HT204616: Wi-Fi base stations: Setting up and configuring a roaming network (802.11 a/b/g/n)

Learn about Wi-Fi base stations: Setting up and configuring a roaming network (802.11 a/b/g/n)
sevenbill

Q: Is this article still valid?

Airport Utility does not look like this anymore, and I don't see the "Share a Public IP Address" option anywhere.

Time Capsule, Wifi network, Etherne

Posted on Mar 21, 2013 11:23 AM

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Q: Is this article still valid?

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  • by Bob Timmons,

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Mar 21, 2013 11:35 AM in response to sevenbill
    Level 10 (105,079 points)
    Wireless
    Mar 21, 2013 11:35 AM in response to sevenbill

    The article is valid if you are running the Leopard, Snow Leopard, or Windows operating system.  Trash it if you are not, as things are completely different in the "new" AirPort Utility.

     

    Tell us what devices you have and what you are trying to accomplish. We can likely help.

  • by sevenbill,

    sevenbill sevenbill Mar 21, 2013 12:03 PM in response to Bob Timmons
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 21, 2013 12:03 PM in response to Bob Timmons

    Great to know - thanks.  I have been trying to do this with my Time Capsule as the primary base station, two brand new Airport Express units as the secondary base stations, and Ethernet cables that connect back to a hub, wihch is connected to the Time Capsule. So it looks like:

     

    Cable Feed <---> Cable Modem <--(via WAN ports)--> Time Capsule <--(via Ethernet ports)--> 24-power hub <--(Cat 5E cabling)--> Ethernet plugs distributed throughout the house.  Goal is to plug the Expresses into a couple of the plugs connected back to the hub.

     

    Setting this up with Airport Utility 6.2 on my Macbook running OSX 10.8.3.  The Time Capsule is creating the (single) wifi network in the house.

     

    Would this work if I connect the Cat 5 cables from the remote plugs I select for the Expresses directly into the Ethernet ports on the Time Capsule?  If so, what settings should I use for Internet / Wireless / Network under Airport Utility?

     

    Thanks for your help -- crashed my network multiple times last night trying to do this...

  • by Bob Timmons,

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Mar 21, 2013 6:25 PM in response to sevenbill
    Level 10 (105,079 points)
    Wireless
    Mar 21, 2013 6:25 PM in response to sevenbill

    First, temporarily turn off the wireless function on your MacBook and move it to the area where you plan to install an AirPort Express.

     

    Connect the MacBook to the Ethernet wall port using an Ethernet cable and try to log on to the Internet to make sure that the Ethernet cabling and switch/hub are functioning correctly.

     

    If you can get a good Internet connection this way, you will be able to connect the AirPort Express to the Ethernet wall jack and configure it faster and easier than you might imagine.

     

    If you cannot get a good Internet connection on your Mac during this test, then you will need to troubleshoot the Ethernet cabling and/or Ethernet switch/hub to get the connection working before you can proceed.

     

    Then test the same way at the location of the second AirPort Express. If you have not already done so, it would be a good idea to test other Ethernet jacks around the house to make sure that the Ethernet "backbone" of the network is working correctly.

     

    Report back on your results, so we go to the AirPort Express configuration.

  • by sevenbill,

    sevenbill sevenbill Mar 21, 2013 6:29 PM in response to Bob Timmons
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 21, 2013 6:29 PM in response to Bob Timmons

    Thanks.  I do have internet connection at this plug.  However, it's the same plug I used last night when I tried to attach the Airport Express to the network.  I first tried attaching via the Express's WAN port (per another Apple thread I had read) and the whole network crashed -- Time Capsule went offline, wifi network disapperaed, Airport Utility reported the cable modem as "disconected".  I restarted everything, then I re-set the Time Capsule to factory, which eventually got it back up and running.

     

    So once it was back up, I tried attaching from the same ethernet wall plug to the Express's LAN port.  Same result -- system crash requiring restart and reset.

