Chat

Current Version: 2.1 Pre12

From the Info-Mac abstract file: Chat is a program that runs on your Macintosh and allows you to run a chat server on it. You and others will be able to telnet to your machine and participate in online conversations. Chat includes multiple channels that you can switch between at will. There are numerous user commands and administrator commands available. Read the documentation and the FAQ in the archive for more information on them.

ClearPhone Pro

Commercial; $49.95

Current Version: 6.4.8

Engineering Consulting produces ClearPhone Pro, an Internet telephone system that claims to have the highest quality of any Mac Internet telephone program. The software is available for Power Macs running Mac OS 7-9.

Maven

Current Version: 2.0a37

Maven is a voice conferencing system that interoperates with the Unix vat program.

McPoker

Current Version: 1.1

McPoker is the only available IRC Poker client for the Macintosh--and it's pretty good, at that. From the McPoker home page: "This is a client program (visual front end) that communicates over the Internet using IRC protocols to a poker server so that you can play poker with other real people -- and some not-so-real players. It was mostly modeled after Greg Reynolds' Gpkr -- an excellent IRC poker client for Windows, which most IRC poker players seem to be using. You will need to be using Open Transport networking on your Macintosh for McPoker to work." McPoker is freeware. Version 1.1 fixes a problem with new IRC Poker server software and introduces a text file to define new Bot names.

Netscape CoolTalk

Current Version: 1.5

CoolTalk is an old (1996) Internet telephone and workgroup collaboration tool used in combination with Netscape Navigator 3.0 or later that provides "high-quality" audio conferencing, a full-featured whiteboard, and text-based communications. CoolTalk for Macintosh was developed by Apple Computer, and requires that you have a PowerMac running System 7.5 Update 2.0, OpenTransport 1.1.1 beta and have QuickTime 2.5 or later installed. These components are available from Apple.

PGPfone

Current Version: 1.0b7

PGPfone (Pretty Good Privacy Phone) is freeware a software package that turns your desktop or notebook computer into a secure telephone. It uses speech compression and strong cryptography protocols to give you the ability to have a real-time secure telephone conversation. Secure voice calls are supported over the Internet, or through a direct modem-to-modem connection, or even over AppleTalk networks.

Swirl

Current Version: 1.0a0

Swirl is a handsome IRC program from Swedish programmer Pelle Johansson, who notes what sets this client apart from the rest: "Its appearance, for one thing, stands out. It's quite different. In fact, most other clients seem to be based upon the old public domain Ircle source. Other features are a new, fast dcc protocol, powerful alias function, and tab completion (for nicks and preset words)." While this initial alpha release is not too stable, keep an eye on this one. The author seems serious about its continued development, although no home site exists for it at the present time.

Talk

Current Version: 1.1.1

From the Info-Mac abstract file: Talk v1.1.1 & Talkd v1.1.1 is an implementation of the UNIX Talk protocol for Macs with MacTCP. Talkd is a background only application that notifies you when a talk connection is requested, and Talk is a talk client, allowing you to talk to other machines. Talk and Talkd work with both System 6 and 7.

BroadWay VPN Client

Commercial

Current Version: n/a

Neon Software distributes Ashley-Laurent's BroadWay VPN Client software, which is a full-featured IPSec Virtual Private Network client available for Windows and Mac OS 8 & 9.

FreePPP

Current Version: 2.6.2

(For older Macs. Note that the official FreePPP web site was eliminated on August 2, 2004, but the software remains available on the InfoMac archives.) FreePPP has a beautiful interface and lots of nifty features. More importantly, it is compatible with both Open Transport and virtual memory. FreePPP 2.6 is the favorite alternative to Apple's Open Transport PPP (below) and Remote Access (OS 9). Some people find better luck with one than the other. FreePPP offers far more configurability options than OT/PPP, and is easier to set up for use in multiple locations. Version 2.6.2 cleans up the code, fixes lots of bugs, and improves an already great product.

MacPPP

Current Version: 2.0.1 10/28/1993

NOTE: for older Macs only. This is the "official" release of MacPPP for MacTCP (not Open Transport!) from the Merit Network, for use with MacTCP (on older Macs). If you need a PPP connection for your older Mac, this the most tried and true, but it doesn't work with Open Transport, as FreePPP does. Version 2.0.2 - no longer available - fixed a glitch wherein the Control Panel allowed 42 character usernames, but PAP could only use 31 characters.

Note: Apple's MacPPP 2.5.x is not directly related to MacPPP 2.0.1. MacPPP as it exists here is the Merit Network variety, and 2.0.1 is the current version. MacPPP 2.5.x (included as part of Apple's Internet Connection Kit) is based upon Steve Dagley's FreePPP source, and follows much of the same course of code as FreePPP (up to a certain point), but is lacking in some important bug fixes and enhancements included in the current versions of FreePPP. For these reasons, I do not list Apple's MacPPP in the Orchard's pages.

MacPoET

Commercial

Current Version: 3.2 (6/2003)

iVasion produces the MacPoET PPP over ethernet client system. The software is only available to ISPs for redistribution; an update version 3.2 is available that supports Mac OS 8.1 - 9.x.

MacTCP 2.0.6 updater

Current Version: n/a

NOTE: for older Macs only. If you're still using MacTCP 2.0.2 or 2.0.4, you need this updater from Apple to make your copy current (well, as current as MacTCP can be at any rate). Note: the updater must be run on a "virgin" copy of MacTCP.

MacTCP Switcher

Current Version: 1.1

NOTE: for older Macs only. From the estimable John Norstad, author of NewsWatcher. From the Info-Mac abstract file: MacTCP Switcher is a very simple little program that makes it easy to save and quickly restore multiple MacTCP configurations. This is especially useful for PowerBook users who carry their PowerBooks around and regularly use them with different network connections (e.g., SLIP at home and LocalTalk or Ethernet at work).

NET/Mac

Current Version: 2.3.71

NET/Mac is an application (for "Classic" Mac OS) that supports TCP/IP over packet-radio, which means that hamradio operators can use NET/Mac for their wireless TCP/IP network. See the NET/Mac home page for related software.

Open Transport

Current Version: 1.1.2 (For pre Mac OS 8.0 users only. Superseded by Open Transport 2.7.6 in Mac OS 9.1)

NOTE: for older Macs only. Open Transport is Apple's new networking technology for the MacOS. It contains native code for PowerMacs and is easier to configure than MacTCP. It's more memory-hungry, however. For PCI-based PowerMacs, Open Transport is the only officially Apple-endorsed way to make a TCP/IP-based Internet connection. On other machines, however, Open Transport is merely an optional replacement for MacTCP. Version 1.1.2 fixes a few bugs present in 1.1.1 (but not the infamous server performance issue). Open Transport 1.1 (available only as part of System 7.5.3 or higher) or 1.1.1 is a prerequisite. If you're using an older Mac (68020 or older), stick with MacTCP. You'll use less memory and have fewer headaches. If you're using a fast 6803- or 68040-based machine, you'll see a noticeable speed increase, and it will be worth upgrading if you have the extra 600K or so of RAM to spare.

Open Transport PPP

Current Version: 1.0 (For pre Mac OS 7.5 users only. Superseded by Apple Remote Access Client in Mac OS 7.5 and later.)

NOTE: for older Macs only. This was the first Open Transport-native, PowerMac-native implementation of PPP that Apple ever produced. Performance is very good, perhaps better than FreePPP. Open Transport 1.1.1 or higher is required for use. If your modem is not supported in the default list, Apple's modem script generator may be useful to you.

Open Transport Updater

Current Version: 2.6 (Mac OS 9; Mac OS 8.6 for Power Macintosh G4, iBook, and iMac (slot-loading) computers.)

NOTE: for older Macs only. Open Transport 2.6 addresses DHCP issues in Mac OS 9.0 and prevents Macintosh computers from being used in certain types of Denial of Service (DoS) issues. Open Transport is the networking software in the Mac OS. This software installer updates Open Transport to version 2.6. This updater is for use only on computers using Mac OS 9.0, and PowerMacintosh G4, iBook, and iMac (Slot-loading) computers running Mac OS 8.6.

