If you are reading this guide, chances are that you are trying to connect your gaming system or another device to your wireless network and need information for the settings. For most manual settings, all that is required is just the SSID and security key or password. However, some will require you to set up an IP Address and input the Subnet Mask, Default Gateway (Router), and DNS server(s). This guide will help you find that information to input.

First off, what you need is a computer that is connected directly to the wireless router. It does not need to be connected via a wire, just connected directly to the router. The reason why is because you are going to be looking at the settings on that computer. And, if that computer is not directly connected to the wireless router that you want to connect your gaming system to, then you will be getting the wrong settings.

The second thing you need is to know what Operating System (OS) that the computer has on it. Is it Windows 2000, XP, Vista, or even Macintosh OSX? Once you got that information, then find your OS in this tutorial.

Windows 2000 or Windows XP

This one is the easiest. If you know you have Windows 2000 or Windows XP, these will be the steps you will need to take.
  1. Click on "Start" and Select "Run"
  2. Type in "cmd" (without the parentheses)
  3. Press "Enter" on your keyboard
  4. In the black window that will pop up, type "ipconfig /all" (without the parentheses)
From here, you can get the IP Address, Default Gateway, and DNS server(s).

Windows Vista

A little harder, because the "Run" program is not on the Start Menu by default. But, we actually do not need it.
  1. Click on "Start" and Type "cmd" (without the parentheses) in the search box.
  2. Select "cmd.exe"
  3. In the black window that will pop up, type "ipconfig /all" (without the parentheses)
From here, you need to get the IPv4 Address, Subnet Mask, Default Gateway, and DNS Server(s).

Macintosh OSX

On the Macintosh OSX, you have to go to two different places to find the IP Address, Subnet Mask, Default Gateway, and DNS Server(s).
  1. Click on the Apple icon on the toolbar and select "System Preferences..."
  2. Select "Network"
  3. Under "Show", make sure that either "Built-In Ethernet" or "Airport" is selected
  4. Make sure that "TCP/IP" is selected
It will show your IP Address and Subnet Mask. The Router is your Default Gateway. If the DNS servers were manually configured on the computer, then they should show up. If not, read on.

To find the DNS Server(s), do this:
  1. Click on the Search icon and type in "terminal"
  2. Select "Terminal"
  3. Type "cat /etc/resolv.conf | grep nameserver" (without the parentheses)
  4. Press "Enter" on your keyboard
Each "nameserver" is a DNS Server.

I may add how to find this information inside Linux later, but not now.