Apple Airport Extreme and new FIOS router - problem

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Alf2001 Author

Level 1

32 points

Apple Airport Extreme and new FIOS router - problem

Hello, I have a Apple Airport Extreme 802.11n base station that worked fine with a Comcast router. When setting up with Comcast router, I set the comcast router as a bridge and the Airport Extreme did all the work as the primary router. When I switched to Verizon FIOS today, I got the typical double NAT error (which I did with the Comcast until setting up the Comcast router as a bridge). However, the FIOS tech support guy said that was not an option so he setup my Airport Extreme in the bridge mode - router mode off. This really screws up incoming access using SSH, Timbuktu, or Apple Screen Sharing since I can't assign fixed IP addresses for computers on my network and can't use the Port Settings option in Network in Airport Utility to open 'pipes' for a particular computer. Plus, I'm more comfortable using the Airport Extreme rather than the FIOS stuff. Anyone have suggestions other than going back to Comcast?

I did a search and didn't see a post on this in the Discussions forum. thanks

Mac Pro, OS X El Capitan (10.11.6)

Posted on Aug 27, 2016 3:32 PM

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Answer 1

Tesserax

Level 10

158,490 points

Aug 27, 2016 4:16 PM in response to Alf2001

What is the make & model of your Verizon router? Does Verizon provide you with administrator access to it to allow you to make changes?

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Answer 2

Alf2001 Author

Level 1

32 points

Aug 27, 2016 7:18 PM in response to Alf2001

Model number FiOS-G1100

I don't see a manufacturer name other than Verizon which is written on the black plastic case

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Answer 3

Alf2001 Author

Level 1

32 points

Aug 28, 2016 8:10 AM in response to Alf2001

I should note that I have Admin access to FiOS router.

I guess I could try to move the Airport router in front of the FiOS router, but it's unclear how I can do that since input into FiOS router is not an ethernet wire but rather a co-axial cable. I suppose I could go into panel box where FiOS enters house but might lead to other problems of course.

If I had known this beforehand, I would have stuck with Comcast.

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Answer 4

Tesserax

Level 10

158,490 points

Aug 28, 2016 1:52 PM in response to Alf2001

Ok, I had an opportunity to download a copy of the user guide for this FiOS gateway device.

There shouldn't be any reason that you could not continue to use the gateway as your "main" router and leave the AirPort Extreme in bridge mode. Chapter 5 provides the details on how to assign static IP addresses. Port mapping is also covered.

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Answer 5

Tesserax

Level 10

158,490 points

Aug 28, 2016 1:52 PM in response to Alf2001

You definitely do NOT want to move the Extreme upstream of the FiOS gateway. The Extreme does not have a built-in modem and cannot be used in this manner. The gateway must be upstream of the Extreme for Internet access.

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Answer 6

Alf2001 Author

Level 1

32 points

Aug 28, 2016 1:52 PM in response to Tesserax

Well, there seems to be no obvious way to use the Airport as the primary router and so the only option is to use as a bridge as noted above. The network expert at Verizon pointed out that their FiOS-G1100 router has the option for opening up a port for SSH, filesharing, or whatever using Port Forwarding. Luckily, I was able to get this to work. Thanks for the advice.

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