Connecting A Netgear FR114P Router/Print server To Airport Extreme Airbase

Question

Level 1

20 points

Connecting A Netgear FR114P Router/Print server To Airport Extreme Airbase

help...I've been trying this forever.
I have a Netgear FR114P router/print server that i want to connect to my Airport Extreme Airbase in order to use the printserver (on the Netgear router/printserver). This Netgear router is not wireless.
So far I've managed to connect my Mac G5 through ethernet cable to the Netgear router which in turn is connected to the Airport Extreme Airbase. The following is an overview of my connections: Mac G5---->Netgear 114P---->Airport Extreme Airbase---->Westell Versalink DSL Modem.
I'm able to surf the web with this config. I just can't see the printer connected to the printserver.

I have an HP Deskjet 1120C connected on the Netgear router via the parallel port and on the Airport Extreme Airbase I have a Brother HL 5050 connected via USB port.

Can anyone out there help? I'd appreciate it

PowerMac G5, Mac OS X (10.4.3)

Posted on Nov 18, 2005 11:09 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Henry B.

Level 9

78,731 points

Nov 18, 2005 11:29 AM in response to Jehr

This is quite a mess you have gotten yourself into. It would have been a far better idea for you to buy a basic network print server device. Buying a router with an integrated print server causes a bit of a configuration headache, since you then have deal with the problems caused by having another router and DHCP server on your network (in addition to the one already provided by the Airport Base Station).

What I suggest you do:
- connect your Westell DSL modem to the FR114P "internet" port. Use the FR114P as your LAN's DHCP server and router
- run the Airport Admin Utility, and disable the router built into the Airport Base Station by unchecking the setting to "Distribute IP addresses" found under the Network tab of that utility. Cable the Base Station's LAN port to one of the ports on the FR114P. Restart all wireless Macs
- set up printing on the Mac to the FR114P using the same advice provided here for the Airport Express - which should work if the print server built into the FR114P supports IP printing using the JetDirect (port 9100) printer protocol. Use the "Deskjet 1120C - Gimp-Print" driver built into MacOS 10.4.

Reply

Answer 2

The Doctor

Level 4

1,234 points

Nov 18, 2005 11:42 AM in response to Jehr

I use an FR114P at home. Henry has the right of it. You need to connect your DSL modem to the FR114P and then connect the Airport to that with IP distribution turned off.

The reason why you couldn't see the printer is that the FR114P has a built in Firewall. So you had NAT distribution happening at the Airport level, and then happening again at the FR114P, giving you two network tiers. Your G5 would be able to see a printer on the same tier, but not on any tiers above it.

By reversing the two, and turning off NAT on the AEBS, only the FR114P is doing NAT, so all your devices are on the same level.

Doc

Reply

Answer 3

Jehr Author

Level 1

20 points

Nov 18, 2005 3:16 PM in response to The Doctor

Thanx a million Henry & doc......I'll try it and let you know how it goes. I had another concern; since my Airport Extreme Airbase is the only wireless router I have I feared turning off IP distrubution would affect connectivity of the other two wireless laptops that share this Airbase. Sorry I didn't mention that earlier.

Reply

Answer 4

Henry B.

Level 9

78,731 points

Nov 18, 2005 3:26 PM in response to Jehr

Turning off IP distribution on the Airport Base Station is nothing to be feared - the functions of router, DHCP server, and wireless access point are all independent of each other. Using the FR114P as the router and DHCP for yor network will not prevent you from having all your wireless computers connect simultaneously to the Airport Base Station.

Reply

Answer 5

Jehr Author

Level 1

20 points

Nov 19, 2005 10:37 AM in response to Henry B.

Henry,

A friend of mine saw my posting and called me. he told me to try the following:
In the Netgear router settings disable DHCP, assign a static IP which is in the range of the Airport Extreme Airbase's DHCP IP table, allow RIP1.
He told me to do nothing on the Airport Extreme Airbase.
Next, log into the Netgear router using the static IP through Airport Extreme Airbase (wirelessly).
Install printer using the static IP, and voila..it worked.

Thx again for your help and suggestions.

Reply