Kermit is a file transfer program. It allows the transfer of files over terminal lines from a remote Kermit program to the local Kermit program. Kermit-32 can be run from SYS$SYSTEM:. It will then prompt for input from SYS$COMMAND:. Kermit-32 can be run in either local or remote modes. In remote mode, transfers take place over the controlling terminal line. Ususally, Kermit-32 is used in remote mode as a "server", meaning that it will accept commands from the other Kermit. In local mode, Kermit-32 will perform transfers over a terminal line other than the controlling terminal. In local mode, Kermit-32 is capable of giving commands to a "server" Kermit. Note that in order to use Kermit-32 in local mode, the protection code for the terminal to be used must allow the user access. This is set by the system manager. Kermit-32 is put into local mode by using the SET LINE TTcnn: command. 1 CONNECT The CONNECT command will allow you to connect in as a virtual terminal over the line that was specified by the SET LINE command, or to the terminal line specified in the command. The terminal line must be one which is accessible to the users process. This means that the applicable protection code for the terminal must have been set to allow your process to access it (done by the system manager). The format of the CONNECT command is: Kermit-32>CONNECT or Kermit-32>CONNECT TTcn: where TTcn: is the terminal line name to be used. 1 EXIT The EXIT command will cause Kermit to return to command level. This command is the same as the QUIT command. An example of this command is: Kermit-32>EXIT 1 QUIT This command will cause Kermit to return to command level. This is the same as the EXIT command. Kermit-32>QUIT 1 RECEIVE The RECEIVE command is used to put Kermit-32 into remote mode waiting for a single file transfer transaction, or to have a local Kermit-32 request a file from the remote Kermit. If no file specification is given, Kermit-32 will wait for a file transfer initialization sequence from the other Kermit. This is most useful if the other Kermit does not support local server commands. In order for a file specification to be given, Kermit-32 must be running as a local Kermit (i.e., a SET LINE command must have been done). Kermit-32 will then request the other Kermit (which must be running in server mode) to transfer the specified file (or set of files) to Kermit-32. The file specification must be in the format of the system on which the server Kermit is running. The format of the command is: Kermit-32>RECEIVE or Kermit-32>RECEIVE file-specification Where "file-specification" is any valid file specification on the system on which the server Kermit is running. 1 GET This command is identical to the RECEIVE command. It is now the preferred command to cause the other Kermit (when running in server mode) to transmit a file to Kermit-32. 1 BYE This command will cause Kermit-32 (when in local mode) to tell the other Kermit (which should be in server mode) to exit from Kermit and, if applicable, terminate its job (or process, etc.). When Kermit-32 receives the acknowledgement that this is being done, it will exit to VMS. Kermit-32>BYE 1 FINISH This command will cause Kermit-32 (when in local mode) to tell the other Kermit (which should be in server mode) to exit from Kermit. After receiving the acknowledgement that this is being done, Kermit-32 will prompt for another command. Kermit-32>FINISH 1 LOGOUT This command will cause Kermit-32 (when in local mode) to tell the other Kermit (which should be in server mode) to exit from Kermit and, if applicable, terminate its job (or process, etc.). When Kermit-32 receives the acknowledgement that this is being done, it will prompt for another command. Kermit-32>LOGOUT 1 SEND The SEND command will allow you to send a file(s) to the other Kermit. The SEND command will allow file wild card processing as is found in VMS. If Kermit-32 is running in remote mode, the file will be sent on the controlling terminal line after waiting the number of seconds specified by the SET DELAY command. This gives the user time to escape back to the other Kermit and issue a receive command. If Kermit-32 is running in local mode, the file will be sent immediately on the terminal line specified by the SET LINE command. The command format is: Kermit-32>SEND file-specification Where "file-specification" is any normal VAX/VMS file specification. 1 SERVER This command will cause Kermit-32 to enter server mode. The other Kermit can then issue server commands to send and receive files without having to give SEND or RECEIVE commands to Kermit-32. Kermit-32 may be put into SERVER mode while running as either a remote Kermit (transmitting over the controlling terminal line), or as a local Kermit (transmitting over a terminal specified by a SET LINE command). Note that in order to correctly receive binary files while in SERVER mode, a SET FILETYPE BINARY must be done first. At this time there is no way for Kermit-32 to determine whether an incoming file is ASCII or binary. The format of the command is: Kermit-32>SERVER 1 SET The SET command is used to set various parameters in Kermit. 