Open Transport/PPP 1.0: Read Me

This article is the Open Transport/PPP 1.0 Read Me Before Installing file.
Introduction

This document contains the late-breaking information about Open Transport/PPP. For instructions about how to use Open Transport/PPP--including the Modem and PPP control panels--see the Open Transport/PPP user's manual. Onscreen help is also available in Macintosh Guide. Choose Macintosh Guide from the Help menu (the question mark icon in the upper-right corner of your screen). Information about Open Transport/PPP appears in the Telecommunications topic area. Or you can click the question mark icon that appears in the Modem and PPP control panels.

Additional information about Open Transport/PPP is also available on the Open Transport/PPP home page:

http://devworld.apple.com/dev/opentransport/ppp.html

Included on this home page is a log of the release notes that describes the changes in each of the successive beta releases of the Open Transport/PPP software.


License Agreement

This release of Open Transport/PPP is subject to the terms and conditions of the License Agreement that accompanies the software in the file License. By using the software you agree to abide by the terms and conditions of the License Agreement.


System Requirements

Open Transport/PPP is designed to work on Mac OS-compatible computers with a Motorola 68030- or 68040-family microprocessor, or a PowerPC 601, 603, 603e, 604, or 604e microprocessor.

The recommended system software version for Open Transport/PPP is 7.5.3 or later, updated with Open Transport 1.1.1. System software versions 7.1, 7.1.1, and 7.1.2 releases are also compatible with Open Transport/PPP updated with Open Transport 1.1.1.

Important: You must update your system with Open Transport 1.1.1 before installing Open Transport/PPP. See the following section for information about updating to Open Transport 1.1.1.

Note: Open Transport/PPP cannot be used with system software versions 7.5, 7.5.1, or 7.5.2. Before installing Open Transport/PPP on one of these systems, run the latest 7.5.3 (or later) system updater.

Open Transport/PPP 1.0 requires a minimum of 500K of RAM (for 68030- or 68040-based computers) or 600K of RAM (for PowerPC-based computers). Open Transport/PPP memory requirements are based on the size of total system memory, including virtual memory, minus the size of any RAM disk or disk cache you're using.


Open Transport Requirements

Version 1.1.1 of Open Transport is required for use with Open Transport/PPP.

Note: The Open Transport 1.1.1 update, provided with the Open Transport/PPP installer, requires that you already have Open Transport 1.1. installed on your computer.

Here are the steps required to install Open Transport 1.1.1, depending on the system software you have:

System 7.1.x
System 7.5, 7.5.1, or 7.5.2
System 7.5.3 or 7.5.5
System 7.5.3 if you have performed a custom installation without installing Open Transport
System 7.5.5 if you have updated a system on which Open Transport was not installed due to a custom installation.
Apple Software Update Online
Software updates mentioned in this article can be found on the Apple Support Web site, Apple Software Updates Library at:
http://www.apple.com/swupdates


Before You Install Open Transport/PPP 1.0

Known Incompatibilities and Limitations

Compatibility With the Apple Internet Connection Kit

You can install both Open Transport/PPP and the Apple Internet Connection Kit (AICK) on your computer at the same time. Both products enable you to dial with your modem and connect to the Internet.

At the time of this release, AICK does not use the Open Transport/PPP software to dial and connect to the Internet. AICK has its own Dialer, which uses MacPPP software to establish the remote connection. MacPPP is a third-party implementation of the Point-to-Point Protocol.

All of the AICK applications, however, are compatible with Open Transport/PPP 1.0. To use Open Transport/PPP with AICK applications, you must configure Open Transport/PPP as described in the Open Transport/PPP User's Manual and in the "Connecting to the Internet" topic area of Macintosh Guide.

The currently active PPP software is selected using the "Connect via" pop-up menu in the TCP/IP control panel. MacPPP is listed as MacPPP. OT/PPP is listed as PPP. MacPPP is controlled by using the Config PPP control panel, the Apple Internet Dialer application, or the Apple Internet Status application. Open Transport/PPP is controlled by using the Modem and PPP control panels, which do not modify or change MacPPP configuration information.

If you use both PPP software packages (one at a time), note that launching either the Apple Internet Dialer or Apple Internet Status will make MacPPP active. Furthermore, you will need to switch TCP/IP configurations each time you switch from one PPP software package to the other. (Information about changing TCP/IP configurations appears in the Network topic area of Macintosh Guide.)


Interactions With Third-Party Software

Netscape 2.x will not work reliably with versions of the Mac OS before System 7.5.3 or versions of Open Transport software before 1.1. If you would like to use Netscape 2.0.1 or later, you should make sure that System 7.5.3 or later and Open Transport version 1.1.1 or later are also used. Failure to follow this recommendation may result in system crashes.


