Use AirPort Utility to set up and manage your Wi-Fi network and AirPort base stations, including AirPort Express, AirPort Extreme, and Time Capsule. See a graphical overview of your Wi-Fi network and devices. Change base station and network settings, or manage advanced features such as security modes, wireless channels, and more.
What's New
Version 6.0:
Redesigned UI
Requirements
Intel, Mac OS X 10.7.2 or later, AirPort Express, AirPort Extreme or Time Capsule.
Related Links Download AirPort Utility 5.6 (for Mac OS X 10.7) if you require the previous UI (allowing easier access to 'power user' features)
Lion started freezing on me almost daily, but just since this update. It could be coincidence, but somehow I doubt it. The pre-Lion Apple and Lion-onwards Apple seems to have a very different quality control.
This new version really, really needs an advanced configuration/monitoring option. Its OK for the basics, but the loss of functionality from the previous version just makes it less capable for people who want/need more visibility into what is going on with the airports.
Fortunately, Apple still (at the time of this mini review) still provides the previous version of the Airport management utility.
Weak! No support for wireless g devices including Apple's own Airport Express (older model). I don't know what is going on with Apple these days. I feel they are really pushing the limits on trying to capitalize on their customers expense. If they are not careful, they are going to start pushing their customers back to PC. It is ridiculous for them to keep discontinueing support for their older generation devices once a newer model comes out. They put out new models of all their equipment twice a year!
Use new Airport Utility version 5.6 instead. It works with BOTH g and n Airport devices. But note that version 6.0 ONLY works with Mac OS X 10.7 Lion.
Pros: If you like minimized iOS style apps, here you go!
Cons: Despite the simplification and minimization of settings and services in v6.0, there is no Setup Assistant and it a lot of users are finding it to be confusing as well as frustrating. I personally have no use for version 6.0 and use version 5.6 instead.
Summary: Apple released Airport Utility versions 5.6 and 6.0 at the same time along side Firmware Update 7.6.1 for n Wi-Fi type Airport devices. They also released accompanying documentation that has confused A LOT of people as to what is what and for what. Several of us up at Apple's discussion boards have worked to sort out the actual situation. Here is a quick summary of what we found:
1) No one requires Airport Utility version 6.0. You can entirely skip it if you don't like it. There is nothing special about it apart from it being based upon the interface for the iOS version of Airport Utility.
2) Airport Utility v5.6 is completely functional with BOTH g AND n Airport devices. This is the version to use if you want to keep full functionality control on BOTH types of Airport devices. It's that simple. You don't require version 6.0 for anything at all, but you can use it if you like it.
3) You can install BOTH versions 6.0 and 5.6 on your Mac. They don't overwrite each other. They work fine together.
4) Despite Apple's odd documentation, you CAN install Firmware Update 7.6.1 from Airport Utility version 5.6 or even earlier.
5) Airport Utility v6.0 brings with it newly updated Apple Help. Sadly, the Help has some errors and does not reconcile the differences between v6.0 and v5.6. The result is user confusion. Not good.
IOW: Just download and install Airport Utility version 5.6 and nothing changes except the added iCloud functionality and bug fix in Firmware Update 7.6.1. I personally have no use for version 6.0 and won't be using it at all.
VERY POOR SHOW APPLE. This is how to update and document things the WRONG WAY. But thank you for Airport Utility version 5.6, the REAL update, as well as Firmware Update v7.6.1 ! ! ! Both get 5 stars from me.
There have been a couple different ERROR messages reported after installing Firmware Update 7.6.1. Don't panic! The first thing to try is to simply turn OFF then ON your Wi-Fi on your Mac. You can do this either from the menubar or from the Wi-Fi settings in the Network Preferences. If that does not help, then reboot BOTH your Airport device AND your Mac. The best approach is to shut them all down, then restart the Airport device first, then your Mac. If all of that fails, perform a 'factory reset' on your Airport device, let it boot again, let Apple Utility find it again, then try the Firmware Update again. You have to set up your Airport device again from scratch.
Don't forget what I think is the biggest con here: no IPv6. Apple seems to think it's too complicated or something...this would be like them dropping HTML5 from Safari all of a sudden, basically.
I did a bit more testing with a backed-up 5.x profile to revert to... It seems like old IPv6 configurations will still work, but if you edit your config, working IPv6 setups may stop working.
