Date: 4 Jan 94 14:59 -0600 From: Rob Slade Subject: Book Review: "Kermit: a File Transfer Protocol" by Da Cruz BKKERMIT.RVW 931123 Digital Press PO Box 3027 One Burlington Woods Drive Burlington, MA 01803-9593 800-DIGITAL (800-344-4825) "Kermit: a File Transfer Protocol", da Cruz, 1987 KERMIT@CUVMA.BITNET fdc@watsun.cc.columbia.edu It may be that Kermit is popular because it is a robust file transfer protocol suitable for almost any line or network conditions. It may be that Kermit is popular because it is available for pretty much any computer you can name (and a bunch that you can't). It may be that Kermit is popular because it is free. Or, it may be that Kermit is popular because of the (written) communications skills of Christine Gianone and Frank da Cruz. As Kermit is both protocol and communications program, so this book is an introduction to computer communications, protocol specification, introduction to the Kermit implementations and programmers' reference guide, all rolled into one. An ambitious task, but one handled with grace and skill, in this instance. Part one gives us the basics of the development of Kermit and of data communications from the user's perspective. This confirms that, yes, the name was inspired by the Jim Henson muppet character (or, more exactly, by a Muppets wall calendar). One hopes that Jim Henson approves of this memorial. Chapter two does not get into exhaustive detail on computer (mostly PC) communications, but does cover the fundamental steps and needs with more brevity, completeness and wit than one sees in many works intended for the mass market. (I am sorry to see the confusion of "baud" and "bits per second", although the two terms are correctly defined in the glossary.) Part two gives us two primers; one on computers and data files, and the other on data communications. The section is well named. Both chapters are easily understood by the novice and provide the minimum necessary information to proceed from. Excellent pieces, both of them. Part three is an introduction to using Kermit. Chapter five describes a set of the most commonly used commands, including an introduction to the simplest login scripts. Chapter six discusses common problems while seven deals with the possibly thorny issue of getting Kermit into your machine in the first place. Included in this last chapter is a BASIC source code program for a "read only" Kermit protocol for downloading files. Part four is a guide to writing a Kermit implementation. Quite a complete guide: not only does it give you the protocol specification (which is still *the* protocol specification) but also optional features, advanced options and even tips on programming style. Appendices give you the bulk of the Kermit source code (in C), a command summary, packet summary, the ASCII character set and a discussion of binary, octal and hexadecimal numbers and notation. If you want to build your own implementation of Kermit, this is the book for you. If you care nothing for programming, and have only bought your computer in order to "get online", this is the book for you, too. (Be sure to get "Using MS-DOS Kermit," too.) (cf. BKUMSKMT.RVW) For those in between, this is an excellent resource to have around to answer those "how does work?" type questions. copyright Robert M. Slade, 1993 BKKERMIT.RVW 931123 Permission granted to distribute with unedited copies of the TELECOM Digest and associated newsgroups/mailing lists. DECUS Canada Communications, Desktop, Education and Security group newsletters Editor and/or reviewer ROBERTS@decus.ca, RSlade@sfu.ca, Rob Slade at 1:153/733 DECUS Symposium '94, Vancouver, BC, Mar 1-3, 1994, contact: rulag@decus.ca