Simple PPP

Current Version: 1.4.5 (alpha)

NOTE: for older Macs only. A nice PPP client for use with MacTCP (not Open Transport) that many people prefer to the alternatives. From the documentation: Automatic redial - Simple PPP will automatically redial when an Internet service provider doesn't answer or is busy. It will keep redialing until it gets through, or the application that started it gives up. Automatic reconnect - Simple PPP will automatically redial when an open connection is dropped while it was being actively used. Usually, file transfers can be recovered after the redial. No other PPP for the Macintosh offers this feature. Faster transmission. A new buffering strategy improves performance. Shorter connect times. Now that redialing works, there's less need to stay connected when you're not doing anything. If you pay for connect time, this can reduce your costs. Useful diagnostics. A new diagnostic system helps you figure out what happens when there's a problem. No more unwanted dialing. The old MacPPP/FreePPP problem of randomly dialing in the background when there was no traffic to send has been fixed.

SonicPPP

Current Version: 1.2.1

NOTE: for older Macs only. This free PPP client from Sonic Systems supports both AppleTalk and TCP/IP over Open Transport. New to version 1.2 is support for scripting and idle timeout. This product is no longer supported, but it is still available.

TCPSerial

Current Version: 1.0.1

From the Info-Mac abstract file: TCPSerial is an Extension which creates a fake serial driver and attached modem which actually communicate via a TCP/IP connection rather than a phone line. The main reason for doing this is to allow programs that know how to communicate via a modem, but not via the Internet, to use the Internet. One example of such a program is Apple Remote Access (ARA). Using TCPSerial, it is possible to connect an ARA client to an ARA server via the Internet.

yiMac

Final Version: 1.7 (February 19, 2003)

Working in conjunction with the Yi dynamic DNS system at www.yi.org, yiMac is very similar to the Mac DynDNS Client, above. yiMac allows your computer to have a consistent domain name every time you connect to your ISP.

Version 1.7 adds/changes the following:

• URLs updated for whyI.org
• Expiration date set to January 2004

Although the software is no longer under development, the author has been kind enough to keep the final version - and the site - available for those who may find the software useful.

Baton Mail

Current Version: 0.9.8b

Baton Mail allows you to add mail authentication to older email client software. With "Spam" on the rise, most ISPs have added the need to authenticate before being able to send email through their servers. Older email clients (like Claris Emailer, Eudora Lite, or just about any mail client older than the last year or two), lack this capability; Baton Mail provides it by acting as a private mail relay station.

The software runs as a small application that you run in the background. You configure your email client to send outbound email to Baton Mail, which in turn performs any necessary authentication with your ISPs mail server, and then relays the outbound mail. Baton Mail also allows you to assign a specific port to connect to your provider's SMTP server, should your provider use such a scheme to hinder abuse.

Baton Mail is released as freeware. Version 0.9.8b adds/changes the following:

• Fixed (?) a serious bug with sending attachments that caused the computer to freeze
• Removed the need to bring Baton Mail to the front for workable speed
• Added support for altering the listening port (resource STR 1128)
• Added support for choosing first tried auth type (resource STR 1129)

Combadge

Current Version: 1.1

From Stairways Software, home of such great programs as Anarchie and NetPresenz, comes this interesting new $25 shareware email client/server program. From the documentation: "Combadge is a real-time email client. If you connect to someone (using their email address), what you write will appear as you write it on their screen if they are running Combadge (otherwise they will receive the message using normal email)."

Mail Drop

Current Version: 1.2d7k

A popular, powerful, and free IMAP email client from Carl Bell, the author of LDapper, above. Version 1.2d7k fixes a bug that kept the preferences from being opened under Mac OS 9.

Mail Stop

Current Version: 1.1.6

Mail Stop is a POP2 and SMTP mail server from the University of Minnesota that works well with POPmail.

Microsoft Outlook Express

Current Version: 5.0.6

This free combined email (POP3/SMTP/IMAP) / Usenet news client is positioned as an add-on for Microsoft's Internet Explorer web browser. Version 5.0.6 addresses the following:

• Includes support for MSN Web mail accounts;
• Resolves all security vulnerabilities in previous versions of Outlook Express 5. This includes vulnerabilities that might have caused Outlook Express to stop responding or caused a memory problem that compromised the security of the computer as well as a security vulnerability that can enable an attacker who had a valid security certificate to issue an invalid subordinate certificate that would appear to be valid. For more information, see Microsoft Security Bulletins MS02-050 and MS02-019.

Outlook Express is a competitive piece of software, with all kinds of nifty features. But it's also a mess visually - the fact that it still wields a space-wasting, overly complex three-paned interface makes me loath to recommend it all too highly. It also has more menu selections than your average CAD program, and it's extraordinarily slow to import email from other applications; my Eudora Pro mailbox, with over 25,000 saved messages, was going to take over 4 hours (!) to import. Forget it. For newsreading, keep in mind that the Mac has some of the best newsreaders on any platform; use them for reading Usenet news instead. But for all its faults, this product just keeps getting better. In the meantime, I'll stick to Eudora and MT/YA-NewsWatcher.

Offline

Current Version: n/a

From the Info-Mac abstract file: Offline is a reading program for downloaded Usenet News, email and other text. Internet subscribers who connect over dial-up lines (particularly with ISPs who charge according to connect time) often find it more useful to download news with a program such as Newswatcher, and then read it offline after they have completed their connection session. This small-footprint program provides a comfortable interface for indexing and browsing through these downloaded files.

POPThing

Current Version: 1.6

From the author of ViaHTTP, POPThing (freeware) is a small application that allows you to check standard POP email accounts for new messages; it allows you to delete messages as well. It's nicely designed, and extremely easy to set up. I only wish that it could check all accounts automatically upon launching.

eMerge

Commercial; $79

Current Version: 1.6.5 (November 7, 2000)

Galleon Software produces the eMerge bulk emailing system for "Classic" Mac OS, which allows you to send email using a facility similar to a word processor's mail merge mechanism. While bulk emailing is something that I strongly disapprove of, there's just no stopping people, and this program is thankfully priced out of range for casual spammers.

DropFTP

Current Version: 1.1

From the DropFTP home page: DropFTP is a small and easy-to-use AppleScript droplet that uses Interarchy client to transfer files in the right locations on a remote FTP server. You only have to specify the root folder on your Mac and the root directory on the server. Then you just drag-and-drop files on DropFTP icon and the script transfers the files to the right sub-directories. Version 1.1 addresses the following:

• The cumbersome "Can't make into an item" bug should be fixed - finally.
• Configuration sets can be imported and exported.
• Configuration sets can be duplicated and enabled/disabled more easily.

EasyTransfer

Current Version: 3.4.3

Please note: This is a Mac-specific file transfer program, and not a true FTP client. From the Info-Mac abstract: EasyTransfer is a file transfer utility that not only allows you to transfer files on Macintosh computers over the Internet, but now it also enables you to control the remote Mac to some extent. It completely eliminates the need to preprocess (BinHex) files before they can be sent. It features an easy-to-use interface. Throughput is very high, up to 450 kBytes/sec. It supports run-time file compression. EasyTransfer can now control your remote Mac: you can move/copy files, launch applications, move windows etc. The interface is now very Finder like (when "View by Name" is selected), including collapsible file lists. It also is fully Drag Manager compatible.

FreeTP

Current Version: 1.0.2

Please note: This is a Mac-specific file transfer program, and not a true FTP client. From the documentation: FreeTP is a program designed specifically to do Macintosh file transfers over the Internet, namely through a TCP connection. A TCP connection is present between any two machines running MacTCP (can be on a local Ethernet network as well, or running a SLIP/PPP modem connection to an Internet service provider).

NiftyTelnet SSH

Current Version: 1.1r3

Based upon Nifty Telnet, NiftyTelnet SSH (not written by the author of NiftyTelnet), adds a subset of the SSH 1.5 protocol, and is the only known free SCP (Secure CoPy) client for the Mac as well, which it is why I include a listing on the FTP page of the Orchard. At the moment, only password authentication is supported, and the client is also lacking port forwarding, compression and scp to mention a few things. But it's free, stable, and widely used. And now that the RSA public-key encryption algorithm is in the public domain, it's a legal download within the United States.

