From: MERC::"uunet!watsun.cc.columbia.edu!fdc" 24-FEB-1993 16:13:16.18 To: galaxy::gleeve CC: Subj: C-Kermit 5A P.R. Blurb ANNOUNCING C-KERMIT 5A(188): Portable communications software for VAX/VMS, OpenVMS VAX, OpenVMS AXP; for OSF/1, ULTRIX, and most other forms of UNIX; as well as for IBM OS/2, Data General AOS/VS, MicroWare OS-9, the Commodore Amiga, and the Atari ST. FOR: . Dialed and direct asynchronous connections . TCP/IP and X.25 network connections . Terminal connection . Error-free efficient file transfer . Script programming . International character sets Kermit is pretty much the one-and-only software package that offers universal connectivity. Not just between similar operating systems over clean, transparent connections, not only to BBSs, but to everything: IBM mainframes, commercial data services, large central computers of all types, minicomputers, PCs, laptops, palmtops, lab instruments, milling machines, even hand-held calculators (like the HP48). And not just through 8-bit transparent, clean, directly-dialed connections, but also through 7-bit long-delay public-data-network connections, noisy phone and/or satellite connections, high-speed LANs, and complicated concatenations of modems, front ends, data switches, hosts, terminal servers, PADs, and whatever else can be thrown between your desktop and your ultimate destination. Kermit software has always been popular in the DEC marketplace, with Kermit implementations available for every computer and operating system DEC has made, going all the way back to the PDP-8 and PDP-12. Digital Review (Feb 18, 1991, p.44) reported that Kermit was the third most popular of all software products (including DEC products) for VMS. C-Kermit 5A(188) was released in November, 1992. It replaces not only earlier releases of C-Kermit, but also Kermit-32 (the Bliss version) for VMS. The major new features of C-Kermit 5A(188) are: . Portability and consistency across many platforms . Efficient terminal connection and file transfer . International appeal . "Power-user" features . Network support . Good documentation PORTABILITY The new C-Kermit release is equally at home in VMS/OpenVMS and UNIX, as well as in the five other operating systems it supports. C-Kermit is distributed in C-language source form, from which it can be built for any of hundreds of different UNIX implementations, as well as for VMS or OpenVMS systems (VAX or AXP) equipped with the DEC C compiler. VMS versions (for both VAX and AXP) are also available in binary form for sites without VAX C or DEC C. Many varieties of UNIX can be found running on DEC hardware (VAX, AXP, PDP-11, PC): ULTRIX, OSF/1 (on the DECstation or AXP), BSD, AT&T System V, SCO, and others. All of these -- and many others -- are supported by C-Kermit. See the list at the end of this message. C-Kermit's modular design has promoted its adaptation to a diverse collection operating systems as well as communication methods, making it a premiere example of open and portable software. C-Kermit's user interface is easy to learn and use, friendly and nonthreatening, helpful to the novice without getting in the way of the expert (with menus and help text on demand), and it is consistent throughout a wide range of operating systems, hardware platforms, and communication methods, thus offering users of many types of computers a single software package to meet both asynchronous and network communication needs. EFFICIENCY The Kermit file transfer protocol transfers text or binary files singly or in groups with full error detection and correction over 8-bit or 7-bit connections that are not necessarily transparent to all data