Columbia University Center for Computing Activities INFO-KERMIT DIGEST VOLUME 9 Christine M. Gianone, Editor January - June 1989 Table of Contents Volume 9, Number 1 1 Announcing MS-DOS Kermit 2.32 1 New German MS-DOS Kermit Help File 4 Volume 9, Number 2 11 New Release of C-Kermit Available for Testing (UNIX only) 11 Announcing Apple II Kermit Version 3.85 13 Announcing a New MS-DOS Kermit 2.32 for the GRiD Compass II 13 Announcing Commodore 64/128 Kermit Version 2.2 14 Nice New MS-Kermit 2.32 Features 18 Volume 9, Number 3 19 Announcing MS-DOS Kermit 2.32/A 19 Announcing IBM Mainframe VM/CMS Kermit-370 Version 4.1 21 Announcing IBM Mainframe MVS/TSO Kermit-370 Version 4.1 23 Volume 9, Number 4 25 Announcing IBM Mainframe MUSIC Kermit Version 4.1 25 C-Kermit 4E(072) Is Released 27 Announcing UniFLEX 6809 Kermit 28 Announcing Another New MS-Windows Kermit 29 Announcing SCANCHEK.C 4.1 31 Volume 9, Number 5 34 Volume 9, Number 6 45 New Network Address for Kermit Distribution 45 Kermit File Server Available on LISTSERV@HEARN 46 New Release of C-Kermit Available for Testing 47 Announcing the Final Test of OS/2 Kermit 49 Announcing Kermit for Hewlett-Packard BASIC Workstations 50 Volume 9, Number 7 53 Volume 9, Number 8 63 Volume 9, Number 9 72 New Kermit Discussion List in Japan 74 Announcing MVS/TSO Kermit 4.1.001 75 Announcing TSO Kermit 4.1.002 75 Announcing CMS Kermit 4.1.001 75 New Release of Kermit-11 for the DEC PDP-11 76 Announcing Kermit for the Honeywell DPS-6 76 Announcing Version 2.9 of Apollo Pascal Kermit 77 Announcing GEC/OS4000 Kermit Version 3.9 78 INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V9 #1 Page 1 Info-Kermit Digest Fri, 6 Jan 1989 Volume 9 : Number 1 Today's Topics: Announcing MS-DOS Kermit 2.32 New German MS-DOS Kermit Help File MS-Kermit and EIA flow control (RTS/CTS) MS-Kermit and the Public Domain MNP software emulation package. MS-Kermit and the Hyperion? Kermit Parity Negotiation? Kermit with Telebit Modem Support? VT100 setting file for MacKermit and the IBM 7171 protocol converter Some Responses to V8 #11 and Kermit-370 Bug in Kermit-80 for Northstar Advantage Send digest submissions to Info-Kermit@CUNIXC.CC.COLUMBIA.EDU, requests for addition to or deletion from the Info-Kermit subscriber list to Info-Kermit-Request@CUNIXC.CC.COLUMBIA.EDU. Kermit files may be obtained over networks and by mail order. On the Internetwork, use FTP to log in to host CUNIXC, CUNIXC.CC.COLUMBIA.EDU, a VAX 8700 running UNIX (Ultrix). The IP host number is 128.59.40.130. You should be able to to FTP to CUNIXC, login as user ANONYMOUS (any password) and GET the desired files. The Kermit files are in directories kermit/a, kermit/b, kermit/c, kermit/d, and kermit/e. You can also get Kermit files over BITNET/EARN; to get started send a message with text HELP to KERMSRV, the Kermit file server, at host CUVMA. For detailed instructions, read the file k1/aanetw.hlp (AANETW HLP on KERMSRV). To order by mail, request a complete list of Kermit versions and an order form from Kermit Distribution, Columbia University Center for Computing Activities, 612 West 115th Street, New York, NY 10025 USA. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed Dec 21 13:14:20 1988 EST From: Christine Gianone Subject: Announcing MS-DOS Kermit 2.32 Keywords: MS-DOS Kermit 2.32, IBM PC, DEC Rainbow, HP-150 Keywords: Grid Compass II, Victor 9000, Hebrew, Arabic This is to announce version 2.32 of MS-DOS Kermit for the IBM PC and PS/2 families and compatibles, the DEC Rainbow, the HP-150 and 110, the Grid Compass II, the Victor 9000, and for "generic DOS". This release replaces version 2.31 of July 1988. The majority of the work was done by Professor Joe R. Doupnik of Utah State University, who also prepared the 2.29, 2.30, and 2.31 releases. Like previous releases, version 2.32 includes an advanced and efficient implementation of the Kermit file transfer protocol, emulation of the VT102, VT52, and Heath 19 terminals, as well as the Tektronix 4010/4014 graphics terminals, a script programming language, and a wide variety of options, settings, and other features. New to version 2.32 are many bug fixes and internal improvements, and one major new feature -- support, during CONNECT mode, for languages like Hebrew and Arabic in which characters are displayed from right to left, plus Page 2 INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V9 #1 mechanisms to facilitate switching between character sets (and their associated directions). These new language features were adapted from work done by Baruch Cochavy, IIT, Haifa, Israel, whose test version of "Hebrew Kermit" was