Setting Up Your Airport Extreme for VPN Access

Are you tired of being locked out of your home network when you're away from your house? With the right setup, you can access your Macs inside your home from outside using a Virtual Private Network (VPN). In this article, we'll show you how to set up your Apple Airport Extreme to achieve this.

First, let's talk about how DHCP works. The Airport Utility allows you to reserve specific local IP addresses for each of your Macs. This means that when new devices log on, they will be assigned a unique address based on the order they connect. To access one of your Macs from outside your house, you need to navigate through two layers: the internet IP address and the local IP address.

Imagine your home's internet IP address as the apartment building address, and the local IP address as the apartment number. When you're connected to the internet, you can use the Airport Utility to configure the DHCP reservation section. This will allow you to assign specific addresses to each of your Macs.

To get started, open the Airport Utility in your Utilities folder within Applications. From here, navigate to the Internet section and then the DHCP section. You'll see a list of available devices connected to your network. To set up manual configuration, click on 'Manual Setup' and you'll be taken to more specific controls.

Now that you have your Airport Extreme set up, how do you get from outside your house to one of your Macs inside? The answer lies in the combination of your DSL or cable modem router and your Airport Extreme. From outside your home, you can access one of your Macs using a VPN connection.

Sadly, Apple's closed networking software and system mean that OpenVPN integration is not possible for their Airport firmware. However, there are other options available. For instance, the FlashRouter offers internal VPN client OpenVPN functionality within enhanced firmware, making it compatible with various devices such as Apple, Linux, Android, or Roku.

For those using an Apple Time Capsule, adding a FlashRouter to your network can be advantageous. Here are some benefits:

* DD-WRT Native Support for All OS's: This feature eliminates connectivity issues with devices.

* DD-WRT Firmware: Adds internal VPN client OpenVPN functionality alongside support for newer VPN protocols like WireGuard.

* Compatibility with various VPN providers: The FlashRouter allows for a connection to nearly any VPN provider.

In conclusion, setting up your Airport Extreme for VPN access may require some technical knowledge, but the benefits are well worth it. By following these steps and considering alternative options, you can unlock the full potential of your home network from anywhere in the world.

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