patterns. Since the previous release, 4E(072) in January 1989, C-Kermit's file transfer efficiency has been dramatically improved by the addition of sliding windows (up to 31 window slots) and long packets (up to 9024 bytes). Using maximum values, it is now possible to have up to 280,000 bytes "in the pipe" before acknowledgement is required, bringing average text file transfer efficiency -- even over long-delay satellite and/or public network connections -- into the 85%-95% range, BEFORE compression. The sliding window transport uses selective retransmission to minimize overhead on noisy connections, and the packet length adapts automatically to noise characteristics. Errors are detected by 16-bit CRC and other methods. INTERNATIONAL APPEAL The Kermit protocol stands alone in its ability to convert a file's character set during transfer in a heterogeneous computing environment. For example, an Italian-language document written in Code Page 437 on a PC is correctly translated during tranmsission to (say) a DEC workstation using the DEC Multinational Character Set. Despite their differing internal representations, the accented letters come out the same on both ends, rather than the gibberish Europeans have resigned themselves to seeing when transmitting text across vendor, language, or character-set boundaries. C-Kermit's character-set conversion capabilities are not limited to West-European languages like Italian, French, German, Spanish, Norwegian, and Portuguese, but extend also to East-European languages like Hungarian, Czech, Polish, and Romanian, as well as to languages written in the Cyrillic alphabet, like Russian and Ukrainian, and to Japanese Kanji. Most of the same translations are also available during terminal connection, screen capture, and "ASCII upload", and can also be used to convert local files. In addition, a special feature allows application of language-specific rules when translating text written in languages like German, Dutch, Swedish, or French into ASCII. In the 7-bit communication environment -- an area neglected or ignored by most other protocols -- efficient transfer of 8-bit textual data (such as Cyrillic or Kanji) is achieved using a new locking-shift mechanism. POWER-USER FEATURES "Power-user" features include key mapping, keystroke macros, command macros, and a fully functional script programming language allowing any kind of routine communication task to be fully automated, from connection establishment, to logging in, to interacting with a remote host or service, to file transfer, to logging out and connection release. C-Kermit also is capable of acting as -- or accessing -- a Kermit file server, which performs not only ordinary file transfer, but also file management and host access functions, including sending received files as e-mail, all with the same error-checked reliability as file transfer. File transfer features include transmission of not only a file's name and contents, but also its creation date, size, and character-set, as well as the transmission mode, text or binary, plus a wide variety of file collision options allowing for resumption of interrupted multifile transfers, updates, backups, and more. The advanced Kermit protocol features of C-Kermit 5A can be used to full advantage in conjunction with MS-DOS Kermit on PCs with DOS or Windows (which also contains its own built-in TCP/IP support), IBM Mainframe Kermit-370 for VM/CMS, MVS/TSO, or CICS, and, of course, with another copy of C-Kermit 5A on UNIX, VMS, OS/2, or any of the other operating systems where it runs (see below). COMMUNICATION FEATURES Dialing is accomplished with C-Kermit's expanded built-in