This AOS version of KERMIT was written on a DATA GENERAL
S/250 running AOS Rev. 5.0 and Fortran 5 Rev. 6.14. The
source code is written in RATFOR, which translates into
FORTRAN 5 code before compilation. For those of you who
need to make modification to the program, it is recommended
that one examine the RATFOR source code where there are at
least some decoumentation on various sections of program
code. The RATFOR version source code should be available
from Columbia University. In evaluating the merits of this
KERMIT-AOS program one should keep in mind that the main
purpose of implemented KERMIT-AOS on our system is for
understanding and evulation of the KERMIT protocol itself.
Therefore more effort was spend on the file transfer
function rather than on the terminal emulation function.
Our computing facility also includes the availability of a
local area network hence the issue of controlling baud rate
or parity bit were not addressed. I was a little bit
reluctant in releasing this program because I felt it is not
in a desirable state; however I was persuaded by others that
something is better than nothing at all. I can only added
that this AOS version of KERMIT works on our system. This
KERMIT-AOS transferred file sucessfully between an IBM/PC
and IBM 370/CMS; both programs were originated from Columbia
University via DECUS tape. Credit should also be given to
Fred Brehm who installed the RATFOR translator onto D.G.
machines for RCA and it makes my implementation of
AOS-KERMIT from the C listing found in the PROTOCOL manual
much simpiler. Permission is granted to any individual or
institution to copy or use this program, except for
explicitly commercial purpose.
JOHN LEE
RCA LABS (PRINCETON)
609-734-3157
7/5/84
Terminology and features
------------------------
LOCAL - An user will be using KERMIT-AOS in logon to other KERMIT,
- file transfer will occur on a TTY line other than the TTY
- line this user used in activating KERMIT-AOS.
REMOTE - An user will be using other KERMIT in logon to the AOS
- system and activiating KERMIT-AOS. File transfer will
- occur on this same TTY line. IN REMOTE sending mode, there
- is a 15 second delay before the first SINIT packet is send.
- This would permit the user time to jump back to his/her
- KERMIT and enter the RECEIVEING state.
9600/1200 - It is only valid in LOCAL mode. It gives users a choice of
- baud rate. If user choose 9600 baud, KERMIT will used @CON4
- which is already sysgened as 9600 baud. If user choose 1200
- baud, KERMIT will used @CON11 which is already sysgened as
- 1200 baud. The AOS system is rather slow in handling terminal
- I/O hence 'CHAT' mode works better at 1200 baud while higher
- baud rate does not show much improvement in file transfer mode
- because our system is always heavily loaded with other more
- priviledged programs.
UNHUNG - AOS KERMIT does not support time-out READ which mean if a
- packet is lost, it will goes into an indefinite wait state
- unless the other KERMIT is smart enough to detect a dead-
- lock situation. As each data packet is exchange, the packet
- frame sequence number is display on the screen ( in LOCAL
- mode only). Hitting the NEWLINE key while in file transfer
- mode will resulted in KERMIT-AOS sending out a NAK packet
- which may or may not resolved dead-lock problem.
CONNECT - Enters into the 'CHAT' mode, whatever you typed on the
- local keyboard is transmitted to the remote host, and
- information from the remote host are transmitted to the
- local terminal. 'CHAT' mode is used in establishing
- login sessions and invoking remote KERMIT program.
- CNTR-] will cause exit from 'CHAT' mode.
EXIT - EXIT from this KERMIT program and returns to the CLI.
HELP - Displays the content of a help file.
QUIT - QUIT from this KERMIT program and returns to the CLI.
RECEIVE - Enters the 'RECEIVE' state of file transfer mode,
- program waits for in-coming packet with no time-out
- detection capability provided. Unhung feature in LOCAL
- mode may or maynot resolved the problem.
SEND - Enters the 'SEND' state of file transfer mode, program
- will then prompts for either a filename or a directory
- of filenames (i.e. @directory) to be transmitted. E.G.
- a filename of 'TEST' means send the file with the filename
- of 'TEST', whereas a filename of '@TEST' means each line of
- file 'TEST' is to be interpreted as a filename to be send.
- This acts as a work around with the wildcard feature found
- on other system.
SET IBM OFF- In 'CHAT' mode, expects remote system to echo back
- transmitted characters. In file transfer mode, does
- not wait for the detection of DC1 before sending out
- the next packet.
SET IBM ON - In 'CHAT' mode, performs local echoing of transmitted
- characters. In file transfer mode, wait for the
- detection of DC1 from CMS before sending out the next
- packet.
STATUS - Displays the current values of various setting.
Procedure On Installing KERMIT-AOS Onto Your Data General AOS system.
1) Edit the large source file and breaks them into small one based
on the filename given.
2) Compile all the source program by running the "COMPILEALL.CLI"
command file.
3) Load and link all the relocatable file by running the "LINKALL.CLI"
command file.