Regret updating to AirPort Utility 6.0

I don't understand what the reasoning is with Apple regarding this update. Do they think we are all going to stop using desktop devices and buy into the iOS 100% environment? I mean, this update is basically dumb! It defeats the purpose of the Airport utility. Why in the world did Apple release this? Why in the world was this approved? Ridiculous!!!

Also there is no PPPoE when using AirPort Utlity 6.0. This was seen with AirPort Extreme 802.11n

(1st Generation).

Download Airport Utility 5.6 from Apple to fix.

I've compiled a catch-all list of problems and changes with Airport Utility version 6.0 and FW 7.6.1. Some of the items may be relevant to this thread.

THE PROBLEMS WITH AIRPORT UTILITY 6 AND FIRMWARE 7.6.1:

(I can see myself having to type these over and over again here, so I am providing a general catch-all list).

Introduction: If you find AirPort Utility v6.0 too limiting or strange, you can ALSO install AirPort Utility v5.6, released alongside v6.0, to maintain all your previous capabilities. It works fine with both Airport g and n devices.

1) According to Apple's documentation, Airport Utility version 6.0 is ONLY for Mac OS X 10.7 Lion. It is NOT for 10.6 Snow Leopard. If you accidentally installed v6, you'll have to dig around in Apple - Support - Downloads for the previous relevant version for your devices and OS version. Here is the relevant page:

http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1483

2) The HELP for Airport Utility has been updated. When you first access it you may well be looking at the old Help. It is supposed to update itself spontaneously over the Internet. It took a couple minutes in my case. Be sure you are looking at the NEW Help before you start using it. One way to tell is that the list of help topics essentially doubles from what there used to be. Also, the very first topic in the NEW Help should read:

"Set up an AirPort device > Set up a new AirPort Base Station or Time Capsule"

3) The HELP has some WRONG information. Here we go:

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.

3b) I can't find any 'Setup Assistant". Everything is now manual. This is not to say that there isn't a setup assistant that appears when you FIRST set up your Airport device. I don't know.

4) After installing Airport Utility v6.0, there is no indication of the accompanying firmware update until you decide to run the new version. Even then, you have to click on the big icon of your Airport device and notice an 'Update' button about halfway down the popup window. You then have to assume that this button is telling you to update your firmware.

5) After you update your Airport device's firmware, you may well discover an ERROR subwindow popping up inside Airport Utility that says:

"An error occurred while updating the firmware. -6721"

Don't panic! All you need to do is go into your Wi-Fi settings, either in your menubar or the Network preferences, and turn OFF Wi-Fi, then turn ON Wi-Fi again. This is part of a long standing bug in Lion's Wi-Fi with which I bet you are already familiar, certainly up through Lion version 10.7.2.

6) Miscellaneous changes in Airport Utility 6:

6a) The keyboard command to manually change your Airport devices settings is GONE. You have to click the little 'Edit' button after clicking on the big icon for your device.

6b) There is no longer any summary window for your Airport device. You have to instead click on the big "Internet" icon for related data, then click on the big icon for your Airport device for local settings data.

6c) There is no longer any HELP advising users to EXPORT their settings. (The Help only talks about Import of settings). BE SURE TO EXPORT YOUR NEW SETTINGS! I did this immediately after both updates.

6d) MAC address filtering for Airport devices is GONE.

6e) All references to IPV6 anywhere are GONE. I have to assume the IPV6 settings are now entirely working and entirely automatic. Let's hope so.

6f) Signal and Noise data and graphs are GONE. Use Apple's Wi-Fi Diagnostics app instead. Apple have hidden it here in Lion:

/System/Library/CoreServices/W-Fi Diagnostics

6g) In order to access the menu items in Airport Utility, you have to first click on the big icon for your Airport device.

--> No doubt there are other changes, oddities or bugs related to these changes. But this is what I came up with during a cursory strafing of the software.

Derek,

I've seen you post this in two separate places and for the most part it is both correct and very helpful ; however, I definitely still have the option to create a Guest Network. Right under the "Wireless" tab, the last available setting before the "Wireless Options…" button is, for me, a checkbox labeled "Enable Guest Network:" Not sure why (if?) we're seeing different things here, but thought I'd share.

Also, I agree that this update is horrible. They've somehow managed to make the desktop Airport Utility less functional than the Airport Utility available for the iPhone. It boggles the mind. 5.6 here I come.

I am having trouble downgrading from 6.0 to 5.6. Does anyone have any suggestions?

I am usually the most hugerest Apple apologist, but this update *****. The Interface is beyond craptastic and now with fewer features! Why so many pop up dialogs? and why o why do the pop up windows extend outside the application window. If you were trying to make it IOS, like you failed it is not possible to extend outside the application window in IOS!

@JapookiRuin: Thanks for verification. I was just chatting with someone about this as they have "Enable Guest Network" as well. I found that, despite what v6.0 doesn't show, I still have MAC address filtering enabled. This was verified by v5.6. Therefore, most likely MAC address filtering disables the ability to have a guest network, as it should. If I turned it off in v5.6 I most likely would find I then had 'Enable Guest Network' available.

@rmartinsjr: I can verify that both v6.0 and v5.6 install and cohabitate happiliy together. Unless someone really likes v6.0, I see no reason to install or use v6.0 at all, despite Apple's inference to the contrary. Everything works as usual, as expect, with v5.6. I also verified that v5.6 works fine with both g and n Airport devices.

Try holding down the "option" key and double click on your AE. I kind of like the new interface.

My only guesses about the existance of v6.0 are:

1) It again brings iOS functionality (dysfunctionality?) to Lion.

2) It is somewhat more user-friendly to use than v5.6 and its ancestors.

HOWEVER: v6.0 has no Setup Assistant that I can find. Therefore, Apple blew it on the actual user-friendliness. IMHO v6.0 is an odd GUI overhaul that removes functionality and adds user confusion. Seeing as v5.6 works fine with all Airport devices and has full functionality, I see no point installing or using v6.0 at all.

@rgilbert: Thanks for the Option key tip. But what comes up is the same thing as clicking the big icon once then hitting 'Edit'.

IF there was a keystroke to bring up the FULL interface, as found in v5.6, then I'd be happy. Maybe there is! We shall see.

Derek, other than not being able to see my wireless client signal levels, it appears to have the same functionality. I also am not real fond of changes without great documentation, but I can still do everything I could do before the change. Just hope the firmware 7.6.1 doesn't cause issues.