From: engel@sj.ate.slb.com (Mike Engelhardt)
Newsgroups: comp.os.linux
Subject: C-Kermit, usleep, rts/cts
Date: 8 Nov 92 00:25:36 GMT
Organization: Schlumberger ATE, San Jose

There's been a number of articles about Kermit.  I report some updated
information and summarize.

1.  The latest version of C-Kermit is 5A(185) BETA-7, 27 Oct 92.

2.  There is a makefile entry for Linux called linuxgcc2.  Just typing
    'make linuxgcc2' will result in a version which (i) will not
    supply guard time around the '+++' escape sequence of a Hayes
    modem and (ii) not allow you to set hardware flow control.  Use

         make linuxgcc2 "KFLAGS = -DCK_RTSCTS -DUSLEEP"

    Note that many older edits of C-Kermit unconditionally undefined
    CK_RTSCTS in ckcdeb.h.  The above will also put the LCK* files in
    /usr/spool/uucp for 5A(185) BETA-7.

3.  The home ftp site for Kermit is watsun.cc.columbia.edu
    (128.59.39.2).  Good luck getting through.  Other sites include
    (from an archie search):

       hpb.mcc.ac.uk (130.88.200.7)
          file: /pub/misc-unix/cku185.tar.Z

       ftp.waseda.ac.jp (133.9.1.32)
          file: /pub/kermit/sw/cku184.tar.Z
          file: /pub/kermit/sw/cku185.dif

4.  There is no support for a 57600 baud DTE connection in either
    Kermit or <linux/termios.h>.  Trivial hacks my my part didn't fix
    this.   Will Linux support 57600 baud in the future?  It's
    important because when working on the same source code on two
    machines, there's no reason to have compressed versions lying
    around just so that they can be moved faster.  Also, v.32bis often
    compresses better than UNIX's compress.  It's silly for the DTE
    speed to be the bottle neck instead of the phone line!

Note that it has become vogue to dump on Kermit's 'slow' file transfer
in contrast to, say, Z-modem transfer.  I obtain 1402 bytes/sec with
Kermit for compressed files for large files and packet sizes. Under
Z-modem the limit is more like 1625.  However, since Kermit handles
sliding windows, this through-put can be obtained in the presence of
seconds of propagation delay.  Z-modem, e.g., fails in the presence of
sizable delay.

The following comments are not technically related to Linux, but hopefully
useful to others now using Kermit under X instead of a DOS comm program:

1.  In order to get the Alt key to work as the Meta key in a remote
    emacs session over the phone:

        i) Append(or create) the .Xmodmap file in your home directory
           with the line:

                keysym Alt_L = Meta_L

        i) Append(or create) the .kermrc file in your home directory
           with the lines:
                set command bytesize 8
                set key 246 \{27}\{118}
                set key 248 \{27}\{120}

           (Actually, these are for only M-x and M-v, but you can map
            the whole Alt-<key> to M-<key> in this manner)

Note that unlike DOS, there's no need for terminal emulation when
running a communication program, under Linux or X.  The terminal
emulator is provided by X so you don't need one in the communication
software.  You can even plot to the Tektronics terminal emulator over
the phone.

-- Mike Engelhardt      engel@sj.ate.slb.com
Newsgroups: comp.os.linux