     

    So I'm hesitant to do this again without changing some other factor, since I'm pretty sure it will crash.  What should my setting be in Airport Utility to make this work?  I can't find anything in Apple's documentation or in the help threads that speak specifically to this situation. 

  • by Bob Timmons,Helpful

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Mar 21, 2013 6:51 PM in response to sevenbill
    Level 10 (105,079 points)
    Wireless
    Mar 21, 2013 6:51 PM in response to sevenbill

    Thanks for the info. I wanted to make sure that the Ethernet cabling and switch/hub were working correctly first. At least half of the time, the problem is in the cabling, a bad connection, or a bad switch/hub.

     

    Keep one AirPort Express powered off for now.

     

    Locate the other Express near the location where you want to connect and power it up and let it run a full minute...but do not connect the Ethernet cable yet.

     

    Hold in the reset button on the back of the Express for 7-8 seconds and release. Allow a full minute for the Express to restart to a slow, blinking amber light.

     

    Now connect the Ethernet cable to the WAN "O" port on the Express

     

    Make sure that the wireless is back on at your MacBook

     

    Click the fan shaped AirPort icon at the top of the screen and wait a few seconds for a listing of New AirPort Base Station to appear.

     

    Just below that, click directly on AirPort Express

     

     

    New AirPort Base Station.png

     

    Airport Setup will open automatically and take a minute to analyze the network and then announce that the Express will be configured to extend the Time Capsule network. Enter a device name for the Express....example AirPort Express 1....and click Next

     

    Allow another minute for AirPort Setup to configure the Express to "extend using Ethernet"

     

    When you see the message of Setup Complete, click Done.

     

    Check to make sure that things are working.

     

    Configure the second Express exactly the same way, except assign a different name to it to keep things straight....example, AirPort Express 2.

     

    Please report on your results.

  • by sevenbill,

    sevenbill sevenbill Mar 21, 2013 7:54 PM in response to Bob Timmons
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 21, 2013 7:54 PM in response to Bob Timmons

    The good news is, this procedure did not crash the network, so a huge improvement in my experience since last night!

     

    The bad news is, after initiating the Airport Utility sequence and getting the "gathering information about your network" message, I get the message "An unexpected error occurred.  Try again."

     

    I've retried about 10 times now, but can never get past this message.  Any ideas?

  • by sevenbill,

    sevenbill sevenbill Mar 21, 2013 7:58 PM in response to sevenbill
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 21, 2013 7:58 PM in response to sevenbill

    I should add: 

     

    1) Airport Utility defintely sees the ethernet-conected Airport Express -- it's selectable from inside the interface;

     

    2) I've also tried resetting the Express a couple times, but it does not get around this error message.

  • by Bob Timmons,Solvedanswer

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Mar 21, 2013 8:23 PM in response to sevenbill
    Level 10 (105,079 points)
    Wireless
    Mar 21, 2013 8:23 PM in response to sevenbill

    If the Time Capsule was functioning normally before you tried to add the Express devices....you should not have had to make any configuration changes at all on the Time Capsule.

     

    Did you make any changes to the Time Capsule?  If yes, you need to reverse those changes so that the Time Capsule is setup to operate correctly as a stand alone device....as it was originally configured.

     

    Then my advice would be to temporarily disconnect the Ethernet hub/switch from the network.

     

    Reset the Express and connect it directly to an Ethernet port on the Time Capsule and try the configuration that way.

     

    If it works, you know that you have an issue on your network somewhere.

     

    If it doesn't, I'm out of ideas.  I've configured dozens of AirPorts this way without an issue.  Just set up 8 AirPort Extremes at my grandson's school this week using a 16-port Ethernet switch, etc and hundreds of feet of Ethernet cabling. Works perfectly.

