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How to install AirPort Utility 5.6.1 on Mountain Lion

Just in case you'd like to use AirPort Utility 5.6.1 on Mountain Lion (and probalby Lion as well), here's how to install it:

Download the disk image (you can find it here: http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1536).
Mount the disk image and drag the install package (AirPortUtility.pkg) to your desktop.
Fire up Terminal and prepare to show off…
Make a temporary directory and cd into it: mkdir tmp ; cd tmp
Extract the Payload file from the install package with xar, here's the command: xar -x -f ~/Desktop/AirPortUtility.pkg Payload
The result will be a directory named AirPortUtility.pkg (just like the file, but now you can move into it to get the files you want). Inside will be a file called Payload that is a compressed archive of AirPort Utility.app.
So our next move is to extract the app. Here's the command: gzcat AirPortUtility.pkg/Payload | tar -xf -
When it finished there will be three new folders Applications, Library, and System. Your nice new copy of AirPort Utility 5.6.1 will be in the Utilities folder inside of the Applications folder. Use Finder to rename it (assuming you want to keep version 6 as well) then drag it to your Applications/Utilities folder.
The other two folders hold the AirPort Base Station Agent and its supporting files. I'm not sure if you need/want these or not. As best I can figure the agent does two things: it checks for updates for AirPort Utility and it monitors AirPort base stations for problems. You probably already have a version running as it comes with the system and it seems to know how to talk to both versions of AirPort Utility (I got nagged about updating).
The final step is to launch AirPort Utility and confirm that it works. You'll probably want to go into preferences and turn off the option to check for updates. If all is good you can remove the temporary directory: cd .. ; rm -rf tmp (or drag it into the trash with Finder).

That pretty much does it. I hope it helps somebody out there.

MacBook Pro (15-inch 2.4/2.2 GHz), OS X Mountain Lion, 4 GB

Posted on Aug 3, 2012 4:34 AM

78 replies

Macanudo

Level 1

9 points

Jan 1, 2013 12:17 PM in response to Aribibi

THIS SOLVED IT FOR ME ! And really easy. This is an automator workflow (created by Frank Tisellano) that does the job described by Doug with the result being the prior Airport Utility, which he aptly named "Old Airport Utility". This utility is created even with the same AU icon and all you need to do is drag it into the Utilities Folder (Mac HD/App/Utilities). Awesome. I decided to change the name to "Airport Utility 5.6.1 for Mount Lion...."

Thanks Aribibi for posting this link.

Me: MacBook Air 12C3006, OS 10.8.2, with Airport Express 802.11g.

Baba

Level 1

44 points

Jan 9, 2013 8:25 AM in response to Douglas Urner

It is daunting for anyone not familiar with Terminal to instantly become adventuresome. I use it occassionally when needed, but Pacifist does the job for this quickly and efficiently. Just DL Pacifist (shareware $20) but free for use with a 10 second delay. Drop the Airport Utility pkg on the Pacifist window (authenticate) and drag the APU to your Utilities folder (rename so it doesn't ask to replace APU 6)

I agree that people should learn to use Terminal.

C_Stolzy

Level 1

0 points

Jan 21, 2013 4:54 PM in response to Douglas Urner

I have a question, I am not familiar with all this so pardon my stupidity. I have the old Airport Extreme (from 2007, probably time for a new one). If I do all this an put the old utility on my brand new iMac, are they easy to get rid of if I buy the new Airport Extreme/Express?

Everything is working fine, so I don't really need to access it. The only thing is obviously the utility on Mountain Lion isn't recognizing my old equipment as you stated. I guess I just don't want to complicate things.

Also, if I were to buy a new Apple router. I am trying to figure out if I really need the Extreme again or if the NEW Express will do what I need?

What is the range on the Extreme/Time Capsule vs. the Express?

Also, any major differences other than the audio jack (which would be nice since my router is by my TV/Stereo)?

Lastly, is the speed different on the Extreme vs. the Express? I want it to be as fast as my Time Warner will let it be.

Thanks for helping a newbie out.

Jan 29, 2013 12:11 PM in response to Douglas Urner

Thanks Douglas for making it possible to use my very old Airport Extreme and Airport Express extensions. I recently upgraded to Mountain Lion and although it ran on my existing network I couldn't reconfigure it. Mountain Lion was sluggishly running on the newest Express. At the end of it all the 5.6.1 utility file would not go into the Utilities folder saying that folder could not be modified. It remained in the tmp file until i dragged it to Applications. It seems to work and I'm elated by this small victory. 😁

memisje

Level 1

0 points

Jan 29, 2013 3:47 PM in response to Aribibi

This is perfect! Thank you! 🙂

Feb 4, 2013 9:00 PM in response to Douglas Urner

Setting up airport express(es) for airplay. This was a lifesaver. Thanks!

Feb 11, 2013 8:39 PM in response to Aribibi

Feb 11, 2013 8:43 PM in response to Aribibi

Aribibi:

Thanks! That worked perfectly; GateKeeper wouldn't let me install the AppleScript at first.

After adjusting my download settings, it took less than a minute to unwrap & install.

Again, thank you ever so much. My life is perfect again!

(PS: I tried to reply earlier just to say "Thanks" but my post disappeared)

Feb 15, 2013 3:51 AM in response to Baba

I dropped the airportutilitypkg icon on the pacifist icon and received the following error:

Sorry, one or more of the following command-line tools was not found:

/usr/bin/lsbom, /bin/pax, /bin/mkdir, /bin/chmod, or /usr/bin/update_prebinding.

These tools are required to run this program. Check to see that they are all present on your system.

What am I doing wrong?

Feb 15, 2013 4:01 AM in response to Tom Neff

Thanks for the tip. The Unpkg app worked where Pacifist gave an 'error'.

Feb 22, 2013 6:09 AM in response to Road Hazard

Update:

Attempted to reconfigure Airport base station for the first time. Process never completed and Base Station became invisible. Ran Network Diagnostics and new network name was found and connected. Within 30 seconds network became invisible as signal was dropped. Ran Network Diagnostics again and newly named network failed to appear.

Performed hard restart of base station and now I have the default network that's working for the moment. Airport Base Station is the very first 'Extreme' model (white flying saucer with chrome apple).

All comments appreciated.

New Update:

Never quit trying. Went back to 5.6.1 configuration window, reentered setup info and unit restarted properly with new info.

Mar 8, 2013 2:33 AM in response to Road Hazard

If anyone is having issues with extracting v5.6 (or v5.6.1), here is an easier alternative (that doesn't require any work in Terminal): http://coreyjmahler.com/2013/03/08/airport-utility-5-6-on-os-x-v10-8-mountain-li on/.

Mar 10, 2013 2:21 PM in response to volli

Use pacifist software.. works great. here is the website http://www.charlessoft.com

easy to use and free for the first time. Check it out.

Mar 17, 2013 6:39 PM in response to Douglas Urner

Douglas: THANKS! for taking your time to post this Terminal routine. First time Terminal user too. :-)

Apr 3, 2013 12:20 PM in response to Douglas Urner

So glad I found this post. Been trying to work this out for ages since I switched from Leopard to Lion.

How to install AirPort Utility 5.6.1 on Mountain Lion