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- Info-Kermit Digest Wed, 18 Jul 1990 Volume 12 : Number 1
-
- Departments:
-
- ANNOUNCEMENTS -
- Updated MS-DOS 3.02 Test Version Available
- New Release of Kermit for HP-3000
- Announcing NCR 9800 Kermit
- New Release of Kermit for UNISYS (Burroughs) A-Series
- New Kermit Programs for Luxor ABC Series and FACIT DTC/DTC2
-
- IBM MAINFRAME KERMIT -
- New MS Kermit REMOTE PRINT interface with Kermit-370
- Kermit-370 support for IBM 3174 AEA
-
- VAX/VMS KERMIT -
- VMS Kermit-32 Hints
- How to Create a Kermit Connection over X.25 from VAX/VMS?
-
- MISCELLANY -
- Kermit for Microsoft Windows
- External Kermit Driver
- Kermit for Atari Portfolio?
-
- Digest submissions may be sent to Info-Kermit@WATSUN.CC.COLUMBIA.EDU,
- requests for addition to or deletion from the Info-Kermit subscriber list to
- Info-Kermit-Request@WATSUN.CC.COLUMBIA.EDU or to KERMIT@CUVMA.BITNET.
-
- Kermit files may be obtained over networks and by mail order. On the
- Internetwork, use FTP to log in to host WATSUN.CC.COLUMBIA.EDU, a SUN-4/280
- running UNIX (SUNOS 4.1), IP host number 128.59.39.2. Login as user anonymous
- (note, lower case), any password, and GET or MGET (MULTIPLE GET) the desired
- files. The Kermit files are in directories kermit/a, kermit/b, kermit/c,
- kermit/d, and kermit/e. Test versions are in kermit/test. Binaries are in
- kermit/bin (use ftp in binary mode). You can also get Kermit files over the
- BITNET/EARN network; to get started send a message with text HELP to KERMSRV,
- the Kermit file server, at host CUVMA. For detailed instructions, read the
- file kermit/a/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: Fri Jul 13 18:16:23 1990
- From: Christine M Gianone <cmg@watsun.cc.columbia.edu>
- Subject: Updated MS-DOS 3.02 Test Version Available
- Keywords: MS-DOS Kermit 3.02
-
- Additions to Joe Doupnik's MSR302.UPD file since the previous announcement
- in Info-Kermit V11 #8:
-
- 22. Add more character set corrections from Matthias Reichling.
-
- 23. Correct problem of placement of CR/LF in text screen dump (broken in
- recent v3.02 changes), from Brian Holley.
-
- 24. Make small change to Self Test code, DECTST, CSI 2 ; Ps y (VT100) and
- CSI 4 ; Ps...; Ps y (VT320). Do a terminal reset only if a Ps is 0 or 1.
- This is in the VT terminal emulator. Ps values greater than 1 are for
- testing the terminal serial port, printer, and repeating the tests; they
- are ignored here. All cases move the cursor back to the main display.
-
- 25. Minor change to ensure modem status is correct even if the port has not
- yet been used. File msxibm.asm.
-
- 26. Modify the way characters are placed on Tektronix graphics screens from
- starting them at intervals of 8 PC screen dots across the screen to
- placing the lower left at the current drawing position (1 dot resolution).
- Characters are 8x8 dots. The effect is better positioning accuracy along
- the x-axis; the y-axis already behaved the better way. File msgibm.asm.
-
- 27. Tiny tweak to Tek graphics code to overcome a deficiency in some Bios'
- on storing video mode values if the high bit is set (means do not clear
- the display buffer). Brian Holley found such a case and GRAPHICS.COM in
- DOS 4 became confused. The Bios on most machines clears that bit. msgibm.
-
- 28. Follow the lead of C-Kermit 5A and attempt simple correction of Parity
- on the communications line during packet transfers. Parity will be
- shifted to EVEN, ODD, or MARK by the detector, in addition to the older
- warning about removing the high bit on characters. The first two packet
- characters determine the parity, though the first four are examined for
- unexpected setting of the high bit. msscom, mssset, mssrcv, msssen.