BinHex

Freeware

Current Version: 4.0 (May 6, 1985)

BinHex 4.0 is the seminal utility for forming and extracting .HQX files. While Stuffit Expander does this, among other things, there are some files out there that only BinHex 4.0 will extract.

Compact Pro

Shareware

Current Version: 1.52 (December 16, 1998)

Compact Pro used to be the second most popular compression utility for the Macintosh, commonly used to encode and decode .CPT files. This software was officially discontinued in 2003, and is available for download by registered users only.

Intel Indeo Video

Freeware

Current Version: 3.2 (February 11, 1999) / 4.4 (February 11, 1999) / 5.0 (May 13, 1999)

Intel Indeo Video 3, Indeo Video 4, and Indeo Video 5 are three QuickTime extensions that allow you to play .AVI (Windows video) format movies using QuickTime on Mac OS 9 and earlier. Note: These will only work with PowerMacs running QuickTime 3.0 or later. Also, please note that these versions complement each other; that is, if you are running Indeo Video 5, you should also include the Indeo Video 3 and 4 extensions to round out your support for all the available .AVI subformats.

JPEGView

Freeware

Current Version: 3.31 (January 9, 1995)

JPEGView is a very nice tool for "Classic" Mac OS for viewing all those JPEGS out there; it was long considered the standard JPEG utility for the Mac, before the advent of Mac OS X.

MPack

Freeware

Current Version: 1.5 (February 16, 1995)

MPack is especially useful if you have a large email attachment that your email client can't handle. MPpack is a utility for encoding and decoding binary files in MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions) format mail messages. For compatibility with older forms of transferring binary files, the munpack program can also decode messages in split-uuencoded format. The Mac port can also decode messages in split-binhex format. In short, mpack is the MIME equivalent of uudecode/binhex.

Mac OS Runtime for Java

Freeware

Current Version: 1.5.1 (November 5, 1997) / 2.2.5 (June 5, 2001) / 2.2.6 (April 8, 2003)

Mac OS Runtime for Java is Apple's OS-level method for running Java applets on Mac OS 8 & 9 (this functionality is built into Mac OS X and kept current through OS X's software update). While some web browsers, including Netscape Navigator/Communicator come with their own Java implementations built-in, many other applications (such as Microsoft Internet Explorer) require this helper application to perform their Java-based tasks.

Version 2.2.6 is an upgrade to MRJ 2.2.5 which provides fixes that allow Oracle 11i client applications to communicate with Oracle's application servers over HTTPS. It is recommended that you only update to MRJ 2.2.6 if you need to use Oracle 11i client applications over HTTPS and that your Oracle software is properly configured to support HTTPS communication with Mac OS 9 clients. Otherwise, you should use MRJ 2.2.5.

Version 1.5.1 runs on older (68030) Macs and on system software as early as System 7.5.5.

MacBinary II

Freeware

Current Version: 1.0.2 (April 5, 1993)

MacBinary II+ will help out in downloading all those .bin files you find in your travels, but if you have StuffitExpander, you really don't need this tool.

MacGzip

Freeware

Current Version: 1.1.3 (September 14, 1999)

MacGzip is an essential tool for "Classic" Mac OS for uncompressing all those Unix gzip (.gz) and zip (.Z) files.

MacRAR

Shareware, $35

Current Version: 2.5.1 (September 7, 2000)

MacRAR is the only RAR archive utility for "Classic" Mac OS, especially useful while reading all those alt.binaries newsgroups.

MacTar

Freeware

Current Version: 4.2.1 (October 18, 1999)

MacTar is the standard Macintosh tar (tape archive) program for decoding all those Unix .tar files. Version 4.2.1 fixes a bug which sometimes corrupted text files extracted with DOS line endings while using Internet Config.

MacZIP

Freeware

Current Version: 1.0.6 (February 22, 2001)

MacZIP is a complete port of the Info Zip ZIPping and UNZIPping utilities for the Macintosh that supports encrypted archives. It has a very simple interface and supports Apple Events, and full source code is available.

The "Crypt" version includes encryption code that was originally written in Europe and can be freely distributed from any country except the U.S. If this code is imported into the U.S., it may not be re-exported from the U.S. to another country.

Saving Face

Freeware

Current Version: 1.0.2 (September 24, 1997)

Saving Face is from Simon Fraser, author of Multi-Threaded NewsWatcher. It is an X-Face bitmap creation utility that will allow you to convert and create code for a 48 x 48 pixel picture that you can include in your news and email posts. These faces can be viewed in many newsreaders, including Multi-Threaded NewsWatcher and MacSOUP.

Sparkle

Freeware

Current Version: 2.45 (July 27, 1995)

Sparkle is the only software MPEG player available for 680x0-based Macs. This program is no longer being developed. PowerMac users will be better served by QuickTime.

StUU

Freeware

Current Version: 1.1 (April 10, 1996)

StUU 1.1 is probably one of the most popular uudecoding utilities for Classic Mac OS; it's fast, reliable, and many people swear by it.

UnZip

Freeware

Current Version: 5.32 (November 7, 1997)

UnZip 5.32 is based upon the cross-platform, open source zlib project. UnZip is a popular alternative to ZipIt that isn't quite as feature-filled (it doesn't zip, for one - although the separate MacZip companion application does) but some claim is faster. It also supports password-protected archives, which is a feature ZipIt lacks. Both UnZip and MacZip are completely free, to boot.

uuUndo

Freeware

Current Version: 1.0 (November 7, 1994)

uuUndo is a popular choice for uudecoding on Classic Mac OS, but it really doesn't seem as nice as uucd.

MUDDweller

Current Version: 1.2

A MUD (Multi-User Dungeon) client that supports multiple sessions. This software is no longer under development, but source code is available.

BB Client

Current Version: 1.0b7 (June 16, 2000)

Big Brother is a highly-redundant web-based monitoring and notification program. Although originally designed to operate only on UNIX machines (and the server still only does), reporting clients are available for Windows NT, Novell, and now the Mac OS. You'll find more information about the Big Brother system at http://bb4.com/. Version 1.0b7, which is an AppleScript that requires the freeware NetEvents scripting addition, adds/changes the following:

• 1.0b7 Expanded on the refinements in b6 so that the "status header" given out on pages and on the main line of status pages is the same (the b6 ones). These should be more descriptive of the problems in general.
• Includes AkuaSweets 1.4.1, which fixes a crashing bug in its text-parsing routines.
• Fixes a bug where it would quit if more than one volume went offline.
• Tried to make code more legible :)
• Added option to not check read-only disks.

See the online release notes for more information.

DNS Lookup

Current Version: 0.92

An old freeware nslookup program for "Classic" Mac OS that still works quite well.

Finger

Current Version: 1.5.0

(Superseded by Interarchy for Classic Mac OS and the command line in Mac OS X.) Peter Lewis' "Finger" is a reliable, simple finger client that also allows you to query whois servers. The most invaluable quick way to check your email (so long as your ISP uses a system that supports finger).

ICMP Logger

Current Version: 1.0.1

From the author of ShadowBot, ICMP Logger records any incoming ICMP packets, detailing the IP the ICMP came from, its size, and the time it arrived and saves it into a log file. It can also play a sound when it detects a ping. If you're a network server administrator, IRCop, or anyone else who thinks they might be pingflooded, ICMP Logger will give you all the information you need to track down those behind denial of service attacks. The program requires OpenTransport and a live Internet connection.

Mac Ph

Current Version: 1.2

Ph servers exist at many colleges, universities, and academically-affiliated research institutions throughout the U.S. and elsewhere. Mac Ph allows you to query these servers for address and/or e-mail information for faculty/staff/students at those institutions. (Thanks to Andrew Starr for this excellent description.)

MacPing

Freeware

Current Version: 3.0.4 (August, 1997)

Dartware (some of the former programmers from Dartmouth College) produces a heck of a lot of great Mac Internet software, and has some interesting commercial offerings. MacPing is a free (formerly a $99-$299 commercial product) Ping implementation that supports AppleTalk as well as IP.

MacPing requires a Macintosh computer with a network connection running System 7 or later. For monitoring IP devices, SNMP Watcher requires MacTCP (version 2.0.6 or newer) or Open Transport (version 1.1 or newer).

