Time Capsule
Setup Guide
Contents
5 Getting Started
8 About Your Time Capsule
9 About the AirPort Software
10 What You Need to Get Started
12 The Time Capsule Status Light
14Setting Up Your Time Capsule
15Using Your Time Capsule to Create Your Wireless Network
18 Using AirPort Utility
20 Creating a New Wireless Network
20 Configuring and Sharing Internet Access
22Setting Advanced Options
23Allowing Wireless Clients to Access Your Network Without Entering a Password
24Using Time Machine with Your Time Capsule
26 Tips and Troubleshooting
26 If You Can’t Connect to the Internet
26 If You Forgot Your Network Password or Time Capsule Password
28If Your Time Capsule Isn’t Responding
29If Your Time Capsule Status Light Flashes Amber
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30If Your Printer Isn’t Responding
31Updating AirPort Software
31Time Capsule Placement Considerations
32Items That Can Cause Interference with AirPort
33Learning More, Service, and Support
35 Time Capsule Specifications and Safety Guidelines
38 Regulatory Compliance Information
Getting Started |
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Congratulations on purchasing your Time Capsule. Read this guide to get started.
Time Capsule offers you the simplicity of fully automated backup for your Wi-Fi network. Using the Time Machine application in Mac OS X v10.5.7 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:
ÂÂA 2.4 gigahertz (GHz) network for 802.11b, 802.11g, and 802.11n devices, such as iPhone, iPod touch, and older computers
ÂÂA 5 GHz network for 802.11n and 802.11a devices, such as newer computers, iPad, 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.
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With your Time Capsule, you can:
ÂÂUse the Time Machine application in Mac OS X v10.5.7 (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 24.
ÂÂCreate 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 iPad, iPhone, iPod touch, and Apple TV.You can also share files among computers connected to the network.
ÂÂCreate a guest network, with or without password protection to provide Internet-only access to wireless devices, such as computers, iPad, iPhone, iPod touch, and Apple TV.
ÂÂConnect your Time Capsule to your Ethernet network.Wireless-equipped Mac, Windows XP, Windows Vista, or Windows 7 computers can then have access to an entire network without being connected by a cable.
ÂÂConnect a supported USB printer to your Time Capsule. Compatible computers on the AirPort network, both wireless and wired, can print to it.
ÂÂConnect 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.
6Chapter 1 Getting Started
ÂÂConnect 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: Use AirPort Utility to set up your Time Capsule. Previous versions of AirPort Setup Assistant and AirPort Admin Utility are not compatible with this Time Capsule.
AirPort Utility is installed 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. If AirPort Utility isn’t installed on your computer, you can download it from www.apple.com/support/airport.
Apple periodically updates AirPort software. It’s recommended that you update your software to keep your Time Capsule up to date.
Note: To download a copy of this setup guide in your language, open AirPort Utility and choose Help > AirPort Service and Support, and click Manuals.
Chapter 1 Getting Started |
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Your Time Capsule has five ports on the back:
ÂÂOne 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
ÂÂThree 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
ÂÂOne USB port for connecting a compatible USB printer, hard drive, or hub for connecting several devices
Ethernet
activity light
Status light |
Internet WAN port |
Ethernet ports |
Power port USB port Reset button Security slot
Power cord
The reset button next to the ports is used for troubleshooting your Time Capsule. The status light on the front shows the current status.
8Chapter 1 Getting Started
Your Time Capsule works with AirPort Utility, installed 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.
If AirPort Utility isn’t installed on your computer, you can download it from www.apple.com/support/airport.
Use AirPort Utility and follow the instructions on the following pages to set up your Time Capsule and your AirPort wireless network.
Note: You must use AirPort Utility v5.5.3 (or later) 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.
ZAirPort 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.
Chapter 1 Getting Started |
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To use your Time Capsule, you need a wireless-enabled computer that’s compliant with IEEE 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, or IEEE 802.11n standards.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, you need to use Mac OS X v10.5.7 or later.
To set up your Time Capsule using a Mac, you need the following:
ÂÂA Mac computer with an AirPort or AirPort Extreme Card installed to set it up wirelessly, or a Mac computer connected to your Time Capsule with an Ethernet cable to set it up using Ethernet
ÂÂMac OS X v10.5.7 or later ÂÂAirPort Utility v5.5.3 or later
To set up your Time Capsule using a Windows computer, you need the following:
ÂÂA Windows computer with 300 MHz or higher processor speed and a compatible 802.11a, 802.11b, or 802.11g, IEEE 802.11n wireless card, or a Windows computer connected to a Time Capsule with an Ethernet cable to set it up using Ethernet
ÂÂWindows XP Home or Professional (SP3),Windows Vista (SP2), or Windows 7 (SP1) ÂÂAirPort Utility v5.5.3 or later
10 Chapter 1 Getting Started
Plugging In Your Time Capsule
Before you plug in your Time Capsule, first connect the appropriate cables to the ports you want to use:
ÂÂConnect the Ethernet cable that’s connected to your DSL or cable modem (if you will connect to the Internet) to the Ethernet WAN (<) port.
ÂÂConnect a USB cable connected from the USB (d) port on your Time Capsule to a compatible USB printer (if you will print to a USB printer), a hard disk, or a hub.
ÂÂConnect an Ethernet cable from any Ethernet device to the Ethernet LAN (G) ports.
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: Use only the power cord that came with your Time Capsule.
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.
Chapter 1 Getting Started |
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The following table explains the Time Capsule light sequences and what they indicate.
Light |
Status/description |
Off |
Your Time Capsule is unplugged. |
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Solid amber |
Your Time Capsule is completing its startup sequence. |
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Flashing amber |
Your Time Capsule can’t establish a connection to the network or |
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the Internet, or is encountering a problem. Make sure you have |
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installed AirPort Utility and use it to get information about what |
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might cause the status light to flash amber. See“If Your Time |
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Capsule Status Light Flashes Amber”on page 29. |
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Solid green |
Your Time Capsule is on and working properly. If you choose |
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Flash On Activity from the Status Light pop-up menu (in the |
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Base Station pane of AirPort settings in AirPort Utility), the status |
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light may flash green to indicate normal activity. |
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Flashing amber and green |
There may be a problem starting up.Your Time Capsule will |
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restart and try again. |
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Solid blue |
Your Time Capsule is ready to allow a wireless client access |
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to the network. See“Allowing Wireless Clients to Access Your |
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Network Without Entering a Password”on page 23. |
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12 Chapter 1 Getting Started
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.
Chapter 1 Getting Started |
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Setting Up Your Time Capsule |
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This chapter provides information and instructions for connecting your Time Capsule to the Internet, and using AirPort Utility to set it up to create or join a wireless network.
This chapter provides an overview of connecting your Time Capsule to the Internet, and using the setup assistant in AirPort Utility to set up your network and other features of your Time Capsule. For more information about wireless networking, and for information about the advanced features of AirPort Utility, refer to“Apple AirPort Networks”at www.apple.com/support/airport.
You can do most of your network setup and configuration tasks using the setup assistant in AirPort Utility.To set advanced options, choose Manual Setup from the Base Station menu of AirPort Utility. See“Setting Advanced Options”on page 22.
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