Networking – Setting up DHCP and NAT on apple extreme with Virgin Media SH (APPLE)

dhcpnat;networkingrouter

I'm currently going mad trying to get my Apple Time Machine to be the DHCP and NAT Server. I've turned off DHCP in the Super Hub config and turned DHCP and NAT on in the Time Machine. Doing this, I thought, would be all that I'd need to do but it's not able to reach the internet.

There's an option to turn the Super Hub into Modem mode but I'd like to keep the WiFi options on it as it's down stairs and the Time Machine upstairs. The WiFi on the Super Hub is a hell of a lot better than the Time Machine's as well.

Am I already trying to do something I can't?

Steps Taken

  1. I turned off DHCP in the Super Hub.
  2. I turned on DHCP in the Time Machine – 10.0.1.100 – 10.0.1.200
  3. I assigned a static IP to the Super Hub – 10.0.1.2
  4. I went to the internet tab in airport utility and assigned IPv4 – 10.0.1.99, and assigned router IP to 10.0.1.1, BUT no matter what values these were in the 10.0.1.### range the utility would say the WAN IP conflicted with my DHCP range.
  5. After much messing about I tried my external IP for the IPv4 field and tried a 10.0.1.### for the router. Same error again. Then decided to give both router and IPv4 the same external IP and that allowed me to update the routers config, but still no internet.

Best Answer

Distilled from comments…

The best solution I've ever found for a Virgin SuperHub is to dumb it down to pure Modem mode & set up a decent Router behind it. Saves having to bridge the good router & stops the SuperHub's tiny brain having to think at all.

You will lose the SuperHub's WiFi but I think it's a fair swap to finally be in full control of your routing/firewall. Bear in mind the SuperHub's IP changes as you switch if over from router to modem [from 192.168.100.1 to 192.168.0.1 at defaults] & that if you ever hard reset it, you will find it easiest to set back up again with a single computer plugged straight into it, to set it back to modem mode; saves having to rejig the entire network for the sake of a couple of button presses on its built-in web page.
It goes without saying that you should change the default admin password.

Once set, you will have to lift all internal switching to inside the new router, in your case, the Airport, so you don't have stray devices outside the firewall unless you are intentionally creating a DMZ [which would be another topic]

So… Modem > Router > Switch > rest of building.

You would need to add WiFI Access Points from the Switch to the rest of the building [or use repeaters] if you need to extend the WiFi.

Your Airport is now in charge of all routing, DHCP & NAT.
Bye-bye SuperHub.

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