Netlink Remote was originally designed as an inexpensive alternative for Apple's ARA software, allowing Appletalk games to be played over standard modems. It has been optimized (compared to ARA) for playing network games (other functionality found in ARA, such as printing, has been stripped out of Netlink).
University of Michigan developed TCPSerial with the intention of allowing programs that can talk to modems to be able to talk over the internet by re-routing the outgoing and incoming modem packets over TCP/IP.
Combined together, Netlink Remote and TCPSerial can allow for Appletalk over the internet. While Netlink is shareware (inexpensive!), it does offer some advantages over other methods; such as easy setup and no need for a outside server.
Download Netlink Remote 1.2 (264k) - 1.1.1 or later required for internet connections. 1.2 is the current version.
Download TCPSerial 1.0.1 (25k)
The Netlink Remote homepage
- Drop TCPSerial and NetLink Remote icons into your Extensions folder and restart the computer.
- Open Netlink Setup; two new ports will be listed in the Port menu. One is labeled TCP #1 and the other TCP #2. Either one can be used.
- Select the TCPSerial init string from the Init String pop-up menu and set the DTE speed to 57.6 Kbps.
- You are ready to connect. You will now either initiate or recieve a connection, which you determine before starting the game. Remember to exchange your IP addresses (which can be obtained from the TCP/IP (or MacTCP) control panel:
- If you are initiating the connection, enter the IP address of the person you are connecting to. To connect, just press the Connect button.
- If you are on the receiving the connection, you will need to enter zero in the ring count field. Anything other than zero will not work. Then check the Answer Calls checkbox. The status window will show "Connecting" while it is waiting for a connection.
Note: If you have a dial in account, your address may change every time you connect. This can make it difficult to exchange your IP address with other people. In this case, you may want to contact your Internet Service Provider ask for a fixed IP address. If this is not an option, you may have to exchange addresses via IRC or E-mail and use them for a one time connection.
How do these software packages work?
While each package works slightly differently from each other, they are all primary doing the same thing. Each intercepts the AppleTalk packets the game is sending out, wraps it in IPpackets and redirects them out over Internet to the destination specified in the IP address of the other computer. It's of course doing the same thing with the incoming packets; translating (unwrapping) them back into packets the game understands.
Some software packages (such as IPRemote) requires a ARNS server, which acts as the packet router for the packets coming in from each computer. Others (such as Netlink Remote) are able to send and accept packets directly from the other machine.
What is ARNS?
ARNS stands for Appletalk Remote Network Server. They route connections from IPRemote and Async. Both Mac and UNIX based servers exist. The software is at:
Mac:
ftp://munnari.OZ.AU/mac/arns_mac/arns.1.0.hqx.Z (149k).
Unix:
ftp://munnari.OZ.AU/mac/arns.tar.Z (168k).
My newer Mac uses Open Transport, can I use IPRemote?
Yes. Make sure you are using IPRemote version 2.0b4 or higher. While 2.0 is still considered beta software, earlier versions of IPRemote will crash your machine if Open Transport is installed. So use 2.0b4 or use nothing at all. ;-)
Try Netlink Remote, which is Open Transport compatible, for head-to-head gaming.
I make my MacTCP connection through Localtalk. Can I make IPRemote
connections?
No. You cannot use ARA or LocalTalk.
To use IPRemote you need to make your MacTCP connections through either direct Ethernet, SLIP, or PPP. These items show up in your MacTCP control panel, or in the 'Connect via' pop up menu if you use Open Transport.
IPRemote is a network ADEV that uses MacTCP/Open Transport to route the AppleTalk packets
to an ARNS server out on Internet. Therefore, you must be able to make your
MacTCP connections in a manner that is independent of your Network control
panel.
AppleTalk networking is controlled by the Network control panel. The items
found in this control panel only work one at a time, so you can't have both LocalTalk and IPRemote running at the same time.
If you make your MacTCP connections through LocalTalk and try switch to IPRemote, it will turn off LocalTalk and break your MacTCP connection.
Without PPP, SLIP or Direct Ethernet connections for MacTCP, you can try
to make a ARNS server connection via Async on a dial-up UNIX shell.
I make my MacTCP connection through ARA (AppleTalk Remote Access). Can
I make IPRemote connections?
No. See explanation above.
How do I tell with what method I connect to the internet?
If you use MacTCP: Open up your MacTCP control panel and look. The highlighted icon is the method you use. If either SLIP, PPP or Ethernet* isn't highlighted, you can't use IPRemote.
If you use Open Transport: Open the TCP/IP control panel and see what is selected in the 'Connect via' pop-up menu.
* Note that you will not have all these options listed, and you may even have other options listed. As a matter of fact, having more than one PPP or SLIP extension installed in the Extensions folder will likely lead to crashes, so make sure you only install one.
What versions of all the system software should I have? How do I check what versions I have?
It would be wise of you to make sure that you use Apple's latest system software. Apple has introduced more PowerMac native and reliable system components with each major and minor revision release. That said, here is what I consider the minimum system components:
System 7.5.3 (approx. 21Mb) installs the latest versions of critical network software, along with other improved or 'native'ized components. I especially recommend PowerMac users to upgrade. If you are not running System 7.5.3, below are the minimum recommended versions of various system components:
AppleTalk 58.1.5 or Open Transport 1.1.2: You can check what version you have by opening the Network control panel. The bottom half will list your Appletalk version. If you don't see any version numbers listed at all, you have a really old version of the Network control panel (and Appletalk) and you need to upgrade. Click here to download Apple Network Software 1.5.1 (963k).
