Apple releases AirPort 4.1, new AE 6.1 firmware
updated 03:05 am EST, Tue November 16, 2004
AirPort 4.1, AE 6.1 update
Apple today released ] [updated]
The AirPort Express 6.1 updated is now packaged in a new utility application that simplifies the process of installing firmware updates. This application is available for use on Mac OS X 10.3 or later. New features include:
- Support for Keyspan Express Remote - You can now use a Keyspan Express Remote to control AirTunes.
- USB printer renaming - USB printers connected to the AirPort Express can now be renamed by using the AirPort Admin Utility (version 4.1 or later).
- WPA security for WDS networks - WDS networks comprising AirPort Extreme and AirPort Express base stations can now be secured with WPA-Personal security. All AirPort Extreme and AirPort Express units must be upgraded to the latest AirPort Extreme 5.5 or AirPort Express 6.1 firmware before the network can be secured with WPA
- Improved reliability for WDS networks - WDS nodes will now check for the presence of other WDS nodes. This should result in better WDS network connectivity. All AirPort Extreme and AirPort Express units must be upgraded to the AirPort Extreme 5.5 or AirPort Express 6.1 firmware
- Ability to disable the AirPort wireless interface - If you have your AirPort Express connected to an ethernet network for use with audio and printing features, you can now turn off the AirPort wireless interface if you do not wish to have a wireless network
- Ability to disable the ethernet interface - When the AirPort Express is configured as a wireless client, the ethernet interface is non-functional. You can now completely disable it so that ethernet connections will not recognize a link from the ethernet port on the AirPort Express. This setting will also disable the ethernet port when the AirPort Express is used as a WDS Relay or WDS Remote node
- The 6.1 firmware improves reliability of playing AirTunes audio through the AirPort Express
- In certain situations wireless clients could send certain types of data which could cause the AirPort Express to stop transmitting data. This issue is fixed in the 6.1 firmware
- The 6.1 firmware fixes performance and other concerns related to FTP, RTSP, IPSec, TCP, UDP, and other IP protocols
- Certain DNS traffic could affect the AirPort Express performance. This issue is improved in the 6.1 firmware
- Certain PPPoE connections (commonly used with DSL ISPs) could encounter a situation where the AirPort Extreme could not communicate with the ISP, requiring the base station and/or the ISP's modem to be rebooted. This issue is improved in the 6.1 firmware
- Improved behavior when AirPort Express is configured as a wireless client and is joining a WEP-secured wireless network
- Improved printing performance when printing to USB printers connected to the AirPort Express
- Certain IP ports that were not actively used have been disabled










Finally!!!
11/16, 12:14am reply
This must mean that the G5 Powerbooks are coming!!!
Meövv
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: May 2001
Awesome
11/16, 08:13am reply
I'm using a WDS network with an Airport Extreme and Airport Express and didn't like the fact that I couldn't use WPA. I have been looking forward to this ever since I got my Express. This is a great upgrade!
jasonsRX7
Mac Elite
Joined: Jul 2003
very little info yet...
11/16, 10:49am reply
Tried to find any reports this morning before running the update, this is about all I could find. Ran it on my G5 and my old iBook G3 with AirPort Express and all is still well. No differences noted yet(had no trouble with my AE network before).
Z
zac4mac
Senior User
Joined: Oct 1999
Good, but bad installer
11/16, 01:20pm reply
WPA over WDS was much needed. The AirPort products could still use stateful packet inspection fireall, however.
However, the installer crapped out on me the first time I ran it. I had to upload the firmware twice to get it working.
Filburt
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2001
Re: Good, but bad install
11/16, 03:33pm reply
I didn't have any trouble with the installer on my Express or Extreme. It updated both with no probs, and I switched them to WPA. After a reboot, the WDS came right back up, and worked like a champ.
jasonsRX7
Mac Elite
Joined: Jul 2003
Snow base station
11/17, 12:27am reply
Does the 4.1 software just update the airport admin software to version 4.1? I installed AirPort 4.1 but here is nothing to up grade the base station up from v4.0.9. Is this just coincidence that the version numbers were in sync. The firmware upgrade is just for the extreme and there is nothing for the snow, right?
Thanks.
msconvert
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: May 2002