Bridge Mode or DHCP? Extreme & Expresses network....from AT&T DSL

I have AT&T DSL and a Westell modem. I take the wire from the modem to my Airport Extreme and create a wireless network with four additional Airport Expresses...BUT....I've had problems...and the Apple stores (multiple efforts) refuse to advise me.
I have several Macs...and recently purchased a Mac Mini Server too...and I don't know how to set that up yet, but it will be added after the network is configured properly. I don't know how to plan the network to include the server. I want to use the server to administer my macs (install software, uploading to server storage & other server features I don't know of yet). I may host a domain and a site on the server but I'm not sure yet.
My primary interest is security. My secondary interest is ease of use.
When I bring the wire from the modem to the Extreme, I need to know if I should use Bridge Mode or DHCP?
If I use DHCP I'll need to provide a range of IP addresses....and don't know what to use.
Can someone please advise me? Many thanks in advance. ;-)

Similar Messages

Bridge Mode or DHCP for two Airport Extreme via ethernet?

I have Two airport extreme setup in a six floor brownstone home in New York City. My verizon internet router is set up on the top floor with an airport extreme, my basement has the second airport extreme connected via ethernet wired from the top floor. I use DHCP from verizon internet. Do I set up my two airport extreme Bridge mode or DHCP?
Im having issues with my iphone not connecting through my basement airport extreme. Airport extreme status looks fine, green light and in working order.
Please help.

Do I set up my two airport extreme Bridge mode or DHCP?
Bridge Mode. But, you don't have to worry about this, since the configuration wizard will do this for you automatically.
Im having issues with my iphone not connecting through my basement airport extreme.
Suggest that you work your way through the iOS troubleshooting guide linked just below.
If your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch won’t connect to a Wi-Fi network - Apple Support
For further assistance with iPhone issues, please post in the iPhone support forum linked just below.
Using iPhone

Cannot access DSL modem in bridge mode w/ Airport Extreme

Hi
I have the following setup:
DSL Modem: Used in bridge mode + NAT/DHCP/Firewall turned off. Static IP is set to 192.168.2.1
Airport Extreme: In PPPOE mode with Shared IP (which is selected by default): Distributes IP range 192.168.1.X with subnet 255.255.255.0. At this point, Airport Extreme's IP address is what it gets from the ISP, basically DSL Modem is passing thru' this to the AE.
Ethernet cable is running from DSL modem to AE's WAN.
In this mode, everything works fine and me and all others can use Internet fine...
But the problem is that I can't ping/ access DSL modem at all in this mode. Basically, I need to login to the DSL modem to monitor my DSL connection quality (SNR, Attenuation, etc.) but whatever I tried I could not figure out how.
Basically, I tried setting a static IP on the DSL modem as 192.168.1.3, this did not work. I read somewhere that it needs to be on a different subnet, so tried using 192.168.2.1, that did not work either.
If I connect the DSL modem to a machine directly and set that machine's IP to 192.168.2.10, it can connect to the DSL modem, but there is no way I could access this DSL modem from the setup I explained above.
I am simply out of solutions at this point and any idea would be appreciated.
Thanks a ton!

What you are asking about is generally possible but probably not with an Airport Extreme. As others have noted you SHOULD be able to access a DSL modem in bridge mode via it's "lan" IP address if you directly attach a cable to it and configure your computer with appropriate static IP settings (I'm assuming that in bridge mode the DSL modem has it's DHCP server disabled).
This approach can also be achieve through a router with sufficiently flexible configuration options (e.g. openwrt open-source firmware). Basically the router attaches its WAN port to the modem like usual. Then the router is configured to do PPPOE via the WAN port while SIMULTANEOUSLY assigning the WAN port a static IP address that can connect to the modem's LAN address. Finally the router firewall must be configured to pass traffic from the DSL modem LAN IP back to the network.
So your intuition suggesting that this should be possible is absolutely right. However; you can probably also see from the steps required why most modems simply (incorrectly) document that it isn't possible.
Here's a link with some gory details on achieving this with an openwrt-based router: https://forum.openwrt.org/viewtopic.php?id=10952

I have two airport extremes, one acting as amodem and the other operating in bridge mode. The extremes are connected using ethernet, but remain connected even when I disconnect the Cat5a cable. How do I know if they are operating wired or wirelessly

I have two airport extremes, one acting as a modem and the other operating in bridge mode. The extremes are connected using ethernet, but remain connected even when I disconnect the Cat5a cable (I did this to check that the 100 feet of Cat 5a cable connecting them was working). How do I find out if they are operating wired or wirelessly? I want to know as I assume I will get much better speeds if they are wired.

