DIR-615: firmware, hardware setup

This article is dedicated to the most popular router in the domestic market of network equipment - TP-Link DIR-615. The firmware, settings and user reviews will help any newcomer get to know a wonderful router. Do not interfere with the future owner and the technical characteristics of the device, because they determine the need for a purchase.

Distinctive features of network equipment

Not every manufacturer of network equipment on the market of budget devices can boast of convenient functionality of its product when choosing specific security settings and distributing Wi-Fi. The company D-Link managed to surprise its fans with the new DIR-615 router. Firmware network device more like a children's designer - the owner himself decides for what purposes he needs a router. Having compiled a list of needs, the user finds the necessary software on the official website of the manufacturer and uploads it to the router.

In addition to official firmware, there are many alternative versions on the Internet that are created by enthusiasts manually and, as practice shows, they are no worse than the original products. In recent years, many providers also offer users ready solutions in the form of firmware for the router. This approach of the Internet service provider greatly simplifies the configuration of the router at home.

The first step is that it is the most important

Before tackling the issues of flashing the D-Link DIR-615 router, you must make a backup of the current settings. This step is critical for those users who have a fully configured and efficient router in their hands. When creating a backup, the owner of the network device simultaneously solves two problems: saving the settings made independently, and the ability to return the router to its original state (for warranty service).

To create a backup of the settings, on the control panel, select the "System" section, the "Utilities" item, and in the appeared window find the "Save settings" button. The application, after a little thought, will display a dialog box with the user's file system and prompt you to specify the path and name for the backup. After the end of the procedure, it is recommended to reboot the router.

Customization or firmware?

Before setting up the DIR-615, many owners try to download the current firmware first and install it on the network device. This step has two sides of the same coin. In the event that the router has an English-speaking interface, downloading from the official site of the Russian installation and its installation will greatly facilitate the user to configure the wireless access point and additional security settings.

On the other hand, there is a certain risk of causing the router to go out of order. A normal factory fault in the form of incorrect operation of the processor or memory module can lead to breakage. In most cases, the inoperability of the equipment is detected during the testing process (some element does not work). It's one thing to return the device in factory execution under warranty, and the user will have a completely different story with a self-stitched device that failed.

Features of firmware

First of all when downloading the firmware from the official website of the manufacturer, you need to pay attention to the compliance of hardware and software revision, otherwise, filling in inappropriate software, you can kill the router with a single click. For example, the firmware having the symbols "DIR-615 E4" in the name will be compatible only with the router having revision E4. In order to find out which revision the router has, you need to turn it upside down and pay attention to the Hardware Version label.

The last 2-3 letters in the name of the firmware correspond not to the region of localization of the router, but only to language support. That is RU - Russian, BR - Brazilian and so on. There are no bindings to the local location of the network device, due to which many folk craftsmen, using the experience of more intelligent foreign programmers, create their own convenient solutions.

Step-by-Step Setup

Professionals recommend to abandon the chaotic method of setting up the router, and to enter data on the previously compiled list. Such actions will simplify the management of the router and will allow you to more effectively configure the security of your home network. The first one is configured for the DIR-615 Internet router. Accordingly, before any actions the user should learn the type of connection with the equipment of the provider. The logic is simple:

• Connection to the Internet is on any device to which the cable is connected - open access;
• Internet resources are available only on one computer that has its own connection settings.

In the first case, you can safely connect the router to the computer and equipment provider. In the second case, you need to know the settings on the network. You can find them in the specification to the contract with the service provider or request data from the network administrator.

Internet connection

If connection with the equipment of the provider is created without problems, this step should be skipped. The rest will have to take a course on manual configuration of the connection. First of all, on a personal computer, you need to set up an automatic receipt of an IP address and DNS. In the operating instructions (in notations) there is a step-by-step algorithm for the user.

The DIR-615 router must be connected to the computer and enter the control panel using any browser. For setting up the connection, the "Internet" section, the "Settings" item answers. A new dialog box will offer the user two options for solving the problem: configure the router manually or use the services of an assistant. The second option is more important. In the configuration there is nothing complicated: the type of connection is selected, data is entered from the contract and the "Save" button is pressed. Reboot the router at the end of the procedure is required.

Wireless network

The second step in setting up is the launch of a Wi-Fi network. DIR-615 - one of the few routers in the budget class, providing great functionality to the user. Together with the range of settings, the owner receives and additional problems with the selection of the correct parameters. In the control menu, you can get to the "Wireless settings" section. It is recommended to use the algorithm:

• To check the box next to "Enable Network", by selecting the status "Always";
• In the column "Name" you need to specify the name of the network that will be displayed when searching (8 characters, Cyrillic is not supported);
• Select "Mixed 802.11n" mode for full support of any devices;
• Type of encryption is better to choose "WPA" or "WPA2", and the key to install AES;
• An important parameter is for the DIR-615 router password, it is recommended to enter such a set of numbers and letters that it will not be repetitive to repeat both on the laptop and on the smartphone (professionals recommend entering the serial number of the router, it can not be lost, and it is unique);
• Save the settings and restart the router.

Fine-tuning the network equipment

Before configuring the DIR-615 for its own tasks (for example, port forwarding), it is mandatory to save the configuration file to the local computer. In general, professionals recommend that before each manual intervention make a backup. The second thing in the future will help to avoid the large time spent on rebuilding the router and its configuration from scratch.

The complexity of all D-Link routers is that neither in the control panel nor in the user manual will the user find a detailed description of the fine-tuning of the network. However, on the official website of the manufacturer there is a digital manual with a detailed description of all the functionality. It is made by the manufacturer specially to protect beginners from unskillful actions.

Problems and solutions

It is not uncommon for the owners of the wireless router DIR-615 to fail unsuccessfully (power outage or connection to the computer, incompatibility of the software). In 99% of cases, this failure disables the hardware of network equipment, turning it into an inoperative "brick." Under warranty, the router will not be able to hand over, therefore, at your own risk, the user can resort to two options: to repetitively repair the firmware in the service center or try to solve the problem on its own.

There are many ways to forcibly "poke" a new firmware into D-Link DIR-615. The easiest way is to use the 16-bit D-Link Firmware Loader program, which can be downloaded on the Internet. That's only it works under the operating system Windows 2000, and not every user will be able to "make her" by their own efforts. The second option is equally complex - using the command line and Telnet service to perform the work of the 16-bit application manually (there are a lot of working instructions on the Internet on this topic).

Finally

As practice shows, for a wireless router DIR-615, the firmware and configuration are not links of the same circuit. This is a functional that requires a completely different approach from the owner. A typical user who does not understand the network equipment is not always able to customize Wi-Fi, not to mention the firmware of the device. It is impossible to take and flash a router at one stroke. From the first time it can turn out, but in most cases inept actions lead all device owners to the service center.

As for the convenience of the hardware setup and its firmware, advanced users and professionals have no complaints. The official website of the manufacturer has so many proprietary software under DIR-615 that many device owners do not always have enough time to try all the firmware. Each of them is unique in its own way and, of course, is 100% efficient.