[est1895]

I bought my wireless router back in 2007 and never installed the software that came with it.   Is that bad?  If so, what do you guys use?

[Nuke]

you shouldnt need any software.

[est1895]

What about the drivers and firmware updates that a router has?

[Scourge of Ages]

Chances are that there aren't any significant updates for the router. If it's working fine for you, it would probably be more trouble than it's worth to find and apply those updates.

If you'd like to check for firmware updates, I'm sure you can find instructions either online by searching for the model number of your router, or by logging into the router itself (usually by going to an IP like 192.168.0.1).

[jr2]

While connected to your router, do an ipconfig command in the command prompt window (cmd.exe) and you should get your default gateway, which you can then use to connect to the router's config page.  It's usually, like Scourge said, 192.168.0.1 / 192.168.1.1 / 192.168.100.1 / similar.

Code: [Select]

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7601]
Copyright (c) 2009 Microsoft Corporation.  All rights reserved.

C:\Users\JP>ipconfig

Windows IP Configuration


Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

   Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :

Wireless LAN adapter Wireless Network Connection:

   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :
   Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::58f5:6eb3:7e70:9465%11
   IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.137
   Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
   Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1

Tunnel adapter isatap.{C6539F9A-2515-4635-AF67-655B5F7C069D}:

   Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :

Tunnel adapter Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface:

   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :
   IPv6 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 2001:0:9d38:6ab8:2cd3:f5ac:47cb:e6f1
   Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::2cd3:f5ac:47cb:e6f1%14
   Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : ::

Tunnel adapter isatap.{92DCA394-D76E-44AB-85D2-3492D1C7DA80}:

   Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :

C:\Users\JP>

[est1895]

So firmware updates are needed then?

[General Battuta]

So firmware updates are needed then?

No. You do not need any firmware updates.

[Nuke]

when it comes to firmware, if it aint broke, dont fix it.

[Klaustrophobia]

networking software is usually more annoying than windows networking.

[Fury]

So firmware updates are needed then?

No. You do not need any firmware updates.

The don't fix unless it's broken mentality works as long as you're sure there can be no issues you're not aware of.

Many broadband routers have had security issues in them, allowing remote access from internet among other things even if disabled in the router's settings. To fix these potential holes, you should update their firmware if any is available. Of course firmware updates may also improve the device's performance and fix other non-security issues.

Anything that is directly connected to the internet should be up-to-date if such an update has anything security related in it. It is common practice to have a broadband device with router capabilities, hiding your own computers behind the router's NAT and firewall. That works as long as the router itself isn't exploited by some hole you're not even aware of.