From the Vault: Historic Perspective
DSI has been working with Macs for over 15 years. Check out our historic how-to articles for Mac users:
Roger Jacobs Mac Setup Procedure
revised 11/25/95
Objectives
- Enable the client to easily connect to the internet and exchange email, surf the web and news groups.
- Optimize the Macintosh environment for easy access to internet tools and frequently accessed applications.
- Utilize an improved interface for finding files and navigating via the Apple Menu.
Getting Started
Review objectives with the client and be receptive to individual needs before modifying the system.Create Directories
- Hard Drive/SysAdmin - This is for documents related to the system setup to be referred back to by system administrators/consultants
- Hard Drive/Tools - This for utilities like Stuffit Expander and Compact Pro
- Hard Drive/Spares - This is for unwanted system software and extras that you want to put aside but not throw away.
- Hard Drive/Internet - This is for the various internet client programs like NetScape, Eudora and NewsWatcher.
- Hard Drive/System/Apple Menu Items/Applications - This is for aliases of the client's most frequently used programs.
- Hard Drive/System/Apple Menu Items/Internet - This is for aliases of the internet client programs.
Check System Version and RAM Count
Use Command-Shift-3 to take a picture of the System configuration under "About this Macintosh" that will appear on the Hard Drive directory as "Picture 1". Rename this file as RAM Pict #1 and place in the SysAdmin folder.If the RAM is less than 8 Mb, advise the client to purchase more RAM. Use the MacWarehouse RAM guide to determine which SIMMs are correct for your client's machine.
If system version is lower than 7.1, advise the client to install system 7.1 on a 68030 and lower chip, or system 7.5 for a 68040 and higher chip.
At the conclusion of setup, recheck the RAM count and document in the SysAdmin folder as before. Usually you will end up with a smaller system folder than when you started. Document any unusual circumstances and interventions with SimpleText and place in the SysAdmin folder for future reference.
Deinstall Software
Drag all unproductive system software to the Hard Drive/Spares folder. This may include Apple Menu Options, unused printer extensions, unused multimedia and utility extensions, find file etc.It is recommended to never throw anything away, just move to the Spares folder. You may be thankful for this later.
Install Software
- Drag Mac TCP, Config PPP, PPP, Find Pro Key, Find Pro III and MenuExtend to the closed system folder.
- Install NetScape 1.1 from floppy.
- Drag NetScape, Eudora, NewsWatcher and Telnet to the Hard Drive/Internet folder
- Drag Stuffit Expander, Compact Pro and uuUndo to the Hard Drive/Tools folder.
- Restart the Macintosh to take advantage of the new system software
PPP stands for "Point to Point Protocol"
TCP stands for "Transmission Control Protocol"
Mac TCP is most economically obtained via Adam Engst's book and disk "The Internet Starter Kit for Macintosh".
Setup Mac Environment
Create aliases of all frequently used applications as directed by the client and move these aliases to the Hard Drive/System/Apple Menu Items/Applications folder.Create aliases of Config PPP, Eudora, NetScape and NewsWatcher and move these aliases to the Hard Drive/System/Apple Menu Items/Internet folder.
Create alias of the Hard Drive and move to the Hard Drive/System/Apple Menu Items folder.
Acquire User Account for Client
Obtain a credit card and letterhead from the client. You'll need the letterhead for all the address and phone number information. This is usually smoother than having to ask the client to verbalize all that informationUse your ID to log in via Config PPP. Use Telnet to log into the aloha.net machine and verify that the client's preferred login name is available by doing a "finger (requested login)".
Go to the Hawaii Online sign-up page via NetScape at http://www.aloha.net/hol/signup and fill in the form.
A password needs to be at least 8 characters with upper and lower case characters and at least one digit. If the client insists on a password that the signup page will not accept, you can change the password via telnet.
If all goes well with your selection of login ID, password and credit card information, the new account should validated within seconds.
