Q - Why do my Mac guests have trouble downloading pictures from my palace ? (Reprinted with permission from Glide)

When the server that delivered ads to Palace clients was turned off, many people with 3.0 and later Mac Palace clients found that they had a problem with getting Palace downloads. The Palace client looks for the ad server, can't find it because it has been turned off, and the failed lookup timeout appears to be affecting downloads. If you are experiencing this problem, it can be fixed easily by adding a Hosts file to System Folder:Preferences. Since the Hosts file is a local DNS resolver, this bypasses the failed lookup timeout, and solves the problem. The specific instructions for adding one are below.

Q - How can I fix it ? - You can't correct this problem on the server end. It has to be fixed on the client end. Refer your Mac guests to this page for instructions on how to correct the problem.

A Fast Fix

Search your System folder and System Folder:Preferences to see if you already have a Hosts file. If you do, please proceed to A More Detailed Configuration. Do NOT overwrite an existing Hosts file.

Most people don't have a Hosts file in their System Folder or in System Folder:Preferences. If you don't have one, you can download a Hosts file that was tested on several Macs. Just drop it in System Folder:Preferences and reboot your Mac. Downloads will now work.

A More Detailed Configuration

Look in System Folder:Preferences, and in the System Folder itself, and see if you have a file named "Hosts". If not, create one in a text editor.

Add this entry to the Hosts file, and then reboot your Mac:

	paps.thepalace.com      A     127.0.0.1
	

Spaces should work, but it is recommended that you separate the three entries by tabs, and press return once after the IP address. Place the Hosts file in System Folder:Preferences and reboot. This fix has been tested on Mac OS 7.5.3, 8.5.1, 8.6 and 9.0.4, and should cure any problems with getting downloads.

If you have an older Mac that is using MacTCP instead of Open Transport, try putting the Hosts file in the System Folder.

Note from the Apple Tech Info Library:

• Open Transport TCP/IP automatically uses a Hosts file stored the Preferences folder of the active System Folder. If no Hosts file is found in the Preferences folder, Open Transport TCP/IP searches the active System Folder for a Hosts file.

This means that if you don't already have a Hosts file, and you just drop it in your System Folder and reboot, it will work. However, System Folder:Preferences is the default and recommended location for all systems using Open Transport.

Additional Configuration Options

You can configure TCP/IP to use the contents of this new Hosts file, which will activate the Hosts file without having to reboot.

To do this:

• Open the TCP/IP control panel.
• Get into Advanced user mode by:
  • selecting the User Mode command under the Edit menu.
  • In the User Mode dialog select Advanced then click OK.
    
• Click on the Select Hosts File button.
• In the File Open file dialog that comes up, naviagate to and select the Hosts file you created.
• Click on OK if it asks you if you are sure you want to replace the Hosts File with the contents of the selected file.
• Close TCP/IP control panel and click OK to save the configuration.

The above procedure will copy the contents of the file selected into the Hosts file in the Preferences folder, or create one there if none exists.

Notes Regarding System 9.1 Upgrade

It has been reported that the upgrade process from System 9.0.4 to System 9.1 will delete the Hosts file. If you are planning to upgrade to System 9.1, backup your Hosts file before upgrading.

Notes Regarding OS X

Mac Palace clients will operate well and perform downloads under Classic in OS X providing a Hosts file is properly installed. The Hosts file should be saved to System Folder:Preferences under Classic. It is recommended that you access the TCP/IP Control Panel and use the Select Hosts File function to properly install the file.

Q - How can I get the word out to my Mac guests about this fix ?

Below is a script with a message that only appears to Mac users, and can be placed at gates and Palace entry points to get the word out to the Mac Palace community.

    ON
    SIGNON { {
      "@512,20 Note to Mac Users: Having trouble with Palace downloads ?" "
        Type 'macfix' to see a helpful webpage." & LOCALMSG }
      DATETIME 0 <  IF
    }
    ON OUTCHAT {
      { "http://www.chatserve.com/faq-macfix.htm" url =
        "Now opening your browser to " url & LOCALMSG
        "\"" url & "\" NETGOTO" & STRTOATOM 60 ALARMEXEC
      } CHATSTR "macfix" == CHATSTR "mac fix" == OR IF
    }
    

If you use a "pass-through" server entry procedure, where someone enters the server in a room and is then immediately moved to another room, change the ON SIGNON in the above script to ON ENTER, and place the script in the first room where a Mac user would realize that the downloads aren't working.

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