Troubleshooting AirPort Updater 3.1: Network failure and solution; third-party cards supported
Network failure and solution After installing the AirPort software 3.1 updater, several users' Network Preferences Pane and all network settings became corrupt.
Users affected by this problem could no longer acquire an IP via DHCP, could not manually input IP entries and had other settings changed incorrectly. The problem can be eliminated by deleting three preference files using the Terminal. First you will have to preface your commands with "sudo" in order to gain root user access, and then delete the following three files:- /var/db/NetworkInterfaces.xml
- /var/db/SystemConfiguration/preferences.xml
- /var/db/SystemConfiguration/com.apple.airport.preferences.xml
Restart and reset your Network Preference Pane and the problem should be fixed.
Third-party cards supported An undocumented feature enhancement - possibly due to finalization of the 802.11g specification - the new AirPort 3.1 updater includes automatic support for a number of third party 802.11g wireless cards, including those from Buffalo.
Previously users had to modify the AirPort .plist file in order to work with the third party cards.
UPDATE: Other World Computing has published a short article describing test results for using third-party 802.11g cards with the new AirPort Updater 3.1 release:
"In the short time since the release of the 3.1 drivers, I have done considerable testing with the line of 802.11g products available from Buffalo. The PCMCIA card is extremely affordable and Buffalo even offers a product that will work in desktop computers.
"Just install the adapter card into any Mac running OS X that has a free PCI slot and attach the small external antenna to the back of the card. The signal strength of Buffalo card with its external antenna actually surpasses the signal strength of a Mac running an Apple Airport card attached to the antenna built into G4 tower cases."
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