Apple AIRPORT EXTREME BASE STATION Setup Guide

AirPort Extreme Base Station

Setup Guide

Chapter 1 5 Introduction to AirPort

About the AirPort Extreme Base Station

The AirPort Extreme Base Station at a Glance

AirPort Extreme Base Station Ports

About the AirPort Software

Chapter 2 9 Setting Up Your AirPort Extreme Base Station

Mounting the AirPort Extreme Base Station on a Wall

Setup Overview

Chapter 3 15 Using Your AirPort Extreme Base Station

Configuring the Base Station

Monitoring the AirPort Extreme Base Station’s Internet Connection Status

Monitoring AirPort Extreme Base Station Communication

Connecting to the Internet Via the AirPort Network

Connecting Additional Base Stations to Your AirPort Network

Connecting Multiple Base Stations to Power Sourcing Equipment (PSE)

Extending the Range of Your AirPort Network

Controlling the Range of Your AirPort Network

More Information About AirPort

Chapter 4 21 Basic Network Designs

Setting Up a Home Office Network

Setting Up a Network at School

Connecting AirPort Base Stations Using Power Over Ethernet (PoE)

Chapter 5 27 Troubleshooting

Appendix 31 AirPort Extreme Base Station Specifications

Communications Regulation Information

Contents

Introduction to AirPort

AirPort is a simple and fast way to access the Internet from anywhere in your home, classroom, or office without cables, additional phone lines, or complicated networking software.

AirPort is a wireless local area network (WLAN) technology that provides highperformance wireless communication between multiple computers and the Internet. When you connect to the Internet using AirPort, you can share a single Internet connection with many computers at the same time and share files among them.

To use AirPort to access the Internet, you may need an account with an Internet service provider (fees may apply) and a way to access the Internet—either through a DSL or cable modem, or an Ethernet network. If your base station has an internal modem, and you have a PPP dial-up connection with an ISP, you can connect to the Internet using the base station’s internal modem.

Note:

This manual includes information for setting up the AirPort Extreme Base Station using Mac OS X and Windows XP and Windows 2000. The screenshots and general instructions are based on Mac OS X. For more detailed Windows XP and Windows 2000 instructions, see AirPort Help in the AirPort Admin Utility on computers using Windows.

About the AirPort Extreme Base Station

The AirPort Extreme Base Station establishes a wired connection to the Internet or a network and wireless connections to wireless client computers. Once the base station is connected to the network, all wireless client computers can connect to the Internet by joining the AirPort network. Computers connected to the AirPort network by Ethernet can also share the base station’s Internet connection. The base station manages communications between the Internet and the wireless client computers.

The AirPort Extreme Base Station has the following ports:

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10/100Base-T Ethernet WAN ( ) port for connecting a DSL or cable modem, or for connecting to an existing Ethernet network with Internet access 10/100Base-T Ethernet LAN (G) port for high-speed connection to local printers and

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Ethernet computers that don’t have Internet access USB port ( ) for connecting a printer to the base station

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Some models of the base station also have a built-in 56K modem port (W) for dial-up Internet access with a standard telephone line.

Some models of the base station can also receive power over Ethernet (PoE). When the base station Ethernet WAN port is connected to IEEE 802.3af-compliant Power Sourcing Equipment (PSE), such as a line-powered Ethernet switch or hub, with a CAT 5 Ethernet cable, it receives power over the Ethernet cable.

The AirPort Extreme Base Station at a Glance

Status lights

External antenna port

Reset button

Ethernet (WAN) port

Ethernet (LAN) port

Internal modem port

USB printer port

Security slot

Power adapter port

6 Chapter 1

Introduction to AirPort

AirPort Extreme Base Station Ports

Your AirPort Extreme Base Station may have six ports, depending on which model you purchased.

10/100Base-T Ethernet WAN port

Connect a DSL or cable modem, or connect to an existing Ethernet network with Internet access.