Modem Support

Scripts that support many popular modems are provided on the Open Transport/PPP installation disk(s). The scripts include:

3Com Impact Analog 14.4
3Com Impact ISDN 56K
3Com Impact ISDN 56K MLPPP
3Com Impact ISDN 64K
3Com Impact ISDN 64K MLPPP
Apple Personal Modem
AT&T Dataport 288
AT&T KeepInTouch
Best Data Smart One 28.8/33.6
Dayna CommuniCard 28800
Farallon Netopia 56K
Farallon Netopia 56K MLPPP
Farallon Netopia 64K
Farallon Netopia 64K MLPPP
GeoPort/Express Modem
GeoPort/Express Modem CNG
Global Village Gold/Silver/Merc
Global Village Platinum/Gold II
Hayes Accura 288
Hayes Optima 288
Megahertz CruiseCard 14.4
Megahertz CruiseCard 28.8
Metricom Ricochet Wireless
Microcom DeskPorte Fast/288
Microcom QX/4232bis
Motorola BitSURFR 56K
Motorola BitSURFR 56K MLPPP
Motorola BitSURFR 64K
Motorola BitSURFR 64K MLPPP
Motorola ModemSURFR 28.8
Motorola Power/Lifestyle 28.8
Null Modem 9600
Null Modem 19200
Null Modem 57600
Null Modem 115200
Practical Peripherals V.34
Smart One 28.8
Supra 14.4
Supra 28.8/33.6
TDK DF2814
Telebit QBlazer
US Robotics Universal
Zoom V-Series

Apple now installs all modem scripts in the Modem Scripts folder (in the Extensions folder) instead of directly in the Extensions folder. Future Apple products will handle modem scripts the same way. Open Transport/PPP does not recognize modem scripts stored outside the Modem Scripts folder.

Auto-routing of modem scripts has been disabled by the installer. Once Open Transport/PPP is installed, a modem script will not be routed to the Extensions folder if it is dragged into an active System folder.

The Easy Install mode of the installer copies all of the Open Transport/PPP modem scripts to your disk. You can choose Custom Install to limit the installation to only the scripts you choose.

Note: You can delete any unneeded scripts from the Modem Scripts folder, which is located inside the Extensions Folder. To recognize scripts, look for files labeled as "Modem Link Tool Personal document."


Additional (Unsupported) Modem Scripts

User-contributed scripts are available online. New modems are regularly introduced and Apple is willing to help publish scripts donated by users to aid in making Apple Remote Access and Open Transport/PPP work easily with as many modems as possible.

Important: User-contributed scripts are not tested or supported by Apple Computer, Inc., so you should contact the script's author rather than Apple if you run into difficulty using a script downloaded from the unsupported folder. User-contributed modem scripts are provided on an as-is basis as a convenience to Apple customers. They are not warranted to be complete or free from errors, although Apple may choose to review and fully test some user-contributed scripts and include them in future versions of Apple software. If you want to provide Apple with feedback about particular user-contributed scripts, send electronic mail to the following address: msg@apple.com

To find these scripts, go to the Apple Software Updates library http://www.apple.com/swupdates and use [ modem and scripts ] in the search field.

If you want to contribute a modem script, please use the following procedure:

Scripts will only be posted if they are accompanied by a Read Me explaining the script's purpose and how to contact the author.

(See "Apple Software Updates Sites" near the beginning of this Read Me for information on how to find Apple Software Updates locations.)


Modem Cable Requirements

Most modems require a cable that supports the data terminal ready (DTR) signal. In addition, certain modems require a cable that supports CTS/RTS hardware flow control. To support DTR, the cable must connect pin 20 on the DB-25 connector to pin 1 on the Mini DIN-8. To support CTS/RTS, the cable must connect pin 5 on the DB-25 connector to pin 2 on the Mini DIN-8 and pin 4 on the DB-25 connector to pin 1 on the Mini DIN-8. Contact your modem vendor or Apple-authorized dealer to obtain the necessary cable.


Open Transport/PPP and Apple Remote Access Compatibility

Open Transport/PPP and ARA versions 1.0, 2.0, 2.0.1, and 2.1 are fully compatible and can be used on the same system. Only one can be used at a time.

Versions of ARA before 2.1 install modem scripts directly in the Extensions folder. To make sure that these scripts appear as choices in the Modem control panel, move them to the Modem Scripts folder in the Extensions folder.

ARA 2.1 installs its scripts in the Modem Scripts folder with Extensions. If you are using ARA 2.1, you must install Open Transport/PPP after ARA 2.1 to get a set of scripts in the Modem Scripts folder that works optimally with both products. The Open Transport/PPP scripts support certain modem-based features, such as error correction and data compression, that improve PPP performance. The ARA 2.X scripts may not support these features.

