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SITKA CAMPUS
COMPUTER INFORMATION SERVICES
Elaine Craddick-Patt

Configuring MAC
Free PPP and Open Transport for UACN

Disclaimer:

PPP is not supported by Computer Information Services (CIS). If you want to use MacOS and PPP to connect to the University network, your resources are limited. Please do not call the CIS Computer Lab with questions about PPP connectivity. The information in this document is not guaranteed to be accurate for your location or computer system. Some of this information is subject to change without notice. Any direct or incidental damage to your equipment and or files is your responsibility.

TCP/IP Stack: In order to run clients like Netscape, Telnet, Eudora, etc. you’ll need to have a TCP/IP stack and dialup networking communications tool. If your system is running MacOS 7.5 or later you can use Open Transport which comes with the operating system. Only use Open Transport version 1.1 or later. This comes standard with MacOS 7.5.3. Users running MacOS 7.5-7.5.2 should upgrade to version 7.5.3. or suffer from unreliable connections. The 7.5.3 upgrade is free to 7.5 users and is available from http://info.apple.com.

Users upgrading to 7.5.3 should trash all parts of the old MacTCP TCP/IP stack before upgrading to 7.5.3. Including MacTCP DNR in the system folder, MacTCP Tool in the extensions folder, MacTCP Prep in the preferences folder and especially MacTCP and Network in the control panels folder. If these files are detected by the 7.5.3 Installer it will not install the Open Transport TCP/IP stack but use the old MacTCP stack instead.

Users with a MacOS version prior to 7.5 will need to use MacTCP. MacTCP is not shareware and must be purchased from Apple. The other alternative is to purchase MacOS 7.5.3 and use the Open Transport TCP/IP stack that comes with it. Note that system 7.5.3 requires at least 8mb and needs 16mb for real functionality.

FreePPP 2.5: In addition to the TCP/IP stack you’ll need a dialup networking communication tool that actually dials your modem, enters your username & kerberos passswords, and establishes a ppp connection. There are numerous dialup networking tools available but FreePPP 2.5 seems the most robust and reliable.

Getting FreePPP 2.5: Obtain a copy of FreePPP from one of the following info-mac archive sites. You will need both Binhex4.0 and Unstuffit to expand the archive file. Download the file free-ppp-25-rf.hqx 

ftp://mirrors.aol.com           in pub/info-mac/comm/inet/conn
ftp://sumex-aim.stanford.edu    in info-mac/comm/inet/conn

General commands for downloading FreePPP on ACAD1: 

        $setup scratch_disk
        $set def  uaa_scratch:[your_username]
        $ftp mirrors.aol.com
        Username> anonymous
        Password> your_full_e-mail_address
        >cd pub/info-mac/comm/inet/conn
        >binary
        >get free-ppp-25-rf.hqx
        To  local file:
        >bye
        FTP>exit
        $setup zmodem
        $sz free-ppp-25-rf.hqx
        Start your receiver now...

Installing FreePPP 2.5:

Before proceeding with this installation close all open applications. The following configuration procedure was designed to accommodate both MacTCP and TCP/IP. Once FreePPP has been downloaded, unhexed, and unstuffed the extracted file should look like:



  1. Double click on the FreePPP Install Utility as shown above.



  2. Click once on "Install."



  3. Click once on install.



  4. If you get the above window, click once on "Continue."



    *Note the above window may read MacTCP or TCP/IP depending on which TCP/IP stack you are actually using.
  5. . Click once on "Configure."



  6. Click once on "Restart"

    Configuring FreePPP:





    1. In the FreePPP folder, that has been installed, double click on the "FreePPP Setup" utility .



    2. Click once on the pull-down arrow in the lower left.



      *Note the above window may show "Open TCP/IP" or "Open MacTCP" depending on which TCP/IP stack you are actually using.
    3. Click once on "Modem Setup..."



    4. In the FreePPP Modem Setup menu
      • For "Connected to:" select "Modem Port" or "Printer Port" depending on which port your modem is actually connected to.
      • Select "Use init string form account configuration.
      • Click once on "OK."




    5. At the FreePPP Setup menu.
      • Click once on the "Accounts" tab.
      • Click once on the "New..." button.



    6. In the "Connection"
      • For "Server name:" enter "Uaa" or whatever name suits you for the uaa external dialups.
      • For Phone number enter 747-8271
      • For "Connect:" select "Using Connection Script"
      • Click once on "Edit connection script..."



    7. At the connection script window shown above:
      • Enter the connection script exactly as shown above.
      • For "you_username" substitute your actually username.
      • "your_kerberos_password" substitute your actually kerberos password. *Note your username & password must be in lower case.
      • Click once on "OK"
    8. Click on the "Connection" tab



      • For "Modem Init string:" enter at&f1
      • Click once on "OK"



        *Note the previous window may show "Open TCP/IP" or "Open MacTCP" depending on which TCP/IP stack you are actually using.
    9. Click once on the "Open MacTCP" or "Open TCP/IP" button. **STOP If the button just clicked was "Open TCP/IP" skip to step 19**



    10. Click once on FreePPP
    11. Set the "IP Address" to 0.0.0.0
    12. Click once on More...



    13. Under "Obtain Address" select "Server"
    14. Set the "Gateway Address" to 137.229.150.6
    15. Set the "Subnet Mask" to "255.255.255.0" by grabbing the T shaped pointer with your mouse and moving it to the right.
    16. Set the domain name server: 
              Domain                  Name
        alaska.edu              137.229.150.16
        jun.alaska.edu          137.229.10.39
    17. Select alaska.edu to be the default by clicking on the circle immediately following the IP address.
    18. Click on "OK" to save the settings and Exit MacTCP **Skip to step 23**



    19. For "Connect Via" select "FreePPP"
    20. For "Configure" select "Using PPP Server"
    21. For "Name server addr.:" enter 
              137.229.150.16
        137.229.10.39




    22. Click once on "Save"
    23. Configuration Complete! Once back to the FreePPP Setup window click once on "Connect" to see if it connects. If it does then select one of your Internet tools and see if it works.

      Troubleshooting MacPPP::

      Frequently Asked Questions:

      1. Modem dials and connects, username & password prompts go by in the connection window. At this point the script stops and eventually times out. Why?
        • Check the PPP script. Confirm your username & kerberos password are correct. Confirm the username & password are both in lower case. Make sure there are no spaces before the username or password they will cause the script to fail.
        • Log on with a standard Mac communications program like Zterm or Microphone. Confirm that your username & kerberos password actually work. If you get "User Authentication Failed" your kerberos password is incorrect or non-existent. If you get an "Insufficient Resources" error message the kerberos security server is down. The only thing you can do is report this problem to SONS (Statewide Office of Network Services) at 1-800-478- 8226.
      2. Modem dials and connects but then the connection immediately dies. Why?
        • You might need to modify the modem initialization string . Try ATZ instead of AT&F1.
        • You might need to modify the flow control setting. Most modern modems will use "CTS & RTS (DTR)" for hardware and software flow control. If this does not work systematically try the other options: NONE, RTS, and CTS.
      3. Modem does not dial. Why?
        • Check and confirm the modem is on the correct port: Modem or Printer.
        • You might need to modify the modem initialization string . Instead of AT&F1 try ATZ instead. One trick is to borrow the modem initialization string from your standard communications package and try it in FreePPP.
        • With the Macintosh off unplug and reinsert all cable connections.