Command: kermit - transfer a file using the kermit protocol
Syntax: kermit
Flags: (many)
Example: kermit # Start kermit
This is a slightly lobotomized kermit. The help command, the
script facility, and the automatic dial support have been removed. The ?
and ESC commands still work, so there is still reasonable built-in help.
The only V7 kermit feature that does not work is the ability to see
whether there are input characters waiting. This means that you will
not be able to ask for status during a file transfer (though this is not
critical, because kermit prints a dot every so often and other special
characters whenever there is an error or timeout).
Start kermit, and then type the following to open a 2400 baud
session, for example:
set line /dev/tty1
set speed 2400
connect
(It is more convenient if you put these commands in .kermrc in your home
directory, so that they get done automatically whenever you run kermit.)
This will connect you to the modem or whatever on the serial port. Now
log into the other system.
When you want to transfer files, run kermit on the other system.
To it, type
server
This puts its kermit into a sort of 'slave mode' where it expects
commands from the kermit running on your MINIX system. Now come back to
the command level on MINIX kermit, by typing the escape character
followed by c. (Kermit will tell you the current escape character when
you do the connect command.) At this point you can issue various
commands. Your kermit will coordinate things with kermit on the other
machine so that you only have to type commands at one end. Common
commands are
get filename
put filename
remote dir
Filenames can include wildcards. By default, kermit works in a system-
independent, text mode. (In effect it assumes that the whole world is
MS-DOS and converts end of line and file names accordingly.) To send
binary files, you will want to type
set file type bin
on both ends before starting any transfers. This disables CR LF to
newline conversion. If both of your systems are some flavor of UNIX,
you might as well put this in .kermrc on both ends and run in binary
mode all the time. Also, if both systems are UNIX it is recommended
that you use
set file name lit
on both ends. This causes it to keep file names unchanged, rather than
mapping to legal MS-DOS names.
Here is a typical .kermrc for use on MINIX:
set line /dev/tty1
set speed 1200
set esc 29
set file type bin
set file name lit
set retry 90
set prompt MINIX kermit>
connect
On the other end of the line, for example, the host at your local
computer center to which you want to transfer files, a typical profile
might be:
set rec packet 1000
set fil name lit
set fil type bin
server
Kermit has many other options and features. For a pleasant and
highly readable description of it, see the following book:
Title: Kermit: A File Transfer Protocol
Author: Frank da Cruz
Publisher: Digital Press
Date: 1987
ISBN: 0-932376-88
For information about recent kermit developments, versions for
other systems, and so forth, please contact:
Christine M. Gianone
Manager, Kermit Development and Distribution
University Center for Computing Activities
Columbia University
612 West 115th Street
New York, N.Y. 10025
Over 400 versions of kermit are available, so it is likely there is one
for any computer your MINIX system might want to talk to. Columbia
University also publishes a newsletter about kermit that can be
requested from the above address.
