How to import Airport Extreme base configuration

Question

Level 2

209 points

How to import Airport Extreme base configuration

I have a failing AirPort Extreme (not fully gone but overheating often). I also have another AirPort Extreme that is currently set back to factory defaults... I would like to (about to buy a new router but not quite yet) use the provision that allows one to Import a configuration file from my existing unit to my other Airport... But even though I've copied all the existing settings I still want the original, failing unit to NOT be set back to factory defaults yet... I figured out how to EXPORT the base configuration file from the failing unit but how would I then get the IMPORT feature to come to life (currently grayed out) unless I do something (??) with the replacement AirPort Extreme...

Bottom line is I want the replacement unit to become identical in configuration to the old one (would only have one plugged in at a time) without setting the old one back to its factory defaults??? How do I do this??

AirPort Extreme

Posted on Nov 29, 2024 11:27 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Robert Paris Author

Level 2

209 points

Dec 2, 2024 6:17 PM in response to Bob Timmons

Understood... This is the 2nd ASUS router I've now deployed and I've tended to like how they are easy to work through the basic "get it connected and running"... Now the zillion options that come after can be pretty overwhelming... This newest one is not top of the line but up there a ways, new WiFi7 model (not that any of my IoT devices are WiFi7 but supposedly all backward compatible... So far seems to be working ok...

By the way, just one more point about the Apple AirPort Extreme... My unit had begun switching to "fan on hard" about once every 20 minutes with solid green light going to solid amber... I would have thought amber meant it had gone offline but I discovered, no, it was still connected... I even ran a speed test once and got good results while the fan was running and the amber light was lit... Then after about a minute of that, the fan would stop and it would instantly go back to green... Almost seemed like it was a timed event rather than overheating and the WiFi Utility would even say it "might" be overheating... I had read some posts that suggested it could be software coupled and to go in and say "turn on or off file sharing" in the Time Capsule version which is what I had... I did that... Turned off File Sharing and updated the router... But no, 20 minutes later, back to amber and with the fan.. So that possible fix did NOT work for me... Just saying... thanks again for your help...

Reply

Answer 2

Dec 2, 2024 6:29 AM in response to Robert Paris

Kind of a puzzle here.

I figured out how to EXPORT the base configuration file from the failing unit but how would I then get the IMPORT feature to come to life (currently grayed out) unless I do something (??) with the replacement AirPort Extreme...

The old AirPort Extreme needs to be currently connected to the network while you set up the new AirPort to "Replace an existing device". You won't be using the Configuration File that you saved from the old AirPort. Once the new AirPort is set up, you can remove the old AirPort from the network.

Or.....

Set the old AirPort Extreme aside and set up the new AirPort to create a wireless network of your choice. When the temporary setup is complete.......

Then......

Open AirPort Utility, click on the File menu, then click on Import Configuration File and navigate to the location where you saved the Configuration File, select it and Import it to the new AirPort Extreme. The existing setup on the AirPort Extreme will be replaced by the settings in the Configuration File.

Reply

Answer 3

Robert Paris Author

Level 2

209 points

Dec 2, 2024 7:33 AM in response to Bob Timmons

Thanks for the response and the help, Bob... Just in the three days since I posted the above question, I decided it was time to punt and I went ahead and bought a new (ASUS) router as Apple, as I trust you know, is no longer in the router business..... I consider myself to be reasonably competent technically (retired EE) but setting up networks is a challenge where I know I could get in trouble easily... And yes, there were a few steps in the setup process where both my wife and I an no clue as to the answer to this or that question... But we slogged through and got the new router up and running... So after a long and successful run with many Apple Routers over the years, they are now unplugged and to be reset soon to factory defaults... Sorry for wasting a bit of your time (I saw other posts of your's on Apple Routers) but thanks again for offering the help... It's much appreciated...

Reply

Answer 4

Dec 2, 2024 3:42 PM in response to Robert Paris

Asus is a very good choice for a replacement router and one of the very few routers that will support Time Machine backups to a hard drive connected to the USB port on the router.

The "trick" here is that the hard drive must be formatted in Mac OS Extended (Journaled).

Reply