Cisco Connect Frequently Asked Questions.

Hello !

I am posting all the possible FAQs regarding Cisco Connect.

The New series of routers from Linksys or Cisco are just amazing, in regards of both, connectivity and range.

1.       What is Cisco Connect?

Cisco Connect is a software program that allows you to access Valet settings and its unique features. Using Cisco Connect, you can view and change the Valet or Linksys E-Series name and password and set up parental controls where you can restrict Internet access to computer users in your home. You can also update and create an Easy Setup Key and turn on Safe Web Surfing.
NOTE:  Cisco Valet is currently available only in North America. The Linksys E2100L router is only available in the US.
To learn how to open Cisco Connect on your computer, click here.

2.       What computer operating systems does Cisco Connect support?

Cisco Connect supports these operating systems:
- Microsoft Windows XP SP3
- Microsoft Windows Vista SP1 and above
- Microsoft Windows 7
- Mac OS X Tiger 10.4.9
- Mac OS X Tiger 10.4.11
- Mac OS X Leopard 10.5.8
- Mac OS X Snow Leopard 10.6.1

3.       What wireless adapter requirements need to be met when using Cisco Connect?

To work with Cisco Connect, wireless adapters must support WPA and WPA2 encryption.

4.       Why can’t I use Cisco Connect when I’m away from home?

Cisco Connect can only be opened when you are connected to your Valet or Linksys E-Series. When you are at a coffee shop or at school, you are connected to a different network, so Cisco Connect will not work. 
NOTE: Cisco Valet is currently available only in North America. The Linksys E2100L router is only available in the US.

5.       What’s the difference between Safe web surfing and parental controls?

When Safe web surfing is turned ON as you’re surfing the Internet and are about to open a potentially harmful site, an alert displays in your browser telling you that the site may be harmful to your computer or to your personal data. There are certain sites on the Internet that are “flagged” as potentially harmful, meaning they may contain viruses, install malware on your computer, or attempt to access your personal data. You can continue on to the site, or decide not to open it. When Safe web surfing is turned on, it applies to all computers connected to the Valet or Valet Plus.
Parental controls allows you to restrict the Internet on specific computers in your home. You can restrict access to the Internet for specific days and times, or allow Internet access but restrict access to specific Web content.
NOTE:  Cisco Valet is currently available only in North America. The Linksys E2100L router is only available in the US.
Parental controls in Cisco Connect can be set up for up to 10 computers or devices.

6.       Why do I see duplicate names for computers and devices when setting up parental controls?

When setting up parental controls, you decide which computers and devices the Internet restrictions apply to. In the Set up parental controls for dialog box sometimes a computer or device name might be listed more than once. This can happen if:

• A computer has connected to the Valet or Linksys E-Series both wirelessly and with a wired connection.

• You have two of the same kinds of devices, such as phones, and both are listed with the same manufacturer name.

• You’ve given the same name to more than one computer or device. If you want to set parental controls for an item that is listed
   more than once, select all instances of the name in the Set up parental controls for dialog box. This ensures that the Internet
   restrictions you set will apply to that computer or device. 

NOTE:  Cisco Valet is currently available only in North America. The Linksys E2100L router is only available in the US.

Parental controls in Cisco Connect can be set up for up to 10 computers or devices. 

7.       I forgot my parental controls password and the answer to my secret question. What should I do?

In a scenario like this, we suggest that you perform the following steps:

Step 1:
Reset your Valet or Linksys E-Series by holding down the reset button for 10-15 seconds.

Step 2:
Uninstall Cisco Connect.

Step 3:
Insert your updated Easy Setup Key to restore your Valet or Linksys E-Series settings. You will need to reconfigure Parental controls. If you do not have an updated Easy Setup Key, you will need to run your Valet or Linksys E-Series installation again.

NOTE: Cisco Valet is currently available only in North America. The Linksys E2100L router is only available in the US.

8.       What happens if I uninstall Cisco Connect?

When you uninstall Cisco Connect, all Valet or Linksys E-Series settings remain unchanged. These settings include the Valet or Linksys E-Series, password, guest access, and parental controls. For example, if you have parental controls set to block Internet access for school nights, those settings remain in effect after you uninstall Cisco Connect. To remove or change Valet or Linksys E-Series settings after you uninstall Cisco Connect, you need to reset the Valet or Linksys E-Series to its original settings, and then use the Valet or Linksys E-Series Web-based utility. Refer to the Valet or Linksys E-Series User Guide for details about using the Web-based utility.

