Christopher Osolin

Q: Can I use an AEBS to join/extend a network and act as print server?

Here's my setup:

 

Time capsule and computers in one room.

Three ethernet printers in another room with no ethernet cable back to the time capsule or computers.

 

I was thinking about buying an Airport Extreme Base Station (AEBS) to join or extend the existing wireless network (Time Capsule) and connect the printers to the ethernet ports. Will this work? Apple tech support says it might, but it is not a supported configuration. Generally they say to use USB port, but I have three printers (which would need a usb hub) and I've not had good luck with full printer features being supported using the usb port.

 

Thanks for any help.

Posted on Apr 23, 2012 10:29 AM

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Q: Can I use an AEBS to join/extend a network and act as print server?

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  • by Bob Timmons,Solvedanswer

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Apr 23, 2012 10:59 AM in response to Christopher Osolin
    Level 10 (105,268 points)
    Wireless
    Apr 23, 2012 10:59 AM in response to Christopher Osolin
    I was thinking about buying an Airport Extreme Base Station (AEBS) to join or extend the existing wireless network (Time Capsule) and connect the printers to the ethernet ports. Will this work?

     

    Yes, assuming that the AirPort Extreme will be located where it can receive a strong wireless signal from the Time Capsule. 

     

    You will need to setup the AEBS to "extend a wireless network", which will provide more wireless coverage in the area near the AEBS and enable the Ethernet ports on the device. 

     

    Keep in mind that the "Ethernet" signal is only going to be as good as the wireless "hop" between the AEBS and TIme Capsule permits.

     

     

    Apple tech support says it might, but it is not a supported configuration.

     

    Apple has a published support document for this type of setup.

     

    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4259

  • by HACKINT0SH,

    HACKINT0SH HACKINT0SH Apr 24, 2012 11:18 AM in response to Bob Timmons
    Level 5 (5,774 points)
    iLife
    Apr 24, 2012 11:18 AM in response to Bob Timmons

    Bob, the AppleTech wasn't referring to the Extended Wireless network as not being a supported configuration. I'm certain they were referring to the use of THREE PRINTERS on that particular network. There are some complications that can occure when more than one printer are used, and that's why they don't officially support it.

  • by Bob Timmons,

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Apr 24, 2012 11:50 AM in response to HACKINT0SH
    Level 10 (105,268 points)
    Wireless
    Apr 24, 2012 11:50 AM in response to HACKINT0SH

    You, and AppleTech must have missed this Apple support document that specifically states that you can connect multiple printers at the USB port of the AirPort Extreme with a powered USB hub, which the user stated that he had.

     

    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2421

  • by Christopher Osolin,

    Christopher Osolin Christopher Osolin Apr 24, 2012 11:49 AM in response to Bob Timmons
    Level 1 (20 points)
    Apr 24, 2012 11:49 AM in response to Bob Timmons

    Thanks Bob for all your help with this. I was pretty sure I could use the USB port, but the last time I hooked my Epson printer up to a USB port on an AEBS or an Airport Express, I was only able to get limited printer functionality. Called Epson to investigate and they knew of the limitation and just said that's the way it works, sort of. That's why I was trying to stay with the ethernet option.

  • by Bob Timmons,

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Apr 24, 2012 11:59 AM in response to Christopher Osolin
    Level 10 (105,268 points)
    Wireless
    Apr 24, 2012 11:59 AM in response to Christopher Osolin

    Did not mean to imply that you were going to use USB, since I specifically answered your post about the Ethernet ports being enabled, since you wanted to use Ethernet.

     

    My response as to Hacintosh here. Sorry for the confusion.

     

    As for Apple not supporting multiple Ethernet printers....of course they do if they also support multiple USB printers.

     

    You are correct about limited functionality at the USB port of the AirPort for printing. As far as I know, only the print function will work on All-in-One devices. Copy, Scan, Maintenance, etc will not work on any device that I am aware of.

     

    Unfortunately, Apple Support was having an off day when you called them.

  • by Christopher Osolin,

    Christopher Osolin Christopher Osolin Apr 24, 2012 11:54 AM in response to HACKINT0SH
    Level 1 (20 points)
    Apr 24, 2012 11:54 AM in response to HACKINT0SH

    Thanks for your reply. I initially spoke with them only about one printer, letting them know the USB port was not a good option for my printer. Limited printer functionality using that port to hook up an Epson printer. I later added in to the conversation that I would ultimately like to hook up three printers. Bob Timmons reply and links to articles solved this issue.

  • by threewater,

    threewater threewater Apr 26, 2012 11:04 AM in response to Bob Timmons
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 26, 2012 11:04 AM in response to Bob Timmons

    I have done this, albeit the other way round. My main base station is an Airport Extreme, on which I had hung an external disk, shared by all users on the network. Yesterday I added a Time Capsule, extending the network wirelessly.

     

    When I had done so I could see the AEBS and the TC in the Finder. Today I started up my Macs again and only the TC is visible in Finder even though Airport Utility can see both TC and AEBC. So I disconnected my external drive and hooked it up to the TC. Now it's visible and I can read/write to it. Still no sign of the AEBS though. It's a minor problem since I can now used my shared drive, but I'm intrigued as to what happened.

  • by Bob Timmons,

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Apr 26, 2012 11:12 AM in response to threewater
    Level 10 (105,268 points)
    Wireless
    Apr 26, 2012 11:12 AM in response to threewater

    A complete power cycle of the entire network will usually bring the AirPort back into "view".

     

    Power off everything...any order you wish

    Wait a few minutes

    Power up the modem first and let it run 2-3 minutes by itself

    Power up the "main" AirPort first the same way

    Power up the "remote AirPort the same way

    Then power up other devices one at a time about a minute apart

  • by threewater,

    threewater threewater Apr 26, 2012 3:16 PM in response to Bob Timmons
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 26, 2012 3:16 PM in response to Bob Timmons

    No luck, I'm afraid. I did all that and I still can't see the AEBS. Might it be better to connect the TC by ethernet rather than as a WiFi extender?

  • by Bob Timmons,

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Apr 26, 2012 3:37 PM in response to threewater
    Level 10 (105,268 points)
    Wireless
    Apr 26, 2012 3:37 PM in response to threewater

    You will not "see" the AEBS icon in the Finder unless there is a drive attached to it. Otherwise, it does not appear in the Finder. The USB port on the AirPort Extreme is underpowered. I have to use a powered USB hub with any hard drive here. For some strange reason, I usually don't have to use powered hub if I connect a drive to the USB port on the TC.

     

    You will see the TC icon under the SHARED heading at all times. If you click on the TC icon in the Finder, both the TC drive and attached drive will appear as folders. Double click the folder(s) to mount the drive on the desktop.

     

    If you swap the drive from the TC to the AEBS again, you may need to restart the entire network again to get things back in sequence.

  • by threewater,

    threewater threewater Apr 27, 2012 1:36 AM in response to Bob Timmons
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 27, 2012 1:36 AM in response to Bob Timmons

    Thanks; that makes sense. As I keep iTunes on the attached drive (and I've moved it to TC and reindexed) I'll leave it as it is. Next time I need a shared drive I'll put it on the AEBS and restart everything.

     

    Message was edited by: threewater (typo)