THE KERMIT FILE TRANSFER PROTOCOL December 1987 Kermit is an error-correcting protocol for transferring sequential files be- tween computers of all sizes over ordinary asynchronous telecommunication lines. Kermit is non-proprietary, thoroughly documented, and in wide use. The protocol and the original implementations were developed at Columbia University and have been shared with thousands of other institutions all over the world, many of which have made significant contributions of their own. Kermit is presently available for more than 250 different machines and operating systems, and additional versions are always under development. FEATURES: All Kermit programs perform file transfer using the Kermit file transfer protocol. In addition, Kermit programs for personal computers also provide terminal emulation, usually of the DEC VT52, VT100, or other terminal, and some of the mainframe Kermit programs are capable of initiating connections, acting as dumb terminals to remote systems. Kermit programs work only over asynchronous RS-232 direct or dialup connections, or connections that simulate them. For file transfer to take place, there must be a Kermit program running on each end of the connection, one on each computer. VERSIONS: There are Kermit programs for most popular "generic" operating systems, includ- ing UNIX, MS-DOS, and CP/M, and for mainframes and minicomputers from Bur- roughs, Cray, CDC, Data General, DEC, Gould (SEL), Harris, Honeywell, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Perkin-Elmer (Concurrent), Prime, Sperry/Univac, and Tan- dem, and for particular microcomputers and workstations from Apple, Apollo, Atari, Commodore, IBM, Tandy, and many others, written in a wide variety of languages including many different assemblers, plus high-level languages like Algol, Basic, Bliss, C, Forth, Fortran, Lisp, Modula-2, Mumps, Pascal, PL/I, and Ratfor. A complete list of currently available Kermit programs accompanies this flyer. Here are some details about the several most popular Kermit programs. Most of them are capable of both local and remote operation, server and client modes, text and binary file transfer, and support a full range of communications op- tions -- speed, parity, duplex, flow control, handshake -- to allow adaptation to a wide variety of hosts (including IBM mainframes) and communication media. - IBM PC Kermit Version 2.29C runs under PC-DOS version 2.0 and later on the entire IBM PC family, as well as on IBM "clones" and com- patibles. It provides nearly complete DEC VT102 terminal emulation at speeds up to 38.4K baud fully buffered and interrupt driven -- and includes support for long packets, color displays, compatibility with various "desktop organizers," and selectable emulation of other ter- minals. There are also versions of Kermit specifically tailored for a variety of other MS-DOS systems, including the DEC Rainbow, Zenith-100, Victor 9000, and many others, and there is a "generic" MS-DOS Kermit for systems not explicitly covered. - Macintosh Kermit Version 0.8(34) runs on the Apple Macintosh family, providing fairly complete VT102 emulation at speeds up to 9600 baud, and file transfer speeds up to 56Kb. - UNIX Kermit is distributed only in C-language source form. It may be built for nearly any machine running practically any post-V6 varia- tion of UNIX, including V7, Berkeley 2.x and 4.x, AT&T System III and System V, Xenix, Venix, and so on. The same source also serves as a basis for Macintosh, Amiga, and other Kermit programs. - VAX/VMS Kermit is written in Bliss, but it is also distributed in Macro-32 and hex form, so that a Bliss compiler is not required. Other versions exist in C and Pascal. - IBM mainframe Kermit programs for VM/CMS and MVS/TSO work with asynchronous ASCII TTY connections through 3705 or equivalent front ends, or through Series/1, 7171, or similar protocol converters that support the Yale ASCII Communications System; beyond this exception, Kermit cannot be used to transfer files in the IBM 3270-style full-screen terminal environment. There are no Kermit programs for DOS/VSE, or IBM minis like the System/34 and System/38, because these systems do not support asynchronous ASCII communications. Currently, IBM mainframe Kermits run only in remote mode. SOFTWARE: The Kermit software -- including source code -- is furnished free and without license, and without warranty of any kind, and neither Columbia University, nor the individual authors, nor any institution that has contributed Kermit material, acknowledge any liability for any claims arising from the use of Ker- mit. Furthermore, it must be stated that the quality of the Kermit programs varies -- some are polished, well-documented professional products and others are not. Kermit programs are contributed by public-spirited volunteers, and Columbia