HT204590: AirPort base stations: About the Guest network feature

Learn about AirPort base stations: About the Guest network feature
ebehrouz

Q: unable to sign into Guest Network

I have setup a Guest Network on the Airport base station (802.11AC) but I cannot get on the guest network when I try to sign in. The wheel keeps on spinning while trying to get on that network. I can successfully get on the main network of the Airport base station.

Airport Base Station 802.11AC, OS X El Capitan (10.11.3), Airport Base Station 802.11AC

Posted on Mar 15, 2016 11:02 AM

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Q: unable to sign into Guest Network

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  • by Bob Timmons,

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Mar 15, 2016 1:08 PM in response to ebehrouz
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    Mar 15, 2016 1:08 PM in response to ebehrouz

    The Guest Network feature will only work correctly when the AirPort is setup to work with a simple modem.....something like the example below.....with only 1 Ethernet port on the device.

    Modem.png

    The Guest Network feature will not work correctly when the AirPort is setup to work with a modem/router......something like the example below.....which is a device that has both a modem and router built into one package.  This type of device is unfortunately often supplied by Internet Service Providers to their customers.

    Modem Router.png

     

    So, the first obvious troubleshooting question here would be to ask which type of "modem" do you have?  If you are not sure what type of modem that you have, post back with the make and model number of the device and we'll check on that for you.....and review some other possible options as well.

  • by ebehrouz,

    ebehrouz ebehrouz Mar 15, 2016 1:38 PM in response to Bob Timmons
    Level 1 (1 points)
    Mar 15, 2016 1:38 PM in response to Bob Timmons

    Hi Bob,

     

    Thank you for the speedy and elaborate response to my issue.

     

    Here is the deal with my setup. I have the Airport Extreme connected to a LAN which is in turn connected to a cisco switch. The Airport Extreme station has been working just fine but I had to create a separate Guest Network for security reasons and that is when I started to have this issue.

  • by Bob Timmons,

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Mar 15, 2016 2:16 PM in response to ebehrouz
    Level 10 (105,268 points)
    Wireless
    Mar 15, 2016 2:16 PM in response to ebehrouz

    If the AirPort is connected to an Ethernet switch, that would mean that you have another router on the network......and the AirPort would be setup in Bridge Mode to operate correctly with that type of setup. That is what you want.

     

    But unfortunately,  the Guest Network will not operate correctly when the AirPort is set up in Bridge Mode.

     

    Sorry, but this is basically a Catch 22.  It does happen.

     

    The AirPort needs to be in Bridge Mode when you have another router "upstream" on the network. But, the correct setup for the AirPort on your network will not allow the Guest Network to operate correctly.

     

    Not recommended.....but I suppose that you could try to setup the AirPort as a router......but that would mean that you have two routers both trying to control the same network, and a Double NAT error as a result, with any number of unpredictable consequences on the network as a result of the NAT error. I would never do this on my network.

  • by ebehrouz,

    ebehrouz ebehrouz Mar 15, 2016 2:37 PM in response to Bob Timmons
    Level 1 (1 points)
    Mar 15, 2016 2:37 PM in response to Bob Timmons

    Bob,

     

    Thanks again for the quick response.

     

    My Airport Extreme was setup to Bridge mode as it is the only way I can make it work on this network. So I agree that I will have NAT issue when there are 2 routers trying to control. I cannot switch back to router mode and will have to remain on Bridge mode.

     

    If you would point me to any document or even with few words explain why setting up the Guest Network would not operate correctly when in Bridge Mode.

     

    Much appreciate all your help.

  • by Bob Timmons,Solvedanswer

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Mar 15, 2016 2:49 PM in response to ebehrouz
    Level 10 (105,268 points)
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    Mar 15, 2016 2:49 PM in response to ebehrouz

    I can't find the Apple support document at the moment on this topic, but it basically states that the Guest Network feature on an AirPort router requires that the Airport be configured as a router to provide DHCP and NAT services.  Apple uses a simple VLAN to create the Guest Network, and this depends on the AirPort being configured to provide DHCP service for the network.....which it cannot do if it is Bridge Mode.

     

    If you call Apple Support on this issue.....as I have done.....the only thing that they can suggest is that you configure the AirPort to provide DHCP and NAT, which creates a Double NAT on the network.  At the same time, there are other Apple support documents that advise users to avoid a Double NAT on their network.

     

    And, Apple's software......AirPort Utility.....will warn you if it detects a Double NAT on the network and advise you to configure the AirPort in Bridge Mode.

     

    If I can find the specific Apple document, I'll post a link.  But, as I recall, it came out about 3-4 years ago, about the same time that Apple introduced the Guest Network feature......and users where complaining that it would not work.

  • by ebehrouz,

    ebehrouz ebehrouz Mar 15, 2016 2:50 PM in response to Bob Timmons
    Level 1 (1 points)
    Mar 15, 2016 2:50 PM in response to Bob Timmons

    Got it... I guess I need find another solution for this scenario.

    Thanks a million for your help. Cheers!

  • by Bob Timmons,Helpful

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Mar 15, 2016 4:22 PM in response to ebehrouz
    Level 10 (105,268 points)
    Wireless
    Mar 15, 2016 4:22 PM in response to ebehrouz

    Good luck!   On previous versions of AirPort Utility, the Guest Network "option" would not even appear if the AirPort was in Bridge Mode.  That made things a lot easier.