Hi Bob, many thanks for the prompt response. I think I did what you suggested, but you're the expert so I have sent over a few screenshots. The extreme in question is High Birches Home Office (the rest of the network has been in place and working well for some time). My new home office is going to be in the garden, circa 100 feet from the main house. I have installed armoured Cat5e cable down to the shed that is going to be adjacent to the home office once built and situated the High Birches Home Office Airport Extreme there temporarily. Everything works well, so I was surprised when I unplugged the ethernet, that it still worked. I also tested the ethernet cable by switching off my laptop's wifi and unplugging the cable from the airport extreme and directly into the laptop and that worked ok.
If the screenshots below (I did every Airport utility tab for the High Birches Home Office) don't tell you anything more, then the set-by-step instructions would greatly appreciated so I can ensure I completed the steps correctly.
Many
Thanks, Greg.

Airport extreme/express network setup

i'm sure this has been covered in general but lan equipment and requirements vary widely (plus most of my wireless experience is w/non-apple routers), so here goes. i have the following hardware
airport extreme (802.11n) running 7.5.2 (might downgrade to 7.4.x based on comments in this forum) connected to cable modem
2 airport express (v6.3) connected wirelessly to ap extreme
1 airport express (v6.3) connected via ethernet (wd powerline) to ap extreme
what i'd like:
ap extreme base to be the only SSID & DHCP server on the network.
the 2 wireless expresses to provide wider coverage in the main house.
the express connected via ethernet to provide wireless signal/access in the detached guest house (trying to run it wirelessly does not get a strong enough signal, hence the powerline ethernet), but only as an extension to the extreme base.
when a device (laptop, phone, etc.) connects, it should use the closest / strongest wireless signal, but always think there is only 1 network/connection config. and, when one moves between house and guest house, connected device will auto 'roam'.
whoever set this up, set the extreme to be running in WDS mode (WDS main). however, it complains that it is the only WDS device on the network (see next ???).
the 2 wireless expresses are set to 'Participate in WDS' (WDS remote)
in order to get the ethernet-connected express to work, i had to give it its own SSID and set it to 'Create wireless network'.
it does work, but there are 2 networks, no roaming, and error message on ap extreme base re:WDS config.
questions:
1) what mode should the extreme base use ('Create wireless network' or 'Participate in WDS network')?
2) what settings (WDS or wireless) for the wireless expresses?
3) what mode should the ethernet-connected express use ('Create wireless network', 'Participate in WDS network' or 'Join wireless network')?
4) anything special i need to know to get the roaming to work reliably?
5) any suggestion (due to missing questions :-)?
tx for any info. i could try all the permutations & combinations of config (actually, i've already tried a number of them , but tired of running up/downstairs and to/fro resetting devices, so i thought i would ask for help from people with more experience background.
mack

Hi, mackiemesser. Welcome to the forums!
So if I understand correctly, your setup looks like this:
<hr>
• Express #1, Express #2, and the Extreme should be set to "Participate in a WDS."
• The Extreme needs to be told that Expresses #1 and #2 will be WDS Remotes. (You'll have to enter their MAC addresses.)
• Expresses #1 and #2 need to be told that the Extreme will be their WDS Main. (You'll have to enter its MAC address.)
• Express #3 should indeed be set to "Create a wireless network" but should use the same SSID and password that your other wireless network uses.
• All Expresses should be configured to operate in Bridge Mode. In Manual Setup, click "Internet" in the toolbar and choose "Off (Bridge Mode)" from the "Connection Sharing" popup menu.
• The Extreme should not be in Bridge Mode. It should instead "Share a public IP."
<hr>
A few suggestions:
• Write down the MAC addresses of all your Extremes. This saves a lot of time when you're setting up the WDS.
• Sometimes after you change the WDS settings for one AirPort on the network, it confuses the other AirPorts in the WDS, and you get network problems until all of the AirPorts agree on WDS information. In this case, if you can't see an AirPort in AirPort Utility, connect that AirPort to the computer via Ethernet. In fact, it might save time to gather all your AirPorts and plug them in next to your computer for the WDS setup process so that you can easily connect via Ethernet if necessary.
• Using a WDS dramatically decreases your network performance. Every time you add a WDS Remote, you decrease your maximum network speed by 50%. Newer AirPorts support 802.11n and have a feature that allows you to extend your wireless network without as much overhead as a WDS, but all AirPorts in the wireless network that's extended must support 802.11n.

Bridge mode for airport extreme or dsl modem? Recomendations?