2 BLOCK_CHECK_TYPE The SET BLOCK_CHECK_TYPE command is used to determine the type of block check sequence which will be used during transmission. The block check sequence is used to detect transmission errors. There are three types of block check available. These are the single character checksum (default), the two character checksum, and the three character CRC (cyclic redundancy check). This command does not ensure that the desired type of block check will be used, since both Kermit's involved in the transfer must agree on the block check type. Kermit-32 will request that the type of block check set by this command be used for a transfer. If the other Kermit has also had the same block check type requested, then the desired block check type will be used. Otherwise, the single character checksum will be used. (See Kermit protocol manual for more information.) Kermit-32>SET BLOCK_CHECK_TYPE keyword Where keyword is one of: 1. 1_CHARACTER_CHECKSUM or ONE_CHARACTER_CHECKSUM 2. 2_CHARACTER_CHECKSUM or TWO_CHARACTER_CHECKSUM 3. 3_CHARACTER_CRC_CCITT or THREE_CHARACTER_CRC_CCITT 2 DEBUGGING The SET DEBUGGING command is used to set the debug type out on the user's terminal. The command will accept either the keywords ON or OFF. Kermit-32 can only do debugging type out when running as a local Kermit (SET LINE command done). This is because the debugging type out would interfere with the file transfer if it were sent to the controlling terminal line in remote mode. Kermit-32>SET DEBUGGING state Where state is either 'ON' or 'OFF'. 2 DELAY The DELAY parameter is the number of seconds to wait before sending data after a SEND command is given. This is used when Kermit-32 is running in remote mode to allow the user time to escape back to the other Kermit and give a RECEIVE command. Kermit-32>SET DELAY number-of-seconds Where number of seconds is the (decimal) number of second to wait before sending data. 2 ESCAPE This command will set the escape character for the CONNECT processing. The command will take the octal value of the character to use as the escape character. This is the character which is used to "escape" back to Kermit-32 after using the CONNECT command. It defaults to ] (octal 35). It is usually a good idea to set this character to something which is not used (or at least not used very much) on the system being to which Kermit-32 is CONNECTing. Kermit-32>SET ESCAPE octal-character-value Where octal-character-value is the ASCII value of the character to use as the escape character (in octal). 2 FILE_TYPE This command will set the file type that Kermit is receiving. A file type of ASCII should be used to receive text files which are to be used as text files on the VMS system. The file type BINARY should be used for binary files, such as CP/M .COM files, which need to be kept in a format that allows the file to be returned without any changes. Kermit-32>SET FILE_TYPE type 3 ASCII File type ASCII is for text files. 3 BINARY File type BINARY is for non-text files. Note that binary files which are generated on a VMS system cannot be transferred to another VMS system without losing file attributes. This means that (for example), an .EXE file cannot be transmitted with Kermit-32. (This problem should be resolved in a future verison of Kermit). 2 IBM_MODE The SET IBM_MODE command allows Kermit-32 to be put into a mode which will allow transfers to an IBM host. This causes Kermit-32 to wait for the IBM turnaround character (XON, CTRL-Q) before sending any characters to the other Kermit. It also forces the parity type to be mark, and turns on local echo for the CONNECT command. Kermit-32>SET IBM_MODE keyword Where keyword is either ON or OFF. 2 INCOMPLETE_FILE_DISPOSITION The SET INCOMPLETE_FILE_DISPOSITION allows the user to determine what is done with a file that is not completely received. If the disposition is KEEP, all file received will be kept, even if only a portion of the file is received. If the disposition is DISCARD (the default), files which are not completely received are discarded. Kermit-32>SET INCOMPLETE_FILE_DISPOSITION keyword Where keyword is either DISCARD or KEEP. 2 LINE This will set the terminal line that you are using. The terminal line must be one which is accessible to the users process. This means that the applicable protection code for the terminal must have been set to allow your process to access it (done by the system manager). Kermit-32>SET LINE device: The device must be a terminal line (TTA0:). 