NOTE: Cisco Valet is currently available only in North America. The Linksys E2100L router is only available in the US.

9.       What is a Valet or Linksys E-Series name and password?

Your Valet or Linksys E-Series provides a private network for the computers and devices (phones, gaming systems, PDAs) in your home. Using the Valet or Linksys E-Series, those computers and devices can share one Internet connection and communicate with each other to share files, photos, printers, etc. The Valet or Linksys E-Series name and password are required for any computer or device you connect to your Valet or Linksys E-Series. This prevents neighbors (or strangers) from accessing your network, and potentially your personal information. You can use the pre-defined name and password that comes with your Valet or Linksys E-Series, or you can change them to something you prefer. To change the name or password, open Cisco Connect and choose Valet settings for Valets or Router settings for Routers. Be sure to update the Easy Setup Key when you do this.

Important: You will need to manually reconnect your computers or devices using the new name and password to your wireless network should you change the Valet or Linksys E-Series name or password. You may also use and insert the updated Easy Setup Key into that computer to automatically reconnect to your wireless network. To know how to update your Easy Setup Key, click here.

NOTE: Cisco Valet is currently available only in North America. The Linksys E2100L router is only available in the US.

10.      I changed my Valet or Linksys E-Series name and password. How can I connect my other computers?

If you used Cisco Connect to change the Valet or Linksys E-Series name or password, you will be prompted to update the Easy Setup Key during that process.
If you updated the key, take that key to the other computers you want to connect to the Valet or Linksys E-Series and insert it into any available USB port. The Cisco Connect software will then update the computer’s settings with the new name and password you have made. This will reconnect the computer to the wireless network.
If the Easy Setup Key was not updated when you changed the name or password, open Cisco Connect, click Valet settings for Valets or Router settings for Routers, and then click Update or create Key to update your Key. Then, insert the updated Key into the computer you’re trying to connect. This will update the name and password settings and connect the computer to the Valet or Linksys E-Series.
NOTE: When changing your Valet or Linksys E-Series Name and Password, we recommend that you always do so using the Change option in Cisco Connect. Changing the Name and Password via the Advanced settings option or Web-based utility will prevent you from using Cisco Connect.

To learn how to change your Valet or Linksys E-Series Name or Password, please click here.

To learn how to find out the Wireless name or the Password, of your Valet or E-Series router please click here.

11.      I want to update my Valet or Linksys E-Series settings on my computer, but I don’t have a free USB port to insert the Easy Setup Key into. What can I do?

If you’re using a USB wireless adapter, you can remove the wireless adapter temporarily and insert your Easy Setup Key to update the settings on your computer. When the Valet or Linksys E-Series settings are updated, remove the Key and re-insert your wireless adapter.

NOTE: Cisco Valet is currently available only in North America. The Linksys E2100L router is only available in the US.

12.     What are the Advanced Settings?

This is a Web-based utility used for setting advanced Valet or Linksys E-Series features, such as wireless encryption, SSID, and others. You should not use this utility unless you have configured routers in the past. It’s best to use Cisco Connect’s Valet settings or Router settings to make any changes. To access the utility, use the Valet password.
Important: If you change the Valet or Linksys E-Series password using the Valet settings or Router settings option in Cisco Connect, the change is also applied to the Web-based utility. To access the utility, you have to use the new password.

NOTE: Cisco Valet is currently available only in North America. The Linksys E2100L router is only available in the US.

13.     My Advanced Settings have been changed and now I can’t use Cisco Connect. What can I do?

If you or someone else used the Advanced Settings to make changes to the Valet or Linksys E-Series settings, those settings were applied directly to the Valet or Linksys E-Series and you can no longer use Cisco Connect. You can either continue to use the Valet or Linksys E-Series Advanced Settings to view and change Valet or Linksys E-Series settings, or you can reset your Valet or Linksys E-Series. If you reset your Valet or Linksys E-Series, the name, password, and other settings return to the default settings – the way they were when you first installed the Valet or Linksys E-Series. You can then use Cisco Connect to manage settings.

The Valet connector works best with the Valet or Valet Plus routers.

To know about Setting the Valet Connector, click here.