Mac OS 9: How to Connect to the Internet via PPP (Dial-Up Access)

Note: This document does not apply to Mac OS 9 when used in the Classic environment of Mac OS X. The Classic environment uses Mac OS X network settings. For information on Mac OS X connectivity, see technical document 106796, "Mac OS X: Internet and Network Topics (Getting Connected, Troubleshooting)".

Gather information

Before you begin, gather this information from your Internet service provider (ISP):

• user name and password
• dial-up number
• Domain Name System (DNS) server addresses
• whether you should choose to configure IP information via PPP or manually (see Note 1)

Once you have this information, you may stop here and use the Internet Setup Assistant, or you may continue with the steps below to configure manually, using the Remote Access, Modem, and TCP/IP control panels. The location of the Internet Setup Assistant on your hard disk differs slightly between versions of Mac OS 9, so you may use Sherlock to find it.

Notes

1. If there is any uncertainty, try via PPP first. Manually would be used only if your ISP gave you a static IP address, which is rare for a dial-up connection. This information is used in Step 15, below.

2. If your ISP requires customized software in lieu of a standard PPP connection, contact them to obtain a copy that is compatible with Mac OS 9.

3. A modem is required. If your computer does not have a built-in modem, then select your external modem in Step 8.

4. If you select the checkbox in Step 6, below, and later find out that your computer is connecting to the Internet at unexpected times, see technical document 24877, "Mac OS: Modem Unexpectedly Dials".

Steps to connect

Follow these steps to connect:

1. Open the Remote Access control panel.
2. Click the radio button for Registered User.
3. Type the user name, password, and phone number into the corresponding fields. If you want your password to be saved so that you do not have to enter it at each connection, select the checkbox for "Save password".
4. Click Options.
5. Click the Protocol tab.
6. Locate the checkbox for "Connect automatically when starting TCP/IP applications". If you want your computer to dial up automatically when necessary, select this box (see Note 4, above).
7. Choose Modem from the RemoteAccess menu.
8. Choose your modem from the Modem pop-up menu. If you need help making this selection, see technical document 106650, "Mac OS 9, Mac OS X: How to Choose an Apple Modem".
9. Set the modem sound on or off, as desired.
10. If your local phone exchange does not work with touch-tone phones, select the radio button for Pulse.
11. Close the Modem control panel, clicking Save when prompted.
12. Close the Remote Access control panel, clicking Save when prompted.
13. Open the TCP/IP control panel.
14. Choose PPP from the Connect via pop-up menu.
15. Choose PPP or Manually from the Configure pop-up menu, as you were instructed by your ISP.
16. Enter your DNS server address(es) in the "Name server addr" field. Unless instructed otherwise by your ISP, you may ignore the "Search domains" field.
17. Close the TCP/IP control panel, clicking Save when prompted.
18. Open the Control Strip (Figure 1), and locate the Remote Access portion, which is labeled with the icon of a Macintosh computer over a telephone pole (Figure 2). If the Control Strip is not visible, open the Control Strip control panel and select Show Control Strip.




Figure 1 The Control Strip




Figure 2 The Remote Access portion of the Control Strip

19. If you did not select "Automatically connect" in Step 6, then you may connect manually by choosing "Connect" from the Remote Access portion of the Control Strip.
20. Open a Web browser to check your connection to the Internet. If you selected "Automatically Connect" in Step 6, then your modem should dial up now.