-
- 29. Adjust Tektronix emulator slightly so that SET TERM CLEAR-SCREEN does
- a screen clear using the existing character coloring to write all spaces,
- rather than doing a full reinitialization of the emulator. The text
- emulator is not affected. Since ESC [ 30's; 40's m screen coloring command
- sets the fore- and background color palette registers (7 and 0, resp) a
- screen clear manually or by receipt of ESC [ 2 J will use this palette.
- A terminal reset restores the built-in default palette.
-
- More changes are expected.
-
- The files are in the Kermit test area, kermit/test/mstibm.boo and
- kermit/bin/mstibm.exe on watsun, and T:MSTIBM.BOO on CUVMA.
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Date: 15 June 1990
- From: Tony Appelget, General Mills Inc, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Subject: New Release of Kermit for HP-3000
- Keywords: HP-3000 Kermit
-
- The HP3000 SPL Kermit seems to be badly neglected. The listing in "Kermit
- News number 4" shows your most recent version to be v1.1 dated 85/06/24. I am
- enclosing what I am assuming to be a much more modern version. It is the
- product of a lot of hours put into the v1.0 version over the past five or six
- years and works very well here.
-
- All my changes are listed in comments at the beginning of the program. A few
- of the big changes are:
-
- - Added a HELP function.
- - Implementated a very versatile command name abbreviation scheme.
- - Implemented 3-byte checksums in addition to the old standard one-byte
- checksums.
- - Implemented long packets with a maximum of 2000 bytes. Decreasing packet
- size in response to packet errors is not implemented.
- - This Kermit sets a JCW (program completion code).
- - Cleaned up a plethora of small bugs.
- - At the insistance of our security types, a file validation scheme was
- built into the program. No one uses it. Leaving it in place will cause
- no harm. It should be removable without too much trouble.
-
- The version number, 2.7, that I have stuck on the program is totally arbitrary
- as far as I am concerned. If my enclosed Kermit meets your standards for
- distibution, it would be a feather in my cap for you to do so.
-
- (signed)
- Tony Appelget
- K0DCF/AFA3AO/AFF3MN
-
- [Ed. - Thanks, Tony, it does, apply feather to cap! It looks like Kermit News
- #4 is shaking a lot of Kermit updates out of the woodwork. This one replaces
- the old 1.1 version from 1985 in the Kermit "D" area as hp3000.*.]
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Date: Fri Jul 13 13:53:17 1990
- From: Christine M. Gianone <cmg@watsun.cc.columbia.edu>
- Subject: Announcing NCR 9800 Kermit
- Keywords: NCR 9800 Kermit
-
- This is to announce a Kermit program for the NCR 9800-4 computer, contributed
- by Paul E. Gladden of NCR Corporation, San Diego, CA, USA, for the NCR VE4.0
- operating system. There are separate variations for the IVS and MCS
- environments.
-
- Both products are written in the C language, based on C-Kermit 4E with
- features added or deleted depending on VRX system capabilities, and NCR
- selected product content. Module names reflect the same usage as in C-Kermit
- 4E. New modules have a short explanation.
-
- IVS-Kermit and MCS-Kermit share common source code. MCS-Kermit has two
- additional files to interface to the MCS telecommunications facility. MCS
- modules are labeled MCS ONLY.
-
- A large number of files are included. These have been installed in the "D"
- area of Kermit Distribution as ncrker.*. The file ncrker.doc contains user
- documentation and installation instructions. The file ncrker.jar is a "join"
- text archive of the numerous source files, which contains instructions at the
- top on how to break it apart.
-
- Many thanks to Paul for submitting this new Kermit implementation.
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Date: 22 June 1990
- From: Dave Squire, University of California at Davis
- Subject: New Release of Kermit for UNISYS (Burroughs) A-Series
- Keywords: UNISYS A-Series, Burroughs A-Series
-
- Enclosed is the 1.040 release of our version of Kermit for Unisys A-Series
- systems. This is an upgrade of "B78" Kermit 1.019 from 1986. The important
- new features of this release are: long packets, alternate block-checks, and
- a "take" command. The program has also been modified to use the A-Series
- hardware more efficiently.
-
- This release contains the Kermit symbol (written in Algol) and a documentation
- file. We will continue to distribute Kermit directly to A-Series sites who
- contact us. We will also consult with new Kermit users to help them get
- started. There is no fee for either service. You may refer any Unisys
- A-Series users to us. Also, please feel free to contact me if I can help with
- any A-Series questions.
