iRMX KERMIT INTRODUCTION MSKERMIT, the richest and most widely used implementation of KERMIT for the small computer, has been ported to iRMX. Version 2.26 of MSKERMIT (essentially unchanged) has been placed in a cradle which leaves it blissfully unaware that it is not running under DOS. Columbia has offered to pick up the few syntax changes necessary to make the source acceptable to either the Microsoft assembler, MASM, or ASM86. We hope to have Version 2.28 available by the end of 1985. Then, future versions of Columbia source code can be converted to RMX with a simple edit pass. This document describes installation and configuration and discusses differences between RMXKERMIT and MSKERMIT. Users unfamiliar with MSKERMIT may prefer to read this in conjunction with KERMIT.DOC. INSTALLATION The first diskette contains all you need to use KERMIT. The following files are included: READ.ME.1ST this document KERMIT.DOC Columbia's KERMIT User Guide with documentation for the MSKERMIT implementation KERMIT the executable program MSKERMIT.INI a sample initialization and configuration file Warning: this file contains escape sequences The second, optional, diskette contains source code and submit files to assemble and link KERMIT. ASM.CSD assembles the modules, and LINK.CSD puts it all together. If you have a local version of MSKERMIT, the additional submit file, EDT.CSD, can be used to convert the MASM modules to ASM86 format. Both disks are copyable, and you are free to make as many copies as you wish. KERMIT may be given away but must not be sold. KERMIT is easiest to use if it and MSKERMIT.INI are copied to one of the automatic search directories such as /UTILS. CONFIGURATION The first line of MSKERMIT.INI is used to configure KERMIT to your terminal using OSC sequences (see BIOS App. F). First you must decide if that's what you want. Presently (Oct. '85), the RMX Terminal Support Code is reluctant to permit transparent input when translation is enabled. As a consequence, you have the choice between a decent screen format during file transfer, or a fully functional keyboard. When you choose the acceptable screen format, RMX holds up the escape key for one extra keystroke, and if ^E, ^X, or ^Z are needed for terminal configuration (several terminals use ^Z for clear screen), they won't work as escapes during file transfer. On the other hand, opting for the keyboard results in a hideous screen during file transfer. The sample MSKERMIT.INI file configures KERMIT for the Qume QVT102, Televideo 910 Plus, 912, 920, 925, & 950, and Zentec Zephyr & Cobra terminals. Let's look at it to see how configuration works. This example has the escape codes replaced by '{ESC}': ;{ESC}]T:T=1,F=1,U=32,E6=93,E30=75,E31=116{ESC}\ SET SEND PACK 94 SET BAUD 1200 T=1 enables translation F=1 vertical cursor coordinate precedes horizontal U=32 value for cursor row or column 1. 32 is the code for space E6=93 translate cursor positioning to {ESC}= E30=75 translate clear screen to {ESC}+ E31=116 translate clear to end of line to {ESC}T Configuration OSC's must appear in the first line of MSKERMIT.INI. It must begin with a semi-colon so that KERMIT won't treat it as a command. Referring to the manual for your terminal and BIOS Tables F-4 and F-5, edit MSKERMIT.INI to match your terminal. To disable translation and choose the keyboard over the screen, delete line 1. RMXKERMIT looks for MSKERMIT.INI first in your default directory, $. If not found, it looks in the directory from which KERMIT was loaded. Suppose KERMIT is installed in /UTILS. The search would be, first :$:MSKERMIT.INI, then, :UTILS:MSKERMIT.INI. A multiple terminal system with different brand terminals can configure them all by using a different default directory for each. SERIAL PORTS MSKERMIT expects at least one serial communication port, COM1:, and will accept a second, COM2:. RMXKERMIT associates logical device names with COM1: and COM2:. For COM1:, which must exist at initialization time, RMXKERMIT looks first for :COM1:, then for :T1:. If neither are found, a warning message is issued and :TERM: is used. On multiple port systems it's best to ATTACHDEVICE before calling KERMIT. RUN ATTACHDEVICE in MSKERMIT.INI won't work. MSKERMIT's second serial port, COM2:, is always associated with the logical device name :COM2:. :COM2: