Setting Up an AirPort Base Station


The computer-to-computer AirPort network we described earlier has some limitations. For one, it doesn’t inherently let you share an Internet connection. What’s more, a computer-to-computer network is transitory. It ceases to exist after all computers have left it.

An AirPort base station has neither of these limitations. It lets all AirPort-equipped computers share an Internet connection, share files, participate in multiplayer games, and use other multiuser software. Additionally, it can bridge a wireless network and an Ethernet network, which adds many potential benefits. Wireless computers gain access to network services on the Ethernet network, such as network printers. Computers on the Ethernet network gain access to services on the wireless network, such as the shared Internet connection. Computers on either network can share files, participate in multiplayer games, and use other multiuser software with computers on the other network. An AirPort base station has all the benefits of a computer-to-computer wireless network and more.

Setting up an AirPort base station device

An AirPort base station device can connect to the Internet via its built-in 56K modem or its WAN Ethernet port. The Ethernet port enables the AirPort base station to connect via a cable modem, DSL modem, or a local network that has an Internet gateway or router. The AirPort base station shares its one Internet connection with up to ten wireless computers concurrently. The computers must have AirPort cards or other wireless equipment that is compatible with the 802.11b standard. For example, an iBook or PowerBook G4 with an AirPort card can access the Internet completely untethered. Adding an AirPort base station to your wireless network is the easiest and most efficient way to provide wireless Internet access, but it is not the cheapest way.

Preparing for base station setup

When you set up an AirPort base station, you need to know all the details about how your base station will connect to the Internet. The details you need to know depend on how the base station connects to the Internet, as follows:

  • Base station internal modem: You must know the name and password for your ISP account, ISP phone number, country, and dialing method (tone or pulse). You also specify whether to dial automatically as needed and how long to wait idle before disconnecting automatically. Additionally, you can enter one or more IP addresses of name servers (also known as DNS addresses) and default domain names.

  • Local network (Ethernet): For a manual configuration, you need to know the base station’s IP address and subnet mask on the local network. You also need to know the IP address of your network’s Internet router or gateway. For a DHCP configuration, you need to know the DHCP client ID, if the DHCP server requires one. For either type of configuration, you can also enter one or more IP addresses of name servers (also known as DNS addresses) and default domain names.

  • Cable modem or DSL using DHCP or a static IP address: For a manual configuration, you need to know the static IP address, subnet mask, and router IP address assigned by your ISP. For a DHCP configuration, you need to know the DHCP client ID, if your ISP requires one. For either type of configuration, you can also enter one or more IP addresses of name servers (also known as DNS addresses) and default domain names.

  • Cable modem or DSL using PPPoE: You must know the name and password for your ISP account. You also specify whether to connect automatically as needed and how long to wait idle before disconnecting automatically. In addition, you can specify your ISP name and PPPoE service name, and you can enter one or more IP addresses of name servers (also known as DNS addresses) and default domain names.

You can learn the details of a modem, DSL, or cable modem connection from your ISP. You should know the details of a local network connection if you set up your local network. If you didn’t set up your own local network, consult the person who set up or administers the network.

Using the AirPort Setup Assistant

With the details about your base station’s Internet connection in hand, you are ready to configure the base station settings. You can configure an AirPort base station device by using the AirPort Setup Assistant program that’s included with Mac OS X. The Airport Setup Assistant can be found in the Applications/Utilities folder. Proceed as follows:

  1. Plug in the base station’s power adapter. The base station flashes its lights as it starts up, which takes about 30 seconds. The middle light glows white when it is ready. (It’s okay if you plugged in the base station ahead of time.)

  2. Make sure that the base station’s middle light is glowing white. Then start the AirPort Setup Assistant program and follow the onscreen instructions. The AirPort Setup Assistant asks you to enter the following information:

    • Network password: The Setup Assistant asks for this password only if the base station has been set up previously with a network password.

    • Base station password: The Setup Assistant does not ask for this password if the base station has the default password, which is public.

    • Type of network connection: The base station can connect to the Internet via its built-in modem, DSL, cable modem, or local Ethernet network as described previously. Figure 15-16 illustrates this stage of the AirPort Setup Assistant.

      click to expand
      Figure 15-16: The AirPort Setup Assistant leads you through setting up a base station device.

    • Internet connection details: The details you enter depend on the type of Internet connection, as described previously.

    • Network name and password: You give the base station network a name and password. The password is optional but strongly recommended.

    • Base station password: The base station can use the same password as its network or you can give it a different password. A person must know this password to change base station settings.

Note

Apple has released three versions of the AirPort base stations. The first version was graphite (gray) with three multicolored status lights. The second version is snow (white) with three white status lights. The third, the Extreme version, is white with a silver Apple. Accordingly, the status is displayed in different ways on the three versions of the base stations. Apple has an article in the Knowledge Base defining the differences in Airport base station light status. A simple way to search the AppleCare Knowledge Base is the Apple channel in Sherlock, which is covered in Chapter 7.

Administering an AirPort base station

Both the AirPort base station device and the AirPort base station software have advanced features that the AirPort Setup Assistant application doesn’t set up. These features include the ability to do the following:

  • Provide Internet access to computers on an Ethernet network in addition to wireless computers.

  • Turn on a DHCP server to automatically assign private IP addresses to computers on your AirPort network and optionally on an Ethernet network.

  • Change individual Internet connection settings, such as the phone number for a modem connection.

  • Allow computers on the Internet to penetrate your local network to access Web sites, FTP sites, and other services hosted by computers on your network.

  • Limit base station access to computers with specific AirPort cards so that unauthorized computers can’t join the base station’s wireless network.

  • Change individual base station settings such as the network password, channel number, and encryption.

To configure the advanced features of a base station device, you use the AirPort Admin Utility program, found in the Utilities folder. Figure 15-17 shows the Admin Utility and some of the settings that can be changed by using it.

click to expand
Figure 15-17: Change many settings on an AirPort base station device by using the AirPort Admin Utility application.

Going into full AirPort setup detail is beyond the scope of this book. Use the very capable built-in Help, or go to Apple’s online support area for further information.




Mac OS X Bible, Panther Edition
Mac OS X Bible, Panther Edition
ISBN: 0764543997
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2003
Pages: 290

flylib.com © 2008-2017.
If you may any questions please contact us: flylib@qtcs.net