Although most hardware routers include a wide range of advanced features, chances are good that your own router currently supports fewer features than it is capable of. The features that a router supports are directly related to the firmware version installed when the router was shipped from the factory. In most (but not all) cases, home routers support firmware upgrades that add newer features and address any problems or issues found in previous releases. To take full advantage of your router, you should upgrade its firmware as new releases are issued.
On Linksys routers, a link to the website offering firmware upgrades for download is typically found on the Help tab of the administrative interface. In some cases you may need to install a special utility to upload the new firmware to the router, while in others the administrative interface will allow you to upload the new file in a manner similar to adding an attachment to an email message. Regardless, check the vendor’s website for firmware updates at least monthly, since these also typically resolve any security issues that may have been discovered for your model.
