Ethernet cable in WAN port of Airport Extreme not recognised
For several years my home network consisted of an ADSL2+ modem connected to a NetGear GS116 16 port passive unmanaged network switch (NS). I have several macs connected to this network switch via ethernet cat5 cables. I also had an Airport Extreme model A1354 (AE) connected via the Ethernet WAN port of the AE to one of the LAN ports of the NS to provide a wireless solution. It is the only wireless solution in the house. Up until last week the firmware on the AE was 7.6.3
Last week the wireless connection went down and the AE light was flashing amber. My wired network still working. Airport Utility said there was nothing connected to the WAN port of the A. Up until this point I had not touched or modified the network in any way software, firmware or hardware. I checked and confirmed the Ethernet cable and it was connected to the WAN port of the AE and also one of the Lan ports of the NS. However the green LED light on the LAN port on the NS was Not illuminated.
I conducted the following:
Changed the Ethernet cable between AE and NS = "Ethernet cable unplugged from WAN port" and green led on LAN port of network switch not illuminated.
Plugged the Ethernet cable from AE into a vacant LAN port on the NS = Same problem
Plugged a Ethernet cable from a wired Mac to the LAN port that was in question = Green led light on LAN port comes on and MAC has internet and network connection
Reset AE and reconfigured manually = same problem
Upgraded firmware on AE to 7.6.5 = same problem
Tried above several times again
Bought a new AE (model A1408) = same problem = "Ethernet cable unplugged from WAN port on AE and AE light blinking amber"
However it will connect properly if connected diretly to the modem.
I will get a different network switch to see if the NS is the problem. The NS is an unmanaged switch with no firewall function and cannot be modified anyway via a login process
AirPort Extreme 802.11n (5th Gen), Mac OS X (10.6.8)