Telecom/1996-04-telecom-walnutcreek.iso/book.reviews/kermit.protocol-dacruz

Text File | 1995-01-01 | 4KB | 82 lines

Date:  4 Jan 94 14:59 -0600
From: Rob Slade <[e-mail]>
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
[e-mail] [e-mail]

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 <INSERT NAME OF DATA COMM TOPIC
HERE> 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 [e-mail], [e-mail], Rob Slade at 1:153/733
DECUS Symposium '94, Vancouver, BC, Mar 1-3, 1994, contact: [e-mail]