  • by sevenbill,

    sevenbill sevenbill Mar 21, 2013 9:06 PM in response to Bob Timmons
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 21, 2013 9:06 PM in response to Bob Timmons

    Success!  Disconecting the hub during install and direct-connecting the AE to the TC did the trick and got me through the setup procedure you describe above. 

     

    Once the new AE was stable and working, I reconnected the hub to the TC.  I've left the AE cable direct-connected to the TC for now, and I only have one more AE to set up, so I'll use the third LAN port on the AE for that, just to be safe. 

     

    In the longer term, however, should it make any difference whether the AEs are directly connected to the TC, or connected to a hub connected to the TC?   I'll still direct connect for setup, but after that, shouldnt matter, should it?

     

    Can't thank you enough for your help with this, Bob -- FANTASTIC!

  • by Bob Timmons,

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Mar 21, 2013 9:22 PM in response to sevenbill
    Level 10 (105,079 points)
    Wireless
    Mar 21, 2013 9:22 PM in response to sevenbill

    should it make any difference whether the AEs are directly connected to the TC, or connected to a hub connected to the TC?   I'll still direct connect for setup, but after that, shouldnt matter, should it?

     

    If the switch/hub and Ethernet cabling are all working correctly, the AriPort Express will work when it is connected to the switch/hub portion of the network.

     

    As I said, over half of issues in networks like this are wiring or connection issues. You know that the Ethernet cable from the Time Capsule is working.

     

    The next step is to test every port on the hub/switch and verfiy that it is working. Then you have to check each Ethernet cable going to each Ethernet wall port, etc. 

     

    You get the idea. You have start at the "head" end of the network and work outward checking everything at every step of the way.

  • by sevenbill,

    sevenbill sevenbill Mar 21, 2013 10:01 PM in response to Bob Timmons
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 21, 2013 10:01 PM in response to Bob Timmons

    Good advice -- already found one dead plug that I intended to use!

     

    Thanks again for your help with this, Bob.

  • by workfaster,

    workfaster workfaster Mar 31, 2013 5:12 PM in response to sevenbill
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 31, 2013 5:12 PM in response to sevenbill

    I'll just comment that I was also receiving the message when I tried to set up my ethernet connected Airport Express (connected directly via Ethernet to an Airport Extreme).

     

              "An unexpected error occurred. Try again."

     

    I probably went through this about 6 times... and then it worked! Honestly, I don't believe I did anything differently this last time.  I reset the Express to start clean (i.e. paper clip pushed into the hole in the back until the yellow light blinks rapidly) and then methodically went through Bob's steps (copied below for convenience). In the Aiport utility, I now show a solid line (not dotted line which indicates a wireless link) from my Extreme to my Express designating the ethernet connection which makes the faster "Roaming Network" possible. 

     

    AirportNetwork.jpg

     

     

    These were the steps that worked for me...  So thank you to Bob Timmons!!

     

    Keep one AirPort Express powered off for now.

     

    Locate the other Express near the location where you want to connect and power it up and let it run a full minute...but do not connect the Ethernet cable yet.

     

    Hold in the reset button on the back of the Express for 7-8 seconds and release. Allow a full minute for the Express to restart to a slow, blinking amber light.

     

    Now connect the Ethernet cable to the WAN "O" port on the Express

     

    Make sure that the wireless is back on at your MacBook

     

    Click the fan shaped AirPort icon at the top of the screen and wait a few seconds for a listing of New AirPort Base Station to appear.

     

    Just below that, click directly on AirPort Express

     

     

    New AirPort Base Station.png

     

    Airport Setup will open automatically and take a minute to analyze the network and then announce that the Express will be configured to extend the Time Capsule network. Enter a device name for the Express....example AirPort Express 1....and click Next

     

    Allow another minute for AirPort Setup to configure the Express to "extend using Ethernet"

     

    When you see the message of Setup Complete, click Done.

     

    Check to make sure that things are working.

     

    Configure the second Express exactly the same way, except assign a different name to it to keep things straight....example, AirPort Express 2.