-
- Dave Squire
- Computing Services
- University of California
- Davis, CA 95616-8563 USA
- Phone 916-752-1927
-
- [Ed. - Thanks to Dave and to Larry Johnson and Katie Stevens at UC Davis for
- their work on this program and for sending in this new version! It's in the
- Kermit Distribution "D" area as uasker.*. The previous release has been kept
- as b78ker.*, in case the new release does not run on the B7800 or on older
- Burroughs A-Series machines or operating system releases. If it is not
- necessary to keep the old version, please let us know: does this new version
- run on the B7800? Also, does anybody know the name of the operating system
- for these machines?]
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Date: Sun, 8 Jul 90 0:30:08 MET
- Subject: New Kermit Programs for Luxor ABC Series and FACIT DTC/DTC2
- From: Bo Kullmar <bk@kullmar.se>
- Keywords: Luxor, ABC-80/800
-
- I am sending you updates for the ABC80 and the ABC800 Kermit. Two members of
- the ABC-Klubben have done the work.
-
- Joergen Westman has fixed the repeat prefix handling in the ABC80 Kermit. It
- did not work against Kermit programs that could not do run-length encoding.
- (Jorgen with dots over the o.)
-
- Mikael Johansson has updated the ABC800/ABC802/ABC806 Kermit to version 4.11
- and included support for FACIT DTC and FACIT DTC2. FACIT DTC/DTC2 is a ABC800
- clone.
-
- --Bo Kullmar
-
- [Ed. - Thanks, Bo! The lux*.* files in the Kermit "C" area have been updated
- to the new versions.]
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Date: Tue, 1990 Jun 26 16:58 EDT
- From: "John F. Chandler" <PEPMNT@CFAAMP.HARVARD.EDU>
- Subject: New MS Kermit REMOTE PRINT interface with Kermit-370
- Keywords: MS-DOS Kermit, REMOTE PRINT Command, IBM 370 Kermit
-
- I noticed from reading Info-Kermit V11 #8 that MS-DOS Kermit 3.02 has a REMOTE
- PRINT command. For those not familiar with the guts of Kermit protocol, I'd
- like to remark that this command is essentially a slight modification of the
- MAIL command (you can see traces of that history on the screen when you issue
- the command), and support exists for the mainframe ends of both in release
- 4.2.0 of Kermit-370. A slight modification of the KERMAIL command, renamed
- KERMPRT, will do the job (see IKxKER.DOC or IKxKER.PS for descriptions), as I
- have already demonstrated on my CMS system. If there is sufficient interest,
- I could add samples of these mainframe commands to the Kermit-370 area, but
- the implementations will likely vary widely from site to site.
-
- One of these days, I'll see about implementing a REMOTE PRINT subcommand in
- Kermit-370 so a mainframe user connected with a PC as a terminal can make hard
- copies on an attached desktop laser printer. Right now, though, I'm
- concentrating on implementing Kermit support for the transparency mode in the
- new B2 microcode for the IBM 3174 (about which, more later).
- John
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Date: Tue, 1990 Jun 26 17:34 EDT
- From: "John F. Chandler" <PEPMNT@CFAAMP.HARVARD.EDU>
- Subject: Kermit-370 support for IBM 3174 AEA
- Keywords: IBM 370 Kermit, IBM 3174 AEA
-
- I now have word from IBM that the new release of 3174 microcode is out. It
- is called B2 (that is, Level 2 of Configuration B) and is supposedly
- available to all customers with the "B" configuration of the 3174. As I
- understand it, "B" costs extra and requires a bit more hardware (minimum
- requirement is model 11L or equivalent), while "A" comes with the box.
- Apparently, there are no plans for upgrading "A". If you have "B"
- configuration installed, though, this upgrade should finally make it possible
- to run Kermit through the 3174. I have some documentation about the new
- "ASCII Graphics Mode", and I think the necessary Kermit code is pretty
- simple. Indeed, I have already made a stab at it (pending the answers to a
- few questions). I'm looking for volunteers to try out the new feature and
- troubleshoot the code. If you think you want to try it, the first thing to
- do is make sure that you (1) have the "B" configuration and (2) have received
- and installed the "B2" update from IBM. I have no idea what the shipping
- schedule is like for things like that. I can send you the Kermit update as
- soon as I check on a few details or even sooner if you're really eager.
