williamfromames

Q: Airport Utility v 6.3 Fails to See Airport Extreme or Express

After updating Airport Utility from 6.2 to 6.3, the utility no longer recognized either Airport Extreme base station or Airport Express.  Both of these devices are at firmware level 7.6.3 which is current.  The Airport Utility display showed the internet globe with a green indicator.  (Wireless internet was indeed working.)  Neither Airport device showed and the utility searched endlessly.

 

Apple support suggested trying a physical connection to the base station.  When the Airport Utility was directed to look through the ether hose rather than over the waves (menu, upper left corner of display screen), it found both devices immediately.  Apple support person determined my base station was manufactured in 2007 (serial number) and, though we did not check, I believe the Express was probably about a year later.  Returning to wireless access caused the devices to become invisible again,

 

An Apple support case number 454816175 has been opened dealing with the inability of Airport Utility 6.3 to recognize older Extreme and Express devices over the Wi-Fi interface.

 

I earlier posted by mistake a comment on this problem to a discussion regarding firmware levels.

MacBook Pro, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.4)

Posted on Jun 11, 2013 3:21 PM

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Q: Airport Utility v 6.3 Fails to See Airport Extreme or Express

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  • by Jerome Vitner,

    Jerome Vitner Jerome Vitner Jun 13, 2013 6:28 AM in response to williamfromames
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    Jun 13, 2013 6:28 AM in response to williamfromames

    Same problem here.  I have both a 4th and a 5th generation Airport Express.  The 4th generation Airport Express is wired to the Internet, while the 5th generation one is in my office as an extention.  I am connected to that one via Ethernet.  Everything else in the house is wireless.  Airport Utility 6.2 saw both.  Airport Utility 5.6, which I kept around, does too.   I have no trouble accessing the drives attached to either base station.   Airport Utility 6.3 sees both of them on WiFi (using that drop-down mentioned above) but can't connect to them.   When I select Ethernet in the drop-down the cursor just spins.  I also run iNet to monitor my network.  It sees activity on both base stations.  I just downloaded Airport Utility 6.2 and will install that.

  • by crh24,

    crh24 crh24 Jun 13, 2013 9:11 AM in response to williamfromames
    Level 3 (924 points)
    Jun 13, 2013 9:11 AM in response to williamfromames

    As a data point in the 'for what it's worth department'...

     

    I have a 4th gen Extreme and a 5th Gen Extreme both with the latest firmware in my home network.  6.3 on my late-2012 iMac sees both without a problem via Wi-Fi and ethernet.  Same for Wi-Fi on my 2012 MBA.

     

    I do notice one difference between 6.2 and 6.3, though.  With 6.2 the Internet orange 'LED' immediately becomes green on startup.  With 6.2 it can take 10 or more seconds before it becomes green. Don't know what this means other than 'something' is different in the initialization process in 6.3.

  • by Jerome Vitner,

    Jerome Vitner Jerome Vitner Jun 13, 2013 9:49 AM in response to Jerome Vitner
    Level 1 (13 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Jun 13, 2013 9:49 AM in response to Jerome Vitner

    If I unplug my Ethernet cable, Airport Utility 6.3 does see both of my base stations.   When I plug it back in I get the spinning cursor.   Or I get the yellow triangles with the exclamation point.

  • by Jeff Leigh,

    Jeff Leigh Jeff Leigh Jun 13, 2013 10:03 AM in response to williamfromames
    Level 1 (25 points)
    Jun 13, 2013 10:03 AM in response to williamfromames

    Looks like 6.3 is using IPv6 to talk to Time Capsules/Airports. I know I had turned off IPv6 long ago since I didn't need it. Also looks like Apple has removed 'Off' as a valid choice for that setting.

     

    To turn IPv6 back on:

     

    Open System Preferences->Network

    Click Advanced

    Change Configure IPv6 from 'Off' to 'Link-local only'

    Click Ok

    Click Apply

     

    AU 6.3 should now be able to communicate with your device.

