<<< KERMIT.SYSNEWS.KERMIT >>>
* 18 aug 85 esj removed get/bye from alais list.  they are server commmands
* 13 aug 85 esj added aliases
* 12 aug 85 esj copied from hp1000 kermit and added cv specific info.
*---------------------------------------------------------------------
                       THE KERMIT FILE TRANSFER PROTOCOL

KERMIT is a protocol for transferring sequential files between computers of all
sizes over ordinary asynchronous telecommunication lines using packets,  check-
sums, and retransmission to promote data integrity.  KERMIT is non-proprietary,
thoroughly documented, and in wide use.  The  protocol  and  the  original  im-
plementations  were  developed at Columbia University and have been shared with
many other institutions, some of which have made significant  contributions  of
their  own.  For more information contact:

  KERMIT Distribution
  Columbia University Center for Computing Activities
  7th Floor, Watson Laboratory
  612 West 115th Street
  New York, N.Y.  10025

This help file contains a brief description of commands available, hardwire
interconnection and connection by a data switch.  To use kermit, look in the
manual located in user-doc.  The manual is the document provided by Columbia
for all kermit sites.

Commands available in KERMIT-CV are:

 EXIT          - Terminates this KERMIT CV program.
               - alias  e,quit,q

 HELP          - Types out the content of this HELP file.

 RECEIVE       - Places this KERMIT CV program into a
               - state ready for receiving one or more file(s).
               - If a received file already exists, it will be overwritten.
               - alias  rec,r

 SEND FILENAME - Sends the content of the file specified in
               - filename. While the file is being transfered, a dot will
               - appear for every packet sent.

 SEND @FILENAME- Send the content of all the files specified
               - in filename.  The content of filename is treated as a
               - list of files to be sent to the other kermit.

 SET DELAY N   - Where N is a decimal integer ranging from 0 to 30.
               - Instructs this KERMIT CV program how many
               - seconds to wait before sending out the first
               - packet.  These time delays allows the user time
               - to get back to his/her LOCAL KERMIT program and
               - initiate the RECEIVE command.  Defaulted time
               - delay is 15 seconds.

 SET QUOTE N   - Where N is a decimal integer ranging from 33 to 126.
               - Instructs THIS KERMIT program character to be
               - used in QUOTING control characters.  The default
               - QUOTE character is '#' or 35.

 SET PACKET N  - Where N is a decimal integer ranging from 31 to 94.
               - It specifies the maximum packet size used
               - for file transfer.  Defaulted packet size is 80.

 SET SOH N     - Where N is a decimal integer ranging from 1 to 31.  This
               - is the START OF HEADING found in every KERMIT
               - packet.  Both KERMIT must agree to this value.
               - It need not be change for most types of file
               - transfer.  Defaulted SOH used is CNTR-A (1).

 SET LINE <port> Attaches infoton device <port> to the task running
               - KERMIT.  If the port can not be attached, Kermit will
               - print an error message telling why the attach failed.
               - The KERMIT prompt will change to a lower case prompt
               - after a successful attach.  Kermit will disconnect from
               - the infoton device when a normal exit is performed.

 STATUS        - Displays the status of user selectable parameters.

 CONNECT       - Start up the connect mode of KERMIT.  This mode will let
               - the user connect to the device attached to by the "SET LINE"
               - command.  The current version of KERMIT will have trouble
               - keeping up with the input from the connect device and will
               - drop characters.  This reason for dropping characters will
               - not occur in file transfer.
               - alias  con,c

Hung line recovery: If kermit appears to be lost and the other side does not
support timeouts, typing any character on the keyboard of your local
kermit will force a retransmission of your last packet.

KERMIT-CV will only transfer text files.

Parity is currently ignored when receiving data.  Parity is set to space when
sending data.  The parity settings needed for KERMIT-CV and other
implementations of kermit are tabulated below.

