Shamelessly begging help with ZMODEM or KERMIT

Back to school soon, I need to send and receive ASCII files to and from an intranet (not internet) host server that supports both ZMODEM and KERMIT, requires VT100 terminal emulation package, minimum baud rate of 33,600, modem standards: v34, v32, v22bis, v90v42bis set to Compression: OFF and Hardware Flow Control: ON (RTS/CTS: on and XON/XOFF: off). Also, I want to send and receive using scripts I can call (e.g. TAKE) except for passwords. I'm planning to use a U.S. Robotics 56K External serial Faxmodem with v.92 and V90 ITU (USR5686E) hooked up to a SUSE 10.3 PC. I hear KERMIT is quite capable, but it might be far more than what I need.

My Questions:

1. Will ZMODEM do the job?
2. Is ZMODEM simpler and easier to setup and run?
3. Is there a guru here, who could - and would - help me setup ZMODEM or KERMIT?
3.a. To get YaST to install the modem on serial port 1 (ttyS0)?
3.b. To write a script to define and set com port and modem?
3.c. To write a script to dial and connect to sever including provisions for pw input?
3.d. To write a script to upload files?
3.e. To write a script to download files?
3.f. To write a script to terminate connection (hangup) and quit?
3.g. To write a script to call these scripts one at a time?

I can only afford a heartfelt thanks.

Interesting that you would be required to use a dial up MODEM these days...

ZMODEM is a file transfer protocol and would typically be built in to a communication program so nothing to setup. Also External serial port MODEMS do not require drivers.

The easiest solution might be to use minicom. It can dial in, upload, download (using ZMODEM) and has built in scripting.

1 members found this post helpful.

For starters, install C-Kermit. It will provide you with the terminal emulation, file transfer, and a host of scripts ready made for convenient use of modems. Some distros make it available through their repositories.

What your requirements don't specify, and which might be the case based ion your use of the term 'intranet' is the use of PPP or SLIP as an underlying protocol. You should look into this. If it is required or available, it will be a good thing, as it will make your dial-up modem behave as if it is just a very slow ethernet/cable-modem connection.

Personally, I find Zmodem less simple to use, although others may have other opinions. It is faster than Kermit file transfers. C-Kermit supports both protocols. Just because Kermit may be more than you need, shouldn't make it less worthy of consideration.

--- rod.

1 members found this post helpful.

Thanks, michaelk. I don't have to use dialup, it's just that it's cheaper than External Network Access (ENA) - which is also supported. I looked at minicom, but can't figure out which of their 19 products will do what I want.

Thanks, theNbomr. I'll ask about PPP and SLIP. I installed SUSE's ckermit (KERMIT) as well as their rzsz (ZMODEM), read through the documentation, but they're both way beyond my skills level.

Oops. Sorry, michaelk. I just realized you're probably referring to linux minicom (not minicom.com's products).

As mentioned, ideally use PPP to create the connection and then it appears to the system as just another network interface. I use dial-up often as broadband is not available at the summer cottage.

Using C-kermit, try something like this:
To close the connection, may be as simple as logging out of the destination host.
Or you may have to escape back to the kermit prompt, usually with 'Ctrl-\ C', or just 'Ctrl-\', and then type 'quit'

--- rod.

Thanks for all help, folks. Does anyone know where I can download cutecom for suse_10.3 ? I can't seem to find it in the usual repositories.