Airport Extreme and PPPoE

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Airport Extreme and PPPoE

I'm sitting in Namibia and my local ISP "Mweb Namibia" uses PPPoE.
When I connect the cable modem directly to my Powerbook G4, I can go online. As soon as I start trying to use the PPPoE log of the Airport Extreme Base Station or of the Airport Express, I can't connect to the Internet.
Today we tried a DLink router with same PPPoE configurations- no problem.
Has anybody an idea here?
Is the PPPoE log-in of the AEBS different from the PPPoE log-in that my Powerbook uses???

Power Book G4, Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Posted on May 15, 2007 1:13 PM

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Answer 1

Tesserax

Level 10

148,859 points

May 15, 2007 1:39 PM in response to Tix

When using PPPoE connections, only the device directly connected to the ISP needs to be set up for PPPoE. So, in this case it would be either of the AirPort base stations and NOT your PowerBook...which, in turn, should be set up as a DHCP client.

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Answer 2

Tix Author

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May 15, 2007 2:47 PM in response to Tesserax

I've done that. Whenever I give the AEBS a new try I set up the Powerbook as a DHCP client.
The AEBS always shows the error message of not receiving an IP-address from the ISP and keeps looking for a PPPoE host and never finds it.

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Answer 3

Tesserax

Level 10

148,859 points

May 15, 2007 2:57 PM in response to Tix

Let's double-check your AEBSn's settings...

Either connect to the AEBSn's wireless network or temporarily connect your computer directly (using an Ethernet cable) to one of the LAN ports of the AEBSn, and then, using the AirPort Utility in Manual Mode, check these settings:

AirPort - Base Station
- Base Station Name: <whatever you wish or use the default>
- Base Station Password: (optional)
- Contact: (optional)
- Location: (optional)
- Set time automatically (optional)
- Time Zone: <select your time zone>
- Status Light: Always On (Default)
- Allow configuration over Ethernet WAN port (unchecked)
- Advertise configuration globally using Bonjour (unchecked)

AirPort - Wireless
- Wireless Mode: Create a wireless network
- Network Name: <whatever you wish or use the default>
- Allow this network to be extended (unchecked)
- Radio Mode: 802.11n (802.11b/g compatible)
- Channel: Automatic
- Wireless Security: None

AirPort - Wireless - Wireless Options
- Region: <select your region>
- Multicast Rate: 2 Mbps
- Transmit Power: 100%
- Create a closed network (unchecked)
- Use interference robustness (unchecked)

Internet - Internet Connection
- Connect Using: PPPoE
- Username: <your PPPoE account username>
- Password: <your PPPoE account password>
- Verify Password: <re-enter your PPPoE account password>
- Service Name: (Optional)
- Connection Sharing: Share a public IP address

Internet - PPPoE
- Connection: Always On
- Disconnect if Idle: Never
- IP Address: (provided by ISP)
- Subnet Mask: (provided by ISP)
- Router Address: (provided by ISP)
- DNS Server(s): (provided by ISP)
- Domain Name: (provided by ISP)

Internet - DHCP
- DHCP Range: 10.0 1.x
- DHCP Beginning Address: 10.0.1.2
- DHCP Ending Address: 10.0.1.200
- DHCP Lease: 4 hours
- DHCP Message: (optional)
- LDAP Server: (optional)
- DHCP Reservations: (optional)

Internet - NAT
- Enable default host at: (leave blank)
- Enable NAT Port Mapping Protocol (checked)

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Answer 4

Tix Author

Level 1

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May 15, 2007 3:11 PM in response to Tesserax

Ok, my AEBS settings are like what you've written.
I had to uncheck - Allow configuration over Ethernet WAN port
but apart from that everything is the same.

At Internet - PPPoE
I never get anything filled into IP Address and Router Address!
The subnet mask always shows: 255.255.255.255

Power Book G4 Mac OS X (10.4.8)

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Answer 5

Tesserax

Level 10

148,859 points

May 15, 2007 3:51 PM in response to Tix

Per chance, are you allowing enough time for a complete power recycle of your network components when switching them out...so the DSL modem can properly "recognize" the new device (in this case the AEBSn) connected to it?

