Setting Up Mac OS X for Panix

While Mac OS 9 and below make heavy use of "Control Panels" for changing your preferences and settings, OS X puts those things in a single control panel called System Preferences. This can be found in the Apple menu, or it may already be included in your Dock.

To set up your Mac for a dialup connection to Panix:

1. Open your System Preferences, and select "Network".

2. Select your modem in the "Show" pop-up.

Usually, this will just be "Internal Modem". If more than one modem is listed, choose the one you'll actually be using.

3. Now click the "TCP/IP" tab.

Under Configure, choose "Using PPP".
You don't need to fill in anything else on this tab.

4. Next, click the "PPP" tab.

• Under Service Provider, just type a name to call this connection, like "Panix".
• Under Account Name, type your Panix username. (This is usually the same as your email address. Make sure you include the part after the "@" sign, as in "mylogin@panix.com".)
• Under Password, type your password. Or leave it blank, and the Mac will prompt you for it when the time comes.
• Under Telephone Number, type the modem number you dial to reach Panix. Type it exactly the way you'd dial it on a phone, including any "ones" and area codes you normally need.
  If you wish, you can type an alternate number in the field provided; your Mac will try this if the first number doesn't work for whatever reason.
• If you're the only one with access to your computer, and it's not a PowerBook, you can check Save Password to keep from typing it every time you dial. If you do this, please try to keep your password memorized anyway, in case your computer ever crashes.

5. Now, click the "PPP Options" button.

Uncheck both of these options:

• "Disconnect if idle for ___ minutes"
• "Send PPP echo packets"

6. Lastly, click the "Modem" tab.

Here's where the exact brand and model of your modem is selected. If you have any trouble dialing in, come back here and make sure your modem is properly listed. Also, you can experiment with the error correction and compression, etc. to find the combination that gives you the best performance.

Close the Network window and apply the changes. Now, any time you open an Internet program, your Mac should automatically start the dialup process for you.

That's all!

[ Panix Home ] [ Panix Help System Index ] [ Panix Help System - Getting Connected ] [ Top of This Page ]