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Info-Kermit Digest Tue, 18 Feb 1992 Volume 15 : Number 2
Today's Topic:
Announcing C-Kermit 5A BETA
Digest submissions may be sent to Info-Kermit@WATSUN.CC.COLUMBIA.EDU or
KERMIT@CUVMA.BITNET. Requests for addition to or deletion from the
Info-Kermit subscriber list should be sent to LISTSERV@CUVMA.BITNET or
LISTSERV@CUVMA.CC.COLUMBIA.EDU. These messages must be of the form:
SUBSCRIBE I-KERMIT <your-personal-name> (To start a subscription)
UNSUBSCRIBE I-KERMIT (To cancel a subscription)
REGISTER I-KERMIT <your-personal-name> (To correct your name)
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. All files in these
directories should be transferred in text (ASCII) mode. 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: Sat, 8 Feb 92 23:31:00 EST
From: Christine M Gianone <cmg@watsun.cc.columbia.edu>
Subject: Announcing C-Kermit 5A BETA
Keywords: C-Kermit 5A, UNIX Kermit, VAX/VMS Kermit, Amiga Kermit
Keywords: Atari ST Kermit, OS/2 Kermit, OS-9 Kermit
Keywords: Sliding Windows, Script Programming, International Character Sets
Keywords: TCP/IP and C-Kermit
Xref: Commodore Amiga, See Amiga
We are very pleased to announce the availability of C-Kermit version 5A,
edit 179, for public Beta testing. Over three years in the making, C-Kermit
5A was written by Frank da Cruz of Columbia University with contributions
from hundreds of other programmers all over the world. Its major new
features include:
ADVANCED KERMIT FILE TRANSFER PROTOCOL
Sliding window packet protocol, up to 31 window slots, for improved
efficiency, especially on connections with long delays (public networks,
satellites, etc). The maximum packet size has been increased to 9024.
Sliding windows and long packets can be used together. Using combinations
of long packets and sliding windows, file transfer efficiencies up to about
95% can be achieved (and more when Kermit can compress the data).
CHARACTER-SET TRANSLATION
C-Kermit translates character sets during text-file transfer and terminal
emulation. Most Roman-alphabet-based character sets are supported, as well
as Cyrillic character sets and Japanese Kanji. A new locking-shift
mechanism is provided for efficient transfer of Kanji and other
predominantly 8-bit character sets in the 7-bit communication environment.
SCRIPT LANGUAGE PROGRAMMING
C-Kermit now has a powerful and easy-to-use script programming language
similar to MS-DOS Kermit's. Write script programs to automate your logins,
interact automatically with remote computers or services, and even run your
scripts late at night, unattended, when phone rates are lower and networks
less congested.
NETWORK SUPPORT
On UNIX computers that have Berkeley Sockets libraries and a TCP/IP
connection, and on VAX/VMS systems with TGV MultiNet, C-Kermit now can make
TCP/IP TELNET connections. Unlike regular TELNET, C-Kermit brings its
script language capabilities and character-set translation ability to the
Internet world. And unlike FTP, C-Kermit can translate text file character
sets as part of the file transfer process. On SUN computers with SunLink
X.25, X.25 connections are also supported.
SYSTEMS SUPPORTED BY C-KERMIT
C-Kermit 5A is available for the following platforms:
- Most known variations of UNIX including V7, 2.x BSD, 4.x BSD, AT&T
System III and System V R2, R3, and R4, POSIX, Ultrix, SUNOS, NeXT OS, AIX,
HP-UX, DGUX, IRIX, SCO XENIX, DNIX, UMAX, RTU, DYNIX, PTX, etc, etc, on
hardware platforms of all makes, models, sizes, and shapes
- VAX/VMS, including a completely new RMS interface
- OS/2 1.3 and 2.0
- Commodore Amiga
- Atari ST
- OS-9
Full ANSI C and/or POSIX compliance can be selected.
OTHER NEW FEATURES
Kermit File Transfer Protocol:
Packet lengths shrink and grow dynamically based on the quality of the
connection.
Even, Odd, or Mark parity is detected automatically during packet
operations.
Low-level packet readers and writers recoded for increased efficiency.
File transfer performance improvements (see below)
Transfer of files with international character set translation (see below)
Sending and recognition of file attribute (A) packets:
File size, creation date, file type, character set, system ID.
