Apple DESIGNING AIRPORT NETWORKS 10.5, AIRPORT NETWORKS 10.5 User Manual
Designing
AirPort Networks
Using AirPort Utility
Mac OS X v10.5 + Windows
1
Contents
Chapter 1 3 Getting Started
5
Configuring an Apple Wireless Device for Internet Access Using AirPort Utility
6
Extending the Range of Your AirPort Network
6
Sharing a USB Hard Disk Connected to an AirPort Extreme Base Station or Time Capsule
6
Printing with an Apple Wireless Device
6
Sharing Your Computer’s Internet Connection
Chapter 2 9 AirPort Security
9
Security for AirPort Networks at Home
10
Security for AirPort Networks in Businesses and Classrooms
11
Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) and WPA2
Chapter 3 14 AirPort Network Designs
15
Using AirPort Utility
17
Setting Up the AirPort Extreme Network
24
Configuring and Sharing Internet Access
40
Setting Advanced Options
42
Setting Up a Wireless Distribution System (WDS)
46
Extending the Range of an 802.11n Network
48
Setting up a Dual-Band (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz) Network
49
Keeping Your Network Secure
54
Directing Network Traffic to a Specific Computer on Your Network (Port Mapping)
56
Logging
57
Setting up IPv6
58
Sharing and Securing USB Hard Disks on Your Network
60
Using a Time Capsule in Your Network
60
Connecting a USB Printer to an Apple Wireless Device
61
Adding a Wireless Client to Your 802.11n Network
62
Solving Problems
Chapter 4 64 Behind the Scenes
64
Basic Networking
67
Items That Can Cause Interference with AirPort
Glossary 69
2
1
Getting Started
1
AirPort offers the easiest way to provide wireless Internet
access and networking anywhere in the home, classroom,
or office.
AirPort is based on the latest Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
802.11n draft specification and provides fast and reliable wireless networking in the
home, classroom, or small office. You can enjoy data transfer rates of up to five times
faster than data rates provided by the 802.11g standard and more than twice the
network range.
The AirPort Extreme Base Station and Time Capsule are dual-band, so they can work in
either the 2.4 gigahertz (GHz) or 5 GHz spectrum. And they are 100 percent backwardcompatible, so Mac computers and PCs that use 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, or IEEE draft
specification 802.11n wireless cards can connect to an AirPort wireless network. They
also work flawlessly with the AirPort Express for wireless music streaming and more.
The AirPort Extreme Base Station and Time Capsule have three additional 10/100/
1000Base-T Gigabit Ethernet ports, so you don't need to include another router in your
network.
To set up an AirPort Extreme Base Station, an AirPort Express, or a Time Capsule, you
use AirPort Utility, the easy-to-use setup and management application. AirPort Utility
has a simple user experience, with all software controls accessible from the same
application. It provides better management of several Apple wireless devices, with
client-monitoring features and logging. AirPort Utility enables guest accounts that
expire, for temporary access to your network; you no longer need to give your network
password to weekend visitors in your home or office. You can even set up accounts
with time constraints for the best in parental controls. This version of AirPort Utility
supports IPv6 and Bonjour, so you can “advertise” network services such as printing and
sharing a hard disk over the WAN port.
Note:
When the features discussed in this document apply to the AirPort Extreme Base
Station, AirPort Express, and Time Capsule, the devices are referred to collectively as
Apple wireless devices.
3
With an AirPort Extreme Base Station or a Time Capsule, you can connect a USB hard
disk so that everyone on the network can back up, store, and share files. Every Time
Capsule includes an internal AirPort disk, so you don’t need to connect an external one.
If you want, you can connect additional USB disks to the USB port on your Time
Capsule. You can also connect a USB printer to the USB port on any Apple wireless
device, so that everyone on the network can access the printer or hub.
All Apple wireless devices provide strong, wireless security. They offer a built-in firewall
and support industry-standard encryption technologies. Yet the simple setup utility
and powerful access controls make it easy for authorized users to connect to the
AirPort network they create.
You can use an Apple wireless device to provide wireless Internet access and share a
single Internet connection among several computers in the following ways:
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Set up the device to act as a router and provide Internet Protocol (IP) addresses to
computers on the network using Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) and
Network Address Translation (NAT). When the wireless device is connected to a DSL
or cable modem that is connected to the Internet, it receives webpages and email
content from the Internet through its Internet connection, and then sends the
content to wireless-enabled computers, using the wireless network or using Ethernet
if there are computers connected to the Ethernet ports.