- Meanwhile, let me know if you're interested.
- John
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Date: Fri Jul 13 19:13:27 1990
- From: Christine M. Gianone <cmg@watsun.cc.columbia.edu>
- Subject: VMS Kermit-32 Hints
- Keywords: VAX/VMS Kermit
-
- Several people have complained that Kermit-32 has been sending files
- incorrectly when the file type is set to binary. This can happen when the VMS
- file has a carriage control attribute; for example, VMS Lotus files are
- created this way. The recent release of Kermit-32 has a new command SET FILE
- TYPE BLOCK which seems to get around this difficulty.
-
- Also, judging from many messages received in the past month, many people who
- have complained that Kermit-32 did not pick up their terminal name correctly
- ("No default terminal line for transfers") have not obtained version 3.3.126,
- announced in Info-Kermit V11 #8, which fixes that problem, as well as
- problems related to spawning and batch operation.
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Date: 22 Jun 90 13:33:16 GMT
- From: RE_Sonneveld@pttrnl.nl (R.E. Sonneveld, +31 70 332 5362, PTT Research)
- Subject: How to Create a Kermit Connection over X.25 from VAX/VMS?
- Keywords: VAX/VMS Kermit, X.25 Network
-
- Wanted: Kermit communication over X.25 (with for example EuroKom) with my
- 'own' VMS system as my home base. In other words: is it possible to start
- Kermit on the VAX, then SET HOST/X29 to e.g. EuroKom, then start Kermit at the
- remote side and establish the connection?
-
- We have tried the following:
-
- 1) loopback one DECserver port-X to port-Y
- 2) define the DECserver ports to be 'transparent'
- 3) define DECserver port-Y to autoconnect
- 4) with LCP, create LTA port pointing to the DECserver port-X
- 5) define default port for Kermit (KER$COMM), pointing to the LTA device
-
- Starting Kermit and using the default port will result in a connect via the
- DECserver loopback to the original VMS-system, thus creating the possibility
- of establishing a X.25 connection. This works great! The major problem and
- the reason why we won't release this 'facility' is SECURITY: whenever a
- connection is established by one person and this connection aborts
- unexpectedly, than the next user who tries to make a connection using this
- default port gets the session of the first user!
-
- Any help greatly appreciated!
-
- Rolf Sonneveld E-mail: RE_Sonneveld@pttrnl.nl
-
- PTT Research * Tele phone : +31 70 332 5362
- Neher Laboratories, * Tele fax : +31 70 332 6477
- The Netherlands * Tele x : 31236 prnl nl
-
- [Ed. - This is a common question from Europe. As yet, neither C-Kermit/VMS
- nor VMS Kermit-32 contain any explicit support for VAX/PSI or X.25 in any of
- its forms. We are hoping that someone with an X.25-connected VAX/VMS system
- will add this support. Volunteers?]
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Date: Fri, 29 Jun 90 05:27:31 EDT
- From: Erez Zadok <ezk@cunixf.cc.columbia.edu>
- Subject: Kermit for Microsoft Windows
- Keywords: Microsoft Windows Kermit
-
- I'm running now WIN100 V2.0 and it's a definite advantage over older
- versions. I have a few comments and questions.
-
- COMMENTS:
-
- (1) Good job! I like it in the GUI environment. I actually downloaded
- files while playing Solitaire. Multitasking on my desk. I liked the fact
- that there was a running number of packets on the minimized kermit icon so I
- can always keep a watch over the file transfer. I liked the beep at the end
- of the transfer and the Alert that popped up for me at the end.
-
- (2) This is definitely the wave of the future. I think windows kermit
- *will* be a major communication package to use on ms-dos platforms and will
- bite a large chunk of the regular ms-kermit. But there's a lot to be done.
- With Windows 3.0 out now, you have all the reasons in the world to make this
- package at the same level of MS-Kermit 3.02.
-
- (3) The first things that struck me as in need of improvement were (and bear
- in mind that I know MS-Kermit 3.02 *very* well):
-
- - Not enough variety of fonts to choose. My VGA does not fit 80
- columns with this font (courier) and the other font (preview) is
- way too small. Maybe the fonts are windows dependent and not
- depend on kermit?
