AirPort Express as an ethernet bridge

From Applepedia

Some may wish to use their AirPort Express as an ethernet bridge. That is to say, connect an ethernet device such as an xbox to your network using wireless.

Contents 1 With a WRT54G 1.1 Credits: 2 FAQ 2.1 Does this setup affect my ability to use AirTunes?

With a WRT54G

You'll need a firmware that supports WDS. As of the writing of this article, the latest Linksys firware does not support WDS. Sveasoft's Satori and Talisman firmware support WDS. Once you have one of them installed, proceed.

1. Log into your router and navigate to Wireless > Basic Settings. Note the Channel and Wireless network mode. These are important later on.
   1. Navigate to Wireless > Security. If you don't already have a 128bit WEP encryption key, create one.
2. Navigate to Security > Firewall
   1. Disable Firewall protection
   2. Disable Block Anonymous Internet Requests (ICMP)
3. Navigate to Status > Wireless
   1. Note the MAC Address. You'll need this when setting up your AirPort Express

1. Open /Applications/Utilities/AirPort Application Utility.app
2. You should see your AirPort Express. Click on it and click Configure. If you don't see it, you may have to run the first step of the AirPort Setup Assistant located in /Applications/Utilities/AirPort Setup Assistant.app
3. AirPort tab
   1. Set the Base Station Name to whatever you want to appear in iTunes and the configuation screen.
   2. Set the AirPort Network Name to something other than your main wireless network's SSID.
   3. Change the Channel to the same one that you noted on the WRT54G.
   4. Change the Mode to the same as the WRT54G
   5. Click Change Wireless Security...
      1. Enter the hexadecimal 128 bit security key that you set on your WRT54G. Preceed it with a $.
4. Network tab
   1. Uncheck Distribute IP addresses. Your WRT54G will be handing out the IPs.
5. WDS tab
   1. Check Enable this base station as a WDS
   2. Make sure the WDS type is 'remote base station
   3. In the Main AirPort ID field, enter the wireless MAC address of your WRT54G. It may be available if you click Select...
6. Internet tab
   1. Make sure Connect using is set to AirPort (WDS) and that the MAC address has been populated with the wireless MAC of your WRT54G.
7. Click Update

Back in AirPort Admin Utility you should see your newly setup AirPort. Click on it. In the left pane you should see some details, including AirPort ID. This is the MAC address of the AirPort card in the AirPort Express.

1. Log back into the WRT54G.
2. Navigate to the Wireless > WDS tab
   1. Disable Automatic WDS if it is enabled
   2. Change the drop down in the first entry to LAN
   3. Once the page reloads, enter the AirPort ID in that entry.
   4. Disable Lazy WDS and WDS Subnet. Don't worry if you don't have both options.
   5. If you have the option to disable the Loopback interface on the Administration > Management screen, do that.
   6. Click Apply Settings

This should be it. You may need to power cycle your AirPort Express. Hopefully the light will go to a solid green and you can now plug an ethernet device into its ethernet port. Check the Status > Wireless configuration page of your WRT54G. Hopefully you'll see WDS Signal followed by the MAC of your AirPort Express and something other than 0 dBm.

Credits:

• http://andywismar.com/articles/2005/01/11/apple_airport_express_extreme_linksys_wrt54g_wds

FAQ

Does this setup affect my ability to use AirTunes?

Not at all. AirTunes will work fine with this setup.