10/100Base-T Ethernet LAN port

Connect local Ethernet computers (computers without Internet access) and printers, or other Ethernet devices, such as a hub or a switch.

Internal modem port (on some models)

Connect one end of a phone cord to the internal modem port and the other end to a standard telephone jack.

Universal Serial Bus (USB) printer port

Connect a USB printer so that computers connected to the AirPort network can share the printer.

External antenna port

Connect an Apple-certified external antenna to extend the range of the wireless network.

Power adapter port

Connect one end of the AirPort Extreme Base Station power adapter to the port and the other end to an electrical outlet.

Security slot

You can purchase a security cable and lock to secure your AirPort Extreme Base Station.

Note:

If this AirPort Extreme Base Station did not come with a power adapter and you don’t plan to use PoE, you can purchase a base station power adapter from your Appleauthorized dealer, Apple retail stores, or the Apple Store at www.apple.com/store.

If the base station supports PoE, it and its mounting bracket conform to UL Standard 2043, “Fire Test for Heat and Visible Smoke Release for Discrete Products and Their Accessories Installed in Air-Handling Spaces,” for placement in the air-handling space above suspended ceilings. Using PoE allows you to install a base station in places away from a standard electrical outlet. For more information about using PoE, see the document “Designing AirPort Extreme Networks,” or “AirPort Networks for Windows,” that came on the AirPort CD. The documents are also available at www.apple.com/airportextreme.

To determine if your base station supports PoE, check the label on the bottom of the base station.

Note:

To use the base station in an air-handling space above suspended ceilings, you must connect the Ethernet WAN port to an 802.3af-compliant PSE with a plenum-rated Ethernet cable. You cannot use the AC power adapter to power a base station installed in an air-handling space. If you connect an external antenna to a base station mounted in an air-handling space, make sure it is plenum-rated. See the documentation that came with the antenna.

Chapter 1

Introduction to AirPort

About the AirPort Software

AirPort Setup Assistant

Use the AirPort Setup Assistant to configure the AirPort Extreme Base Station and to set up your computer to use AirPort. The Assistant is located in Applications/Utilities on a computer using Mac OS X.

AirPort Admin Utility

AirPort Admin Utility is an advanced tool for setting up and managing the AirPort Extreme Base Station. Use AirPort Admin Utility to adjust network, routing, and security settings and other advanced options. AirPort Admin Utility is located in Applications/ Utilities on a computer using Mac OS X, and in Start > All Programs > AirPort on a computer using Windows XP or Windows 2000.

AirPort status menu in the menu bar

Use the AirPort status menu to switch quickly between AirPort networks, monitor the signal quality of the current network, create a Computer-to-Computer network, and turn AirPort on and off. The AirPort status menu in the menu bar is part of AirPort for Max OS X.

If your base station supports Power over Ethernet, the following Mac OS X applications are included on the AirPort Management Tools CD.

AirPort Management Utility

AirPort Management Utility allows network administrators to set up and manage multiple base stations from a single location.

AirPort Client Monitor

The AirPort Client monitor application monitors the signal strength and transmit rate of wireless client computers.

To extend the range of your network, you can use AirPort Admin Utility to set up multiple base stations in your network connected to one another wirelessly, known as a Wireless Distribution System (WDS), or over Ethernet. You can also extend the range of your wireless network by connecting an Apple-certified external antenna to the antenna port.

If you connect a USB printer to the base station, computers on the AirPort network can print to it by selecting the printer via Rendezvous in Printer Setup Utility, located in Applications/Utilities on a Macintosh. You must use Mac OS X v10.2.3 or later, or Windows XP or Windows 2000, to print to a USB printer via an AirPort Extreme Base Station. For information about setting up a computer using Windows XP or Windows 2000, see the document “AirPort Networks for Windows,” that came on the AirPort CD.

Note:

If the base station is set up to receive power over the Ethernet WAN port, do not connect a printer to the USB port. You cannot print to a USB printer if the base station is powered over Ethernet.