- - No apparent way to map the keyboard, Esp. swapping ` and ESC, and
- mapping CAPSLOCK to CTRL.
- - No dialup scripts to use.
- - Not enough colors to choose from (esp. the high intensity ones.)
- - Win100 does not use the new builtin help feature in Windows 3.0.
-
- (4) Then, upon closer look, I found that the next few items should be
- improved (lower priority in my opinion):
-
- - Support for long packets.
- - When changing a font or its size, I would like not to have to
- restart kermit.
- - I would like to see a way to set the number of lines as an input
- from the keyboard and not only by resizing the window.
- - I would like to cut from the kermit screen by using the mouse only
- and marking and cutting. The current way is not as clean.
- - Screen refreshes are not as fast (maybe that's due to my
- hardware configuration and lack of memory.)
-
- (5) The vt100 emulator works well with all kind of applications including
- EMACS and curses-based applications.
-
- (6) Possible serious bug: At one point I got an alert "out of token memory"
- error or something, and kermit aborted. My line was not disconnected. I am
- running Windows 3.0 in real mode (no extended or expanded memory yet on my
- 286) and it seems that kermit ran out of memory of some sort. In either
- case it should not have aborted but only gave an alert. Maybe this error is
- unrecoverable...
-
- [Ed. - This is one of several messages about Bill Hall's new VT100-emulating
- Kermit for Microsoft Windows. All of them contained similar questions and
- favorable comments. Bill replies as follows:
-
- Most of the suggestions are on my worklist to do - someday!. Life if pretty
- busy since I work a regular job and also write the Windows column for PC
- Magazine. But, I do want to improve the version I have put up as a beta.
-
- Please be patient. There is no help because it is a 2.0 application. The
- font is terrible, but don't blame me for this. I would have to design a
- complete series of fonts for a range of displays if I could not use the ones
- supplied by Windows. Maybe some kind soul will eventually help me with this
- really non-trivial effort.
-
- The screen update is slow. As you know, everything in Windows is done in
- software so this is a problem. However, I'm sure I can do something to
- improve it a bit, and I'll give it a try.
-
- The implementation of the Kermit part is confined at the present to the
- standard stuff. It may be archaic, but it takes a lot of time to get all the
- new features working. Also, making Kermit work smoothly in Windows is quite a
- chore. It is so hard that I'm doing an article on it using the level I have
- developed up to now as the example. When the article is done, I will then
- take up the task of upgrading the program.]
-
- [Ed. again - By the way, Bill has sent in a slightly updated version of the
- program, and some preliminary documentation: win100.msp (to be viewed in
- Microsoft Paint) and win100.wri (for Microsoft Write). They document just the
- emulator part of the program, not the file transfer part.]
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Date: Tue, 26 Jun 90 23:43:20 CST
- From: BOB SHERMAN <SHERMAN%ETSUADMN@cuvmb.cc.columbia.edu>
- Subject: External Kermit Driver
- Keywords: MS-DOS Kermit 3.0
-
- Greetings:
- I am running a BBS on an IBM PC. Do you have any suggestions
- for a external kermit driver? Thanks for any help.
-
- Bob Sherman
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Date: Mon, 25 Jun 90 11:33:39 CDT
- From: phil@wubios.wustl.edu (J. Philip Miller)
- Subject: Kermit for Atari Portfolio?
- Keywords: Atari Portfolio Kermit
-
- In a review of the Atari Portfolio - a pocket size, almost DOS PC - there was
- mention of a modified version of Kermit that would work on the Portfolio.
- Could some point me to where it is available?
-
- This machine runs the DIP Operating System, which is very close to DOS 2.11.
- I understand it is a small patch to the regular PC version.
-
- -phil
-
- J. Philip Miller, Professor, Division of Biostatistics, Box 8067
- Washington University Medical School, St. Louis MO 63110
- phil@wubios.WUstl.edu - Internet (314) 362-3617
- uunet!wuarchive!wubios!phil - UUCP (314)362-2693(FAX) C90562JM@WUVMD - bitnet
-
- [Ed. - Yes, and please point us at it too!]
-
- ------------------------------
-
- End of Info-Kermit Digest
- *************************
-
-