AirPort Utility

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Apple AirPort Utility
AirPort Utility icon.png
Developer(s) Apple Inc.
Initial release July 21, 1999
Stable release 6.3.4 / October 16, 2014; 4 months ago (2014-10-16)[1]
Development status Active
Operating system iOS, OS X, Windows 7, Windows 8
Type Networking utility
License Proprietary
Website support.apple.com/kb/ht1998

AirPort Utility, formerly known as AirPort Admin Utility, is a program that allows users to configure an AirPort wireless network and manage services associated with and devices connected to AirPort Routers. It comes pre-installed on Mac OS X, and is available to download for Microsoft Windows and iOS.

AirPort Utility is unique in that it offers network configuration in a native application as opposed to a web application. It provides a graphical overview of AirPort devices attached to a network, and provides tools to manage each one individually. It allows users to configure their network preferences, assign Back to My Mac accounts to the network, and configure USB attached Printers and hard drives.[2]

The current versions are 6.3.2 for Mac OS X, 5.6.1 for Microsoft Windows,[3] and 1.3.4 for iOS.[4]

Controversy[edit]

On January 30, 2013, Apple released AirPort Utility 6.0 for Mac OS X featuring a redesign of the user interface focused on increasing usability for novice users.[5] Reception was mixed with some media outlets reporting IT professionals and network administrators being frustrated over some removed features.[5] It was reported that most end users, however, wouldn’t notice the feature omissions.[6] Users requiring the removed features can still access the previous version of AirPort Utility using a workaround.[7]

Removed features[6][edit]

  • Ability to see a list of wired DHCP leases
  • Controls to disconnect All Users
  • Logging and statistics
  • Ability to limit access via MAC address
  • Airport Disk Guest Access (this is possible again...)
  • Settings to edit transmission power

Major Mac OS X Versions[edit]

Release Date Compatibility Features
1.0 July 21, 1999 Mac OS 8.6 or greater

Initial release of software bundled with AirPort Base Station. This initial version was intended for advanced configuration of an AirPort Base Station only.[8] The most commonly used configuration settings were found in the AirPort Setup Assistant.
1.1 January 31, 2000 Mac OS 8.6 or greater
  • Improved user experience[9]
  • Active Roaming was introduced allowing multiple base stations to be used within a single network
2.0 November 13, 2001 Mac OS 9 or greater Includes support for new AirPort hardware.[10]
  • AOL support
  • 128-bit encryption
  • Cisco LEAP client support
3.0 March 24, 2003 Mac OS 10.1.5 or later Includes support for the new AirPort Extreme Base Station[11]
6.3.1 July 11, 2013 Mac OS X 10.7.5 or Later
  • Fixes a bug where AirPort Base Stations may not appear in AirPort Utility[12]

List of Compatible Devices[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "OS X 10.10 Yosemite release date". Retrieved 16 November 2014. 
  2. ^ "What is Airport Utility?". Switch to a Mac. June 15, 2009. Retrieved May 14, 2014. 
  3. ^ "Airport Utility 5.6.1 for Windows". Apple Support. Apple. June 11, 2012. Retrieved October 14, 2014. 
  4. ^ "AirPort Utility for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad on the iTunes App Store". iTunes Preview. Apple. Retrieved August 14, 2014. 
  5. ^ a b John Martellaro (February 3, 2012). "AirPort Utility 6 for Lion is for Beginners". The Mac Observer. Retrieved May 14, 2014. 
  6. ^ a b Topher Kessler (January 31, 2012). "AirPort Utility 6.0 missing a number of features". CNET. Retrieved May 14, 2014. 
  7. ^ "How to install AirPort Utility 5.6.1 on Mountain Lion". Retrieved December 10, 2012. 
  8. ^ "Airport 1.0: About AirPort". Apple Support. Apple. February 18, 2012. Retrieved October 14, 2014. 
  9. ^ "Software updates for AirPort 1.1". Apple Software Downloads. Apple. January 31, 2000. Retrieved October 8, 2012. 
  10. ^ "AirPort: new hardware, software, and firmware released". CNET. November 13, 2001. Retrieved August 13, 2014. 
  11. ^ "Apple Releases AirPort 3.0 Updater for OS X 10.1.5 And 10.2". The Mac Observer. March 24, 2003. Retrieved August 13, 2014. 
  12. ^ "Apple releases AirPort Utility 6.3.1 for Mac". appleinsider. July 11, 2013. Retrieved September 29, 2014. 
Software
Discontinued
Apple hardware since 1998
Consumer desktop/all-in-ones
Professional tower/desktop
Consumer notebook
Professional notebooks
Consumer electronics
Accessories
OS
Consumer
Professional
Bundled
Server
Developer
Discontinued
Versions
Applications
Discontinued
Utilities
Discontinued
Technology and
user interface
Deprecated
Discontinued
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