I'm upgrading to a 'blisteringly fast' 12 Mbps with my local DSL ISP (no cable in my area), and I'm thinking of changing out my
My current, antiquated setup is with a Speedstream 5200 Modem/Router (8 Mbps max) with a Linksys E1200 802.11n router. We have an Apple TV with HDMI into a stout Panasonic plasma, 2 Macs, 3 iPads (2xgen4 + mini), 3 5C iPhones and an old Dell Winbox (XP vintage that I will toss out) that access this configuration in a good-sized house (2 stories, ~4000 sq.ft.).
The Linksys 'n' speed router is somewhat adequate, but we want to do movie/video/music streaming to the AppleTV and we want to buy a new Mac (probably a Mac-mini to replace the Winbox). I also want to future-proof this setup for a few years, given the pain it usually is to do a wholesale swap-out like what I'm contemplating. I want to swap-out this pairing with:
a DSL modem/router to either a Netgear DM111PSP-100NAS (ADSL2+) or an older, but robust Actiontec GT-701D (or the newer -NF).
an Airport Extreme (802.11ac) to manage my Apple menagerie for fast streaming, and also to hang a poor man's network file storage off the USB port.
I'm asking for some recommendations from the community at-large so I can minimize the hassles when I do this swap-out. Which of the two devices (the modem/router or the AE router) should I put in bridge mode? Any performance penalties one way or another, or hidden gotchas?
Thanks in advance.
Craig

I'm back and wanted to put a coda on this thread.
First of all, many thanks to the recommendations by Tesserax and LaPastenague. You helped allay my fears in converting over to the Time Capsule environment.
The home network is working just great. Internal speed-ups all the way around. TC is working great as both a file server AND a Time Machine site. The Netgear DSL modem is the firewall and the DHCP server for my network. As stated in earlier posts, it has superior firewall capabilities compared to the Time Capsule. I configured the Time Capsule to Bridge Mode with my iPhone 5C, the configuration of which only took a couple of minutes. The speed between the 802.11 ac devices, my TC and the new Mac Mini, are unbelievably fast--on the order of 150+ Mbps at a distance of 40 feet or so through several walls--beamforming really does appear to work as advertised. That doesn't matter overall except for the Time Machine aspects, as my DSL line is a blisteringly fast 12 Mbps.
The only glitch I've had over the last 3 weeks was due to a short power outage, and the main problem was the networking with hard ethernet connection to the Time Capsule. I had to reboot the Netgear modem, as it was in a funky state, while other devices, such as my new Mac Mini, were waiting for the modem to vend a DHCP address. It turns out that the Apple TV had some persistence with its old DHCP-vended address, and the Mac Mini somehow received its IP address first--which conflicted with the Apple TV. Now, I'm not sure why the wirelessly networked Mac Mini beat the Apple TV to receiving a DHCP vending first, but it did, and the address persistence of the Apple TV created a conflict on the Apple TV network connection. Once I realized the problem, I shut down the Mac Mini and made sure all my other devices were off as well. I then restarted the entire network, the Apple TV received its IP address first, and all was well again. Granted, I could have disconnected the ethernet and allowed really fast wireless to the Apple TV, but it's only 4 feet away from the Time Capsule, so I might as well have the fastest pipe available for HD streaming to my large-format HD television.
The switchover was absolutely painless. Both the modem and the Time Capsule took, all total, about 10 minutes to set up and configure. Much easier than with Winboxes. Other than the Apple TV IP conflict after the power outage, it's been a real delight.
I'm very happy I switched to this new network configuration.

Bridge mode for airport extreme

Hi
My TimeCapsule is used as base station im my home network (linked via ethernet to my modem). How can set up my Airport Extreme in bridge mode in order to extend my wifi?
Thanks!

The easiest way is to do a factory reset of the airport extreme and then configure it using the airport utility as a bridge. if you tell me what device and version of the airport utility software you are using I can be more specific.