Modem/Router Power ReCycling
- Power-off the DSL/Cable modem, Internet Router, & computer(s). (Wait at least 30 minutes. If possible, leave the modem off overnight.)
- Power-on the DSL/Cable modem; Wait at least 30 minutes.
- Power-on the Internet Router; Wait at least 5 minutes.
- Power-on the computer(s)

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Answer 6

Tix Author

Level 1

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May 16, 2007 12:05 AM in response to Tesserax

Yes, I've done that power reset tonight- no change.
The AEBS works also fine in bridge mode.
Only if I want the AEBS to make the PPPoE connection itself, it doesn't do the job.

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Answer 7

Zebra1

Level 2

290 points

May 16, 2007 4:28 AM in response to Tix

You'd have to disable the modem doing PPPoE first if you want the airport to do it. Not sure you are actually doing that.

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Answer 8

Tix Author

Level 1

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May 16, 2007 9:48 AM in response to Zebra1

If the modem did the PPPoE then I wouldn't be able to connect using the Mac's build in PPPoE, would I?
And anyway, if the modem was the problem and did the PPPoE then the DLink router wouldn't have worked either, would it?

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Answer 9

Zebra1

Level 2

290 points

May 16, 2007 3:20 PM in response to Tix

First question is a no. Your Mac or any router would be able to do PPoE.

That's why this is an airport problem if it doesn't work as I suggested. Of course, you also have to turn PPPoE OFF in the modem and set it to bridge.

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Answer 10

Tix Author

Level 1

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May 17, 2007 3:09 AM in response to Zebra1

I don't understand why this is an airport question, because it's the AEBS that is NOT able to connect to the Internet. It doesn't matter whether my MAC is then connected to the AEBS or not, the AEBS doesn't make the connection to the ISP under no circumstances anyway.
It's neither receiving an IP-address nor an IP of the router or DNS of the ISP.

Is nobody out there that had a similar problem and is able to help?
Or is the the AEBS just not good enough?

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Answer 11

Tix Author

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May 18, 2007 2:34 AM in response to Tix

Please, I need some help here...

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Answer 12

topshot

Level 1

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May 18, 2007 4:30 AM in response to Tix

Hi all,
I still have the same problems as written above.Trying to connect AEBSII couple of weeks - no success. It is still working as established with a normal LAN connection.

The former Airport extreme is working still perfect with the common settings. Any ideas?

ISP is AOL germany

iMac Mac OS X (10.4.8) iPod, iPod Shuffle, Airport extreme, Airport express, iMac mini, iMac, Airport extreme II

iMac Mac OS X (10.4.8) iPod, iPod Shuffle, Airport extreme, Airport express, iMac mini, Airport extreme

iMac Mac OS X (10.4.8) iPod, iPod Shuffle, Airport extreme, Airport express, iMac mini, Airport extreme II

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Answer 13

Zebra1

Level 2

290 points

May 18, 2007 4:35 AM in response to Tix

You just said it is an Airport question yourself since the AEBS doesn't connect. Airport can do PPPoE but it is not obvious why it can't where you are.

See if the modem can do PPPoE and bridge the Airport to it.
That solves your problem and you get your wireless too.

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Answer 14

Tix Author

Level 1

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May 18, 2007 6:04 AM in response to Zebra1

Thanks Tesserax and Zebra1 for trying to help.
The modem can't do the PPPoE, so bridging the AEBS doesn't work.

I've taken the AEBS now back to a Apple shop here in Namibia.
The owner couldn't believe why the AEBS wouldn't do the PPPoE cause he uses one at home and it works perfectly, although with a different ISP.
He's taken mine home now and will check it with his connection over the weekend. If it's not working I'll probably get a new one and it was all a manufacturing error.
But let's wait and see till Monday.

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Answer 15

May 19, 2007 8:33 PM in response to Tix

A friend I'm helping is seeing the same problem as the original poster. Here are the specifics:

- Earthlink DSL service w/ PPPoE
- AirPortExtreme used to work, has not for 2 weeks now
- Indicates unable to find PPPoE server
- Have hard reset and reconfigured the AEBS
- Have tried an AirPortExpress with the same result
- Have tried a new, known good Cat-6 Ethernet cable
- Have tried configuring the AirPorts with a different Mac
- Connecting a Mac directly to the DSL modem works (via PPPoE)
- I've followed the instructions on the PPPoE Scenario KB article ( http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=107530)

I'm pretty much at my wit's end, and my friend is pulling his hair out. I'm recommending a third-party wireless access point, just to further narrow the problem down to the AirPort hardware.

MacBook Pro 15" Mac OS X (10.4.9) AirPortExtreme and AirPortExpress

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