Apple AirPort Time Capsule 802.11n User Manual

Time Capsule

Setup Guide

Contents

5 Chapter 1: Getting Started

About Your Time Capsule

About the AirPort Software

What You Need to Get Started

The Time Capsule Status Light

13 Chapter 2: Setting Up Your Time Capsule

Using Your Time Capsule to Create Your Wireless Network

Using AirPort Utility

Creating a New Wireless Network

Configuring and Sharing Internet Access

Setting Advanced Options

Allowing Wireless Clients to Access Your Network Without Entering a Password

Using Time Machine with Your Time Capsule

25 Chapter 3: Tips and Troubleshooting

If You Can’t Connect to the Internet

If You Forgot Your Network Password or Time Capsule Password

If Your Time Capsule Isn’t Responding

If Your Time Capsule Status Light Flashes Amber

If Your Printer Isn’t Responding

Updating AirPort Software

Time Capsule Placement Considerations

Items That Can Cause Interference with AirPort

31 Chapter 4: Learning More, Service, and Support

33 Appendix: Time Capsule Specifications and Safety Guidelines

Regulatory Compliance Information

Contents

Getting Started

Congratulations on purchasing your Time Capsule. Read this guide to get started.

The new Time Capsule offers you the simplicity of fully automated backup for your Wi-Fi network. Using the Time Machine application in Mac OS X v10.5.2 Leopard or later, it’s easy and automatic to back up all the computers on your network to a single Time Capsule.

The Time Capsule is also a fully featured AirPort Extreme Base Station that provides simultaneous dual-band wireless networking. When you set up your Time Capsule, it creates two high-speed Wi-Fi networks:

A 2.4 gigahertz (GHz) network for 802.11b, 802.11g, and 802.11n devices, such as iPhone, iPod touch, and older computers

A 5 GHz network for 802.11n and 802.11a devices, such as newer computers and Apple TV

Wireless devices join the network that provides them the best performance and compatibility, and the Time Capsule shares your broadband Internet connection with computers and devices on your network.

With your Time Capsule, you can:

Use the Time Machine application in Mac OS X v10.5.2 (or later) to back up all the computers on your wireless network, as well as computers connected to your Time Capsule using Ethernet.

Note:

Your first backup with Time Capsule and Time Machine could take overnight or longer, depending on how much data you’re backing up. To speed up the initial backup, use an Ethernet cable to connect your computer to the LAN port on your Time Capsule. For more information about using Time Machine, see “Using Time Machine with Your Time Capsule” on page 23.

Create a password-protected wireless home network, and then connect to the Internet and share the connection with other computers and Wi-Fi devices, such as iPhone, iPod touch, and Apple TV. You can also share files among computers connected to the network.

Create a guest network with or without password protection, to provide Internetonly access to wireless devices, such as computers, iPhone, iPod touch, and Apple TV.

Connect your Time Capsule to your Ethernet network. Wireless-equipped Macintosh, Windows XP, or Windows Vista computers can then have access to an entire network without being connected by a cable.

Connect a supported USB printer to your Time Capsule. Compatible computers on the AirPort network, both wireless and wired, can print to it.

Connect an additional USB hard drive to your Time Capsule. Compatible computers on the AirPort network, both wireless and wired, can access information on the hard disk.

6 Chapter 1

Getting Started

Connect a USB hub to your Time Capsule, and then connect multiple USB devices, such as printers or hard disks. All computers on the network have access to those devices.

Important:

Install AirPort Utility 5.4 from the CD that came with your Time Capsule, or download it using Software Update. Previous versions of AirPort Setup Assistant and AirPort Admin Utility are not compatible with this Time Capsule.

About Your Time Capsule

Your Time Capsule has five ports on the back:

One 10/100/1000Base-T Gigabit Ethernet Wide Area Network (WAN) port for connecting a DSL or cable modem, or for connecting to an existing Ethernet network

Three 10/100/1000Base-T Gigabit Ethernet Local Area Network (LAN) ports for connecting Ethernet devices, such as printers or computers, or for connecting to an existing Ethernet network

Chapter 1

Getting Started

One USB port for connecting a compatible USB printer, hard drive, or hub for connecting several devices

Ethernet activity light

Status light Internet WAN port

Power port

Power cord

Reset buttonUSB port

Ethernet ports

The reset button next to the ports is used for troubleshooting your Time Capsule. The status light on the front shows the current status.

About the AirPort Software

Your Time Capsule works with AirPort Utility, included on the Time Capsule CD.

