Question about wireless security key
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Monday, December 03, 2012 7:08 PMI'm not sure how to secure one of my wireless networks.
My network is physically configured like this:
cable modem <-> apple airport extreme (ethernet).
AAE <-> WinXP laptop (ethernet)
AAE <->WinXP laptop <-> Windows 7 laptop (wireless)
Control Panel / Manage Wireless Networks shows two networks, one of which is open. The secure network (which I set up) is listed first under Manage Wireless Networks that use (name of secure network). The open network is called Apple Network followed by a sequence of numbers and letters. I don't recall setting it up and it does not appear on my Network Map. Now that it's there, I'd like to secure it.
The secure network has wpa2-personal security, aes encryption and a security key. The Apple network has none of these. I can click in wpa2-personal security and aes encryption in the properties window, but am unsure about what to do for the security key. Is it the same as
the one used by the secure network? If not, how can I secure the Apple Network?
Thanks for any help.
All Replies
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Monday, December 03, 2012 7:30 PM
Hello,
If the Apple router shows as an open network, you have to log into theAirport Extreme to set up WPA security.
I suggest you try this forum to get expert help on Apple Airport Extreme:
https://discussions.apple.com/community/wireless/airport?view=discussions&tagSet=1116
The other network with WPA might be another router in your house/office or even a neighbors if you do not recognize the SSID.
Miguel Fra | Falcon IT Services, Miami, FL
www.falconitservices.com | www.falconits.com | Blog -
Monday, December 03, 2012 11:22 PM
Thanks, I'll post on the apple forum.
The apple utility shows only my secure network. The open network is also not listed when I click the "internet access" icon on the bottom right of the taskbar, just the secure one. So that rules out its being a neighbors. And I only have one router. The open network only appears in Win7's networking control panel.
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Monday, December 03, 2012 11:30 PM
That might be a memorized network that you have previously logged on to. If it's not at the taskbar wireless icon, then it's not close enough to get a signal.
Sounds like you set up the Airport Extreme with security already.
Miguel Fra | Falcon IT Services, Miami, FL
www.falconitservices.com | www.falconits.com | Blog
- Edited by Miguel FraMicrosoft Community Contributor Monday, December 03, 2012 11:31 PM
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Tuesday, December 04, 2012 12:30 AMI wonder if it was created when I was setting up my network? Before I connected the base station wirelessly to my win7 laptop, I connected it to my modem and XP laptop using ethernet. I never connected to another wireless network. This is odd, but there must be a simple explanation.
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Tuesday, December 04, 2012 12:39 AM
I did some more googling and found a partial explanation. Not sure if I have to reset everything, I'd just like to delete the network if it's redundant or secure it if it's not. Will wait for advice from the apple forum. Here's what I found:
"In this basic configuration, the AirPort base station will broadcast an unsecured wireless network with a Network Name (SSID) of Apple Network NNNNNN. Network clients, connected to the base station either by wire or wireless, should now be able to access the Internet through the ISP's modem. Once Internet connectivity has been verified, you can use the AirPort Utility to configure the base station for wireless security and any other desired options. Please post back your results."
Full thread here: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4273379?start=0&tstart=0
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Tuesday, December 04, 2012 12:56 AM
Hope you don't mind these updates. I searched my computer and found two airport config files in app data/airport/configuration. One file is called name-of-my-network.xml. The other is called Ellen's Airport Extreme.xml. That one contains the name of the mysterious network. I wonder if I can just delete the xml file that seems to be creating the now-less-of-a-mystery network? I could rename it and see if I lose connectivity. May be the simplest and safest option here.
My guess was confirmed on the apple forum. Found the network is not used (in the Merge or Delete Network Locations Control Panel) and also I found a few more unused networks there. So I'll delete it. Thanks so much for your help.
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