Time Capsule Ethernet connection

Bob Timmons wrote:
Glenn,


AirPort Utility > Manual Setup > Internet icon > Connection Sharing = Off (Bridge Mode)

When the Time Capsule is set up this way, you have the option of connecting your Mac directly to one of the LAN <-> ports on the Time Capsule (or the Netgear router)

Just to be clear, If I want to use the the wireless, then I have to set the "Connection Sharing" to On.
Is that write?

If I connect the my Mac to my router eithernet only, does that mean that I can make a back up through the router’s eithernet.

Hi Bob;

I think now our problem is solved after we update the Airport utility, as we can now use the new choice to switch between wireless and ethernet:

"Disable wireless and and connect to a computer or network using Ethernet"

is that correct

That would be the correct setting if you want to turn off or not use the wireless capability of the Time Capsule. It will connect to your main router using an Ethernet connection.

Good morning to you Bob,

I've been reading a lot of your posts and you seem to be the oracle when it comes to TC matters concerning setup with existing wifi routers etc.

I'm currently using a Netgear DGN1000 wireless router for the home and want to setup up a wireless backup and NAS network. After a disastrous trial of the Iomega 1Tb NAS with cloud, I was convinced instore to go for the 2Tb TC by one of the assistants. I'm looking to integrate the following equipment into my home network and maintain wireless speeds and functionality:

- 2x Macbook Pro early 2011

- WDTV live streaming media

- Iphone 4

- Ipod touch

Having read this thread I'd like your guidance to configure my TC as a bridge and back up, initially via ethernet, my two MBP's. Other devices will connect to the existing Netgear wireless for internet. Some questions I have are:

- If I connect another external hard drive to the TC for use as a NAS for Music, Movies, photos etc, can the WDTV and other devices access this as normal if they are connected to the Netgear?

- Will there be any degredation of wifi speeds overall because of using the network for both internet and TM backups as well as accessing files over the NAS?

- When you mention using both wireless routers in the house and the strnger signal being used, will MBP's and other wifi enabled devices automatically choose the best signal? Will there be two different SSID's and subsequent passwords needed?

I spent several hours last night trying to setup the TC and Netgear using the TC in bridge mode. I assigned passwords for the TC, selected the TC SSID and connected one MBP via ethernet to the TC in order to start a TM backup. When a TM window appeared asking for a password to access the disc, I put every password possible (TC, Netgear, MBP) into the window but it would not accept, any ideas?

Sorry if this all seems disjointed, I'm a bit of a scatterbrain! In summary, I really appreciate help in joining both Routers together via ethernet and carry out seamless back ups while maintaining existing wireless speed etc. If you could guide me along with the steps needed then I'd be forever grateful.

Thank you,

Derek.

Do you want to have your Netgear router and the Time Capsule both providing separate wireless networks?

Unless you really need two separate wireless networks, it would make sense to turn off the wireless function on the Time Capsule and continue to use your Netgear wireless network.

Or, turn off the wireless on the Netgear router and use the wireless capability of the Time Capsule.

Please clarify on your plans.

Hi Bob,

Thanks for the reply. Whichever wireless network you feel would give the best signal. I don't need to have the two routers pumping out wireless but I thought that I had to have the TC using wireless in order to have access to the backup facilities.

Are you saying that I can continue using the Netgear (wireless N also) with the TC attached via ethernet and maintain the same speeds? Both routers are within 3m of each other and the house is relatively small. If this is possible then yes, I'd really like to enable this.

Thanks again.

Derek.

Are you saying that I can continue using the Netgear (wireless N also) with the TC attached via ethernet and maintain the same speeds?

If you are happy with your current Netgear wireless network, then you can simply connect the TC to the Netgear using an Ethernet cable and turn off the wireless function on the TC.

Since you likely already have a number of devices configured to use the Netgear network, that might the simplest and easiest way to go.

Backups will occur over the Netgear wireless network or via Ethernet ports on either the Netgear or TC, whichever is more convenient to use at the time.

Great stuff,

I'll give it a try and see how things go!

Thank you for your help, we are recovering from a house burglary where we lost all electrical goods (MBP, Vaio, Iphone and a lot of other stuff) so I'm trying to configure the replacement goods and beef up IT security.

Best regards,

Derek.

Post back if you need more details on the setup or if you need a step by step for this.

Thanks Bob,

I've turned off the wireless TC and managed to do a few TM back ups but the TC seems to appear and disappear. I've forced a few TM backups and they have failed because it says TM cannot find the disk, despite it showing up on Airport with green light......strange...

I'll keep an eye on it in and see how it goes in the morning. Thanks again for your help.

Derek.

You have the TC configured in Bridge Mode, correct?

And, you restarted the entire network after configuring the TC?

TC is in bridge mode.

Netgear and TC both turned off, then Netgear restarted followed by TC. Back up using TM was carried out via ethernet first and then another one carried out via wireless with no problems.

I've given the TC a fixed IP just in case. I'll restart everything again just to check.

Hi Bob,

I'm sorry but I'm another one struggling with wireless versus ethernet connection to TC and would appreciate some help.

On the desk here I have an iMac running latest Lion update, Linksys router and brand new TC. The Linksys is hard wired to the TC and TC set to "create wirelss network", connection "ethernet" and connection sharing "off (bridge mode)".

Everything seems to be working fine with wireless and with wireless back-ups but obviously the transfer times are slow for large amounts of data.

I want to use the TC as an external hard drive for storage of photos, videos and so on. This is by way of an 'upgrade' from using a LaCie 500GB device that was fire wire connected. So, every time I download photos to the Mac I want them to go straight to the TC only in the same way they went to the LaCie directly.

To improve the speed of the connection between Mac and TC I connected them directly by ethernet AFTER initial set-up and back-up. I then tried to move files from LaCie to TC and it kept telling me TC "cannot be modified". Instead I moved the files to Mac, created new folders on TC and then moved files from Mac to TC. This is working BUT via wireless and not using ethernet connection = slow slow slow.

Why is the ethernet connection between Mac and TC not recognised? Ethernet is at the top of network connection sidebar by the way, above wireless.

Is it as simple as I have to restart the Mac and or TC before they will respond or is there a setting I need to change somewhere?

Thanks,

Ian