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Set up the Apple wireless device to act as a bridge on an existing network that
already has Internet access and a router providing IP addresses. The device passes IP
addresses and the Internet connection to AirPort or wireless-enabled computers, or
computers connected to the wireless device by Ethernet.
This document provides information about the AirPort Extreme Base Station, AirPort
Express, and Time Capsule, and detailed information about designing 802.11n networks
with AirPort Utility for computers using Mac OS X v10.5 or later, and Windows Vista or
Windows XP with Service Pack 2. You can set up an Apple wireless device and connect
to the Internet without wires in minutes. But because Apple wireless devices are
flexible and powerful networking products, you can also create an AirPort network that
does much more. If you want to design an AirPort network that provides Internet
access to non-AirPort computers via Ethernet, or take advantage of some of your
wireless device’s more advanced features, use this document to design and implement
your network. You can find more general wireless networking information and an
overview of AirPort technology in the earlier AirPort documents, located at apple.com/
support/manuals/airport.
Note:
The images of AirPort Utility in this document are from Mac OS X v10.5. If you are
using a Windows computer, the images you see in this document may be slightly
different from what you see on your screen.
4 Chapter 1
Getting Started
Configuring an Apple Wireless Device for Internet Access Using AirPort Utility
Like your computer, Apple wireless devices must be set up with the appropriate
hardware and IP networking information to connect to the Internet. Install AirPort
Utility, which came on the CD with your wireless device, and use it to provide Internet
configuration information and other network settings.
This version of AirPort Utility combines the ease of use of AirPort Setup Assistant and
the power of AirPort Admin Utility. It is installed in the Utilities folder in the
Applications folder on a Macintosh computer using Mac OS X, and in Start > All
Programs > AirPort on computers using Windows. AirPort Utility walks you through the
setup process by asking a series of questions to determine how the device’s Internet
connection and other interfaces should be set up. Enter the settings you received from
your ISP or network administrator for Ethernet, PPP over Ethernet (PPPoE), or your local
area network (LAN); give your AirPort network a name and password; set up a device as
a wireless bridge to extend the range of your existing AirPort network; and set other
options.
When you have finished entering the settings, AirPort Utility transfers the settings to
your wireless device. Then it connects to the Internet and shares its Internet connection
with computers that join its AirPort network.
You can also create an AirPort network that takes advantage of the more advanced
networking features of Apple wireless devices. To set more advanced AirPort options,
use AirPort Utility to manually set up your wireless device’s configuration, or make
quick adjustments to one you have already set up. Some of the AirPort advanced
networking features can be configured only using the manual setup features in AirPort
Utility.
Set up your Apple wireless device manually using AirPort Utility when:
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You want to provide Internet access to computers that connect to the wireless device
using Ethernet
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You have already set up your device, but you need to change one setting, such as
your account credentials
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You need to configure advanced settings such as channel frequency, advanced
security options, closed networks, DHCP lease time, access control, WAN privacy,
power controls, or port mapping or other options
For instructions on using AirPort Utility to manually set up your wireless device and
network, see “Using AirPort Utility” on page 15.
Chapter 1
Getting Started
5
Extending the Range of Your AirPort Network
You can extend the range of your network by using AirPort Utility to set up wireless
connections between several devices in your network, known as a Wireless Distribution
System (WDS), or to connect a device using Ethernet to create a roaming network. For
more information on setting up a WDS or a roaming network, see “Connecting
Additional Wireless Devices to Your AirPort Network” on page 40.
Sharing a USB Hard Disk Connected to an AirPort Extreme
Base Station or Time Capsule
If you’re using the newest AirPort Extreme Base Station or a Time Capsule, you can
connect a USB hard disk to it, and computers connected to the network—wired or
wireless, Mac or Windows—can share files using the hard disk. Every Time Capsule
includes an internal AirPort disk, so you don’t need to connect an external one. If you
want, you can connect additional USB disks to the USB port on your Time Capsule. See
“Sharing and Securing USB Hard Disks on Your Network” on page 58.
