cmg@WATSUN.CC.COLUMBIA.EDU (Christine M Gianone) (05/11/89)
Info-Kermit Digest Wed, 10 May 1989 Volume 9 : Number 8
Special MS-DOS Kermit Issue:
MS-Kermit 2.32/A for NEC-PC9801
MS-Kermit and Novell Networks
MS Kermit 2.32A vs Novell Disk Server
MS-Kermit Scripts for DDN TAC and PCBoard BBS
MS-Kermit 2.32A Image Ghosting on IBM PS/2 Monitors
MS-Kermit Dropping Characters w/ Accelerator Cards
MS-DOS Kermit 2.32/A Server Bug
MS-DOS Kermit 2.32/A & AE PC Transporter
MS-DOS Kermit 132 Column Support
MS Kermit Scripting Questions
Send digest submissions to Info-Kermit@CUNIXC.CC.COLUMBIA.EDU, requests for
addition to or deletion from the Info-Kermit subscriber list to
Info-Kermit-Request@CUNIXC.CC.COLUMBIA.EDU or to KERMIT@CUVMA.BITNET.
Kermit files may be obtained over networks and by mail order. On the
Internetwork, use FTP to log in to host CUNIXC, CUNIXC.CC.COLUMBIA.EDU, a
VAX 8700 running UNIX (Ultrix). The IP host number is 128.59.40.130.
Login as user anonymous (note, lower case), any password, and GET the
desired files. The Kermit files are in directories kermit/a, kermit/b,
kermit/c, kermit/d, and kermit/e. You can also get Kermit files over
BITNET/EARN; to get started send a message with text HELP to KERMSRV, the
Kermit file server, at host CUVMA. For detailed instructions, read the
file kermit/a/aanetw.hlp (AANETW.HLP on KERMSRV). To order by mail,
request a complete list of Kermit versions and an order form from Kermit
Distribution, Columbia University Center for Computing Activities, 612
West 115th Street, New York, NY 10025 USA.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Tue, 25 Apr 89 23:18:15 JST
From: Hirofumi Fujii <KEIBUN@JPNKEKVM.BITNET>
Subject: MS-Kermit 2.32/A for NEC-PC9801
Keywords: Japanese, NEC PC 9801, Kanji/Kana, MS-DOS Kermit 2.32/A
Dear Chris & Frank,
I would like to send you a new version of NEC-PC9801 MS-Kermit 2.32/A. Please
replace the MS*P98 modules in your library. The new features of this program
are:
1. SET TERMINAL COOKED-LOG {ON | OFF}
If it is ON, the session logging is made after the analysis of ESC sequences.
In VT102 emulation mode, this means that the receiving characters are
translated from JIS X 0202 (ISO 2022) stream to local code, i.e., Kanji-code
in JIS X 0202 stream is logged in Shift-JIS (MS-Kanji) code.
All the control codes except for CR, LF, HT and VT are not logged.
The ESC sequences except for cursor movement are eliminated. The ESC sequence
for the cursor movement is logged as CR LF. This is quite convenient for text
files.
If it is OFF, the session logging is made before terminal emulation.
No translation is made on the receiving codes.
2. SET PORT DEVICE device/file-name
This command allows you to use the standard MS-DOS devices/files as
a communication port. If it is a file, the contents of the file are displayed
on the screen of the terminal emulator. This can be used to playback the
session log file. Any key-input holds the strem from the file.
In addition to the above, many missing functions in the previous version
are implemented, e.g., screen colors, screen roll back capabilities, etc.
Hirofumi Fujii
National Laboratory for High Energy Physics (KEK), Japan
KEIBUN@JPNKEKVM.BITNET
[Ed. - Many thanks for the fine work, and for submitting this program to
us. The two new features are quite useful, and will probably also appear
in a future standard release of MS-Kermit. For those who don't know, the
NEC PC 9801 is the most popular personal computer in Japan, and supports
a combination of Roman, Kana, and Kanji codes. This version of Kermit
fully supports the character set capabilities of this machine.]
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 08 Mar 89 15:15 EST
From: Jim Gogan <UGOGAN%UNC.BITNET@cuvmb.cc.columbia.edu>
Subject: MS-Kermit and Novell Networks
Keywords: MS-DOS Kermit Network Support, Novell, Interlan, Ungermann-Bass
Don't know how many people are aware of the following, but ...
