[m021478]

Can someone help me figure out how I can incorporate my new Time Capsule device into my existing LAN network so that I can connect it directly via Ethernet cable to my network to provide for the fastest Time Machine backups possible, but also configure it so that it extends the signal range of my existing wireless network?

My current primary router (D-Link DIR-655) was obviously not setup using the Airport Utility (v5.3) so I have zero understanding of how the Airport Utility works, nor do I know what settings need to be custom configured to suit my needs as I've stated above...

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated... Thanks!

[mduell]

I don't think you can use it to extend the range of a non-Apple wifi network. You could just use it to set up another network and connect to whichever one gives you a better signal.

Just plug it in to a LAN port and put it in bridging mode so it doesn't get into a DHCP fight.

[cms]

I have exactly the same networking components as the OP -- D-Link DIR-655 and Apple Time Capsule. I replaced my existing Apple Airport Extreme base station with the Time Capsule, and have my network set up in exactly the way mduell describes. Incidentally, mduell is correct in saying that Apple networking kit (usually) only works in extended mode with other Apple networking devices.

I limit access to my Time Capsule to pure n-capable wireless connections only in order to preserve the integrity of my super-speedy n wireless network. All other wireless connections use the D-Link router (yes, I know that's an n-capable router also...), so all 54g cards and networking devices such as my wireless movies player, Apple airtunes, etc., my iPhone, my daughter's iPod Touch and any other temporary user of my network use that network. My Time Capsule works really well if restricted to n-speed cards only, and managed to back up 26 GB in an initial data dump yesterday in just over an hour. I thought that was pretty impressive. I tried a similar exercise with another machine the previous day doing an initial backup of 65 GB over ethernet, while other wireless clients were able to use the wireless network unimpeded.

So short answer (sort of) is yes, it does do what the OP wants but only if with his particular hardware configuration you run two networks side by side. As long as the Time Capsule operates in bridging mode only plugged into a LAN port on the D-Link router (as mduell advises) this works a treat.

[Remiss63]

I'm in a similar situation to the one described in the first post.. I've had a LAN with four PC's hardwired via Ethernet (using a NetGear 8 port router) and a D-Link 802.11g access point for my wireless network.

I've purchased Time Capsule (1TB) and have made the initial backup of my MacBook Pro via Ethernet (wired). I've also established the Time Capsule as the initial router connected to my DSL modem.

Is there a way I can use the NetGear router to expand my wired Ethernet network to more than the three ports provided? Can the Time Capsule "feed" into the NetGear router? Should I consider using the NetGear router as the initial, primary router and use the Time Capsule essentially as an Airport Extreme base station?

I'll definitely be using Time Machine on my MacBook Pro, but would also like to be able to backup my PC's to the Time Capsule as well.

What do I need to make this work?

[Big Mac]

Please see a bunch of other threads on this subject. If you have more than one router, you need to choose a primary and then put the other routers such as Time Capsule in bridge mode. Otherwise you're just duplicating NAT, walling off some devices from others and possibly confusing the whole network.

[Remiss63]

I appreciate your reply and understand what you mean about the multiple NAT. I have only one router (besides the Time Capsule).

As a complete newbie here, I'm a bit lost. Can you point me in the direction of these posts. Would they be in this "Networking" section or elsewhere?

[ghporter]

They would be in the Networking forum, and they are both numerous and scattered. When it comes down to it, running more than one router (with NAT operating) is a Bad Thing® because the multiple layers of Network Address Translation get in the way of networking computers connected to the different routers and often impede connections to the Internet as well.

What you want to do is disable NAT on the second router. The "first" router is the one connected to your broadband modem, while the "second" one is the one you connect to that. In the AirPort Utility (on the Network tab, I think) is a radio button to "share a single IP address." When this is selected, the device (any AirPort router) uses NAT. If you de-select it, then the device is no longer a router and is now a "wireless bridge." There is no in between; you can't change it to a router that doesn't use NAT, only between "NAT router" and "wireless bridge."