Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!mnetor!seismo!husc6!mit-eddie!uw-beaver!ubc-vision!alberta!sask!lowey From: lowey@sask.UUCP (Kevin Lowey) Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc Subject: Re: IBM PC as a terminal (What does this buy you?) Message-ID: <771@sask.UUCP> Date: Mon, 15-Jun-87 22:40:47 EDT Article-I.D.: sask.771 Posted: Mon Jun 15 22:40:47 1987 Date-Received: Sun, 21-Jun-87 08:53:28 EDT References: <1149@carthage.swatsun.UUCP> <8601@tekecs.TEK.COM> <6828@mimsy.UUCP> <291@iris.randvax.UUCP> Organization: University of Saskatchewan Lines: 214 Summary: My experiences with PC as a Terminal Tom Lincoln Writes: > Lots of PCs and clones are being used as terminals to larger systems. I am > interested in this workstation use and what it adds to the interaction with > a program that one does not have at a dumb terminal. Granted that there > are lots of possible configurations, and that some are orders of magnitude > more convenient in the hardware sense than others... > > How does this configuration speed up your work? Do you use PC editors or > word processors in place of a full screen editor on the mainframe? Do you > bring other PC tools to bear on your work in this way? Does this make it > easier to use other mainframe programs by suplimenting them with PC based > activities? What are the most important considerations? I work in the User Support and Training group at the University of Saskatchewan. We currently are using a variety of PCs as terminals on our VAX/VMS and VAX/ULTRIX mainframe systems. Personally, I think that using PCs is great! My setup is as follows: Hardware: - Zenith 158 IBM-XT compatible computer - 10 MB hard disk - Two serial ports - One IBM graphics printer compatible printer - IBM-CGA compatible screen with Zenith RGBI monitor. - Hayes compatible 1200 baud modem Software: - KERMIT version 2.29B (soon to be upgraded to the TEK version) - QKKERMIT tek4010 terminal emulator (written in Turbo Pascal) - Borland's Sidekick version 1.56A (with cut and paste functions) - Borland's Turbo Lightning (On the fly spelling checker) - PC-DOS version 3.2 (including the graphics.com program) - Micro-Emacs 3.8b - Turbo Pascal 3.01A This setup gives me the following capabilities: Terminal Emulation: - Tektronics 40xx graphics terminal emulation - VT102 Terminal emulation - The ability to log on to two computers at the same time through the two serial ports (although I must admit I haven't tried this yet) - Kermit supplies a multi-page rollback feature, similar to the old HP terminals, which means I can look at the last 100 lines of text which has scrolled off the top of the screen. File Transfer Capabilites: - Kermit allows full transfer of text and binary files - File transfers can be done both to and from the mainframe computer WITHOUT needing KERMIT on the other side, good for computer systems which don't have KERMIt - some programs, such as TeX, SAS, etc. can use the same device independent files on both the PC and the mainframe computer, so I can do local work on the PC, then upload it to the more powerful programs on the mainframe computer. Local Printing Capabilities: - The ability to take any screen image and dump it to my printer, both text AND graphics images. - The ability to have the printer "follow" everything I do. For example, to print a file locally, I can download the file with Kermit then print it, or I can press CONTROL-PRTSC and then "type" the file on the mainframe, having it come out on the printer as it is typed. I could also have it go to a file as well. - I can "grab" any portion from the screen using the Sidekick notepad, re-edit it any way I like, then print it from the notepad. - Version 2.29B of kermit supports the VT102 printer control codes. Advanced local PC commands: - Kermit allows us to re-define the keyboard any way we want to. - The Sidekick editor allows us to grab things from the screen, edit this message, then paste this new message back into the editor (or whatever) on the mainframe computer. - The Turbo Lightning program can check, and CORRECT my spelling both when I am using Microcomputer programs, and when I am using mainframe programs. It also supplies a thesaurus. Since a lot of my work is documentation, this is very handy. Software Compatiblity: - many programs, such as micro-emacs, gnuplot (graphics program), and others in the public domain come with source code. They can be compiled both on the micro and on the mainframe (as with the above mentioned packages). Combine this with other programs such as CED, which gives VMS style command line editing, and we can have an environment which is very similar on both PCs and the mainframe. An example of how I work: I'm working through the day, logged onto the mainframe computer. I have to make phone calls, so I look up phone numbers in the Sidekick phone book. My second port is connected to a modem, so I can get Sidekick to dial the phone in port two while I'm still logged