Printing with an Apple Wireless Device
If you have a compatible USB printer connected to your Apple wireless device,
computers on the AirPort network can use Bonjour (Apple’s zero-configuration
networking technology) to print to the printer. For instructions about printing to a USB
printer from a computer, see “Connecting a USB Printer to an Apple Wireless Device” on
page 60.
Sharing Your Computer’s Internet Connection
If your computer is connected to the Internet, you can share your Internet connection
with other computers using Mac OS X version 10.2 or later, or Windows XP with Service
Pack 2. This is sometimes called using your computer as a
You can share your Internet connection as long as your computer is connected to the
Internet. If your computer goes to sleep or is restarted, or if you lose your Internet
connection, you need to restart Internet sharing.
6 Chapter 1
software base station.
Getting Started
To start Internet sharing on a computer using Mac OS X v10.5:
1
Open System Preferences and click Sharing.
2
Choose the port you want to use to share your Internet connection from the “Share
your connection using” pop-up menu.
3
Select the port you want to use to share your Internet connection in the “To computers
using” list. You can choose to share your Internet connection with AirPort-enabled
computers or computers with built-in Ethernet, for example.
4
Select Internet Sharing in the Services list.
5
If you want to share your Internet connection with computers using AirPort, click
AirPort Options to give your network a name and password.
Chapter 1
Getting Started
7
To start Internet sharing on a computer using Windows:
1
Open Control Panel from the Start menu, and then click “Network and Internet.”
2
Click “Network and Sharing Center.”
3
Click “Manage network connections” in the Tasks list.
4
Right-click the network connection you want to share, and then select Properties.
5
Click Sharing and then select “Allow other network users to connect through this
computer’s Internet connection.”
Note:
If your Internet connection and your local network use the same port (built-in
Ethernet, for example), contact your ISP before you turn on Internet sharing. In some
cases (if you use a cable modem, for example) you might unintentionally affect the
network settings of other ISP customers, and your ISP might terminate your service to
prevent you from disrupting its network.
The following chapters explain AirPort security options, AirPort network design and
setup, and other advanced options.
8 Chapter 1
Getting Started
2
AirPort Security
2
This chapter provides an overview of the security features
available in AirPort.
Apple has designed its wireless devices to provide several levels of security, so you can
enjoy peace of mind when you access the Internet, manage online financial
transactions, or send and receive email. The AirPort Extreme Base Station and Time
Capsule also include a slot for inserting a lock to deter theft.
For information and instructions for setting up these security features, see “Setting Up
the AirPort Extreme Network” on page 17.
Security for AirPort Networks at Home
Apple gives you ways to protect your wireless AirPort network as well as the data that
travels over it.
NAT Firewall
You can isolate your wireless network with firewall protection. Apple wireless devices
have a built-in Network Address Translation (NAT ) firewall that creates a barrier
between your network and the Internet, protecting data from Internet-based IP attacks.
The firewall is automatically turned on when you set up the device to share a single
Internet connection. For computers with a cable or DSL modem, AirPort can actually be
safer than a wired connection.
Closed Network
Creating a closed network keeps the network name and the very existence of your
network private. Prospective users of your network must know the network name and
password to access it. Use AirPort Utility, located in the Utilities folder in the
Applications folder on a Macintosh computer using Mac OS X, or in Start > All
Programs > AirPort on a computer using Windows, to create a closed network.
9
Password Protection and Encryption
AirPort uses password protection and encryption to deliver a level of security
comparable to that of traditional wired networks. Users can be required to enter a
password to log in to the AirPort network. When transmitting data and passwords,
the wireless device uses up to 128-bit encryption, through either Wi-Fi Protected Access
(WPA), WPA2, or Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP), to scramble data and help keep
it safe. If you are setting up an 802.11n-based AirPort device, you can also use WEP
(Transitional Security Network) if both WEP-compatible and WPA/WPA2-compatible
computers will join your network.
Note:
WPA security is available only to AirPort Extreme wireless devices; AirPort and
AirPort Extreme clients using Mac OS X 10.3 or later and AirPort 3.3 or later; and to
non-Apple clients using other 802.11 wireless adapters that support WPA. WPA2
security requires firmware version 5.6 or later for an AirPort Extreme Base Station,
firmware version 6.2 or later an AirPort Express, firmware version 7.3 or later for a Time
Capsule, and a Macintosh computer with an AirPort Extreme wireless card using AirPort
4.2 or later. If your computer uses Windows XP or Windows Vista, check the
documentation that came with your computer to see if your computer supports WPA2.
