Apple posts combo update for AirPort, Time Machine

[AppleInsider]

Apple on Wednesday afternoon posted a fix that amends issues with both its AirPort wireless adapters and its Time Machine backup utility.

Time Machine and AirPort Update 1.0 (10.9MB) is said to include compatibility fixes for users hoping to use Time Machine backups with the recently introduced Time Capsule wireless router and its built-in hard drive.

It also includes AirPort wireless driver fixes, according to Apple, though the company doesn't say which devices are affected or list symptoms.

The update is only available for systems running the client version of Mac OS X Leopard 10.5.2 or later.

[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]

[mariofreak85]

PLEASE let me use Time Machine with my Airport Extreme!!

[Foo2]

Ya, jumbo frame support is back!

[solipsism]

Originally Posted by mariofreak85

PLEASE let me use Time Machine with my Airport Extreme!!

I'm pretty sure that will require an update to the AEBS.

[stompy]

Originally Posted by mariofreak85

PLEASE let me use Time Machine with my Airport Extreme!!

Originally Posted by solipsism

I'm pretty sure that will require an update to the AEBS.

Users who've already installed say that this update does nothing for Time Machine over AEBS + attached drive. From what I've read, solipsism is right. Don't get your hopes up until you see an AEBS firmware update (and probably not even then).

I'd settle for a resolution to AEBS disks disappearing on computer sleep + wake. (Not in this update either, according to a few reports.)

[Postulant]

Both Time Capsule and Airport Extreme have been updated to 7.3.1. I'm somewhat disappointed I can't use Time Capsule as my main base station.

[minderbinder]

Originally Posted by stompy

Users who've already installed say that this update does nothing for Time Machine over AEBS + attached drive. From what I've read, solipsism is right. Don't get your hopes up until you see an AEBS firmware update (and probably not even then).

I'd settle for a resolution to AEBS disks disappearing on computer sleep + wake. (Not in this update either, according to a few reports.)

Users elsewhere have reported that this DOES include an update to the AEBS firmware. And that it does allow Time Machine over AEBS + attached drive.

It sounds like the firmware upgrade doesn't appear until after a reboot.

[justflie]

The folks over at Macrumors forums are saying that they now can use Time Machine sans hacks with their Airport Extremes. They posted screenshots and all seems to be well. To be honest, I'm surprised they addressed the issue considering that they could be losing sales on Time Capsule. But hey, maybe Apple realized that keeping their loyal customers happy is more important than selling a couple more TCs.

[minderbinder]

Originally Posted by justflie

The folks over at Macrumors forums are saying that they now can use Time Machine sans hacks with their Airport Extremes. They posted screenshots and all seems to be well. To be honest, I'm surprised they addressed the issue considering that they could be losing sales on Time Capsule. But hey, maybe Apple realized that keeping their loyal customers happy is more important than selling a couple more TCs.

Yep. I'm sure there will be people disappointed that it turned out to be a technical issue that needed to be worked out and not the conspiracy theory about apple intentionally crippling the box to try and sell more time capsules.

[stompy]

Originally Posted by minderbinder

Users elsewhere have reported that this DOES include an update to the AEBS firmware. And that it does allow Time Machine over AEBS + attached drive.

It sounds like the firmware upgrade doesn't appear until after a reboot.

Yep, what a difference ANOTHER update makes! When I first posted, none of the user reported discovering the firmware update. I've got something to try now.

[solipsism]

Originally Posted by minderbinder

Yep. I'm sure there will be people disappointed that it turned out to be a technical issue that needed to be worked out and not the conspiracy theory about apple intentionally crippling the box to try and sell more time capsules.

There are a growing number of posters at Mac Rumors that are confirming it. Looks pretty legit, but the issue with some may be that they have only done the client side update and not the AEBS firmware update.

Leopard 10.5.2 version changed from 9C31 to 9C7010. I don't recall that ever happening from non-point update.

[beninden]

I can confirm Time Machine now supports USB disk on AEBS.

Launching Airport utility after updates brings about the firmware update for AEBS.

My Macbook pro picked up my sparse image from a drive that was originally connected to another mac and completed its hourly backup very quickly (801mb - I'm assuming due to the updates)

NO HACKS, JUST OFFICIAL UPDATES


JUMPING FOR JOY!!!!!!

Now, can someone just put in a request to get the stock back to the $180's? Then all my outstaning issues are solved.

[zenatek]

Wow, I can't wait to try this at home.

I am really glad I waited on buying the Time capsule because that would have double slammed me having already bought two airport extremes in anticipation for Time machine.

[8CoreWhore]

Well, I STILL can't get the AEBS to work!

[stevetim]

Originally Posted by solipsism

There are a growing number of posters at Mac Rumors that are confirming it. Looks pretty legit, but the issue with some may be that they have only done the client side update and not the AEBS firmware update.

Leopard 10.5.2 version changed from 9C31 to 9C7010. I don't recall that ever happening from non-point update.

I disabled my hack and can also confirm not only does the firmware update work, but i'm getting darn close to half gigibit speed. Speed i never got with hacks. something is solved. well done apple. bottle neck is the usb ... so now I'll get the gigabit drive.

all should open airport utility and choose "check for updates ..." if you have not done it yet.

[stevetim]

Originally Posted by 8CoreWhore

Well, I STILL can't get the AEBS to work!

did you open airport utility and choose check for updates ... because this won't work until the firmware get's on the extreme.

[fuyutsuki]

Folks: it works!

Update your Macs with Software Update, then update your AEBS by running Airport Utility and checking for updates inside it. Then plug in your USB drive, open Time Machine preferences and put a smile on your face.