may be defined and redefined while in KERMIT by using the KERMIT RUN command with the Human Interface commands, ATTACHDEVICE and DETACHDEVICE. The initial association with COM1: can not be changed. SINGLE PORT SYSTEMS You can use KERMIT on a single port system, if you have another computer that you can connect directly to it. For example, connect a PC's COM port in place of your terminal. Call up KERMIT on the PC, set the baud rate to match your RMX system, and connect to it. Use the PC as the RMX terminal. Make sure that neither :T1: or :COM1: exist as logical names before calling up RMXKERMIT. Before initiating a file transfer, do the following: SET REMOTE ON ; necessary SET BAUD 4800 ; recommended, see below under usage notes SERVER ; the baud rate won't change 'til this command Escape back to the PC's KERMIT, set it's baud rate to match the above, and use SEND or GET for file transfer. When done, issue the FINISH command, reconnect to RMXKERMIT, and exit to the system. The terminal's baud rate and other attributes will be restored to their initial values. If you want to continue using the PC as a terminal, you'll have to escape back to the PC, change its baud rate, and reconnect. PATH AND FILE NAMES MSKERMIT expects file specifications in the standard MS-DOS 2.x form, d:path\file.type. RMXKERMIT associates the single letter drive specifier with the corresponding RMX prefix. For example, Z:SOURCE.P86 refers to the RMX file, :Z:SOURCE.P86. The default directory, :$:, is used when the drive specifier is omitted. MSKERMIT accepts either \ or / as path separators. RMXKERMIT substitutes ^ for \. Filename and type, or extension are 8 and 3 characters maximum, respectively. FILENAME. and FILENAME refer to the same file under DOS. You cannot refer to FILENAME. while in RMXKERMIT. FEATURES NOT IMPLEMENTED PUSH has not been implemented. Unlike the DOS implementations, there is nothing that could be done with PUSH that can't be done with RUN. Heath/Zenith-19 emulation, SET KEY, and SHOW KEY have not been implemented. You can use the terminal of your choice and configure RMXKERMIT to work with it. You cannot transmit a break to the remote computer. Although some serial communication board's firmware supports sending breaks, the RMX device drivers do not. Wildcards cannot be used to refer to files at the RMX end. SET DEFAULT will accomplish nothing. Use RUN ATTACHFILE to change disk drives and/or directories. USAGE NOTES A HANGUP command has been added which drops DTR momentarily for serial ports which support modem control. The RMX Terminal Support Code, when operating with unbuffered serial boards such as the 8251, can accept only a few characters at 9600 baud before losing some. RMXKERMIT can send at 9600 baud through such boards, but receiving is limited to 4800 baud. It can connect to a remote computer at 9600 baud, but will drop some characters if they are sent faster than fast typing speed. There should be no baud rate problems with buffered serial boards, such as the 544 or 188/48. RMXKERMIT can't read past NULs. This won't effect file transfer as long as the pad character is anything but NUL when padding is used. If your remote host computer sends NULs while RMXKERMIT is being used as a terminal, you can recover by escaping back to the local system and reconnecting. While SET DESTINATION PRINTER works, it is very slow. The line printer driver hogs the processor, as a result, simultaneous read/write/compute is not possible. It's probably quicker to receive to disk and then copy to the printer. RMXKERMIT reads commands from the submit file when operating in batch. RMXKERMIT will accept any RMX DIR command. Continuation can be used with the RUN command. For example: RUN ATTACHDEVICE T4 AS COM2 & RUN PHYSICAL is equivalent to: RUN ATTACHDEVICE T4 AS COM2 PHYSICAL RUNning AEDIT (or any other program that may object to Terminal Support Code translation) under RMXKERMIT may not work very well. AVAILABILITY RMXKERMIT is presently available on 5 1/4" DSDD RMX format disks at $6/disk (media, postage, handling, tax, and license) from: University Bookstore Computer Shop 6049 E. 7th St. Long Beach, CA 90840 WHERE TO GRIPE Send problems to: Jack Bryans Finance Dept. CSULB 1250 Bellflower Blvd. Long Beach, CA 90840 Or, if you have access to BITNET, send to JAFW801@CALSTATE.