2 LOCAL_ECHO The SET LOCAL_ECHO command specifies whether characters should be echoed locally when CONNECTing to another system. If LOCAL_ECHO is set to ON, any character typed on the terminal will be echoed immediately to the terminal, as well as being sent to the other system. If LOCAL_ECHO is set to OFF (the default), the characters typed on the terminal are only sent to the other system (which would normally be echoing the characters). Kermit-32>SET LOCAL_ECHO keyword Where keyword is either ON or OFF. 2 MESSAGE This command sets the type of typeout Kermit-32 will do during transfers in local mode. Kermit-32 can type out the file specification being transferred, the packet numbers being sent an received, both or neither. The default is to type file specifications but not packet numbers. Kermit-32>SET MESSAGE type keyword Where type is either FILE or PACKET, and keyword is either ON or OFF. 2 PARITY This command determines the type of parity to use on the transmission line. Kermit normally uses characters which consist of eight data bits with no parity bit. For systems or transmission media which require a specific parity type, Kermit can send characters as seven data bits plus a parity bit. Kermit-32>SET PARITY keyword Where keyword is one of: 1. NONE (default) - eight data bits and no parity bit. 2. MARK - seven data bits with the parity bit set to one. 3. SPACE - seven data bits with the parity bit set to zero. 4. EVEN - seven data bits with the parity bit set to make the overall parity even. 5. ODD - seven data bits with the parity bit set to make the overall parity odd. 2 REPEAT_QUOTE This command sets the character to be used as the lead-in character for a repeat sequence (a string of characters which represents some number of characters which are repeated in the data). Both Kermit's must support repeat compression for this to be in effect. The character set by this command must be in the range 41 ("1") to 76 (">") or 140 ("`") to 176 ("~"). The character will only be used on file which are being transmitted by Kermit-32. The REPEAT_QUOTE character used for incoming files is decided on by the other Kermit. The default value is 176 ("~"). A value of 40 (a space) will disable repeat compression. Kermit-32>SET REPEAT_QUOTE nnn Where nnn is the ASCII value for the repeat quoting character (in octal). 2 RETRY This command sets the maximum number of times Kermit-32 should try to send specific packet. There are two retry maximums, one for the initial connection packet (the "SEND-INIT"), the other for all other packets. The default value for initial connections is 5. The default value for all other packets is 16. Kermit-32>SET RETRY keyword n Where keyword is either INITIAL_CONNECTION (for initial connection packet) or PACKET (for all other packets), and n is the decimal number of retries to attempt. 2 RECEIVE It is possible to set various parameters associated with the receiving of the data from the remote Kermit. SET RECEIVE will enable you to set the various receive parameters. 3 PACKET_LENGTH This will set the receive packet length. The value for this parameter must be between 10 and 96. Packet lengths outside of this range are illegal. The default value is 80. Kermit-32>SET RECEIVE PACKET_LENGTH 60 3 PADDING This command will set the number of padding characters that will be sent to the other Kermit. The default value is 0. Kermit-32>SET RECEIVE PADDING n Where n is the decimal number of padding characters to use. 3 PADCHAR This parameter is the padding character that is sent to the remote Kermit. The parameter must be an octal number in the range of 0 to 37 or 177. All other values are illegal. The default value is 0 (an ASCII NUL). Kermit-32>SET RECEIVE PADCHAR nnn Where nnn is the ASCII value of the character to be used as a pad character (in octal). 3 START_OF_PACKET This command will set the start of packet character for Kermit. The start of packet character must be in the range of 0 to 36 octal. The default value is 1 (ASCII SOH, CTRL-A). This value should only be changed if absolutely necessary. It must be set the same in both Kermit's. Kermit-32>SET RECEIVE START_OF_PACKET 3 3 TIMEOUT This will set the number of seconds before Kermit-32 will time out the attempt to receive a message. This time out is used to handle transmission errors which totally lose a message. The default value is 15 seconds. Kermit-32>SET RECEIVE TIMEOUT n Where n is the number of seconds to wait for a message (in decimal). 3 END_OF_LINE This will set the end of line character the Kermit-32 expects to receive from the remote Kermit. This is the character which terminates a packet. The default value is 15 (ASCII CR, CTRL-M). Kermit-32>SET RECEIVE END_OF_LINE nnn Where n is the ASCII value of the character to use for the end of line character (in octal). 3 QUOTE This will set the quoting character that Kermit-32 will expect on incoming messages. This is the character used to quote control characters. The default value is 43 (ASCII " "). Kermit-32>SET RECEIVE QUOTE nnn Where nnn is the ASCII value of the quoting character (in octal). 