Apple AirPort 3.2 Software Update Includes WPA Security

It is available for download via the Software Update preference pane. This software update provides improved AirPort wireless networking software, and is recommended for all users with an AirPort Extreme enabled computer or an AirPort Extreme base station. The new AirPort Extreme Base Station features are:

This software provides support for the Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) specification for the AirPort Extreme Base Station and AirPort Extreme client. Also included in this release is v5.2 of the AirPort Extreme base station firmware. Instructions for updating the base station firmware can also be found in AirPort Help.

We downloaded and installed this update and installed the firmware uppdate in our Extreme Base Station--no problems. Under the "Change Wireless Security..." button in the AirPort Admin Utility there are two new entries, WPA Personal and WPA Enterprise.

Enterprise mode uses a RADIUS server for user authentication. Enterprise mode is designed for a larger network where an IT professional is most likely setting up and managing the network

Personal mode is for the home or small office network and can be set up and managed by most users. Personal mode does not require a separate authentication sever, rather it relies on the capabilities of Temporal Key Integrity Protocol (TKIP) without requiring a RADIUS server. Users of the network usually need only enter a user name and password to join the network.

We haven't tried WPA yet because we haven't been able to find out if the original AirPort card (we have several) works with WPA. [Update: Apple later released this KBase article that states that WPA only works with an AirPort Extreme Base Station, AirPort Extreme client cards and Mac OS X 10.3 (Panther). Computers with original AirPort cards are not able to join a wireless network protected with WPA--Dana Baggett]