  • by StagrLee,

    StagrLee StagrLee Jun 13, 2013 10:41 AM in response to Jeff Leigh
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 13, 2013 10:41 AM in response to Jeff Leigh

    Thanks Jeff, that got it working for me.

  • by Mitchump,

    Mitchump Mitchump Jun 13, 2013 10:48 AM in response to williamfromames
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    Jun 13, 2013 10:48 AM in response to williamfromames

    Hmm. But sadly not for me.

  • by StagrLee,

    StagrLee StagrLee Jun 13, 2013 11:02 AM in response to Mitchump
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 13, 2013 11:02 AM in response to Mitchump

    @Mitchump, you might try turning on ipV6 on in your Airport or TimeCapsule.

  • by gravedigger1202,

    gravedigger1202 gravedigger1202 Jun 13, 2013 11:04 AM in response to Jeff Leigh
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 13, 2013 11:04 AM in response to Jeff Leigh

    Thanks Jeff, that was the right solution. Now 6.3 works for me too..

  • by fredgoodman,

    fredgoodman fredgoodman Jun 13, 2013 11:18 AM in response to williamfromames
    Level 1 (35 points)
    Jun 13, 2013 11:18 AM in response to williamfromames

    Worked for me too. 

     

    I set ipv6 to automatic both on the mac wifi and on airport extreme. 

     

    Can anyone explain settings for ipv6?   What does "link local" or  "automatic" do?

  • by Mitchump,

    Mitchump Mitchump Jun 13, 2013 11:59 AM in response to StagrLee
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 13, 2013 11:59 AM in response to StagrLee

    Thanks for the advice, but I'm not sure what I'm doing. If I use Airport Utility on my iPad, I can set the IPv6 to automatic (already on link local) but I can also set mode between native and tunnel and I can choose to share the IPv6 connection. Any suggestions? Thanks

  • by Nirvana98109,

    Nirvana98109 Nirvana98109 Jun 13, 2013 12:14 PM in response to Jeff Leigh
    Level 1 (1 points)
    Jun 13, 2013 12:14 PM in response to Jeff Leigh

    Yup, this is what the problem was. Turning IPv6 back on fixed it for me as well. Thanks

  • by oxocube,

    oxocube oxocube Jun 13, 2013 12:18 PM in response to Jeff Leigh
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Jun 13, 2013 12:18 PM in response to Jeff Leigh

    Worked for me too.  Thanks!!!!

  • by Jerome Vitner,

    Jerome Vitner Jerome Vitner Jun 13, 2013 12:42 PM in response to williamfromames
    Level 1 (13 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Jun 13, 2013 12:42 PM in response to williamfromames

    My setings for IPV6 in both base stations was already set to link-local, so that isn't going to fix Airport Utility not working with an Ethernet connection.

  • by Jeff Leigh,

    Jeff Leigh Jeff Leigh Jun 13, 2013 12:56 PM in response to Mitchump
    Level 1 (25 points)
    Jun 13, 2013 12:56 PM in response to Mitchump

    Mitchump,

     

    Link-local is probably the right setting. This means IPv6 will only be used on your local network, not out to the Internet.

     

    If you set your Airport to Link-local and saved the setting (it might restart I'm not sure), then you have to ensure your desktop machine also has IPv6 enabled. Follow the directions I already posted.

     

    Jerome,

     

    If both base stations and your computer are set to link-local, it should work. Make sure you actually have an IPv6 address in the Network control panel. If everything is setup correctly and restarting doesn't change anything, you'll probably have to contact Apple. I am also hooked up via Ethernet and enabling IPv6 got AU 6.3 working again for me.

  • by Jerome Vitner,

    Jerome Vitner Jerome Vitner Jun 13, 2013 1:01 PM in response to Jeff Leigh
    Level 1 (13 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Jun 13, 2013 1:01 PM in response to Jeff Leigh

    That was the issue!  IPV6 was off in the Ethernet settings on my Macbookpro.   Changed that to link-local and now Airport Utility works for Ethernet.

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