MacTCP 2.0.6 or Open Transport 1.1.2: Earlier versions had real trouble with retransmission back-off, and there could be noticeable pauses at times. You can check your version by opening the MacTCP control panel. Click here to download a MacTCP 2.0.4 to 2.0.6 Updater (133k).
FreePPP 2.5v3 or later There are many variants of PPP floating around. FreePPP is, in my experience, the most stable of any of them, and is clearly the easiest to set up and configure. It is written by the same person doing the version included with Apple's 'Internet Connection Kit'. He even recommends FreePPP over Apple's as it's usually more up to date. The official FreePPP homepage.
I use PPP (or SLIP) modem dial-up, how should I set my modem for optimum performance?
Turn off modem compression and modem error checking and set the DTE (modem speed) to at or just above your modem capability (for example, if you have a 28.8 modem, select either 28800 or 36200). Games tend to use small packets, and compression and error checking slows down small packet transfers. You will notice an increase in net game performance when switching from compression to no compression.
The modem strings that adjust these settings vary from modem to modem. Check the modem owners manual or contact the manufacturer directly for the proper string. Netlink Remote includes properly configured modem strings for several popular modems.
The Game Performance Tuning page covers this in greater detail.
IMPORTANT! Keep in mind that while these settings are optimal settings for playing games, it is NOT optimal for regular web surfing, downloading, and most other modem tasks. You should keep a copy of both modem strings; one for playing and one for surfing.
Sometimes my computer crashes after I've made a successful IPRemote connection!
Did you make a "do not use TCP" connection and select the box
while in the IPRemote connection dialog?
Sometimes slow IPRemote connections can lead to crashes.
Sometimes improper SLIP or PPP configurations can lead to problems.
Why do I want to make an IPRemote connection with "Do not use
TCP"?
UDP connections via IPRemote seem to be less crash prone than TCP connections.
One idea is that the TCP connection bog down due to the error checking (waiting
for a reply?), and this constipation causes the computer to crash. UDP just
sends the data out and doesn't care if it gets there or not.
What does "Try to use TCP" mean?
The IPRemote client measures the packet delay time from the ARNS server.
If it exceeds 200ms it tries to open a TCP stream connection to the server,
this should provide a sensible type of reliable link. If it cannot open TCP, or the delay is small, it uses UDP packets instead.
What is the difference between UDP vs TCP?
There are many kinds of packets that travel over the internet. These are two of them. TCP has some sort of built in check to make sure the packet reaches its destination; UDP does not have this check.
I get "No Remote Appletalk Server" login errors
IPRemote 2.0 beta 4 it will do this if you have either Speed Doubler or Ram Doubler active. Disabling these extensions will stop this error most of the time. [from Bill Irwin Jr.]
Can I use TIA with IPRemote?
TIA is a SLIP server emulator that runs from a shell account, allowing those
without true SLIP servers to use SLIP clients. Generally, IPRemote doesn't
work with TIA because the connection with the server is too slow and fragile.
How do I find someone to play against?
Click on over to the Chat Online page, a primer on how to use the basic tools (such as IRC, Hotline, etc.) for finding others to play against.
I've been having problems with unknown and uninvited persons joining
my Hornet games, what do I do?
Checkout the Game
Crasher Report page.
Can I make serial connections over Internet? (i.e., not AppleTalk, but 'direct' serial connections).
Yes! You can use the TCPserial extension (the same extension that allows Netlink Remote to work over the internet) to re-route packets a program sends out over the Internet.
Also, if your program uses the Communications Toolbox (many do), you should check out the Configuring the CTB page for a variety of options; including using the CTB to play over the internet, modems, serial port, and even LANs.
Finally, the Internet Head to Head Daemon page explains how to do this, but is not for the faint of heart (i.e. explore the other two options first).
What about other protocols that can be redirected over the Internet?
Yes! Your best bet would be to check out the Networkable Mac Games Connections page for a full list of protocols that can be played over the internet.
Rather than duplicate the efforts of other excellent resources, I want to point you to The Mac Orchard. The Mac Orchard tracks the latest Internet applications available for the Macintosh.
The The Mac Orchard Chat page has a comprehensive list of Mac chat programs for the Internets. IRCle and Snak are two popular IRC programs. For newbies, IRC stands for Internet Relay Chat, and is used for chatting (via typing) with people from all over the world. Every sort of topic is discussed, and is categorized by "channels" (For example, #MARATHON or #MACWARCRAFT are popular ones). These are naturally useful for finding people to play against, or if you are a dial-in user that doesn't have a static IP (i.e. your TCP/IP address gets dynamically assigned to you each time you connect), it is a good meeting ground for exchanging necessary info and such.
Mac TCP Watcher 2.0 and Whatroute 1.3 both can be indispensible utilities in helping determine problems with network lag and drop-outs over TCP/IP (useful for both internet and Kali). Both are implementations, among other things, of the UNIX traceroute command, which traces the route your packets take to its destination, and how long it took for each hop (Both require Open Transport for this function, as it is not possible with MacTCP). If you have a poor route to an opponent or server, there is not necessarily much you can do about it, but it will at least explain why the network is lagging. If anything, it's just interesting; trace a route to Apple or your favorite web site! Both offer other handy internet utilities, such as PING and NSlookup. MacPing 3.0.3 is another ping utility that functions not just over the internet (via TCP), but also on Appletalk networks! This can be handy when you've established a Appletalk link via Netlink Remote or ARA and determining if there is a connection (i.e. the game doesn't seem to want to start).
Look on the The Mac Orchard: Net Utilities for other useful network utilities.