MacTCP Ping

Current Version: 2.0.2

MacTCP Ping is an old, free, unsupported ping program from Apple Computer, for older (MacTCP-based) systems only.

MacTCP Tracer

Current Version: n/a

From the Info-Mac abstract file: MacTCP Tracer logs the status of MacTCP connections and can be used as a companion to Peter Lewis' MacTCP Watcher. Unlike MacTCP Watcher, MacTCP Tracer writes the connection status of TCP/IP streams to a console window so you can see who connected to your Mac.

MacTraceroute

Current Version: 1.1

MacTraceroute is a "traceroute" network traffic analysis program for older Macs. From the Info-Mac abstract file: MacTraceroute is a program that attempts to trace the route an IP packet would follow to some internet host. It is not guaranteed to be 100% accurate, but more often than not is close enough to reality to assist in debugging network problems. Requires the Traceroute Ethernet LAP or a Traceroute capable LAP. Please note that MacTraceroute does not work with any PPP implementation except MacSLIP 3.0.

NetBots

Current Version: 2.5.1

NetBots is a program that lets you initiate agents that go out and retrieve information for you at specified intervals. Pinging, fingering and port monitoring can all be automated.

According to the author: "Version 2.5 introduces the FTPBot, which lets users monitor FTP directories for updates. The FTPBot is a great way to check for new files in FTP dropboxes. The popular PingBot module has been revamped to be more compatible and flexible. Numerous new preferences like 'mute mode' and 'verbose logging' allow users to configure how NetBots reports errors. A host of additional features and bug fixes make NetBots 2.5 a more stable and useful application."

NetChronometer

Current Version: 1.4.8 (August 21, 2001)

NetChronometer is an easy-to-use Network Time Protocol (NTP) client that can be run manually or automatically on a predetermined basis to keep your Mac's clock in sync with the standard Internet network time. Version 1.4.8 addresses the following:

• Updated server list.

Network Time

Current Version: 2.0.1

From the Info-Mac abstract file: Network Time is a control panel program that sets the clock on your Macintosh computer to the correct time of day. To do this, Network Time contacts a time server using the Apple MacTCP network software to get the correct time of day. Network Time automatically adjusts your clock taking into consideration the time zone and the daylight savings time rules that you configure using the Network Time control panel.

Network Toolbox

Current Version: 0.3.0

From the Network Toolbox home page: "Network Toolbox is a freeware tool to examine both the network settings on your Mac, and your local area network. In addition, it can perform basic functions such as DNS lookups, pings, and trace routes." The software allows you to examine OT Status, Network Interfaces, TCP Status, UDP Status, Network Addresses, DNS Lookup, Ping, Trace Route, ARP Cache, Route Status Report, AppleTalk Status, and the AppleTalk Names List.

PingReporter

Current Version: 1.3.1

From the Info-Mac abstract file: This little app will extract and organize data contained within an ICMP Log file created by ICMP Logger (v1.0, above). If you are familiar with ICMP Logger, then you are familiar with its logfiles and how mind numbing it can be to extract various data items such as IP numbers, start & stop times, or total data received -- information that the proper authorities can use for tracking down malicious pingers. After extraction, it then organizes for you in a nice, neat manner.

Vremya

Current Version: 2.0.2

From the Info-Mac abstract file: Vremya is a simple freeware Network Time Protocol client for Macintosh. It is small application that allows various degrees of automation from none to waiting for MacTCP to be opened, setting the clock and then quitting. Because it is an application, it uses no system memory and causes no INIT conflicts. Version 2.0.2 adds source code to the download and places the application in the public domain; version 2.0.1 fixed a minor balloon help problem.

WatchPort

Shareware; $5

Current Version: 1.2 (January 7, 2002)

WatchPort allows you to track a specific port on your computer; when someone tries to scan or connect to a port, the IP address gets logged.

Version 1.2 allows you to log up to 4 different ports.

CommFigure

Current Version: 1.2b2

CommFigure has a purpose similar to InternetConfig--that is, to help you configure multiple Internet applications from a central source--but it uses a different method, and seems to be aimed at a different audience. Rather than creating a central set of preferences that all applications can use (like InternetConfig), it uses a series of modules that physically change the preference files of specific applications. This can be very useful for ISPs and others who need to create sets of preference files for others to use. In its current form, however, it doesn't support InternetConfig. The program comes with nine modules (CU-SeeMe, Eudora, Fetch v1.2, Homer, Ircle, MacPPP, MacWeb, Netscape + 2.x, Netscape 1.x) and it comes with a document that explains how to create new modules using ResEdit.

ICAccessLogger

Current Version: 1.0b1

ICAccessLogger is a system extension that logs all access to the Internet Config preferences system, revealing precisely the programs doing the accessing and the information being accessed.

Mac2Mac

Open source; $0

Current Version: Client - 0.1.1 (May 9, 2001) / Server - 0.2 (June 1, 2001)

Please note that as of October, 2005, this software is no longer supported by the author. Mac2Mac is a client-server system that allows you to control a remote Mac over TCP/IP. You can download or upload files from the server, control the server's mouse and keyboard, look at the server's screen, restart it, and more... Mac2Mac is comprised of two applications: a server which must be installed on the machine you want to control, and the client which you will use to control the remote Mac. If you use Mac2MacFor secure purposes, it is recommended that you use it on machines which use dynamic IPs. Mac2Mac is completely free, and source code is available under an open source license. It requires Mac OS 7 or later.

MacFIBS

Freeware

Current Version: 3.0 r6 / 4.5.3 (June 15, 2001)

A Free Internet Backgammon Server (FIBS) client for the Macintosh, and a beautiful piece of work at that. Version 4.5.3 addresses the following:

• Fixed the gag/blind bug.
• Fixed the "Hello" sound bug.

MachTen

Commercial; $99

Current Version: 4.1.4 (November 7, 1998)

Tenon Intersystems produces MachTen BSD and Mach Unix for 68k and Power Macintoshes, useful for running a variety of *nix-based Internet server software on "Classic" Mac OS.

NOTE: Tenon has produced a Mac OS 9.1 patch to WebTen 3.x, XTen 6.1.6, MachTen 4.1.4 and NetTen 1.4.

Net-Print

Current Version: 8.2 (January 18, 2000)

Net-Print is a really handy system extension that allows you to print or save a section--or collection of sections--from a document or Web page without having to print or save the whole shebang. Version 8.2 addresses the following:

• Many small changes over the last year or so.
• Can now speak highlighted text.
• At a user's request, can make CD labels.
• Updated contact information.

lpr

Current Version: 1.2

A line printer client from Brown University that allows you to print to a networked printer via a line printer daemon.

A Remote Network Server

Freeware

Current Version: Varies; see site

University of Melbourne Department of Computer Science produces some interesting and unique products that allow AppleTalk packets to be routed over an IP network. ARNS (A Remote Network Server) enables you to connect isolated Macintoshes to campus or organization AppleTalk networks via personal AppleTalk tunnels using the IP Internet. There are servers for UNIX and for Mac hosts using classic networking or Open Transport. The IPRemote client runs under both classic networking and Open Transport, and is offered as Freeware.

AutoShare

Current Version: 4.2.3

AutoShare is an add-on for the Eudora Internet Mail Server that adds many features, including several listserver functions. Version 4.2.2 addresses the following issues:

• Adds the IP Ping and Split Mail AppleScript commands.
• Removed Disposition-Notification-To in list contributions.
• Fixed minor error message during Admin start-up.
• Attended to various minor accuracies in MIME digests.
• Fixed buggy behaviour in Unix Mail AppleScript command.
• MIME handling now ignores RFC subject already in MIME.
• An index value of 33 in a list's preferences puts the string, e.g. web URL, in the List-Archive RFC field.
• Added subscriber's name when deleted due to a bounce.
• Added support for exception strings ignoring bounces.
• Fixed long paragraphs in monthly documents.
• Fixed bug with mail-back commands in subject.
• Upgraded to Universal Interfaces 3.4b6.
• Added sequence information in test bounce messages.

Version 4.2.3, available as an updater package to version 4.2.2, fixes a file copy error appearing in several places. For complete release notes, check the AutoShare online version history.

