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User profile for user: Booker T.
Booker T. Author
User level: Level 1
9 points

Configuring AirPort Express on a wired-only Ethernet network

I have some software with both a Mac and iPhone client. They synchronize, but only via WiFi.
I have a Mac Pro Tower (early 2008) - no wifi card. It will void my warranty if I attempt to install one now on my own, so Authorized dealer @ $200 parts and labour is only option.

Apple Support has been COMPLETELY. USELESS.

Spoke with a dealer who said AirPort Express will do what I need - which is get my wired Mac Pro to talk to the iPhone via wifi (or at least pseudo wifi). He said all I have to do is run a cable from Ethernet 2 to Airport Express and that's it. So I went and spent $100 on an AirPort Express and ran a cable from Ethernet 2 to AirPort Express - and then launched the AirPort Express Utility.

It no workie.

I found this article on Apple's website which appears to be EXACTLY what I'm trying to accomplish.
http://support.apple.com/kb/TA21537?viewlocale=en_US

However, as of OSX 10.6 it no longer valid because Airport Admin Utility is incompatible and disabled. Apple offers no alternatives.

Also, my current router (Checkpoint Z100) supports wireless - though I've kept it disabled. I did test it and can connect the iPhone via wifi to use the internet connection. But beyond that I am at a lost. Admittedly I am not a sys admin person - and why I bought a Mac.

Am I expecting the impossible? If not, does anyone know how I can accomplish this and willing to offer some guidance or point me to some resources that can help me.

I didn't think I was asking to move mountains here - but maybe I am.

Any feedback would be appreciated.

Thx.

Mac Pro 2.8 (Early 2008), Mac OS X (10.5.2)

Posted on Jan 20, 2010 3:25 AM

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9 replies
User profile for user: William-Boyd-Jr
William-Boyd-Jr
User level: Level 6
10,578 points

Jan 20, 2010 8:03 AM in response to Booker T.

Booker T. wrote:
I have some software with both a Mac and iPhone client. They synchronize, but only via WiFi.
I have a Mac Pro Tower (early 2008) - no wifi card. It will void my warranty if I attempt to install one now on my own, so Authorized dealer @ $200 parts and labour is only option.


The warranty on your Mac Pro should have been for one year. Are you referring to AppleCare support? Although I'm not sure an AirPort card for your Mac Pro would solve your problem, it's my impression that adding one won't disturb AppleCare unless you break something while doing the installation.

I found this article on Apple's website which appears to be EXACTLY what I'm trying to accomplish.
http://support.apple.com/kb/TA21537?viewlocale=en_US

However, as of OSX 10.6 it no longer valid because Airport Admin Utility is incompatible and disabled. Apple offers no alternatives.


AirPort Utility (which can be downloaded from Apple and should have come with the AirPort Express) should be able to configure that AirPort Express.

Also, my current router (Checkpoint Z100) supports wireless - though I've kept it disabled. I did test it and can connect the iPhone via wifi to use the internet connection. But beyond that I am at a lost. Admittedly I am not a sys admin person - and why I bought a Mac.


I'd try again to connect your iPhone via Wi-Fi to your Mac Pro via Ethernet. I doubt that an AirPort Express would provide any capability that your Checkpoint unit can't already give you.
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User profile for user: Booker T.
Booker T. Author
User level: Level 1
9 points

Jan 20, 2010 4:41 PM in response to Duane

Thx. for the responses.

Some progress - the AirPort Utility to see Aiport Express now. This was a hardware issue - waking up Ethernet 2 with a few hard shutdown/restarts.

I can connect to AirPort from the iPhone.

Can I configure the AirPort Express, which is connect to my desktop via Ethernet cable (and obviously detected because the utility software can find the device) to my LAN?

It is not important for me to have wireless Internet access - I simply need an internal wireless network so that my desktop and iPhone can see each other via wifi.
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User profile for user: Booker T.
Booker T. Author
User level: Level 1
9 points

Jan 20, 2010 4:47 PM in response to William-Boyd-Jr

William Boyd, Jr. wrote:
The warranty on your Mac Pro should have been for one year. Are you referring to AppleCare support? Although I'm not sure an AirPort card for your Mac Pro would solve your problem, it's my impression that adding one won't disturb AppleCare unless you break something while doing the installation.

Yes, it's AppleCare - and according to Apple it will void it attempt this. That could be an expensive price to pay.

AirPort Utility (which can be downloaded from Apple and should have come with the AirPort Express) should be able to configure that AirPort Express.


I have the AirPort Utility from the CD - but yesterday the scan could not detect the device.

I'd try again to connect your iPhone via Wi-Fi to your Mac Pro via Ethernet. I doubt that an AirPort Express would provide any capability that your Checkpoint unit can't already give you.


I can now connect iPhone to both Airport or the CheckPoint - but still no way to include the desktop in the wireless network. I had thought perhaps Airport could be used to create the wireless 'client' for desktop - and join CheckPoint network - but Duane (next post) indicate this isn't possible with third party wireless routers. The checkpoint router supports up to 802.11n - though it has option to enable WPA2 encryption (802.11i) - but I have that disabled right now.
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User profile for user: Booker T.
Booker T. Author
User level: Level 1
9 points

Jan 20, 2010 6:15 PM in response to Booker T.

Got this working!

Why did something so simple have to be such an ordeal.
Oh, that's right... so Apple can ******** their customers into thinking they need to buy even more Apple products.

All I had to do was set Airport express to join wireless router's network.
Caveat is to ensure channel and encryption is the same between the two devices.

Desktop and iphone can synch wirelessly. Both retain internet connection when connected via wifi.

The second to last post in URL below ultimately gave me the missing piece to solve this, but thank you Duane and William for your responses.

http://episteme.arstechnica.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/469092836/m/504002878931?r=53 3000978931#533000978931
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User profile for user: Duane
Duane
User level: Level 10
124,267 points

Jan 20, 2010 6:49 PM in response to Booker T.

I'm glad that you got it working but I'm not sure exactly what you did. I would guess that your router is one of the rare ones which supports ProxySTA. That would allow the AX to join the wireless network AND activate the AX's Ethernet port.

Your comment " Caveat is to ensure channel and encryption is the same between the two devices" is curious since if you configure the AX to join as a client it will automatically select both just like your iPhone or any wireless device would.
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User profile for user: Booker T.
Booker T. Author
User level: Level 1
9 points

Jan 20, 2010 7:43 PM in response to Duane

If it supports ProxySTA, it's not obvious.

On the router I simply enabled wireless, set flavour of 802.11, channel, security and password.
On AE, I set channel and security, join to network, selected network and entered password.
That's it.

Should've taken 15 minutes - tops. Even for someone as clueless me.

Channel was auto by default. I set explicitly to ensure a match. Encryption level is not auto - you need to select. Perhaps it would work if I don't bother explicitly defining - maybe when I have time I'll test.
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Configuring AirPort Express on a wired-only Ethernet network

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