AirPort Utility for iOS Launches
by Brian Klug on October 12, 2011 6:45 PM EST- Posted in
- Smartphones
- iOS 4
- Mobile
- Airport Extreme
- Time Capsule
When we reviewed the 5th generation Airport Extreme and 4th generation Time Capsule, several people pointed out that the iOS 5 beta included an Airport configuration mode inside settings. This mode allowed for initial setup whenever the iDevice was in range of an unconfigured Airport.
We heard grumblings later that Airport Utility was coming to iOS, and today Airport Utility for iOS appeared in the App Store. The application works for iPhone/iPod Touch sized devices, and on the iPad 1/2, though iOS 5 is a requirement for the application. This is yet another part of Apple's attempt to make computing possible without the expressed requirement of also owning a desktop, and eliminates another interesting edge case in that puzzle.
Thus far I've spent a while poking around inside the Airport Utility release and am impressed with the depth of configuration options present. While the desktop Airport Utility analog for OS X or Windows still has more options, the big things are here, including network setup, WiFi configuration (everything from SSID to wireless channels), a list of wireless clients and their RSSI, ability to reboot AirPorts, and even perform firmware updates. I've put together a gallery with most of the important menus below.
Source: Apple Store
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sprockkets - Wednesday, October 12, 2011 - link
"This is yet another part of Apple's attempt to make computing possible without the expressed requirement of also owning a desktop, and eliminates another interesting edge case in that puzzle."Of course they could have like the rest of the world used a simple browser to config their stuff which any phone can access, but we know, it's apple.
inplainview - Wednesday, October 12, 2011 - link
Are you being forced to use it?zorxd - Wednesday, October 12, 2011 - link
+1Brian Klug - Wednesday, October 12, 2011 - link
Ha, this is actually totally true. I guess the clarification I should've made was that at least in the Apple ecosystem, this is a move which is necessary to preclude also having a desktop for initial network configuration.Of course, the other workflow that would be a challenge on the iPad is managing another router and doing firmware updates. With no file upload picker (or local filesystem) you'd basically be in a difficult position.
-Brian
gseguin - Thursday, October 13, 2011 - link
If I recall correctly, both my older linksys wireless-g and my newer DIR-655 come pre-configured with wireless disabled and require an ethernet connection to do the initial setup.After this initial setup, I can do many things (like restart the device) from the web interface, but I cannot install new firmware without having local storage (i.e. a computer).
This is just my humble recollection though, and wouldn't mind if Apple created a web interface... maybe using flash to make it look snazzy? (joke)
InsaneScientist - Thursday, October 13, 2011 - link
The DIR-655 has a default WLAN that is enabled out of the box. You can connect to it and do the configuration that way, though it is easier over wired. :)Although it is possible that got changed in a firmware revision. I don't remember what firmware my two came with, but right now they're both running 1.34.
There's also a DIR-655_RevB which actually looks like it's a pretty major revision, and I can't speak to that either.
gseguin - Sunday, October 16, 2011 - link
I stand corrected.My rev was 1.05 when I installed my 655. It has since been flashed, but I needed to use my PC during flashing to export/import my configuration and did not think to check if the default setting had WLAN enabled.
I guess it's a double edged sword... how do you configure your router if you don't use wires at all VS the security of not allowing WLAN connections until someone sets up a password.
EnerJi - Wednesday, October 12, 2011 - link
Seriously?repoman27 - Sunday, October 16, 2011 - link
The blurb on the App Store mentions that this will work with all Apple 802.11n WiFi base stations. However, when I tried to connect to my older b/g AirPort Express with this utility, it said that it was not supported.