WAN or LAN ports when using a switch

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Level 1

5 points

WAN or LAN ports when using a switch

Hello all,

I would like to create an extended (roaming) network within a large house, using one Time Capsule (n) and two Airport Extremes (both n). I would like to connect all three devices via ethernet to a 5-port gigabit switch which is plugged directly into the existing modem/router. My first question is which port (the WAN or LAN) should I use on each device to connect it to the switch? My gut feeling is that the device (probably the Time Capsule) I setup to 'Create a wireless network' will plug into the switch using it's WAN port, but how about the other two 'Extend a wireless network' devices (probably the two Airport Exteremes)? I know that if I was plugging them directly into the Time Capsule I would use the LAN ports but that is not possible in this situation - I have to go via the switch - and as the switch plugs directly into the modem/router I'm wondering whether I should use the WAN ports instead.

Here are some details on the configs I plan to use for each device: -

Modem/Router
Manual IP: 192.168.0.1
NAT: Enabled
DHCP server on (DHCP range: 192.168.0.11 ~ 250)

Time Capsule (n)
Manual IP: 192.168.0.2
Connect using: Ethernet
Connection sharing: Off (bridge mode)
Wireless mode: Create a wireless network (allow this network to be extended)

Airport Extreme 1 (n)
Manual IP: 192.168.0.3
Connect using: Ethernet
Connection sharing: Off (bridge mode)
Wireless mode: Extend a wireless network

Airport Extreme 2 (n)
Manual IP: 192.168.0.4
Connect using: Ethernet
Connection sharing: Off (bridge mode)
Wireless mode: Extend a wireless network

I would be most grateful if anyone could offer advice on my specific WAN/LAN port question and the setup as a whole.

Many thanks.

Dan.

13" MacBook Pro 2.26 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, Mac OS X (10.6.4)

Posted on Sep 21, 2010 4:07 PM

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Answer 1

John Galt

Level 10

155,810 points

Sep 21, 2010 5:10 PM in response to dandoeskorea

If you are using a modem/router with a downstream switch, and the TC and Extremes are connected to that switch, you should use the LAN ports on each of them.

I don't know why you want to specify fixed IP addresses for the TC and Extremes, but if that is working for you there's no reason to change it. The alternative is to configure them to receive their IP addresses via DHCP.

All your other settings are correct, except you do not want to "extend a wireless network" on either of your Extremes, if they're connected via Ethernet as you've done. They should all "create a wireless network" and use the exact same network name and security as all your other devices. Your client computers can wander throughout the house and will connect to an appropriate base station seamlessly. This is the ideal network configuration for a larger installation like yours.

Connection Sharing "off" is correct and essential in your case.

Your base stations will be using different wireless channels - leave that setting on "automatic" unless you have good reason to specify fixed channels.

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Answer 2

dandoeskorea Author

Level 1

5 points

Sep 22, 2010 12:56 AM in response to John Galt

John, your response is extremely helpful so thanks for that. Can I ask something else though? If as you say I connect all three devices to the switch via one of their respective LAN ports and I 'create a wireless network' on each, should I leave 'allow this network to be extended' unchecked on each device or should this setting still be checked?

Thanks again.

Dan.

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Answer 3

Bob Timmons

Level 10

185,114 points

Sep 22, 2010 4:16 AM in response to dandoeskorea

"Allow this network to be extended" would be used if you were planning to extend using wireless only to communicate between your Airport routers. This setting will have no effect if you are extending using an ethernet backbone to communicate the network signal between the routers.

There's no harm in checking the box...you just don't need to.

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Answer 4

dandoeskorea Author

Level 1

5 points

Sep 22, 2010 5:20 AM in response to Bob Timmons

Perfect Bob, thank you. You and John have given me all the info I need. It seems a straightforward setup this way but what confused me in the first place was that when I ran through the Airport Utility setup tool to set up the first Airport Extreme - the Time Capsule had already been set up and was broadcasting a wireless network without issue - there is an option to 'extend an existing network using ethernet' which would seem the obvious choice. When I then selected the Time Capsule as the network I wanted to be extended it created a 'roaming' network. All seemed to be fine however I noticed that the Airport Extreme had been given the exact same IP address as the Time Capsule. I also had problems connecting new devices (iPads and iPhones) to the network (although an iMac and MacBook Pro would connect normally). I now know from your answers that I set them up incorrectly but even so, I find it strange that Airport Utility would allow this option and then duplicate the IP address of the original (main) wireless device. Surely that can't be right? Any thoughts?

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