Configuring the Apple AirPort Extreme

These configuration instructions are for the Apple AirPort Extreme wireless router. The screenshots below are from the Microsoft Windows AirPort Extreme configuration utility provided by Apple.

To configure your AirPort, launch the AirPort Extreme administrative interface on your computer. It will attempt to locate your AirPort using your computer's wireless network card as shown below:

If your AirPort is listed, press the 'Configure...' button and enter your password (the default is 'admin'). If you don't see your AirPort in the list of detected Airports, try to find it by pressing the 'Re-scan' button. If this fails to detect your AirPort, it will be necessary to perform the following steps:

• Plug one end of a Category 5 Ethernet cable into your computer's network adapter. Plug the other end into the LAN port on the AirPort.
• Press the 'Other...' button within the configuration utility.
• Type 10.0.1.1 into IP address field.
• Type the AirPort password into the password field (the default is 'admin').
• Press 'Ok'.
• If you are unable to connect to the airport, repeat the above procedure but attempt to use 192.168.1.1 or 172.16.1.1 as the IP address.

AirPort Settings

Click on the "AirPort" tab at the top of the configuration utility:

• Enter your Unity ID in the 'Name' field.
• Click on the 'Change Password...' button and create a new password instead of using the default password ('admin').
• Look at the WAN privacy section. Consider unchecking all of the checkboxes to enhance security.
• Create a network name by entering a name in the 'Network name' field. We recommend that you use your Unity ID as the network name. Do not use the network name 'NCSU'. You may have noticed that the AirPort in the screenshots throughout this document has been named "hazyluster." By the time these instructions have been completed, the name of the AirPort will have been changed from "hazyluster" to the Unity ID of the person configuring it.
• Click on 'Create a closed network' in order to prevent your network name from being broadcast.

Internet Settings

Click on the "Internet" tab at the top of the configuration utility:

• Select 'Ethernet' under the 'Connect using' menu.
• Select 'Using DHCP' under the 'Configure' menu.
• Select 'Automatic [Default]' under the 'WAN Ethernet Speed' menu.
• Make sure all other fields are blank.

Network Settings

Click on the "Network" tab at the top of the configuration utility. There are numerous options that are available here and we present only one option. The option shown below will work fine for most users and will provide an extra layer of insulation between your computer and the Internet.

• Make sure 'Distribute IP addresses' is checked.
• Make sure 'Share a single IP address (using DHCP & NAT)' is selected.
• The 'Use 192.168.1.1/24 addressing' option works well and is recommended.

Access Control List Configuration

This is how you specify what devices can connect to your AirPort; for example, your laptop:

To add additional computers, click on the 'Add' button and fill out the following fields:

NOTE: You need to repeat these steps for any wireless network adapter that you want to grant access to. In addition, you will need to complete this process for any wired ethernet adapaters that will connect to the 'LAN' port of the AirPort

• Enter the MAC address for the network adapter of the device. Instructions for finding your MAC address are available.
• Enter a descriptive name for the device.
• Click "Add."

Sending Configuration Changes to the AirPort

Once you have finished making changes, simply press the 'Update' button located in the lower right corner of the configuration utility. Once the configuration utility completes the update process, you may close the application.

Connect a Category 5 Ethernet cable to your ResNet data jack. Plug the other end into the "WAN" port on the AirPort. At this point, you should be good to go!