I've stumbled accross a suggestion that Kermit can be good for file transfers.
https://dataswamp.org/~solene/2019-01-31-kermit.html
This works well, if you SSH within kermit, and I've tried it
sucessfully. But there is a way, supposedly, to run kermit as a
'server'.
I've followed the instructions here https://www.complete.org/how-to-run-an-internet-kermit-server/
To start a server, which works. Sort of, I can login as anonymous, but get ?Access to system disabled
when I try any commands.
The same happens when trying "the last kermit server" https://www.complete.org/try-the-last-internet-kermit-server/
I'm doing this purely out of interest, its not imperitave that it get it
up and running. I'm just looking for some good introductory
documentation where I can begin to troubleshot this, and perhaps figure
out how to get PAM authentication and/or TLS working.
I've stumbled accross a suggestion that Kermit can be good for file transfers.
https://dataswamp.org/~solene/2019-01-31-kermit.html
This works well, if you SSH within kermit, and I've tried it
sucessfully. But there is a way, supposedly, to run kermit as a
'server'.
I've followed the instructions here https://www.complete.org/how-to-run-an-internet-kermit-server/
To start a server, which works. Sort of, I can login as anonymous, but get ?Access to system disabled
when I try any commands.
The same happens when trying "the last kermit server" https://www.complete.org/try-the-last-internet-kermit-server/
I'm doing this purely out of interest, its not imperitave that it get it
up and running. I'm just looking for some good introductory
documentation where I can begin to troubleshot this, and perhaps figure
out how to get PAM authentication and/or TLS working.
Hello,
I seem to have picked the right day to look in on this group, which I do irregularly.
Replies below.
On 2025-04-23, Borax Man <rotflol2@hotmail.com> wrote:
I've stumbled accross a suggestion that Kermit can be good for file transfers.
https://dataswamp.org/~solene/2019-01-31-kermit.html
This works well, if you SSH within kermit, and I've tried it
sucessfully. But there is a way, supposedly, to run kermit as a
'server'.
Yes, it's called IKSD. It's fun to play around with, but lacks modern TLS and
such.
I've followed the instructions here
https://www.complete.org/how-to-run-an-internet-kermit-server/
To start a server, which works. Sort of, I can login as anonymous, but get >> ?Access to system disabled
when I try any commands.
The same happens when trying "the last kermit server"
https://www.complete.org/try-the-last-internet-kermit-server/
I run that server, and tried it just now.
I tried dir, cd, get, pwd, and so forth. They all worked. File downloads worked (note, you use the SEND, not GET, to do these because you're sending commands to the remote kermit).
Things like ls, which map directly to local programs, won't work. Run "help ls"
and "help dir" to note the difference between them. dir is a kermit built-in;
ls is a call to an external program.
I'm doing this purely out of interest, its not imperitave that it get it
up and running. I'm just looking for some good introductory
documentation where I can begin to troubleshot this, and perhaps figure
out how to get PAM authentication and/or TLS working.
https://www.complete.org/how-to-run-an-internet-kermit-server/ will link you to
the IKSD documentation that exists. It was always a bit obscure so there's nothing great out there.
I wouldn't bother trying to get TLS working; kermit's TLS is from an earlier era
and doesn't really support modern TLS. You could put a TLS proxy in front of it
(eg, stunnel).
There are some good Kermit books out there, which you can find used on various
places. There's a PDF at https://www.kermitproject.org/ck90.html , but also check out https://www.kermitproject.org/booksonline.html for more.
- John
In article <slrn100hmce.fcd.rotflol2@geidiprime.bvh>, rotflol2
@hotmail.com says...
I've stumbled accross a suggestion that Kermit can be good for file transfers.
https://dataswamp.org/~solene/2019-01-31-kermit.html
This works well, if you SSH within kermit, and I've tried it
sucessfully. But there is a way, supposedly, to run kermit as a
'server'.
I've followed the instructions here
https://www.complete.org/how-to-run-an-internet-kermit-server/
To start a server, which works. Sort of, I can login as anonymous, but get >> ?Access to system disabled
when I try any commands.
The same happens when trying "the last kermit server"
https://www.complete.org/try-the-last-internet-kermit-server/
I'm doing this purely out of interest, its not imperitave that it get it
up and running. I'm just looking for some good introductory
documentation where I can begin to troubleshot this, and perhaps figure
out how to get PAM authentication and/or TLS working.
If you're not looking to run something public, another option is using
Kermit as an SSH subsystem:
https://kermitproject.org/skermit.html
That way you get to delegate security to OpenSSH and just leave Kermit
to doing file transfer. Making a connection is still a little more complicated than it could be, but writing a script as instructed by that
page should help.
In the unlikely event you want to make such a connection from a Windows
box, I'll note that the Kermit 95 section of that page is out of date:
Kermit 95 now has a built-in command (skermit) for making these kinds of connections using its built-in SSH client.
On 2025-04-24, David Goodwin <david+usenet@zx.net.nz> wrote:
In article <slrn100hmce.fcd.rotflol2@geidiprime.bvh>, rotflol2
@hotmail.com says...
I've stumbled accross a suggestion that Kermit can be good for file transfers.
https://dataswamp.org/~solene/2019-01-31-kermit.html
This works well, if you SSH within kermit, and I've tried it
sucessfully. But there is a way, supposedly, to run kermit as a
'server'.
I've followed the instructions here
https://www.complete.org/how-to-run-an-internet-kermit-server/
To start a server, which works. Sort of, I can login as anonymous, but get
?Access to system disabled
when I try any commands.
The same happens when trying "the last kermit server"
https://www.complete.org/try-the-last-internet-kermit-server/
I'm doing this purely out of interest, its not imperitave that it get it >> up and running. I'm just looking for some good introductory
documentation where I can begin to troubleshot this, and perhaps figure
out how to get PAM authentication and/or TLS working.
If you're not looking to run something public, another option is using Kermit as an SSH subsystem:
https://kermitproject.org/skermit.html
That way you get to delegate security to OpenSSH and just leave Kermit
to doing file transfer. Making a connection is still a little more complicated than it could be, but writing a script as instructed by that page should help.
In the unlikely event you want to make such a connection from a Windows box, I'll note that the Kermit 95 section of that page is out of date: Kermit 95 now has a built-in command (skermit) for making these kinds of connections using its built-in SSH client.
I did find this, but got stuck as the script didn't work.
I added the line
Subsystem kermit /usr/local/bin/kermit-sshsub
to /etc/ssh/sshd_config
But issuing the command below from within kermit
set host /pipe ssh -e none -T -s raspberrypi.lan kermit
returns instantly.
The command
ssh -e none -T -s raspberrypi.lan kermit
issued from BASH hangs (connects) and spawns the kermit-sshsub process
on the ssh server. kermit-sshsub does not get spawned when connecting
from within kermit.
The script fails with "Kermit Server not found". I know ssh is
configured correctly, because I can SSH in to the system normally no
problem.
It's not a big deal if I don't get this working, as I've found how to
get it working by other means, but its more for my curiousity (and
confirming that the instructions still should work!)
Yes, it's called IKSD. It's fun to play around with, but lacks modern TLS and
such.
I have it mostly working, though just on my private network for now. I recall seeing Kermit back when I used BBS's, which is why I was curious
about it now.
It stumbled across your site which got me interested in kermit, and I've
been looking at NNCP as I may have a use case for it. Older
technologies seem to have solved problems that people are reinventing solutions for now.
Appreciate your help, and your work keeping this knowledge around.
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