MS-Kermit 2.31/2.32/2.32a (any newer?) works very nicely as the end-user
communications software package on a local area network with:
- Novell's Netware Asynchronous Communications Server (NACS)
(not the original one, but, I think, version 2 - the one
originally developed by Network Products Corp - check
the copyright notice on your disk);
- Network Products Corp.'s (NPC, hereafter) ACS-2 (an enhanced
version of the above); and,
- NPC's Network Modem Program - a nice, relatively inexpensive
($195 + modem) way to share a workstation's modem
across a Novell network.
The key ingredient of all the above is the use of NPC's NCSI (Network
Communications Services Interface), what Novell (sometimes) refers to as
NASI. NCSI provides the DOS-based communications software applications the
access mechanism to the async server (or modem sharing) product. Lo and
behold, it turns out the the basic functions of NCSI (which include
writing/reading to/from a virtual circuit, issuing a control request - e.g.
transmitting a break, checking for a break, and disconnecting) are
compatible with an interface from Ungermann-Bass called NETCI (gee, almost
sounds the same...).
Anyway, if you are using any of the above products for async comm resource
sharing on a PC LAN, if you include the command "set port ub-net1" in the
MSKERMIT.INI file at the end-user's PC, MS-Kermit works quite well with
these programs. It works regardless of the network hardware you're using
(i.e., you DON'T have to be using Ungermann-Bass hardware for this to work);
just so long as the async server product uses NPC's NCSI to talk to the
communications software.
Sure beats paying for the network versions of ASCOM IV or Crosstalk - "free"
has such a nice ring to it! Plus, you get the added features of key
remapping and Tektronix 4010 emulation, among others.
While we're on the subject ..... With the Interlan TCP/IP Gateway for
Novell networks, it is also possible to use MS-Kermit (same versions as
above) for your communication software via telnet. Since Interlan was so
kind as to provide an Interrupt 14 hook for their telnet implementation, all
one needs to do is include "set port bios1" in their MSKERMIT.INI file and
invoke Interlan's telnet command with "telnet [internet node] mskermit" from
the DOS prompt. Works just fine also - again, gives you Tektronix 4010
emulation capability over TCP/IP at no charge (well, except for the Interlan
gateway product).
This use of MS-Kermit gives us the advantage of being able to support one
communications package from the end-user's point of view, regardless of how
they're getting out - dial out/standalone, dial out/network with shared
modem, dial out or direct connect/network with async server, or TCP/IP
gateway. (Of course, there's still the SNA Gateways, but that's another
story!)
If anyone has any specific questions about implementing the above, feel free
to send mail to ugogan@unc.bitnet (or ugogan@ecsvax.uncecs.edu for you
internet'ers).
-- Jim Gogan
Microcomputing Support Center
Univ. of North Carolina - Chapel Hill
[From jrd - Thanks Jim for pointing out all the Novell related items. I've
promised Novell to provide support for their systems, but I have not been
able to obtain their async server software for real testing (Novell has been
very generous to me on non-Kermit things) although I have the tech ref.
Serial port interception is one of the purposes of command SET PORT BIOSn.]
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 08 Mar 89 15:15
From: Dermot O'Beirne <DOBEIRNE@IRLEARN>
Subject: MS Kermit 2.32A vs Novell Disk Server
Keywords: MS-DOS Kermit Network Support, Novell
I have just received a very recent version of MSVIBM (Kermit 2.32A dated Jan
1989) and thanks to Joe Doupnik and all for the great work. The problem I have
is one that has persisted with every version since the disk-space checking was
thankfully introduced. Every time I want to do a transfer with attribute
checking on MS-Kermit checks to see if there is enough space on my A disk if I
have set default to a Novell Netware mapped drive. So if I dont have a disk in
my A drive then the transfer aborts. Why does it not check the Novell drive
where there is lots of space? The Novell version is advanced 2.12 and there is
nothing special in my environment except that COMSPEC is C:COMMAND.COM because
I boot up from my C disk.
Any suggestions? Is this a bug or feature?
Thanks,
Dermot O'Beirne
Systems Programmer
Computer Centre
UCD, Dublin
[from jrd - 2.32/A should be ok. I wonder if we are seeing a side effect of
Novell's drive MAPping. I don't recall that happening on my Netware 2.12 w/TTS
system, but I'll probe more to be sure. It too has command.com located on
drive c: (a ram disk). Readers may be interested to note that Dermot was the
first to discover problems of losing serial port characters while printing
across a network, and I introduced printer buffering within Kermit to solve
that problem at Univ College, Dublin.]