Another Extreme/Express network down

Something bad is going on in the Airport Express world, and I hope Apple is onto it. Our network (router to Airport Extreme with 2 Airport Expresses) has worked fine for over a year. Suddenly we're having problems. I switched out the router yesterday and rebooted the system. Expresses went on the blink (amber blink).
After many attempts with Airport Admin Utility (4.2.3) and Airport Set Up Assistant (v. 4.2.3), the network is working only as far as the Extreme - no value from the Expresses (though now they're smiling green).
Neither the Utility nor the Setup Assistant can communicate wirelessly with the Expresses now. A hard reset doesn't faze them. They have the names I gave them originally.
Meanwhile, yesterday when I could still communicate with Expresses, there was a firmware upgrade that automatically installed itself on the Expresses during a reset. I imagine there is software incompatibility somewhere but wouldn't know where to begin to find it.
Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks for the clear instructions. One of the "tricks" is to interpret "for a few seconds" in the Airport Express instructions to mean "longer than you could possibly think reasonable" when pressing the tiny reset hole with a paper clip and waiting for the amber light to give the 4 green flashes in a factory reset.
The factory reset got one of my Expresses up and working. I also downloaded Airport Utility (didn't know it existed) to use instead of Airport Admin Utility.
Note that although my network is once again functional, I still get an error when Airport Utility tries to communicate with the Express. Since everything else seems to be function, I'm letting it go - I've spent way too much time on this as it is.

Extreme/Express network problem - short wave intereference?

Hi,
I have an extreme base station, an imac core duo in the same room and an express in the livingroom about 20+/- feet away. I want to stream music to the livingroom and extend the network so my ibook gets a strong signal in the living room. I had this all set and life was good for a few months. Suddenly weak or no signal, music cutting out, losing connection on the ibook. Often no connection in the LR and blinking orange light on the express. I reset express, triple checked and restarted everything to the point of starting from scratch. Thought maybe it was microwave (when not on?) fridge or cordless phone (phone now in a different place). I do have concrete walls. The kitchen was recently remodeled, the only new appliance is the microwave, and there are new cabinets and a wall was removed. But no conclusions to the problem.
Then the other night a friend looked at my neighbors yard and said "what is that big antenna?" It's not new, but the neighbor appears to have a shortwave or CB or some setup. It's been there all along. Sometimes I heard voices on the cheap speakers I used to have in the office... I thought is was CB from the nearby highway but come to think of it ... always the same voice.
So... I know NOTHING about shortwave or CB stuff. Is this likely my problem? I am waiting to see them in the yard so I can ask what it is. If it is my problem, is there anything I can do to resolve??
Thanks!
Holly
imac intel core duo Mac OS X (10.4.8) ibook g3, airport extreme, express, ipods galore....

Anything that operates at 2.4 GHz can cause interference with your wireless network. I don't know if shortwave or CB operate near this frequency but I don't believe so.
KB 58543, AirPort: Potential sources of interference

How to setup a printer with Airport Extreme + Express Network

Ok so here's how things are setup. I have an Extreme connected to my cable modem creating the wireless network. I have a PC that doesn't have a wireless card, so I setup an Express next to it. The Express takes in the wireless signal, and the PC is connected to the Express through ethernet and has a successful connection. Next I want to connect my printer to the USB port of the Express and share it over the network. It doesn't work plug and play. From the Airport utility, the express recognizes the printer, however, the computers on the network do not see it. Can this be set up to work? If so, what am I missing?
Thanks

If you are on PC's, you will need to download the bonjour for windows.
just google it.

Airport Extreme & Express Network

I have the Airport Extreme as my base with three Airport expresses acting as extenders, one downstairs and two daisy chaining to an outdoor area about fifty feet away. We have an old house with heavy plaster and stucco walls that just kills signals. In setting up Airtunes, can i use one of the extenders or do i need another express to be the airtunes carrier? Am i limited on how many expresses are on the system. New to the apple world, but loving how easy things seem to work.
thanks

An AirPort Express can serve for AirTunes and for network extension at the same time.

Airport Express flashing amber; help to create an Extreme/Express network

I am a novice with wireless networks, so please bear with me....and I appreciate any advice that is in laymens terms.
I bought an iMAC G5 and a MacBook Pro (both with airport cards installed). I set up an Airport Extreme base station and have my G5 connecting to this wirelessly. This works fine. I also bought an Airport Express to extend the wireless reach within my house and to eventually hook in my stereo.
Problem 1 - my Airport express keeps flashing amber and is not being recognized. It was briefly recognized last night (although flashing amber) but this has been very rare. I've reset it, plugged it/unplugged it, but nothing stops the flashing or recognizes the express.
Problem 2 - Since I'm using an Extreme as the base station and Express to extend the network reach, what selection do I choose in the Airport Setup Assistant screen to connect the Extreme - "Set up new Airport base station" or Change settings on an existing Airport base station"? I think the latter, but want to be sure.
Problem 3 - I want to establish a network so I can use email, share files between my G5 and laptop, etc but am not clear how to do so. Airport has the option "creat network", but I really don't know what this accomplishes. I'd realy like to bring my laptop somewhere and be able to access files that are on my G5.
So basicaly, HELLLPPP.
G5 and MacBook Pro Mac OS X (10.4.5)

Still flashes...hard reset didn't work...and last night I even went back to factory reset. I went to the Apple store (genius bar??) and they said to bring it in if I can't fix it. We shall see.
Re the network set up..I'm starting to get there, but I've hit a stopping point. I made sure my G5 will allow file sharing, and I can see that computer in my "network", but when I aatempt to connect it asks me "Connect to the file server [computer name]" and asks me for a password. Nothing I've tried works. I just get a dialogue box that says "Connection Failed: Unknown user, incorrect password, or login is disabled....."
Anyone know how to activate a login, if it is in fact disabled???
Thanks in advance.