Security for AirPort Networks in Businesses and Classrooms
Businesses and schools need to restrict network communications to authorized users
and keep data safe from prying eyes. To meet this need, Apple wireless devices and
software provide a robust suite of security mechanisms. Use AirPort Utility to set up
these advanced security features.
Transmitter Power Control
Because radio waves travel in all directions, they can extend outside the confines of a
specific building. The Transmit Power setting in AirPort Utility lets you adjust the
transmission range of your device’s network. Only users within the network vicinity
have access to the network.
MAC Address Access Control
Every AirPort and wireless card has a unique Media Access Control (MAC) address. For
AirPort and AirPort Extreme Cards, the MAC address is sometimes referred to as the
AirPort ID. Support for MAC address access control lets administrators set up a list of
MAC addresses and restrict access to the network to only those users whose MAC
addresses are in the access control list.
10 Chapter 2
AirPort Security
RADIUS Support
The Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service (RADIUS) makes securing a large
network easy. RADIUS is an access control protocol that allows a system administrator
to create a central list of the user names and passwords of computers that can access
the network. Placing this list on a centralized server allows many wireless devices to
access the list and makes it easy to update. If the MAC address of a user’s computer
(which is unique to each 802.11 wireless card) is not on your approved MAC address list,
the user cannot join your network.
Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) and WPA2
There has been increasing concern about the vulnerabilities of WEP. In response, the
Wi-Fi Alliance, in conjunction with the IEEE, has developed enhanced, interoperable
security standards called Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) and WPA2.
WPA and WPA2 use specifications that bring together standards-based, interoperable
security mechanisms that significantly increase the level of data protection and access
control for wireless LANs. WPA and WPA2 provide wireless LAN users with a high-level
assurance that their data remains protected and that only authorized network users
can access the network. A wireless network that uses WPA or WPA2 requires all
computers that access the wireless network to have WPA or WPA2 support. WPA
provides a high level of data protection and (when used in Enterprise mode) requires
user authentication.
The main standards-based technologies that constitute WPA include Temporal Key
Integrity Protocol (TKIP), 802.1X, Message Integrity Check (MIC), and Extensible
Authentication Protocol (EAP).
TKIP provides enhanced data encryption by addressing the WEP encryption
vulnerabilities, including the frequency with which keys are used to encrypt the
wireless connection. 802.1X and EAP provide the ability to authenticate a user on the
wireless network.
802.1X is a port-based network access control method for wired as well as wireless
networks. The IEEE adopted 802.1X as a standard in August 2001.
The Message Integrity Check (MIC) is designed to prevent an attacker from capturing
data packets, altering them, and resending them. The MIC provides a strong
mathematical function in which the receiver and the transmitter each compute and
then compare the MIC. If they do not match, the data is assumed to have been
tampered with and the packet is dropped. If multiple MIC failures occur, the network
may initiate countermeasures.
Chapter 2
AirPort Security
11
The EAP protocol known as TLS (Transport Layer Security) presents a user’s credentials
in the form of digital certificates. A user’s digital certificates can comprise user names
and passwords, smart cards, secure IDs, or any other identity credentials that the IT
administrator is comfortable using. WPA uses a wide variety of standards-based EAP
implementations, including EAP-Transport Layer Security (EAP-TLS), EAP-Tunnel
Transport Layer Security (EAP-TTLS), and Protected Extensible Authentication Protocol
(PEAP). AirPort Extreme also supports the Lightweight Extensible Authentication
Protocol (LEAP), a security protocol used by Cisco access points to dynamically assign a
different WEP key to each user. AirPort Extreme is compatible with Cisco’s LEAP security
protocol, enabling AirPort users to join Cisco-hosted wireless networks using LEAP.
In addition to TKIP, WPA2 supports the AES-CCMP encryption protocol. Based on the
very secure AES national standard cipher, combined with sophisticated cryptographic
techniques, AES-CCMP was specifically designed for wireless networks. Migrating from
WEP to WPA2 requires new firmware for the AirPort Extreme Base Station (version 5.6 or
later), and for AirPort Express (version 6.2 or later). Devices using WPA2 mode are not
backward compatible with WEP.
