1 Following is the announcement of CP/M-80 Kermit version 4.09, the first
2 new release of CP/M Kermit since 4.05 since February 1985.
4 Kermit files may be obtained over networks and by mail order. On the
5 Internetwork, use FTP to log in to host CU20B, CU20B.COLUMBIA.EDU, or
6 CU20B.CC.COLUMBIA.EDU (a DECSYSTEM-20), as user ANONYMOUS, using any password,
7 and GET (or MULTIPLE GET, or MGET) the desired files from logical device KER:,
8 e.g. MGET KER:CP*.* for the new CP/M files. You can also get Kermit files over
9 BITNET/EARN; to get started send a message with text HELP to KERMSRV, the
10 Kermit file server, at host CUVMA. For detailed instructions, read the file
11 KER:AANETW.HLP (AANETW HLP on KERMSRV). To order by mail, request a complete
12 list of Kermit versions and an order form from Kermit Distribution, Columbia
13 University Center for Computing Activities, 612 West 115th Street, New York, NY
16 Date: 8 Jan 88 0:00:00
17 From: Bertil Schou, Loughborough University, UK
18 Via: SYSKERMIT%vax1.central.lancaster.ac.uk@NSS.Cs.Ucl.AC.UK
19 Subject: Announcing Version 4.09 of Kermit-80 for CP/M-80
20 Keywords: CP/M-80 Kermit 4.09
22 After an incredibly long gestation period, here is hopefully an updated
23 version of Kermit-80 V4.05. Kermit-80 V4.08 is issued for testing purposes
24 only. Version 4.09 is the release issue of version 4.08. I still, however,
25 want any feedback about problems generated in this revision, or others
26 desperately want fixing.
28 Superficially, there is little real change in operation of Kermit-80, version
29 4.05, but there have been some major jobs tackled like trapping BDOS calls and
30 multiple FCB buffering...
32 New bits for this version include:
33 SET {SEND/RECEIVE} START-OF-PACKET character
34 SET DIRECTORY-FILE-SIZE (Shows or hides file sizes on
36 SET TERMINAL to OFF, VT52, DUMB, EXTERNAL, QUIET, REGULAR.
37 SET USER to set other user spaces
38 RECEIVE to collect a file from a remote SENDer
39 GET to collect a file from a remote SERVER
40 SEND {local filename} {remote filename}
41 TAKE to take command files from disk (including other take files!)
42 FCOPY Copy CP/M files from within Kermit (no wildcard)
43 TYPE Type a file to the console from within Kermit
44 PRINT Print a file to the printer from within Kermit
45 - Updated TRANSMIT command that waits for a string of characters
46 from the host (default is CR).
47 - Command line commands, eg:
48 KERMIT ;SET FILE BINARY;SEND FOO.BAR
49 - Automatic TAKE KERMIT.INI on default disk on
50 loading KERMIT-80 (useful for SET BAUD etc.)
51 - Much improved speed on DIRECTORY
52 - Automatic CLOSE-ing of a terminal connection if the line is
53 DROP-ped (currently only for an Apple, and Torch has a dummy
54 test for cntrl-] D in connect state)
55 - Improved printer handling.
57 On the negative side, only LASM and Microsoft M80 assemblers can be used to
58 assemble the source files. I personally see no point in being able to support
59 several assemblers if LASM can do the job, but then again, I have not used the
60 MAC80 cross assembler... Comments on assembler compatabilities, please!
62 All source files have been renamed, and there are a few additions. All source
63 files are named in the form CPaxxx.ASM, where:
65 a=A for general information
66 a=S for system independent source files and hex file
67 a=X for system dependent source files
68 a=V for system-dependent hex files
70 The system dependent code has changed a litle too, hopefully bringing the
71 CPXSYS.ASM (formerly CP4SYS.ASM) file a bit more toward a manageable size.
72 There is now the possibility for FAMILIES of systems, like APPLE and NorthStar
73 (also Comart), which contains code for computers of a single type. I have
74 immediately gone against all this by creating a family with the code for
75 Torches, Cifers, Ithacas and Superbrains (this because we have these systems
76 here at Loughborough.)