Avalonia MailRouter

Current Version: 1.10

An add-on for the Eudora Internet Mail Server that "adds functionality to handle many domains on one single machine. Apart from assigning mailboxes to each user on the different domains, MailRouter can also redirect mail based on account or domain names, handle subdomains, divide users on a big domain to a set of servers and handle unregistered addresses.

Baton Mail

Current Version: 0.9.7.1b

Baton Mail allows you to add mail authentication to older email client software. With "Spam" on the rise, most ISPs have added the need to authenticate before being able to send email through their servers. Older email clients (like Claris Emailer, Eudora Lite, or just about any mail client older than the last year or two), lack this capability; Baton Mail provides it by acting as a private mail relay station.

The software runs as a small application that you run in the background. You configure your email client to send outbound email to Baton Mail, which in turn performs any necessary authentication with your ISPs mail server, and then relays the outbound mail. Baton Mail also allows you to assign a specific port to connect to your provider's SMTP server, should your provider use such a scheme to hinder abuse.

Baton Mail is released as freeware. Version 0.9.7.1b adds/changes the following:

• Fixed a problem accepting a RSET before connecting to the remote SMTP server.

Chat

Current Version: 2.1 Pre12

From the Info-Mac abstract file: Chat is a program that runs on your Macintosh and allows you to run a chat server on it. You and others will be able to telnet to your machine and participate in online conversations. Chat includes multiple channels that you can switch between at will. There are numerous user commands and administrator commands available. Read the documentation and the FAQ in the archive for more information on them.

ClickMail Central Directory

Commercial; $49

Current Version: 1.2a3 (June 12, 2000)

Gracion Software (formerly One Click Systems) produces the ClickMail Central Directory LDAP directory server. It sets up a central email address book that a group of users can access from within their own email programs. ClickMail, a multi-user server program that runs on Mac OS 8 or OS 9, supports clients on multiple platforms.

Note: version 1.2a3 was the final complete version, still available with limited support. An unsupported update 1.2b2 (see below) is available for using ClickMail's web administration feature under OS X's Apache web server in Classic.

(For those wishing to run an LDAP server on OS X, there is one built into OS X Server).

Daemon

Current Version: 1.2

(Superseded by Interarchy.) From the Info-Mac abstract file:Daemon is a general TCP server, implementing several simple unix daemons, namely Finger, Whois, Ident, Daytime and NTP (time). It runs as a background only application and answers queries to those services.

EasyServe

Current Version: 0.5

An extremely simple, OpenTransport-based freeware web server program. Version 0.5 makes the resource containing MIME types more accessible to ResEdit junkies.

ListSTAR

Commercial; $275

Current Version: 2.3 (November 4, 2002)

MCF Software produces ListSTAR, the popular mailing list software for "Classic" Mac OS - once owned by StarNine, former makers of WebSTAR.

MI/X

Current Version: 21 October 1998

This is almost too good to be true--a free X Window server for Power Macs. It's got all the requisite features - host allow/deny, background configurability, etc. - and comes with twm, although you can use any other window manager.

MacDNS

Current Version: 1.0.4

MacDNS is a free domain name server package from Apple for "Classic" Mac OS. Version 1.0.4 fixes some bugs present in 1.0.3.

MacHTTP

Current Version: 2.6

MacHTTP - the very first Web server for the Mac - is a powerful yet simple HTTP server program, a freeware sibling of the commercial WebSTAR server software. Stuck at version 2.2.2 for many years, the program was recently (2001) reborn at the hands of its original creator, Chuck Shotton. Version 2.6 adds/changes the following:

• Corrects several problems with file and folder aliases.
• Adds new support for the DIRE parameter for CGIs.
• Corrects a bug with CGI invocation on busy servers.
• Additional information can be found in the release notes in the archive.

MacNFSd

Current Version: 1.5.0b970906

Perhaps the only freely available NFS (Network File System) server for Macintoshes. Although it's no longer under development, the source code is available. This package comes with a portmapper extension.

MacRADIUS

Commercial; see site.

Current Version: 1.2 (December 1, 2002)

MCF Software produces MacRADIUS, one of two RADIUS implementations for the Mac that I'm aware of.

MacVNC

Current Version: 3.3.3 beta 2

VNC is a small, simple and free client/server system that allows you to view the graphical desktop of another machine on your network. VNC is platform-independent, and the client-server system allows many people to share views of the same desktop at one time.

MailBurst

Commercial; $199

Current Version: 2.3.3

Dantowitz Consulting & Research, Inc. produces MailBurst (originally known as (DC&R Util 5), which handles multiple (virtual) domains under the Eudora Internet Mail Server (EIMS) and Stalker Internet Mail Server (SIMS), as well as providing intelligent email routing.

MailRetriever

Current Version: 1.0

From the MailRetriever home page: MailRetriever is a small program which picks up mail from a remote POP account, and forwards it to a local POP server. This allows mailservers such as AIMS/EIMS or SIMS to be used from a dialup account. Used in conjunction with a proxy router such as the Vicom Internet Gateway, and mail mapping from you ISP, you can route all mail addressed to your subdomain to individual internal accounts using only a single IP address. MailRetriever will even handle incoming mail from a list server, routing the mail to one or more internal users." Version 1.0 addresses the following:

• Routing of CC addresses
• Filtering of mail by receiving domain
• 1.0b8 was compiled with Metrowerks CWPro4.
• Tested in emulation under OS8.6

Mail Stop

Current Version: 1.1.6

Mail Stop is a POP2 and SMTP mail server from the University of Minnesota that works well with POPmail.

NetPresenz

Freeware

Current Version: 4.1 (January 21, 1997)

Stairways Software, who produces high quality Mac shareware products such as Interarchy, developed NetPresenz in the late 1990s. NetPresenz is a Web, FTP and Gopher server for "Classic" Mac OS all wrapped up in one application. It's a bit on the sluggish side, though, since it relies on the Mac's built-in file sharing scheme to determine which items may be accessed by remote users.

NetPresenz requires Mac OS 7.x, 8.x or 9.x. It is not needed on Mac OS X. NetPresenz was originally shareware, but Stairways is now releasing it for free. Please click the "I Paid" checkbox in NetPresenz Setup - FTP Setup dialog.

NetTen

Commercial; $445 (download) / $495 (shipped)

Current Version: 1.4.6 (January 4, 2002)

Tenon Intersystems produces NetTen, a version of Openwave's Post.Office mail server software for "Classic" Mac OS, with built-in DNS.

Version 1.4.6 adds a feature to prevent NetTen from being blocked on the ORBS list, and fixes an issue with RBL and using file based filters.

NOTE: Tenon has produced a Mac OS 9.1 patch to WebTen 3.x, XTen 6.1.6, MachTen 4.1.4 and NetTen 1.4.

Pancake

Current Version: 1.3

A shareware bbs system that supports UUCP mail and news, POP/SMTP, chatting, and telnet, among other things. Version 1.3 addresses the following issues:

• Added Pancake Tracker support.
• Added Tracker to System Prefs.
• Fixed Telnet/POP3/Finger problem.
• Found several other TCP/IP bugs, Pancake should be more stable now.
• Added an Extended Multichat Help, with more explanation on how to create rooms, and execute actions.
• Fixed ReScan button in Sections
• Fixed "Section offline" message when it's in fact there.
• Zmodem progress bar now draws correctly, left to right.
• Added Multi Admin Acs, so that anyone with at least this acs will always have admin power in any room.
• This makes it possible for the sysop (or anyone with Multi Admin Acs) to boot people from the Main Room, code was added to support this.
• Fixed obscure bug where the node would stop responding to user.
• Support for MacPPP removed, changed to OT PPP, not implemented yet though.
• Hard Close removed.
• All System Prefs panes resized to new size.
• Dyamic texts using Acs's implemented! This makes pancake support VT100 and ANSI. To use just put a acs in a ~[] and it will only display if the user makes that acs.
• e0..2 acs implemented, put a ~[e] before any VT100 commands
• Emulation command implemented.
• Prefs Menu implemented for changing Password, Emulation, Shell, and Editor. Edit your menus, and add 'prefs'!

