Bridge mode. To create a wireless ethernet cable between my 2 buildings.
I have 2 airport extreme Base Stations. I configured one as "Main Base Station" the other as "Remote Base Station". Initially I had no encryption enabled and no wireless clients.
1st question: These are both connected to our larger network through a switch. Not directly to a router. I have the ethernet connected to the WAN port (the circle) of both Airports. Is this correct?
2nd question. If I'm not encrypted can someone else scan my base station and set theirs to be a "remote"? Or would they have to know my MAC address or be directly be part of our wired network to see them?
3rd. I'm assuming yes I need to turn encryption on to secure my "bridge". So now if I turn encryption on. I'm guessing both units have to be set to the same password? (we are doing all of this manually, please don't say hit auto setup). Airport menu "Enable encryption".
4th. If I want to allow WiFi clients to access the airport to surf. I turn on "Allow Wireless Clients" under the WDS page. Then on the Airport page Create a network name. Does the network name have to be the same for both units? Or do they HAVE to be different?
5th just dialing in the Remote vs Relay base station definitions.
Remote Only connects with one other base station (which can be relay or main) and then serves wireless computers if set to do so.
Relay Stations are meant to communicate with the main and then pass along to another base station. (and serve that area's wireless users if set to do so).
Question can that next base station be yet another relay station? Or does a relay always have to speak with the "Main Base Station"? thus that 3rd airport cannot be set to relay?
Thanks for all your help in advance.
I hope that if we get some concise answers that this will help others quickly learn the capabilities of the Airport. As well as how to configure it. I've spent way to much time playing around with something I feel should have been in a manual. (Manuals are just too basic).
Start Free Trial
