NIU Department of Mathematical Sciences
Configuring PPP Dialup on a Macintosh

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Overview

PPP, short for "Point to Point Protocol", allows a computer to use standard Internet applications (Web browsers, FTP, telnet) over a modem connection. Aside from the slower speed, this method gives all the functionality of a direct backbone hookup such as the one in your office.

Three things are necessary to use PPP:

  1. a fast modem (14.4 kbps is the practical minimum),
  2. a TCP/IP driver, which is a piece of software that lets the computer speak the standard Internet language, and
  3. a PPP driver, which takes that Internet language and pumps it into the modem pipeline.
If you are using an older Mac with little memory or an older version of the System, you will have to modify the procedure given below - it applies directly only to System 7.1 or later and Macs which have the new OpenTransport software installed. Ask the system manager, or take a look at the older but more detailed notes about MacTCP.

Moreover, several details given below apply only to access via the dialup servers maintained by NIU. If you are using an independent Internet access provider, the instructions you were given will override this document in a few places.

Modem

A fast external modem has to be connected to the computer with a so-called "hardware handshaking" cable. Do not use an old cable which you just happened to find - use the one which came with the modem. You may see many problems if you don't.

Certain modems will not work well unless their numerous internal parameters are set to the right values. The PPP driver will try to do it for you, but keep the modem manual handy just in case.

TCP/IP

Start by configuring the TCP/IP control panel: pull down the Apple menu, select Control Panels, and find the one called simply "TCP/IP". If you don't see it, your system software is probably fairly old and you may want to upgrade it. Contact the system manager to discuss the options.

If you are using Netscape on a monochrome screen on some computers you may have problems viewing the images below. Use a color monitor to read this document.

When the TCP/IP panel opens, you should see this:

Click on the "Connect via" and "Configure" pop-up menus and set them as shown.

The important parts are the "Name server address" field (fill it out exactly as shown), and the "Additional search domains" box. You should enter "math.niu.edu" and "niu.edu" there. The third (optional) line is an example of what you might add there. If you often use computers on another network, adding the tail part of their Internet names will let you specify only the first portion of the full name. In our example, "spider" - which is not found on our campus networks - will end up being interpreted as "spider.math.ilstu.edu".

When you close the panel, you should tell the computer to "save changes to the configuration".

PPP

The newer versions of Apple's OpenTransport software include a PPP driver; but most people still rely on public domain versions, the most popular one being FreePPP. We will use FreePPP in what follows. To configure another flavor of the PPP driver, use the manual which came with it together with the information below.

If you don't have FreePPP on your computer, use some other machine connected to the network to download it and put it on a floppy which you can take home. The newest version is available from one of the software archives, e.g. Info Mac. You may want to read the document on downloading Mac files first.

When FreePPP is unpacked and installed on your disk, reboot the computer. Then go to Control Panels and open "FreePPP Setup". You will see this screen:

You may want to check the "Disconnect if idle" button to avoid tying up the phone lines and excessive phone charges. Click on "Accounts" and then "New".

This area uses the information you were given when you applied for an Academic Computer Services computer account. Your account for the departmental computers will not work here! If you don't have an ACS account yet, please read the instructions on obtaining one.

The "Server name" is not important; use whatever you want there. Make sure that "Directly" is selected under "Connect", and that you typed your ACS user name and password correctly. Note that the user name must include the full name of the computer on which you were given an account, and that the "tf0" part has a "zero", not "oh" in it.

When you are done, click the "Connection" tab.

No matter what modem you have, you should select a high "Port Speed". 57600 is usually the right choice. With an external modem you must select "CTS & RTS" flow control (if you have problems later, you may want to come back here and experiment with "RTS only" or "CTS only"). Most internal modems, on the other hand, like the "None" setting.

Now click the "Options" tab. Nothing to do here; it should look more or less like the picture below, except when you are using an independent Internet access provider and you were explicitly told to use a "static" or "fixed" IP address for your computer; in that case, type that IP address (four numbers separated by periods) in the "IP address" field.

Click "OK". This will take you back to the main FreePPP Setup window. Click "Modem Setup" and select the correct modem ("Internal", "Modem Port", or "Printer Port"). Other settings should be as shown below.

Again, in case of problems you should come back to this area and experiment with different "modem initialization strings" entered in a field which shows up when you click the "Use:" button. Hopefully this won't be necessary, but some modems are finnicky. You can find a huge collection of suggested init strings on Adam Engst's Web site.

Close the FreePPP Setup panel and reboot the Mac to be on the safe side. You should see a new small telephone icon on the menu bar or in the PowerBook Control Strip. Pull it down and select "Connect". If all goes well, you will be on the Internet. Congratulations!

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Last modified: 5/3/97 by webmaster@math.niu.edu