         P A R I T Y  S E T T I N G S  F O R  K E R M I T
         ------------------------------------------------

         KERMIT-CV      TO       KERMIT-CV      NEEDS DEFAULT PARITY
         KERMIT-CV      TO       VMS KERMIT     NEEDS DEFAULT PARITY
         KERMIT-CV      TO       ULTRIX KERMIT  NEEDS DEFAULT PARITY
         KERMIT-CV      TO       CV3000 KERMIT  NEEDS SPACE   PARITY



               KERMIT and CGOS directories
               ---------------------------

   Creative use of directories can be a pleasure and a pain in CGOS.  When used
with kermit, directories are often the only way to make filenames appear in
legal form when sending files to non-CV systems.  Kermit assumes that ALL
systems can accept files in the form of an 8 character name and a 3 character
extention ( <fullname>.<ext> ).  When sending files between systems of the
same type, for example CV to CV, Kermit permits the transfer of native file
names.  With CV kermit the full 80 character file name can be sent when the
kermit packet length is 85 or greater.
   Directories can be used to present a shorter file name to the "other"
kermit or can be used to make the file name received a unique name and keep
other files with the same name intact.

Making a file name shorter:
You want to send my.file.long.nam to a CP/M system.  Directories are enabled
as follows:

1>enabdir my.file

   When in kermit and ready to send the file, the file is sent by:

kermit-cv> send long.nam

   kermit will send the file as "long.nam" and it will be created under that
   name on the CP/M system.

   Other directories can be included in the enabdir command if you are sending
   files from multiple directories.

Making a file name unique:
If you want to receive a file or group of files and want to insure that you
don't overwrite any files that may have the same name, enable directories as
follows before entering KERMIT and receiving any files:

1>enabdir unique.catalog

Enabling only one directory will insure that files will go into that
directory. For example when you receive a file named "duplicat.nam", it will
be created in unique.catalog.duplicate.nam .


               KERMIT and the other system
               ---------------------------

The following picture describes the connections between kermit,systems, and
you.  To connect two systems together by their terminal cables, an
interconnect cable needs to be constructed.  The interconnect cable consists
of two DB-25 connectors and 4 wires. The figure below describes the
connections.


   -----------    ----------            ----------
   |your     |    | system |    +-+     | system |
   |terminal.|----|   A    |----|x|-----|   B    |
   -----------    ----------    +-+     ----------
                               /   \
                              /     \
                             /       \
                            /         \
                           +-----------+
         DB-25 connector   |           |  DB-25 connector
           from system A   |           |  from system B
                    pin 1  |-----------|  pin 1
                    pin 2  |---+   +---|  pin 2
                           |   +---|---|  pin 3
                    pin 3  |-------+   |
                           +-----------+


               KERMIT and the equinox data switch.
               -----------------------------------

The following picture describes the connections between kermit,systems, the
data switch and you.  This description assumes that you know how to use the
equinox data switch.

When you first hook up to the data switch, there exists a connection logically
equal to the one pictured below.
            -----------    ---------
            |your     |    | data  |
            |terminal.|----| switch|
            |         |    |   1   |
            -----------    ---------

When you command the data switch to connect you to system A, the data switch
creates a connection to a line on system A.
   -----------    ---------   ----------
   |your     |    | data  |   | system |
   |terminal.|----| switch|---|   A    |
   |         |    |   1   |   ----------
   -----------    ---------

On system A you invoke the "KERMIT" command and tell KERMIT to select a line
for communication to a second kermit by the "SET LINE" command.  Connect
mode is entered by the "CONNECT" command and the data switch is awakened by
a couple of return characters.  The connections are now as pictured below.

   -----------    ---------   ----------   ---------
   |your     |    | data  |   | system |   | data  |
   |terminal.|----| switch|---|   A    |---| switch|
   |         |    |   1   |   ----------   |   2   |
   -----------    ---------                ---------

The last connection needed is to system B and it is selected when you are
talking to data switch 2 through KERMIT on system A.  The selection of
system B setup the connections as pictured below.

   -----------    ---------   ----------   ---------   ----------
   |your     |    | data  |   | system |   | data  |   | system |
   |terminal.|----| switch|---|   A    |---| switch|---|   B    |
   |         |    |   1   |   ----------   |   2   |   ----------
   -----------    ---------     local      ---------     remote
                                kermit                   kermit


