Extend Airport Extreme Network via Ethernet to Airport Express

Things will be a whole lot easier and a lot less confusing if you could please start a new post for your questions.

Please confirm that you are using one of the AirPort Utility 6.x versions.

We have the answers and will post them if someone else has not already done so when we see your new thread.

I am trying to extend a gen 4 Airport Extreme by hardwiring ethernet to a 2nd gen Airport Express and will add a second Airport Express if I can get the first one to work. I have a large network with a 24 port switch and aiport utility 6.3.2 (most recent as of this date)

First question:

When expanding my network using the hardwired Airport Express can I name the new network anything I want or should it be exactly the same as the Extreme Network. I would prefer to name it differently so I can keep track of which network my devices are acturally joining but I will be happy simply to get this to work either way.

Second question:

After repeated attempts to configure my hardwired Aiport Extreme, I get the following yellow status error:

Yellow Internet Connetion

Yellow No DNS Servers

Yellow Conflicting DHCP Range

Observation:

Many of the suggestions here and the link posted in a previous post are not based upon the most recent Airport Untility software so that may contribute to my lack of success so far. I am using the most recent version.

Perhaps you did not understand our request for you to start a new post, since this thread is confusing at best.

To do that you would go back to the main forum page......this one.....

https://discussions.apple.com/community/wireless/airport

In the space labeled Ask Your Question, type in a title for your post and click Submit, then copy and paste in the information there.

Thanks.

Yes I do and I will comply. The challenge for me is that I believe that all pertanant information on a specific topic is best placed in one thread that applies to that topic. Anyone who subscribes to the thread will be notified of new posts and updated information and any one who searches will find that topic rather than seaching and finding a dozen separate questions that apply to the topic. That said, I certainly respect your expertice on this topic and will post my questions in a separate thread.

This is all great information. Thank you everyone for your input. I have a setup at home and I am trying to figure out if this information will help me with the issue that I am having.

I have an Apple Airport Extreme with Time Capsule. I also have 2 Airport Expresses (table top style). I use the audio output of the Airport Expresses to send audio to 2 separate whole house audio systems. Right now I have the Airport Expresses set up wirelessly in my home. I go into an app (let's say Pandora) on my iPhone and I start up audio. I then go into my Airplay options on my iPhone and I select the appropriate Airport Express to Airplay my audio to. Everying is fine until I get too far away from the Airport Express I am Airplaying music to from my phone. The audio starts to break up and cut out. When I check my phone I still have full WiFi strength. This leads me to believe that in my current configuration I am sending music wirelessly from my iPhone directly to the Airport Express. Is there a way to instead send the music to my wireless network in my house and then over hard wire (I could hardwire the Airport Expresses if I had to) to the appropriate Airport Express? Would I still have them in my Airplay list on my portable devices if I set them up this way?

Thank you for any help you can offer.

Justin

Justin,

Yes you can.

But then you have to reconfigure your Airport Express. With your current wireless settings it won't work.

good luck

I couldn't stress enough on how accurate John Galt's answer is.

When you want to extend your network connection through Ethernet, DO NOT select "Extend a wireless network".

Do what it says in his post instead. (Extend via Ethernet, and then create a network that is identical to the Extreme)

My result looks like this. (rather than AirPort Express connected via a line/dotted line at the bottom of the AirPort Extreme)

If you first select Extend a wireless network, and then connect the Ethernet cable, your entire network will crash.

At this point, I suggest that you remove the ethernet cable, wait for the Express to come up wirelessly, and then do a Restore on the Express first.

That made my life a lot easier.

I believe I used the same method as directed by Bob Timmons, and everything works perfectly.

I just wonder why I get a different pattern with AirPort utility?

Because you have AirPort Extreme de Luc 2 wired to AirPort Extreme de Luc.

In the other example, both the AirPort Express and AirPort Extreme are wired or connected to the same router.

So there are three routers in this configuration.

A first router connected to the modem and the other two connected to the first.

But, why the first router is not shown in the diagram?

Bob's comments extend wireless at least for me. i got no pickup in download speed. Does it matter if i'm trying to do this on an ipad vs. mac? i'm going to try john's approach to create a new network and give it the same name.

I would love to know the answer to this as well.

Hi bob

i have the same issue with three expresses

llet me ask you this if I connect all my three expresses with the way that you explained

is this not gonna make any problem in my network sharing.

i Mean if one PC is connected to express #1 will be able to see the other PC on express#2 or #3 share folders?

all computers will be into the same network and subnet??

i Would be appreciated if you help me with this one.

thanks

Make sure you only have one DHCP sever handing out IP addresses in all your setup.

I have an Ubiquiti Edgemax router right off my cable modem that is the one and only DHCP server (highly recommend by the way)

I then hard wire an Extreme in Bridge mode only (DHCP OFF) off of an unmanaged switch

I then hardwire an express upstairs that is coming off another switch

Airport Utility sees both side by side

Both the Extreme and the Express are creating a wireless access points (can be the same or different names) but are not handing out IP addresses.

Make sure you have one and one only DHCP server active so all the connections wont confuse each other

I found this article very helpful. Step-by-step instructions along the lines of Bob's advice.

http://kenrockwell.com/apple/how-to-create-a-large-wireless-network.htm

I have a non-Apple cable-modem-router extended by two Airports - one wirelessly and one via ethernet. Everything works at top speed now.