Setting Up MacPPP for Northwest Nexus

Northwest Nexus Frequently Asked Questions

Setting Up MacPPP for Northwest Nexus

A Recommendation

First off, we at Northwest Nexus suggest that you obtain and use FreePPP instead of MacPPP. We recommend using version 2.5 or higher, but not the beta versions of the program. FreePPP is produced by Rockstar Studios, and can be downloaded from their website, http://www.rockstar.com.

If you must use MacPPP, follow the instructions below.

Setting Up MacPPP

First, find ConfigPPP on your system. It should be located in your Control Panels, but if not, go to your file menu and choose find. Then search for ConfigPPP. Once found, move it by dragging it to your system folder. Then restart your system and open ConfigPPP.
Once you open ConfigPPP, it should look like the picture below (some versions may vary). Change the settings so they are identical to the ones in this picture. The PPP Server will say NWNexus after completing the following steps in this manual.
Go ahead and click on the Config... button to reconfigure a PPP Server setting, or click New... to create a new one. If there are extras which you don't use, then delete them.
Set the settings as they are in this picture. Choose a phone number for your area from our FAQ, "Dialup Access Numbers". Remember to put the area code first (without a 1 unless it's long distance) because the phone company will soon require it. Then click on Connect Script... and make sure all the "Out/Wait" switches are set to out, all the "CR" checkboxes are unchecked, and that all the text fields are blank. Then click OK which will bring you back to this screen. Click on Authentication...
Under Authentication, enter your Auth ID (your username or login name) in all lowercase letters. Then enter your password (remember it's cap sensitive). Then click OK. That will take you back to the screen above, and then click on Done. That will take you back to the first screen and go ahead and close ConfigPPP. If it asks whether to save the changes, choose Save.

Tips for those who are using ConfigPPP:

Why is the Open button greyed out?

Is this the first time you are trying to connect, have you rebooted since you installed the software?

Control panels and extestions which need to be loaded on startup. If they have not rebooted since installing the software, they need to do so before clicking the open button.

Is MacTCP in the Control Panels folder?

If MacTCP is not in the control panels, do a Find File for it. Move it to the Control Panels folder and restart. If you cannot find it on the hard drive, you will need to install it from the System 7.5 disks, or from a third party source such as the Internet Software Kit for Macintosh.

Is TCP/IP in the Control Panels folder?

If the computer has System 7.5.3, it might have Open Transport instead of MacTCP. Open Transport's TCP/IP control panel replaces the old MacTCP panel. If they do have 7.5.3, but neither TCP/IP or MacTCP, try doing a Find File for them. You should also check the Network Software Selector program, which is installed in the 7.5.3 update.

What system software are you using?

Config PPP uses software that was included in System 7.1, and will not work with System 7.0, even if you have MacTCP from another source. Also, System 7.1 has some problems with printers conflicting with the network software.

Was TCP/IP installed on this computer previously?

If TCP/IP was installed on this computer, but it is now using MacTCP, there are two extension files that need to be removed. They are called OpenTPTInternetLib and OpenTPTInternet Library. These files conflict with MacTCP and need to be removed from the Extensions folder in the System Folder.

Is AppleTalk active?

Go to the Chooser, in the Apple menu, and see if AppleTalk is Active in the lower right corner. It may need to be on in order for the network connection to be established. If it is not on, turn it on and restart the computer.

Have you installed any software recently?

Apple Internet Connection Kit, America On-Line, Compuserve, Internet Valet, Internet-In-A-Box, Open Transport, System 7.5.3 Upgrade, New Printers that install their own drivers, or Fax Software.

Problems with the Chooser

Unfortunately, sometimes the Chooser will think that when you've got AppleTalk on, that you must be connected to a local network. As a result, it puts the localtalk connection on the Printer port, which is the normal way to connect to the network. However, if you also have a printer, the Chooser will bump the printer to the Modem port (since the Chooser has AppleTalk on the Printer port, see?). Then, when you go to dial up, it tries to get a hold of the Modem, but it can't, because the printer is assigned to the modem port.

It shouldn't be doing this, because you don't need AppleTalk to use ConfigPPP. Once you've dialed up, you can go to the Chooser, turn off Appletalk, and your connection won't be affected at all! But you won't be able to dial back up until you reactivate Appletalk, which requires a reboot. Disabling the printers (so they don't tie up the modem port) does work, because you can use your modem, or your printer, but not both.

What if the Open button is greyed out after connecting?

Also, there is a display bug in ConfigPPP that causes the 'PPP Down' and greyed-out open button to not get redrwan after connecting. This bug occurs when someone has been connected once already, and then hangs up, and then tries to reconnect without restarting the computer in between. Doing something that forces the screen to redraw, such as closing the control panel and re-opening it, will cause the 'PPP Up' icon and button to redraw correctly.

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