Configure the System for the Client's Login ID
Enter the client's login and password into the Config PPP Authentication dialog box. Remember to put a "P" in front of the client's login ID to signal the remote server for a PPP connection. Verify operation of the auto login procedure. Establishment, authentication and network should occur smoothly.Client Webpage
Turn on the client's webspace on the hookomo.aloha.net machine by telnetting to aloha.net, logging into the client's account and following the menus to "local services" and "manage web directory and file permissions". Navigating through this menu will create the client's public_html directory.Build the client a small "business card" web page. Using your favorite graphics program, GIF Converter and HTML Editor, state the client's promotional objective and include all contact information as supplied by the client.
Create the page in a local directory: Hard Drive/HTML Lab/Client Name. Upload the page to the client's public_html directory with Fetch. The path via Fetch would be: hoomoko.aloha.net/u4/client/public_html/ where "client" = the client's logon ID.
Bookmark the client's webpage in NetScape and add their URL to their signature line in Eudora and NewsWatcher.
Tutorial
The first and last thing you do when using the internet is to go to the Config PPP control panel. The route to this is through the Apple menu, down to the Internet folder and across to Config PPP. When the control panel comes up, just click on the open button. If all goes well, you should hear the modem dial out, see the window which reads "establishment", and then very quickly "authentication" and "network". When this is completed, the little Mac faces should be smiling and you should be connected to the internet.Run Eudora and configure the program for the client's personal information. Set the program to save password if in a secure environment. Set the program to save copies of outgoing email.
Send a test message to the client and then retrieve it. Inform the client that this is a good exercise in the event that they feel that their connection or email is not working. Show how to reply to a message and demonstrate standard netiquette for quoting the relevant information from the message that you are replying to. Usually this includes the body of the original message but not the salutation and signature.
Run NetScape and configure the program for the client. Enter the client's personal information into the Mail and News preferences section. Set the mail server to hookomo.aloha.net and the news server to nuhou.aloha.net. Make sure the download temp directory does not point to the system folder.
Set the home page to http://www.omnisphere.com/search.html or your choice of a low bandwidth search engine page. Show the client how to search for any word with WebCrawler or your choice of search engine. Explain to the client what a link is and how to use it. Remind the client that only a single click is necessary on a link unlike the rest of the Mac environment.
If a link does not work, that is either the error of the remote webmaster (a link to nowhere) or that particular host computer has the maximum number of computers already connected to it (all ports are full).
If you doubt the integrity of your connection try checking mail with Eudora. If the mail check does not work, close and reopen the PPP connection.
Show the client how to bookmark an interesting page for future reference. Make a few bookmarks for the client in their area of interest.
Demonstrate how to email an interesting URL (Uniform Resource Locator) to a friend using Command-M. This could be referred to as "holding hands in cyberspace".
If the client shows an interest in HTML development, show them how to view source code. The recommended book on HTML is Laura Lemay's "Teach Yourself Web Publishing with HTML in a Week"
Demonstrate how to search for and download a small piece of Mac software via NetScape. Verify that Stuffit Expander is working appropriately. Explain that all data on the internet needs to be a text file in order to flow between the host computers.
Typical flow of events when decoding a downloaded file from the internet:
filename.sit.hqx -> decode from binhex via Stuffit Expander --> filename.sit -> decompressed via Stuffit Expander --> filename or folder.
hqx = binary file encoded into "nonsense text"
sit = binary file compressed with StuffitLaunch NewsWatcher and enter the client's personal and information, news server and mail server. Create a signature including the client's URL if any. Download the full group list. If there are children in the household, inform the client of the large amount of adult material available via usenet.
Show the client how to use Command-F to search for an interesting topic in the newsgroup list. Demonstrate how to open the newsgroup and view or search for an interesting message within the group. Locate a message that contains a URL. Demonstrate how to copy the URL from the message and then paste it into the location box in NetScape.
Remind the client that posting to a newsgroup is like speaking into a very large microphone. Review netiquette and discuss the meaning of "spamming".
A good analogy for usenet is like going to a party. You don't burst in the door and shout your name and agenda for all to hear. You come to the party, you don't know anybody there so you listen and watch quietly. You will recognize who is knowledgeable and conducts themselves appropriately. You will notice others who are not so tactful and may attract some negative attention. At some point you may have something meaningful to say. If your contribution is appreciated, your signature will be there for all to see and you may be rewarded with further email and visits to your web site.
