Most of the major implementations of Kermit can be servers (not only mainframes but also some PC implementations can act as servers, notably MS-DOS and Unix).
A Kermit server is a Kermit program that does not interact directly with the user, but only with another Kermit program. The server is run on the remote computer. You must still CONNECT to the remote host to log in and start the server, but you no longer have to tell one side to SEND and the other to RECEIVE.
You give all the commands to the local Kermit. The Kermit server waits for a message from the local Kermit saying what to do.
After escaping back to the local system, you can give as many SEND and GET commands as you like; at the end of the transmission procedure, you can give the BYE command, which sends a message to the remote Kermit server to log itself out. However, if you want to CONNECT back to the host, you can use the FINISH command instead of BYE, to shut down the Kermit server on the remote host without logging it off, allowing you to CONNECT back to your job there.
Some servers also provide additional services, such as directory listings, file deletion, or disk usage inquiries.
Here's an example of the use of a Kermit server. The user is sitting at a CP/M-80 microcomputer and a DEC-20 is the remote host.
A>Kermit Run Kermit on the micro.
Kermit-80 V4.05
Kermit-80> This is the micro Kermit's prompt.
Kermit-80>connect Connect to the DEC-20.
[Connecting to remote host. Type CTRL-]C to return to micro.]
CU20E The DEC-20 prints its herald.@login my-id passwordLog in normally.
(The DEC-20 prints various login messages here.)
@KermitRun Kermit-20 normally
Kermit-20>server Tell it to be a server.
Kermit Server running on DEC-20 host. Please type your escape sequence to return to your local machine. Shut down the server by typing the Kermit Bye command on your local machine.
^]C Now escape back to the micro.
[Connection closed, back at micro.]
Kermit-80>get *.pas Get all my DEC-20 Pascal programs.
Kermit-80>send foo.* Send all the ``foo'' files from mymicro
Kermit-80>bye Shut down the Kermit server.
A> Back at CP/M automatically.