University does not wish to discourage such contributions by subject- ing them to a rating system. Since source code is provided for all implemen- tations, users may make improvements or write documentation where it is lacking and are encouraged to contribute their work back to Columbia for further dis- tribution. Under certain conditions (described in a separate document) software producers may include Kermit protocol in their products. DISTRIBUTION: Although the Kermit software is free and unlicensed, Columbia University cannot afford to distribute it for free because the demand is too great. To defray our costs for media, printing, postage, labor, and computing resources, we re- quire moderate distribution fees from those who request Kermit directly from us. The schedule is given on the accompanying Kermit Order Form. You may also obtain Kermit programs from many other sources, including user groups, net- works, dialup bulletin boards, and you may copy them from friends, neighbors, and colleagues. In fact, you may obtain Kermit programs from anyone who is willing to share them with you, just as you may share them yourself. MEDIA: Kermit is distributed by Columbia University primarily on 9-track magnetic tape, suitable for reading on most mainframe and minicomputers. It is assumed that Kermit will be ordered in this form by institutional computer centers, whose professional staff will take the responsibility for "bootstrapping" the microcomputer versions from the tape to diskettes for their users. The tapes include source code and any available documentation for each Kermit implemen- tation, and in some cases also binaries (encoded in hex or other printable format). Selected microcomputer versions are also available from Columbia on diskette, and from diskette services, user groups, and individual volunteers, some of whom are listed on a separate flyer. DOCUMENTATION: Documentation includes the Kermit User Guide (about 250pp) and the Kermit Protocol Manual (90pp); one printed copy of each is included free with any tape order. Other documents may be ordered separately, including additional copies of the manuals, the manuscript from the Kermit article that appeared in the June and July 1984 issues of BYTE Magazine (36pp), and the new book Kermit, A File Transfer Protocol by Frank da Cruz, 379pp, Digital Press (1987). KERMIT-THE-BOOK: The Kermit book is a comprehensive introduction and guide to Kermit; it in- cludes an overview of what Kermit is for and how it works, with tutorials in computer file systems and data communications, a generalized command reference, a troubleshooting guide, a complete protocol specification with program ex- amples, a glossary, an index, and numerous tables, figures, and illustrations. The User Guide contains detailed, specific instructions for the use of the most popular Kermit programs (MS-DOS, VMS, UNIX, Apple, etc). The Protocol Manual is an older description of the Kermit protocol, which lacks the organization and program examples from the book. If you have the book, you don't need the Protocol Manual but you will still need the User Guide. REDISTRIBUTION: Once you receive Kermit, you are encouraged to copy and redistribute it, with the following stipulations: Kermit should not be sold for profit; credit should be given where it is due; and new material should be sent back to Columbia University so that we can maintain a definitive and comprehensive set of Kermit implementations for further distribution. And finally, please use Kermit only for peaceful and humane purposes. DEVELOPMENT: Anyone who wishes to develop a version of Kermit which is not on the list, or to modify an existing Kermit program is invited to contact Kermit Distribution, where a list of Kermit implementations under development is maintained. ORDERING INFORMATION All Kermit material is available on magnetic tape as described below. Selected Kermit programs may also be ordered on diskette; see the order form. Tapes in- clude program source code, diskettes generally do not have room for source. There are 5 separate Kermit tapes: A, B, C, D and E. There are too many Kermit files to fit on fewer tapes. All tapes are half-inch, 2400-foot, 9-track, 1600bpi, odd parity. They are available ONLY in the following formats: ANSI: ANSI labeled ASCII, format D (variable length records, VMS COPY), blocksize 8192 TAR: UNIX TAR format (written on a VAX with 4.2BSD or Ultrix-32), block- size 10240 OS: IBM OS standard labeled EBCDIC, format VB (variable length records), blocksize 8192 CMS: IBM VM/CMS VMFPLC2 format (unlabeled) DEC-10: DECsystem-10 Backup/Interchange format (unlabeled) DEC-20: DECSYSTEM-20 DUMPER format (unlabeled) NO OTHER FORMATS ARE AVAILABLE. We can NOT make 800bpi or 6250bpi tapes, un- labeled tapes (except as noted above), fixed-block tapes, or custom