Connect Time Capsule to an existing network

You have two options:

Good.....connect the TC to a LAN <-> port on the wireless router there using an Ethernet cable and then turn off the wireless function on the TC. Backups will occur over the wireless network there, or you also have the option of connecting your computer directly to a LAN port on the TC using an Ethernet cable. Backups will be at least 5-6 times faster if you use Ethernet.

Not so good....configure the TC to connect using wireless only to "join" the wireless network. The Ethernet ports are not enabled on the TC in this type of configuration.....so you cannot connect using Ethernet to speed things up when you have a big backup.

This option will also require that you know exactly what type of wireless security the network is using....not just the password. If you do not know exactly what type of wireless security settings the main router is using, you should not attempt this type of setup.

Which would you prefer?

I've got a similar situation as bluejacketsfan - already have a wireless network at home, but want to use my TC as just a back-up solution for my MacBook Pro. My router is in the basement of my house and I really want to keep my TC updstairs near my laptop, but you're saying that I really should connect the TC to the router via a LAN <-> port with an ethernet cable, right Bob? I guess I can do that, although it's not as 'simple' as I would like. Can you please explain the steps to set everything up? You seem to have a great grasp on the process and I must admit I find the manual that came with TC to be a bit lacking - the main focus seems to be using TC to create a wireless network and there's not enough info for those of us who don't need that.

Thanks a lot for your help.

-Ron

The options that I laid out were based on performance. There are going to be trade offs in any decision process, so you may have different priorities.

Convenience may be more important to you than the absolute best performance. And there is a valid argument to be made for having the TC in a "remote" location....In case of theft, the wireless router and computers are gone, but at least you probably have your backups.

I find the manual that came with TC to be a bit lacking

It sounds like you are referring to the Setup Guide. It is designed to get most folks up and running in 5-10 minutes. There's 80+ pages of full page 8.5 x 11 stuff on how to set up a network on the main forum page.....Apple AirPort Networks....and plenty of other support documents.

If you want the TC to "join" your wireless network, we can do that if you can provide the exact type of wireless security that your wireless router is using.

Or, if you decide to connect the TC to your router using an Ethernet cable, we can do that as well.

Let us know how you want to proceed.

Bob,

When you say: "...if you can provide the exact type of wireless security that your wireless router is using." how exactly would I get that info? I know who my wireless provider is, but not exactly sure how I would find this info out. I may still opt for the ethernet cable route (I do like the fact that this provides better performance), but would be interested in knowing how to get the wireless security info that I would need.

Thanks!

You have to be able to get into the setup pages for your wireless router to be able to see the current settings. Ask your ISP how to do this for the router that you have. If they provide only a certain model to customers, they may already know what that setting is.

For most devices, you enter a default IP address....something like 192.168.0.100.....for example only.... into your Internet browser to bring up the main page, then look for a page or tab with wireless settings.

A few examples of security settings look something like this:

WEP 64 Bit

WEP 128 Bit

WPA-PSK-TKIP

WPA/WPA Personal

Hi Bob

I am in the same position (choice of ethernet or wireless for my new TC). I have an airport extreme basestation already configured so want to keep that and just use the TC for back-up/storage for my MAC (and PC obviously not TC!)

If I co-locate the TC with the extreme and connect an ethernet cable I will get the full duplex 1GB/s connection speeds is that correct? In terms of set-up I take it I will 'see' the TC in the airport utility alongside the wireless nodes (to add to the mix I have two express's linked wirelessly to the extreme too).

What are the sections I need to amend to configure the TC to act as a NAS/Back-up on this network or will it be very clever and do this itself?

Appreciate your help with this

Thanks

Jason

If I co-locate the TC with the extreme and connect an ethernet cable I will get the full duplex 1GB/s connection speeds is that correct

Yes

In terms of set-up I take it I will 'see' the TC in the airport utility alongside the wireless nodes

Yes. It sounds like you only want to use the TC as a backup or network drive, so you would not enable the wireless function on the TC....since the AirPort Extreme is already handling that.

What are the sections I need to amend to configure the TC to act as a NAS/Back-up on this network or will it be very clever and do this itself?

The TC will appear as a SHARED network drive in the Finder on the left side of the Finder window. You can open the drive from there and mount it on the desktop. Just drag/drop files to the icon.

Thanks Bob

Appreciate your quick response, answered my questions perfectly

Cheers

Jason

Bob

Just a quick note recevied my TC last night and had it hooked up and cofigured to my network in 5 minutes (ethernet with no wireless).

Back-up took overnight but it all worked perfectly.

One last thing, can I use the USB port to hook up an additional hard drive and have this available across the network or is this feature disabled when I link the TC as I have done? Might be a useful extra in these days of rapidly growing data requirements

Cheers

Jason

can I use the USB port to hook up an additional hard drive and have this available across the network

Yes, if you format that drive in Mac OS Extended (Journaled) or FAT32.

is this feature disabled when I link the TC as I have done?

No

Thanks Bob

That's great you've been a great help

Cheers

Jason

I seem to have a simlar problem with my Time Capsule.

I live in a basement apartment with the wifi being provided by the landlord upstairs. I would like to use my Time Capsule to connect wirelessly to the existing wireless network. I have tried using Airport Utilities to set the Time Capsule up to "extend wireless network", but it says it can't find the wireless signal. If I set my macbook in the same exact location as the Time Capsule it gets full signal, so I am not sure how to get it to connect. Any advice? Thanks!

-Nicole

You cannot extend signal from a non-apple router.. read Bob's comments.. you have to join the wireless network which is really bad setup. It causes the TC to only become a client in the wireless network.. and you cannot connect to it directly at all.. only via double hop wireless so it will be slow. The TC is also then a client available to all on the network.

This setup is not available in the airport utility v6.. it might be in the setup.. join a wireless network.

Otherwise you have to use v5 utility.

Thanks so much. That's what I needed to know.

Does that mean my only option is to find a way to connect the TC to the wireless router via eithernet?

I have a similar question as Nicole. I've been trying to work this out for a days now reading everything I can find and my head is swimming.

I have a wireless dsl router/modem that was provided by my phone company (Fairpoint).

I have attached my Time Capsule via ethernet from the WAN port to one of the LAN ports on the dsl modem.

I disabled wireless on the dsl modem via access to my dsl router online.

I also have the ability to change the access point to either access point or wireless bridge on the dsl (right now I have it on access point and bridge restrict enabled - but I'm not really sure what these mean).

I set up the Time Capsule by "create a wireless network" and set the network router mode to: off (Bridge Mode) using airport utility.

My security set on the Time Capsule is WPA2, but the security on the dsl modem is set to WPA-PSK (I don't have this security option on the Time Capsule).

I have also extended the network by attaching an airport extreme base station and an airport express (which is attached to my printer). I have a large home and needed a way to reach other areas of the house to make for a stronger and hopefully fast wifi.

I find that my connection speed varies a lot... and slowws way down intermittently.

I also have my imac connected via ethernet to the wall (which is wired through the house).

I also have a macbook pro that I like to use wirelessly.

Do I have everything set up correctly or have I done something I am not allowed to do? Have I made a "double hop" that you speak of above?

I'm suppose to have 12 mbps download speed/1mbps upload. I am not getting anywhere near these speeds. Just now I got 0.69 mb/s download and upload 1.0mb/s

I'm in desperate need of any suggestions?