Help setting up Open DNS with new airport extreme

Check to see if the AirPort Extreme is set up in Bridge Mode again.

If it is, it is receiving its DNS info from the "main" router on your network and simply passing that information through, because Bridge Mode is a "pass through" setting for devices that are not performing as routers on the network.

Your "main" router is the device that must be setup with the DNS info....not the AirPort Extreme......as it cannot perform this function as you have it configured in Bridge Mode on your network.

Bridge Mode is probably the correct setting for the AirPort Extreme if AirPort Utility suggested that.

What you call your "modem" is likely a gateway device...its a combination modem/router in one box. What is the make and model number of your "modem" so we can check and confirm this?

Sorry, I am not familiar with this product, so I checked online to pick up some information. Here I am referring to the information found here:

http://www.dslreports.com/faq/6096

I found that your device is mentioned as follows in the intro under Section 1 of this document:

The BellSouth supplied Westell 2100, 2200 and 6100 models (Models A90-210030-04, B90-220030-04, and B90-610030-06/C90-610030-06, respectively) share many features and functions.

Next, I am referring to the information under Section 2, under the heading of Standard Default Mode Connection (separate hub or switch present). Unless you have changed the configuration on the Westell, this is how your device is operating. In this mode, the Westell device is acting both as a modem and router in one unit.

So, an attached router (AirPort Extreme) must be configured as a switch to work correctly. That is what Bridge Mode is....the AirPort Extreme is operating as a switch when it is in Bridge Mode (which would be the correct setting to use when the Westell is set to its Standard Default Mode).

Any changes that you want to make regarding DNS settings would need to be made on the Westell device, since it is acting as the main router on your network.

In Bridge Mode, the AirPort Extreme simply passes that information through to its connected devices. You will not be able to make any DNS related changes on the AirPort Extreme since it receives that info from the Westel device. Some service providers force you to use their DNS servers, so you might want to check with Bell South or AT&T for more information in this regard.

If you want to be able to configure the AirPort Extreme as the main router on your network, and instruct it to use the DNS information that you want, you will need to refer to the section under the heading of Bridged Ethernet Mode ( separate router present).

Please note that the first item under this heading specifies that "This is the preferred configuration when using a separate external router..." (which would be the AirPort Extreme in your case)

So, it appears to me that this would be the way that you must reconfigure the Westell device to allow the AirPort Extreme to function as the "main" router on your network. In this type of setup, you will be able to enter the DNS information that you want to use under the setup for the AirPort Extreme and it will act as you instruct.

The AirPort Extreme would not be configured in Bridge Mode for this....it would be configured to "Share a public IP address".

The next item in the article specifies that you "Must use a PPPoE client on the Router." This means that the AirPort Extreme would be configured to Connect Using = PPPoE as follows:

AirPort Utility - Manual Setup

Click the Internet icon

Click the Internet Connection tab

Connect Using = PPPoE

You would enter your user name (probably your email address), password, etc in this area. Leave the Service Area box completely blank. Set Connection to Always On, and Disconnect if Idle to Never

Click Update to save the new settings. Power off the Westell device after this and then restart it so that it will pick up the new information that you have programmed into the AirPort Extreme.

I want to stress that this is how I would try to configure the Westell and AirPort Extreme. But, as I said, have not used a Westell device, so I cannot say that this will work correctly for you.

It might be an excellent idea to contact Bell South or AT&T Support to ask for their opinion on this before you decide to change the configuration of the Westel device and the AirPort Extreme.

This type of thing can be intimidating for users, so you might elect to use the services of someone like the Geek Squad at Best Buy, or a similar service from a local computer firm. Perhaps the Apple store could help as well.

If it is not critical that you use Open DNS, you might want to simply leave things "as is", with the AirPort Extreme in Bridge Mode.

you are saying that the easiest way to set this up is if I can change ATTs dns settings to the open dns settings on my westell modem?

Yes, but you should probably expect that AT&T may not be thrilled about telling you how to do this.

If I can make these changes, will it even matter what my router dns settings are as long as its in bridge mode,

It won't matter because the AirPort will pick up its DNS settings from the Westell.

Leave the DNS box(es) blank on the AirPort Exteme.

I had to enter the Open DNS settings into my airport extreme DNS settings for it to take affect on devices using wifi, not sure why if it is in bridge mode?

I can't explain that, or duplicate it here. Wireless devices from a remote access point pick up an IP address and DNS info from the main router. Check again to make sure that the AirPort Extreme is in Bridge Mode.

I tried to put in 0.0.0.0 in for each of the two servers but it kept defaulting back to my modems servers when I saved it.

That's normal, and why I suggested leaving the DNS fields blank on the AirPort Exteme. The AirPort Extreme should then automatically display the modem/router's local IP address in the DNS fields. Probably something like 192.168.x.x, which is normally displayed in a grey color to indicate that the settings are being pickup up from another device.

It also wouldnt let me leave it blank even with setting it up again.

Very strange.

I also have the Open DNS setting on my imac under network.

Not sure if you did this manually or not. Normally, you would see the local IP address of the modem/router here. It won't hurt to have the DNS numbers here, but it is the router that is determining things on the network.

I was able to access some sites that I would think would be blocked with my current settings, but this may be an issue with Open DNS or my custom settings

I am not sure what settings you are referring to. Have you entered some specific IP addresses for sites that you do not want to access?

Should the open DNS IP address shown in my dashboard be the setting for either the modem or the router?

If I enter in the server numbers for Open DNS, this is not reflected in any way in the Dashboard. Are you using another application?

Sounds like things are working smoothly now.

If you do not have any more questions, please mark this thread as "solved" so that it might help other users with a similar question.