Advice for Macintosh users

This page details our opinions on how to choose between available networking software for your Macintosh.

Choosing a PPP

Choosing a TCP stack: MacTCP vs. Open Transport

Choosing a PPP

Most of the available PPP LAPs are based on the original MacPPP developed at Merit Network, Inc. The descendents of MacPPP have evolved with the addition of many features and the correction of some problems. We recommend FreePPP 1.0.5 and later (we prefer FreePPP 2.5v2) because:

Which PPP should I use?

  • If you already use a PPP and it works well for you, you should try configuring it for Bee.Net. Since most PPP LAPs have a common ancestry, there is a good chance that whatever you are using is configured similarly to FreePPP 1.0.5 or FreePPP 2.5v2. If you have problems using your PPP with Bee.Net, we recommend you switch to FreePPP 2.5v2.
  • If you use a version of FreePPP other than FreePPP 1.0.5 or FreePPP 2.5v2, we strongly encourage you to switch to one of those versions.
  • If you have never used a PPP before, we recommend you start with FreePPP 2.5v2.

Choosing a TCP stack:
MacTCP vs. Open Transport

Which should I use: MacTCP or Open Transport?

If your Macintosh...
...has a 68000 or 68020 processor, you should use MacTCP.
...is short on memory (RAM), you should use MacTCP.
...runs a version of MacOS prior to 7.5, you should use MacTCP.
...has a 68030 or 68040 processor, you can use MacTCP or Open Transport.
...has a PowerPC processor and a NuBus, you can use MacTCP or Open Transport.
...has a PowerPC processor and a PCI bus, you should use Open Transport.

Which version of MacTCP should I use?

If you use...
...System 7.5 or later, you should use MacTCP 2.0.6.
...a version of System 7 prior to 7.5, you should use MacTCP 2.0.6, though you can use MacTCP 1.1.1.
...System 6.0.5 or later, you should use MacTCP 2.0.6 or MacTCP 1.1.1.
...a version of System 6 prior to 6.0.5, you should use MacTCP 1.1.1.

Which version of Open Transport should I use?

If you use...
...System 7.5 or later, you should use Open Transport 1.1.2.
...a version of MacOS prior to 7.5, we recommend that you use MacTCP.

What about...

...MacTCP 1.0 and 1.1.0?
These versions are out of date. If you must use a version of MacTCP 1, you should only use MacTCP 1.1.1.
...MacTCP 2.0.2?
This version had problems; you don't want to use it. There is a free updater available from Apple to upgrade MacTCP 2.0.2 to MacTCP 2.0.6.
...MacTCP 2.0.4?
Apple recommends that you upgrade this version to MacTCP 2.0.6. A free updater is available from Apple to convert MacTCP 2.0.4 to MacTCP 2.0.6.
...Open Transport 1.0?
Versions of Open Transport prior to 1.0.8 were unstable. While version 1.0.8 was a marked improvement, there have been substantial further improvements in Open Transport 1.1. If you are not already using Open Transport 1.0.8, we recommend that you only use version 1.1 or later of Open Transport.

Still have questions? Send e-mail to support@bee.net.