WPA and WPA2 have two modes:
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Personal mode, which relies on the capabilities of TKIP or AES-CCMP without
requiring an authentication server
Â
Enterprise mode, which uses a separate server, such as a RADIUS server, for user
authentication
WPA and WPA2 Personal
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For home or Small Office/Home Office (SOHO) networks, WPA and WPA2 runs in
Personal mode, taking into account that the typical household or small office does
not have an authentication server. Instead of authenticating with a RADIUS server,
users manually enter a password to log in to the wireless network. When a user
enters the password correctly, the wireless device starts the encryption process using
TKIP or AES-CCMP. TKIP or AES-CCMP take the original password and derive
encryption keys mathematically from the network password. The encryption key is
regularly changed and rotated so that the same encryption key is never used twice.
Other than entering the network password, the user isn’t required to do anything to
make WPA or WPA2 Personal work in the home.
12 Chapter 2
AirPort Security
WPA and WPA2 Enterprise
WPA is a subset of the draft IEEE 802.11i standard and effectively addresses the wireless
local area network (WLAN) security requirements for the enterprise. WPA2 is a full
implementation of the ratified IEEE 802.11i standard. In an enterprise with IT resources,
WPA should be used in conjunction with an authentication server such as RADIUS to
provide centralized access control and management. With this implementation in
place, the need for add-on solutions such as virtual private networks (VPNs) may be
eliminated, at least for securing wireless connections in a network.
For more information about setting up a WPA or WPA2 protected network, see “Using
Wi-Fi Protected Access” on page 50.
Chapter 2
AirPort Security
13
3
AirPort Network Designs
3
This chapter provides overview information and instructions
for the types of AirPort Extreme networks you can set up, and
some of the advanced options of AirPort Extreme.
Use this chapter to design and set up your AirPort Extreme network.
Configuring your Apple wireless device to implement a network design requires three
steps:
Step 1: Setting Up the AirPort Extreme Network
Computers communicate with the wireless device over the AirPort wireless network.
When you set up the AirPort network created by the wireless device, you can name the
wireless network, assign a password that will be needed to join the wireless network,
and set other options.
14
Step 2: Configuring and Sharing Internet Access
When computers access the Internet through the AirPort Extreme network, the wireless
device connects to the Internet and transmits information to the computers over the
AirPort Extreme network. You provide the wireless device with settings appropriate for
your ISP and configure how the device shares this connection with other computers.
Step 3: Setting Advanced Options
These settings are optional for most users. They include using the Apple wireless device
as a bridge between your AirPort Extreme network and an Ethernet network, setting
advanced security options, setting up a Wireless Distribution System (WDS) to extend
the AirPort network to other wireless devices, and fine-tuning other settings.
For specific instructions on all these steps, refer to the sections later in this chapter.
You can do most of your setup and configuration tasks using AirPort Utility, and
following the onscreen instructions to enter your ISP and network information. To set
advanced options, you need to use AirPort Utility to manually set up your Apple
wireless device and AirPort network.
Using AirPort Utility
To set up and configure your computer or Apple wireless device to use AirPort Extreme
for basic wireless networking and Internet access, use AirPort Utility and answer a series
of questions about your Internet settings and how you would like to set up your
network.
1
Open AirPort Utility, located in the Utilities folder in the Applications folder on a Mac, or
in Start > All Programs > AirPort on a Windows computer.
2
Select your device in the list on the left if there is more than one device in your
network. Click Continue, and then follow the onscreen instructions to enter the settings
from your ISP or network administrator for the type of network you want to set up. See
the network diagrams later in this chapter for the types of networks you can set up
using AirPort Utility.
To set up a more complicated network, or to make adjustments to a network you have
already set up, use the manual setup features in AirPort Utility.
Setting AirPort preferences
Use AirPort preferences to set up your wireless device to alert you when there are
updates available for your device. You can also set it up to notify you if there are
problems detected, and to provide instructions to help solve the problems.
To set AirPort preferences:
1
Open AirPort Utility, located in the Utilities folder inside the Applications folder on a
Mac, and in Start > All Programs > AirPort on a Windows computer.
