boloney

Q: reset Airport Express password without disrupting network

I set up our AE and share the wifi with our tenants.

 

I've added 4 AEs as extenders throughout the house to boost the network.  I want to change the password of the Station, not the network, to make it a wee more secure.

 

How do I do that without disrupting the whole thing?  If I just change the password on #1 (aka the Base that comes out of our router and is the wifi source) do I also have to change it on #2, #3, and #4? 

 

I also have an AE time capsule so assuming I'd have to change that as well?

 

So it's Router (with wifi turned on)> AE #1 as the base > extender 1 & 2 & 3 on different floors plus a Time Capsule AExtreme in there as well....

 

Or does one password change take care of them all?  I don't want to change the wifi password at all. 

 

Any Advice?

iMac, OS X Yosemite (10.10.4), mid 2011. 20 GB memory.

Posted on Jan 13, 2016 10:44 AM

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Q: reset Airport Express password without disrupting network

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  • by Tesserax,

    Tesserax Tesserax Jan 13, 2016 10:58 AM in response to boloney
    Level 9 (54,776 points)
    Wireless
    Jan 13, 2016 10:58 AM in response to boloney

    The base station's administrator's password is unique to each base station. You can change it and it will not affect the wireless security password used on your extended Wi-Fi network. However, the base station should restart after making the change. This, of course, will temporarily disrupt the Wi-Fi network until both the "main" & extending base stations reestablish communications.

  • by boloney,

    boloney boloney Jan 13, 2016 11:12 AM in response to Tesserax
    Level 1 (130 points)
    Jan 13, 2016 11:12 AM in response to Tesserax

    So if I (somewhat stupidly) made them all the same password, and I just change the password on the FIRST one (the non-extender actual base station) - is that "secure" or should I change them all to something different? 

     

    - beth

  • by Tesserax,

    Tesserax Tesserax Jan 13, 2016 11:17 AM in response to boloney
    Level 9 (54,776 points)
    Wireless
    Jan 13, 2016 11:17 AM in response to boloney

    It will be more secure if you change the default base station administrator password as anyone with a Mac or PC can access them from the AirPort Utility. Note: Be aware that anyone that has physical access to a base station can thwart any password set (administrator or wireless security,) by pressing the reset button.

  • by boloney,

    boloney boloney Jan 13, 2016 11:26 AM in response to Tesserax
    Level 1 (130 points)
    Jan 13, 2016 11:26 AM in response to Tesserax

    So best to just do the default base and leave the rest as is?  Security is indeed why I'm thinking about it.

     

    - B

  • by Tesserax,

    Tesserax Tesserax Jan 13, 2016 12:08 PM in response to boloney
    Level 9 (54,776 points)
    Wireless
    Jan 13, 2016 12:08 PM in response to boloney

    No, you will want to change them all.

     

    Unfortunately, this type of network will offer little security if you have a technically-savvy tenant. If you just want them access the Internet, you may want to consider setting up a guest network. When connected to the main network each tenant can potentially access any other client on the network, including your devices.

     

    You would find this option in the AirPort Utility, as follows:

    • Run the AirPort Utility
    • Select your "main" base station.
    • Select Edit
    • Select the Wireless tab.
    • Select the "Enable Guest Network" option, and provide the network with its own unique name.
    • Click on Update and allow the base station to restart.
  • by boloney,

    boloney boloney Jan 13, 2016 12:25 PM in response to Tesserax
    Level 1 (130 points)
    Jan 13, 2016 12:25 PM in response to Tesserax

    Gotcha.

     

    I think I tried doing the guest network in the beginning but couldn't get it to work correctly - I think at the time I was running the wifi from my Fios router and using all the AEs as boosters and that was probably not a good setup..... I have since updated the router from Fios and turned their wifi off altogether after getting the 'um we were bad with our networks all this time you need to change your password to have many more characters sorry not sorry' email from verizon last year....  Will have to revisit the idea.

     

    Can I reset without going into their apartments through Airport utility?  Fuzzy on that too.

     

    - beth

  • by Tesserax,

    Tesserax Tesserax Jan 13, 2016 12:34 PM in response to boloney
    Level 9 (54,776 points)
    Wireless
    Jan 13, 2016 12:34 PM in response to boloney

    I think I tried doing the guest network in the beginning but couldn't get it to work correctly - I think at the time I was running the wifi from my Fios router and using all the AEs as boosters and that was probably not a good setup.....

    Yes, you're right that configuration wouldn't work as you need the "main" base station to perform as a router. That would mean that the Fios router would have to reconfigured as a bridge. It gets a bit messy.

     

    You could have used your AirPort as "boosters" with the Fios router but only if they all connected back to that router via Ethernet. Wireless connections would not work as the technology used for extending are incompatible. Manufacturers tend to only support their own equipment. Go figure, right?

    Can I reset without going into their apartments through Airport utility?

    Yes, you can reset them individually using the AirPort Utility. Just select the base station, make the necessary changes, and then, click on update. The base station should restart.

     

    If you ever want to "force" a base station to restart, again you would use the AirPort Utility, but this time after selecting the base station, go to the utility's menu bar, and then, select Base Station > Restart...