AirPort Extreme Update 2007-003 (#3): More third-party wireless routers now able to access network services (SMB, AFP); more
AirPort Extreme Update 2007-003 resolves issues with some third-party routers, but introduces some problems with others.
[Posted Friday, May 4th]
More third-party wireless routers now able to access network services (SMB, AFP) One of the biggest problems with many third-party wireless routers when used in conjunction with Mac OS X is that various network services -- including SMB and AFP connections -- cannot be used.
Apple's AirPort hardware generally allows these types of connections, allowing Mac OS X systems to see SMB and AFP servers, access AppleTalk printers and more. However, a number of third-party wireless routers are unable to make these services available to Mac OS X systems.
It appears that AirPort Extreme Update 2007-003 has enabled this functionality for a new set of third-party routers.
One reader writes:
"I have a D-Link WAN/LAN router (wireless) connected to my ADSL modem, and then hard wired (CAT5) to my desktop Mac. I also have a an iMac and iBook Airport connected to the network. All work fine individually, (getting online), and both the Airport connected Macs can connect to the LAN Mac (Finder>Connect to Server) However the two wireless macs cannot see each other??? So I don't really have a network! If I Cat5 connect either of the two, they can all see each other.
"Problem Solved, Apples' just released Airport Extreme Update 2007-03 has fixed it!"
For more information on routers that can distribute various network services to Mac OS X systems, see our guide to third-party wireless routers.
General connectivity issues Some users are reporting general AirPort connectivity issues after applying AirPort Extreme Update 2007-003. MacFixit reader Yuji Shinozaki writes:
"I have a previous generation Airport Extreme Base station (firmware ver 5.7) and Airport Express (firmware version 6.3) and a MacBook Pro. After the latest Airport Extreme update, three things are happening (probably all related):
- "Oftentimes after waking from sleep, no networks are detected until I turn the airport off and then back again.
- "Sometimes I need to select my airport network even though it is one of my preferred networks. (Sometimes the dialog comes up saying that no trusted networks are available and it asks to connect to my neighbor's network, but then I see that my network actually is available).
- "The connectivity stutters. If I have a secure shell to another machine open, the connectivity pauses periodically. I can type ahead 5-10 characters and the display will catch up in bursts (and I am not a particularly fast typist). Concurrently with this, when I have "Show time connected" selected, the airport icon will 'blink' erratically. By "blink" I mean it will show and then not show the time connected alternately but erratically, as if it were disconnecting and reconnecting in same 1-3 second intervals. If I connect to the Base station directly via wired ethernet, there is no such stutter."
The above problems are generally soluble through workarounds listed in our wireless troubleshooting tutorial.
iDisk issues Some users are reporting problems with accessing their .Mac iDisks after applying AirPort Extreme Update 2007-003. If you are experiencing a similar problem try resetting both your AirPort Base station and network access device (Cable/DSL modem, router, etc.). For instructions on resetting various AirPort Base Stations, see these Knowledge Base articles:- AirPort Extreme Base station (all models)
- AirPort Express
- AirPort Base Station Graphite
- AirPort Base Station Snow (Dual Ethernet)
Feedback? Late-breakers@macfixit.com.
- AirPort Extreme Update 2007-003 (#2): What the update does -- success stories; Loss of AirPort card recognition, simple fix
- AirPort Extreme Update 2007-003 released: Improves WPA, WPA2 connectivity
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