Also, some scripts included with ARA 2.1 are no longer installed with Open Transport/PPP. These scripts are left on your disk by the Open Transport/PPP installer. They may be usable with Open Transport/PPP, but have not been tested for compatibility by Apple.


Registered User or Guest?

If your PPP server does not require a user name and password, or if the server requires only that you enter a name and password in a terminal window, you can select the Guest mode button in the PPP control panel. This will hide the Name and Password fields and will cause the Connect button to be enabled as soon as you enter a phone number.

If your server requires a PPP user name and password instead of, or in addition to, a terminal server login, you must use the Registered User mode of the PPP control panel. In this mode, you must enter something in the Name and Number fields to enable the Connect button. If you leave the Password field blank, and "Save password" is not checked, you will be prompted to confirm that you want to connect without a password.


Connect Scripts

The following varStrings have been added to the CCL scripting language for the user name and password:

Name: ^11 or ^U
Password: ^12 or ^P

When the connect script is executed, these varStrings are substituted by the strings stored in the Name and Password fields of the PPP control panel.

When you record a connect script, and you have entered your name and password in the PPP control panel, the connect script that's recorded by the terminal window will replace those strings by the appropriate varStrings.

The ^U and ^P varStrings are provided as mnemonics for the user name and password, but they cannot be used as parameters of some CCL commands like IFSTR. With those commands, use the ^11 and ^12 varStrings instead.

Connection CCL scripts that use the password varString (^12) in WRITE commands do not log the password in clear text. The password is logged as bullets. This is true whether the user records the script or types it in.

More detailed information about the syntax of the CCL language used for both modem scripts and connect scripts is in the ARA Modem Scripting Guide.PDF file in the OT/PPP Extras folder. This file is in Adobe Acrobat format.


Manual Dialing

Procedures for establishing an Open Transport/PPP connection with manual dialing vary according to the type of modem you are using. To ensure that you can make a connection while using manual dialing, you may need to experiment with pressing the Connect button slightly before or after you hear the remote modem answer the phone.


Using an Express Modem or GeoPort Telecom Adapter

If you are using Express Modem software with either an Express Modem or a GeoPort Telecom Adapter, you must turn on 32-bit addressing in the Memory control panel. Using 24-bit addressing may result in incorrect behavior.


Using Global Village PC Card Products

The Global Village software included with your modem adds an entry to the "Connect via" pop-up menu of the Modem control panel called "PowerPort PC Card". Under some circumstances, an entry for the actual slot your PC Card is plugged into will show up as well ("Upper-slot", "Lower-slot"). These slot-specific items should not be used and the "PowerPort PC Card" item should be used instead or the port will be erroneously reported as busy.


Using an ISDN Terminal Adapter

Both Open Transport/PPP and ARA 2.1 support serial connection speeds of 115,200 and 230,400 bps. By doing so, Apple enables Macintosh users to make ARA and PPP connections over ISDN lines at 64 Kbps or even 112 Kbps if the ISDN terminal adapters at both ends support channel bonding and proper modem scripts are used.

Note: The "Connected at" line of the PPP control panel status box may not accurately reflect the connection speed of ISDN connections. A slower speed may be indicated because ISDN terminal adapter hardware does not report the establishment of second channel connections to the CCL script engine. This will usually happen if you use the Multilink PPP (MLPPP) version of an ISDN script.

Connection speeds of 115,200 and 230,400 bps are not supported by the serial ports on most older Macintosh computers. Here is a partial list of Macintosh models that do have fast serial port support:

To set the built-in serial ports at 115,200 or 230,400 bps, a new serial driver called SerialDMA must be installed to replace the standard Macintosh serial device driver. SerialDMA 2.0.2 is provided by Apple. It is highly recommended that the file Serial (built-in) be installed in the Extensions folder as well on Macintosh models with PCI slots to support these high speeds (38,400 bps and above). System 7.5.3 or later includes the latest version of SerialDMA and the file Serial (built-in).

Note: In general, ISDN terminal adapters have more configuration options than conventional modems. At this time it is not possible for Apple to support all combinations of these options for all the ISDN terminal adapters that are supported. We have attempted to write scripts that work with the most common ISDN configurations. You may have to get a revised script from your Internet service provider or network administrator if your server uses different options. You can also modify a script yourself using the Modem Script Generator or by editing the script text directly.


How to Turn Off or Remove Open Transport/PPP

To disable and remove Open Transport/PPP software by using the Custom Remove option in the Installer, follow these steps:
To disable Open Transport/PPP without using the Installer, follow these steps:

Note: Although the PPP and Modem control panels appear in the Extensions Manager, there is no component in the Extensions Manager that lets you disable Open Transport/PPP. To disable Open Transport/PPP without using the Installer, you must follow the instructions given here.

It is not necessary to move the Modem Scripts folder from the Extensions folder.
Published Date: Feb 18, 2012