If the client shows an interest in downloading binary files from usenet such as graphics, sounds or programs, demonstrate how to extract binaries (command-B). A new folder: Hard Drive/Incoming needs to be created and the NewsWatcher preferences need to pointed to the Incoming folder and to the uuUndo program that will decode the downloaded files automatically. After a file is downloaded, the Hard Drive/Incoming folder will contain the decoded file and also a temp file. The temp file can be trashed.
Sound files are best opened with Sound App. MPEG movies are best viewed with Sparkle. Graphics are best viewed with GIF Converter 2.3.7 which will handle both GIFs and JPEGs.
Emphasize the value of using the three basic internet client programs Eudora, NetScape and NewsWatcher for the purpose of researching, making contacts and communicating globally.
Test Drive
Now it's time for the client to drive. Take the computer down to zero, that is quit all programs, log off of the internet and close all windows.Have the client go through the process of connecting to the internet.
- Apple Menu, Internet, Config PPP
- Click the Open button on Config PPP
- Listen to and observe the connection process: initializing modem, dialing, establishment, authentication and network.
- Run the Eudora program, create a new message to self, cc to the consultant and send (Command-E) the message. Check mail (Command-M) and verify that the mail process is working. Reply (Command-R) to the message and observe the arrangement for automatic quoting of the message that is being replied to.
- Run NetScape, search for a subject, find a relevant link and bookmark that page. Mail the URL of that page to self.
- Run the NewsWatcher program, find an interesting newsgroup and message, acknowledge of the potential for replying to that individual or to the entire group via the reply command. Find a message containing a URL, copy and paste that URL into the NetScape location box and view that site.
- Quit all internet programs and close the connection using the Hard Close button in Config PPP. Hard close means the connection can only be reopened by clicking on the Open Button. Soft Close means the computer can open the connection any time it feels like it which can lead to unexpected modem activity.
Modems
The recommended modem is the Supra 28.8. A good init string for this modem is "at&f1s11=50" This will make the modem dial faster and set up for high speed Mac communications.Other modems may like different init strings. Check the manual. Sometimes it's just "at&f"
The Progression of Trouble Shooting a Modem
Mac to modemUse a terminal program like Microphone and see if the modem says "OK" when you type "ATZ [return]".
Modem to Wall Jack
"ATDT 1 [return]" will verify a dial tone. If no dial tone, check the phone cord and wall jack.
Modem to Modem
"ATDT 2468887 [return]" and observe for a "CONNECT 19.2" message on your screen
Problems
The grayed out PPP Open button: Double check Mac TCP, switch back and forth between Local Talk and PPP in the front window. Leave it set to PPP. If it's still a problem, reinstalling the system will fix it.System 7.5.2 and Open Transport. Remove all Open Transport software to the Spares folder and then install as usual. This will soon be improved as Apple continues to develop this system.
If you need to reinstall the system be sure to move out or backup all client data. This includes the scrapbook file, custom extensions and control panels, FAX phone books, etc.
One way to get a clean install is to create a 1.4 Mb RAM disk using the Memory control panel, drag the DiskTools mini system folder to the RAM disk and then restart on it via the Startup Disk control panel. Verify that this system folder works first by doing a test start from the disk tools floppy. When you're running off the RAM disk, the system on the hard drive can be totally trashed and rebuilt from scratch. This setup also is helpful for hard disk cleanup routines where the system folder is interfering with the procedure.
Hints
Always travel with a startup disk that will start any Mac. The system 7.5 disk tools floppy is usually good. It's also good to carry a collection of system enablers for starting different Macs.Common Mac Commands for Beginners
Quotables
"With NetScape and Stuffit Expander, the world is yours""Links are the commodity of the internet"
Wrap-up
Verify that the client is able to log on and off the internet. Verify that the printer and any other peripherals continue to function at the conclusion of your visit.Our main agenda should be to enable the citizens of our island to utilize the internet towards greater personal and economic fulfillment.