🚀 go-pugleaf

Andy Hawkins <andy@gently.demon.co.uk> wrote:

> Hi all,
> 
> I'm sure this is an FAQ, so I'll start by asking to pointers for the FAQ for
> this group if one exists.
> 
> What I want to do is set up a Mac (not sure of exact model, but it's fairly
> new) to connect to Demon. I need mail (multiple accounts), news (ideally
> again read by more than one user), and web access initially.
> 
> I intend to 'test' everything using my own account before getting my friends
> to get an account with Demon, so some method of disabling mail collection on
> the Mac would be nice.
> 
> I have a good understanding of TCP/IP configuration under Win95 / NT and
> Unix platforms, but have never touched a Mac, so I really only need the Mac
> specific parts.
> 
> Any pointers would be much appreciated.
> 
> TIA
> 
> Andy

The Mac may have one of two TCP extensions TCP/IP is the newer and more
user friendly or MacTCP which is the older version. You will also need a
PPP extension (apple do one and there is one called FreePPP which is
very good). The PPP option when loaded appears in the TCP/IP or Mac TCP
control panel along with the standard ethernet interface if it has one.
Choose PPP as the network interface and then if you have TCP/IP give it
the domain name server addresses 158.152.1.58  &  158.152.1.43 in the
box at the bottom. There is also a scrolling list to do the same in
MacTCP. To configure PPP you will need the telephone number, domain/user
name and its password. There are also settings to configure the modem in
PPP (so that it knows which of the two serial ports - printer or modem
port - they are both interchangeable). The login scripts may be entered
in a series of fields with a WAIT or SEND pop-up menu. Just use whatever
PPP module you have to dial Demon up and it should log you on (he says).

I used to use TCP/IP and FreePPP with a Motorola 28.8k Lifestyle modem
but I had a lot of problems when logging in (it used to get stuck at
waiting for 'word:'). I then got OS8 and there is now a modem control
panel with loads of config profiles that seems to make it all go a lot
more smoothly. I liked the FreePPP as you could get a Control Strip
module to switch it on and off. It also displayed how long you'd been
connected and also totted up how long you'd used PPP since you last
reset it. I reset it all the time when my usage got bad though :).

Now you know what to be looking for, go have a look and see what is
already there and what needs loading. also mention which system version
it is.

As far as the mail and news go - I'd have to recommend IE4/Outlook
Express for multiple users and multiple mail accounts but the jury's
still out on the news capabilities (obviously Bill Gates thinks no news
is good news). I use MacSoup to download news. Its quick, efficient and
will download messages for offline reading. Beats the pants off
IE4/Outlook Express. Only problem is bad support for attachments and no
full newsgroup list means that you need to know the name of where you
wnat to go before you can go.

I hope this is of some use.

Alan