announced in Info-Kermit V8 #9. The enhanced language support is available through the new command SET TERMINAL DIRECTION, plus a new ALTERNATE-ROM option for the SET TERMINAL CHARACTER-SET command, plus the association of special predefined macro names with new private escape sequences. Other improvements include: - A new ASK command, prompts user to input data to a variable. - A new IF [NOT] EQUAL command compares string variables (use with ASK). - A new ASSIGN commands copies one variable to another. - Screens cleared by ESC [ 2 J are now saved in the rollback buffer. - Removal of Timeout and Hangup screen messages during script/macro execution. - A way to pass multi-word strings as single arguments to a macro. - A way to disable server timeout NAKs (while server waits to answer a call). - REMOTE LOGIN command (for use with Kermit servers that support it). - Miscellaneous improvements in the file transfer display. - Better color support during CONNECT. Among the major bugs that were fixed are: - Problems with GOTOs and labels in script programs. - Ungermann-Bass Net/1 support. - Loss of data when receiving files to a printer. - Crashes resulting from overflow of script or macro buffers. - Crashes resulting from stray interrupts. - Victor 9000 now can do Tektronix graphics again. - More COM1/COM2 confusion cleared up (e.g. for PCjr). - Filesize and disk space computation with file attribute packets. - SET SEND TIMEOUT interference with file encoding and decoding. - Program should now be assemblable by MASM 5.1 as well as 5.0 and 4.0. The changes since version 2.31 are described fully in the file MSR232.UPD. The user manual, MSKERM.DOC (.MSS, .PS) has been revised to reflect the new features. This new release is available in both source and binary form. It may be ordered on diskette or magnetic tape from Columbia, and it may be obtained via network file transfer over the Internet or BITNET/EARN. On the Internet, use FTP (user anonymous) to host CUNIXC.CC.COLUMBIA.EDU [128.59.40.130], CWD (or CD) to the directory kermit/a. On BITNET/EARN, send an interactive or e-mail message to KERMSRV@CUVMA (the BITNET Kermit file server), containing the text HELP, to get started. The executable files are stored in a special printable format, called "BOO files", suitable for BITNET file transfer, electronic mail, etc. These are decoded back into .EXE files using any of the MSBPCT "BOO-file decoder" programs. The documentation is available online in plain ASCII text format, in Scribe text formatter source format, and in Postscript format. Following is a synopsis of the files. The KERMSRV name is the same as the CUNIXC name, except the CUNIXC name is lowercase with a period between the filename and filetype, wherease the KERMSRV name is uppercase with a space separating the filename and filetype, e.g. msaaaa.hlp on CUNIXC is MSAAAA HLP on CUVMA. CUNIXC Name Size Description INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V9 #1 Page 3 msaaaa.hlp 7K Explanation of file naming conventions msbaaa.hlp 4K Explanation of bootstrapping procedure msb*.* 174K total BOO-file encoding/decoding programs, many languages msvibm.boo 115K IBM PC Kermit, BOO-encoded executable msvrb1.boo 83K DEC Rainbow Kermit BOO file msvgen.boo 78K Generic MS-DOS Kermit BOO file msvhp1.boo 77K HP-150 (untested) msvgri.boo 78K Grid Compass II (untested) mskerm.doc 333K MS-DOS 2.32 Kermit manual, plain ASCII text mskerm.ps 489K MS-DOS 2.32 Kermit manual, for Postscript printers mskerm.mss 323K Scribe text formatter source for manual mskerm.hlp 16K A summary of MS-Kermit commands mskerm.bwr 14K List of known restrictions, bugs, etc. mss*.* 776K total System-independent MASM Source files (12 files) msg*.* 128K System-dependent source (Tektronix graphics) msu*.* 70-85K each Sys-depn source (keyboard support, all systems) msx*.* 25-174K each Sys-depn source (port i/o, etc, all systems) msy*.* 22-124K each Sys-depn source (terminal emulation, IBM only) msz*.* 66-189K each Sys-depn source (term emul, cont'd, IBM only) msv*.mak 2K each Microsoft MAKE files for each version msv*.bat 2K each Batch files to build each version msv*.lnk 1K each LINK command files for each version The utility program MSUCHK.C (and .BOO), contributed by Phil Benchoff, allows convenient determination of MS-Kermit's keyboard codes on the IBM PC family. And the files MSIXSE.