Incoming file's creation date set from Attribute packet.
Control of use of attributes via SET ATTRIBUTES.
Automatic entry into binary or text mode when receiving files that specify
the file type in the attribute packet.
New MSEND command to send a list of files ("msend foo.* dir/*.c aaa bbb")
New MAIL and REMOTE PRINT commands (work in both directions).
SET FILE COLLISION { APPEND, BACKUP, DISCARD, OVERWRITE, RENAME, UPDATE }
REMOTE SET commands are now supported in both directions.
REMOTE LOGIN, LOGOUT, and KERMIT commands (client end only).
GET, BYE, FINISH, REMOTE commands now work in both local & remote modes.
SET ATTRIBUTES ON/OFF can be used to enable/disable attribute packets.
DISABLE and ENABLE commands to control client access to server functions.
Ability to read packets without terminators, based on length field.
Printable start-of-packet character now supported.
Packet buffers allocated dynamically, overall size specifiable by user.
Ability to run external protocols.
Increased maximum number of files that can be sent in a single operation.
Non-Error-Checked File Transfer:
New TRANSMIT command for uploading text files, complete with character
set translation and many other options via SET/SHOW TRANSMIT.
LOG SESSION for downloading text files or capturing other screen data,
complete with character-set translation and TEXT/BINARY mode selection.
Command parser:
Expansion of variables and functions in commands (see below).
Partial as well as full completion of filenames.
Improved error and help messages.
Commands in progress can be interrupted, with return to prompt.
Macros and variables, compatible with MS-DOS Kermit:
DEFINE macros and variables.
ASSIGN variable's current value to another variable.
INCREMENT and DECREMENT numeric variables by 1 (or any other number).
Execute macros using DO or just by giving their name.
Arguments are passed as parameters \%1..\%9
Global variables \%a..\%z (and others).
Access to environment variables via \$(name).
Access to builtin Kermit named variables via \v(name), e.g. \v(date).
Long variable names: \m(name).
Backslash notation for numbers and characters as in MS-DOS Kermit.
Dynamically allocated space for macro names and definitions.
Variables and backslash codes in all commands are fully expanded.
And beyond MS-DOS Kermit (at least for now!):
Built-in string and arithmetic functions.
User-defined functions.
Arrays.
Script programming language, mostly compatible with MS-DOS Kermit:
INPUT, OUTPUT, REINPUT, PAUSE, GOTO, IF, ASK, ASKQ, ECHO, STOP, END,
GETOK, and other new commands.
INPUT, PAUSE, and WAIT interruptible from keyboard.
SET INPUT, SET TAKE, SET MACRO, SET SCRIPT commands to control echoing,
error handling.
WRITE <log> <string>.
OPEN, READ, WRITE/APPEND, and CLOSE local files.
FOR and WHILE loops, which may be nested.
BREAK and CONTINUE allowed in FOR and WHILE loops.
Trailing comments ; like this one, allowed in all contexts.
Command line continuation using hyphen (-) or backslash (\).
Relaxed prefixing rules; backslashes no longer doubled.
Conditional branching or execution of commands via IF. The IF command:
May have an ELSE part.
IF NOT can be used to reverse the truth of the following condition.
IF <, IF =, IF > for numeric variables.
IF EQUAL, LLT, LGT for string comparison.
IF NUMERIC for checking numbers.
IF COUNT for looping.
IF EXIST for files.
IF DEFINED for variable and macro names.
IF SUCCESS, IF FAILURE based on success of previous command.
Extended IF statement (XIF) allows nested, compound parts.
Terminal emulation:
Key-mapping via SET KEY command
SET TERMINAL CHARACTER-SET
SET TERMINAL LOCKING-SHIFT
SET TERMINAL NEWLINE-MODE
Flexible session logging
TELNET protocol
New escape functions: Suspend, Shell, Send Long BREAK, etc
Improved efficiency
Other:
Improved use of Xon/Xoff software flow control during file transfer.
Ability to use RTS/CTS hardware flow control when host computer supports it.
Ability to couple to external protocols via open file descriptor (UNIX).
Many file-format-related options for VMS.
Tilde-expansion in local UNIX filenames (~ = home directory).
Ability to ask shell to expand wildcards ("send ck[cuw]*.{[cwh],{doc,ps}}").
Alternative initialization filename specifiable on command line with -y.
