                  USING MS-DOS KERMIT ON THE IBM PC AND PS/2

			 C. Gianone, CUCCA, Jan 1989

Getting Started

Make sure KERMIT.EXE is in your current disk and directory, or in your DOS
PATH.  If there are Kermit commands you want executed each time you run Kermit,
put them in the file MSKERMIT.INI in the current disk/directory, or in your DOS
PATH.  Type KERMIT to run the Kermit program.  Example (<CR> means type
Carriage Return or Enter):

    C>kermit<CR>
    IBM PC Kermit-MS V2.32
    Type ? or HELP for help
    Kermit-MS>

Question mark can be typed at any point in a command to get a menu of what's
possible or expected at that point.  The EXIT command will get you back to
MS-DOS.

Now set Kermit up for communication with the remote system by typing the
appropriate SET commands.  Values marked with ``*'' are Kermit's normal
defaults.  There is no default speed; the values shown are the maximums when
connecting from a ROLMphone.  When dialing in from outside, use 2400 bps or
less.  When dialing out from campus, use 2400 bps even if the called modem is
lower speed, and set the other parameters (``**'') as required.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                 IBM        IBM
                       UNIX    Linemode   Fullscreen    Dialing
    SET COMMAND      CUNIXA-D  CUVML,B    SIMA,B;CLIO     Out
    set speed          9600     9600        9600         2400
    set parity         none*    mark        even          **
    set local-echo      off*      on         off*         **
    set flow       xon/xoff*    none    xon/xoff*         **
    set handshake      none*     xon        none*         **

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------


CONNECTING TO ANOTHER COMPUTER

From a campus ROLMphone:

    Kermit-MS>connect<CR>         (Begin terminal emulation)
    <CR>                          (Type a carriage return here)
    CALL, DISPLAY OR MODIFY?      (This is the CBX's prompt)
    call cunixc<CR>               (Select the desired system)
    CALLING 76641                 (CBX progress report...)
    CALL COMPLETE                 (This message will not appear if dialing out)
    login:                        (Remote computer's prompt)

Substitute the name of any other local computer for CUNIXC, or an external
phone number if you wish to dial an off-campus computer.  To call in from
outside, use your modem's dialing language, or dial manually.  For example,
when using a Hayes or Hayes-compatible 2400 bps modem:

    Kermit-MS>connect<CR>         (Connect to the modem)
    ATDT 854-1824<CR>             (Issue the dialing command)
    CONNECT 2400                  (Modem's confirmation message)
    <CR>                          (Type carriage return to get...)
    CALL, DISPLAY OR MODIFY?      (...the CBX prompt)

To return to the PC from the remote connection, type the escape sequence
"^]c".  That is, hold down the Ctrl key and press right-bracket "]", then
type the letter C. This will return you to the "Kermit-MS>" prompt without
closing your connection.  This is called "escaping back".


FILE TRANSFER

Set any desired parameters at the remote Kermit, put it in server mode, escape
back, and then issue file transfer commands from the PC.  The following example
shows UNIX Kermit, but applies to most others.  Terminate each command with a
carriage return.

    Kermit-MS>connect             (Connect to the remote computer)
    $ kermit                      (Run Kermit there)
    C-Kermit 4E(070)              (The remote Kermit announces itself)
    Type ? for help               (And tells you how to get help)
    C-Kermit>set block-check 3    (Make any desired settings)
    C-Kermit>server               (Remote kermit prints server message)

Now "escape back" from terminal connection and give any desired file transfer
commands:

    ^]c                           (Escape back)
    Kermit-MS>send foo.*          (The requested files are sent...)
    Kermit-MS>get /etc/motd       (The requested files are received...)
    Kermit-MS>finish              (Shut down the remote Kermit server)
    Kermit-MS>connect             (Get back to the remote computer)
    C-Kermit>exit                 (Exit from remote Kermit)
    $                             (Back at remote system's prompt)

Or if you don't need to use the remote system any more, use MS-Kermit's BYE
command instead of FINISH to log out the remote job and return you immediately
to the PC's DOS prompt.


RECEIVING CALLS ON YOUR PC

If you wish, you may set up your PC to receive data calls.  Set your CBX data
line to the desired answer mode, auto or manual, set Kermit to the transmission
speed that callers will use (e.g. 9600 for local calls, 2400 for outside).

Put MS-DOS Kermit in server mode to allow callers to send and get files and to
issue REMOTE commands to list your directory, delete your files, etc.  You can
disable selected functions using MS-Kermit's DISABLE command, like DISABLE
DELETE, DISABLE CD, DISABLE FINISH.

Example:  Setting your PC up as a dialup CBX print server.  Just give the
command SET DESTINATION PRINTER before the SERVER command, and any files sent
to the server will be printed.  This arrangement handles just one user at a
time, but it allows many users to share a single printer.

    C>kermit                      (Run Kermit on the PC)
    Kermit-MS>set speed 9600      (Set desired speed)
    Kermit-MS>connect             (Connect to CBX)
    <CR>                          (Type a carriage return to get...)
    CALL, DISPLAY OR MODIFY?      (...the CBX's prompt)
    modify answer auto            (Make sure it answers automatically)
    ^]c                           (Escape back to the PC)
    Kermit-MS>set destination printer  (All incoming files go to printer)
    Kermit-MS>set timer off       (To keep phone from answering prematurely.)
    Kermit-MS>disable all         (Don't let users do anything else.)
    Kermit-MS>server              (Now become a server)


FURTHER READING:

   - The MS-DOS Kermit User Guide, available at the User Services Office, 102
     Philosophy.
   - Kermit, A File Transfer Protocol, by Frank da Cruz, Digital Press,
     available at Papyrus bookstore.
   - Making PC Software Work With Digital PBXs, by Christine Gianone and Frank
     da Cruz, Data Communications Magazine, Oct 88.
   - The directory ~kermit/cu on Columbia's UNIX systems, for tutorials and
     examples of Kermit scripts.  Also available on CUVMB via the KERMLINK L
     command.

