[comp.mail.uucp] Kermit, uucp, etc.

mclean@bnrmtv.UUCP (04/03/87)

The standard method to handle such a situation is to use a protocol
discriminator as the session begins.  That way, you satisfy the UUCP
installed base as well as the Kermit systems.  Although I have not
studied either protocol extensively, I believe I recall that both have
rather distinctive HAIL messages.

However, I would not recommend this since it is not very robust
(it would not handle a third or forth protocol introduced in the future).
I believe the best solution would be a modification to the L.sys
fields to indicate "protocol".

A third possibility is to approach AT&T for a solution since it
would be in their interests to proliferate the useage of UNIX for
its vertical market opportunities (I have always though they mispriced
the product, given the pull-through sales an operating system provides).

Rick McLean
Bell-Northern Research
Mountain View, CA
(amdahl | hplabs)!bnrmtv!mclean

Usual Disclaimer regarding whose oppinions these are.

lyndon@ncc.UUCP (04/07/87)

> I believe the best solution would be a modification to the L.sys
> fields to indicate "protocol".

This is generally done in field 5 of L-devices (pre-HDB).
  
> A third possibility is to approach AT&T for a solution since it
> would be in their interests to proliferate the useage of UNIX for
> its vertical market opportunities 

Oh, but they DID, they DID!!! (Ever heard of x protocol? Thats OK,
nobody else has either :-)