Kermit "application files" start Kermit automatically (UNIX only).
Correct handling of Suspend interrupt (Ctrl-Z) in UNIXes with job control.
New SUSPEND (Z) command.
New TYPE command, interruptible by Ctrl-C.
New PRINT command.
New DELETE command.
New RENAME command.
Command synonyms added for compatibility with MS-DOS Kermit: RUN, PUSH, etc.
And with UNIX: RM, LS, etc.
And with VMS: SET/SHOW DEFAULT, SPAWN, @, etc
SHOW command divided into SHOW FILE, SHOW PROTOCOL, SHOW COMMUNICATIONS, etc.
SET SPEED no longer required with SET LINE - current speed used by default.
75/1200 Split-speed communication supported in some implementations.
Improved control and monitoring of modem signals.
Improved interaction with Hayes modems.
Support for speed-matching modems.
Support for many new modem types including Telebit, Microcom.
New SET DIAL command controls: HANGUP, TIMEOUT, INIT-STRING, DISPLAY, etc.
New REDIAL command.
Compatibility with new and distributed (struct dirent) file systems.
Improved use of UUCP lockfiles.
Improved operation and security when run setuid/setgid on UNIX.
Improved handling of disk-full and disk-write errors.
More detailed and accurate statistics reporting.
New debugging display available during CONNECT.
Append mode available for all logs.
Under UNIX, Kermit no longer appears "idle" while transferring files.
Program exit status code now reflects protocol success/failure.
EXIT n explicitly sets program's exit status code to n.
Many new additions and improvements to UNIX makefile.
Simplification and expansion of makefile configuration options.
New documentation - user manual, man page, improved built-in help text.
Many bugs fixed.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
C-Kermit 5A has been a three-year cooperative effort involving hundreds of
people in all parts of the world. It is not possible to list them all here
(but we have tried to keep track of them in the documentation); here is a very
much abbreviated list of just a few of the major designers, developers, and
testers:
Chris Adie, Edinburgh U, Scotland (OS/2 support)
William Bader, Moravian College (VMS, mostly)
Fuat Baran, formely of Columbia University (lots of help)
Jim Barbour, U of Colorado
Donn Baumbartner, Dell
Jack Bryans, California State U at Long Beach
Nelson Beebe, U of Utah
John Chandler, Harvard U / Smithsonian Astronomical Observatory
Joe R Doupnik, Utah State U (many, many things)
Kristoffer Eriksson, Peridot Konsult AB, Oerebro, Sweden (many things)
Marcello Frutig, Catholic University, Sao Paulo, Brazil (X.25 support)
Hirofumi Fujii, Japan National Lab for High Energy Physics, Tokyo (Kanji)
James Harvey, Indiana/Purdue U (VMS)
Chuck Hedrick, Rutgers U
Ron Heiby, Motorola
Christian Hemsing, RWTH Aachen, Germany (OS-9)
Mark Johnson, Apple Computer
Luke Jones, AT&T
Peter Jones, U of Quebec at Montreal (MIPS)
Sergei Kartashoff, Inst. of Precise Mechanics & Computer Equipment, Moscow
Howie Kaye, Columbia University (lots of help)
Terry Kennedy, St Peter's College, Jersey City, NJ (VAX/VMS, 2.11 BSD)
John Klensin, MIT (standards, sage advice)
Bo Kullmar, Central Bank of Sweden, Kista, and ABC-Klubben (many things)
Bob Larson, USC (OS-9 and more)
Bert Laverman, Groningen University, Netherlands
David MacKenzie, Environmental Defense Fund, University of Maryland
Fulvio Marino, Olivetti, Ivrea, Italy
Peter Mauzey, AT&T
Bruce J Moore, Allen-Bradley Co, Highland Heights, OH (Atari ST)
Andre Pirard, U of Liege, Belgium (character sets)
Paul W Placeway, (formerly of) Ohio State U (Macintosh & more)
Piet W Plomp, ICCE, Groningen University, Netherlands
Manfred Prange, Oakland U (Coherent)
Frank Prindle, NADC
Alan Robiette, Oxford University, UK (VMS)
Kai Uwe Rommel, Technische Universitaet Muenchen (OS/2)
Larry Rosenman (Amiga)
Jay S Rouman, U of Michigan
Benn Schreiber, DEC
Steven Schultz, Contel
Gisbert W Selke, WIdO, Bonn, Germany
Warren Tucker, Tridom Corp, Mountain Park, GA (many things)
Konstantin Vinogradov, ICSTI, Moscow (Cyrillic and more)
Stephen Walton, Calif State U, Northridge (Amiga)
Jamie Watson, Switzerland (RS/6000)
Ken Yap, formerly of the U of Rochester
Michael Yaroslavtsev, Inst. Precise Mechanics & Computer Equipment, Moscow
HOW TO GET IT
C-Kermit 5A(179) BETA is available on the Internet via anonymous ftp from host
watsun.cc.columbia.edu [128.59.39.2], using text (ASCII) mode, in the
directory kermit/test, and on BITNET/EARN from host CUVMA through the KERMSRV
file server, in the T: area. Warning: some files might have records longer
than 80, making it impossible for KERMSRV to MAIL them to you.
