The base station has two Ethernet ports, a LAN port and a WAN port . Generally speaking, the WAN port connects to the Internet, and the LAN port accommodates wired Ethernet computers. Both ports share these features:
The WAN port
Figure 1 The WAN port icon
Use the WAN port for connecting to digital subscriber line (DSL), a cable modem, or a wide area network (WAN), such as your existing school or business network. Contact your network administrator before placing a base station on a WAN.
The LAN port
Figure 2 The LAN port icon
Use the LAN port to connect wired Ethernet computers or printers to the base station. This allows them to communicate with wireless computers, to share an Internet connection, or both. You can connect a single computer or printer to the base station; or, for multiple devices, connect to the hub, switch, or router of a local area network (LAN). Since the base station itself is a router, a hub is adequate for a simple network.
Designing a network
For more information on designing a network, see these technical documents:
106658: "Creating a Small Ethernet Network."
120061: "Designing AirPort Networks for Mac OS X (v10.1) Manuals"
75138: "Designing AirPort Networks for Mac OS 9 Document"
- They accept standard RJ-45 Ethernet connectors.
- They are designed not to allow accidental insertion of an RJ-11 telephone connector.
- A crossover cable is compatible but not required, since the base station automatically senses the cable type and adjusts the pinout signal accordingly.
The WAN port
Figure 1 The WAN port icon
Use the WAN port for connecting to digital subscriber line (DSL), a cable modem, or a wide area network (WAN), such as your existing school or business network. Contact your network administrator before placing a base station on a WAN.
The LAN port
Figure 2 The LAN port icon
Use the LAN port to connect wired Ethernet computers or printers to the base station. This allows them to communicate with wireless computers, to share an Internet connection, or both. You can connect a single computer or printer to the base station; or, for multiple devices, connect to the hub, switch, or router of a local area network (LAN). Since the base station itself is a router, a hub is adequate for a simple network.
Designing a network
For more information on designing a network, see these technical documents:
106658: "Creating a Small Ethernet Network."
120061: "Designing AirPort Networks for Mac OS X (v10.1) Manuals"
75138: "Designing AirPort Networks for Mac OS 9 Document"