[opus_az]

Can I connect two AirPort Extremes together? I need two wifi networks; secured and unsecured, but I have just one network walljack and I'd rather not add a switch.

[El Gato]

Yes, if you connect them with ethernet cables.

If you need to setup a wireless bridge, I don't think it will work with just the two Extremes. To do this, you will need an Express (or some other wireless bridge / gaming adapter) to receive the wireless signal from the first base station and then feed that connection into the WAN port on the second Extreme.

[Northeastern292]

Originally Posted by El Gato 

Yes, if you connect them with ethernet cables.

If you need to setup a wireless bridge, I don't think it will work with just the two Extremes. To do this, you will need an Express (or some other wireless bridge / gaming adapter) to receive the wireless signal from the first base station and then feed that connection into the WAN port on the second Extreme.

My Belkin 802.11G router can be used as both an access point and a bridge. That's why I use third-party routers, not to mention that the Airport Extreme routers are very expensive.

[opus_az]

Thanks, all. Appreciate it!

Originally Posted by Northeastern292 

...not to mention that the Airport Extreme routers are very expensive.

I agree but I'm getting pressure from the owners to "go Mac". Plus, AirPort Extreme supposedly has a feature where a Mac client can automatically map to an external hard drive that connected to an AE. If that works the way I hope it does, then it would benefit a few of my users. (And, my R&D budget, at least for Mac stuff, is generous.)

[funkboy]

Originally Posted by opus_az 

I agree but I'm getting pressure from the owners to "go Mac".

Now *this* is a unique statement. Are the owners long time Mac/Apple fans, or are they just switching over from a predominantly Windows environment?
It's nice to see people coming to the Mac, though I'd be surprised for people to say "go Mac" (in this case, Apple-based networking hardware) on everything.

Also, a question: Do the wired ethernet switches on the Airport Extreme act like they are part of a router run by the Extreme? Or do they act like a switch that happens to be connected to a wireless access point?
I'm wondering if I can get the Extreme and have that act as the router between my cable modem and my multiple computers, both wired and wireless, since the cable modem only gets one IP address.

[ghporter]

I have a few questions about your intended setup. I assume the two wireless networks will need separate IP subnets (or you wouldn't need them separated). But will both have access through the shared wall jack? Will either be using a centralized DHCP server?

My personal preference in any case would be to buy an inexpensive gateway router and use that to share the single wall jack out. If you need local DHCP service, you can use the router's functions for that. If you don't, then just connect the wall jack and both AirPort boxes to the LAN jacks and use the router as a switch. It turns out to be pretty economically smart to buy an inexpensive router just for its switch, so this could wind up costing very little and be very flexible for you.