Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!csd4.milw.wisc.edu!bionet!agate!ucbvax!IU.AI.SRI.COM!KASHTAN
From: KASHTAN@IU.AI.SRI.COM (David L. Kashtan)
Newsgroups: comp.protocols.tcp-ip
Subject: While we are debating extensions to the FTP spec...
Message-ID: <602315349.0.KASHTAN@IU.AI.SRI.COM>
Date: 1 Feb 89 05:49:09 GMT
Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU
Organization: The Internet
Lines: 21

While we are fighting about STRU VMS, I would like to propose another FTP
extension (and this one I WOULD like to make interoperable with other vendor
FTPs).  We have implemented in our FTP for VMS a non-standard mode
"LZ-COMPRESS" which places an adaptive L-Z data compression module between
FTP (both client and server) and the network.  Why do this you ask??  Well,
there are some sites that are connected to the internet by VERY slow
communication paths (my particular concern was a machine that had effectively
a 4800 baud communication path).  Now L-Z compression usually gets between
50% and 80% data compression (depending on the how structured the data is).
So by turning on MODE LZ we typically see 8Kbaud to 32Kbaud transfer rates
on this pitiful line (which actually makes the line quite usable).

So, I am proposing a new transfer mode LZ in which the data on the data
connection is in L-Z form.  Now if you want to have a specific "MODE LZ"
or want a sub-mode of the already specified FTP compress mode is fine with
me -- but I WOULD very much like to be able take advantage of this most
useful transfer mode when communicating with machines that don't have
our software.

David
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