Let me begin by saying that i'm an MCSE on Windows but a newbie in mac.

In Windows your options are as follows:

1) HYPER TERMINAL

PROS: is included free with every version of windows.
CONS: file transfer is very slow, not reliable, not secure....

2) DIAL UP SERVER (included in win9x,me,2k,xp)
PROS: is included with windows, is very easy to setup.
CONS: not secure, not too many options.

3) RAS
PROS: very secure,alot of options,very reliable
CONS: not easy to setup, only included with Server OSes

4) PC Anywhere 
PRO: easy to setup, fairly secure,alot of options
CONS: very pricey

My question is for mac what options do i have? (commercial or free)

if it is included with OS please provide guide to set it up or provide link.

please indicate for Mac OS and for MAC OS X (if they differ).

Please keep in mind that using dial up internet isn't an option (if it
would we would use gotomypc.com) so we need a dialup server.

Thanks alot!

Hello Ant_t,

I'll try to follow your outline to give you equivalent solutions for
each of those options.

[1] Instead of HyperTerminal, you can use products such as:

Zterm - http://homepage.mac.com/dalverson/zterm/

I got my copy bundled with my Global Village modem, but you can
download a copy from David Alverson's site for either Mac OS X or
Classic (9 or earlier). From the docs, it appears you can go all the
way back to OS 7 if needed. Price is $20 to register. I used this
extensively for years to a variety of sites. It can transfer data
using a variety of protocols.

Kermit - http://www.columbia.edu/kermit/ck80.html

In some ways, kermit is the "Granddaddy" of file transfer / terminal
emulator programs. The "Mac Kermit" (for classic systems) has not been
updated in a few years but is still available at
  http://www.columbia.edu/kermit/mac.html
and should still work on older Mac OS releases (actually M68k
systems!). Kermit also has the advantage of running the same
application on PC / Mac systems.

[2] Dial Up Server

If your school lab, has a PC running terminal server (or a dial-in
line supporting SLIP or PPP), you can certainly use that as well. That
is perhaps the easiest method since a variety of network applications
(e.g, ftp, remote shell) will then work on the dial up line.

As another alternative, as noted by Cynthias, is to use "getty" if you
use OS X.  I checked my system and
  /etc/ttys
appears to be set up to allow dialin / login on a serial interface
(/dev/tty.serial). I don't have that device on my system, but you may
have it. If not, check for /dev/tty.modem which should be the internal
modem. If you change the file, that may allow dialin to the mac, but
would likely prevent dial up to an ISP (since a login job is attached
to that device). If you want to pursue this, we'd probably need to
spend some time working through clarifications to get the
configuration correct. Note - this gets you a "login" prompt when you
dial up the line (assuming the modem answers the phone). You would
then login as a user / run kermit (or another application) to transfer
the data and then logout.

There is a short article describing this at
  http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20030724135653825
where they describe adding a VT100 (or compatible) terminal to an OS X
system using the printer port (and also mentions the modem port).

It may be possible to set up the Mac to act as a dial in server (for
network access) but I cannot seem to find the details on how to do it
[but I will dig some more...]. It may be easier to have a remote
access server (and using an existing school network) for dial in
instead. If you don't already have one - see
  http://www.dealtime.com/xPP-Remote_Access_Servers--9900_price_range_under_500
for a variety of low cost models.

If you have a dial-in (or remote access) server - let me know with a
clarification request and I can suggest some additional features to
turn on for the systems to share files.

[3/4] RAS / PC Anywhere I tend to lump into the same category. Perhaps
the best of breed for that kind of application includes:

Timbuktu Pro - http://www.netopia.com/software/products/tb2/mac/index.html

Which provides a comprehensive remote control application for
Macintosh (and Windows). It may require a network connection (e.g.,
SLIP or PPP) to work and may be REALLY SLOW on a dial up line.

Apple Remote Desktop - http://www.apple.com/remotedesktop/

More of a remote administration software package, has a "10 client"
(one administrator) package price of $299. May have the same
performance as tb2.

Other good resources includes:
  http://www.osxfaq.com/
which includes a number of good technical articles and forums.
  http://discussions.info.apple.com/
a similar set of discussions between Apple users, sponsored by Apple.

Don't hesitate to ask for clarification. Especially if you already
have a remote access server, I can point to instructions on setting up
both the servers / clients to share files, login, etc.
  --Maniac

Mac OS X

1.	Connect to Internet

2.	Click on the Blue Apple ? far left of top finder bar

3.	Open System Preferences

4.	Choose Sharing under Internet and Network

5.	Enable Personal File Sharing

6.	At the bottom of the window you will be given a web address by
which the other Apple computer can access yours.

Note: Files you want to share should be placed in Public Folder

on BSD style boxes, you could actually use GETTY to set it up. Now,
understand security is in the eye of the beholder :).

http://www.citi.umich.edu/apollo-archive/mac-apollo
http://www.tldp.org/HOWTO/Mac-Terminal-4.html

Now, arguably, there are a few issues that aren't included, here, and
you may want to check out things you can and cannot do with your
systems.

The links above aren't *exactly* the way you want to go, but they are
very close. The concepts are very similar.

Hi thanks for your comments,

Let me clarify we are talking about a restricted school lab (internet
is a big NO) the teacher would like to dial in to a school lab Mac (or
have someone call her PC) so that they can share files.

so comment 1 isn't a possibility (but will keep in mind if there's no
other solution. thanks alot ant-t)

comment 3 crythias- do you mean OSX? are OSX and BSD apps compatible?

I meant call her mac (no pc's involved, let's keep it simple :)

The links I gave were specific to Mac. I don't have or use Macs, but I
have enough familiarity to be dangerous. The latest Mac OS was built
on (I believe) OpenBSD for PowerPC processors. So, yes, theoretically
(and probably in practicality) BSD apps will run on Mac OSX.

You may want to look at a Mac/BSD BBS program ... here's a free one:
http://www.mbse.dds.nl/mbse/mbsebbs/requirements.html

of course, you could work on establishing something like a RADIUS
server.. http://www.daemonnews.org/200105/dialup1.html is an older,
but well placed article.

Here's the deal: You need to connect from somewhere to a Mac. The Mac
runs a BSD style OS. Once the connection is made, you will want to
transfer files back and forth. Normal telnet (which includes
Hyperterminal dial-in) and ssh isn't going to do it, and FTP isn't
going to do it unless you can establish an IP communication between
the two machines. So, you have options of BBS style hosting or RADIUS
to assign an IP address upon connection.

I can't help how to do any of this, I'm afraid. As the Oracle said, "I
can only show you the door..." :)

These are not phone modem instructions, but Ethernet instructions for Mac OS X:

Connect the computers using an Ethernet crossover cable.

Open Sharing preferences on both computers and turn on Personal File
Sharing. Note the Rendezvous Name and Computer Name for the computers.

On one of the computers, choose Connect To Server from the Finder's Go
menu and double-click the name of the other computer.