"Config PPP Error! Opening Preferences"

[blindowl]

I'm trying to use MacPPP on a Mac Classic with system 6.0.7, but when I open the PPP settings I get this error:



Then the PPP window goes blank. I tried with versions 1.0, 1.1.3 and 2.0.1. The control panel works under system 7.1 on the same Mac (tried with 1.1.3 and 2.0.1), but fails under system 6.0.7 (Swedish) and 6.0.3 (English).

Any suggestions on what to try? I don't know if it has problems generating the preferences file? Or just reading it? Under system 7.1 a "PPP Preferences" file is created in the Preferences folder, so I copied the file to the system 6 System Folder to see if it'd help, but unfortunately not. I'm not sure where preferences generally are stored under system 6?

 

[blindowl]

I found the solution. Seems to be localisation related. If I rename the system folder from "Systemmapp" (Swedish) to "System Folder" it can read the preferences and will let me use the control panel.

 

[Dog Cow]

A newer version of MacPPP might fix that problem.

 

[blindowl]

Yes maybe you are right. I wanted to give this setup a try: https://metalbabble.wordpress.com/2020/02/08/the-final-frontier-connecting-a-macintosh-se-to-the-internet-with-a-raspberry-pi/ There it's recommended to use PPP 2.0.1 under System 6 so I never tried above that...

 

[Realitystorm]

Yes maybe you are right. I wanted to give this setup a try: https://metalbabble.wordpress.com/2020/02/08/the-final-frontier-connecting-a-macintosh-se-to-the-internet-with-a-raspberry-pi/ There it's recommended to use PPP 2.0.1 under System 6 so I never tried above that...

Hey blindowl, I'm going to be trying something this weekend you may be interested in.

I'm installing ARA 3.0 on basilisk ii which is supposed to add PPP support.

I'm going to try a variation of https://www.savagetaylor.com/2020/12/17/creating-an-internet-gateway-for-you-68k-macintosh-using-basilisk-ii-ara-ps-ipnetrouter-and-a-usb-serial-null-modem-cable/ but with PPP vs TCP/IP over Appletalk.

 

[blindowl]

Hey blindowl, I'm going to be trying something this weekend you may be interested in.

I'm installing ARA 3.0 on basilisk ii which is supposed to add PPP support.

I'm going to try a variation of https://www.savagetaylor.com/2020/12/17/creating-an-internet-gateway-for-you-68k-macintosh-using-basilisk-ii-ara-ps-ipnetrouter-and-a-usb-serial-null-modem-cable/ but with PPP vs TCP/IP over Appletalk.

That's an interesting approach. Did you make it work? I think the Basilisk route is a bit overkill to me. I normally use a PB G3 as an ethernet bridge to my older Macs, but I wanted to try the serial/PPP method as an alternative. But it seems I'm limited to a data rate of 9600 when connecting to my Raspberry, which is just too slow. I can go up to 19200 when connecting to a modern Mac and sending files with zmodem, but when connecting to the Raspberry (both PPP and ZTerm), above 9600 doesn't work. I never played around with serial communication before, it was fun to learn a little bit!

 

[Realitystorm]

I can do 57600 with my LC475, but it depends on you CPU and system.

See speed on https://www.savagetaylor.com/2020/12/15/appletalk-from-windows-linux-osx-to-a-68k-macintosh-using-basilisk-ii-apple-remote-access-personal-server-ara-ps-and-a-usb-serial-null-modem-cable/

 

[Realitystorm]

I did this more initially to have an apple share connection, adding the tcpip layer was more a test to see if I could.

 

[AndiS]

@blindowl

Too late ;-) - I just wanted to tell you about the localization problem. I hit the same thing yesterday, but found the solution somewhere on the web before coming here.

Were you able reach any speed higher than 9600? I'm too stuck at this rate on my Mac Classic. This is true for PPP as well as the serial console using ZTerm. Has anyone reached higher speeds, or is this the expected maximum for serial communication on this machine?

 

[blindowl]

Were you able reach any speed higher than 9600? I'm too stuck at this rate on my Mac Classic. This is true for PPP as well as the serial console using ZTerm. Has anyone reached higher speeds, or is this the expected maximum for serial communication on this machine?

Yes, I got 19200 to work, but it's from time to time... If I use ZTerm it works every time, but not with PPP. Sometimes with PPP it works on the first attempt. But sometimes I have to start with 9600, connect, disconnect, change to 19200, connect again - and then it works. 19200 just seems problematic. 9600 works every time.