Port mapping question for Airport Extreme replacement

MIKEinMICH wrote:

Ok, maybe just disregard my last reply to you; I re-read your suggested procedure and I gather what I do is just configure the Static IP and obtain the IP/MAC address from the Static IP computer AFTER connecting the new (Asus) router, which would be the one generating the correct IP/MAC address for the computer that needs the Static IP address. Any readings of settings from the Extreme network are irrelevant.

1. Write down the MAC address from the studio computer.
2. Access the router, and access the router DHCP mapping configuration.
3. Add the mapping from the MAC address to some fixed IP into the DHCP server configuration.
4. Renew the DHCP lease (or restart) the studio computer. No need to change its network config.)

The above assumes the studio computer is DHCP configured. And to be absolutely clear, DHCP here is delivering a fixed, static IP address for this studio computer; for whatever box matches the specified MAC address.

Alternatively, perhaps replacing with the 5th Gen unit to use as an extender would be a better idea?

There is huge improvement in wifi performance from 1st Gen AE to the 5th Gen.. I would definitely put the 5th gen in place of the 1st gen.

The 1st Gen AE could be either wired or wirelessly extending the 5th Gen in the original setup. I am assuming it is wired.. ie on ethernet connection back to a switch or directly to the router.

With the Asus as the primary router.. your AE must be wired.. and must be set to create a wireless network. Absolutely no choice on that.

Configuration is easy peasy. Give it a try.

Plug the WAN port of the AE gen5 into any LAN port of the AEgen1 or anywhere on the network.. it should not matter where.

Setup of the AE is not difficult when it is wired to the network. And you use a computer with ethernet or an iOS device via wifi.

Here is the configuration on my network.

1/ Open the existing Airport in Airport utility.. click the icon then edit in the summary and save (Export in Apple speak) the configuration.. this can be useful later on.

2/ Reset the AE5 to factory.. hold in reset and then power on.. wait about 10sec before you release reset. Then plug WAN of the AE5 by ethernet into your network or the AE1stgen.

It will take a minute or 2 to wipe the old configuration.. (you could save it before the reset if you wish as per step 1) and restart ready for new configuration.

3/ Once the AEgen5 is ready it will appear as Other Wi-Fi Devices (1)

Using its default name and no password. Click the new device.

4/ On the first screen give Gen5 a new name.. short, no spaces and pure alphanumerics.. is my recommendation.

Then click other options button down in the bottom left of the screen.

5/ Select replace an existing device.

Now be careful you don't want it to replace the Asus.

And select the unit or its wifi name.

Two things will happen.

The configuration of the AEgen5 will be set to the same values as the previous Gen1 as far as possible.. otherwise defaults.

AND

The Gen1 AE will be set to factory.

Once completed remove the Gen1 AE and replace it with the Gen5.

No luck.. it is easy peasy to do manually .. so ask if you need the instructions.

The modem and router are in an office some distance away from this 'studio' computer.

So, the first thing to tackle here would be to find out whether the Asus router will allow remote configuration over an Internet connection. That's likely a question for the Asus support folks, although it is possible that another user on this forum for Apple AirPort router support might have an Asus product and be able to help out.

how do I find the correct MAC and IP address specific to that studio computer so I can enter it on the computer that I'm using to do the router setup?

Might be a Catch 22 here. The Asus router will very likely display this information........(most routers including Apple do)......but you would have to be able to log into the Asus router remotely to access the settings. Again, a question for Asus Support or a really savvy user who might have an Asus router and has used it in the specific way that you describe.

For what it's worth, it is possible access an Apple AirPort router's settings remotely and make configuration changes if you have the right type of modem and know what IP address the router is receiving from your Internet Service Provider.......so I would assume that the more technically advanced Asus routers will also allow this. Once you have access to the router, it will very likely display the MAC Address and IP Address of any devices that are currently connected to the router.

You will likely need to have another person at the studio computer to log into the Asus router over the network if only to find out what IP address has been assigned to the Asus router so that it can be accessed remotely.

Sorry, can't help on the Asus capabilities. We'll have to wait to see if another user can help.

If I remember correctly, one of the experts here on the forum......LaPastenague......either has or is familiar with Asus products. He's in Australia, so it may take some time for him to respond if he sees this.

One ethernet-connected computer has some broadcast audio software for real-time streaming which requires a static IP address.

I am unclear if your static IP computer needs a static IP on your local lan.. or as Bob has assumed on Internet connection. Are both studio and office on the same LAN? Or do you have different modems in each location.

Are you getting a new public IPv4 address specifically for the studio computer? Or is this a DDNS setup?

If there are two modems and two routers do both use Asus routers or just your office one..

Sorry your second post is even more confusing.

Perhaps a little map of what the setup now looks like as I presume it is now working.

I have used plenty of Asus routers and replaced Apple ones with Asus.. so happy to help.

if you are using an Asus router most have excellent AsusWRT or Merlin firmware is even better and authorised by Asus to be used on models that support it.

If you log into the Asus the IP, MAC address and Netbios name of the computer will be displayed by the Asus and you can easily set it to static via DHCP. Then configure whatever port forwarding is required.

The question is are you accessing via LAN or WAN to the router?

Using a piece of paper and a pen (old tech, I know), write down the MAC address of the studio computer you want to have the fixed IP address.

Access and configure the router to issue a fixed IP address for any DHCP request from the studio computer in question. You will want to set up a DHCP reservation for the MAC address. This gets you your fixed address for whatever port-forwarding might be needed, but via DHCP, which avoids any need to make changes to the studio computer.

This assumes the DHCP server in that router can have and assign addresses based on client MAC address. Most can, these days.

Once the router is configured with the studio,computer MAC, re-request a DHCP lease from the studio computer, which should then get the “new” IP address. If you’re re-configuring the router from the studio computer that you want to have a fixed address, you’ll probably have to log into the router again after the IP address change. But you won’t have to make any local configuration changes.

You can then configure and enable port forwarding through the router to the studio computer.

The rest of that posting is… confusing to me.

If you need a public static address, you’ll need to get that from your ISP, and they’ll usually provide that to your router using DHCP. (Same idea as above, but from the ISP DHCP server and not from your local DHCP server.)

If you still have issues, give us the actual model of the Asus you are using.

Mostly you will find the instructions in the firmware/Asus guide very easy to follow.

And they have lots of single page web tutorials which are easy to find.

https://www.asus.com/au/support/FAQ/1000906/

https://www.asus.com/au/support/FAQ/114093/

Correct.. Bridge mode.. as AE is no longer a router but a Wireless Access Point.. which you will see referred to as WAP or AP mode.

Your Asus is now the main router.. and it can happily work with any wired AP. All configuration from this point onwards is done on the Asus.. it is your DHCP server and all clients should be registered to the Asus.

The wifi client that connect just to the AE will also be registered on the AE.. since it still controls the wireless side of the client connections.