support for a wide variety of modems, plus a new text-based dialing directory, and an even more powerful text-based services directory, which not only establishes your connection but also logs you in automatically. C-Kermit 5A supports not only serial (direct and dialed) connections, but also TCP/IP connections (in most versions) and, on Sun computers equipped with SunLink X.25, also X.25 connections. For OS/2 systems equipped with DEC PATHWORKS, LAT network connections are supported. For VMS and OpenVMS systems, C-Kermit supports DEC TCP/IP (UCX), TGV MultiNet, Wollongong WIN/TCP, and Process Software TCPware. In the TCP/IP world, C-Kermit can be used in place of TELNET and FTP with several advantages. C-Kermit's TELNET connections handle character-set conversion, key mapping and macros, session logging, and other functions normally lacking from TELNET software. And Kermit file transfer offers many features lacking from FTP: correct handling of file size and date, character-set conversion, an update feature, various options for handling filename collisions, convenient methods of transfer interruption, and so on. And unlike traditional TELNET and FTP programs, C-Kermit network operations can be fully automated. VMS FILE SYSTEM SUPPORT C-Kermit 5A replaces all earlier versions of Kermit for VMS, including Bliss Kermit-32. C-Kermit includes all the capabilities of Kermit-32, plus many more, including a comprehensive understanding of the VMS file system. Most types of files are transferred in the appropriate mode (text or binary) automatically based on their record formats. A new feature, called Labeled File Transfer, allows more complex VMS files to be transferred in a way that preserves all of their RMS attributes. This mode of transfer can be used directly between two VMS systems, as well as indirectly via a PC or other non-VMS system. DOCUMENTATION C-Kermit 5A comes with the new Digital Press book, "Using C-Kermit", by Frank da Cruz (author of "Kermit, A File Transfer Protocol") and Christine M. Gianone (author of "Using MS-DOS Kermit"), which is geared towards both the novice and the expert, and includes tutorials, numerous illustrations and tables, hundreds of examples, as well as easy-to-use and comprehensive reference features. AVAILABILITY C-Kermit software is available now. It is distributed in C-language source code form (and also in binary form for selected versions such as VMS and OS/2) by Columbia University for a modest distribution fee, which depends on the medium and other factors. For a Kermit software catalog, including ordering information, your readers may write to: Kermit Distribution Columbia University 612 W. 115th Street New York, NY 10025 International orders are accepted. The book, "Using C-Kermit" may also be ordered by itself (in the USA only) direct from Digital Press: call 1-800-344-4825, use order number EY-J896E-DP. Single-quantity price: US $34.95. COMPUTERS AND OPERATING SYSTEMS SUPPORTED BY C-KERMIT 5A(188) Non-UNIX systems: OS/2 1.3 and 2.0 (includes DEC PATHWORKS LAT support) Atari ST, GEMDOS Commodore Amiga, AmigaDOS Data General MV, AOS/VS and AOS/VS II (includes TCP/IP support) DEC VAX with VMS or OpenVMS (includes TCP/IP support) DEC Alpha AXP with OpenVMS Various 680x0 with Microware OS-9 UNIX systems (most include TCP/IP support): MACHINE OS NAME OS VERSION AGI (Everex) 386/20 ESIX 3.2 Rev.D Altos ACS68000 UNIX System III R2 Apollo 425e DomainOS 4.3BSD 10.4 Apple Macintosh IIfx A/UX 3.0 Amdahl mainframe UTS 5.2.6b Amdahl 5880 UNIX SVR5.2.6b AT&T 3B2/300 UNIX SVR2.1.0 AT&T 3B2/622 UNIX SVR3.2.3 AT&T 6300 PLUS UNIX SVR2.0 AT&T 6386E WGS UNIX V/386 3.2 AT&T PC 7300 