SOCKS

Current Version: 1.0.1

From the Info-Mac abstract file: SOCKS implements version 4 of the SOCKS firewall protocol. It allows a Macintosh to become a SOCKS server which lets users with SOCKS compatible clients to connect to the SOCKS firewall and then the server in turn connects to the outside world on the user's behalf. Together with a correctly configured router, SOCKS can reduce the possible methods of attack by crackers on the Internet.

ShadowBot

Current Version: 1.2.4

From the Info-Mac abstract file: ShadowBot . . . is the newest IRC bot for the MacOS. ShadowBot includes channel mode protection, is very configurable, scriptable, can act as a DCC server, and much, much more.

SiteCam

Commercial; $149

Current Version: 6.0.5 (March 19, 2001)

NuSpectra produces SiteCam, a high-performance "webcam" program for putting live images and time-lapse movies on the Internet. Version 6.0.5 adds several new features.

Stalker Internet Mail Server

Current Version: 1.7 (October 30, 1998)

Also known as SIMS, this free mail server software - still available but no longer under development - comes from the company who brought us the CommuniGate series of commercial Internet products. It's capable, and worth a look if you're in the market for an inexpensive (read: free) mail server tool. Version 1.7 addresses the following issues, among others:

• The Template Account is implemented.
• Web access to Client Hosts and Blacklisted address sets is implemented.
• OpenTransport 1.3 secondary IP addresses are supported.
• The White-Hole processing is implemented.
• The SMTP "initial prompt" time-out has been increased from 1 to 2 minutes.
• The SpamTrap anti-spam method is implemented.
• The multipart/report (RFC1892/RFC1894) format is used for Return-Receipt and error messages.
• The BlackListed and Client Host lists can be specified with comments. Comments are accepted, but not stored. A comment can be placed on a separate line or after an address or address range. It should start with either ";", or "%", or "--" symbols. An empty line is processed as a comment line.

Syslogd

Shareware; $20

Current Version: 2.1.8 (July 11, 2000)

A staple of every Unix box in existence, the idea behind syslogd is to create a central log of information relating to all instances of system activity - logins, programs starting and stopping, errors, failures, and other such data - that is useful for tracking computer usage and in the analysis of problems. All properly written Unix programs report necessary and relevant information to syslogd for logging, so this works very well on Unix systems. But syslogd is not a standard feature of the Mac OS, so Mac users have lacked this capability . . . until the release of this software product by Brian Bergstrand (requires a Power Mac running OS 7.5.3 or later). But in order for syslogd to be useful, programs have to be written to take advantage of it. As of late 1999, very few Macintosh Classic applications had been designed to use syslogd.

Version 2.1.8 addresses the following:

• Made some corrections in Syslogd's help documentation.
• Fixed a bug in Syslogd that could cause some of the default log definitions to be read even though the preferences were supposed to override the defaults.
• Fixed some minor memory bugs in Syslogd.
• Fixed quite a few memory related bugs in Syslogd Admin.
• The Timbuktu conflict seems to have been resolved. Update: It seems that 2.1.8 fixes the crash conflict with TB2, but now Syslogd will stop accepting messages when TB2 is installed.

Syslogd requires any Power Macintosh running at least System 7.5.3, the Thread Manager, and about 550K of RAM. Syslogd Admin requires Appearance Manager 1.01 or greater, and about 500K of RAM. Network support is optional, but if enabled requires OpenTransport 1.1.1 or greater. Note that an older 680x0 version is still available, free of charge.

TeleFinder

Commercial; $499

Current Version: 5.7.4 (September 5, 2001)

Operator Headgap Systems produces TeleFinder (formerly by Spider Island Software), a versatile cross-platform e-mail/WWW/BBS server suite. TeleFinder is $499 for the Web, Email and BBS Servers. A license for unlimited distribution of the TeleFinder clients and 3 concurrent users is included with the package. The upgrade is free to purchasers of version 5.6, and $99 from previous versions.

Vicomsoft DHCP Server

Commercial; see text.

Current Version: 7.0.9 (September 10, 2002)

Vicomsoft produces the Vicomsoft DHCP Server, which supports up to 1,000 unique users and multiple Ethernet cards. Pricing starts at $49 for a 25 user license, and tops out at $599 for a 1,000 user license.

WebSiphon

Commercial; $495

Current Version: 2.0.9 (November 8, 2004)

Purity Software, Inc. produces a range of web server related products, most notably the WebSiphon high-performance multi-threaded Web application server for "Classic" Mac OS, which works in the form of an ACGI application or W*API Plug-in. Version 2.0.9 adds/changes the following:

• The Kingfisher add-on library from Flaming LogoWare is now part of the standard WebSiphon 2 distribution package, enabling direct access to MySQL data servers using SiphonScript. The user guide has also been updated to include the 31 new functions introduced through Kingfisher's implementation of the MySQL API.
• Files found in the WebSiphon Data's Startup, Shutdown, and Libraries folders whose name begins with a '.' are ignored. This avoids attempts to execute Mac OS X Finder .DS_Store files, amongst other gremlins that should not be served.
• Fixed bug which caused the built-in variable 'server_port' to contain an empty value using the W*API plug-in runtime.
• Fixed bug where ulSaveFile() was returning a file path shortened by one directory level.
• The 'EnableLogging' configuration setting in WebSiphon's preferences now opens/closes the console log file immediately when toggled. One can now effectively rotate the main log file using a SiphonScript.
• Fixed problem where passing 'null' as a parameter value to HTTPost() could cause a crash.
• FTPDeleteFile() is now included in the NetworkLib FTP function suite (the function was previously documented in the user guide, but missing from actual package).
• Fixed major problem where copying a folder into itself could result in a system crash and/or potential file system corruption, depending on the recursive nature of the bug.
• Updated install section and function index in the user guide.

WebiToome

Shareware; $20

Current Version: 0.9 public beta

From the WebiToome home page: "WebiToome is an application that allows you to receive files directly from your web page. It acts as a small personal server, allowing others to send selected files off their computers straight to your computer via your normal web page." WebiToome:

• Automatically maintains the file submission part of your web page depending on whether WebiToome is running or not
• Allows anyone who knows the URL of your page to send you files
• Works for both permanent and dial-up connections
• Can simultaneously receive up to ten files
• Requires the sender to have no special software other than a modern browser
• Is very simple to set up and use
• Is available for PC and Mac
• Allows unattended operation

WebiToome does not replace your web host - it is not a web server but, rather, a file receiver that works in conjunction with your normal web host, allowing you to host on whatever platform you wish, while receiving submitted files directly on your Mac.

(For the more technically inclined: WebiToome acts as a receiver for files sent via an HTTP "POST" from a form utilizing "file" as the input type.)

XTen

Commercial; $175

Current Version: 6.1.6 (November 20, 1999)

Tenon Intersystems produces the XTen X Window server packages for Mac OS prior to OS X. From the XTen web site: "New features of XTen 6.1 include a native fast file system for top performance; improved XDM session control; secure shell remote client launch; multiple password-based user desktops; hot-key 'xterm' launch; integrated CDE fonts; and support for X11 extensions. In addition XTen supports ICCCM 2.0 scalable fonts, font compilers, and X image extension (XIE). XTen not only supports the X display Management Control Protocol (XDMCP), but XTen can be configured as an XDM manager. Further it can be configured as a font server or set up to use a remote font server. For added compatibility, XTen now uses Open Transport as a default, but Tenon's high-performance, multi-link TCP protocol stack is included as an option."

NOTE: Tenon has produced a Mac OS 9.1 patch to WebTen 3.x, XTen 6.1.6, MachTen 4.1.4 and NetTen 1.4.

lpdaemon

Current Version: 3.4

It is what it says it is--a line printer daemon that enables a Postscript printer on your Mac to be used by Unix clients on your TCP/IP network. It also comes with a nifty lpr utility that enables you to send files to a printer.

