Columbia Kermit/kermit.zip/mskermit/msr230.ann

Text File | 2020-01-01 | 13KB | 229 lines

(send to Info-Kermit and [e-mail])

Date: Mon, 11 Jan 88 19:55 MST
From: Joe Doupnik <JRD@USU> and Frank da Cruz <SY.FDC@CU20B>
Subject: Announcing MS-DOS Kermit 2.30
Keywords: MS-DOS Kermit 2.30, IBM PC Kermit 2.30, DEC Rainbow
Keywords: Tektronix Emulation, NetBIOS

This is to announce a major new release of the MS-DOS Kermit communication and
file transfer program, version 2.30, the first major release since version 2.29
appeared in May 1986.  The code has been frozen as of January 8, 1988.  Any
further features or fixes will be deferred for future releases.

The major new features of version 2.30 are:

 . Long file transfer packets (up to 1000 bytes)
 . NetBIOS local area network support
 . A simple script language for automated dialogs with other computers
 . Tektronix 4010 graphics terminal emulation
 . Improved DEC VT102 and Heath 19 emulation
 . ANSI printer control
 . Selectable initialization file names
 . File transfer performance statistics reporting
 . A new, more powerful, more portable key redefinition facility
 . Support for new IBM keyboards
 . A mechanism for installing COM3 and COM4 support
 . Ability to assign Kermit connect-mode "verbs" to arbitrary keys
 . Keyboard and port input character translation during terminal connection
 . Support for both 7-bit and 8-bit (international) character sets
 . Improved interaction with DOS batch programs
 . More flexible command-line invocation options
 . Security features for server operation
 . Ability to operate Kermit through an external console via CTTY
 . Compatibility with most internal modems
 . Modem status report (CD, DSR, CTS)
 . Increased memory for screen rollback, macro and key definitions
 . Garbage collection of macro and key definition memory
 . Improved cooperation with half-duplex hosts
 . Improved DOS error handling
 . Improved debugging and logging functions
 . Improved consistency of command syntax
 . A completely rewritten manual

The program requires DOS 2.0 or later, and 90K+ of memory.  Version 2.30
currently runs on the entire IBM PC family, including the new PS/2 series, on
IBM clones such as the Compaq, AT&T 6300, and DEC VAXmate, and on "semi-clones"
like the Seequa Chameleon and Data General/1, which have different serial port
adapters.  There is also a specific version for the DEC Rainbow (which does not
include Tektronix emulation), and a "generic MS-DOS" version that should run on
any DOS machine, using only DOS calls (no specific terminal emulation).

Thanks are due to James Sturdevant of A.C. Nielson Company for the initial
implementation of the script language, to Joe Smith of the Colorado School of
Mines and Brian Holley of the University of Cambridge (UK) for the original
Tektronix emulation code, to David Knoell of Basic American Foods for the
initial implementation of "Kermit verbs" assigned to keys, and to AT&T for
supporting the NetBIOS development.

And thanks also to the hundreds of Info-Kermit Digest subscribers who tested
the many prereleases of this program, reported bugs, and suggested new
features, and who read and commented on drafts of the new manual.

The new IBM version replaces several previous versions that were distributed
separately, including the MSVCLO version (for IBM near-clones like the Seequa
Chameleon and DG/1) and the Olivetti M24 version.

Untested versions are included for the HP-150, HP-110 and Portable PC, and
the Grid Compass II -- if you have any of these machines, please try out the
new version!

Previous releases of MS-DOS Kermit also ran on a number of other machines,
including the Wang PC, Victor 9000, Sanyo MBC, NEC APC and APC3, etc.  The code
for these non-IBM compatibles will also be to 2.30 level, and released when
available.  Volunteers to test and fix the code for these machines are heartily
encouraged to step forward!

