PPP - Dial-up Connection for Mac Classic 7.6 - 8.4

Links:  Edit existing PPP connection | TCP/IP settings | Modem settings | Get Connected |

 

Make a new connection:  PPP Overview:

Links on this page:  Opening PPP | Add/Delete/Activate Connections | Change UN/PW/PH# |

PPP is a program that allows your computer to dial-up to the Internet using a modem and a phone line.

PPP came standard on Macs starting with version 7.5.3 and continuing through version 8.2.  It was replaced with Remote Access starting in version 8.5.

It was possible to download older versions of PPP before 7.5.3, so older systems as far back as 7.1 may have PPP installed as well (as long as Open Transport 1.1.1 was also installed).

 

Opening PPP:

To open PPP, click the Apple, then Control Panels, and finally PPP, as shown below.

Note:  If PPP isn't listed, it's probably not enabled in the Extensions Manager. 
          Click here for help.

The PPP configuration dialogue opens, as shown below.

 

Add, Delete, and Activate connection configurations:

With PPP open, click on File, then Configurations, as shown below.

 

The Configurations dialogue box opens, as shown below.

First, delete any connection configurations not in use.  You wouldn't want to inadvertently dial up to your old ISP.

You can create more than one connection "Configuration" for PPP.  There are several reasons you may want to do this:

1. Different members of the same household my be using different ISP's to connect to the Internet.

2. Those who travel to another city often may want to add a sepPPPte configuration for each city.

To create a new connection, highlight an existing connection and click the Duplicate button.

 

After clicking Duplicate, a screen appears prompting you for a name for the connection.  In this example, we're setting up a sepPPPte connection for another city, so we named it "OtherCity".  Click OK when you've finished typing the name.

 

After clicking OK, you return to "Configurations" dialogue.  Notice the new connection named "OtherCity".

Highlight the connection and click Make Active.

You will almost surely need to make changes to the connection. 
        If it's a different city, you may need a different phone number. 
        If it's a different ISP, the username/password/ph# will likely all be different.

With "OtherCity" as the Active Configuration, you will be able to make changes to it.

To use this as your main connection, or even to make changes to it,

 

When you've finished, click the Done button to return to the main PPP screen, shown below.

 

Check Username, Password, and Phone Number:

Notice across the top of the box that the name of your Active Configuration is shown in parentheses.  Since you made "OtherCity" the Active Configuration, the name of the old configuration "ISPName" is no longer listed.

Name = follows this format: username@ispname.com with your username in place of "username" and ISP's Name in place of "ispname.com".

Password = Passwords are cAsE SEnSitIvE, so ensure your Caps Lock is not on.

Number = Your ISP's local access number.  Look for the "Dial-Up Locations" link on your ISP's main web site.     
     Remember: Before you use any dial-up number for Internet access, you must contact your local telephone service provider to verify if the number in question would be a toll-charge call for you.

Tip: Can't make changes? Fields grayed out?  You may need to be in Administrator mode. 
      Click Edit, then User Mode, then select Administrator.  Click here for screenshots.

Click the Connect button to dial up to the Internet.

Or, Click the Options button for some extra settings.  See the page on Existing connections for screenshots.

 

You should also check the settings in two related areas: TCP and Modems. 

 

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