Epson R200 printing over Extreme/express network

I've an Epson Photo R200 connected to an Airport Express which itself acts as a booster for an Airport Extreme base station (wireless distribution system). I have no problems printing wirelessly from a G5 running OS10.4.6 but can't print properly from an iBook running 10.2.8. On the iBook the printer is recognised via Rendezvous and I can start a print job but it consistently hangs halfway through the first page. I understood that I should be able to print from OS 10.2.8 using Rendezvous. I've got the lastest drivers for the printer and firmware for the Extreme and Express basestations. Any ideas anyone? Thanks in advance.

Duane,
Thanks, I was pretty sure that it was not possible to like the Express nodes to the D-Link.
On question 2, that is the way it has been configured, was that way with the Comcast system and with the Fios still. That's why I think its having internal problems, its just not keeping the connection up and having real problems stalling while loading a page. I have set with a great quality connection with the airport and had it have trouble, switched to the D-Link and it just goes smooth and fast and showing only a mid level quality connection. And like I noted, the airport extreme is great for a few minutes after being powered up, then it bogs down. That and the fact that just hilighting it and selecting the configure button in the admin utility it never loads it, the utiity times out, while the utility brings up the express units almost instantly.
This unit is one of the first shipped for the Extreme model, and has been on 24 hours a day since the day it was installed. So its not like its brand new.
Any other suggestions? I looked at the D-Link unit via the browser, and it seems straight forward, configured much like the router I had in for the Comcast system. And that has not changed since the day it was installed and all worked fine for a couple weeks.
Mac Book Pro Mac OS X (10.4.5)

Using an airport extreme in both bridged mode and guest network with DHCP

I currently use a third-generation airport extreme in bridge mode to connect my various Mac servers To the Internet. I'm using bridge mode on the AirPort Extreme because I have up to five static IP address (only using three now) I am currently not using the wireless network, and none of the servers are serving DHCP. I am looking at the Newer airport extreme with guest network Wi-Fi. My question is, does the new airport extreme base station support bridge- mode for any devices and host DHCP for the guest network connecting wirelessly to the base station?

The AirPort Extreme cannot be in Bridge Mode and support a Guest Network.
The AirPort must be configured to provide DHCP and NAT services if you want to enable the Guest Network function.
If you really do have a 3rd Gen AirPort Extreme, it will support the Guest Network feature if you connect the AirPort directly to a simple modem.....not a modem/router or gateway type of devices.......and configure the AirPort to provide DHCP and NAT services for the network.

Access to Time Capsule in Bridge Mode from outside of the network

I have a Time Capsule with an external hard drive set up in bridge mode on my home network. The main router and DHCP server is an Actiontec MI424, and is specific to my ISP (Verizon, required for TV Guide info from Fios) so the Time Capsule's AirPort can't be used as the primary. I need to access the external hard drive from outside my network (I.E. the internet), but I'm having trouble figuring out which ports are required for Sharepoint to work.
So far I've forwarded 548, but I get an error "-36" when I try to connect from the outside. It works fine on the inside. Any suggestions?
Thanks, JSD

The Express units can extend wireless on the TC or each other.. but they cannot extend wireless on the Asus anyway..
So the setup is Asus--TC (that has to be ethernet) The TC in bridge mode.
Then TC -- express can be done by ethernet in roaming mode as bob listed above or extend wireless.
I am guessing.. what model are the express units.. they are older Gen1 N model ??
IMHO the TC is simply no longer viable.. replace it with one express as the AP and extend it with the other Express.. see if that works better.
But I would be trying to use the wireless just from the AC66U.
I would also force the Asus back to 20mhz on the 2.4ghz band.. so you can provide adequate channel separation.. 40mhz wireless on 2.4ghz works poorly anyway because you have too much wifi .. there is very limited number of non-overlapping channels.. ie 3. 11, 6 and 1.

Bridge Mode or DHCP? Extreme & Expresses network....from AT&T DSL

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