Macintosh OS Support

TCP/IP: MacTCP Configuration

What is MacTCP?

Only found in MacOS 7.5.3 and below, the MacTCP control panel contains important information that tells the Mac what the DNS Server is and what domain name to use. MacTCP in most cases can only be configured for one thing at a time.

Commonly macs crash after changing settings here.

However the changes take place, and you can move on past it.

Since these files are doing all kinds of crazy stuff when an IP connection is in place, if a crash occurs while you're online, the settings are more likely to get all fouled by the rude shutdown. If MacTCP will not open (typical errors can be Type -39 or Type -11) then the files are damaged and should be replaced. Rebuilding the desktop often helps.

Setting Up MacTCP

To open MacTCP go to the Apple Menu and open Control Panels, then open MacTCP.

In this first window make sure that:

• PPP, MacPPP or FreePPP is present.

• InterSLIP is NOT present.

• PPP is highlighted.

• Also look for any AOL extensions, as these may cause problems.

• If PPP is not present, the open button in config PPP will be grey and you will not be able to dial in. You'll need to find your PPP extension (By clicking on the File menu in the Finder, selecting Find, then entering PPP and clicking on Find), and place it in the extensions folder, or re-install from whatever package you got everything with.

• If InterSLIP is present, you need to open your System Folder, and then open the Extensions folder. Then you must remove InterSLIP from the extensions folder and place it on your desktop. Don't throw it away. You might need it someday, but you certainly don't need it now.

• Next you need to click on 'More...'

In the window that pops up you need to check the following:

• Obtain Address is set to server

• Class is set to C

• The first box under domain says aebc.com

• The first box under IP address says 209.53.200.2

• The second box under domain has a single . (period)

• The second box under IP address says 209.53.200.3

• The Default Button is selected on the top

If you didn't change anything have hit cancel; if you did, click on OK close MacTCP, and restart the computer immediately.

Troubleshooting The Grey Open Button

If the PPP software has a disabled (greyed-out) Open or Connect button, it may mean that the TCP software is no longer aware that it should be using PPP to do its networking thing.

A solution to this is the toggle trick:

• Change the method of connecting from 'PPP' or 'MacPPP' etc... to something else -- anything else.

• Then, close the TCP software, Restart the Mac and then re-open MacTCP.

• Change back to the PPP software. Then close it again. Don't laugh, it might work. :-)

If this does not work (or the TCP software gives you problems and you can't do this) there is a more gung ho method:

• Open the Extensions folder and move the PPP software to the desktop.

• Then restart the computer.

• Then move it back into the Extensions folder and restart one more time. You're basically tricking your Mac into recognizing the extensions again.

  If neither of these steps makes the Open or Connect buttons available, then remove and re-install the PPP software.

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