2
Choose Preferences from the AirPort Utility menu on a Mac, and from the File menu on
a Windows computer.
Chapter 3
AirPort Network Designs
15
Select from the following checkboxes:
Â
Select “Check for Updates when opening AirPort Utility” to automatically check the
Apple website for software and firmware updates each time you open AirPort Utility.
 Select the “Check for updates” checkbox, and then choose a time interval from the
pop-up menu, such as weekly, to check for software and firmware updates in the
background. AirPort Utility opens if updates are available.
 Select “Monitor Apple wireless devices for problems” to investigate problems that
may cause the device's status light to blink amber. With the checkbox selected,
AirPort Utility opens if a problem is detected, and then provides instructions to help
resolve the problem. This option monitors all of the wireless devices on the network.
 Select “Only Apple wireless devices that I have configured” to monitor only the
devices you have set up using this computer.
Monitoring devices for problems requires an AirPort wireless device that supports
firmware version 7.0 or later.
To set up your wireless device manually:
1 Open AirPort Utility, located in the Utilities folder in the Applications folder on a Mac, or
in Start > All Programs > AirPort on a Windows computer.
2 Select your device in the list.
3 Choose Manual Setup from the Base Station menu and enter the password if necessary.
The default device password is public.
If you don’t see your wireless device in the list:
1 Open the AirPort status menu in the menu bar on a Mac and make sure that you have
joined the AirPort network created by your wireless device. On a Windows computer,
hover the cursor over the wireless network icon in the status tray to make sure the
computer is connected to the correct network.
The default network name for an Apple wireless device is AirPort Network XXXXXX,
where XXXXXX is replaced with the last six digits of the AirPort ID, (or MAC address).
The AirPort ID is printed on the bottom of Apple wireless devices.
2 Make sure your computer’s network and TCP/IP settings are configured properly.
On a computer using Mac OS X, choose AirPort from the Show pop-up menu in the
Network pane of System Preferences. Then choose Using DHCP from the Configure IPv4
pop-up menu in the TCP/IP pane.
On a computer using Windows, right-click the wireless connection icon that displays
the AirPort network, and choose Status. Click Properties, select Internet Protocol
(TCP/IP), and then click Properties. Make sure “Obtain an IP address automatically” is
selected.
If you can’t open the wireless device settings:
1 Make sure your network and TCP/IP settings are configured properly.
16 Chapter 3
AirPort Network Designs
On a computer using Mac OS X, select AirPort from the network connection services list
in the Network pane of System Preferences. Click Advanced, and then choose Using
DHCP from the Configure IPv4 pop-up menu in the TCP/IP pane.
On a computer using Windows, right-click the wireless connection icon that displays
the AirPort network, and choose Status. Click Properties, select Internet Protocol
(TCP/IP), and then click Properties. Make sure “Obtain an IP address automatically” is
selected.
2 Make sure you entered the wireless device password correctly. The default password is
public. If you have forgotten the device password, you can reset it to public by resetting
the device.
To temporarily reset the device password to public, press and hold the reset button for
one second. To reset the device back to its default settings, hold the reset button for
five full seconds.
If you are on an Ethernet network that has other devices, or you are using Ethernet
to connect to the device:
AirPort Utility scans the Ethernet network to create the list of devices. As a result, when
you open AirPort Utility, you may see devices that you cannot configure.
Setting Up the AirPort Extreme Network
The first step in configuring your Apple wireless device is setting up the device and the
network it will create. You can set up most features using AirPort Utility and following
the onscreen instructions to enter the information from your ISP or network
administrator.
To configure a network manually or set advanced options, open your wireless device’s
configuration in AirPort Utility and manually set up your device and network.
1 Choose the network of the wireless device you want to configure from the AirPort
status menu on a computer using Mac OS X, or from the wireless connection icon in
the status tray on a computer using Windows.
2 Open AirPort Utility and select the wireless device from the list. If you don’t see the
device you want to configure, click Rescan to scan for available wireless devices, and
then select the one you want from the list.
Chapter 3 AirPort Network Designs 17
3 Choose Manual Setup from the Base Station menu and enter the password if necessary.
The default device password is public.