You can also order C-Kermit 5A on magnetic media (9-track tape, TK50
cartridge, or quarter-inch tape cartridge) from Columbia University by mail
order as "Tape T" (see the order form, kermit/a/aaxfly.doc or aaxfly.ps).
The C-Kermit filenames all start with the letters "ck" (for C-Kermit). The
third letter in the filename is used for grouping: c = Portable C, u =
UNIX-specific, v = VAX/VMS-specific, etc. The following sections give
brief synopses of the files you will need for each version. A detailed
description of the file naming conventions and organization is given in the
file ckaaaa.hlp. Notation:
* = match any string of characters
[abc] = match the single character a, b, or c
ALL VERSIONS
All C-Kermit versions include the files ckc*.c, ck*.h, and ckcpro.w. These
files implement the Kermit file transfer protocol. The user manual is
ckuker.doc (plain text), ckuker.ps (postscript). It applies to all
versions, but (so far) includes system-specific information only for UNIX,
VAX/VMS, OS/2, Amiga, and OS-9.
THE UNIX VERSION
UNIX sources: ck[cuw]*.[cwh]
UNIX build: ckuker.mak (for 2.1xBSD, use ckubs2.mak)
UNIX executable: (none, build from source code)
UNIX doc: ckuker.doc, ckuker.ps
To build the UNIX version, rename ckuker.mak (or ckubs2.mak) to makefile,
read the comments at the top of the makefile to select the make-option
appropriate for your computer, and then give the appropriate "make" command,
for example "make bsd", "make sunos41", "make sys5r4", etc. Read the file
ckuins.doc for further instructions and hints.
There is also a compressed tar archive of the UNIX sources in
kermit/bin/cku179.tar.Z, which you can ftp in BINARY mode: 595K.
THE VAX/VMS VERSION
This version is not quite finished. Work on an interrupt-driven
communications I/O module is still in progress. However, the file system
interface is more or less complete, and is quite advanced, thanks to endless
and unenviable hours of work by Terry Kennedy of St Peter's College in New
Jersey. The result is quite usable, provided you don't push the
communications too hard (very long packets and/or big sliding window sizes),
especially on small, slow, or old VAXes.
A special feature of VMS C-Kermit 5A is called "labeled files", which allows
VMS files of any type to be transmitted to a foreign system and then
brought back to a VMS system with all their attributes and formats intact --
or for that matter, between two VMS systems directly.
VMS sources: ck[cuwv]*.[cwh], plus ckvcvt.c (labeled-file decoder)
VMS build: ckvcdt.com plus ckvker.com (DCL), ckvker.mak (VMS MAKE),
or ckvker.mms (DEC MMS)
VMS executable: ckvker.hex, use ckvdeh.mar to decode it into .EXE format.
VMS doc: ckuker.doc, ckuker.ps
THE OS/2 VERSION
C-Kermit was originally adapted to OS/2 by Chris Adie, of Edinburgh University
in Scotland in 1988. Kai Uwe Rommel of the Technical University of Munich in
Germany has brought Chris's version up to date and added many new features in
the bargain. This program runs in an OS/2 window under both OS/2 1.3 and 2.0,
performs VT102 emulation complete with key mapping, screen rollback, etc.