------------------------------
Date: Saturday, 11 March 1989 21:20-MST
From: Alan Ariel <1052P@cc.nps.navy.mil>
Subject: MS-Kermit Scripts for DDN TAC and PCBoard BBS
Keywords: MS-DOS Kermit Scripts, TAC
Xref: DDN TAC, See TAC
I've uploaded PD1:<MSDOS.KERMIT>PCBDKER.ARC to SIMTEL20. It is a collection
of scripts I use with MSKermit for DDN access through a TAC and BBSing with
PCBoard BBSs. I've been impressed with the number of things I can do with
MSKermit that I only though I could do with PROCOMM or QMODEM.
I hope the scripts might let someone else discover the things they could do
with it. I was first led to it when I learned I could remap keys to
whatever I wanted and use 43 line mode on my EGA for my comms. The 43 line
mode is great if you're trying to look at a large file or a lot of messages
at once. I use DSZ for my normal BBS transfers and of course Kermit for
PC-Mainframe stuff. I'm really happy with it.
Alan D. Ariel BITNET: 1052P@NAVPGS
LT USN DDN: 1052P@CC.NPS.NAVY.MIL
SMC 1624 (or) LEEKW@A.ISI.EDU
Naval Postgraduate School Tel: (408) 646-2786
Monterey, CA 93943 AV: 878-2786
[From jrd - Thanks Alan. Much appreciated!]
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 09 Mar 89 18:59:00 EST
From: Kanthan Pillay <SVPILLAY%PUCC@cuvmb.cc.columbia.edu>
Subject: MS-Kermit 2.32A Image Ghosting on IBM PS/2 Monitors
Keywords: MS-DOS Kermit VT102 Emulation, IBM 7171
We are running MS-Kermit 2.32A connected to our IBM3081 mainframe through
a 7171 protocol converter. There is a cosmetic problem that has arisen that
is not present in 2.31. When the screen is cleared on a PS2 monitor (any
flavour) using the clear sequence Esc-OM, the VM READ/RUNNING line from the
lower right hand corner of the screen moves briefly to the upper right hand
corner before disappearing. It is only a cosmetic problem but can be
disturbing. Any fixes?
Kanthan Pillay
Princeton University
Computing and Information Technology
P.S. The documentation in PostScript format is excellent. Thank you to all who
put it together.
[From jrd - That's Kermit rolling the current screen into the roll back
buffer whenever the entire screen is cleared. The status VM READ/RUNNING
could be cleared by the host before the screen, but that's asking a lot of
the systems software. The clearing escape sequences are of the ESC [ ... J / K
form and ESC [ .. M means delete lines at and below the cursor line. Clearing
is much faster than multiple deletes, by far. Any chance of telling the host
to use formal ESC [ .. J codes? Columbia gets the kudos for Postscript.]
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 27 Mar 89 10:15:59 MST
From: Doug Baldwin <KGDJB%ASUACAD@cuvmb.cc.columbia.edu>
Subject: MS-Kermit Dropping Characters w/ Accelerator Cards
Keywords: MS-DOS Kermit vs Intel Accelerator Card, Intel Accelerator Card
We have recently come across a problem using accelerator cards with Kermit-MS
version 2.32/A. In PC's with the Intel Inboard accelerator card, running
Kermit-MS 2.32/A, we lose characters during a 9600 bps terminal session when
Kermit is in VT102 emulation mode. However, when we switch to Tektronix mode,
we don't lose characters. We also discovered the same to be true with version
2.30. Kermit-MS version 2.29b works fine in VT102 mode with the accelerator
board installed.
Do you have any idea what the difference is between VT102 & Tek mode, or why
version 2.29b works and 2.30+ doesn't. Are you handling things differently
at the register level? Bigger buffers in Tektronix mode? More processing
required in VT102 mode? Do you have any suggestions (patches) that will
resolve this problem? Any information will be welcome... Thanks.
--Doug Baldwin
Microcomputing & Communications Services
Computing Services Customer Support
Arizona State University (602) 965-5677
[From jrd - I'm guessing that video screen scrolling in the Bios is being done
very slowly and interrupts are kept off too long during the process. Tek mode
does not scroll the screen, hence no problem. Scrolling under 2.32 is done in
segments to be compatible with MS Windows and that can yield two scrolling
calls on the Bios (hence more exposure to the above side effects). I have
heard a similar complaint about losing characters when the Intel board tries
to communicate and suggested the individual contact Intel for any known cures.
Things are vastly different inside MS Kermit after 2.29.]
