1d). USB devices connected directly to the router's USB port.

Fig.1

2. Device Information

When you click on any device in the 'Network Map', the right hand side will display basic information about the device.
For Routers there are some important information:
(2a). PIN code (the secret code given by ASUS).
(2b). MAC address (the physical network address of the router).
You'll need the above information when you call ASUS customer cares for DDNS service supports.

3. Advanced Settings

To setup your own domain name, click on the 'Advanced Setting' first.
(3a), (3b). Find the 'DDNS' link in the 'WAN' section.
Click on the 'DDNS' link to get the DDNS settings page.

Fig.2

4. DDNS Settings

In DDNS settings page, ASUS DDNS service is selected by default.
(4a). Type in your desired domain name in the 'Host Name' box.
The domain name should include ".asuscomm.com", e.g. enter "ddns.asuscomm.com".
(4b). Click the 'Query' button and the device will send a request to the server.

Fig.3

(4c). A box will popup indicating the progress of the communication.
(4d). The box will be closed when the communication ends,
and the result of your request will be displayed in another message box.

Fig.4

(4e). If you see messages like 'ddns.asuscomm.com is registered',
it means someone else has already registered the domain name.
(4f). You can just try again with another domain name.
Fig.5

(4g). Try other domain names until you get a 'Registration is successful.' message,
then you can start using the domain name to access your router.
(It is not necessary to click the 'Apply' button here).
Fig.6

5. Automatic Update

Once the registration is successful, the device will automatically
update your IP address to the server on re-boot, or when the connection
is lost and it gets a new IP address on re-dial.

ASUS DDNS Service

2012-01-02T18:36:00.000-08:00

ASUS DDNS service enables easy and quick sharing of data and multi-media contents with your friends and families. It allows you to create a short and easy-to-remember hostname that points to your ASUS wireless router at home or office. And with ASUS AiDisk, it takes only 3 minutes to complete FTP settings and start sharing right away.

ASUS DDNS service is freely available to ASUS product users, and it's not just another dynamic DNS service. The service is embedded in your ASUS wireless router, and closely integrated with the server to save the time and money usually required for service registration.

About DNS and Dynamic DNS

DNS (Domain Name System) is a hierarchical system for naming routers or other resources on the Internet. It translates human understand domain names into numerical IP addresses that physically identify the location of the resources. Dynamic DNS usually refers to the network service that provides the capability for a router or computer to notify a domain name server of the change of its IP address in real time.

ASUS DDNS service is available to supported ASUS devices only.

ASUS Network Products Overview

Asus RT-N56U Dual-Band Gigabit Wireless-N Router

2012-01-01T19:03:00.000-08:00

The good: The stylish and compact Asus RT-N56U Dual-Band Gigabit Wireless-N Router offers stellar 5Ghz performance, long range, and an intuitive Web interface. Its storage feature is well designed; the router is comparatively fast; and it offers a convenient way to access data over the Internet.

The bad: The Asus RT-N56U's Web interface takes a long time to apply changes and the router doesn't support the new three-stream 450Mbps wireless speed.

The bottom line: The Asus RT-N56U is arguably one of the best true dual-band 300Mbps home routers on the market.

The compact and well-designed RT-N56U Dual-Band Gigabit Wireless-N Router is a major step up from its bulky and buggy predecessor, the RT-N16 . It offers the fastest 5Ghz speed to date and very good overall performance for both wireless and storage features.

The only two minor blemishes we find in the RT-56U are its Web interface, which, though intuitive and responsive, takes a long time to apply changes; and its lack of support for the new three-stream 450Mbps wireless standard, which competitor Cisco Linksys E4200 offers.

To make up for this, the Asus is much cheaper than the Cisco at around $130. If you're looking for a well-rounded true dual-band router that also offers decent built-in network storage features for your home, look no further than the Asus RT-56U.

Design and ease of use

Having previously reviewed the bulky and subpar Asus RT-N16, we found the new RT-56U a big pleasant surprise. It's one of the most stylish routers we've seen and is about two-thirds of the size of the also-stylish Linksys E4200. The RT-56U, however, is squarish and from the top it looks very much like a shiny black marble tile. It's also very thin.

The router is not designed to be wall-mountable but it comes with a detachable base to work in a vertical position. It can also be placed on its bottom, like all routers.

Despite the new compact physical size, the RT-56U packs a heavy punch. On the back, it has four Gigabit LAN ports (for wired devices) and one WAN port (to connect to an Internet source such as a broadband modem). Next to the ports, there are also two USB ports designed to host printers or network storage. This is the first router of this ultracompact size to come with two USB ports. Most compact routers we've reviewed don't have a USB port at all. Between the USB ports and the LAN ports is a tiny reset button that restores the router to its default manufacturer settings.

On top, the router comes with an array of tiny blue lights labeled with the function each displays the status of--the USB port, the wired network, the two wireless networks (2.4Ghz and 5Ghz), and the power.

It's very easy to get the RT-56U up and running. First, plug the router in and turn it on. Next, from a computer that's connected to the router via a network cable, open an Internet browser, such as Firefox. You will be greeted with a quick Web-based wizard that walks you through a few simple steps to set up the wireless networks and get connected to the Internet. In our case, this took less than three minutes. The setup is foolproof and probably the fastest way to set up a router we've seen--possibly even faster than the case of Cisco's E and Vale series, which are extremely easy.

After the wizard, you can use the router right away or stay in its Web interface to further customize its features. Later on you can log in to this interface again at any time by pointing a browser of a connected computer to its IP address, which by default is 192.168.1.1.

Features

The RT-56U's Web interface is very similar to that of the RT-N16 but is much improved in terms of performance and utility. The new router also has more features. The only nag we had is the fact that the interface takes a long time to apply changes. It displays a countdown message that goes from 1 to 100 percent at a rate of about 2 or 3 percent per second, meaning almost every change takes close to a minute.

The interface has a nifty network map that show a schematic of all the devices connected to its network and USB ports. It also has a very easy-to-use quality of service (QoS) feature called EzQoS that lets you quickly prioritize what type of services--gaming, media streaming, VoIP or Internet applications--that you want the network to prioritize for each connected device. There's even a comprehensive "Traffic Meter" that shows the use of the Internet as well as wired and wireless networks in real time or in the past 24 hours.

The Asus RT-56U's intuitive Web interface is pleasant to use.

The router's USB ports support external hard drives formatted in either FAT32 or NTFS, and its storage feature works very well. In our trial, the router could handle two bus-powered external hard drives, the Seagate GoFlex Pro and the Western Digital My Passport , at the same time. So without needing too many wires running around, the router can offer up to 3TB of network storage (with two 1.5Tb external hard drives attached, such as the Seagate GoFlex Ultra-portable)--not too shabby a number for a device of its size.

Once the hard drive is connected, you can choose to share its entire existing contents as public (simple share), meaning everyone can have full access to it; or you can choose to share it with accounts. Choosing the latter option lets you create multiple user accounts and assign access privileges, (read only, read/write, no access) for each account to each of the share folders. We tried all these different settings, via a section called USB Application within the router's interface, and they worked as intended.