The files for version 2.30 have been installed in Kermit Distribution at
Columbia University.  They are available on the Internet from host
CU20B.COLUMBIA.EDU (a DECSYSTEM-20) as follows: run FTP, log in as user
ANONYMOUS, any password, and GET (or MULTIPLE GET, or MGET, according to the
syntax of your FTP program) the desired files.  They are also available on
BITNET and EARN from host CUVMA (an IBM mainframe) by sending a message to
KERMSRV@CUVMA requesting the desired files.  To learn more about KERMSRV, send
it a message "HELP".  KERMSRV at the University of Toledo (UOFT02) (a VAX/VMS
based Kermit file server) also has the files, and eventually, they will also be
available via UUCP from Oklahoma State University, from and from dialup
bulletin boards around the world.

The executable files are stored in a special printable bootstrap format, called
"BOO files".  These are decoded into .EXE files using a "BOO-file decoder"
program.  These are available written in various languages, including Basic,
MASM, C, and Pascal.  The documentation is available online in plain ASCII text
format, and in Scribe text formatter source format.  Following is a synopsis of
the files.  The KERMSRV name is the same as the CU20B name, except the "KER:"
should be omitted, and the period between the filename and filetype should be a
space, e.g. KER:MSAAAA.HLP on CU20B is MSAAAA HLP on CUVMA.

 CU20B Name        Size        Description

 KER:MSAAAA.HLP      7K        Explanation of file naming conventions
 KER:MSB*.*        130K total  BOO-file encoding/decoding programs
 KER:MSVIBM.BOO     97K        IBM PC Kermit, BOO-encoded executable
 KER:MSVRB1.BOO     68K        DEC Rainbow Kermit BOO file
 KER:MSVGEN.BOO     62K        Generic MS-DOS Kermit BOO file
 KER:MSTHP1.BOO     63K        HP-150 (untested)
 KER:MSTHPX.BOO     64K        HP-110 and Portable PC (untested)
 KER:MSTGRI.BOO     64K        Grid Compass II (untested)
 KER:MSKERM.DOC    263K        MS-DOS Kermit manual, plain ASCII text
 KER:MSKERM.MSS    263K        Scribe text formatter source for manual
 KER:MSKERM.HLP     12K        A summary of MS-Kermit commands
 KER:MSKERM.BWR     11K        List of known restrictions, bugs, etc.
 KER:MSS*.*        638K total  System-independent MASM Source files (13 files)
 KER:MSG*.*        110K each   System-dependent source (graphics, IBM only)
 KER:MSU*.*      70-85K each   Sys-depn source (keyboard support, all systems)
 KER:MSX*.*     39-150K each   Sys-depn source (port i/o, etc, all systems)
 KER:MSY*.*        100K each   Sys-depn source (terminal emulation, IBM only)
 KER:MSZ*.*        183K each   Sys-depn source (term emul, cont'd, IBM only)
 KER:MSV*.MAK        2K each   Microsoft MAKE files for each version
 KER:MSV*.BAT        2K each   Batch files to build each version
 KER:MSV*.LNK        1K each   LINK command files for each version

The utility program MSUCHK.C (and .BOO), contributed by Phil Benchoff of
Virginia Polytechnical Institute, allows convenient determination of
MS-Kermit's new keyboard codes on the IBM PC family.

Be sure to read the MSKERM.BWR file before trying to use the new version, or
reporting any problems with it.

Here are the minimum files needed for the new release ("xxx" stands for the
specific version, IBM, RB1, or GEN):

1. For everybody: The documentation -- MSKERM.DOC, MSKERM.HLP, MSKERM.BWR.

2. For those who already have Kermit on their PC:  MSVxxx.BOO.  If you don't
   have the MSBPCT "BOO-file decoder", also get that.

3. For those who want to make modifications to the sources:
   MSS*.*, MSGxxx.* (if any), MSXxxx.*, MSYxxx.* (if any) ,MSZxxx.* (if any),
   MSVxxx.MAK (or .BAT if you don't have MAKE), and MSVxxx.LNK.

The systems for which we don't yet have the new version ready are still in
the Kermit distribution as before, under the MSV, MSX, and MSY prefixes.  These
will be replaced as the new ones appear.

