Q: setting up extended roaming network
I have an Airport Extreme and a new Time Machine. Because of the logistics of my house, the Airport Extreme base station must be the primary connection. When I go to set up Connection Sharing on it I get a conflict message stating that the IP address conflicts with that of the base station and the network does not work.
If both the A.E. base station and the Time Machine are set to Off (Bridge Mode) the network works fine.
I do not know how to configure an IP. Can the network function as it is (both devices set to Bridge Mode) or must I change the IP for the base station?
(computers connected --- Older Mac Pro (no wireless or bluetooth --- connected via ethernet cable) plus two iMacs and a MacBook and phones connected wirelessly)
thanks
Ron
Posted on Feb 17, 2013 8:23 PM
It sounds like you have a modem/router or gateway device "upstream" from the AirPort Extreme. That "upstream device is acting as your main router for the network.
You never want two devices both trying to act as routers on a network, so the correct setting for both your AirPort Extreme and the Time Capsule is Bridge Mode.
If you are looking at Apple's instructions about configuring a roaming network, unfortunately that information is only correct if you are using a simple modem which is not performing any routing duties on the network.
Apple should have added more informtion to tell you that if you were using a modem/router or gateway type of device ahead of the AirPort Extreme, that the AirPort should be configured in Bridge Mode.....not Share a public IP address.
Posted on Feb 18, 2013 6:36 AM