Mac OS X in a Nutshell

Name

AirPort

Synopsis

Find the MAC address for my AirPort card?

System Preferences → Network → TCP/IP; the Airport ID should appear at the lower-left of the panel

System Preferences → Network → AirPort; the AirPort ID should appear at the top of that window

Applications → Utilities → Apple System Profiler → System Profile tab → Network Overview section → Airport → Ethernet address

Configure an AirPort Base Station?

Applications → Utilities → AirPort Admin Utility

Configure my AirPort settings for wireless networking?

Follow the steps for connecting to an Ethernet network first, and then use the AirPort Setup Assistant (/Applications/Utilities). The settings you’ve applied for your regular network will be applied to your AirPort settings.

Quickly switch to an AirPort network after disconnecting the Ethernet cable from my iBook?

System Preferences → Network → Show → Active Network Ports. Click on the checkboxes next to the network ports you want to enable, and drag the ports in the list to place them in the order in which you’re most likely to connect to them. (The Automatic location should do this for you, but it doesn’t always work.)

Share my modem or Ethernet connection with other AirPort-equipped Macs?

System Preferences → Sharing → Internet panel; click on the Start button to turn Internet sharing on.

Display the AirPort strength meter in the menu bar?

System Preferences → Network → AirPort → select the checkbox next to “Show AirPort status in menu bar”

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