Stan's List

This update is said to offer the following:

The AirPort Extreme Base Station with 802.11n and Firmware 7.2.1 is Wi-Fi certified for 802.11n draft 2.0. This update also includes bug fixes and security updates. Via Software Update or direct download

The AirPort Base Station Update 2007-002 includes general fixes and compatibility updates for the following applications:

- AirPort Utility
- AirPort Disk Utility
- AirPort Base Station Agent

This update includes all fixes in Firmware 7.1 plus additional compatibility updates for the AirPort Extreme Base Station with 802.11n*.

Firmware 7.1 provided improved Mac and Windows support for:
- Printers and Routers, VPN, PPPoE, WDS(ACL), WEP(TSN)
- Localized file naming, port mapping, IPv6, and NAS
- Improved stability with keychain passwords
- Improved support for third party applications saving files to a USB disk
- Improved support for AirPort USB disk stability and power saving, disk read/write performance, disk file sharing and passwords
- Addressed an issue where Base Station would not request a password when expected

This KB article is sort of a reminder:

Files copied to a disk that is improperly unmounted or disconnected may not appear on the disk when it is connected again. For example, if you disconnect an external FireWire-based hard disk from your computer without first unmounting the volume in the Finder or Disk Utility, this issue may occur. [...]
If this issue occurs, you should use Disk Utility to verify that the volume is free of directory damage. Repair the volume if any directory issues are detected. Then, copy the data to the volume again (and unmount it correctly).
This can happen if the disk cache is not emptied (”flushed”) due to an improper unmount of the destination volume. More …

This update is recommended for all Intel-based Macintosh computers and includes compatibility updates for certain third-party access points configured to use WPA™ or WPA2™ security.

This update requires AirPort Utility 5.1. If you have AirPort Utility 5.0 installed, you can update to AirPort Utility 5.1 by installing AirPort Base Station Update 2007-001:

AirPort Base Station Firmware 7.1 download page.

This update addresses the following security issues:

CVE-2007-1338
The default configuration of an AirPort Extreme Base Station with 802.11n allows incoming IPv6 connections. This may expose network services on hosts connected through an AirPort Extreme Base Station with 802.11n to remote attackers. This update addresses the issue by changing the default setting to limit inbound IPv6 traffic to the local network. This issue only affects AirPort Extreme Base Station with 802.11n, and not other versions of the Base Station.

CVE-2007-0734
AirPort Disk is a feature of AirPort Extreme Base Station with 802.11n* that allows the sharing of files from a USB hard drive connected to a compatible base station. Sharing options, including password protection, are available via the AirPort Disk Utility. An issue in the AirPort Disk feature allows users on the local network to view filenames (but not their contents) on a password-protected disk without providing a password. This update addresses the issue by performing additional validation on AirPort Disk access requests. This issue only affects AirPort Extreme Base Station with 802.11n, and not other versions of the Base Station. [...]

The AirPort Base Station Update 2007-001, for Mac OS X 10.4 and above, includes general fixes and compatibility updates for the following applications:

- AirPort Utility
- AirPort Admin Utility for Graphite and Snow Base Stations
- AirPort Disk Utility
- AirPort Disk Agent

Note: Only previously installed software from the list above will be updated. AirPort Utility v5.1 for Mac OS X 10.4.x or later software supports the AirPort Extreme Base Station with 802.11n, AirPort Extreme Base Station and AirPort Express Base Station.

Apple has filed a patent for a method which could conceivably allow Airport Base Stations to automatically configure any “connected” wireless networking device. Quoting from Apple patent application:

A method for configuring a wireless networking device, the method comprising interacting with an RFID tag in the wireless networking device when the networking device is brought into physical proximity with a wireless networking base station, such that the interaction causes information to be exchanged between the RFID tag and an RFID transceiver in the base station that facilitates establishment of a wireless network connection between the networking device and the base station.

Radio frequency identification (RFID) is a method of identifying unique items using radio waves. Typically, a reader communicates with a tag, which holds digital information in a microchip. But there are chipless forms of RFID tags that use material to reflect back a portion of the radio waves beamed at them.

A RFID tag is a microchip attached to an antenna that is packaged in a way that it can be applied to an object. The tag picks up signals from and sends signals to a reader. The tag contains a unique serial number, but may have other information, such as a customers’ account number. More …

MacInTouch has an extensive review which includes a variety of possible ways to configure the new Airport Extreme. Whether it be WAN or LAN, Bridged or NAT, WPA or WP2, it was tested The conclusion, the new Airport Extreme can provide “amazing wireless speed”, but it may not be all good news. More …

If you have a Mac with an Intel Core 2 Duo processor (except the 17-inch, 1.83GHz iMac) or a Mac Pro with AirPort Extreme, you can enable it to access an 802.11n wireless network using the AirPort Extreme 802.11n Enabler software for $1.99

The page includes instructions to determine whether you require the enabler .

These Macs have the 802.11n hardware built-in:
* MacBook Pro with Intel Core 2 Duo
* MacBook with Intel Core 2 Duo
* Mac Pro with AirPort Extreme option
* iMac with Intel Core 2 Duo (except the 17-inch, 1.83GHz iMac)

Update:AirPort Extreme 2007-001 update for Intel-based Macs is required before the 802.11n enabler will take.