------------------------------
Date: 9 Feb 89 09:09
From: ingraham%tallis.DEC@decwrl.dec.com
Subject: MS-DOS Kermit 2.32/A Server Bug
Keywords: MS-DOS Kermit Bugs
There seems to be a bug in SERVER mode, with Kermit-MS for the IBM-PC
(MSVIBM), version 2.32/A (21 Jan 1989). The Kermit running in SERVER mode, is
unable to receive a file, sent to it via the SEND command from the other
machine, if the destination directory is a root directory.
This works fine if the default directory on the machine in SERVER mode, is
a subdirectory. It also works OK using root directories, with either the
GET command, or the SEND/RECEIVE combination (not in SERVER mode).
- Andy Ingraham (ingraham%tallis@decwrl.dec.com)
[From jrd - A known bug, which will be fixed in next release.]
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 4 Apr 89 15:06 EDT
From: TMPLee@DOCKMASTER.NCSC.MIL
Subject: MS-DOS Kermit 2.32/A & AE PC Transporter
Keywords: MS-DOS Kermit on Apple IIgs With PC Transporter, Apple II
Warning, this is an arcane problem.
>From time to time I use an Applied Engineering PC Transporter on an Apple
IIGS with PC kermit. The specs for the PC Transporter say it has a V-30
microprocessor running at 4.17 MHZ, a CGA-compatible video controller and
640K dual-port RAM.
On the Apple side, for historical reasons I'm still using a SSC and have no
problems when I use Apple kermit.
I have no problems using pc-kermit 2.29. When I moved up to 2.31 and later
2.32A I find I lose characters at 2400 baud. The character loss occurs only
when a terminal is being emulated (not when term is set to "none") and when
the screen starts to scroll. It doesn't help to not install ANSI.SYS or a
mouse driver that are normally there (I don't know if that steals many cycles
or not) and to set display quiet or serial. Protocol transfers work fine --
I've transferred many a large file (100k or more) using 1000 byte packets with
nary even a single retransmission. (phone lines here are generally very
clean.)
Applied Engineering had an upgrade to their software that was claimed to speed
up something in its using the Apple communications hardware to emulate the IBM
serial ports. I have installed that (and I seem to remember that is what made
2.29 usable.)
Suggestions anyone???
TMPLee@Dockmaster.ncsc.mil
[From jrd - The emulator of screen Bios calls must be both slow and keeps
interrupts off for too long. This would not be unusual for hybrid emulator
boards because of the traffic passing through a small path (say an 8 bit port
or memory location) between cpus and the work to emulate on a different
system. Scrolling is one of the slowest things video systems perform and
something is not able to attend to the serial port in the meanwhile. My Atari
800 + 8088 DOS board could run to 9600 baud with a purely software UART using
MS-Kermit on the DOS side (farthest from the "serial port"). The regular
Atari 800 Kermit, however, ran out of steam at 4800 baud.]
------------------------------
Date: 15 Feb 89 12:39:00 PST
From: "SD::HURLEY" <hurley%sd.decnet@afsc-sd.af.mil>
Subject: MS-DOS Kermit 132 Column Support
Keywords: MS-DOS Kermit VT102 Emulation
I have been enjoying Kermit-MS at work using the Compaq 286 with a VGA
monitor. I want to mention that I hope that you somehow are able to enlarge
the support for VGA monitors using the VT102 terminal emulator to include
132 column emulation. The DEC VAX which I talk to frequently has several of
these screens to explain the keyboard, and Kermit-MS does not recognize
them. What happens is that the right edge of the screen is lost. The only
progam that I know of which recognizes the 132 column screen of our VAX is
"Call", which is an Air Force program and is used extensively at the U.S.
Air Force Base (Space Division) in El Segundo, California. There are
several people here trying out Kermit-MS, and I know that they would be
pleased if this glitch were fixed.
I am sorry to report that at home, using my XT-clone (no name), Kermit-MS
has some rather serious problems. I can run Kermit-MS, but when I go to
VT102 terminal emulation using the CONNECT command, I cannot get the modem
to respond. When I type ATZ, the "echo back" is very slow, and I never
receive the customary "OK" response from the modem. This set up, which is
described fully in the next paragraph, works with Smartcom II ver. 2.2, and
with Smartcom III ver. 1.0B. These are the two tests for compatibility
which are normally applied. So, I conclude that there is something about
Kermit-MS which is preventing it from working with my XT-clone. I have
checked all the normal things ... I am running at 1200 baud which is the
proper speed for the modem, and I am using COM2 which is the correct serial
port. Just to be sure that I was not running interference from a TSR, I
booted from a master DOS disk (ver. 3.2), and then ran Kermit-MS. Still,
the result was the same.
