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Walker · Jan 16, 2004, 09:29 AM

My network consists of Linksys 8 port router, airport base station, high speed cable modem. To this network I have hard wired connection to 5 computers, 2 slimp3 music devices, and of course my airport base station, with which I use for mine and my wife's laptops.

I originally had this setup working with my graphite base station, which has recently crapped out. The way I had it configured was I had my calbe modem plugged into the input on router, and simply plugged the airport base station into the last open port on my router.

I have purchased the Airport Extreme version. I now notice there is an extra ethernet jack in the back of this device. Should I change the way I had the network set up? For example, should I now plug my cable modem into the airport, rather than into the linksys router? Or should I keep it the same way I always had it?

Thanks!

lw

aaanorton · Jan 16, 2004, 10:51 AM

You can do it either way, it really doesn't matter. If you keep it the way it is, connect the AEBS to the router via the LAN port. And make SURE that you disable DHCP serving on the AEBS.

Walker · Jan 18, 2004, 01:14 PM

Originally posted by aaanorton:
You can do it either way, it really doesn't matter. If you keep it the way it is, connect the AEBS to the router via the LAN port. And make SURE that you disable DHCP serving on the AEBS.

I tried it the way you suggested, but for some reason I could never get to the point where I could find the "disable DHCP serving" command. So I went to the "airport help" and it said to plug it into the "wan" port. So I did. To clarify, I have one of the 8 ports of my router connected to the "wan" port of the aebs.

I was then able to use the airport admin utility/setup assistant. I am now able to browse the internet from my laptop (I'm actually typing this on the laptop). But I'm unable to access other computers on my network (all the rest are wired). When I go to the "connect to server" command, all that shows up is the laptop computer. File sharing is turned on all other computers.

Should I try again with the way you suggested? I hate to mess things up because mainly this laptop will be used only for internet access, and not file sharing, but sure would like to get file sharing to work.

Thanks for the help,

lw

car1son · 02:38 PM

Your network is pretty similar to mine .

You disable DHCP by unchecking "Distribute IP Addresses" on the Airport Admin Utility's Network tab. (screenshot) .

The reason you can't see the other computers on your LAN when connected through the WAN port is the Airport Base Station's DHCP is assigning the wireless clients an IP on a different subnet (10.0.1.2 vs 192.168.1.100) and it's NAT function (acting as a sort-of-firewall) is preventing the other computers from reaching your wireless systems.

You could flip the net around the other way, with the LinkSys on the ABS's LAN port (and the ABS's WAN port on the Cable modem), but then you'd want to Disable DHCP on the LinkSys's DHCP screen instead.

Walker · Jan 18, 2004, 05:36 PM

Thanks! Did it the way it was recommended by both of you. Works great now.

lw

khomel · Jan 20, 2004, 01:18 AM

Hi everyone,

This is exactly what I'm trying to do, but I still can't get it to work.

My setup is: Cable modem --> AEBS --> (thru AEBS lan port) Linksys 4 port router.

I've tried to disable the dhcp setting on my linksys, but I'm not sure what settings to put into my wired machines to make them still connect to the internet and each other (I thought maybe the AEBS would see the wired computers and assign IPs to them also).

Right now I've got dhcp on with both routers and everything works, I just can't get to the wired computers from my wireless boxes (because of the different subnet, I guess...but I can get to the airport connected computers from the wired computers at the different subnet).

I've got distribute ip addresses checked in the airport admin, and the first option after that, to use 10.0.1.x addressing. Do I need to change the ip address of my linksys router?

Yikes. I'm a little confused. Thanks for any help.

Keith

khomel · Jan 20, 2004, 01:31 AM

...I connected the airport lan through the uplink port of the linksys. Nevermind. That did it.

Thanks for the good info on the post everyone!

Rev-O · Jan 30, 2004, 02:55 PM

Hey, I did a search and it paid off!

I have a wired network with an Asanti 4 port router/switch, and I have a G4 iBook with AE in it. Wired network works just fine for my G5 and iMac (as they don't move around), and I have a RG45 in the house I hook up my iBook to (as well as an opening in my router for future expansion).

So, If I want to make my iBook work wirelessly on my existing network, I hafta buy an AE base station, and pipe that in line after my Asante router... right?

Be gentle with me... I have very little idea wtf I am doing here. I set up my own network, terminated my own rg45's, and impressed the hell out of myself in the process, as I had zero networking experience, just my Macs made it deceptively simple.

ghporter · Jan 30, 2004, 04:30 PM

You need some sort of wireless access point, but not necessarily an AirPort Extreme-or even any Apple product. Since 802.11b and g are standards, anyone's access point should work fine. In practice it actually works out.

Downside-other vendors' access points don't look as cool as Apple's.

Upside-other products are less expensive, use a browser-based interface for configuration (almost universally), and do the job quite well.

I have a Linksys access point serving both a Dell laptop and a new iBook, and both connect fine.

I would recommend some online shopping to find which access point best suits your needs. Since you already have a wired network, you don't necessarily need a wireless router (which is just a box containing both an access point and a wired router), but there are some that are a good choice simply because they're so inexpensive. The Netgear MR-814 can be had for less than $40, so it's a good piece to start out with, though it is 802.11b, not the faster 802.11g. Their WGR-614 cost less than $50 and is 802.11g.

Rev-O · Feb 1, 2004, 11:15 AM

Originally posted by GHPorter:
Since you already have a wired network, you don't necessarily need a wireless router (which is just a box containing both an access point and a wired router), but there are some that are a good choice simply because they're so inexpensive. The Netgear MR-814 can be had for less than $40, so it's a good piece to start out with, though it is 802.11b, not the faster 802.11g. Their WGR-614 cost less than $50 and is 802.11g.

Thanks! Seems like a non-Apple device would be the way to go, purely from a cost standpoint. AE basestation look smokin', but unfortunately, cost somewhat smokin' as well.

Rev-O · Feb 3, 2004, 12:19 PM

Recommendation time...
Raves and rants on particular 802.11g access points? Not going with Apple on this one... prices are obscene!
I believe I need just a 802.11g switch, because I already have an Asante router/switch/firewall that is wired. LInksys seems to be popular, as is netgear. Both suitable?

Rev-O · Feb 3, 2004, 12:22 PM

Forgot the obligitory stupid question. If I get a 802.11g router, will it have rg45 ports on it for the existing wired portion of my next work? Or would I hafta buy An Airport extreme card for my G5 and a plain jane Airport card for my G3 iMac? Only my iBook is AE at this point.

Thanks!

Scarpa · Feb 3, 2004, 12:30 PM

Since you already have an Asante router, you really just want an access point. You can buy an 802.11g router and put it into bridge mode, but it'd be a little cheaper to just get the access point.

If you get another router you could setup two distinct networks, one for wireless, one for wired, but that's a bit complex for a home network and has no real benefit.

Oh and yes, almost all wireless routers come with at least one LAN port.