2 TCs 1 network

Question

I just upgraded to a new 2TB TC which I setup as a network and am using for TM backups. I want to use my old TC as a file server and to extend my network (the new TC is in the basement and the old TC will be on the 1st floor). Could someone help me accomplish this? thanks!

Answer 1

Thanks for the info.
To configure the upstairs TC to "extend", you have to first make sure that the basement TC is configured correctly to allow the extension of its network.
On the basement TC...
Open AirPort Utility - click Manual Setup
Click the Wireless tab/label below the row of icons
Make sure there is a check mark in the box to "Allow this network to be extended"
Jot down the exact setting that you see for Wireless Security as you will need this to configure the upstairs TC
Update to save settings and the TC will restart in 25-30 seconds
On the upstairs TC...temporarily move this TC to the same room as the basement TC for configuration purposes.
Hold in the reset button for 10-12 seconds on the upstairs TC. You'll see the amber light begin to blink more quickly during this process. When you release the reset button, the TC will restart and after 25-30 seconds, you will see a slow, blinking amber light.
This "hard reset" will not affect any of the Time Machine backups that you may already have on this device.
On the "upstairs TC", Open AirPort Utility - click Manual Setup
Click the Time Capsule tab/label below the row of icons to name your device, assign a device password and adjust Time Zone settings.
Click the Wireless tab/label
Wireless Mode = Extend a wireless network
Wireless Network Name = Same name as your basement TC wireless network
Check the box to allow wireless clients
Wireless Security = The same setting that you wrote down from the basement TC
Wireless Password = Same password as the basement TC network
Confirm Password
Update to save settings. The TC will restart and you should have a green light in 25-30 seconds. Now power down the TC and move it to the desired location upstairs and power it back up. You should now have extended wireless coverage from the upstairs TC.
Post back on your progress. I am not clear on your plans for the basement and upstairs TC.
To get Time Machine backups going again on the upstairs TC (if you have been previously backing up to that device from each computer), you'll need to reset Time Machine on each computer to "point" the backups to that TC to allow Time Machine backups to continue as before.
If you "point" any computer's Time Machine backups to the "new" basement TC, Time Machine will make a new complete backup of the computer on the first pass and then backup any incremental changes thereafter.
Message was edited by: Bob Timmons