How do I set up guest network with airport extreme?

Unfortunately, your post did not provide us with basic information, like the make and model number of the modem that is connected to the AirPort Extreme, what kind of computer you are using to setup the AirPort Extreme and the operating system that is being used, so we're kind of stuck.

Can you please provide this information so we can help?

Assuming that your computer is running the Lion operating system, the modem is compatible with the AirPort Extreme for this, and you simply want to turn on the Guest Network option.....

Open Macintosh HD > Applications > Utilities > AirPort Utility

Click on the AirPort Extreme icon, then click Edit

Click the Wireless tab at the top of the page

Enter a check mark next to Enable Guest network

Name the network and assign a password

Click Update to save the new settings

IF...the option to enable the Guest Network does not appear...then your modem may not be compatible with the AirPort Extreme for this feature. That's why we asked for the make and model number of the modem that you are using on your network

AT&T offers a Motorola 3360 modem that will work with the AirPort Extreme, but out-of-the-box, it still behaves as if it is modem/router.

The modem will need to be re-configured in Bridge Mode and then the AirPort Extreme must be re-configured to Connect Using = PPPoE, not Ethernet as it is now configured.

If you do decide to enable the Guest Network function, keep in mind that the bandwidth is split between the Main and Guest network when you do this. So, you might want to only enable the Guest Network when you really do have "guests".

I looked for some Apple info on this but it's vaguely written so I appreciate this thread very much.

I have 4 new ABS units that are wired into a network that has it's own router. They are providing a nice wifi network across a large space. However, I wanted to add the guest feature for visitors. Along the lines of what has been said, the guest featue is not there in the AP Utility (v6.1)

I can make one of the ABS units the router for the network which I assume will enable the guest feature for that router but i am concerned that all the others will still lack it.

Does anyone know if that is the case? Thanks for the help.

I can make one of the ABS units the router for the network which I assume will enable the guest feature for that router but i am concerned that all the others will still lack it.

It sounds like you already have another device that is acting as a router for the network, so trying to configure one of the AirPorts as an additional router on the network may....or may not....allow you to do what you want.

You will have to deal with the fact that you will have two devices both providing IP addresses on the network....which can certainly cause conflicts....and you will have a Double NAT situation...which will slow things down a bit and can also create some other unpredictable things on a network.

If you do manage to configure one of the AirPorts as a router and setup the Guest Network feature, this function cannot be "extended" to other AirPorts either by wired or wireless connection.

I see what you are saying. I found this technote (http://support.apple.com/kb/PH5086) which suggest that being downstream isn't so much the issue as having DHCP NAT enabled. I started playing with those settings and it appears to be only when I am willing to go NAT that I get back the guest option.

I can drop the other router and swap in the ABS unit but then I have to put everyone on DHCP NAT. I could live with that but as you say, i will then have to setup each ABS similarly and have a Net net in each area which assumes no overlap or the ability to control the address pools. ugh.

Thanks for the quick help!

Unfortunately, Apple's instructions assume a simple installation and use of a simple bridge modem.

Since most Internet Service Providers are delivering modem/routers or gateway devices to their customers, the instructions only really apply to the very small number of users who actually have a real modem.

Even then, the Guest Network cannot be "extended", so things are quite limited.

What would cause the section in the configuration utility for the guest Network to not show up at all?

I configured my 2011 APE in January of 2012 and it has run faithfully until two days ago. I have the guest network for when my son's classmates come over to do home work together and they need internet access.

It was running fine and on Thursday they asked how come the Guest network was not up and running.

Checking everything except the APE didn't show anything. Then I checked out the APE with APU 610.31 from my MAC running ML. And the under the Wireless, there is no longer a section for the Guest Network.

This has not been running in Bridged mode so I know that is not the issue (or at least shouldn't be) (Router Mode is off).

Before I take it back to factory defaults, does anyone have another other troubleshooting I should do before I do so?

Thanks.

This has not been running in Bridged mode so I know that is not the issue (or at least shouldn't be) (Router Mode is off).

If Router Mode is "Off", then the AirPort is running in Bridge Mode.

The Guest Network option cannot be enabled when the AirPort is configured to operate in Bridge Mode.

The Guest Network option will only appear if Router Mode = DHCP and NAT

Thanks for the reply.

Big question now is what changed.

I have not touched the configuration in 10 months and it worked like a champ until the other day.

And i am the only one with access to it. I had not logged into it for so long i had to look up how to access it because i had forgotten how.

I'll attempt the change and see how it goes.

Thanks Bob.

This is driving me nuts. the 5ghz portion of the guest network is still working (ie those devices in my abode that have 5gz adapters can connect, get an IP address and function normally.

but not guest setting (I have not changed any settings yet).

My guest network just diappeared as well, and now when I go into the Airport Extreme I cannot see it any longer. No other settings or equipment has changed. If anyone has experienced this and solved this, please chime in.

I've just tried this on a new Airport Extreme:

- set up AE in Bridge mode - no guest network option

- change to Share Public IP Address

- set up Guest networking

- revert to Bridge mode

the Guest network stays there for a while then disappears.

Ideally we'd want to have the AE in Bridge mode, so we don't have to change the existing router, AND have a guest network...