OS/2 sources: ck[cuwo]*.[cwh], ckwart.def, ckoker.def
OS/2 build: ckoker.mak
OS/2 executable: ckoker.boo (unboo with ckbunb.c), kermit/bin/ckoker.exe
OS/2 doc: ckuker.doc, ckuker.ps
THE COMMODORE AMIGA VERSION
The adaptation of C-Kermit 5A to the Amiga was handled by Steve Walton,
California State University at Northridge. The original adaptation (for
C-Kermit 4E) was done by Jack Rouse of the "Software Distillery" in 1986.
The files are:
Amiga sources: ck[cuwi]*.[cwh]
Amiga build: ckiker.mak (use Aztec C V5.0b)
Amiga executable: ckiker.boo, kermit/bin/ckiker.exe
Amiga doc: ckuker.doc, ckuker.ps
THE ATARI ST VERSION
This one is hot off the press, just in from Bruce J Moore of Allen-Bradley
Company in Highland Heights, Ohio. This is not a desktop application; it
must be run under a character-mode shell like msh (which comes with Mark
Williams C), gulam, ksh, or bash.
Atari ST sources: ck[cuws]*.[cwh] (Mark Williams C)
Atari build: cksker.mak
Atari executable: cksker.boo (decode with ckbunb.c), kermit/bin/cksker.ttp
Atari doc: cksker.bwr (more coming)
THE OS-9 VERSION
OS-9 is a UNIX variant from Microware Systems Corporation, designed mainly
for the real-time processing environment, mostly on Motorola CPUs. C-Kermit
5A was adapted to OS-9/68K by Christian Hemsing, RWTH Aachen, Germany, and
Bob Larson of the University of Southern California.
OS-9 sources: ck[cuw9]*.[cwh]
OS-9 build: ck9ker.mak or ck9ker.gcc
OS-9 executable: (None, build from source code using cc or gcc)
OS-9 doc: ckuker.doc, ckuker.ps
OTHER VERSIONS
Macintosh Kermit is not at BETA level yet. Much work remains to be done and
is, in fact, underway at this moment. Announcements to come in forthcoming
Info-Kermit Digest issues.
Previous editions of C-Kermit were available for Apollo Aegis and Data General
AOS/VS. The Aegis version appears to be pretty much dead; most people run
a UNIX-like environment on Apollos now, under SR10. The Apollo SR10 UNIX
environments are fully supported by the UNIX version.
Work on updating the Data General AOS/VS support has recently begun. Watch
this space for announcements.
Anybody who might have plans to adapt C-Kermit to any other kind of system,
please contact us first so we can keep all efforts coordinated.
DOCUMENTATION
Much of the documentation listed below needs additional work. Improved
documentation will be announced as it becomes available.
ckaaaa.hlp Explanation of file naming conventions
ckaplm.doc C-Kermit "program logic manual"
ckuker.ann This message
ckuker.doc plain-text user manual, UNIX and VMS
ckuker.ps Postscript user manual, UNIX and VMS
ckuker.mss Scribe source for user manual + ckuhdr.mss
ckuker.nr UNIX man page, NROFF source (NEEDS WORK!)
ckuins.doc UNIX and VMS installation instructions, plain text
ckuker.bwr UNIX and VMS "Beware file", plain text
ckvker.bwr VAX/VMS-specific "beware file", plain text (mostly obsolete?)
ckvker.hlp VAX/VMS help file, for VMS HELP command (needs updates)
ckiker.bwr Amiga beware file
ck9ker.bwr OS-9 beware file
ckuker.upd C-Kermit program update history, plain text, BIG
As you might guess from the contents of this message, C-Kermit has grown
considerably in size and complexity since version 4E. Consequently, many of
its features are now deselectable via feature-selection switches at compile
time: network support, script programming language, character sets, etc. This
is necessary when the target computer (or compiler or linker) does not have
the capacity (memory or address space) to support this version in its full
glory. The feature-removal techniques are documented in the file
ckuins.doc, and the various build procudures (UNIX makefile, etc) show which
(if any) features are removed from which versions. In most versions, the
SHOW VERSION command also lists which features are present and which are
absent.
WHAT NEXT?
As far as features are concerned, this is the end of C-Kermit 5A. Bugs will
be fixed, support for various systems will be updated, and then it will
replace version 4E(072) as the standard, supported, released version. New
features will be added to future releases.
Please report successes or failures to Frank da Cruz, FDCCU@CUVMA.BITNET
or fdc@watsun.cc.columbia.edu.
------------------------------
End of Info-Kermit Digest
*************************