UNIXPC (3B1) System V 3.51m Atari ST MINIX 1.6.23 Commodore Amiga 2500/030 Amiga SVR4.0 2.1p2a Concurrent 3280 Xelos System V R02 Concurrent/Masscomp 6000 RTU 4.1, 5.0, 6.0 Convergent MiniFrame CTIX System V R3 3.20, CTIX 6.4.1 Convex, various models ConvexOS 9.0, 10.0, 10.1 Cray, various models UNICOS 6.1, 7.C, 8.0-Alpha DEC 3000 Model 500 AXP OSF/1 T1.2-1 DECstation 3000/500 OSF/1 T1.2-R12 DEC PDP-11 BSD 2.11 DEC MicroVAX-II BSD 4.3 DEC MicroVAX-II BSD 4.3-Reno DEC MicroVAX-II ULTRIX 4.2 DECstation various models ULTRIX 4.2, 4.3 DEC VAX-11/750 BSD 4.3 DEC VAX-11/785 BSD 4.3-Networking/2 DEC VAX 8650 DEC UNIX SVR3 3.1 DEC VAX 8800 ULTRIX 4.2 DEC VAXstation 3100 ULTRIX/UWS 4.2 DG Aviion DG/UX 5.4 DG Aviion DG/UX 5.4.1 DG Aviion DG/UX 5.4.2 DIAB DS90-00 DNIX 5.2 2.2c DIAB DS90-10 DNIX 5.3 1.4.3 DIAB DS90-20 DNIX 5.3 2.2 Dolphin Triton 88/17 UNIX SV/88 R3.2 3.6 DTK Keen 2000 Microport SVR3.0U3.0e Encore Multimax UMAX 4.3 Everex 386DX/25 BSDI 0.9.1 Fortune 32:16 For:Pro 2.1c Gateway 2000 386/25DX ISC UNIX SVR3 2.2 Gateway 2000 486DX/33 MWC Coherent 4.0.1r65 Harris Night Hawk CX/UX 6.1 Hewitt/Rand 483/33EISA SCO ODT 2.1.0b HP mc680x0 BSD 4.4-Alpha HP 9000, many models HP-UX 5.21, 5.5, 7.05, 8.0, 8.07 HP 9836CU HP-UX 5.5-P IBM 370-Series mainframe AIX 1.2.1 IBM 370-Series mainframe AIX/ESA 2.1 IBM PS/2 AIX 1.2 IBM RS/6000 AIX 3.1, 3.1.5, 3.2 IBM RT PC AIX 2.2.1 IBM RT PC BSD 4.3/Reno ICL DRS3000 486 & SPARC DRS/NX SVR4 5.1.4 Integrated Solutions V8S ISI 4.2BSD 3.07D Intel 303 383-33 SCO Xenix 2.3.1b Intergraph Clipper x000 CLIX 3.1 R7.0.9, 6.x Luxor ABC-9000 DNIX 5.2 2.2c MIPS System RISC/OS UMIPS 4.52 Modcomp Realstar 1000 REAL/IX D.1 Motorola MVME 147/68030 UNIX SV/68R3 3v5.1 Motorola VME Delta UNIX SV/68R3 3v6.2 Motorola VME Delta UNIX SV/68R3 3v7.1 Motorola VME Delta UNIX SV/88R3.2 32v3.0 Motorola VME Delta UNIX SV/88R4.0 40v3.0 NCR Tower 32-450 Tower 32 OS 02.01.00 NeXTcube, NeXTstation NeXT OS Mach 2.1, 3.0 Nixdorf Targon/31 M15 TOS 4.0.13 Norsk Data Uniline 88/17 UNIX SV/88 3.2 3.6 Olivetti CP 486 UNIX SVR4 2.1.1 Olivetti LSX 3005..3045 X/OS UNIX 2.3..3.0 Olivetti LSX 5020 SCO UNIX 3.2.2 PC 386 and above 386BSD 0.1 PC 386 and above AT&T SYSV/386 3.2.2.3 PC 386 and above BSDI PC 386 and above Coherent/386 4.0.1 PC 386 and above Dell SVR4.04 2.2 PC 386 and above ESIX 3.2 Rev.D PC 386 and above ISC SV/386 3.1 1.06 PC 386 and above ISC SV/386 3.2 3.01 PC 386 and above Linux .98pl5 PC 386 and above Microport SVR4.0 V4.1 PC 286 and above QNX 4.1 PC 386 and above SCO ODT 1.1, 2.0 PC 386 and above SCO UNIX 3.2.0, 3.2v2.0, 3.2v4.0 PC 286 and above SCO Xenix/286 2.3.3 PC 386 and above SCO Xenix/386 2.3.2, 2.3.3, 2.3.4 PC 386 and above Solaris 1.0 ISC 2.2 Perkin-Elmer 3200 Xelos System V R02 Pyramid MIS-T Series OSx 5.1a Sequent various models DYNIX V3.2.0NFS Sequent various models DYNIX/ptx 1.3.1, 1.4.0 Silicon Graphics IRIX 3.3, 4.0.1, 4.0.5 Solbourne 5E/900,905 OS/MP 4.1A.1, 4.1A.3 Sony NEWS NEWS-OS 4.0.1C, 4.1.2C Stardent 1520 Stardent UNIX 2.2 Sun-3 Sun UNIX 4.2 3.2, 3.5 Sun various models Solaris 2.0, 2.1 Sun various models SunOS 4.0, 4.1, 4.1.1, 4.1.2, 4.1.3 Sun various models SunOS 4.1.3/JLE Sun various models SunOS 5.0, 5.1 Tandy Model 6000 XENIX 3.2 Tektronix 6130 Utek 2.3.1, 3.0 Tektronix XD88 Utek Sys V R3 Torch XXX 68010 Unisoft UniPlus+ 5.2 UNISYS U6000/65 MP 486/50 UNIX SVR4 1.0.2 UNISYS S/4040 68040/25 CTIX SVR3.2 6.4.1 This list is current as of 3 February 1993. Success reports for additional systems are arriving every day. If you want to look at the software and the book, let me know. Thanks! - Frank P.S. If you prefer voice to e-mail, call me at (212) 854-3508 (phone number not for publication!).