192.168.1.1
192.168.1.1 is a private IPv4 router address used by LinkSys broadband routers, among others. Although it's the factory default, you may change it at anytime by accessing the router's control panel.
What 192.168.1.1 is used for
When you first buy a router and set it up, the router will assign your various computers and devices in the network their own private IP addresses, so that they may be separately identified. Without doing this, there wouldn't be a way to tell one connection from a particular computer/device to another. This private IP is specific only to the devices within the network, and unless routed to do so, has no direct connections to the internet outside of the router itself. This way, everything is categorized by their private IP on the network and can be accessed accordingly. Because the IP's are specific to each router, they may be used again and again. When accessing the router's control panel, you may assign each device any IP you want, as long it falls in the allowed range of IPs.
What is the range?
The range of private IP's that your router may assign starts at 192.168.0.0 and stops at 192.168.255.255.
Generally, LinkSys routers will auto-assign your IP to be 192.168.1.1. When manually assigning IP addresses to the devices in your network, be sure to steer clear from using this particular address. Again, keep in mind that you may change your router's default IP address at any time. Consult your user guide for your router for more information.
How to find your router address in Windows
In order to find your router address, simple go to Start -> Run.
When the run dialogue box comes up, type in "cmd" (without the quotes) and press OK.
This will bring up the command prompt. This utility has a plethora of available commands, but for now we will be using the ipconfig command.
To use ipconfig, simply type "ipconfig" (again, without the quotes) and then press enter.
It will then display your connection information. Look for your "Default Gateway". The address listed for that is your router's address. It should be something like 192.168.x.x. If you ever want to access the router's control panel, all you have to do is open up a web browser and type that into your address bar. Piece of cake!
It's always good to know how to access your routers control panel, as you may want to look around in there and tweak the settings to get it just right for your needs. Using your router's control panel, you can set access control, set up port forwarding, and even back-up your current router settings in case anything ever goes awry.