8 Chapter 1

Introduction to AirPort

Setting Up Your AirPort Extreme Base Station

Use the information in this chapter to set up your AirPort Extreme Base Station.

Before you set up the AirPort Extreme Base Station for Internet access, make sure that:

You have a computer with an AirPort Card or an AirPort Extreme Card, or a

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compatible Wi-Fi card installed in a computer using Windows XP or Windows 2000. Your computer has the latest version of the AirPort software installed.

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For the latest information on AirPort software, check Software Update in System Preferences or the following Apple websites:

Apple AirPort website at www.apple.com/airportextreme

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Apple Support website at www.apple.com/support

You have an account with an Internet service provider (fees may apply) or you have

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Internet access through a network.

For more information on using AirPort with your Internet account, contact your Internet service provider (ISP) or go to the Apple Service & Support website at support.apple.com.

•

You have a suitable location for your AirPort Extreme Base Station.

You can place your AirPort Extreme Base Station on a desk, bookcase, or other flat surface, or you can mount it on a wall. Place your base station in the center of your home or office, away from any source of interference or signal blockage, such as a microwave oven or large metal appliances, and close to a power outlet.

If the base station supports PoE, it is suitable for use in environmental air-handling spaces (in accordance with section 300.22(C) of the National Electrical Code and 12-010 of the Canadian Electrical Code), and capable of receiving power over Ethernet. You can install it in a ceiling air-handling space, away from a power outlet. If you install the base station in an air-handling space, you need to connect the Ethernet WAN port to

802.3af-compliant Power Sourcing Equipment (PSE) with a plenum-rated Ethernet cable. If you connect the base station power adapter to an outlet, the Ethernet WAN port no longer receives power from a PSE.

If you use an Ethernet LAN for Internet access, such as in a school or office, connect the Ethernet cable to the 10/100Base-T Ethernet LAN (G) port on the AirPort Extreme Base Station.

Note:

The “Distribute IP address” checkbox in the Network pane of AirPort Admin Utility is deselected for AirPort Extreme Base Stations that support Power over Ethernet. By default the base stations are set to be used as a bridge, rather than to distribute IP addresses to AirPort clients. For more information on AirPort Admin Utility and using the 10/100Base-T Ethernet LAN (G) port, see the document “Designing AirPort Extreme Networks,” or “AirPort Networks for Windows,” located on the AirPort CD or at www.apple.com/airportextreme.

You can use the AirPort Extreme Base Station to provide Internet access to non-AirPort computers that are not otherwise connected to the Internet by connecting them to the 10/100Base-T Ethernet LAN (G) port on the AirPort Extreme Base Station. The base station must be connected to the Internet by the 10/100Base-T Ethernet WAN ( ) port.

Mounting the AirPort Extreme Base Station on a Wall

You can use the mounting bracket provided with your AirPort Extreme Base Station to mount the base station on a wall. Follow these steps:

Select a location close to power and a network connection.

If the base station is UL rated and certified for use in suspended ceilings and airhandling spaces, the base station can be mounted in a ceiling space, away from a power outlet, and powered over Ethernet. If you mount the base station in an airhandling space, plug the base station into 802.3af-compliant Power Sourcing Equipment with a plenum-rated Ethernet cable.

Screw the mounting bracket into a wall stud using the two screws that came with the base station.

Mounting bracket

10 Chapter 2

Setting Up Your AirPort Extreme Base Station

Locate the two mounting bracket holes on the bottom of the base station.

Mounting bracket holes

Feed the cables through the mounting bracket and then connect them to the base station.

The base station is designed to mount with the ports on the top (Apple logo right side up), with the cables passing behind it through the mounting bracket as shown.

Note:

The mounting bracket has enough space for six cables (power, two Ethernet cables, USB printer cable, a telephone cable, and external antenna cable). In most cases, only two or three cables are used.

Chapter 2

Setting Up Your AirPort Extreme Base Station

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