Optimal router settings in big Apartment

[macrabbit]

Using a Macbook Air and Mac Airport Extreme 'N' router connected to a couple wall ethernet ports. Building has built-in network services.

How should setup the network on my router? 1-DHCP and NAT, 2-DHCP only, 3-Off (Bridge Only). Then there are loads of other settings like IPv4 etc.

Any suggestions are appreciated, thanks.

 

[JohnDS]

It depends on how your apartment networking is set up. Do you get a public or private IP address if connected directly to the apartment network? If you get a private IP address, then you need to set the the AE to Bridge mode. Otherwise set to DHCP and NAT.

The following are "private" IP address:

• 192.168.0.0 to 192.168.255.255
• 172.16.0.0 to 172.31.255.255
• 10.0.0.0 to 10.255.255.255

All others are public.

 

[macrabbit]

It depends on how your apartment networking is set up. Do you get a public or private IP address if connected directly to the apartment network? If you get a private IP address, then you need to set the the AE to Bridge mode. Otherwise set to DHCP and NAT.

The following are "private" IP address:

• 192.168.0.0 to 192.168.255.255
• 172.16.0.0 to 172.31.255.255
• 10.0.0.0 to 10.255.255.255

All others are public.

Here is what I show in the Wifi network preferences, as well as Airport utility. What do you reckon?

Network Preferences, WiFi TCP/IP tab:
IPv4 Address: 10.x.x.x
Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
Router: 10.x.x.x

Airport Utility (Lan IP: 10.x.x.x), 'internet' tab (DHCP):
IPv4 Address: 27.xx.205.xxx
Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.xxx
Router Address: 27.xx.205.xxx

 

[JohnDS]

Is that with the Mac connected directly to the apartment wall plug or with the Mac connected to the Airport Express which is connected to the wall plug?

I assume it is the latter and that the Airport Express is set to DHCP and NAT?

Is the Mac also set to DHCP?

 

[macrabbit]

Yes the latter with the router set to DHCP and NAT. My connection is having issues, so simply wondering if bridge mode would be better?

 

[JohnDS]

If you used bridge mode, you would only be able to connect one device at time to the internet. It is unlikely that switching to bridge mode would improve your connectivity.

Exactly what problems are you having?