NAS in WLAN with older Airport Express

Hello there,

I have a few questions concerning a QNAP TS212 connected to my Airport Express.

First of all I allude that I am new to networks when it comes to more than setting up my internet connection with the router.

The following setup is used:

• Zyxel WLAN Router (P-2602HW-D7A) as base - hall
• Airport Express (Model 2004, Version 6.3) - working room
• QNAP TS-212
• iMac 2011

What I want is having the NAS in the working room connectd to the AX and use it as file server, print server and time machine backup permantently mirroring itself on a second harddrive. But somehow I can not persuade the AX to let the NAS show up in my network.

I checked it by connecting the NAS directly to the Zyxel router, which worked fine.

When I configure the AX as 'connected to my existing network' and use the NAS with AX's ethernet port, nothing happens.

I can not even access NAS, when I create a new WLAN with the AX…

Setting up a WDS with AX failed, because the assistant told me that an equivalent base station is needed to create this kind of network.

My questions:

1. Is it possible to use my AX the way I want it or is it kind of 'too old'?
2. If 1 is not possible: Would either an Airport Extreme Base Station (NAS on my current AX) or a newer AX (in the network with my current Zyxel router) do the trick? And if yes, how would I have to configure it?
3. Is my curent AX's ethernet port only intended to be used for an internet connection or should it be possible to access the NAS when a separate WLAN is created?
4. Does anyone have a good source of information, which explains this networking stuff to me - like a beginner's guide?

Thank you and have a nice time.

Jo