80 [Ed. - Many thanks, Bertil! And also to Alan Phillips and Steve Jenkins at
81 Lancaster University for sending this new version to us via transoceanic
82 magnetic tape, and to the many others in the UK who contributed to this new
83 release. This version supports all the systems supported by version 4.05,
84 with the exception of the HP-125, and with the addition of many more, for a
85 total of something like 52 systems. The new files have been installed in
86 KER:CP*.*, and the old ones moved (on CU20B, anyway) to KO:CP*.*. CP/M
87 users, please get this new version and try it out, so we can make sure it's
88 safe to distribute. And this is also the time to plead ONCE AGAIN for
89 volunteers to distribute CP/M Kermit on 5.25-inch diskette for different
90 kinds of systems, and also in "universal" 8-inch diskette format. Please
91 come forward if you can do it, or know of a user group that can!]
94 CPKERM.MSG 08 Jan 1988
97 After an incredibly long gestation peroid, here is hopefully an
98 updated version of Kermit-80 V4.05. Kermit-80 V4.08 is issued for
99 testing purposes only. Version 4.09 is the release issue of
100 version 4.08. I still, however, want any feedback about problems
101 generated in this revision, or others desperately want fixing.
103 Superficially, there is little real change in operation of
104 Kermit-80, version 4.05, but there have been some major jobs
105 tackled like trapping BDOS calls and multiple FCB buffering...
107 New bits for this version include:
108 SET {SEND/RECEIVE} START-OF-PACKET character
109 SET DIRECTORY-FILE-SIZE (Shows or hides file sizes on
111 SET TERMINAL to OFF, VT52, DUMB, EXTERNAL, QUIET,
112 REGULAR. External is for those wanting to write
113 their own drivers, DUMB passes only printing
114 characters and sone control characters (eg CR/LF).
115 QUIET/REGULAR permits brief/verbose screen
116 displays during transfers.
117 SET USER to set other user spaces
118 RECEIVE to collect a file from a remote SENDer
119 GET to collect a file from a remote SERVER
120 SEND {local filename} {remote filename}
121 TAKE to take command files from disk (including other
123 FCOPY Copy CP/M files from within Kermit (no wildcard)
124 TYPE Type a file to the console from within Kermit
125 PRINT Print a file to the printer from within Kermit
126 - updated TRANSMIT command that waits for a string
127 of characters from the host (default is CR)
128 - Command line commands, eg:
129 KERMIT ;SET FILE BINARY;SEND FOO.BAR
130 - automatic TAKE KERMIT.INI on default disk on
131 loading KERMIT-80 (useful for SET BAUD etc.)
132 - much improved speed on DIRECTORY
133 - automatic CLOSE-ing of a terminal connection if
134 the line is DROP-ped (currently only for an Apple,
135 and Torch has a dummy test for cntrl-] D in
137 - improved printer handling. (Kermit-80 sends an
138 XOFF to the host if the characters are comming in
139 faster than they are printed. This does not work
140 in this version, as another option, SET FLOW-
141 CONTROL has not been fully implemented - also, I
142 did not have a printer to test this out on a
145 On the negative side, only LASM and Microsoft M80 assemblers can
146 be used to assemble the source files. I personally see no pont in
147 being able to support several assemblers if LASM can do the job,
148 but then again, I have not used the MAC80 cross assembler...
149 Comments on assembler compatabilities, please!
151 All source files have been renamed, and there are a few
152 additions. All source files are named in the form:
164 a=A for general information
165 a=S for system independent source files and hex file
166 a=X for system dependent source files
167 a=V for system-dependent hex files
169 The system dependent code has changed a litle too, hopefully
170 bringing the CPXSYS.ASM (formerly CP4SYS.ASM) file a bit more
171 toward a manageable size. There is now the possibility for
172 FAMILIES of systems, like APPLE and NorthStar (also Comart),
173 which contains code for computers of a single type. I have
174 immediately gone against all this by creating a family with the
175 code for Torches, Cifers, Ithacas and Superbrains. (This because
176 we have these systems here at Loughborough)
178 CPXSYS.ASM is the "left over" systems not having a family to go
179 to (poor things), but is very much smaller than the original
182 All VDU and terminal information is now held in CPXVDU.ASM. This
183 is really the last section in the older CP4SYS.ASM file.