I hope you can find a fix. There are a lot of other XT-clone people out
there, and I am sure that they will have problems too. By the way, I am
using a DTK ver. 2.27 bios chip (piggybacked on top of a Smartwatch chip for
the clock), a 640K clone motherboard, an Omnitel PC3 modem (1200 baud), a
Paradise Plus VGA video board (8bit), an Above Board/PS with 2 MB of RAM,
and a Copy II PC Deluxe Option board. I have a multifunction board which
contains a floppy disk controller controlling two floppy disks, a parallel
printer port, a, serial port which is connected to a Mouse Systems mouse,
and a joystick port. I have a hard disk controller by Western Digital, and
it controls a 20 MB hard disk by Seagate, Model ST225. So, this fairly
describes my setup.
I surely hope you can help.
[From jrd - There is no "standard" way of invoking 132 column mode on
EGA/VGA boards. Each manufacturer has invented a private method, and I lack
access to and information on what most have done. Kermit requires a solid
signature to identify the board safely and the incantations to change modes
to and from 132 columns. MS Kermit does support a handful of popular
EGA/VGA boards. A simple workaround for unknown systems is to use the
manufacturer's utility to set 132 columns and then run Kermit.
By the way, Smartcom II and PCTALK III have a deficiency inherited from old
MS Compiled Basic that the serial port interrupt vector is stolen by the
Basic program and not returned properly, leading to eventual crashes. From
your description of the modem echoing I surmize that there are serious
hardware conflicts in the system, typically involving IRQ 3 (COM2), its port
addressing, and perhaps other items. The slow "echo back" is from the
modem, clearly, so it too may be experiencing conflicts. One place to look
is that Paradise VGA board and it's 8 vs 16 bit modes; I've experienced
troubles with a loaner, and with the Professional. Pulling boards is not
much fun, but may be the quickest way to pinpoint the cause.]
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 28 Feb 89 22:59:36 -0800
From: eric@ucscj.ucsc.edu (Eric C. Hewitt)
Subject: MS Kermit Scripting Questions
I am submitting this for someone else because the questions are beyond my
technical knowledge of Kermit.
-Eric Hewitt
UCSC Computer Center Consulting
eric@ucscj.ucsc.edu
CONECH@UCSCVM.BITNET
P.S. - He does not have 2.32/A yet.
Hi. I'm using Kermit 2.32 now. It works better than 2.31 but I'm still
having problems, mainly with lost characters.
Kermit loses characters from the serial port when it isn't in connect mode.
It seems especially bad when it's waiting for input for the "input" command,
and is also worst when it is a message from the modem. But it also occurs in
other situation. Unfortunately the loss of characters causes the most
problems when waiting for input to "input" that is a response from the modem,
because I want to test for whether it is CONNECT 2400, etc. At the same time
that input is lost the speaker usually beeps.
Oddly enough, it isn't nearly as bad when I have take-echo set to "on". I'd
think that if anything having to echo script commands would slow down the
program's resonse to the modem. Anyway, I would much rather have take-echo
set off, but I can't while this happens. Has anyone else noted this behavior?
Also, when I am at the kermit command level, or when kermit is suspended
because I've pushed to DOS or run a program, any data coming in the serial
port is lost. This doesn't happen with Crosstalk; a lot of input can arrive
while Crosstalk is suspended and it will appear when it is restarted. Is
kermit supposed to behave this way? It is a serious problem for me since I
often suspend kermit to run other things on my system while I'm logged on, but
if I get a write message or something I will never know it. Kermit sends a ^S
when it is suspended, apparently in an attempt to forestall output, but that
isn't good enough.
Finally, is there a copy of the 2.32 manual online or on a drive
somewhere? Thanks.
John DuBois
[From jrd - The MS Kermit User's Manual is file MSKERM.DOC, available on
Kermsrv (Bitnet) or anonymous ftp to cumva.cc.columbia.edu. MS Kermit does
not continue to operate the serial port when one Pushes to DOS, for the very
good reason that the next program may also use the same port. If Control-S
does not stop the host then you need to run MS Windows or Concurrent DOS or
DESQview or similar environments to achieve a semblence of multitasking.
MS Kermit does not run in DOS background since there is really No$Such_Thing.
Kermit does not lose characters while processing the INPUT command unless
your system is imposing a very heavy load in the background (TSRs, PRINT
command, etc). If you snatch a copy of 2.32/A, and the manual, there are
examples of scripts which do autobaud recognition of modem CONNECT responses.]
------------------------------
End of Info-Kermit Digest
*************************