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From: larry@kitty.UUCP (Larry Lippman)
Newsgroups: net.micro.pc,net.unix-wizards
Subject: Remote operation of a PC from a UNIX system using ``cu''
Message-ID: <1311@kitty.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 6-Oct-86 00:45:05 EDT
Article-I.D.: kitty.1311
Posted: Mon Oct  6 00:45:05 1986
Date-Received: Tue, 7-Oct-86 20:46:18 EDT
Organization: Recognition Research Corp., Clarence, NY
Lines: 40
Keywords: IBM PC, remote operation, UNIX system, ``cu''
Xref: mnetor net.micro.pc:6883 net.unix-wizards:8149


	I know very little about IBM PC's (I work with REAL computers :-) ),
and am looking for a little information and a few suggestions...

	I wish to control an IBM PC clone (NCR model PC-4, to be exact)
from a UNIX system running System V Release 2.2 (AT&T 3B2, to be exact).
The PC has some special hardware boards in it, and is pretty much running
a dedicated application.  There are occasions where it would be desireable
to control the PC from the above UNIX system, and to transfer files in
both directions (these would be TEXT files with all 7-bit characters).
	There is not enough file transfer nor PC access required to
justify any LAN hardware.
	I have the PC connected to a tty port of the UNIX system, and use
the PC-DOS ``ctty'' command to assign PC console control to the COM1 port.
No problem; ``cu'' accesses the PC just fine.  HOWEVER, I cannot interrupt
SOME of the PC functions with a CTRL-C, nor can I use the function keys,
nor can I do something like CTRL-BREAK.
	Needless to say, I have caused the PC to hang on various occasions,
which only a PC-DOS reboot will cure.
	I have carefully examined all of my PC-DOS documention, and can find
no mention of whether any ASCII characters and/or character sequences map
to non-ASCII PC keys (like the function keys, END, etc.).  Some PC programs
NEED these non-ASCII keys.
	Is there any character mapping as I have just mentioned?  If so,
is it the same for all PC-clones?  If so, where do I find the information,
and can someone give me a clue as to the nature of the mapping?
	I have transfered text files to and from the PC using a combination
of ``tee''ing a ``cu'' session and using the ``~$'' escape to send text
while in an editor on the PC (I have a ``vi''-like program for the PC).
Does anyone have a better suggestion for performing the above text file
transfers using EXISTING PC-DOS functions?  There is not enough text file
transfer to justify installing compatible communications software on the
PC (like a ``uucp'' lookalike, or say, X-MODEM).  My present approach,
while no doubt inelegant, does work - I just wonder if there is a _slightly_
better way...

==>  Larry Lippman @ Recognition Research Corp., Clarence, New York
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