FileFone

Current Version: 0.9 Public Beta

FileFone is another cross-platform sharing system from the authors of SockeToome (the same people who brought you Monica and HeftyFTP). FileFone is a "phone" for sending and receiving files over the Internet. It allows you to "ring up" another FileFone user by his IP address to send a file. FileFone features:

• Works peer-to-peer with no central server of any kind
• Has independent send and receive lines, allowing you to receive a file while sending one
• Is extremely simple to set up and run
• Allows you to accept or reject incoming transfers
• Can receive files unattended
• Maintains a list of favourite destinations
• Has configurable text, allowing easy translation or customisation
• Resumes broken transfers
• Is available for Mac and PC and works between them
• Allows extensive customisation of the user interface (skins)
• Stores a retry list of any failed or rejected transfers
• Has attractive built-in help facilities

In comparing FileFone to SockeToome, the authors have provided some helpful information:

• FileFone is much simpler. You have to know the remote user's IP, and there is no mechanism for permanently handling dynamic IPs as there is in SockeToome. We wanted to make a simpler product as some people have problems understanding the IP posting concept used in SockeToome for dynamic IPs.
• FileFone is also simpler in that it does not queue files (though it will store up to 10 failed transmissions). The user therefore does not need to go through the complications of setting up user access.
• FileFone also has an easy method for rejecting incoming transmissions - something that was requested a few times.
• FileFone has many features for changing its appearance and language.
• SockeToome is for someone who needs queuing, multiple simultaneous connections, the ability to deal with dynamic IPs by the technique of IP posting, etc. We consider SockeToome a more powerful tool than FileFone - for the "power user" perhaps.

FileFone is available for both Macs and PCs, and it is shareware, priced at $20 for a single user license. An introductory special Correspondent offer buys two licenses for $30, allowing you to set up a friend with FileFone at a substantial discount.

SockeToome

Current Version: 1.0

From the SockeToome home page: "SockeToome is an application to send files to other users, directly, person-to-person. It involves no central server, and can be used by people with both static and dynamic IP addresses. It works at the sender's convenience, queueing files for transmission to other users, and holding them in a queue until successfully sent. If you regularly exchange files with other people, SockeToome can simplify your life." Version 1.0 fixes a couple of bugs with closing FTP connections and cancelling file selection. SockeToome is available for both Macs and PCs, and it is shareware, priced at $20 for a single user license. An introductory special Correspondent offer buys two licenses for $26, allowing you to set up a friend with SockeToome at a substantial discount. People interested in a somewhat simpler implementation of this idea might want to take a look at FileFone, above, also from Black Diamond Products.

Comet

Current Version: 3.1.1

Comet combines a Telnet client and a tn3270 client in one program. It's getting a bit long in the tooth, since it was written primarily with black-and-white Macs in mind. But if you want a single application that will automatically choose the proper type of terminal emulation without you having to think about it, Comet may be for you.

5PM Term

Commercial; $209

Current Version: 3.5.1

Powerlan USA, Inc. produces the 5PM Term series of terminal emulators for Mac OS 8.1-9.x. 5PM Term connects users via TN5250, TN3270, and VT420 emulations to IBM mainframe, AS/400, UNIX, and VMS legacy host systems. 5PM term runs in classic mode on Mac OS X.

MacSSH

Current Version: 2.1fc3

MacSSH is a free SSH (Secure SHell) telnet client largely based on BetterTelnet, above. Providing only SSH2 support, the program also borrows elements from the Unix lsh client. Version 2.1fc3 makes the following changes:

• Increased the maximum number of sessions to 20. (you'll have to increase the Preferred Size Memory Requirement in the Finder).
• Added lowercase test for little-endian and big-endian indicators using X.11 forwarding on Digital Unix.
• Added command numbers to windows menu.
• Added an option to hide scrollbars and padlock.
• Added an option to use Cmd alone as Emacs meta-key.
• Fixed typed characters lost under heavy load.
• Added "Don't warn me on close" option.
• Fixed kerberos ticket destroyed when closing an SSH session.
• Fixed hang when pasting a large amount of data.
• Fixed random crash in Classic under Mac OS X after application exit.
• Updated with zlib 1.1.4 (CERT advisory).

MacToPic Plus

Commercial; $195

Current Version: 9.40 (February 5, 2003)

Carnation Software, Inc. produces an entire line of Macintosh terminal emulation software, including MacToPic Plus for Mac OS 9 (the Mac OS X version is incorporated into the Mac OS X version of MacWise).

MacToPic Plus is a terminal emulation and data transfer program allowing a Macintosh to be used as a terminal (connected to a host computer directly, by modem, or over the Internet.) emulating Wyse 50, Wyse 60, Wyse 370, ADDS Viewpoint, Televideo 925, DEC VT101 and Prism with programmable function keys and automatic 132 column mode switching. Esprit III color is also supported in Wyse 370 mode.

Version 9.40 fixes an error whereby, if a 16 point font and large window were selected and you upgraded to a later version of MacToPic, you could get an "Unexpectedly Quit" error.

MultiTerm Plus

Commercial; $161

Current Version: 5.4.2 (September 10, 2002)

Vicomsoft produces the MultiTerm Plus series of terminal emulators (emulating terminals from Data General, Digital, Bull & Honeywell, IBM, Tandem, among others) for Macintoshes running Mac OS 7.6.1, 8.x and 9.x.

NCSA Telnet

Current Version: 2.6

NCSA was once the standard telnet tool for the Macintosh. Like NCSA Mosaic, development was halted on this software long ago (in this case, 1996). Many newer versions of telnet have come along that are based upon NCSA's work, however. You can check them all out on the page you're reading right now. However, NCSA Telnet still works just fine, thank you very much.

Navigator Telnet Fix

Current Version: 1.0

This is a public domain program written by NiftyTelnet author Chris Newman that compensates for the way that Netscape Navigator invokes telnet URLs to a telnet helper app such as NiftyTelnet. It calls the telnet helper app you have designated with InternetConfig, and it works flawlessly.

NiftyTelnet

Current Version: 1.1

A truly nice, fast, small Telnet application that supports Kerberos authentication. If you only need telnet, plain and simple, this is great stuff. Since it includes encryption technology, you will have to visit the home page and press an "agreement button" to download it. Version 1.1 adds configurable foreground & background colors; adjustable scrollback buffer size; OpenTransport native support; improved keyboard support, including page up/page down; Drag into NiftyTelnet window now supported; double-clickable shortcut files; bug fixes and an improved user interface.

NiftyTelnet SSH

Current Version: 1.1r3

Based upon Nifty Telnet, NiftyTelnet SSH (not written by the author of NiftyTelnet), adds a subset of the SSH 1.5 protocol, and is the only known free SCP (Secure CoPy) client for the Mac as well, which it is why I include a listing on the FTP page of the Orchard. At the moment, only password authentication is supported, and the client is also lacking port forwarding, compression and scp to mention a few things. But it's free, stable, and widely used. And now that the RSA public-key encryption algorithm is in the public domain, it's a legal download within the United States.

PacerTerm

Commercial; see text.

Current Version: 4.1.1 (October 27, 1997)

Sand Castle Systems, Inc. produces the classic PacerTerm terminal emulation / FTP software for Mac OS 7 through 9. Please contact [email protected] for licensing information.

TCPAxcess

Commercial

Current Version: 5.1 (April 5, 2000)

NLynx Systems, Inc. produces a whole line of Macintosh products for connecting Macs to IBM midrange machines over TCP/IP, including TCPAxcess, which provides AS/400 connectivity to Mac OS 6 - 9, and works under Mac OS X's "Classic" mode as well.

InterNews

Current Version: 2.0.2

InterNews is a reasonably good newsreader that supports multithreading that is no longer under development, but quite functional nonetheless. InterNews uses a three-paned window and allows you to keep multiple sets of group lists in a single user file. It's slower and less feature-filled than the various NewsWatchers, however. Version 2.0.2 is a bug-fix release.

MacSlurp

Current Version: 1.5.7

MacSlurp is an offline newsreading facilitator. It requires other applications to read the news once it completes its job of downloading the articles.

Marconi

Current Version: 2.0.1

Marconi is a shareware Hypercard-based offline newsreader. It allows you to fetch news, reply offline, and archive news postings. Version 2.0 offers added flexibility and a new interface.

