Using a Modem

With a modem port chosen in Network preferences, you use the PPP pane to enter the phone numbers and PPP login information for your dialup connection. This information is normally included with the configuration information from your ISP. You can configure several modem ports, each with unique dialup and IP address configurations.

Click the PPP Options button to open a configuration sheet with many advanced options. You can configure PPP to connect automatically when starting a TCP/IP application, such as a web browser or mail application. You can also connect using a command-line interface.

You might not want to select the "Connect automatically when needed" checkbox. There are many daemons and background services running in BSD that may trigger an automatic connection, whether you want one or not. PPP connections can always be established manually by choosing Connect from the Modem menu extra or by clicking Connect in the Internet Connect utility.

In the Modem pane, you choose the type of modem your computer uses and set the preferences for it. The Modem pop-up menu contains a long list of Apple and third-party modems; to use the modem provided in most Macintosh computers, choose one of the Apple Internal 56K Modem varieties. You can opt to show the modem status in the menu bar.

NOTE

If AOL software is installed, the options in the PPP and Modem panes are inactive, because connection settings and modem configuration are handled through AOL's software.