Setup New Classic Mac Machine

Prerequisites

•

MCP server is configured:

bash

# If not done yet:
cp .mcp.json.example .mcp.json
# Then restart Claude Code or run /mcp

•
Mac has RumpusFTP server running (or equivalent FTP server)
•
You know the Mac's:
- •IP address
- •FTP username and password
- •System version (e.g., System 7.5.3, System 7.6.1)
- •Platform: mactcp (68k) or opentransport (PPC/68040)

Usage

bash

/setup-machine

The skill will interactively prompt for:

•Machine nickname (e.g., "performa6400", "se30")
•IP address - simple text input (e.g., "10.188.1.102")
•Platform: mactcp (68k) or opentransport (PPC/68040)
•FTP username (e.g., "peertalk")
•FTP password
•System version (e.g., "7.6.1", "7.5.3")
•Optional description (e.g., "Performa 6400/200 - PPC")

Note: All text fields (machine ID, IP, credentials, system version) use simple text input without numbered options to avoid input conflicts.

What This Skill Does

1. Validate Input

•Check machine ID doesn't already exist
•Validate IP address format
•Verify platform is valid (mactcp or opentransport)

2. Add to machines.json

•Append new machine entry to .claude/mcp-servers/classic-mac-hardware/machines.json

•Format:

json

{
  "performa6400": {
    "name": "Performa 6400",
    "platform": "opentransport",
    "system": "System 7.6.1",
    "cpu": "PPC 603e",
    "ftp": {
      "host": "10.188.1.102",
      "port": 21,
      "username": "peertalk",
      "password": "hunter2",
      "paths": {
        "binaries": "Applications:PeerTalk",
        "logs": "Documents:PeerTalk-Logs",
        "temp": "Temp",
        "launchappl": "Applications:LaunchAPPLServer"
      }
    },
    "notes": "Performa 6400/200 - PPC"
  }
}

3. Reload MCP Configuration

•Call mcp__classic-mac-hardware__reload_config to pick up new machine

4. Test FTP Connectivity

•Call mcp__classic-mac-hardware__test_connection with test_launchappl: false
•Verify FTP server is reachable and credentials work

5. Create Directory Structure

•
Use MCP create_directory tool to create:
- •Applications, Applications:PeerTalk, Applications:LaunchAPPLServer
- •Documents, Documents:PeerTalk-Logs
- •Temp
•Empty FTP root is normal - just create the directories

6. Next Steps

Provide clear next steps:

code

✓ Machine registered: performa6400
✓ FTP connectivity verified
✓ Directory structure created

Next steps:
1. Deploy LaunchAPPLServer and demo apps:
   /setup-launcher performa6400

2. After deploying, run LaunchAPPLServer on your Mac and test:
   /test-machine performa6400

3. Once verified, deploy PeerTalk builds:
   /deploy performa6400 opentransport

Example Session

code

User: /setup-machine

Claude: Let's register your new Classic Mac!

Checking MCP server... ✓ connected

What's the machine nickname (e.g., "performa6400", "se30")?
User: performa6200

Claude: What's the IP address?
User: 10.188.1.213

Claude: What platform?
  [mactcp] System 6.0.8 - 7.5.5 (68k)
  [opentransport] System 7.6.1+ (PPC/68040)
User: mactcp

Claude: What's the FTP username?
User: mac

Claude: What's the FTP password?
User: mac

Claude: What's the System version (e.g., "7.5.3")?
User: 7.5.3

Claude: Optional description (e.g., "Performa 6200 - 68040"):
User: Performa 6200/75 - 68040

Claude: Registering performa6200...

✓ Added to machines.json
✓ Reloaded MCP configuration
✓ FTP connectivity verified
✓ Directory structure created

Next steps:
1. Deploy LaunchAPPLServer and demo apps:
   /setup-launcher performa6200

2. After deploying, run LaunchAPPLServer on your Mac and test:
   /test-machine performa6200

3. Once verified, deploy PeerTalk builds:
   /deploy performa6200 mactcp

Platform Selection Guide

Platform	System Versions	Architecture	Use For
mactcp	6.0.8 - 7.5.5	68k (SE/30, IIci, LC)	MacTCP networking
opentransport	7.6.1+ / Mac OS 8-9	PPC, late 68040	Open Transport networking

Troubleshooting

FTP Connection Failed

•Check IP: Ping the Mac from your network
•Check FTP server: Ensure RumpusFTP is running on the Mac
•Check credentials: Username/password correct?
•Firewall: Some Macs may need FTP port 21 enabled

Directory Creation Failed

•Disk space: Check if Mac has enough free space
•Permissions: Ensure FTP user can write to the root directory
•FTP server: Some FTP servers may require specific path formats

Implementation Notes

CRITICAL RULES:

•ALWAYS use MCP tools - Never use raw Python/Bash for FTP operations
•Empty FTP root is normal - Don't probe it, just create directories
•Check prerequisites first - Verify MCP server is available

Workflow:

•Check MCP is available - Call mcp__classic-mac-hardware__list_machines
•Use AskUserQuestion ONCE to collect all machine information in a single round
•Read machines.json to check for duplicates (create if doesn't exist)
•Validate inputs - If anything is incomplete, ask follow-up questions
•Write to machines.json with correct nested format
•
Call MCP tools:
- •mcp__classic-mac-hardware__reload_config
- •mcp__classic-mac-hardware__test_connection (with test_launchappl: false)
- •mcp__classic-mac-hardware__create_directory (multiple calls for folder structure)
•Provide clear next steps - Suggest /setup-launcher to deploy LaunchAPPLServer

Files Modified

•.claude/mcp-servers/classic-mac-hardware/machines.json - Machine registry

Related Skills

•/setup-launcher - Build and deploy LaunchAPPLServer and demo apps
•/test-machine - Test FTP and LaunchAPPL connectivity
•/deploy - Deploy PeerTalk binaries after setup
•/fetch-logs - Retrieve PT_Log output from the Mac