RFC 2839 (rfc2839) - Page 1 of 20
Internet Kermit Service
Alternative Format: Original Text Document
Network Working Group F. da Cruz
Request for Comments: 2839 J. Altman
Category: Informational Columbia University
May 2000
Internet Kermit Service
Status of this Memo
This memo provides information for the Internet community. It does
not specify an Internet standard of any kind. Distribution of this
memo is unlimited.
Copyright Notice
Copyright (C) The Internet Society (2000). All Rights Reserved.
ABSTRACT
This document describes a new file transfer service for the Internet
based on Telnet Protocol for option negotiation and Kermit Protocol
for file transfer and management. The Internet Kermit Service
provides access to both authenticated and anonymous users. The use
of Kermit protocol over a Telnet connection provides several
advantages over FTP, including easy traversal of firewalls, transfers
over multiple transports, and security via a combination of supported
Telnet authentication and encryption option negotiations, plus
significant functional benefits. While this document describes a new
service for the Internet, the clients for this service already exist
on most platforms in the form of Telnet clients that support the
Kermit file transfer protocol. These clients are available not only
from Columbia University's Kermit Project but also numerous third
parties.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. INTRODUCTION ................................................ 2
2. BACKGROUND .................................................. 3
2.1. History ................................................... 3
2.2. Motivation ................................................ 4
3. THE INTERNET KERMIT SERVICE MODEL ........................... 7
3.1. Server-Side Kermit Server ................................. 7
3.2. Client-Side Kermit Server ................................. 8
3.3. Loosely Coupled Operation ................................. 9
4. SECURITY CONSIDERATIONS .....................................10
4.1. AUTHENTICATION ............................................10
4.1.1. Telnet Authentication ...................................10
4.1.2. Telnet over TLS option ..................................11
da Cruz & Altman Informational