ARCHIVED: In Mac OS, what is Open Transport?
Note: This document does not apply to Mac OS X.
Open Transport is the networking software of Mac OS. It
includes the TCP/IP and AppleTalk control
panels, which serve as replacements for the MacTCP and
Network control panels of Classic Networking.
Open Transport requires at least a 68030 processor and Mac OS 7.1, but
works best with Mac OS 7.5.3 or later and a PowerPC processor.
Mac OS 7.6 and later includes Open Transport by default. Open
Transport was an optional install in Mac OS 7.5.3, and a very buggy
version was included in Mac OS 7.5.2. Current releases of Open
Transport are not available for download. You can update older
versions to 1.1.2 by downloading it from Apple's software library at:
http://download.info.apple.com/Apple_Support_Area/Apple_Software_Updates/English-North_American/Macintosh/Networking-Communications/Open_Transport/
Download all the files that begin with OT_1.1.2 .
Open Transport is faster and more stable than Classic Networking. You can set multiple network settings for your computer, and switch between them without rebooting. If you are still using Classic Networking, unless your system doesn't meet Open Transport's minimum requirements or you need to run very old networking software, upgrade to Open Transport.
Note: If you have a Performa or Power Macintosh 52xx, 53xx, 62xx, or 63xx (excluding the Performa 6360), you must use Open Transport 1.1.1 or higher. Versions prior to 1.1.1 (including version 1.1 which shipped with the System 7.5 Update 2.0) will not work with these models.
Also see:
- For Mac OS X, where can I obtain updates and new releases?
- For Mac OS X, where can I download freeware, shareware, commercial software, and software updates?
Last modified on July 10, 2008.