So this updates will BREAK IPv6 for many existing users, and also stops future users from even configuring it! This isn't really acceptable for any current network device, especially when it already supported IPv6.
Most annoyingly, my old AirPort Express is now listed as "not supported by this version of Airport Utility. It's still displayed next to my supported AirPort Extreme, but the tooltip tells me to download 5.6. So I did that, and it works with both base stations fine. (This reeks of planned hardware obsolescence to me, since it's not like it'd be hard to support it...especially when they have a new version of the older 5.x utility just out as well.)
As others have noted, various configuration options have disappeared as well. No "advanced" options or anything; I'd have been fine if they were just made less accessible. But apparently Apple doesn't think we're smart enough to set up or use certain things anymore...
At least installing 5.6 leaves the new version alone, so both can co-exist. Though, I wonder if 5.6 will get automatic updates...
I'd mark this down to a half-star rating now if I could. They ENTIRELY removed IPv6 configuration. We know the Internet needs to move to IPv6, and doing things to slow that down is asinine and irresponsible.
Maybe it supports a fully automatic/default configuration, but there are ZERO IPv6-related config options in 6.0. Not cool, Apple.
Airport Utility version 5.6 is still available. Download and save. I have a first gen Extreme that was hosed by the last firmware update. When attempting to update to today's firmware update (concurrent with this Utility update), I was prompted by this new Airport Utility to download the old version and use that! So, I did. Evidently, installation of both the old and new versions is condoned by Apple.
First, Apple did a stealth downgrade of the Airport Express hardware in removing the ability to manage profiles. I don't know about the other Airport models.
Then, this software update removes--among other things--the ability to manage profiles even if you have older hardware.
For anyone who totes around an Airport to set up ad hoc networks, this is a deal-breaker.
Here is the link for version 5.6: http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1482
I have not tested this version to see if it still gives access to the hardware features.
Version 5.6 still supports profiles if the hardware does, and can be installed alongside 6.0, so for the time being it is the way to go when you need the pre-6.0 features.
The question is, for how long. IMHO it is really a bad path Apple seems to have taken.
Anybody else notice that after the update the "Time Connected" no longer displays correctly? Not sure if this is a result of the AirPort Utility update or the latest AirPort Extreme firmware update, but since the updates, the timer no longer resets when I disconnect and reconnect. I have a dynamic IP, and I like to know how long I've been connected via a given IP. Instead, now I can tell exactly how much time has passed since I made the software/firmware update ;) Any suggestions on how to correct this would be appreciated.
This update has proven to be VERY unstable, especially on my MacBook Pro, which after the initial update and reboot caused EVERYTHING to crash repeatedly.
After rebooting, it seemed to be fine. Running a permissions repair revealed ALOT of things needing repair.
Did someone in Apple's QA department fall asleep while testing this thing??
Just letting you know that my update showed zero of these issues. Super smooth. Didn't repair Permissions, didn't run diskutil. 5.4.1 was still running, actually. Closed it and re launched. 5.4.2 glory. No crashes. (I don't recommend people update in my haphazard style)
This update has bugs in it. Whereas my network was A-Okay with the previous version, it now has a major issue: it periodically loses connection every dozen minutes or so. It does this by either disconnecting me from my network (even though my network remains in the pull down list) or by simply losing connection to the Internet even if the network connection remains strong. In each case, turning off airport and turning it back on fixes the problem.
Please login or create a new MacUpdate Member account to use this feature
Watch Lists are available to MacUpdate Desktop Members Upgrade Now
Download and auto-install
using MacUpdate Desktop. Save
time moving folders and cleaning-up.
Use AirPort Utility to set up and manage your Wi-Fi network and AirPort base stations, including AirPort Express, AirPort Extreme, and Time Capsule. See a graphical overview of your Wi-Fi network and devices. Change base station and network settings, or manage advanced features such as security modes, wireless channels, and more.
-1
-1443
http://www.macworld.com/article/1166522/apples_ipv6_misstep_is_a_sign_of_the_times.html
Of course 6.0 does not mention the lack of IPv6 configuration options, requiring you to go back to 5.x for IPv6 support! Ridiculous, Apple!
+58
Jdehnert reviewed on 02 Feb 2012
Fortunately, Apple still (at the time of this mini review) still provides the previous version of the Airport management utility.