185 A quick "schematic" of what happens at assembly time... (assuming
188 LASM CPXTYP... this then assembles the following:
199 CPXCOM (Common code for most systems)
202 CPXSWT-------+----------+-----------+-----------+---- File selector
204 v v v v CPXTOR CPXAPP CPXNOR CPX??? one of
207 +<----------+----------+-----------+-----------+----
210 CPXVDU (if a terminal is required)
218 Users should be aware of the change both to the linking
225 information and start of the overlay address. Since Version 4.05,
226 four new entries have been added to the overlay table. First of
227 all, family (offset +6), which is a two byte poiter to a text
228 string in the family file. The remainder are two byte pointers
229 (in the usual JMP 0 format) to a print status routne, (lptstat
230 offset 20h), an optional VDU driver, and a reverse entry back to
231 the system independent BDOS routines (which does a lot more than
232 simply pass on the BDOS request to BDOS)
234 There have also been some bugs fixed in some of the system
235 dependent code, so you would be wise pulling all the source files
238 The overlay address is now 6000h, and will probably change before
239 this revision is complete. The speeding up of multiple file
240 handling takes its toll on memory, as there are now 64-ish FCBs
241 buffered. This speeds up the DIRECTORY command no end.
243 With the overlay address at 6000h there is still a lot of space
244 free for more things to be added, so unless there is a big hash
245 made to Kermit, this will not change.
247 Most of the Version 4.05 documentation still holds for this
248 version of kermit-80. Note however the changes in the number of
249 system dependent files used, and the use of FAMILY files.
251 The new commands are (hopefully) self-explanatory. The TAKE
252 command requires files TAKE-n to be pure ASCII text, with a
253 control-z as the end of file marker. Most editors will probably
256 LASM and Microsoft M80 assembles are the only ones supported. I
257 suggest LASM be used by default for all further development work,
258 though I DO know that there are others requestin M80
261 How to get V4.09 onto your system.
262 **********************************
263 If you alread have a Kermit running on your system, you should be
264 able to pull the CPSKER.HEX and suitable system file to yopur
265 system, then MLOAD the two together. If you dont have kermit,
266 see if you cannot get a copy from somewhere - it saves a lot of
267 frustrating work. Failing that, refer to the REAL manuals!
269 If you want to assemble the sources from scratch, pull all
270 CPS*.ASM files, and CPX(TYP LNK COM SWT).ASM files, and
271 CPXVDU.ASM if you use a terminal. You will have to pluck
272 either CPXSYS./ASM or another family file. You will also need
273 loads of disk space. If you run short, but have a handy IBM PC
274 or clone with a Mbyte or two free, use the public domain Z80
275 emulator Z80MU to develop the .HEX files required. Also aquire a
276 copy of LASM. Use LASM it to assemble CPSKER and CPXTYP after
277 editing CPXTYP and selecting a suitable system. This generates
278 CPSKER.HEX and CPXTYP.HEX.
280 MLOAD the two .HEX files together, eg:
282 MLOAD NEWKER=CPSKER,CPXTYP
284 After this, you will hopefully have a runnable copy of KERMIT-80
291 Version 4.09 on your system.
293 Disclaimer: No responsibilty can be assumed by anyone as to the
294 suitabilty etc.etc. In otherwords, you are the one responsible
295 for your implentation of Kermit-80, any version. I will give help
296 where I can, but no guaranttes will be given. Note that not all
297 systems and facilities have been tested (thats why you are
298 getting involved!) so make sure you have a copy of 4.05 Kermit
299 before trying this one!
301 Things yet to be done - lots!
303 There have been moves trying to add other independent modules for
304 other terminal emulators other than the VT52. Demands for SERVER,
305 REMOTE HOST..., file compression, better TRANSMIT, % of file sent
306 and/or Kbytes sent/received as part of the display diring
307 transfers, a lot of cosmetic tidying up as well as even more
308 systems to be added. CP/M-80 is a slowly dying DOS, and I feel
309 inclined to leave some bits out, like SERVER (how many use really
310 large Winchesters in CP/M-80 systems, and want true servers?).
311 Does anyone have a burning desire for these facilities? And if
312 so, will YOU be willing to take on the job of implementing them?
314 If you have any comments, please E-mail them to OBSchou (me) at
315 Loughborough. If you really must, try (0509) 222313, but I share
316 a phone, so use the phone only if you cannot mail me.
projects / kermit-80.git / blob