Getting online with Mac OS X Developer Preview

Early versions of Mac OS X Developer Preview require a BootP server to get an IP address instead of a DHCP server.

I run a Debian-based Linux distribution as my main machine. I followed these steps to get the old computer online.

Connection Sharing

1. Connect your PowerPC Mac directly to your Debian computer using an Ethernet cable.
2. Run nm-connection-editor.
3. Add a new connection.
4. Set the device to your Ethernet interface.
5. Go to IPv4 Settings.
6. Set Method to Shared to other computers.
7. Go to IPv6 Settings.
8. Set Method to Shared to other computers.
9. Save.

ISC dhcpd

It's called dhcpd, but it also supports BootP.

1. Run sudo apt install isc-dhcp-server.
2. Edit /etc/dhcp/dhcpd.conf.
3. Add this to make your Debian computer 10.42.0.1 and your PowerPC Mac pick anything from 10.42.0.10 through 10.42.0.100:

subnet 10.42.0.0 netmask 255.255.255.0 {
  range dynamic-bootp 10.42.0.10 10.42.0.100;
  option broadcast-address 10.42.0.255;
  option routers 10.42.0.1;
}

Then, on the Client

• Login as root
• Go to Apple Menu -> Computer Settings -> Network -> TCP/IP -> Global TCP/IP
• Set Configure to Manually
• Set Host Name to whatever you want
• Set Default Router to 10.42.0.1 (or what you set the router to in the previous section)
• Reboot
• Test by opening Terminal and trying ping 10.42.0.1

What to try if it still doesn't work

• Manually enter the IP address instead of using BootP -- you should be able to use 10.42.0.10 (through 100) without additional configuration