3 EIGHT_BIT_QUOTE This command sets the character to be used (when necessary) to quote characters which have the eigth bit (parity bit) set. This is used to transfer eight-bit bytes on a transmission medium which only supports seven data bits. The default value is 46 (ASCII ""). _ Eigth-bit quoting will only be used if both Kermit's can handle it, and the tranmission medium does not transmit 8 data bits (as indicated by the SET PARITY command). Kermit-32>SET RECEIVE EIGHT_BIT_QUOTE nnn Where nnn is the ASCII value of the character (in octal) to use for quoting characters which have the eigth bit set. 2 SEND It is possible to set various parameters associated with the receiving of the data from the remote Kermit. SET SEND will enable you to set the various SEND parameters. These parameters should not normally be set, since as part of the transfer initialization process the two Kermit's exchange their RECEIVE parameters. The capability of setting these parameters is provided so that the transfer initialization can be completed even if the default parameters are not correct. 3 PACKET_LENGTH This will set the SEND packet length. The value for this parameter must be between 10 and 96. Packet lengths outside of this range are illegal. The default value is 80. Kermit-32>SET SEND PACKET_LENGTH 60 3 PADDING This command will set the number of padding characters that will be sent to the other Kermit. The default value is 0. Kermit-32>SET SEND PADDING n Where n is the decimal number of padding characters to use. 3 PADCHAR This parameter is the padding character that is sent to the remote Kermit. The parameter must be an octal number in the range of 0 to 37 or 177. All other values are illegal. The default value is 0 (an ASCII NUL). Kermit-32>SET SEND PADCHAR nnn Where nnn is the ASCII value of the character to be used as a pad character (in octal). 3 START_OF_PACKET This command will set the start of packet character for Kermit. The start of packet character must be in the range of 0 to 36 octal. The default value is 1 (ASCII SOH, CTRL-A). This value should only be changed if absolutely necessary. It must be set the same in both Kermit's. Kermit-32>SET SEND START_OF_PACKET 3 3 TIMEOUT This will set the number of seconds before Kermit-32 will time out a message it has sent to the other Kermit. message. This time out is used to handle transmission errors which totally lose a message. The default value is 15 seconds. Kermit-32>SET SEND TIMEOUT n Where n is the number of seconds to wait for a message (in decimal). 3 END_OF_LINE This will set the end of line character the Kermit-32 will send to the remote Kermit. This is the character which terminates a packet. The default value is 15 (ASCII CR, CTRL-M). Kermit-32>SET SEND END_OF_LINE nnn Where n is the ASCII value of the character to use for the end of line character (in octal). 3 QUOTE This will set the quoting character that Kermit-32 will expect on incoming messages. This is the character used to quote control characters. The default value is 43 (ASCII " "). Kermit-32>SET SEND QUOTE nnn Where nnn is the ASCII value of the quoting character (in octal). 1 SHOW The SHOW command will allow you to show the various parameters that are set with the SET command. 2 ALL The SHOW ALL command will cause all of the parameters to be listed. 2 BLOCK_CHECK_TYPE This command will type out what type of block check is being requested. 2 COMMUNICATIONS This command will type out the communcations line related parameters. This includes the terminal line being used, the parity type, etc. 2 DEBUGGING The SHOW DEBUGGING command will print the state of the debugging flag. 2 DELAY This will display the number of seconds delay that Kermit will use before attempting to send or receive a file. 2 ESCAPE This will display the current escape character for the CONNECT processing. 2 FILE_PARAMETERS This will display the parameters related to files being used. This includes the file type and the incomplete file disposition. 2 FILE_TYPE This will display the current file type that is used in sending the file to or receiving the from the micro computer. 2 INCOMPLTE_FILE_DISPOSITION This will display the disposition of incompletely received files. 2 LOCAL_ECHO This will display the status of the local echo flag. 2 PACKET This will display the current settings of the send and receive packet parameters. 2 PARITY This will display the current parity setting. 2 SEND All of the send parameters will be displayed on the user's terminal. 2 RECEIVE The current values of the RECEIVE parameters will be displayed on the user's terminal. Only the parmeters that can be set will be displayed. 2 RETRY This command will show the maximum retry attempts that Kermit will attempt to send a message the remote. 1 STATUS The current status of Kermit-32 will be displayed. This includes the number of characters that have been sent and received from the remote Kermit. Also included is an estimate of the effective baud rate of the transfer. This number is not intended to be exact, but only an %RNFIIF ^M ignored on output page 1; on input line 858 of page 1 of file "DSK:VMSKERMIT.RNH.1" indication of what range of throughput has been provided.