into the direct line connected to port one. As I go through the day, I use the sidekick calendar to keep track of my time, so I can do my week-end report of projects I've been working on to my supervisor. This can be popped up even while I'm using the terminal emulator. Some user's arrive with questions about using graphics. I start the TEK terminal emulator, look at and solve the problem. I also use the graphics terminal for making overheads for courses I teach. I print the rough drafts on the local graphics printer, then do the final drafts on the mainframe laser printer. Everything I type is being checked for spelling. I can correct spelling on the fly in mail, editing help files, using the VMS PHONE command or the unix TALK or WRITE commands, etc. During the day, I think of things I have to do. I pop up the sidekick notepad, and jot the notes down. I have my startup file on the PC automatically display the "to do" list whenever I boot the micro. During the day, I see a mail message which I want a hardcopy of. Instead of printing on the printer a few buildings over, I press SHIFT-PRTSC and I immediately have a printout available. Another user comes to me with a problem. I type his error log file, which scrolls off the top of the screen. No problem, I press the PGUP key to see the part that scrolled past. A user wants his files stored on an MS-DOS diskette so he can take it home to his computer. I use kermit's file transfer capabilities to download the files for him from his mainframe account. While the mainframe computer is down for maintenance, I use micro- emacs to do some editing work, which I later transfer to the mainframe using KERMIT. I could also be using Turbo Pascal to do programing work, then later transfer it to VAX pascal. You can substitute your favorite languages. Finally, at the end of the day, I log onto the Ultrix system and read news. Since I'm not adept at the editors available on Ultrix, (I'm a VMS hacker), I use the notepad in sidekick to grab a person's article, edit in my own comments locally, then use the "paste" option within sidekick to paste the results back into the news system. This way, I get to use an editor I'm familiar with. In fact, I'm doing this now! Prices (very rough Canadian non-university discounted dollars): Cheap IBM compatible $3000.00 Hayes compatible 1200 baud modem $ 300.00 Printer $1000.00 Kermit free Tek4010 emulator free (soon a part of kermit I hear) Micro-Emacs free Turbo Lightning $ 150.00 Sidekick $ 150.00 ------------------------------------------------- Total $4600.00 This is similar to a DEC-VT241 terminal (I think, I don't buy them) without a printer, and even if a printer was attached, it probably wouldn't do graphics. Conclusions: Personally, I find the PC indispensable (I couldn't spell that, but Lightning caught it). The key is that it isn't just any particular terminal emulation program that makes the PC work. Instead, it is the complete system. The main strength is that the person using the system can tailor a PC to fit specific needs, which is one thing you CANNOT do with a normal terminal. I happen to have a collection of programs (mainly Kermit, Sidekick and Lightning) which works very well together. Another person in the office, using a Vaxmate with Microsoft Windows, has similar capabilities using the Microsoft Windows interface, a vt240 (and VT220) emulator, and the notepad and appointment minder in Windows. In fact, he can do something I wish I could, have more than one vt220 terminal running at the same time, (using windows, DEC's vt220 emulator, and an Ethernet card). Include the networking software for PCs that DEC is supplying, and even file transfer becomes transparent, but that's another story. How many people out there have a workstation which is VT100/tek40xx compatible, has locally definable keyboards, a cut and paste facility for text, long term (disk) memory for large files, screen roll-back, local graphics and text printer support, automatic telephone dialing, a colour screen, and a built in notepad, calendar, calculator, appointment minder, and spelling checker, all for less than $5000 Canadian? I'd gladly suffer with less pretty text if I can get all this in return. Besides, most of the new EGA compatible cards (or similar hi-res cards) are every bit as good in resolution as the IBM-MONO card. Have you seen the AT&T colour monitor, or an IBM EGA monitor, or the Hercules cards, or ... ______________________________________________________________________________ | Kevin Lowey |The above is the personal opinion of Kevin | | University of Saskatchewan |Lowey. It does not reflect the position of| | Computing Services |the University of Saskatchewan in any way. | | SaskTel: (306) 966-4826 | | | Bitnet:LOWEY@SASK. (preferred) |I am in no way affiliated with any of the | | UUCP: ihnp4!sask!lowey.uucp |above mentioned companies other than U of S| |________________________________|___________________________________________|