Microsoft Outlook Express

Current Version: 5.0.6

This free combined email (POP3/SMTP/IMAP) / Usenet news client is positioned as an add-on for Microsoft's Internet Explorer web browser. Version 5.0.6 addresses the following:

• Includes support for MSN Web mail accounts;
• Resolves all security vulnerabilities in previous versions of Outlook Express 5. This includes vulnerabilities that might have caused Outlook Express to stop responding or caused a memory problem that compromised the security of the computer as well as a security vulnerability that can enable an attacker who had a valid security certificate to issue an invalid subordinate certificate that would appear to be valid. For more information, see Microsoft Security Bulletins MS02-050 and MS02-019.

Outlook Express is a competitive piece of software, with all kinds of nifty features. But it's also a mess visually - the fact that it still wields a space-wasting, overly complex three-paned interface makes me loath to recommend it all too highly. It also has more menu selections than your average CAD program, and it's extraordinarily slow to import email from other applications; my Eudora Pro mailbox, with over 25,000 saved messages, was going to take over 4 hours (!) to import. Forget it. For newsreading, keep in mind that the Mac has some of the best newsreaders on any platform; use them for reading Usenet news instead. But for all its faults, this product just keeps getting better. In the meantime, I'll stick to Eudora and MT/YA-NewsWatcher.

NNTP Sucker

Current Version: 1.5.1

From the Info-Mac abstract file: NNTP Sucker is a Network News Downloader. It's useful for downloading many Usenet groups for use with a BBS, but it can also be used to read news offline.

Nuntius

Current Version: 2.0.4

A powerful (once popular, but now no longer under development) free newsreader. It offers a hierarchical full group listing and a novel interface.

Offline

Current Version: n/a

From the Info-Mac abstract file: Offline is a reading program for downloaded Usenet News, email and other text. Internet subscribers who connect over dial-up lines (particularly with ISPs who charge according to connect time) often find it more useful to download news with a program such as Newswatcher, and then read it offline after they have completed their connection session. This small-footprint program provides a comfortable interface for indexing and browsing through these downloaded files.

TheNews

Current Version: 2.4 (January 24, 1996)

A shareware UUCP-based newsreader. If you know what UUCP news is, and you still have a need for an application of this type, then is the only remaining Mac-native option, although it is obviously no longer under development.

Classilla

Open source; $0

Current Version: 9.2 (June 3, 2010)

Classilla is a free open source Mozilla-based web browser for the classic Macintosh OS (not Mac OS X, although it will likely run under Classic through 10.4). It is targeted for Mac OS 9, but will include 8.6 compatibility where possible. It is based upon WaMCoM, a custom built version of Mozilla 1.3.1 that was designed to run on Classic Mac OS. While WaMCoM is no longer supported or developed, Classilla's goal is to pick up where WaMCoM left off, providing a supported browser for Classic Mac OS users.

Version 9.2 adds/changes the following:

• Completely rewritten JavaScript interpreter (C2), based on SpiderMonkey (the same interpreter used for Mozilla Firefox 3.0.x, with patches for Classilla). Although fully utilizing this interpreter requires better support for DOM than this version of Classilla supports currently, this enables most JavaScript to correctly parse, expands the number and quality of sites that function in some manner, greatly reduces browser crashes, and cuts benchmark execution time in half. Still, many sites will only partially operate due to the current implementation of the Document Object Model. A comprehensive upgrade to DOM and layout is scheduled for 9.3.
• Theming is now specifically supported (C110). However, Classilla is only compatible with themes for Mozilla 1.3 and earlier, or Netscape 7 and earlier. You must enable software installation to install a new theme (if you do not, the browser will now display an alert).
• Both layout reflow and the currently executing script can now be cancelled by holding down Cmd-Period (C123). Note that cancelling a script during its execution could leave event handlers in an indeterminate state, and you should close the current window or tab to completely regain control. This all-stop escape does not cancel chrome scripts, so the browser interface will still operate normally.
• Command-scrolling is now implemented (C28) to help gloss over problems with scrolling on some sites instead of having to check and uncheck Use Slow Scroll. To use Command-scrolling, hold down the Command key as you use the scroll bar or mouse wheel.
• Additional minor improvements to layout (C96 C122). These help eliminate ghosted or doubled images on many sites, although this can cause some pages to scroll slower. You can hold down the Command key and scroll if you believe Classilla is using the wrong scrolling method. A comprehensive upgrade to DOM and layout is scheduled for 9.3.
• New easter egg.
• Plugins are now enumerated from scratch on startup (C113). This slightly slows application startup, but may help with some problematic plugins that can cause Classilla to freeze.
• An error condition in certain printer drivers should no longer crash Classilla (C121).
• Clicking around in offline or non-fetching mail folders should no longer crash Classilla (C124).

Classilla requires a Power Macintosh with at least 64MB of RAM (virtual or physical), 50MB of free hard disk space and Mac OS 8.6 or higher. A G3 with 128MB of physical RAM and OS 9.1 is the recommended minimum. (It will run on OS 8.5, but due to various bugs in that release, 8.6 is strongly recommended.)

MacLynx

Current Version: beta 1

MacLynx is a text-based Web browser that has its origins in the UNIX and DOS command-line worlds. Although this implementation of Lynx hasn't been updated since 1997, it's still a worthwhile download, especially for testing out web pages in a text-only environment on "Classic" Mac OS, which doesn't have a text-based, command line browser otherwise readily available. If you're a Web site developer with no UNIX access, you should download this now.

MacWeb

Current Version: 1.1.1E

If you're running a black-and-white or memory-limited Mac, this is the Web browser for you. It's quite old, but it's reasonably powerful (though it's no match for "modern" browsers like IE or Netscape) and quite fast even when used on older machines.

NCSA Mosaic

Current Version: 2.0.1

Mosaic is the Web browser that started it all. This version does an awful lot, and does it reasonably well. But it's located here mostly for nostalgia purposes - you'd be much better off running one of the other fine browsers on this page for genuine surfing.

ViaHTTP

Current Version: 1.7.6

Similar to Rezoom, above, ViaHTTP is a small application that allows you to resume interrupted HTTP-based downloads that were started in any browser. It's nicely designed, and is completely free. Version 1.7.6 addresses the following:

• Added a real queue
• Added a Time Remaining field
• Fixed another FTP bug(last one hopefully)
• Fixed a bug with browser protocols
• The transfer window no longer looks like the Finder copy windows, all irrelevant fields have been removed

WannaBe

Current Version: 1.0b14

WannaBe is a nice text-only Web browser that is currently being developed much more heavily than MacLynx, above. It renders URLs in underlined blue, and it works with Internet Config to spawn helper applications when necessary. It's still in the alpha stages of development right now, but it works very well. Version 1.0b14 adds/changes the following:

• The changes from 1.0b13 are almost entirely internal. The one new feature is support for HTML div elements.

WebChecker

Current Version: 1.2.1

From the Info-Mac abstract: WebChecker is a utility program designed to help you manage Web pages you check frequently. It will check to see if a Web page has been modified, and will notify you - or even automatically launch your favorite Web browser - when it detects any changes. WebChecker then monitors the Web pages you visit with your browser, and marks them as "Visited" if they're part of WebChecker's list. WebChecker requires Netscape Navigator or Microsoft Internet Explorer and an Internet connection using either Open Transport or "Classic" Mac TCP/IP. Version 1.2.1 addresses the following:

• Turn on extended page checking by default.
• Better error handling if there's not enough memory for the web browser.
• Enhance extended page checking for better accuracy.

WebTV Viewer Tool

Current Version: 2.0, Build 551

This is a free browser from the people who brought us WebTV (now Microsoft's MSN TV), and its sole purpose is to enable web content developers to preview how their pages will look on a WebTV console. While this browser will primarily be of interest to Web designers, it deserves inclusion here because it is a fully-featured browser, and a widely used one at that. It's even got a simulated remote control - very cute - that turns out to give you a good feel for how your site works from WebTV's somewhat quirky interface. If you've ever designed a page, you owe it to yourself to view it in this browser.

WebWasher

Current Version: 2.1.1

WebWasher is a proxy server application that sits between your Web browser an the Web to filter out undesirable content that you specify, including ads, animations, scripts and more. It is free for home and educational users.

WebWhacker

Commercial; $69.95

Current Version: 4.0

Blue Squirrel produces the WebWhacker offline web browser for "Classic" Mac OS that enables you to download entire websites to your computer and take them with you, reading them offline without an Internet connection.