* are the XSEND program, contributed by Mark Zinzow, for constructing MS-Kermit command files that send entire directory trees from one DOS system to another. For the benefit of those who are still running version 2.29 and haven't converted to later versions because the SET KEY syntax changed so drastically, there is also a new file, MSVIBM.KEY, which lists the old (2.29) and new (2.30 and later) IBM keyboard scan codes. Be sure to read the MSKERM.BWR file before trying to use the new version, or reporting any problems with it. Here are the minimum files needed for the new release ("xxx" stands for the specific version, IBM, RB1, HP1, HPX, V90, GEN, etc): 1. For everybody: The documentation -- MSKERM.DOC, MSKERM.HLP, MSKERM.BWR, MSR232.UPD. 2. The new Kermit program itself: MSVxxx.BOO (where xxx denotes the particular MS-DOS system: IBM, RB1, HP1, etc). 3. If you don't have an MSBPCT "BOO-file decoder", also get at least MSBPCT.BAS (the slow BASIC version) and MSBPCT.BOO (an .EXE version from C, which you can decode with MSBPCT.BAS). Use MSBPCT.EXE to decode MSVxxx.BOO. 4. For those who want to make modifications to the sources: MSS*.*, MSGxxx.* (if any), MSXxxx.*, MSYxxx.* (if any), MSZxxx.* (if any), MSVxxx.MAK (or .BAT if you don't have MAKE), and MSVxxx.LNK. The systems for which we don't yet have the new version ready are still in Page 4 INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V9 #1 the Kermit distribution as before, under the MSV, MSX, and MSY prefixes. These will be replaced if and when new ones appear. The IBM PC, DEC Rainbow, and HP-150 versions may also be ordered on diskette from Columbia, along with typeset, printed copies of the manual. The IBM version is available on 5.25-inch 360K DS DD diskettes, and on 3.5-inch 720K DS diskettes for the PS/2 family. The Rainbow version is on RX50. The HP-150 version is on 3.5" diskette. FINAL WORDS: Like any Kermit program, MS-DOS Kermit is for everyone to use and share. There is no software license, and the program and documentation may be reproduced and redistributed without restriction, so long as this is not done for profit. Please take or order the files you need. If you're getting files over a network, please be judicious -- don't ask for MS*.*, or the networks will be choked for months! Once you get a working copy at your site, share it with others, rather than having them make further network requests. Send complaints, bug reports, suggestions, comments, or even praise (where it's deserved) to Info-Kermit@CUNIXC (.CC.COLUMBIA.EDU). And thanks once again on behalf of the world's thousands or millions of MS-DOS Kermit users to Joe Doupnik for his skill, generosity, and patience. And thanks also to the beta testers. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 23 Dec 88 17:01:16 SET From: RECK@DBNUAMA1.BITNET Subject: New German MS-DOS Kermit Help File Keywords: MS-DOS Kermit 2.32, German Enclosed is the updated German version of the MS-Kermit help file. Here are a few notes on seeming glitches in the help file; none of them serious, of course: Section top-level commands: CLOSE: option "ALL" is missing Section remote commands: REMOTE LOGIN is missing REMOTE SEND should really be REMOTE MESSAGE, I presume Commands honoured by MS-Kermit server: I cannot check this, since I don't have a suitable connection to a PC; but I guess MS-Kermit will honour a HELP command? Section SEND/RECEIVE parameters: There is no SET SEND DELAY command - the appropriate command is just SET DELAY. TIMEOUT : time given is in *seconds* Section SHOW commands: TRANSLATION does not accept "INPUT" as a subcommand. TRANSLATION by itself suffices. INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V9 #1 Page 5 Pretty minor stuff... \Gisbert [Ed. - Thanks, Gisbert, all corrections valid, and all are now in the new (English) MSKERM.HLP. The German version is in MSKGER.HLP.] ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 23 Nov 88 14:17:13 EST From: John C Klensin Subject: MS-Kermit and EIA flow control (RTS/CTS) Keywords: MS-DOS Kermit 2.31 Our otherwise-several-times-qualified new ISDN phone system seems to strongly prefer RTS/CTS to XON/XOFF, especially at higher speeds. I looked at the possibility of adding this to MSKERMIT many years ago (before you got actively involved) and decided I was not motivated enough. I'm now feeling motivated, since AT&T claims significantly higher data throughput when hardware flow control is used. On the other hand, I don't want to do anything that would foul up or delay the brilliant job you are doing, or whatever release schedule you have. So: should I pick up the sources for 2.31A from somewhere and go to work on them? Or should I do this against the "released" 2.31 sources, or should I wait until after 2.31A becomes "official"? While I haven't looked at the code in 2-3 years, I assume that this type of enhancement should