Transferring files using a host-based connection

Sending and receiving files over a host-based connection requires a software program on the host, a software program on the PC, and a protocol that they both understand.. The software programs on the solix host are the programs rz and sz. The software for your PC can be one of many programs, I will give specific advice for the Hyperterminal program. I will assume that the Z-MODEM protocol will be used since it is very common. If you are using other software on your PC to connect to the school, then you need to determine the correct commands for Sending and Receiving files.

If you have a direct connection to the internet, then don't bother using Hyperterminal. Instead, connect to the internet through your ISP and start an FTP program.

Command for sending files from solix to your home PC

The sz command will send a file from solix to your PC.

Here are two simple versions of the command, one for ASCII (text) transfers, and one for binary (graphics, programs) transfers.

sz -a file.txt: Send an ASCII file from solix to your PC.
sz -b file.gif: Send a binary image from solix to your PC

I have noticed that the -y and -Y options don't work. If the file already exists on your PC, then a number will be added to the old name: eg, if the file test.txt already exists on your PC and you send a file named test.txt, then you will get the file test0.txt on your PC.

Steps to follow:

Indicate in your PC software the directory where the file to be downloaded will be stored. If you are using Hyperterminal, then from the Transfer menu, select Receive file. Type in the name of the directory, but DO NOT click the Receive button, click the CLOSE button instead.
Issue the sz command from solix for either a binary or ASCII transfer.

Here are all the options for sz. If you don't understand an option, then you probably don't need it. As noted above, -y and -Y don't seem to work from solix.

Send file(s) with ZMODEM/YMODEM/XMODEM Protocol
        (Y) = Option applies to YMODEM only
        (Z) = Option applies to ZMODEM only
Usage:  sz [-12+abdefkLlNnquvwYy] [-] file ...
        sz [-12Ceqv] -c COMMAND
        sb [-12adfkquv] [-] file ...
        sx [-12akquv] [-] file
        1 Use stdout for modem input
        2 Use 2 stop bits
        + Append to existing destination file (Z)
        a (ASCII) change NL to CR/LF
        b Binary file transfer override
        c send COMMAND (Z)
        d Change '.' to '/' in pathnames (Y/Z)
        e Escape all control characters (Z)
        f send Full pathname (Y/Z)
        i send COMMAND, ack Immediately (Z)
        k Send 1024 byte packets (Y)
        L N Limit subpacket length to N bytes (Z)
        l N Limit frame length to N bytes (l>=L) (Z)
        n send file if source newer (Z)
        N send file if source newer or longer (Z)
        o Use 16 bit CRC instead of 32 bit CRC (Z)
        p Protect existing destination file (Z)
        r Resume/Recover interrupted file transfer (Z)
        q Quiet (no progress reports)
        u Unlink file after transmission
        v Verbose - provide debugging information
        w N Window is N bytes (Z)
        Y Yes, overwrite existing file, skip if not present at rx (Z)
        y Yes, overwrite existing file (Z)
- as pathname sends standard input as sPID.sz or environment ONAME
sz 1.36 08-31-87 for SYS III/V by Chuck Forsberg

Command for receiving files from your home PC

The command rz will allow you to send a file from your PC to solix.

Here are two simple versions of the command, one for ASCII (text) transfers, and one for binary (graphics, programs) transfers.

rz -a: Recieve an ASCII file from your PC to solix.
rz -b: Receive a binary image from your PC to solix.

Notice that you don't specify the name of the file in the rz command.

Steps to follow:

Issue the rz command from solix for either ASCII or binary transfer.
From your PC software, send the file. If you are using Hyperterminal, then from the Transfer menu, select the Send File option, specify the file to send and click the Send button. Do NOT use the Send Text File option from the Transfer menu, it doesn't work properly with solix.

There will be some garbage that will appear on your screen, just ignore it.

Here are all the options for rz. If you don't understand an option, then you probably don't need it.

rz 1.26 08-21-87 for V7/BSD by Chuck Forsberg

Usage: rz [-1abeuv] (ZMODEM Batch)
or rb [-1abuv] (YMODEM Batch)
or rx [-1abcv] file (XMODEM or XMODEM-1k)
-1 For cu(1): Use fd 1 for input
-a ASCII transfer (strip CR)
-b Binary transfer for all files
-c Use 16 bit CRC (XMODEM)
-e Ignore control characters (ZMODEM)
-v Verbose more v's give more info