MAC OS X

MAC OS X

These are the steps you will need to follow for Mac OS X to connect via a cable modem.

1. Gather this information from your ISP or network administrator:

domain name server (DNS) addresses
whether you should choose DHCP or manual IP address configuration, which will be done in Step 6 below.

For manual configuration only:

IP address
router address
subnet mask

Note: It is possible that your ISP or local network does not provide DNS addresses, but rather has a method for providing this automatically.

2. Choose System Preferences from the Apple Menu.
3. Choose Network from the View menu.
4. Choose Built-in Ethernet from the Show pop-up menu (the "Configure" menu prior to Mac OS X 10.1).
5. Click the TCP/IP tab, if necessary.
6. Choose either Manually or Using DHCP from the Configure pop-up menu, as you were instructed by your ISP in Step 1.
7. Type the other information you gathered in Step 1 into the corresponding fields. Unless your ISP instructs you otherwise, you may ignore the DHCP Client ID field and the Search Domains field.
8. Click Apply Now.
9. Open a Web browser or other TCP/IP application to test your connection to the Internet.

TROUBLESHOOTING

You are not able to connect to the Internet using your cable modem'

Solution

Note: Comments and steps specific to modems do not apply to LAN users. LAN users may have hubs, switches, routers, or connection pods that cable and DSL users do not have. LAN users should contact their network administrator instead of an Internet service provider.

Check all cables and power supplies

Verify that all cables related to the modem are plugged in and firmly inserted. This includes the modem's power cord, the cable from the modem to the computer, and the cable from the modem to the wall jack. To be sure a connection is properly inserted, disconnect and reconnect it. Be sure that cables have not been cut, chewed, or otherwise damaged.

If you have any hubs or routers in use, be sure to check all cables and power supplies. If you have more than one power supply available for a type of hub or router, try swapping the power supplies. A defective power supply may affect network traffic.

Reset/power cycle modem hardware

Cycle the power on your DSL or cable modem by turning it off for a few minutes then turning it back on. Some ISPs recommend that you unplug the modem's power cord. This is required if the modem does not have a power button. If the modem has a reset button, you may try it before or after cycling the power.

Check indicator lights on modem

Some DSL and cable modems have indicator lights that can provide useful information about cabling connections. A "Cable" light may indicate that the cable network is available, whereas a "PC" light may indicate that the modem recognizes the connection to your computer. If such a light remains off after you have checked your cables and cycled the power, contact your Internet service provider (ISP).

Check System Preferences settings

Use the System Preferences application to verify your TCP/IP settings and that Built-in Ethernet is your primary network interface. Follow these steps:

1. Choose System Preferences from the Apple menu.
2. Choose Network from the View menu.
3. Choose Active Network Ports from the Show pop-up menu ("Advanced" from the "Configure" pop-up menu prior to Mac OS X 10.1).
4. Be sure that the checkbox for "Built-in Ethernet" is selected.
5. Drag Built-in Ethernet to the top of the Port Configurations list to make it the preferred, or primary, network interface.
6. Choose Built-in Ethernet from the Show pop-up menu.
7. Click the TCP/IP tab. Follow your ISP's instructions for setting up this pane.

8. If you have made any changes, click Apply Now.

Network troubleshooting

If you have two or more computers attempting to share an Internet connection, be sure that your network is set up properly. You need to know if your ISP provides only one IP address or if it provides multiple IP addresses. If only one IP address is used, then you must have a router capable of sharing the connection, also known as network address translation (NAT) or "IP masquerading." Check the documentation provided with your router for setup information. Check with the person who set up your network.

DISABLING AUTOMATIC PPP CONNECTION

To turn on or turn off automatic dial-up (PPP) Internet connections

1. Choose System Preferences from the Apple menu.
2. Click Network.
3. Choose your modem or other dial-up device from the Show pop-up menu.
Note: The Show menu is named "Configure" prior to Mac OS X 10.1.
4. Click the PPP tab.
5. Click PPP Options.
6. Click the checkbox to select or deselect the "Connect automatically when starting TCP/IP applications" option.
7. Click OK.
8. Click Save.

With automatic connection disabled, Mac OS X will prompt you to connect to the Internet when necessary. You then connect using the Internet Connect application.

Additional information

Mac OS X connects to the Internet automatically in some circumstances. For example, Mac OS X attempts to connect to the Internet to:

download Help Center information, including Late Breaking News
search for and retrieve software updates from Apple (via scheduled automatic software updates)
perform a Sherlock Internet search
send or receive email using the Mail application
to start Web Sharing as your computer starts up

When automatic connection is enabled and you are not yet connected to the Internet you may see a message such as "The specified server could not be found" or "A connection failure has occurred" when you open a Web browser This only means that the browser attempted to connect before the computer had completed the connection process. This does not indicate any issue with your configuration or Internet service provider. If necessary, quit and reopen the browser after the connection sequence is complete. If such messages persist after you are connected, you may need to check your DNS settings.

EMAIL SETUP

This document assumes that no information has been entered for Mail, but is also useful if you provided Mail information when first starting up Mac OS X.

Topics discussed in this document:

How to set up Mail
How to delete an account

I. How to set up Mail

A. Gather your email account information.

Your Internet service provider or network administrator normally provides this information:

Type of email account you have (POP)
Your email address
Your account password
Mail server ("Host") name or names

Note: Some Internet service providers may use one mail server for incoming and outgoing mail. Others may use two. If only one server is used, then use the same server name twice where it is required by Mail. Examples of names would be "pop3.x.x" and "smtp.x.x".

B. Configure Mail

1. Open Mail.
2. Choose Preferences from the Mail application menu. If you have not yet set up any accounts, the Mail Setup window appears, and you can skip to Step 7.
3. Click the Accounts icon in the Mail Preferences window.
4. Click Create Account.
5. Choose the correct account type from the pop-up menu.
6. In the Description field, type any name you would like to use to identify the account. This is the name that will appear in your list of accounts.
7. Using the rest of the information you gathered, complete the rest of the fields. If your Internet provider gave you an SMTP password, be sure to click the checkbox to enable the "Use authentication when sending mail" option. If your Internet service provider does not require this, then simply leave the two fields below the checkbox empty.
8. If desired, click the Account Options tabs to change the default account behavior.
9. Click OK when you are finished.

Repeat this process for any other accounts that you want to set up.

II. How to delete an account

To delete an account:

1. Choose Preferences from the Mail application menu
2. Click Accounts.
3. Select the account you want to delete.
4. Click Remove.

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