Airport express as a switch?

M

madmonk

macrumors newbie

Original poster

Dec 9, 2004

16

0

• Aug 18, 2007

• #1

I just found out that the network in my uni's residence only allows us to use a hub or a switch, but not a router, so my current D-link wireless router is useless. I also need to share a printer, so the airport express seems to be a good choice, but can the airport express act just as a switch but not a router?

Thanks!

 

iCheddar

macrumors 6502a

Apr 30, 2007

662

13

South Dakota

• Aug 18, 2007

• #2

Don't allow routers as in they don't want a bunch of people using their own routers to get on the internet?

Have you considered using an Airport extreme as just a wireless LAN instead of an internet gateway?

 

M

macleod199

macrumors 6502

Mar 10, 2007

290

6

• Aug 19, 2007

• #3

madmonk said:

I just found out that the network in my uni's residence only allows us to use a hub or a switch, but not a router, so my current D-link wireless router is useless. I also need to share a printer, so the airport express seems to be a good choice, but can the airport express act just as a switch but not a router?

Thanks!

Click to expand...

Usually this just involves turning off the function on a router to assign IP addresses and whatnot, and just pass on traffic. It *shouldn't* be a problem, but I'd double check in the manual (posted online).

 

EricNau

Moderator emeritus

Apr 27, 2005

10,736

294

San Francisco, CA

• Aug 19, 2007

• #4

In Airport Admin Utility, if you uncheck Distribute IP addresses under the Network tab, it says, "Internet sharing using NAT and DHCP is not enabled. Client computers on the network must configure TCP/IP manually. The base station will act as a bridge between the Airport and local Ethernet network.

...Maybe this is what you want?

 

P

PieMan

macrumors newbie

Aug 8, 2007

17

0

• Aug 19, 2007

• #5

I am using my AirPort Extreme exactly like how you want to use yours. Even sharing a printer with other users using Bonjour.
Set it to bridge mode in the internet tab of the AirPort utility and plug in the internet connection into the WAN port and you are good to go.