Use WAN or LAN Port ?

My network looks like this, although the actual diagram which the Airport Utility on OSX Mavericks generates tends to be a little random, whereas the IOS version always shows the one below.


User uploaded file


What has me confused is the correct usage of the WAN / LAN ports, not just on the Airport Express but also on the Time Capsule.


I'm assuming that this might have some influence on how the diagram is being drawn as some people seem to have them arranged vertially.


So important points.


ALL devices are linked via physical ethernet cable on the same LAN

I am wanting to use them as Access Points rather than Wireless Bridges

I have a separate dedicated router which I need to keep.

Currently I have the Time Machine (only) connected to it's WAN port and the Express Box's connected via their LAN Ports

The Time Capsule was added first and the Express Box's were added to the existing network and have the same SSID/Passwords etc.


Everything seems to work, but it's just guesswork. I spoke to Apple who said the the Time Capsule had to be the "primary" box on the network or Time Machine backups would not work. I'm not sure how would designates it to be primary - that's why I'm using it's WAN port in some vain attempt to let it know it's different to the rest.


If someone could validate the config and perhaps explain under what circumstances you would connect these devices to the LAN using their WAN and/or LAN ports it would be great.


As I only have 1 physical ethernet port in one of the rooms it has struck me that it would be nice if I could attach the Express box to the LAN using one of the ethernet ports (WAN) and attach another device (Roku) using it's LAN port - would that be ok ?


Thanks in advance


Dave

Posted on Nov 25, 2013 11:14 PM

Reply
6 replies

Nov 26, 2013 6:59 AM in response to DaveGarratt

In your situatuation, these considerations should apply:

The Draytek 2950 is the primary router -

All of your Apple routers are just equal devices receiving internet and network info from the Draytek because they are all attached via ethernet.

In the Airport Utility, their configurations should all be in "bridge mode", "connected via ethernet" to their WAN port (this leaves the LAN ports to be used for other devices such as your Roku).

To just be an access point, the wireless mode would be "off". To provide wi-fi you would "create a wireless network" with the same name, password and type of security as your primary network and "allow this network to be extended".

Leave all other settings at default.

The diagrams generated by different Airport Utilities might be slightly different. This is not a problem. In your situation, all connecting lines should be solid.

Please note that when connecting any Apple device via ethernet, the WAN port is always the internet or network "in" port. The LAN ports are always LAN ports. If the Express or Extreme or Time Capsule is used as a wireless extender or wireless access point as opposed to via ethernet, then all of the ports become LAN ports.

I know this can be confusing. If any of the gurus read this, they might have some clarifications or suggestions that I have not covered.

Nov 26, 2013 7:39 AM in response to DaveGarratt

Yes - and if the Airports are all directly connected to your Draytek you will get the tree diagram - if you use switches or powerline adapters it could switch to an inline diagram - and btw, I have a Roku 3 in my network and it works very well with my Airport devices (I have an Extreme a/c running the show) - and everything in my network is also attached via ethernet.

Nov 26, 2013 9:41 AM in response to CRMDVM

All 3 Apple units are now connected to the Draytek directly via ethernet cable (WAN ports). For the most part I see the diagram in the 1st post although for some reasons the Express box's occasionally seem to want to stack themsevles vertically with only one of them linked to the router directly. I've no idea what the logic / criteria is for this diagramming and can't see any documentation on it. I'm not seeing any problems and wifi coverage seems consistent and reliable. Often the iPhone diagram looks different at the same time as I'm looking at the Mac version.


If you know of any resource on the internet which shows physical wiring (lan/wan) and config diagrams it would be great. I think it must be the hands off - just work ethos that apple have that means they think we don't need to know what's going on.


It does seem to work - but I just want to know what's happening under the bonnet :-)


Dave

Nov 26, 2013 11:57 AM in response to DaveGarratt

I understand that you would like to know why things work or don't work the way they do - I am the same way - but sometimes they try and fool you and they put the battery in the boot (ha ha) - Apple works and plays well (most of the time) with other Apple products - most of the technology is proprietary so that is logical - however Apple also tries to be compatible with other manufacturers' products - they do a good job but total compatibility is impossible -


So referring to your question on the diagram:

You have a none Apple router which is also a switch.

It is providing DHCP and NAT to all of your devices so your Apple devices are just another peripheral.

You also have a Wi-Fi network to deal with.

Therefore the Apple Utility whether it is on your Mac or iPhone cannot always interpret the proper routing sequence - it is literally gets confused - if you had all Apple products directly connected, the diagram would be consistent and btw there is no documentation on this - I learned it by trial and error.


And you may have already done this but whenever you make multiple changes, you should reboot the entire system starting with the modem by shutting everything down and power up up each segment down the line - and remember that if the modem has a battery, to remove and replace it before you start.


Here is link to a network diagram from Apple - it is not exactly the same as yours but you will get the idea:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4260


There is other information at Apple support - choose "all products" then choose "wireless" then "Airport and Time Capsule" - the articles there should anser most of your questions.


Regards,

Charlie

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