Apple AirPort Extreme Base Station and Fibre services

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webwat

2036 posts

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#1300960 8-May-2015 20:25

ahmad:
tdgeek:
khull: Don't believe so - Apple does not support VLAN tagging

Sorry, in answer to the OP, as per what Khull said. You need to connect the AEBS/TC to the ONT connected router

So would that mean I have to put the ONT connected router into some "dumb bridge" mode?

Its not completely dumb so you still have to check if there are anything like DHCP and DNS that you also want to turn off or set to be relayed from the router (the router thats still functioning as a router and connected to the ONT).

It sounds like bridge mode doesn't turn off the Apple's DHCP, which makes it allocate IP numbers instead of passing all that to the router. If there's no way to stop it, try setting the router to allocate higher LAN numbers such as x.x.x.100 to x.x.x.200, so that it doesn't allocate the same numbers as the Apple.

Time to find a new industry!

RunningMan

8953 posts

Uber Geek

#1300963 8-May-2015 20:35

webwat: [snip]

It sounds like bridge mode doesn't turn off the Apple's DHCP, which makes it allocate IP numbers instead of passing all that to the router.

When the Apple Airport series are in bridge mode, DHCP is definitely disabled.

tdgeek

29740 posts

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#1300964 8-May-2015 20:35

webwat:
ahmad:
tdgeek:
khull: Don't believe so - Apple does not support VLAN tagging

Sorry, in answer to the OP, as per what Khull said. You need to connect the AEBS/TC to the ONT connected router

So would that mean I have to put the ONT connected router into some "dumb bridge" mode?

Its not completely dumb so you still have to check if there are anything like DHCP and DNS that you also want to turn off or set to be relayed from the router (the router thats still functioning as a router and connected to the ONT).

It sounds like bridge mode doesn't turn off the Apple's DHCP, which makes it allocate IP numbers instead of passing all that to the router. If there's no way to stop it, try setting the router to allocate higher LAN numbers such as x.x.x.100 to x.x.x.200, so that it doesn't allocate the same numbers as the Apple.

I'll check that when home although I'm sure there was a choice of dhcp Nat or none

tdgeek

29740 posts

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Lifetime subscriber

#1301043 9-May-2015 07:13

tdgeek:
webwat:
ahmad:
tdgeek:
khull: Don't believe so - Apple does not support VLAN tagging

Sorry, in answer to the OP, as per what Khull said. You need to connect the AEBS/TC to the ONT connected router

So would that mean I have to put the ONT connected router into some "dumb bridge" mode?

Its not completely dumb so you still have to check if there are anything like DHCP and DNS that you also want to turn off or set to be relayed from the router (the router thats still functioning as a router and connected to the ONT).

It sounds like bridge mode doesn't turn off the Apple's DHCP, which makes it allocate IP numbers instead of passing all that to the router. If there's no way to stop it, try setting the router to allocate higher LAN numbers such as x.x.x.100 to x.x.x.200, so that it doesn't allocate the same numbers as the Apple.

I'll check that when home although I'm sure there was a choice of dhcp Nat or none

Airport Utility Router Mode options are

DHCP and NAT
DHCP Only
Bridge Mode (Off)

ahmad

1937 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#1301371 10-May-2015 11:32

So what's the correct option to use this with a Spark router and if it works what benefit would I have? Can I still use the AirPort Utility to manage the network or would that no longer work (thereby defeating the purpose)?

RunningMan

8953 posts

Uber Geek

#1301373 10-May-2015 11:38

If you want to use the spark router, put the airport in bridge mode. The spark router will then be doing your network management

If you want to use the airport to manage the network you will need a microtik or similar router to do the vlan tagging on the wan.

You can't use the spark router and not have it doing the basic network management unless you use double nat which I cannot discourage strongly enough.

ahmad

1937 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#1301374 10-May-2015 11:42

If the AirPort is in bridge mode with Spark/Huawei managing the network would there be any point in having the AirPort in the picture at all? Hope that question makes sense.

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RunningMan

8953 posts

Uber Geek

#1301385 10-May-2015 12:07

Depends!

The Airport range are generally very reliable WiFi base stations, and pretty easy to set up and manage, but if the WiFi on the Spark supplied router is adequate for your needs, then just go with that.

It could be advantageous to use both (connected via an ethernet cable) if you have a large area to cover, by having the router and airport at opposite ends of the area.

Different units in the airport range do have other useful features like airplay speakers or USB sharing that can be handy as well.

PJ48

295 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1306096 15-May-2015 20:18

I have Spark UFB and a 99% reliable wifi Apple Network whereby the Spark router (in my case a Pace V5542) is fully operational EXCEPT I have disabled the Wifi on the Pace. My Apple Time capsule is then connected via ethernet to the Pace and runs in bridge mode. I also happen to have another couple of Airport devices connected via ethernet from the TC to create a whole of house single Apple wifi network (our house has lathe and plaster walls that seems to create havoc with wifi signal intensity), and I can manage the whole network via Apple Airport Utility. Roaming and handoff seems to occur very easily, but we do have only Apple devices.

I guess my point is, for me at least, leaving the Spark router to do NAT and DHCP, and running all the Airports in bridge mode gives me an incredibly hassle-free experience. It is also really simple to configure different Airports to work together to create a single roaming network, if you have an old house like ours that blocks wifi signals. Connecting them all via ethernet is critical though.

PS. The reason I never used the wifi on the Pace was that it was hopeless!

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