You can also double-click the name of the wireless device to open its configuration in a
separate window. When you open the manual setup window, the Summary pane is
displayed. The summary pane provides information and status about your wireless
device and network.
18 Chapter 3 AirPort Network Designs
If the wireless device reports a problem, the status icon turns yellow. Click Base Station
Status to display the problem and suggestions to resolve it.
Wireless Device Settings
Click the AirPort button, and then click Base Station. Use the Base Station pane of
AirPort Utility to enter information about the wireless device.
Give the Wireless Device a Name
Give the device an easily identifiable name. This makes it easy for administrators
to locate a specific device on an Ethernet network with several devices.
Change the Wireless Device Password
The device password protects its configuration so that only the administrator can
modify it. The default password is public. It is a good idea to change the device
password to prevent unauthorized changes to it.
If the password is not changed from public, you will not be prompted for a password
when you select it from the list and click Configure.
Other Information
 Allow configuration over the WAN port. This allows you to administer the wireless
device remotely.
 Advertise the wireless device over the Internet using Bonjour. If you have an account
with a dynamic DNS service, you can connect to it over the Internet.
 Set the device time automatically. If you have access to a Network Time Protocol
server, whether on your network or on the Internet, choose it from the pop-up menu.
This ensures your wireless device is set to the correct time.
Chapter 3 AirPort Network Designs 19
Set Base Station Options
Click Base Station Options and set the following:
 Enter a contact name and location for the wireless device. The name and location are
included in some logs the device generates. The contact and location fields may be
helpful if you have more than one wireless device on your network.
 Set status light behavior to either Always On or Flash On Activity. If you choose Flash
On Activity, the device status light blinks when there is network traffic.
 If your wireless device supports it, select “Check for firmware updates” and choose an
increment, such as Daily from the pop-up menu.
Wireless Network Settings
Click Wireless, and enter the network name, radio mode, and other wireless
information.
Setting the Wireless Mode
AirPort Extreme supports three wireless modes:
 Create a wireless network. Choose this option if you are creating a new
AirPort Extreme network.
 Participate in a WDS network. Choose this option if you are creating a new WDS
network, or connecting this Apple wireless device to a WDS network that
is already set up.
 Extend a wireless network. Choose this option if you plan to connect another Apple
wireless device to the network you are setting up.
20 Chapter 3 AirPort Network Designs
Naming the AirPort Extreme Network
Give your AirPort network a name. This name appears in the AirPort status menu on the
AirPort-enabled computers that are in range of your AirPort network.
Choosing the Radio Mode
Choose “802.11n (802.11b/g compatible)” from the Radio Mode pop-up menu if
computers with 802.11n, 802.11g, or 802.11b wireless cards will join the network. Each
client computer will connect to the network and transmit network traffic at the highest
possible speed.
Choose “802.11n only (2.4 GHz)” if only computers with 802.11n compatible wireless
cards will join the network in the 2.4 GHz frequency range.
Choose “802.11n (802.11a compatible)” if computers with 802.11n and 802.11a wireless
cards will join the network in the 5 GHz frequency range. Computers with 802.11g or
802.11b wireless cards will not be able to join this network.
Choose “802.11n only (5 GHz)” if computers with 802.11n wireless cards will join the
network. The transmission rate of the network will be at 802.11n speed. Computers with
802.11g, 802.11b, and 802.11a wireless cards will not be able to join this network.
Note: If you don’t want to use an 802.11n radio mode, hold down the Option key and
chose a radio mode that doesn’t include 802.11n.
Changing the Channel
The “channel” is the radio frequency over which your wireless device communicates. If
you use only one device (for example, at home), you probably won’t need to change
the channel frequency. If you set up several wireless devices in a school or office, use
different channel frequencies for devices that are within approximately 150 feet of each
other.
Adjacent wireless devices should have at least 4 channels between their channel
frequencies. So if device A is set to channel 1, device B should be set to channel 6 or 11.
For best results, use channels 1, 6, or 11 when operating your device in the 2.4 GHz
range.
AirPort-enabled computers automatically tune to the channel frequency your wireless
device is using when they join the AirPort network. If you change the channel
frequency, AirPort client computers do not need to make any changes.
Note: If you set your wireless device’s radio mode to “802.11n only (5 GHz),” you cannot
change the channel. The 5 GHz frequency mode automatically chooses the channel.
