airport extreme

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Level 1

4 points

airport extreme

Hi

I just picked up an Airport Extreme to add to my extended wifi network comprising a broadband modem —> AE Timemachine (tower, 802.11ac) —-> several Airport Expresses (one connected by cable, two are wireless) to extend the network. My interior wall are solid brick and there is no roof cavity so running cables is not pretty.

I have searched high and low for information regarding daisychaining AExtremes so that I do not have to run separate ethernet cables to the base. I could only find one mention of this but could not find anything else to corroborate it.

The online Apple documentation and pictures on the web show parallel connections to the base, not serial connections between the Extremes.

Can this be done in a roaming network confuguration?

Can the AExtremes pass through the ethernet connections .

Can the terminal tower then extend a wireless network using the Express units, or by ethernet connection?

thanks

Posted on Jan 24, 2019 7:27 PM

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Answer 1

Bob Timmons

Level 10

184,988 points

Jan 24, 2019 8:10 PM in response to dunk_c

Can this be done in a roaming network confuguration?

Yes

Can the AExtremes pass through the ethernet connections .

Yes

Can the terminal tower then extend a wireless network using the Express units, or by ethernet connection?

Yes

You can certainly daisy chain the AirPort Extremes......or any other AirPorts for that matter...... to create a roaming network if that is your only option.

The downside.....let's say AirPort Extreme #1 has a problem. If this is the case, then AirPort Extreme #2 will likely have a problem as well. But, you won't know which AirPort Extreme really has the problem until you work through an elimination process to find the culprit.

A better idea for not much more money.......install a Gigabit Ethernet switch very close to AirPort Extreme #1, then connect AirPort #1 and AirPort #2 to the Ethernet switch. If #1 is having problems, #2 will not be affected.

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Answer 2

dunk_c Author

Level 1

4 points

Jan 24, 2019 9:34 PM in response to Bob Timmons

Thanks for the comfirmation.

Your suggestion about using a switch is good to know but I would need to run cables back to the base and it would look like the parallel connection, but I see your point and will keep it in mind. The AExtremes will be easily accessible in my house for troubleshooting. Not had any issues with original unit over the past 6 years.

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Answer 3

Bob Timmons

Level 10

184,988 points

Jan 25, 2019 6:33 AM in response to dunk_c

Please tell us exactly how you plan to set up the network starting with the modem. What will connect to what? How will each device connect? Ethernet? Wireless?

Do you have a simple modem (only one Ethernet port).....or.....do you have a modem/router or gateway device that you call your modem?

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Answer 4

dunk_c Author

Level 1

4 points

Jan 25, 2019 6:42 AM in response to Bob Timmons

Thanks for the reply.

Airport Utlility detected an issue wiy two DHCP devices in the network so bridge mode is all that was allowed. Got it all setup and working now.

The gateway device is a multiport router but I now remember setting it up to manage DHCP instead of the AExtreme.

Thanks

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Answer 5

dunk_c Author

Level 1

4 points

Jan 24, 2019 11:28 PM in response to dunk_c

One more question.

Should the first AExtreme be in DHCP and NAT or OFF(Bridge Mode)?

Seems to be working OK when set to OFF.

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Answer 6

Bob Timmons

Level 10

184,988 points

Jan 25, 2019 6:58 AM in response to dunk_c

On a normal network, only one device will be set up to handle DHCP and NAT. Your gateway is already handling that service, so all the other AirPorts, Time Capsules, etc will be set up in Bridge Mode, which Apple calls "Off (Bridge Mode)".

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airport extreme

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