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Commodore 64/128 Kermit v2.2 (76)
General Information
Last updated: August 23, 1992
by Kent Sullivan (kentsu@microsoft.com)
Introduction
------------
Kermit v2.2 is a powerful public-domain telecommunications program for your
Commodore 64 or 128 (in 64 mode). This program, as its name suggests,
implements the Kermit file transfer protocol and also has many other useful
features.
As of May 1992, there are two "flavors" of Kermit v2.2. The first is the
one that has been available for some time. It supports modems interfaced via
the standard way--the Commodore 64/128's "user port". The second is for
modems interfaced via the SwiftLink-232 high-speed serial interface ONLY. The
first flavor of Kermit is minor version #73 while the second is minor version
#76.
This file and all other files beginning with "c64slk" concern the SwiftLink-232
flavor of Kermit v2.2 only, while the files beginning with "c64ker" concern the
user port flavor of Kermit v2.2 only. For more information on the "c64ker"
files, see the file "c64ker.aaa".
Description of Features
-----------------------
Here is a list of features for C-64 Kermit v2.2 (these features are common
between the user-port and SL-232 versions):
+ Comprehensive terminal emulation: Kermit emulates most all of the features of
a DEC VT-100 terminal very closely, including support for VT-52 mode, personal
function (PF) keys, and the numeric keypad. C-128 users may use their extra
numeric keypad and grey keys as well. Kermit also implements the Insert/
Delete features of the VT-102.
+ Multiple display options: Kermit can display 40 or 80 columns of text using a
bit-mapped screen on a standard 40-column monitor, or, on a C-128, using the
built-in 80-column screen (with an 80-column monitor). Kermit also supports
the Batteries Included BI-80 80-column card for the C-64.
+ Graphics terminal support: Kermit emulates the main features of the Tektronix
4010/4014 graphics terminal, with resolutions of 320x200 (C-64 screen) or
640x200 (C-128 screen).
+ Flexible file transfers: Kermit has special file types to transfer PETSCII
(Commodore's special ASCII) and standard ASCII text files, binary files
(graphics screens, etc.), Speedscript (Compute!'s popular word processor)
files, and Power-C C language source code files. All necessary conversions
are handled automatically.
The main feature difference between the two flavors of Kermit v2.2 is maximum
baud rate. The user port version of Kermit can communicate at speeds of 300
and 1200 bps, or 2400 bps when used on a C-128 with the C-128's 80-column
screen. The SL-232 version of Kermit can communicate at higher speeds.
Files Available from Columbia University's Official Kermit Archive
------------------------------------------------------------------
Below is a list of C-64/128 Kermit v2.2 files, user port version, available
from the official Kermit archive, watsun.cc.columbia.edu. The first two groups
of files have the base filenames "c64slk" and "c64boot" and are located in the
directory "kermit/c" (corresponds to Tape C). These files are all plain ASCII
text and are available for those situations where the more-convenient binary
files cannot be used. Some of the files related to user port Kermit are of
use to SwiftLink-232 Kermit. These files have the base filenames "c64ker" and
are also located in the directory "kermit/c" (Tape C). Finally, there is a
binary archive of SwiftLink-232 Kermit (C-64 SDA [ARC] format) located in the
directory "kermit/bin".
Filename Description
-------- -----------
c64slk.aaa This information file.
c64slk.ann Announcement of SwiftLink-232 Kermit v2.2.
c64slk.get Instructions for building Kermit v2.2 (76) from the ASCII source
file "c64slk.hex".
c64slk.hex Kermit v2.2 (76), encoded in .HEX format. See "Getting a Copy of
Kermit" below and the file "c64slk.get" for instructions.
c64slk.m65 6502 assembler source code for Kermit v2.2 (76). See "Note to
Programmers" below. You do not need this file unless you are a
programmer.
c64slk.sec C-128 autoboot sector maker for Kermit v2.2 (76). Use this program
if you would like to autoboot Kermit on a C-128.
c64slk.txt Documentation addendum covering the differences in user port and
SL-232 Kermit. See "c64ker.doc" below.
Filename Description
-------- -----------
c64boot.bas C-64 BASIC program which works with "c64boot.c" to download Kermit
from .HEX source file. See "Getting a Copy of Kermit" below and
the file "c64slk.get" for instructions.
c64boot.c C language program to be compiled on host computer. Works with
"c64boot.bas" to download Kermit from .HEX source file. See
"Getting a Copy of Kermit" below and the file "c64slk.get" for
instructions.