tapes of any kind. If none of the above formats looks familiar to you, then specify ANSI -- this is an industry standard format that should be readable by any com- puter system (ANSI specifications are provided on paper). VAX/VMS sites should specify ANSI. TAPE "A" CONTAINS: - The more popular microcomputer (PC, workstation) Kermit implemen- tations. TAPE "B" CONTAINS: - The more popular mainframe and minicomputer Kermit implementations. TAPE "C" CONTAINS: - Less popular microcomputer Kermit implementations. (Overflow from Tape A) TAPE "D" CONTAINS: - Less popular mainframe and minicomputer Kermit implementations. (Overflow from Tape B) TAPE "E" CONTAINS: - Machine readable copies of the Kermit User Guide, Protocol Manual, and Byte Article, including text formatter source. - Archives of old mail, other large documents. EXCEPTIONS: - C-Kermit is the basis of all Unix Kermit implementations, mainframe and micro, and also for Commodore Amiga and Apple Macintosh Kermits. It is on tape B. TO ORDER KERMIT, fill out the Kermit Order Form and send it to: __________________________________________________ Kermit Distribution Columbia University Center for Computing Activities 612 West 115th Street New York, NY 10025 (USA) __________________________________________________ Prepayment by check is encouraged; an additional order processing fee is re- quired if we must issue an invoice. North American orders are shipped by delivery service or first class US mail, with shipping costs included. Over- seas orders are shipped first class US (air) mail, with an additional shipping charge required. Orders are normally processed within 2-4 weeks of receipt, but firm delivery schedules or methods cannot be guaranteed. USA rush service is available for an extra fee (see order form *). Call (212) 280-3703 for additional ordering information (telephone orders can not be accepted, nor can payment by credit card or bank transfer). Make checks in US Dollars payable to: COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY CENTER FOR COMPUTING ACTIVITIES KERMIT ORDER FORM: PLEASE NOTE: Prices, terms and items are subject to change. Before you order, check that the form is not dated more than 6 months prior. If so, please write to Kermit Distribution to request a new order form. Also, please order carefully since we cannot refund or exchange items. Orders are normally processed within 2-4 weeks. Date Ordered: _____/_____/_____ Order Received: _____/_____/_____ (CUCCA Use) Check each desired Kermit Distribution Tape, $100 PER TAPE: Note: Kermit User Guide and Kermit Protocol Manual included. Format: ANSI TAR OS CMS DEC-10 DEC-20 Tape A (popular micros): [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] Tape B (popular mainframes): [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] Tape C (other micros): [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] Tape D (other mainframes): [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] Tape E (documentation): [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] PRIME Computers: Specify ANSI; Check here for free ANSI-tape-reader program listing. TAPE SUBTOTAL (number of tapes times $100) . . . . . $__________ Kermit programs on diskette (not copy-protected), no source code, $20 each, manual included: [ ] Apple Macintosh (3.5 inch SS diskette) . . . . . $__________ [ ] DEC Rainbow; CP/M-86 (RX50) . . . . . . . . . . $__________ [ ] DEC Rainbow; MS-DOS (RX50) . . . . . . . . . . . $__________ [ ] IBM PC,XT,AT; PC-DOS (5.25" 360KB DS diskette) . $__________ [ ] IBM PS/2; PC-DOS (3.5 inch 720KB DS diskette). . $__________ Printed documents, enter quantity: [ ] Book: Kermit, A File Transfer Protocol ($25) . . $__________ [ ] Manual: Kermit User Guide ($10) . . . . . . . . $__________ [ ] Manual: Kermit Protocol Manual ($10) . . . . . . $__________ [ ] BYTE Magazine article manuscript ($5) . . . . . $__________ NOTE: Source listings are no longer available in paper format but are still available on tape. If you can NOT prepay with a check, include BOTH: 1. A $100.00 Order Processing (Billing) Fee: . . . $__________ 2. AND a Purchase Order (terms net 30, FOB origin): Purchase Order Number: __________________________ (not required if you prepay by check) Outside North America, add $25.00 for shipping. . . . $__________ * USA RUSH ORDERS (Sent Federal Express), add $30.00. $__________ Note: Federal Express outside USA requires your Federal Express #: ____________________________ ** Voluntary tax-deductable contribution. . . . . . . $__________ GRAND TOTAL: (Do Not Add Sales Tax) . . . . . . . . . $__________ IMPORTANT: WRITE SHIPPING ADDRESS HERE, exactly as it should appear on mailing label. (* For RUSH ORDERS: Include phone number below, and do not use a Post Office Box *) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------