impact only a single module, plus or minus the table(s) that know what all of the options are. If you can point me to the right place, it would save a bit of time and be appreciated. Thanks, John Klensin, MIT [From jrd - The place to look for hardware vs software flow control in all in one file: msxibm.asm. We have just canned version 2.32 (nee 2.31/A) and Columbia is sorting through the mountain of files I sent to them. Hardware flow control is slightly more messy because we need to probe the hardware for a signal level and to select sending a character vs wiggling a wire. It would be interlocked with the real UART port, as contrasted with the zillions of other port options now present (Bios and networks). It is do-able fairly easily and cleanly. Have a go, with my blessing.] Thanks. I'll wait until the 2.32 sources appear, then go at it. Your comment about the messy-ness parallels a note that I sent to the local AT&T folks yesterday: my experience with EIA flow control is that it works very well when one has a controller organized s.t. one can get interrupts when the state of the lines change. When, as with the IBM PC UART, about the only thing one can do is poll them, one is basically using EIA control to simulate Xon/Xoff logic, with no real gain in performance and at a higher nusiance level. But, who am I to argue with the hardware folks.... On the tab stuff, I think that something like 1:8, or some other way of saying "start with 1, increment by 8 until you get to the end" would be a lovely way to spell "default", as well as solving many other problems (there are a few Page 6 INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V9 #1 word processing packages that could use similar suggestions). [jrd: Yes, I understand. The tabs set by the host can be overridden by a terminal reset, \Kreset, while in Connect mode. This is much like a real VT102 where the "setup" values are restored by a reset. When we set tabs at the Kermit prompt level that is essentially the "setup" state for the emulator. A default condition could be added to the SET TERMINAL command, where default means every 8; actually I'd like an implied repeat count on the tabs 1:8 start in col 1, repeat by skipping 8 columns, or something like that.] Thanks again. john ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 17 Dec 88 23:43:06 +0200 From: Ze'ev "Steed" Shtadler Subject: MS-Kermit and the Public Domain MNP software emulation package. Keywords: MS-DOS Kermit, MNP Emulation Software Looking in the SIMTEL-20 archives I found a software package that can make any asynchronous modem an MNP Class-2 error-free modem. This package is written in Microsoft C and Assembler. The telephone lines around here are noisy, and it is very difficult to use Kermit as a terminal emulator (and I don't put the blame on Kermit :-). The modem on the other end of the line is an MNP modem, but I couldn't use its error free option since I can only afford a regular modem. By putting the MNP emulation into Kermit I can have an error free terminal too. Did anyone try to combine Kermit with this package? How complicated is changing the serial I/O routines? Ze'ev. ARPANET: steed%techunix.bitnet@cunyvm.cuny.edu UUCP: ...!psuvax1!techunix.bitnet!steed BITNET: steed@techunix Domain: steed@techunix.technion.ac.il CSNET: steed%techunix.bitnet@csnet-relay.csnet [Ed. - This would probably be a BIG job, and would tax Kermit's terminal emulator, which already does about 100 things with each character (see the new diagram in the MS-DOS Kermit 2.32 User Guide). However, you could conceivably use this program "under" Kermit, in conjunction with an ANSI.SYS or NANSI.SYS or similar console driver, and then pop back up to Kermit when you need to transfer files.] ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 15 Dec 1988 15:52 EDT From: Mark Bramwell 519 661-3714 Subject: MS-Kermit and the Hyperion? Keywords: Hyperion, MS-DOS Kermit I have recently picked up a Hyperion portable computer. This is a MS-DOS machine whose day has come and gone. It has 256k, built-in monitor, serial, INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V9 #1 Page 7 parallel, and 2 360k floppy drives. The unit boots ok with PC-DOS 3.1 and PC-DOS 4.0 The serial port is not exactly IBM compatible. If I put a break-out on the serial port and type in the command DIR > COM1: I can see data coming from the port. However, kermit says COM1: NOT AVAILABLE. Question: Is there ANY version of kermit that will run on the hyperion? Does anyone know the IRQ and BASE address of this box so I can try patching a comm package? There were two versions of the hyperion, and I have one of each. Slight BIOS change between the two. [Ed. - Several things to try: (1) Use Generic DOS Kermit, rather than the IBM PC version; (2) Use the IBM PC version, but try giving the command "SET PORT 2", or if that doesn't work, "SET PORT BIOS1" or "SET PORT BIOS2"; (3) get the latest source code and add Hyperion support to it.] ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 28 Nov 88 10:56 MDT From: Pete Klammer 303/556-3915 Subject: Kermit Parity Negotiation? Keywords: Kermit Protocol, Parity Just about the last frontier of KERMIT user friendliness is parity. Would it be possible for KERMIT to automatically sense or set or negotiate parity? Getting parity right is the "final frustration". We have MS-KERMIT v2.31, VMS KERMIT-32 v3.3.111, PRIME KERMIT v1.04.1, C-KERMIT on various UNIXen, etc. Our "least-common-denominator" parity setting recommendation is 7-BIT EVEN. But when we log into VMS, it is through a DECserver-500 ethernetted to the VAX, and the parity is effectively concealed from VMS: SET TERM and SHOW TERM will not budge VMS's stubborn notion that our terminal parity is NONE. So when we crank up VMS KERMIT into SERVER mode, it is thinking PARITY NONE, while our PC KERMIT is still thinking PARITY EVEN. Any GET, SEND, or REMOTE commands now retry fruitlessly. Couldn't the guy in PARITY NONE mode step down into EVEN or ODD for a couple of retries? * --poko Pete Klammer, Systems Programmer, (303)556-3915 * CU-Denver Computing Services / Campus Box 169 * 1200 Larimer St NC2506 / Denver CO 80204-5300 * BITNET%"PKLAMMER@CUDENVER" * INTERNET%"PKLAMMER%CUDNVR@VAXF.COLORADO.EDU" [Ed. - Agreed. As you noted, the system that is running the Kermit program cannot necessarily be aware of what parity is being used, even by itself. Thus, negotiation wouldn't necessarily work. But a heuristic can be used instead -- anyone who wants to is welcome to try it. The leading control fields of the packet (MARK, LEN, SEQ, and TYPE) are always 7-bit characters. Thus the receiver of a packet can deduce that parity is in use if any of these characters have their 8th bit set. In fact, by finding any two characters in this set that would have opposite parity sense, you could even determine which Page 8 INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V9 #1 kind of parity (even, odd, or mark) is being used. The only pitfall here is distinguishing "space" parity from no parity. This trick also assumes, possibly incorrectly, that a system wants you to send it the same kind of parity that it is sending to you.] ------------------------------ Date: 16 Dec 88 08:51:06 GMT From: versatc!tran@sun.com (Tony Tran) Subject: Kermit with Telebit Modem Support? Keywords: Telebit, Modems Does anybody have a version of kermit which supports the Telebit Trailblazer modem at 19.2kb ? Ours only supports up to 9.6kb. I would appreciate any hint or sources sent to my following e-mail address. Tony Tran Versatec, Inc. Santa Clara, Calif. {sun|ames|pyramid|ubvax}!versatc!tran [Ed. - All versions of Kermit already work OK with the Telebit. But Unix Kermit only lets you give SET SPEED commands up to 9600, whereas the Telebit can run at 19,200. The trick is just to add the (nonstandard) symbols for 19,200 baud to the C-Kermit source and recompile, e.g. as outlined by asg@space.mit.edu (Sergei A. Gourevitch), whose message on the subject has been added to the ckuker.bwr file. The Telebit modem, by the way, actually executes the Kermit protocol between the modem and the computer, and its own "PEP" protocol between the modems. Thus the Kermit you run (say) on your PC is actually trading packets with the Kermit in the modem, not the Kermit on the other end of the connection.] ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 16 Dec 88 00:48:48 IST From: "Jonathan B. Owen" Subject: VT100 setting file for MacKermit and the IBM 7171 protocol converter Keywords: MacKermit 0.9(40) This file is a Kermit 0.9(40) document containing key definitions for emulating a VT100 terminal to be used with a 7171 IBM protocol converter. Note that this is for use with an extended keyboard only. The keys defined are as follows: F1 thru F12 -- Use to access IBM Function keys Clear key -- Clear Screen Arrow keys -- Moves cursor around screen Help/ins -- Toggle Insert/Overstrike Mode Home -- Moves to first field in Panel Page Up/Down -- Same as pressing F7/F8 respectivly End -- Sends BOTTOM (useful in XEDIT) Del -- Delete Char. under cursor F13 -- Toggles between CP and VM modes F14 -- Same as Clear Key (See above) INFO-KERMIT DIGEST V9 #1 Page 9 Also, definitions useful for modem users: