File:  APPHINTS.TXT                                     Date:  20 Mar 1995


          This file discusses some ethernet-based DOS applications
        that have been tested with PPPPKT, including comments on
        performance, quirks and critical configuration parameters
        to set.  It is possible to put together a relatively nice
        suite of free- or share-ware applications which work quite
        well with PPPPKT by selecting the best items from below.

          Undoubtedly users will find other applications which
        work, and will find ways to improve upon the performance
        discussed here.  The author would be interested to hear of
        such developments, for possible inclusion in future
        editions of this file.

          Each package is listed with an anonymous ftp source, its
        executable files with a brief comment, and finally some
        general comments and specific hints.  The comments apply in
        the context of use with PPPPKT.  In many cases they are
        based on rather limited testing.  Noted problems are not
        intended to inflame.  Obviously the performance on true
        ethernet is bug-free.


MS-Kermit 3.14  (telnet, scripted dialing)
==============

Source:  kermit.columbia.edu:/kermit/bin/msvibm.exe
                                    /a/msr314.pch

    230272   1-18-95   4:29p  kermit.exe        good

  Works very well; response times are fast.  (Will not get started with old
PPPPKT ver. 0.50.)  Here is a sample configuration file's TCP/IP section (use
IP numbers appropriate to your situation):

;--------
  set tcp/ip address NN.NN.NN.NN                  ; <ip#>
  set tcp/ip subnetmask 255.MM.MM.0               ; <mask>
  set tcp/ip domain machine.organization.country
  set tcp/ip gateway GG.GG.GG.GG                  ; <gateway>
  set tcp/ip primary-nameserver N1.N1.N1.N1
  set tcp/ip secondary-nameserver N2.N2.N2.N2
  set tcp/ip broadcast 255.255.255.255
  set tcp/ip Packet-Driver-interrupt \x60         ; <vector>
  set tcp/ip newline-mode on
  set tcp/ip debug-Options off
  set tcp/ip host HH.HH.HH.HH                     ; preferred default host
  
  set port tcp/ip
  
  def session set port tcp \%1, con
  
  ; TELNET macro, and macros for telnetting to particular hosts
  ; using appropriate terminal type.
  ;   \%1 = IP host name or address
  ;   \%2 = TCP port (optional, default is 23)
  ;   \%3 = terminal type (optional)
  ;
  define telnet -
    set flow none,-
    set port tcp \%1 \%2,-
    if def \%3 set term type \%3,-
    pause 0, if fail end 1, connect       ; pause will start connection
  
  set window 4
;--------


NCSAPPP Package  (telnet, ftp, finger, lp*)
===============

Source:  ftp.demon.co.uk:/pub/ibmpc/ncsa/ncsappp.zip

    101919   3-06-92  11:44a  finger.exe        ok
    143175   3-06-92  11:45a  ftpbin.exe        unreliable
    101315   3-06-92  11:45a  lpq.exe           ok
    105473   3-06-92  11:45a  lpr.exe           very slow
    101059   3-06-92  11:45a  lprm.exe          ?
    214709   3-06-92  11:45a  telbin.exe        best
    247552   3-13-92   1:53p  tn3270.exe        no go

  The telnet application (telbin) is also quite good in terms of response
time, provided you make the "retrans=" parameter *small* enough, say 5 or less
ticks.  The feeding of <CR>'s is a bit quirky.  The ftp server built into
telbin gives quite good performance for downloads, while uploads are ok but
too slow.

  This configuration file is possibly the hardest to set up properly.
Note that you can use  myip=RARP .  The following parameters work for me:

;--------
  arptime=2                       # arp timeout in seconds [ticks? this ver.]
  domainretry=4
  domaintime=20
  contime=270                     # timeout in ticks ?? to try connection
                                  #   before returning error to user
  retrans=5                       # starting retransmit time out in ticks
                                  #   1/18ths of sec
  mtu=1024                        # maximum transmit unit in bytes
                                  #   outgoing packet size, MAX=1024
  maxseg=1024                     # largest segment we can receive
                                  #   whatever the hardware can take, MAX=2048
  rwin=4096                       # most bytes we can receive without ACK
                                  #   =TCP window size, MAX=4096
                                  #   larger isn't always better
;--------


NCSA Telnet 2.3.08  (telnet, ftp, finger, lp*, etc.)
==================

Source:  ftp.ncsa.uiuc.edu:/PC/DOS/Telnet/tel2308b.zip

         oak.oakland.edu:/SimTel/msdos/ncsatlnt/tel2308b.zip
                                                tel23doc.zip

     99344  11-05-94   4:07p  finger.exe        ok
    168700  11-05-94   3:51p  ftpbin.exe        slowish
     98804  11-05-94   4:12p  lpq.exe           ok
    103728  11-05-94   4:12p  lpr.exe           very slow
     98228  11-05-94   4:12p  lprm.exe          ok
     97898  11-05-94   4:02p  net14.exe         ?
    100596  11-05-94   4:24p  rexec.exe         ok
    100616  11-05-94   4:29p  rsh.exe           ok
    101050  11-05-94   3:56p  setclock.exe      ok
    274434  11-05-94   3:45p  telbin.exe        slow
    202574  11-05-94   4:48p  telpkt.exe        slow
     98890  11-05-94   4:34p  whois.exe         ok

  The ftp application (ftpbin) is steady but unspectacular on downloads;
uploads crawl.  This telbin (or telpkt) gives me about 7 seconds delay in
echoing characters back to the session -- molasses!  However, the ftp service
built in to the telnet programs can work very well, including uploads
(although they sometimes end up slowing to a crawl).


WATTCP (ftp, many utilities, telnet daemon)
======

Source:  dorm.rutgers.edu:/pub/msdos/wattcp/apps.zip
                                            telnetd.zip
         oak.oakland.edu:/pub/msdos/pktdrvr/telnetd.zip

     46272   9-15-94   4:09p  cookie.exe        ?
     46048   9-15-94   4:08p  daytime.exe       ok
     54240   9-15-94   4:08p  finger.exe        times out too quick
    188800   9-15-94   4:19p  ftp.exe           best
     46800   9-15-94   4:09p  lpq.exe           ok
     66144   9-15-94   4:08p  lpr.exe           ?
     50528   9-15-94   4:09p  ntime.exe         ?
     52016   9-15-94   4:09p  ph.exe            ok
     50208   9-15-94   4:08p  ping.exe          best
     56352   9-15-94   4:09p  popdump.exe       ok
     54288   9-15-94   4:09p  rexec.exe         ?
     52128   9-15-94   4:09p  tcpinfo.exe       ?
     76320   9-15-94   4:09p  tcpport.exe       ?
     51152   9-15-94   4:09p  tcptalk.exe       no go

  The ftp program is the best I've found for direct downloads to the PC.  It
downloads files very quickly, though the connection can time out unexpectedly.
To avoid this it helps to set "SOCKDELAY=60" in WATTCP.CFG.  Unfortunately, on
uploads it becomes slower and slower so as to make it useless for all but the
smallest of files.
  Cautions: - popdump will delete the mail on the server.
            - telnetd reportedly reboots the PC on exit.


NCSA/Univ. Port Elizabeth Telnet 2.3.07.04  (ping, hopchk, nslookup)
==========================================

Source:  ftp.upe.ac.za:/pub/msdos/ncsa/tel23074.zip

     80204   9-15-94   8:48p  finger.exe        unreliable
    133006   9-15-94   8:48p  ftpbin.exe        slow
     97304   9-15-94   8:49p  hopchk.exe        good
     81296   9-15-94   8:49p  netstat.exe       no go
     78660   9-15-94   8:49p  nslookup.exe      ok
     97410   9-15-94   8:49p  ping.exe          unreliable
    268966   9-15-94   8:47p  telbin.exe        slow
      9088   2-27-94  10:34p  packetid.exe      (ok)

  The main programs telbin and ftpbin are pokey, similar to version 2.3.08,
but some of the other utilities are quite useful.


NUPOP 2.1 alpha 18 (new Post Office Protocol mail, gopher, finger, etc.)
==================

Source:  ftp.acns.nwu.edu:/pub/nupop/nupoppro.zip
                                     nupopsch.zip
                                     nupopsup.zip
                          /pub/nupop/nupop210_test_release/nupop210.zip

    784896   3-17-94  10:43p  nupop.exe         ok
     64984   1-16-94   5:48p  nutcpwat.exe      ok

  nupop seems to collect mail ok, although a bit slowly, and most of the
built-in utilities work, with the exception of telnet which dies miserably.
But it works well for nutcpwat.  In either case, testing of the connection is
flawless.  It appears crucial to set the "Retransmit Timeout" parameter to a
*small* enough value, say 2 (ticks or seconds, the documentation is
ambiguous).


Trumpet News  (NNTP newsreader)
============

Source:  oak.oakland.edu:/SimTel/msdos/pktdrvr/trmp106b.zip

    201264   9-07-93   5:50p  news.exe          ok
    237056   9-07-93   5:49p  newsdpmi.exe      ok

  newsdpmi will use expanded memory, so is preferred.


Trumpet IRC 1.01  (Internet Relay Chat)
================

Source:  cs.bu.edu:/irc/clients/msdos/irc101.zip

    136608  11-07-93   0:35a  irc101.exe        ok

  Hey all, it works!!!!!!!!!! ... but the LAG :-(


TALK-13  (talk)
=======

Source:  oak.oakland.edu:/SimTel/msdos/pktdrvr/talk-13.zip

     47890   4-05-94   9:16p  talk.exe          ok

  Works fairly well (occasionally claims to "give up" but connects anyway).


PC Gopher III 1.12  (gopher)
==================

Source:  boombox.micro.umn.edu:/pub/gopher/PC_client/pcg3bin.zip
                                                     pcg3doc.zip

    306563   8-09-93   9:47a  gopher.exe        ok
  
  In this case, it's critical to set the Retransmit Timeout *large* enough,
say 30 seconds.  Not real fast.


DOSLYNX 0.8a  (lynx Word Wide Web browser)
============

Source:  ftp2.cc.ukans.edu:/pub/WWW/DosLynx/DLX0_8A.EXE

    534640   8-11-94  10:38a  doslynx.exe       ok?

  This requires some patience waiting through numerous "ICMP:  Port
Unreachable" messages while connecting to a given site.  Once connected it
seems to work.


CUTCP ARCHIE 2.2TN/TC-E  (archie)
=======================

Source:  nic.switch.ch:/mirror/msdos/lan/archie.zip

    129984   1-27-92  10:18a  archie.exe        ok?

  Works some of the time.


GS 1.1 (gopher server)
======

Source:  dorm.rutgers.edu:/pub/msdos/wattcp/gophserv.zip

     45174   9-15-94   9:08a  gs.exe            ok?

  Works some of the time.


KA9Q / NOS 2.16  (telnet, ftp, finger, ping, bbs, etc.)
===============

Source:  ftp.demon.co.uk:/pub/ibmpc/DIS/dis216b.exe
                                        nos215.zip

    414726   3-23-94   3:14p  net.exe           cement

  Haven't got this to do much more than connect.  Performance unacceptable 
over PPPPKT.


PKTMUX  (packet multiplexer)
======

Source:  oak.oakland.edu:/SimTel/msdos/pktdrvr/pktmx12h.zip

  Useful for running simultaneous applications over a single packet driver in
a multitasking environment.

