Starting the Process

ABS = Airport Base Station
Configuring the ABS is pretty easy as the information it demands from you is similar to the information the Assistant needs to configure your ABS. The only difference is that you have much better control over what the ABS will and will not do when you use the Admin Utility instead of the Assistant.

The best way to configure a ABS is via a Ethernet cable to the LAN port of the ABS. The Admin utility will usually find it. If you own a Mac with a recent Ethernet chipset (Powerbook G4, for example) then you can use any Ethernet cable as the chipset will switch to cross-over mode "automagically".

After connecting the Ethernet cable, locate the Apple "Airport Admin Utility" on your hard disk and launch it (be sure that this is the latest version). The following window will appear in version 2 and below (the window in version 3 isn't that different):

To configure, start off by double clicking on your ABS name in the window admin utility. If your unit went through a complete reset or is brand-new, it will appear here as a series of hexadecimal characters that correspond to the MAC address printed on the underside of the ABS.

The admin utility will ask for a password, and unless you've changed it, it is "public". After a firmware reset the password also reverts back to "public".

If the password query was successful, the Airport firmware will be updated as needed, followed by a reset. If you have the latest firmware already on the ABS, the utility will launch into the set-up screen. In Version 2 and below, this screen is "tabbed" and the first and default tab is "Airport".

In version 3.0, the Admin Utility launches into a Summary page. You can still access all the settings by hitting the "Show All Settings" Button in the lower left corner of the picture (circled red on the following image).

Most users would do well to just sequentially go through the various tabs, starting with the Airport Tab. I have ordered this how-to guide to follow them left-to-right. However, I leave it to you to decide where you want to start. Besides, all tab-guides are interconnected.

Start your engines! Let's Configure:

Configuring PPPoE Connections

Starting with Airport version 1.3, Apple Base Stations can act as PPP over Ethernet (PPPoE) clients. PPP over Ethernet, is a means for the ISP to track who is logged in where. It is typically used in ADSL and xDSL installations and requires a user name and password to connect. Your ISP should be able to tell you if PPPoE is required to log into their high-speed network. If not, use the Ethernet method referenced above.

• Enter the user name, password, and service name (such as bellatlantic.net) as supplied by your ISP.
• I'd leave the "Always stay connected" box checked since the login process of PPPOE is much like a modem and can be lengthy. On the other hand, always being connected can be a security risk, particularly if the ABS has not been assigned a new password.
• Once again you can enter DNS server and Domain Name info, but usually it is not required.

The new Airport base stations have two Ethernet ports instead of just one as on the older base stations. One of these ports on the new base station is for the high-speed connection to you ISP, the other for an internal network, such as desktop machines in your home.

You always want to connect the WAN port to the high-speed ISP interface in your home. Attaching the cable modem or DSL connection to the LAN port can confuse the ABS. Furthermore, whenever you update the firmware of a ABS 2.0 it is a very good idea to disconnect the WAN port while you are doing so. Only AFTER you have finished updating the settings or firmware reconnect the WAN connection.

This step is not described by Apple in their literature, but it can be very important in order to ensure that the ABS configures itself the way you intended it to. Otherwise, the ABS will take preference to the configuration data sent by the high-speed modem!

Configuring Ethernet Connections (DHCP)

"Ethernet" should be used if the cable modem or DSL router plugged directly into your ABS. Your ISP should be able to provide you with all the answers you need.

• Set up "Configure TCP/IP:"
  • If you are using a cable modem or DSL line, chances are that "Using DHCP" is ideal.
  • If your ISP requires a manual configuration, you can select "Manual" instead and enter all the information that your ISP provided to you. This is quite a bit of work and it is imperative that all numbers and points are entered correctly. Otherwise, you are going to be very, very frustrated.
• At the bottom of the screen, the admin utility also allows you to enter a DHCP client ID, which your ISP would give to you if it was necessary. Otherwise, just leave it blank.

The new Airport base stations have two ethernet ports instead of just one as on the older base stations. One of these ports on the new base station is for the high-speed connection to you ISP (The WAN port), the other for an internal network (The LAN port) , such as desktop machines in your home.

You always want to connect the WAN port to the high-speed ISP interface in your home. Attaching the cable modem or DSL connection to the LAN port can confuse the ABS. Furthermore, whenever you update the firmware of a ABS it is a very good idea to disconnect the WAN port while you are doing so. Only AFTER you have finished updating the settings or firmware reconnect the WAN connection.

This step is not described by Apple in their literature, but it can be very important in order to ensure that the ABS configures itself the way you intended it to. Otherwise, the ABS will take preference to the configuration data sent by the high-speed modem!

Some Tips

Don't Forget to set up your client computers too!

If you elected to enable the DHCP server...

• In OS 9,
  • Open the TCP/IP control panels on the wireless computers and set to connect via "Airport". Configure using "DHCP". Close the TCP/IP control panel.
  • Now open the Airport application. Select the network you want to attach to. It should be the same as the network name you entered on the Airport tab in the Airport Admin Utility. If you "Closed" your Airport network, you will have to select "other" and type in the name you gave your network before your computer can find it (thanks Mark Mason).
  • On machines attached to the wired network set the TCP/IP control panel to connect via "Ethernet" and to configure via DHCP.
• In OS X,
  • You'll need to open the Network control panel. Enable Airport via the "Network Port Configurations" in the "Show" Menu if it doesn't show up by default.
  • Select "Airport" from the "Show" Menu. Now click ont he Airport tab to enter your login identification. For "Closed" networks, the Name will have to be entered as well.

Now all machines on your network should be ready to surf immediately. I recommend you keep WEP off and your network open until you have verified that it works. Then tinker with security.