Filename Description
-------- -----------
c64ker.doc Kermit v2.2 (73) documentation in plain ASCII format.
c64ker.rom Binary image, encoded in .HEX format, of replacement character ROM
for use with Batteries Included BI-80 80-column card (C-64). Read
the notes prepended to "c64ker.rom" to learn when and why you would
want this file.
Filename Description
-------- -----------
c64help.txt Short text file explaining the contents of the binary archives
(both user port and SL-232) stored at Columbia U.
c64kerv22b.sda C-64 self-dissolving archive (SDA) of documentation for Kermit
v2.2 (73). Equivalent to the file "c64ker.doc" except it is
broken up into seven smaller files.
c64slkv22s.sda C-64 SDA of Kermit v2.2 (76), SLKERMIT.INI, C-128 autoboot
sector maker, and documentation addendum covering differences
between v2.2 (73) and v2.2 (76).
Getting a Copy of Kermit
------------------------
Getting a copy of Kermit v2.2 (76) can present a chicken-and-egg situation: you
want the program to do file transfers but you have no file-transfer program
with which to get it. For those situations, you can use some utilities to
"bootstrap" a copy. The process is covered in detail in the file "c64slk.get".
The process for creating your own Kermit executable ("bootstrapping") is not
easy to do and it is very time-consuming. Fortunately the process has recently
been overhauled and is much easier to do now. Even so, people without some C-64
programming experience and reasonable experience with whatever time-sharing
("host") computer they have an account on may have considerable difficulty
getting things to work.
Instead of creating a Kermit executable from scratch, try locating a friend
with a copy of C-64 Kermit (most any version will do). Use that Kermit to
download the Kermit v2.2 (76) binary archive. Once on your C-64/128, the
binary can be unpacked simply by LOADing and RUNning it.
If you don't have access to a copy of C-64 Kermit, try locating a friend with
a copy of IBM PC Kermit (MS-Kermit). Download the C-64 Kermit binary to
an IBM PC then use one of the many utilities that can read MS-DOS disks
(Big Blue Reader is one) to transfer the file to C-64 format. (You will
need a 1571 or 1581 disk drive to do this; a 1541 won't work.)
You can also obtain Kermit from many sources other than Columbia University,
such as bulletin boards, user groups, and major network services. Four sites
which are kept as current as possible are: Quantum Link (Telecommunications
area), CompuServe (CBMAPP area), GEnie (Commodore Flagship area), and
milton.u.washington.edu on the Internet (directory public/c64now/telecom).
If none of the above alternatives is feasible, you can order Kermit on a disk
for a small fee. Kent Sullivan distributes the following Kermit-related items:
Disk with C-64/128 Kermit v2.2 (76), SLKERMIT.INI, on-disk documentation,
and C-128 autoboot sector maker. (Disk is in CBM 1541 format): $5.00
C-64/128 Kermit v2.2 (73) & (76) User's Guide (laser-printed): $7.50
Replacement character ROM for Batteries Included BI-80 80 column card
(Adds missing ASCII characters plus VT-100 character graphics.
Works with either flavor of Kermit v2.2): $7.50
All prices are postpaid (First Class Mail) to U.S. addresses. Add $5.00 per
order for shipment outside of the U.S. (airmail). U.S. funds ONLY will be
accepted. Please make checks payable to "Kent Sullivan" and send orders to:
Kent Sullivan
16611 NE 26th St.
Bellevue, WA 98008
Please allow 4-5 weeks for delivery within the U.S., longer for outside.
Delivery time is shorter for orders paid for with guaranteed funds (cashier's
check or money order).
Note to Programmers
-------------------
As you can see, the 6502 assembly language source code for Kermit is available
(c64slk.m65). You can use most any assembler to build the program.
Development on a C-64 or C-128 system will be painful, however, due to the huge
size of the source code. We therefore recommend that you assemble the program
on another platform (using a cross assembler) and transfer the binary to the
C-64/128 for testing and use.
If you do not have access to a cross assembler, contact Kent Sullivan. He has
cross assemblers for both Unix and OS/2 systems which are compatible with the
source code. Also available is the source code for the C-128 boot sector.
Contact Kent at the address at the beginning of this file if you would like
to receive the assembler and you have Internet access, or send $5.00 to the
address in the previous section to receive it on an IBM PC floppy. Please
specify which version (Unix or OS/2) you would like (or both).