Thanks to Apple's engineers for this one. It brings Time Machine goodness to my USB 1 only 12" PowerBook!

[BuffyzDead]

Originally Posted by 8CoreWhore

Well, I STILL can't get the AEBS to work!

After all three updates, that for Time Machine and Airport 1.0, right through firmware upgrade of AEBS to 7.3.1

And

Reboots of both Mac and AEBS for good measure.

Attach your drive to Disk Utility and format the drive for HFS+ Journaled so it's a fresh drive (for some reason it requires this for assurance and stability)

Plug in the drive to your airport extreme and verify that the drive comes up as an available drive on the network

Run Time machine on your now available network drive.

[steviet02]

Originally Posted by fuyutsuki

Folks: it works!

Update your Macs with Software Update, then update your AEBS by running Airport Utility and checking for updates inside it. Then plug in your USB drive, open Time Machine preferences and put a smile on your face.

Thanks to Apple's engineers for this one. It brings Time Machine goodness to my USB 1 only 12" PowerBook!

Has anyone tried to restore with time machine from the airdisk yet? That was the original problem with the developer seeds, that and the airdisk attachment was shaky.

[demenas]

These recent updates, plus the AEBS firmware update, still do not fix my problem with my Mac Pro and the AEBS.

If I run the Airport Utility to administer it sees the AEBS immediately but if I double-click on the AEBS to see details I just get the spinning wheel while it endlessly tells me "Reading the Airport Extreme configuration........"

Replaced the high end ATI x1900XT card in my Mac Pro two days ago with the low end default nVidia card because I had too many lines on the screen and total system panic crashes since Leopard came out.

If I have my iPod (5G) connected to the Mac Pro and restart the Mac hangs on bootup.

Disappointing....

Steve

[sapporobaby]

Posted on iClarified.

http://www.iclarified.com/entry/index.php?enid=818

[shepworth]

Ha typical....just took my AEBS back and got a refund.

I was using it more for the USB disk than the Time Machine function but the read/write speeds were truly dreadful for using it when streaming to my Xbox Media Centre.

Can anyone confirm that the transfer rates to the disk itself have improved?

Thanks,

S

[Tulkas]

Originally Posted by justflie

The folks over at Macrumors forums are saying that they now can use Time Machine sans hacks with their Airport Extremes. They posted screenshots and all seems to be well. To be honest, I'm surprised they addressed the issue considering that they could be losing sales on Time Capsule. But hey, maybe Apple realized that keeping their loyal customers happy is more important than selling a couple more TCs.

I don't think the will lose many TimeCapsule sales. For those of use that have AEBS, I don't think too many were likely to run out and but another base station to get TimeMachine support. This update will buy a lot of good will for those customers. For those without an AEBS and are planning to buy one, then they now have a real option. If you have a large cap USB2 drive, buy a AEBS. If you don't have a free drive, then TimeCapsule is a great value. Win-Win for Apple.

[mzaslove]

I'd tried all the hacks, and this is definitely faster now. Kinda cool. I'll try restoring tomorrow after backing up today.

[trboyden]

I saw the update pop-up on my MacBook last night but didn't have a chance to install it. I hopes it fixes the wireless issues I continue to have with my MacBook. Every 5 minutes my wireless network connection will drop out and I have to shut off the wireless card and turn it back on to get the connection back. None of my other wireless notebooks have any issues, so I know it's not my router. It also wasn't a problem until I upgraded to Leopard. I got so tired of it I went and bought a network cable crimper and some connectors and made up a cable so I could work without interuption. I love my Mac, but I bought it so I didn't have to be an IT person at home as well as work, but so far Leopard is disappointing me.

[datamodel]

Well, I had a sort of similar issue - so maybe this solution will help. I've got a bunch of Macs on the wireless network - it was set on the AEBS as 802.11n with b/g compatibility, WPA2 Personal. There's three other wireless networks (the neighbours) in the same range, and iStumbler usually shows interference.

After the 7.3.1 firmware two of the machine refused to connect at all - both with 802.11n chips. All the ones connecting with 802.11g worked fine. I tried *everything* I could think of and that Google threw up.

What worked was changing the setting to "802.11n with 802.11a compatibility" - at that point everything connected, the network seems much faster for bulk data copies between machines and there's no local interference. All the Intel macs (the 802.11g and n ones) work with 802.11a (a is like g, but lives at 5 GHz rather than 2.6 GHz).

The Powerbook will live on a cable for now, until I can be arsed to dig up my old Belkin and make a b/g network for it to connect to.

So, in summary - 7.3.1. broke stuff for me, but 802.11a compat mode seems to be much better.

Hope that helps,

Cheers,

Martin.

[datamodel]

Originally Posted by trboyden

I saw the update pop-up on my MacBook last night but didn't have a chance to install it. I hopes it fixes the wireless issues I continue to have with my MacBook. Every 5 minutes my wireless network connection will drop out and I have to shut off the wireless card and turn it back on to get the connection back. None of my other wireless notebooks have any issues, so I know it's not my router. It also wasn't a problem until I upgraded to Leopard. I got so tired of it I went and bought a network cable crimper and some connectors and made up a cable so I could work without interuption. I love my Mac, but I bought it so I didn't have to be an IT person at home as well as work, but so far Leopard is disappointing me.

Just to say, if your MacBook is n-capable and none of the other computers are, it sounds like the same problem I had.

Assuming the others aren't all PPC that solution might work. It's not as good as the AEBS working as advertised, mind...

Cheers,

Martin.