---

---

MacPPP -- Get ready to surf!

MacPPP is a software application (available at Shareware Library) that enables your machine to connect to other machines via the Point to Point Protocol, or PPP. PPP is the hippest, coolest, quickest way to get onto the Internet, so follow along friend and learn how to get set up with MacPPP.

Equipment Check

First, you need to make sure you've got the right software. You'll need MacTCP (comes with System 7.5 and can otherwise be acquired from Apple) and the aforementioned MacPPP.

Once you've got these, you'll need to put them in their right places. This is simple:

1. MacTCP needs to go into the Control Panels folder. This is found inside the computer's System folder.
2. MacPPP has two parts: ConfigPPP and PPP. Like MacTCP, ConfigPPP also needs to be put in the Control Panels folder. PPP belongs in the Extensions folder (within the System folder).

Now reboot your computer and open the MacTCP control panel. You should see an icon labeled "PPP". Click once on it.

Do you see the "More..." button? Click it -- you'll see a window appear. If you haven't done it already, you must now configure your MacTCP software. To do this, go to the MacTCP section of Internet Connectivity, configure your software, and then come back here...

Once your MacTCP software has been configured, take a deep breath and move on to "Waxing up the Board."

Waxing up the Board

To proceed through the next step, you'll need the telephone number to dial your ISP (Internet Service Provider) and an initialization string for your particular model of modem. If you don't have the initialization string, you can either find it in your modems owner's manual or get it from Adam Engst's Internet Starter Kit for Macintosh Modem Page. I recommend using Adam Engst's Modem Page.

Once you have these two pieces of information, you're in business. Open the Config PPP control panel and click the "Config..." button. You will see a small dialog box asking for the telephone number and initialization string. Type these in.

Looking below the area you just typed, you'll see two buttons: Connect Script and Authentication. If your Internet Service Provider supports Password Authentication Protocol (PAP -- you may have to call them and find out), then click here. If not, you will have to create a connect script.

Get your ISP's number handy, and click the terminal checkbox in the main control panel window. Then click on "Open" and a blank window will come up. In the window, type the number:

Where 555-5555 is your ISP's phone number. The modem will then dial and connect to your ISP (if it's busy, keep entering the number until it comes up). After a successful connection, the word "login" will appear in the terminal window. Follow the prompts to log on.

Paddling Out

Now, look at the terminal window. Grab a piece of paper and a pencil and carefully write down all of the prompts that came up and your answers to them. Sign back off using the "Close" or "Hard Close" button.

Once you have all that stuff written down, you need to click on the "Config..." button from within the Config PPP control panel window. A window will appear. Find the "Connect Script..." button and click it once. You'll see a window with many open fields to type text in (an already completed example is provided here).

Click the "Wait" checkbox on the first field and enter the first prompt that appeared in the terminal window. Click on the "out" checkbox by the second field and enter your response to that first prompt. Then click the "CR" button.

The next step is to click "wait" by the third field and enter the second prompt there. Click on "out" (next to the fourth field) and enter a response followed by a click of the "CR" button. Follow this pattern for any remaining prompts/answers.

If you receive more than the connect script can handle, you will have to manually connect to the terminal window and respond to the prompts every time.

Surf's up!

Pat yourself on the back. With MacPPP set up and rolling, you're ready to lean back and ride the Web waves!