Some Airport Extreme questions (switch, usb...)

[Romf]

Hi!

I'm thinking about buying an Aiport Extreme for a special use so I have a few questions.

Searching this forum I found that this can be used as a switch, disabling the routing functions. This is how I want to use it but, in this configuration:

1. Will I be able to use the AP function? (so, no routing, just gigabit switch and AP)

2. Will I be able to use the USB sharing function?

3. Also, how efficient is this usb sharing? I mean, do I have to "mount" the network device on my mac everytime I switch it on or will it appear everytime once this is done?
Can it be used as a normal disk that would be connected on the mac?

Thanks in advance

 

[robbieduncan]

1) Yes, routing is entirely optional.

2) Yes, USB sharing is not dependent on routing

3) I'm not sure if you can sent airport shared disks to automount or not.

 

[Romf]

Thanks for quick answers

So it's perfect. For USB devices you mean you have to mount it everytime?
I guess any switch/router with USB port will behave the same anyway?

 

[Romf]

Well I think I've got my answer on this website:

http://www.macintouch.com/reviews/airportn/

The included, but optional, "AirPort Disk Utility" software watches for new AirPort Disks to appear on the network. As they become available, it automounts the disks if a password is available in the user's Keychain. (This can be disabled, and does not prevent mounting disks normally.)

 

[Jolly Giant]

The included, but optional, "AirPort Disk Utility" software watches for new AirPort Disks to appear on the network. As they become available, it automounts the disks if a password is available in the user's Keychain.

in my experience, this doesn't work.

however, this works for me:

if you are comfortable with AppleScript, you could edit this script to suit your need

try
mount volume "afp://<devicename>.local/<volumename>" as user name "<accountname>" with password "<accountpassword>"
end try​

this script just places the drive's icon on the desktop.

save it as an application and add that to your login items.

credit for the script goes to Tesserax.

 

[Romf]

in my experience, this doesn't work.

however, this works for me:

if you are comfortable with AppleScript, you could edit this script to suit your need

try
mount volume "afp://<devicename>.local/<volumename>" as user name "<accountname>" with password "<accountpassword>"
end try​

this script just places the drive's icon on the desktop.

save it as an application and add that to your login items.

credit for the script goes to Tesserax.

Thanks for that! I'm not really comfy with Apple Script but I think I could manage that

Thanks everyone for your answers

 

[Dark Dragoon]

Only the Airport Extreme and Time Capsule do file sharing.

The USB port on the Airport Express is only for connecting printers.
Well there used to be a USB remote receiver as well for controlling music playback.

I'm just checking as you said Express in the topic but Extreme in your post.

 

[Romf]

Only the Airport Extreme and Time Capsule do file sharing.

The USB port on the Airport Express is only for connecting printers.
Well there used to be a USB remote receiver as well for controlling music playback.

I'm just checking as you said Express in the topic but Extreme in your post.

Wow yeah thanks I was definitely talking about the extreme but made an error in the topic.

 

[Romf]

I've been searching more to see if there are any alternatives, and found very good advices about the Netgear WNDR3700. Basically it has the same features with better price, and more gigabit ports.

But can you confirm that it will do the job for my case (meaning can I disable routing functions, use it just as a switch+AP+USB NAS?)

Thanks

 

[Romf]

Well it's quite hard finding good informations.

I've seen a test on a french website where they say that this Netgear is garbage for "long distance" wifi. But some other tests on other website indicate exactly the opposite....

Anyway right now I have 3 solutions, as I see in this order:

Airport Extreme
Linksys/Cisco E3000 (nearly same features, juste a little less expensive)
Netgear 3700 (best price but some opposite advices...)

I know the Cisco can disable the routing functions... But basically for nearly the same price I've seen no bad advices about the airport extreme... Any advice?