JRD@cc.usu.edu (Joe Doupnik) (05/28/90)
Obtaining the protocol specifications for Kermit (preferrable in machine readable form): There isn't a single file to do this. Instead the formal specs are published as the whole book "Kermit: a file transfer protocol" by Frank da Cruz, Digital Press, 1987, IBSN 0-932376-88-6, also available through Prentice Hall publishers. The part of the book dealing with sliding windows should be updated by reading the source code in the current versions of MS-DOS Kermit and/or C Kermit. Further additions to the protocol have occurred since the above book was published; please contact Frank da Cruz at Columbia University for these updates. Terminal emulation features of MS-DOS Kermit, and others, is not included in this book. One needs to refer to the on-line documentation of the Columbia archives for the particular program for more information. Examples: files msvibm.vt for the VT320+ and msgibm.vt for the graphics terminal emulators in MS-DOS Kermit. The Kermit file transfer protocol is designed so that even basic Kermit programs can communicate properly with more advanced ones. Thus, you can keep adding protocol components over time. I hope that gives you pointers to the Kermit protocol as you design your new communications program. Joe D.