Password-protect Your Network
To password-protect your network, you can choose from a number of wireless security
options. In the AirPort pane of AirPort Utility, click Wireless and choose one of the
following options from the Wireless Security pop-up menu:
Chapter 3 AirPort Network Designs 21
 None: Choosing this option turns off all password protection for the network. Any
computer with a wireless adapter or card can join the network, unless the network is
set up to use access control. See “Setting Up Access Control” on page 51.
 WEP: If your device supports it, choose this option and enter a password to protect
your network with a Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) password. Your Apple wireless
device supports 40-bit and 128-bit encryption. To use 40-bit WEP, don’t use an
802.11n radio mode.
 WEP (Transitional Security Network): If your device supports it, you can use this
option to allow computers using WPA or WPA2 to join the network. Computers or
devices that use WEP can also join the network. WEP (Transitional Security Network)
supports 128-bit encryption. To use this option, the wireless device use an 802.11n
radio mode.
 WPA/WPA2 Personal: Choose this option to protect your network with Wi-Fi
Protected Access. You can use a password between 8 and 63 ASCII characters or a
Pre-Shared Key of exactly 64 hexadecimal characters. Computers that support WPA
and computers that support WPA2 can join the network. Choose WPA2 Personal if
you want only computers that support WPA2 to join your network.
 WPA/WPA2 Enterprise: Choose this option if you are setting up a network that
includes an authentication server, such as a RADIUS server, with individual user
accounts. Enter the IP address and port number for the primary and optional
secondary server, and enter a “shared secret,” which is the password for the server.
Choose WPA2 Enterprise if you want only computers that support WPA2 to join the
network.
For more information and instructions for setting up WPA or WPA2 on your network,
see “Using Wi-Fi Protected Access” on page 50.
22 Chapter 3 AirPort Network Designs
Setting Wireless Options
Click Wireless Options to set additional options for your network.
Setting Additional Wireless Options
Use the Wireless Options pane to set the following:
 Region: Set the region code for the location of your network.
 Multicast rate: Choose a multicast rate from the pop-up menu. If you set the
multicast rate high, only clients on the network that are within range and can
achieve the speed you set will receive transmissions.
 Transmit power: Choose a setting from the Transmit Power pop-up menu to set the
network range (the lower the percentage, the shorter the network range).
 WPA Group Key Timeout: Enter a number in the text field, and choose an increment
from the pop-up menu to change the frequency of key rotation.
 Use Wide Channels: If you set up your network to use the 5 GHz frequency range,
you can use wide channels to provide higher network throughput.
Note: Using wide channels is not permitted in some countries.
 Create a closed network: Selecting a closed network hides the name of the
network so that users must enter the exact network name and password to join
the AirPort Extreme network.
 Use interference robustness: Interference robustness can solve interference
problems caused by other devices or networks.
To set more advanced security options, see “Keeping Your Network Secure” on
page 49.
Chapter 3 AirPort Network Designs 23
Configuring and Sharing Internet Access
The next step is setting up your wireless device’s Internet connection and sharing its
Internet access with client computers. The following sections tell you what to do,
depending on how your device connects to the Internet.
You’re Using a DSL or Cable Modem
In most cases, you can implement this network design using AirPort Utility and
following the onscreen instructions to set up your wireless device and network. You
need to use AirPort Utility to manually set up your device only if you want to set up or
adjust optional advanced settings.
What It Looks Like
to Ethernet port
Time Capsule
Ethernet WAN port
<
DSL or cable modem
to Internet
How It Works
 The Apple wireless device (in this example, a Time Capsule) connects to the Internet
through its Internet WAN (<) connection to your DSL or cable modem.
 Computers using AirPort or computers connected to the wireless device’s Ethernet
LAN port (G) connect to the Internet through the device.
 The device is set up to use a single, public IP address to connect to the Internet, and
uses DHCP and NAT to share the Internet connection with computers on the network
using private IP addresses.
 AirPort computers and Ethernet computers communicate with one another through
the wireless device.
Important: Connect Ethernet computers that are not connected to the Internet to
the device’s LAN port (G) only. Since the device can provide network services, you
must set it up carefully to avoid interfering with other services on your Ethernet
network.
24 Chapter 3 AirPort Network Designs
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