Ryry reviewed on 01 Feb 2012
+1
+1
Nogatorp reviewed on 31 Jan 2012
+4
+48
Derekcurrie reviewed on 31 Jan 2012
Pros: If you like minimized iOS style apps, here you go!
Cons: Despite the simplification and minimization of settings and services in v6.0, there is no Setup Assistant and it a lot of users are finding it to be confusing as well as frustrating. I personally have no use for version 6.0 and use version 5.6 instead.
Summary: Apple released Airport Utility versions 5.6 and 6.0 at the same time along side Firmware Update 7.6.1 for n Wi-Fi type Airport devices. They also released accompanying documentation that has confused A LOT of people as to what is what and for what. Several of us up at Apple's discussion boards have worked to sort out the actual situation. Here is a quick summary of what we found:
1) No one requires Airport Utility version 6.0. You can entirely skip it if you don't like it. There is nothing special about it apart from it being based upon the interface for the iOS version of Airport Utility.
2) Airport Utility v5.6 is completely functional with BOTH g AND n Airport devices. This is the version to use if you want to keep full functionality control on BOTH types of Airport devices. It's that simple. You don't require version 6.0 for anything at all, but you can use it if you like it.
3) You can install BOTH versions 6.0 and 5.6 on your Mac. They don't overwrite each other. They work fine together.
4) Despite Apple's odd documentation, you CAN install Firmware Update 7.6.1 from Airport Utility version 5.6 or even earlier.
5) Airport Utility v6.0 brings with it newly updated Apple Help. Sadly, the Help has some errors and does not reconcile the differences between v6.0 and v5.6. The result is user confusion. Not good.
IOW: Just download and install Airport Utility version 5.6 and nothing changes except the added iCloud functionality and bug fix in Firmware Update 7.6.1. I personally have no use for version 6.0 and won't be using it at all.
VERY POOR SHOW APPLE. This is how to update and document things the WRONG WAY. But thank you for Airport Utility version 5.6, the REAL update, as well as Firmware Update v7.6.1 ! ! ! Both get 5 stars from me.
+48
+1
+111
I did a bit more testing with a backed-up 5.x profile to revert to... It seems like old IPv6 configurations will still work, but if you edit your config, working IPv6 setups may stop working.
So this updates will BREAK IPv6 for many existing users, and also stops future users from even configuring it! This isn't really acceptable for any current network device, especially when it already supported IPv6.
+12
+111
Psychos reviewed on 31 Jan 2012
As others have noted, various configuration options have disappeared as well. No "advanced" options or anything; I'd have been fine if they were just made less accessible. But apparently Apple doesn't think we're smart enough to set up or use certain things anymore...
At least installing 5.6 leaves the new version alone, so both can co-exist. Though, I wonder if 5.6 will get automatic updates...
+1
+111
Maybe it supports a fully automatic/default configuration, but there are ZERO IPv6-related config options in 6.0. Not cool, Apple.
-1
+64
+3
+1
Macguruguy reviewed on 31 Jan 2012
+3
+94
Ean reviewed on 31 Jan 2012
Then, this software update removes--among other things--the ability to manage profiles even if you have older hardware.
For anyone who totes around an Airport to set up ad hoc networks, this is a deal-breaker.
Here is the link for version 5.6: http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1482
I have not tested this version to see if it still gives access to the hardware features.
+1
+11
The question is, for how long. IMHO it is really a bad path Apple seems to have taken.
+1
-65
+14
-4
+1
After rebooting, it seemed to be fine. Running a permissions repair revealed ALOT of things needing repair.
Did someone in Apple's QA department fall asleep while testing this thing??
+2
+26
+1
+94
OS X 10.5.7, Mac Pro quad-core 2.66 GHz, 10 GB RAM
+35
+3
Brianfer rated on 08 Feb 2012
-1
Necki rated on 31 Jan 2012
+9
Quiiick rated on 31 Jan 2012
-5
Sos Ufo rated on 31 Jan 2012
-8
Ikir rated on 31 Jan 2012
Jhs rated on 15 Jun 2011
+4
Johninsapporo rated on 15 Jun 2011
-4
Maxxp rated on 04 Jan 2011
Ftl rated on 03 Dec 2010