Temporary access to the network

amensch, Welcome to the discussion area!

The new "Designing AirPort Extreme 802.11n Networks" only mentions 'Guest' twice. The first is the quote you mention, the second is when providing access to the disk connected to the AirPort Extreme base station (AEBS).

I also found those 2 quotes confusing. I wonder if the writer of the Help note and the intro paragraph misunderstood..??...

Is it "Plfugerville, TX" or "Pflugerville, TX"?

Hi
I'm wondering the same thing...

I noticed mention of temporary guest accounts as well, both in the Designing Wireless Networks document, and also in Apple's support area
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=Airport/5.0/en/wn01.html

then, while setting up my new Airport Extreme the other day, I did stumble onto some setting in the Airport Utility that talked about temporary PIN number for guest access, but at the time I ignored it and now I can't find it again. it might have been in the Access Control section... but I'm pretty certain it wasn't to do with the Airport Disk feature

I sent feedback to Apple about the above-mentioned help page and how info on how to use this mysterious feature(?) is not documented anywhere

anyhow, unless I was hallucinating, I'm pretty sure this feature does exist in the new AEX, separate from the disk access control. As I said, there was mention of a temporary PIN number, which I don't think either document talk about. when I get home I'll try looking for that setting again....

MacBook Pro 15.4" 2.33GHz C2D, iMac 24" 2.33GHz C2D, iMac 17" 1.25GHz G4, PowerMac G3 Beige Mac OS X (10.4.8)

The feature you want is under the 'Access Control' tab. Select 'Timed Access' from the pull-down menu. It basically allows computers you configure access to your wireless network without needing the password. You con restrict their access by day and time.

The Designing Airport Networks PDF is missing details on how to configure the controls under that tab so I guess there will be an update or addendum to that PDF at some point.

The default appears to allow unlimited access to anybody so you might want to change that. My testing showed that that wasn't the case though. Hit the 'Edit' button to see the options. You basically have the ability to set what days and times to allow access to the network and all it's resources.

If you want to allow specific computers access, you do it by MAC address. Click on the '+' button and fill-in the required information is the dialogue box and click 'Done.' Don't forget to also click 'Update.'

It basically allows computers you configure access to your wireless network without needing the password.

I am very skeptical that it circumvents the wireless encryption password.

Other base stations that have timed access still enforce wireless encryption.

The idea behind timed access is that you only want your kids on the network from 5pm to 9pm say, or you only want to give your employees access 8 am to 5 pm. In any case, those users still want their data encrypted.

Well Duane you might be correct. I tested it again after your post and what I had working as guest access without needing a password no longer work. It now appears to be timed access requiring a password. I'll have to play with this some more.

In the mean time, what are guest accounts then? What do they mean by,

AirPort Utility enables guest accounts that expire, for temporary access to your network, so you no longer need to give up your network password to weekend visitors in your home or office.

Okay I figured out my error. When 'Timed Access' is selected from the pull-down menu under the 'Access Control' tab, this turns on 'guest access'. This 'guess access' allows any computer to connect to the wireless network without needing a password. The default configuration allows access at any date or time but it can be configured to restrict based on date/time.

Further, you can add computers by MAC address and also restrict them based on date/time but they still need to know the password. This is the 'parental control' like feature.

You guys are looking for the menu pick under Base Station, Add Wireless Clients? It does allow guest wireless clients by "next attempt" or "pin", with an optional 24-hour timeout...

Chas, I can't find the menus you're talking about. Can you be more descriptive or maybe even reference a page number from the Designing AirPort Networks PDF that talks about the feature.

As a follow-up/correction to my first post the Designing Airport Networks PDF does include instructions on setting up access control on page 51.

Hmm... Sadly, I can't say that it's even mentioned in the manual -- not too good, huh? Anyway, if you select your base summary in AirPort Utility, you should then be able to select from the app main menubar: Base Station ... and then from the drop down: Add Wireless Clients...

Chas, you're a star. I didn't even think to look at what was available under the menu bar I was so fixated on the options in the window. Also, your correct the manual does mention it at all.

followup to my previous post - it's not in Access Control after all. if you look in the "Base Station" menu on the main menubar, there's a "Add wireless clients..." menu item

from there it says:

"There are two ways to allow a client to join your password-protected network without entering a password. You can either enter a PIN for the user, or allow access to the first client that attempts to join your network."

The 2 choices are:

"Allow client by - PIN
- First attempt "
with a following option checkbox to "Limit client's access to 24 hours"

Yeah, Chas already found it but I've tried it and I'm not able to get it to work. Have you?

There's also no mention of it in the manual so there's no guidance on how it should work.