Requirements
System Requirements
This version of the AirPort software requires the following:
AirPort capable computer (iBook, iMac, or Power Mac G4) with an internal AirPort Card installed.
Mac OS 8.6 or greater.
Notes about using the AirPort software
Reconnecting to networks after wake from sleep
Remote servers mounted on your computer's desktop will not reappear after waking from sleep if the connection is made using AirPort.
Using BootP
The current version of the AirPort software only supports obtaining an IP address through a fixed IP address or using DHCP. Do not set your TCP/IP control panel to BootP when using AirPort. Setting TCP/IP to BootP may cause unexpected results.
Notes about the AirPort application and Control Strip portion
Switching networks
Switching wireless networks will interrupt any network services currently in progress. For example, if you switch networks while transferring a file, the file transfer process will be interrupted.
You may also notice a slight delay when switching between wireless networks.
Display of AirPort networks
In the AirPort application and the AirPort Control Strip module, AirPort networks are displayed in order of the network signal strength.
Disconnecting the AirPort Base Station
The manual that comes with the AirPort Base Station incorrectly states that you can disconnect the AirPort Base Station from the Control Strip. The only way to manually disconnect the AirPort Base Station is to use the AirPort application.
Notes about Internet access
Setting up an AirPort Base Station for Internet access
To use AirPort to access the Internet, you must have an Internet account with an Internet service provider (ISP). In addition, you need to have a traditional way to access the Internet, either through a phone line, cable, or DSL modem. Before using the AirPort Setup Assistant, make sure that the Internet connection on the computer that you are going to use to configure the base station is functioning properly. As part of the setup process the assistant will transfer your existing Internet settings from your computer to the AirPort Base Station.
Obtaining an Internet account
You cannot use the AirPort Setup Assistant to obtain an Internet account. Because the AirPort Setup Assistant uses your computers existing Internet settings to configure an AirPort Base Station, you must already have an Internet account. If you have not set up your computer to access the Internet, open the Assistants folder on your hard disk and double-click the Internet Setup Assistant.
Connecting to the Internet
When connecting to the Internet using the AirPort Base Station, you may notice that the initial request for a web page fails. This is because the AirPort Base Station has not completed the dial up process with your ISP. If you notice that the first connection fails, wait a few minutes until the base station completes its connection with your ISP.
Internet Service Provider (ISP) Compatibility
The following ISPs are not compatible with the current version of the AirPort software
CompuServe
America Online
For more information on ISP compatibility see the Apple Support Web Site at www.apple.com/support.
ISPs that use DNS addressing
The AirPort Base Station is not compatible with ISPs that use server assigned DNS addressing.
ISPs that provide IP addresses using DHCP
Due to differences in the ways that IP addresses are provided using DHCP you may encounter problems using your AirPort Base Station. If you are unable to use the AirPort Base Station and find that it has an IP address of "00.000.00.0" in the AirPort Utility, contact your ISP and ask to get a static IP address assigned to your account.
Notes about the AirPort Utility
Configuring an AirPort Base Station
The AirPort Utility is designed for advanced base station configuration. Most users will be able to configure all of the necessary base station settings using the AirPort Setup Assistant.
Configuring a third party base station
The AirPort Utility cannot be used to configure a non-AirPort Base Station.
Notes about base stations
Monitoring the AirPort Base Station Modem Status
Your AirPort software only provides "connected" or "disconnected" status information for the modem. If you want to monitor additional status information for the modem in order to troubleshoot a problem you can use one of the following programs.
Syslogd 2.1.3 available at http://www.classicalguitar.net/brian/apps/syslogd/
MacNetLogger 0.96b8 available at http://www.laffeycomputer.com/netlogger.html
Using Multiple AirPort Base Stations on the Same Network
You can connect multiple AirPort Base Stations to the same Ethernet network. However, each base station should have a unique network name. For example, if you wanted to connect several base stations to a network in a school, you could place a base station in each building. Then the user would see the following as available networks:
Science building wireless network
History building wireless network
Language building wireless network
The AirPort Base Station cannot be used to extend the size of an existing network.
IMPORTANT If you have multiple AirPort Base Stations on your network and one of them is using DHCP to assign IP addresses, do not set the other base stations to obtain their IP addresses from DHCP.
Resetting your AirPort Base Station password
The manual that came with your AirPort Base Station incorrectly states the process for resetting your AirPort Base Station password. If you forget the password to your base station or network, you will need to do a forced reload of the AirPort Base Station firmware. See the Reloading Base Station Firmware read me file located in the Base Station Extras folder on your AirPort CD for more information.
Notes about an AirPort Software Base Station
Using a computer as an AirPort software base station
In the documentation that came with your AirPort Card or new computer, you may find a reference to setting up your computer as a base station (also known as a software base station). This feature is not available in the current version of the AirPort software.
Notes about using non-AirPort equipped computers
Connecting non-AirPort equipped computers to an AirPort Base Station
You can attach a computer with Ethernet to an AirPort Base Station. If you want that computer to share the single Internet connection provided by the base station you will need to use the AirPort utility to turn on DHCP on the Ethernet portion of the network.
IMPORTANT You should not turn DHCP on the Ethernet portion of your network if you are on a larger network where there is a possibility that a DHCP server already exists or if you are using a cable or DSL modem. For more information contact your system administrator or Internet service provider.
To turn on DHCP for the Ethernet portion of your network do the following:
1. Open the AirPort Utility
2. Select your base station
3. Click the Internet tab
4. Make sure that the "Use DHCP to also provide IP addresses on Ethernet" checkbox is selected.
For additional information on configuring non-AirPort equipped computers see the documentation that came with your base station or look in the wireless Internet and networking section of Mac Help, available from the Help menu.
Notes about compatibility
Communication programs that use terminal windows
Communication programs that use terminal windows for login are not supported by the current version of the AirPort software.
Applications not compatible with network address translation (NAT)
The following applications are not compatible with NAT (the process used by the AirPort Base Station to share a single IP address.)
StarCraft
ICQ
Retrospect Remote
DAVE
For more information on application compatibility see the Apple Support Web Site at http://www.apple.com/support. For information on NAT see Mac Help (available from the Help menu).