A Brief Introduction to Macs and the Internet
Upgrading Your Mac for Better Internet Connections
Open Transport PPP FreePPP MacTCP TCP/IP
You should have System 7.1 or better with at least 8 MB of RAM. There should also be at least 10 MB of free hard disk space in order to run a reasonable set of Internet applications, although you can probably get by with 5 MB of free hard disk space if you just want to run Internet Explorer 3, for example.
When you use ZTerm or Kermit to connect to Chebucto, what's being set up is known as a character-based protocol. A protocol, loosely, is a defined method of sending information from one computer to another. What this means is that when you type a key, the value of that key is sent over the phone line to Chebucto, and the computer there responds accordingly. And Chebucto is only able to send characters back to you in its turn. So no particularly sophisticated information can be exchanged.
In order to use Internet applications, which require the ability to send organized groups or packets of information, so that we can send or receive graphics and whatnot, we need to set up the phone line so it can run a different protocol from that supported by ZTerm. This protocol is known as TCP/IP. The hitch here is that it is quite complicated, and needs yet another protocol to be running to support it, which is called PPP. So for you to use Internet applications such as Netscape or Eudora, we need to set you up with TCP and PPP both.
Before you even consider locating the basic Internet connectivity software you need, and forking out the cash for a subscription to Chebucto Plus (or another ISP), you will save yourself a lot of grief if you spend some time making sure your Mac is ready for the big leagues.
In the Apple menu, select About This Macintosh or About This Computer. The dialog will tell you your version of system software. If it's less than 7.1 Chebucto Community Net does not support it. If you have System 7.0 we encourage you to upgrade to 7.1. For more information please contact ppp-help@chebucto.ns.ca or refer to the table in the next section.
Each major release of Macintosh system software has soon been followed by incremental improvements. In the System 7 CODEiants most of these improvements also increase the reliability of your Internet connections. We encourage you to upgrade your computer according to the following table:
| Base System | Upgrade |
|---|---|
| 7.0 | 7.1 |
| 7.1 | * |
| 7.5 | 7.5.5 |
| 7.6 | 7.6.1 |
The 8.x system versions are not mentioned, although the same idea holds true. In general the improvements to be gained with upgrades for 8.x do not directly affect your capacity to reliably connect with PPP.
The Apple website at http://www.apple.com under Software Upgrades is where you can locate the system upgrades. The local Macintosh Users Group may also be able to help you out if you have no Web or FTP access through a friend or work.
Bear in mind that these are recommended upgrades, not absolutely essential ones.
Following is a table of recommended software for enabling TCP and PPP on your Macintosh:
| System | PPP Type | TCP Type |
|---|---|---|
| 7.1 | FreePPP | MacTCP |
| 7.5 and 7.6 | FreePPP | TCP/IP |
| 8.0 and better | Open Transport PPP | TCP/IP |
Note: You may find with Systems 7.5 and 7.6 that you have Open Transport PPP (also known as OT/PPP) on your system. How do you know? Under the Apple menu, select Control Panels, and see if one of them is called PPP. If so, you have OT/PPP installed, and you should stick with that rather than obtaining FreePPP.
You should be configuring exactly one control panel for PPP, either OT/PPP or FreePPP (this isn't quite true - you can have both installed, and use the TCP control panel to choose which one you prefer), and exactly one control panel for TCP, either MacTCP or TCP/IP. Once you have your choices, find the configuration instructions below.
Open the PPP control panel from Control Panels under the Apple menu. Type
your username in the Name field, your PPP password in the
Password field, and type 494-6744 in the Number
field.
You shouldn't have to touch anything else. Proceed to configuring TCP/IP.
This fine piece of software can be downloaded from http://www.rockstar.com. Once you've
unpacked the download you should find a folder containing a file called
Install FreePPP 2.6.2.
Double-click on the Installer, and follow instructions. Choose Easy Install as opposed to Custom Install. Allow the installer to reboot the computer when it is finished. At this point launch FreePPP Setup, if it isn't launched automatically.
Click on the Accounts tab. Select New. Enter a descriptive name (like Chebucto) for the Account name, and type in your username and your PPP password.
In the same dialog click the Dialup tab. Enter
494-6744for the phone number.
In the same dialog click the Options tab. Enter the following information:
chebucto.ns.ca
192.75.95.129
192.75.95.88
Click OK. Now click on the Modems tab, and select New. In this dialog enter the following information:
115200 bps
CTS & RTS (DTR)
Tone
AT & F1 & D0 (this is a
first cut; always consult
your modem documentation in case of trouble)
Click OK twice to record your entries and dismiss FreePPP Setup. Proceed to configuring TCP.
It's best to obtain the most recent version off the Internet. Ask friends or family with an Internet connection, and search for "MacTCP". Once you've downloaded it, the control panel called MacTCP goes in the Control Panels folder in your System folder.
Install your PPP first, which will likely be FreePPP. Open the MacTCP control panel (find it under Control Panels in your Apple menu). Select FreePPP (click on that icon). Click on the More button.
chebucto.ns.ca 192.75.95.129
chebucto.ns.ca 192.75.95.88
Click OK. You're done with MacTCP, and since you already set up FreePPP, you can click on Connect in the FreePPP control panel, or use the FreePPP menu (the phone icon in the menubar) and select Open PPP Connection, to start a PPP connection.
You either have this or you don't. For a newer system you should. If you're curious, take a look at your system CD and look for a folder called Open Transport. If you have it, but the TCP/IP control panel from the Control Panels under the Apple menu is missing, you'll have to re-install from the CD, making sure to check off Open Transport, if you want to use the provided TCP/IP.
If you do have it, configure your PPP first. Then open your TCP/IP control panel. Select PPP or FreePPP for Connect via:, and Using PPP Server for Configure.
In the Name Server addr: field type:
192.75.95.129
192.75.95.88
In the Starting Domain name: field type:
chebucto.ns.ca
You're done. You already configured PPP, so either open your PPP control panel and choose Connect, or choose Open PPP Connection if you have FreePPP installed and the PPP menu is visible in the upper righthand corner (the blue phone).
Once you've got TCP and PPP set up, you shouldn't have to look at these control panels again. Dialing Chebucto is as simple as either opening the PPP control panel, and clicking Connect, or choosing Open PPP Connection from the PPP menu if you have FreePPP installed.
Once your dialog indicates that you've connected successfully, launch any Internet application of your choice, or several at a time. Assuming that the applications themselves are properly configured, you can use them freely while a PPP connection is open - you're on the Internet! Happy surfing!