Configuring MacSLIP
NOTE: MacSLIP is no longer officially supported by the OIT Technology Support Center. Where possible, Remote Access / PPP (on "Classic" Mac systems) or the built-in OS X dial-up software should be used.
SETTING UP MACSLIP:
Before you can begin using MacSLIP, you will need to adjust the variables and configuration settings depending on the type of hardware and your particular situation. To do so, first open MacSLIP by choosing the Control Panels from the Apple icon in the upper left corner of the screen, then choosing MacSLIP. The following dialog box appears:
SETTING VARIABLES:
To set variables, click on the Variables button in the MacSLIP Control Panel. You will see the following dialog box:
User variable: You need to insert your username for this variable only if you are using the single user setup. (Note: If more than one person is sharing the same computer and using MacSLIP, do not enter a username here. Follow the procedure for multiple users, which is explained in a later section under Setting configurations/Script.) In the Variables dialog box, click on the line that says "
user username" to highlight it, then click on the Edit button. You will see the following dialog box:
Type in just your OSU Internet username in the box labeled "Value:". For example, if your OSU Internet username and address is doe.9999@osu.edu, type only doe.9999 . Click on OK after you enter your username.
Phone number variable: You will need to change the phone number variable if you want to dial long distance, use a credit card, or disable call waiting. The HomeNet default phone number setting is 722-9800 for 30 minute service. To adjust this setting, click on the line that says "phone 7229800" to highlight it, then click on the Edit button. In the box labeled "Value:", enter all the required numbers using commas to indicate pauses for the modem. Long distance credit card calls require special attention. For long distance access, you will have to construct a dialing command by entering a series of numbers that follow this general format:
* outside line access number (for calls from a hotel/motel) * long distance access number * long distance provider number * long distance HomeNet modem number * your calling card number and possibly your PIN number
Commas are an important part of the dialing command because they indicate pauses for your modem. The length of the pause varies from modem to modem, although one to two seconds per comma is fairly standard. It's difficult to predict exactly how many commas you'll need and where to include them. Check your calling card instructions and then try a manual test dial and listen to time the pauses between portions of the number. This will give you an idea how to construct your dialing string so that the correct information is transmitted at the proper time. It's a good idea to disable call waiting in the dialing command because an incoming call can disrupt your HomeNet connection. To do so, add the code to disable call-waiting as the first part of the phone number variable. Many services use *70 to disable call waiting. The dialing command to disable call waiting would look like this example: *70,7229800 . (Call waiting should turn on again automatically once you hang up the HomeNet connection.) If *70 does not work for you, please contact your phone service for the correct code.
Dialcmd variable: The dialcmd variable has been set to ATDT for a touch-tone phone; you need to change this variable if you are calling from a pulse or rotary phone. To do so, click on the line that says "dialcmd ATDT" to highlight it, then click on the Edit button. In the box labeled "Value:" enter ATDP .
Password variable: You do not need to enter the password variable, because MacSLIP ignores it and prompts you for your password during the authentication procedure.
After editing the variables, click on the Done button in the first Variables dialog box.
SETTING CONFIGURATIONS:
Default settings have been entered for all the values in the Configuration dialog box for 30 Minute Service, but you can change them according to your needs. To do so, click on the Configure button in the main MacSLIP control panel. You will see the following dialog box:
Set Name: This setting duplicates the choices that appear in the main MacSLIP control panel. Click on the arrow in this box to choose between two settings: "30 Minute Service" or "Long Term Service" . The default setting is "30 Minute Service", so if and when you switch to "Long Term Service", the first time you do so, your configuration settings will revert to the default values, and you must reenter your preferred settings for Script, Log, Speed, etc. This happens only the first time you switch; after that, MacSLIP retains the settings for each service.
Script: This setting reflects your choice of HomeNet script for a single user or multiple user setup. Even if you use the default setting for single user, you still must perform the step of locating the script in the System Folder for MacSLIP, although only once-at the time of setup. If you are changing from a single user to multiple user setup, you also need to complete this step. Note that in the last version of HomeNet, version 4.0, the Single User and Multiple User scripts were stored in the MacSLIP Folder inside the Preferences folder. To identify the appropriate script, click on the arrow in the box labeled "Script" and choose Set from the popup menu. In the dialog box, find your System Folder, scroll down until you find the appropriate HomeNet Script in the list for Single User HomeNet Script or Multiple User HomeNet Script, click on it, and then click on the Open button to identify the script for MacSLIP use. Your choice also appears in the Script box.
Port: The "Port" box should be set to Modem Port. If it is not, click on the arrow in the box and select Modem Port from the popup menu.
Speed: You can reset the modem speed by clicking on the arrow in the "Speed" box and choosing a new speed from the popup menu. The default setting in MacSLIP is 57,600, which is an attainable speed with as low as a 14,400-bps rate modem if it meets the appropriate standards for error correction and data compression. Your modem manual will tell you what error correction and data compression levels (called MNP and V.nn or V.nnbis) your modem is capable of. A general rule for determining your modem's top attainable speed (with error correction and data compression) is to multiply the modem's stated speed times four. Therefore, if you have a 14,400-bps modem, you can change this setting to 57,600 to get the fastest possible throughput of your data. There is an upper speed limit of 57,600 bps on many older Macintoshes, and setting the serial port speed above 57,600 results in a -2040 error. Models that can exceed this upper limit are Centris/Quadra 660av and 840av and all Power Macintoshes.
Modem: OIT recommends that you do not change the None setting in the "Modem" box. The MacSLIP developers have included a list of modems and initialization strings, but these may or may not be helpful in establishing a connection. For HomeNet purposes, None is the recommended setting.
PPP Transport: This version of MacSLIP has been set to default to PPP phone line service. If you prefer to use SLIP service, click on the checkbox next to PPP Transport to deselect that option.
Connect time sound, notification every ___ minutes: You can use this setting to alert you to elapsed connection time at specified intervals during your network session. Click on the checkbox next to sound if you want to receive an audible signal; click on the checkbox next to notification if you want to receive onscreen notification. In the box labeled every ___ minutes, enter your preferred number of elapsed minutes. The notification setting is especially helpful for the 30-minute service; therefore, OIT has entered a default setting of 25 minutes, so that you have five minutes left in your session to conclude your work before you are disconnected.
When you have finished changing settings, click on the Save button in the Configuration dialog box.
Current Record: 6
Create Date: 02-11-1999
Last Reviewed: 02-24-2005
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