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Airport Utility v 6.3 Fails to See Airport Extreme or Express

After updating Airport Utility from 6.2 to 6.3, the utility no longer recognized either Airport Extreme base station or Airport Express. Both of these devices are at firmware level 7.6.3 which is current. The Airport Utility display showed the internet globe with a green indicator. (Wireless internet was indeed working.) Neither Airport device showed and the utility searched endlessly.

Apple support suggested trying a physical connection to the base station. When the Airport Utility was directed to look through the ether hose rather than over the waves (menu, upper left corner of display screen), it found both devices immediately. Apple support person determined my base station was manufactured in 2007 (serial number) and, though we did not check, I believe the Express was probably about a year later. Returning to wireless access caused the devices to become invisible again,

An Apple support case number 454816175 has been opened dealing with the inability of Airport Utility 6.3 to recognize older Extreme and Express devices over the Wi-Fi interface.

I earlier posted by mistake a comment on this problem to a discussion regarding firmware levels.

MacBook Pro, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.4)

Posted on Jun 11, 2013 3:21 PM

65 replies

crh24

Level 3

930 points

Jun 13, 2013 9:11 AM in response to williamfromames

As a data point in the 'for what it's worth department'...

I have a 4th gen Extreme and a 5th Gen Extreme both with the latest firmware in my home network. 6.3 on my late-2012 iMac sees both without a problem via Wi-Fi and ethernet. Same for Wi-Fi on my 2012 MBA.

I do notice one difference between 6.2 and 6.3, though. With 6.2 the Internet orange 'LED' immediately becomes green on startup. With 6.2 it can take 10 or more seconds before it becomes green. Don't know what this means other than 'something' is different in the initialization process in 6.3.

Jun 13, 2013 9:49 AM in response to Jerome Vitner

If I unplug my Ethernet cable, Airport Utility 6.3 does see both of my base stations. When I plug it back in I get the spinning cursor. Or I get the yellow triangles with the exclamation point.

Jun 13, 2013 10:03 AM in response to williamfromames

Looks like 6.3 is using IPv6 to talk to Time Capsules/Airports. I know I had turned off IPv6 long ago since I didn't need it. Also looks like Apple has removed 'Off' as a valid choice for that setting.

To turn IPv6 back on:

Open System Preferences->Network

Click Advanced

Change Configure IPv6 from 'Off' to 'Link-local only'

Click Ok

Click Apply

AU 6.3 should now be able to communicate with your device.

StagrLee

Level 1

0 points

Jun 13, 2013 10:41 AM in response to Jeff Leigh

Thanks Jeff, that got it working for me.

Mitchump

Level 1

9 points

Jun 13, 2013 10:48 AM in response to williamfromames

Hmm. But sadly not for me.

StagrLee

Level 1

0 points

Jun 13, 2013 11:02 AM in response to Mitchump

@Mitchump, you might try turning on ipV6 on in your Airport or TimeCapsule.

Jun 13, 2013 11:04 AM in response to Jeff Leigh

Thanks Jeff, that was the right solution. Now 6.3 works for me too..🙂

Jun 13, 2013 11:18 AM in response to williamfromames

Worked for me too.

I set ipv6 to automatic both on the mac wifi and on airport extreme.

Can anyone explain settings for ipv6? What does "link local" or "automatic" do?

Mitchump

Level 1

9 points

Jun 13, 2013 11:59 AM in response to StagrLee

Thanks for the advice, but I'm not sure what I'm doing. If I use Airport Utility on my iPad, I can set the IPv6 to automatic (already on link local) but I can also set mode between native and tunnel and I can choose to share the IPv6 connection. Any suggestions? Thanks

Jun 13, 2013 12:14 PM in response to Jeff Leigh

Yup, this is what the problem was. Turning IPv6 back on fixed it for me as well. Thanks

oxocube

Level 1

10 points

Jun 13, 2013 12:18 PM in response to Jeff Leigh

Worked for me too. Thanks!!!!

Jun 13, 2013 12:42 PM in response to williamfromames

My setings for IPV6 in both base stations was already set to link-local, so that isn't going to fix Airport Utility not working with an Ethernet connection.

Jun 13, 2013 12:56 PM in response to Mitchump

Mitchump,

Link-local is probably the right setting. This means IPv6 will only be used on your local network, not out to the Internet.

If you set your Airport to Link-local and saved the setting (it might restart I'm not sure), then you have to ensure your desktop machine also has IPv6 enabled. Follow the directions I already posted.

Jerome,

If both base stations and your computer are set to link-local, it should work. Make sure you actually have an IPv6 address in the Network control panel. If everything is setup correctly and restarting doesn't change anything, you'll probably have to contact Apple. I am also hooked up via Ethernet and enabling IPv6 got AU 6.3 working again for me.

Jun 13, 2013 1:01 PM in response to Jeff Leigh

That was the issue! IPV6 was off in the Ethernet settings on my Macbookpro. Changed that to link-local and now Airport Utility works for Ethernet.

Jun 13, 2013 1:06 PM in response to Mitchump

Here are more details on IPv6 settings, but be warned they're fairly technical:

http://superuser.com/questions/244395/what-are-the-differences-between-the-ipv6- options-in-airport-utility

Airport Utility v 6.3 Fails to See Airport Extreme or Express