AirPort Utility 5.6 vs. 6.0

A quick note to mention that upgrades to firmware v7.6.1 using AirPort Utility v5.5.3 on Mac OS X Snow Leopard have gone without a hitch (two AirPort Express units and an AirPort Extreme).

But wow, I'm not keen on AirPort Utility v6.0 for Lion. They could have simply added that map into the existing utility instead of throwing out all the controls and useful bits; it's like Server Admin in Lion Server all over again.

Please bring back the advanced options

Add my voice to the chorus. This is a crap update.

I actually use the printer connected to my extreme.

I actually use the (buggy) SNMP support (in an attempt to measure my internet use with what my ISP claims I use -- which is another tale of woe entirely).

I actually use many of the advanced features.

Incidentally, while the firmware update to my extreme went fine, the express returned error -6753 (an error worthy of http://thedailywtf.com ). So I tried again several times. Eventually, the express fell off the net. So I went to look at it, solid amber. Unplug, replug, eat some breakfast, green light. What actually happened? Can only guess.

Has anybody found anything good in this update? (if your answer is improved graphics, talk to the hand)

So I downloaded the update via SW and ran it. It told me the four devices on my network needed updating. Fine, I thought, I'll open a window for each and click the update buttons in order. Wrong. Everything is painfully synchronous. Update one. Downloading. Installing. Rebooting. Wait wait wait. And one of my four devices failed the update and no longer is responding. So I figure I'll check my WDS setting. But I don't appear to have any WDS controls in the new app?!

No WDS? No Logging? No advanced anything? Am I missing something here?

I have now installed 5.6, which I trust, and will just use that. I still have one unresponsive Airport Express though.

Like the other guy said - has anyone found anything here that merits the monicker "update"? I feel like we've stepped back five years.

I've just updated my TC (dual band) and three expresses and all has gone without a hitch it appears (knock wood). I followed the advice posted elsewhere and updated the utility to 6.0 (on a iMac/Lion), updated the four firmwares, and downloaded Utility 5.6 just in case. I took the plunge because I think with IPv6 being rolled out these updates likely have that in mind, beyond just the graphic changes.

Nice list Derek but 3a is incorrect.

3a) There is NO "Enable Guest Network" setting. You CANNOT create a guest network or name it or give it any settings. Why this is still listed in Help, I have no idea. Why the setting is gone: This is most likely because the technology behind guest networks, WPS, has been thoroughly CRACKED in the wild. Google "WPS cracked" for lots of documentation of the situation. It won't be resolved soon.

The feature that is missing is not "Enable Guest Network" it is "Add Wireless Clients" that is available in the 'Base Station' menu in other versions of the utility. You are correct about one thing, "Add Wireless Clients" is Apple's implementation of WPS but Apple's implementation is not susceptible to the exploit that was recently discovered. Apple does not hardwire the WPS code into the AirPort wireless base stations like other manufacturers do therefore it can't be exploited.

As for "Enable Guest Network" it is there in v6.0 under the 'Wireless' tab on supported base stations, the Extreme and Time Capsules.

Another missing feature is the ability to "Disconnect All Users" if there is a shared USB disk attached to the AE. In the past, I learned the hard way that failure to disconnect all users before disconnecting a USB disk results in directory errors on the disk.

So my question is: If a noobie user doesn't know that Airport Utility 5.6 exists and uses AU 6.0 to manage a shared disk connected to the base station, how would that user possibly know about disconnecting all users before unplugging the disk?

This is so crazy I can hardly believe it. At the very least, you have to disconnect disks and directly attach them to a computer to use Disk Utility or Disk Warrior to inspect or repair disk directories on shared network disks.

I'm getting the feeling that v6.0 is an incomplete re-write of the AirPort Utility. It seems the only new features are the updated user interface and support for the iCloud implimetation of 'Back to my Mac' that allows a remote connection to AirPort disks over the Internet.

I haven't transitioned to iCloud yet so I don't know if trying to connect to an AirPort disk broke if you had updated to iCloud. Regardless, I think we'll be seeing updates to v6 to bring back lost features and that v5.6 is a stop gap until v6 is completely re-written.

I just downloaded 5.6. This new release is a step back in the dark ages. I can't deal with 6.0 and the content that was deleted from the previous releases. Disappointed in Apple for this.

arrrrrrgh wrote:

I've just updated my TC (dual band) and three expresses and all has gone without a hitch it appears (knock wood). I followed the advice posted elsewhere and updated the utility to 6.0 (on a iMac/Lion), updated the four firmwares, and downloaded Utility 5.6 just in case. I took the plunge because I think with IPv6 being rolled out these updates likely have that in mind, beyond just the graphic changes.

Have you tried connecting an iPhone to your wifi after the updates? Mine will not connect anymore, so frustrating. It keeps saying, "incorrect password". Can anyone help with this??

My iPhone connected to my wireless network without any problems after the update. If re-entering the password when prompted does not work then go into your iPhone's Wi-Fi settings and tap on 'Forget this Network' and then try re-connecting back to the network.

Gino Cerullo wrote:

My iPhone connected to my wireless network without any problems after the update. If re-entering the password when prompted does not work then go into your iPhone's Wi-Fi settings and tap on 'Forget this Network' and then try re-connecting back to the network.

Thanks Gino, but it won't let me select "forget this network" because it doesn't appear to think it was ever connected (which it was before the updates 7.6.1 firmware and 6.0 airport updates). The only option is "manage this network". Anymore ideas?

Pretty disappointed in this update. It's nice that we can still get the old functionality with the 5.6 version, but I was pretty shocked when I opened 6.0 the first time. At first, I was pleased. The new interface looks nice, and I can see it being very intuitive for most people. However, I'm sure there are lots of people using AirPorts in small business environments. Getting access to logs and things like SNMP settings are critical for small businesses using AirPort hardware. My hope is that 6.0 is a re-write, and was released as a minimum viable product, much like FCX. As time goes on, Apple will add back in "advanced" settings in a way that is still intuitive. At least I hope.

On your iphone, go to settings, general, reset. and choose reset network settings. It will erase any wifi passwords you have stored and should get it working again. You'll need to reinter your wifi password so write it down.