To access the switch management interface in your web browser, you must first discover the IP address of the switch on your network.
The quickest and easiest way to set up your switch is by using the Network feature on a Windows PC or the Bonjour Bookmarks feature in Safari on a Mac. For more information about setting up your Nighthawk switch using these methods, see the following knowledge base articles:
- How do I set up my GS808E Nighthawk S8000 Gaming & Streaming Switch on Windows?
- How do I set up my GS808E Nighthawk S8000 Gaming & Streaming Switch on a Mac using Bonjour?
To use an IP scanning application on your computer or mobile device, follow these steps.
To discover your S8000 Nighthawk Gaming & Streaming Switch using an IP scanner:
- Use an Ethernet cable to connect LAN port 8 (UPLINK) on the switch to a LAN port on your router.
- Connect your gaming device to port 1, streaming device to port 2, and all other devices (including additional gaming and streaming devices) to the remaining ports 3‒7.
NETGEAR recommends that you connect all wired devices directly to your Nighthawk switch. If you connect wired devices to your router or modem instead, you are not using your Nighthawk switch to its full potential for port prioritization and congestion control.
- Connect the power adapter to the switch and plug it in.
The blue Power LED on top of the switch lights and the port LEDs for connected devices light. - Use an IP scanner application to discover the IP address of the switch in your network.
For more information about using your IP scanner, see the user documentation for your IP scanner application. - In the address bar of a web browser, type the IP address of the switch.
The login page displays. - Enter the default switch password, which is password.
The home page displays. - (Optional) For easier access to your switch in the future, assign a static IP address to your switch:
- From the switch’s home page, click IP.
- Click the slider under DHCP to disable DHCP.
- Record or bookmark the full IP address of your Nighthawk S8000 Switch.
- Click Apply.
- Select SETTINGS > Change Password.
- Enter password as the Old Password.
- Create a strong new password and enter it under New Password and Retype New Password.
- Click Apply.
For more information about your Nighthawk switch’s features and settings, see the following knowledge base articles:
- How do I use preset modes for gaming or media streaming on my GS808E Nighthawk S8000 Gaming & Streaming Switch?
- How do I turn the LEDs on or off on my GS808E Nighthawk S8000 Gaming & Streaming Switch?
- How do I update the firmware on my GS808E Nighthawk S8000 Gaming & Streaming Switch?
- What is link aggregation and how do I set it up on my GS808E Nighthawk S8000 Gaming & Streaming Switch?