Configuring airport Wireless Access Point

Configuring a Airport Wireless Access Point

1. Plug network cable into “WAN” port of the base station.

2. Install "AirPort Admin Utility 3.0.1" or higher onto the computer that will be administering the base station. Run software update to get the latest revision.

3. From the Apple menu, select "System Preferences"

4. Open "Network" control panel

Change "Location" to “Automatic”
Change "Show" to “Network Port Configuration”
Uncheck all but “AirPort” and move "AirPort" to the top of the list.

5. Change "Show" to “AirPort”

Go to "TCP/IP" tab
Change "Configure" to “Using DHCP”

6. Go to "Appletalk" tab and check “Make Appletalk Active”

7. Go to "AirPort" tab

Select “Join network with best signal”
Uncheck “Allow this computer to create networks”
Click on “Apply Now”

8. Close "System Preferences"

9. From the hard drive, open \Applications\Utilities folder

10. Open "AirPort Admin Utility"

Highlight your base station and click "Configure." [ Default name is “Base Station”. If more than 1 base station appears, verify your base station by the Ethernet (WAN) address.]

11. Type in your base station password. [“public” is the default factory set password.]
The first time you enter the admin utility, you may be prompted to download updates. Run the updates, and allow 1 to 2 minutes for the base station to reboot.

*Please remember to change the factory set password to a unique password that will be kept secure by the Base Station administrator.

12. Click on "Show All Settings "

Change Base Station "Name" to a unique meaningful name such as your name, your lab name, etc...(DO NOT use "yale wireless")
Change Base Station "Password" (this will be the admin password)
Change AirPort Network "Name" to a unique name (clients accessing your network will need this name)
Check “Enable encryption (using WEP)” If available, WPA should be used for encryption.
For more information on this read "Wireless Security: WPA Step by Step" by Craig Ellison at PC Magazine's web site.
Click “change password” (clients will need this password to gain access to your network.).

*NOTE – Pc’s accessing the Airport Base Station will need the WEP password, in Hexadecimal format, entered into their wireless card control panel. This Hexadecimal key can be located by clicking on the “Password” icon at the top of this window.

13. Click on "Internet" tab.

" Connect using" should be set to “Ethernet”.
"Configure" should be set to “Manually”.
Enternetwork settings (ie. IP address, Subnet mask, Router address, DNS servers).

14. Click on "Network" tab.


Check “Distribute IP addresses."

15. Click on "Access Control" tab.

Add the list of hardware addresses you’d like to gain access to your network.
*When adding addresses, do not click “This Computer”. Doing so may not allow administrator changes from another computer.
*All computers connecting to your wireless network must be registered with ITS via completing a Conmputing Request form and faxing to 785-3606.
When finished adding addresses, click “Update”. It will take 1-2 minutes after the update finishes to restart the AirPort.

* NOTE – To allow PC’s access to the Airport Base Station, the “Access Control” must be empty. Doing so will allow anyone with the, WEP/Hexadecimal, password access.

16. Quit AirPort Admin Utility.

17. From a computer that has access rights to your wireless network, open "System Preferences. "

18. Click on "Network"
(pic 2)

19. Click on AirPort tab.

Click “Join a specific network”
Use the drop down arrow to select your "Network" name and type the network "Password."
Click “Apply Now” and exit "System Preferences."

For users who need wireless access from other Yale Medical School buildings (Roaming) as well:

1. Go back to "System Preferences."
2. Click on Network.
3. Click on "AirPort" tab. (pic 11)

4. Click “Join network with best signal”.

5. Click “Apply Now” and exit "System Preferences."

6. Reboot computer