The IBM PC and DEC Rainbow versions may also be ordered on diskette from
Columbia, along with typeset, printed copies of the manual.  The IBM version
is available on 5.25-inch 360K DS DD diskettes, and on 3.5-inch 720K DS
diskettes for the PS/2 family.  The Rainbow version is on RX50.  Send mail to
[e-mail] or [e-mail] for ordering
information.  The distribution diskette for the IBM PC version will also be
submitted by Columbia to various user groups and diskette services.

New Features -

Of particular interest are the Local Area Network and Tektronix items.  Both
are available only for the IBM PC version of Kermit-MS.

LANs can be used as a communications pathway between cooperating Kermits and
between Kermit-MS and a host which allows direct remote logins from the LAN.
The mechanism is the NetBIOS emulator program supplied with each network, and
thus it works with most LAN systems.  Any station can become a Kermit network
server or a client, without interference with the regular network fileservers,
to allow multiple Kermit to Kermit links on a voluntary peer to peer basis.
The mechanism uses just the NetBIOS and not vendor dependent Asynchronous
Communications software packages (Kermit puts its own packets or Connect
mode characters in NetBIOS packets and uses the NetBIOS protocol in addition
to the standard Kermit protocol).

Tektronix terminal emulation provides standard line drawing, dot, and
character graphics of the 4010 class terminals using true graphics on the PC.
Kermit-MS automatically determines the display and display adapter board in
current use and does high resolution graphics in response to Tek style
commands (which are described in the new Users Manual).  Display adapters
currently supported are EGA, CGA, Hercules, AT&T/Olivetti, and even regular
Monochrome (with text characters rather than dots).  The graphics will be in
color (foreground and background) and will be preserved separately from
ordinary text (VT102, VT52, Heath-19) screens if the hardware permits and one
can switch back and forth from the keyboard.   Tektronix specifications have
been extended slightly to allow the host to switch Kermit-MS into and out of
graphics mode automatically for easy plotting from packages such as SAS.

The IBM PC version now supports the COM3 and COM4 ports available on many
machines with added hardware, provided the user informs the BIOS of their
presence.  The Users Manual shows how to do this.  Kermit-MS/IBM adapts to
screen dimensions found at startup, such as 132 columns or 43 lines, and is
able to switch several popular non-IBM EGA boards to 132 column mode under host
control.

Long packets, up to 1000 bytes, are supported to increase efficiency on long
haul communications circuits.  Efficiency increases by using fewer packets and
thus less overall time waiting for packets to be acknowledged.  Strong three
byte CRC checking is encouraged; it does not degrade local performance.  Long
packets are a reasonable alternative to the sliding windows approach which has
a problem on PCs when they attempt disk i/o while receiving characters on the
serial port (interrupts can get lost and packets need to be repeated).

Translation mechanisms are present to assist multilingual usage of essentially
ASCII or English style machines.  These are not panaceas for a very complex
problem, but testing in Europe indicates it is a step in the right direction.
The mechanisms are conversion of characters about to be displayed, control of
character size (7 or 8 bits), and the new generalized keyboard handler present
for all MS DOS machines.

A sustained awareness of supplementary input and output devices used by
disabled and other individuals is present in many parts of the program.  As we
learn more about such devices Kermit-MS will try to make their use possible and
comfortable.

Overall, the interior technical improvements are numerous.  This gives us added
flexibility and increased performance.

And may we share with you -

Like any Kermit program, MS-DOS Kermit is for everyone to use and share.  Once
you get it, feel free to pass it along to your friends and colleagues.
Although it is copyrighted and not in the public domain, we ask only that you
not attempt to sell it for profit, and that you use it only for peaceful and
humane purposes.  If you have comments, suggestions, improvements, or fixes,
please send them to Kermit Distribution at Columbia University, where they can
be considered for the next release or added to the "beware file".  Happy New
Year, and use Kermit in good health!

  Joe R. Doupnik                               Frank da Cruz
  Center for Atmospheric and Space Sciences    Center for Computing Activities
  & Dept of Electrical Engineering             Columbia University
  Utah State University                        612 West 115th Street
  Logan, Utah  84322                           New York, NY 10025
  [e-mail]                               [e-mail]