The problem is related to how the router assigns IP addresses to all of the PCs on your network. The router uses the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) to assign each PC a unique IP address. Without an IP address, a PC can’t connect to Internet.
The problem if that newer Linksys routers have one of the most annoying features of all time, by default, the IP addresses they assign last for only one day. Theoretically, they should automatically get new IP addresses each day without your intervention. But some people find that this doesn’t always happen, and that they must restart their routers every day to make sure that all their PCs get new IP addresses.
Upgrading your router’s firmware often fixes the problem. Go to Linksys site, click the Products tab, and then click the Firmware link, and follow the instructions for downloading and installing the firmware upgrade.
If that doesn’t fix the problem, there’s a workaround: you can drastically lengthen the amount of time each assigned IP address will last (known as the “lease” on the IP address). That way, your PCs will lose their IP addresses much frequently, so you’ll have to restart your router only once every, say, 45 days. Here’s how.
1. In your browser, go to http://192.168.1.1 , Log into the Linksys administrator’s setup screen by leaving the username blank and entering the password admin. (That’s the default password. If you’ve changed your username and password, use those.)
2. Click the Setup tab, then click Basic Setup.
3. In the Client Lease Time box, type in 65535. That’s how long in minutes (approximately 45 days) the IP address on each PC will last before it expires. Note: Routers may limit you to a smaller number.
4. Click the Save Settings button, then Exit.
