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 sys-
tem. 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 con-
nect command.) At this point you can issue various com-
mands. 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.