Airport Extreme remote dial in

Question

Airport Extreme remote dial in

Hi, I am unable to view the local network (including any shares)after my Mac has remotely dialed into the Airport Extreme. I can get a Mac OSX to dial in successfully, but it is given an IP address of 10.249.38.47 when presumably I need something in the 192.168.0.? range.

The result is that I am unable to view any shared files on the network or access the internet form this remote machine.

The Airport works perfectly on the local network. Is there some way to force (form the Airpot or client) a specific IP for the remote machine? I have changed the Network to "Distribute IP addresses", then selected share a range from 192.168.0.20-200.

Does anyone have experience with the remote dial in feature?

Thank you.

Posted on Sep 14, 2005 12:34 AM

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Answer 1

Henry B.

Level 9

78,731 points

Sep 14, 2005 6:56 AM in response to Steve Jansen1

For remote dialin to work, your Airport Extreme Base Station must also be your network's internet router and DHCP server, with the broadband modem cabled to the Base Station's WAN port.

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Answer 2

Sep 14, 2005 11:24 PM in response to Henry B.

Hi Henry,

I have tried that but with no success. On the Network tab I have "distribute IP addresses" ticked and have shared a range of IP addresses (using only DHCP). I am starting to wonder if this could be the problem.

There is an option above for share a single IP address (using DHCP and NAT). I lose access to Airport Extreme when I enable this however. I believe that the problem stems from Airport Extreme being unable to use NAT for the dialing in computer.

If you can offer any further assistnace I would be grateful. Perhaps if anyone in this forum can confirm that what I am trying to do is indeed possible.

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Answer 3

Henry B.

Level 9

78,731 points

Sep 14, 2005 11:32 PM in response to Steve Jansen1

Could you describe how the rest of your network is set up? How is internet access provided and shared on your network?

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Answer 4

Sep 15, 2005 5:59 AM in response to Henry B.

I have a Billion modem/router that is my gateway to the internet. I plugged the WAN port on the Airport Extreme into one of the four network ports on the back of the Billion router. One of my computers is plugged into the other network port on the Airport Extreme. I have access to the Airport configuration menu through this computer, and it has no problems with internet connectivity. I have disabled DHCP on the Billion router.
Unfortunately I do not have a seperate ADSL modem for the Airport to plug into directly, but I cannot see why the Billion router would be causing any issues, the only problem with the Airport Extreme is with this dial in connection. one of the main reasons for purchasing this product is that I have a remote mac that needs access to shared folders provided by a server on the network.

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Answer 5

Henry B.

Level 9

78,731 points

Sep 15, 2005 7:02 AM in response to Steve Jansen1

I seem to recall that (as I pointed out earlier) the Base Station must be the router and DHCP server for your network in order to allow its dialin function to work. Yours isn't set up in this manner - these functions are being handled by a separate router.

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Answer 6

Sep 15, 2005 8:09 AM in response to Henry B.

Hi Henry,

I am perhaps confused on this matter, but I have configured the Airport Extreme as the DHCP server. The billion router is only being used to supply the Airport extreme with an internet connection (through the WAN port). Does the Airport really care how the internet connection is provided (another router or ADSL modem? maybee this is indeed important)

Now, if I plug in a computer to the single LAN port on the back of the Airport, I am still unable to view any shares from the remote dial in computer.

My Airport configuration details are as follows:
Internet tab
Connect using Ethernet
Configure Manually
IP 192.168.0.15
Subnet 255.255.255.0
Router 192.168.0.1
DNS 192.168.0.1

Network tab
Distribute IP addresses
Share a range of IP addresses (using only DHCP)

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Answer 7

Henry B.

Level 9

78,731 points

Sep 15, 2005 8:39 AM in response to Steve Jansen1

Unfortunately I can no longer find the reference but from recollection it seems that, by design, the Base Station's dialin feature only works if the Base Station is also used to share your broadband internet connection. In other words, you cannot simply connect a Base Station to an existing network and use it as a standalone "dialin server".

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Answer 8

Sep 15, 2005 6:54 PM in response to Henry B.

Hi Henry,

I will try to get hold of an ADSL modem and see if that helps. Perhaps dial in NAT is automatically disabled when I choose "Ethernet" on the internet tab. I am reluctant to completely swap the Airport for my Billion router as it has been incredibly reliable.

Just out of interest, can a working remote dial in also be used to share a internet conneciton to the remote machine, or just network shares?

Thank you for your help with this Henry. No one from AUS Apple was able to offer any assistance with this feature.

For completeness, if I manage to get it working I will post a reply in this forum thread.

Sincerely
Steve

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Answer 9

Henry B.

Level 9

78,731 points

Sep 16, 2005 12:28 AM in response to Steve Jansen1

No, the issue is not related to NAT being disabled when you choose "ethernet" on the internet tab.

The solution is simple - your broadband modem connection must be to the WAN port of the Airport Base Station, and the Airport Base Station must have "Distribute IP addresses" and "Share a single IP address using DHCP and NAT" enabled.

Yes, not only will network shares be available to the dialin connection, but the dialin connection will also have access to the Base Station's broadband internet connection.

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Answer 10

Sep 16, 2005 7:56 PM in response to Henry B.

Hi Henry,

I have managed to get everything working (using the Billion router as my defulat gateway) except DNS for computer remotely dialing in. The remote dial in computer can ping any IP address on the internet, but is unable to resolve a DNS request. (maybe you have an idea on this)

My Airport configuration details are now:
Internet tab
Connect using Ethernet
Configure Manually
IP 192.168.0.253
Subnet 255.255.255.0
Router 192.168.0.254
DNS 192.231.203.132
DNS 192.168.0.254

Network tab
Distribute IP addresses
Share a range of IP addresses (using only DHCP) ont he 10.0.1.1 range

The local computer is plugged into the NIC on the Airport Extreme, (obtain an IP address automatically).
The Airport WAN port is plugged into one of the four ports on the back of the billion router.

The local PC is assigned an IP of 10.0.1.1 by Airport and can browse the internet perfectly as the Airport recognises the Billion is the gateway to the internet.

My only issue now is to get the remote Mac dialling in to the Airport capable of browsing the web. Maybe there is some dialup setting on this remote machine for configuring DNS. If you have any ideas on this I woudl be very grateful.

Otherwise, thank you very much for your help. I would not have persisted if it was not for your guidance. I hope that this post will be informative to others.

Steve

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