Install AirPort Utility and follow the instructions on the following pages to set up your Time Capsule and your AirPort wireless network.

8 Chapter 1

Getting Started

Security slot

Note:

You must use AirPort Utility v5.4 to set up your Time Capsule. This Time Capsule

is not compatible with previous versions of AirPort software.

AirPort Utility

Use AirPort Utility to set up your Time Capsule to create a wireless network, connect

to the Internet, and share compatible USB printers and hard disks. You can also

connect your Time Capsule to an existing AirPort Extreme wireless network.

AirPort Utility is also an advanced tool for setting up and managing the Time

Capsule, AirPort Extreme, and AirPort Express Base Stations. Use it to manually adjust

network, routing, and security settings and other advanced options.

AirPort status menu

Use the AirPort status menu in the menu bar to switch quickly between AirPort

networks, monitor the signal quality of the current network, create a computer-to-

computer network, and turn AirPort on or off. The status menu is available on

computers using Mac OS X.

What You Need to Get Started

To use your Time Capsule, you need a wireless-enabled computer that’s compliant with IEEE 802.11a, 802.11b, or 802.11g standards, or with an IEEE 802.11n draft specification. To set up your Time Capsule, your computer must meet the requirements listed below.

Note:

To use your Time Capsule with Time Machine in Mac OS X Leopard, you need to

use Mac OS X v10.5.2 or later.

To set up your Time Capsule using a Macintosh, you need the following:

A Macintosh computer with an AirPort or AirPort Extreme Card installed to set it up wirelessly, or a Macintosh computer connected to your Time Capsule with an Ethernet cable to set it up using Ethernet

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Getting Started

Mac OS X v10.4 or later

AirPort Utility v5.4 or later

To set up your Time Capsule using a Windows PC, you need the following:

A Windows PC with 300 MHz or higher processor speed and a compatible 802.11a,

802.11b, or 802.11g wireless card, or a wireless card that complies with an IEEE 802.11n draft specification

Windows XP Home or Professional (with Service Pack 2 installed) or Windows Vista

AirPort Utility v5.4 or later

Plugging In Your Time Capsule

Before you plug in your Time Capsule, first connect the appropriate cables to the ports you want to use:

Connect the Ethernet cable that’s connected to your DSL or cable modem (if you will connect to the Internet) to the Ethernet WAN (<

Connect a USB cable connected from the USB (d compatible USB printer (if you will print to a USB printer), a hard disk, or a hub.

Connect an Ethernet cable from any Ethernet device to the Ethernet LAN (G

After you’ve connected the cables for all the devices you plan to use, connect the power cord to the power port and plug your Time Capsule into a power outlet. There is no power switch.

Important:

10 Chapter 1

Use only the power cord that came with your Time Capsule.

Getting Started

) port.

) port on your Time Capsule to a

) ports.

When you plug your Time Capsule into a power outlet, the status light flashes green for one second and then glows amber while your Time Capsule starts up. After your Time Capsule has started up completely, the status light flashes amber until your Time Capsule has been updated with the correct settings. The status light glows solid green after your Time Capsule is properly set up and connected to the Internet or a network.

When you connect Ethernet cables to the Ethernet ports, the lights above them glow solid green.

The Time Capsule Status Light

The following table explains the Time Capsule light sequences and what they indicate.

Light Status/description

Off

Solid amber

Flashing amber

Solid green

Flashing amber and green

Your Time Capsule is unplugged.

Your Time Capsule is completing its startup sequence.

Your Time Capsule can’t establish a connection to the network or the Internet, or is encountering a problem. Make sure you have installed AirPort Utility and use it to get information about what might cause the status light to flash amber. See “If Your Time Capsule Status Light Flashes Amber” on page 27.

Your Time Capsule is on and working properly. If you choose Flash On Activity from the Status Light pop-up menu (in the Base Station pane of AirPort settings in AirPort Utility), the status light may flash green to indicate normal activity.

There may be a problem starting up. Your Time Capsule will restart and try again.

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Light

Solid blue

Status/description

Your Time Capsule is ready to allow a wireless client access to the network. See “Allowing Wireless Clients to Access Your Network Without Entering a Password” on page 22.

What’s Next

After you plug in your Time Capsule, use AirPort Utility to set it up to work with your Internet connection, USB printer or hard disk, or an existing network. AirPort Utility is located in the Utilities folder in the Applications folder on a computer using Mac OS X, and in Start > All Programs > AirPort on a computer using Windows XP or Windows Vista.

12 Chapter 1

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