RFC 205 (rfc205) - Page 1 of 13
NETCRT - a character display protocol
Alternative Format: Original Text Document
Network Working Group R. Braden
Request for Comments: 205 UCLA/CCN
NIC: 7172 6 August 1971
NETCRT - A CHARACTER DISPLAY PROTOCOL
At the May NWG, meeting, CCN circulated dittoed copies of a proposed
character-display protocol NETCRT. Since that time, NETCRT has been
revised significantly; the current version is now being published as
an RFC, as promised last May.
NETCRT was developed because a particular site (RAND) requested
Network access to URSA, CCN's display-based crje system. The primary
use of URSA at UCLA is conversational remote job entry from a display
terminal: entering and editing program text, submitting programs for
batch execution, and examining job output; URSA is not a general-
purpose time-sharing system.
URSA's text editor is designed for a fast updating character display
and cannot be used in any reasonable way from a typewriter-like
console. Therefore, a simple TELNET protocol is not adequate for
using the crje function of URSA. Furthermore, we have assumed that
other ARPA sites will have their own text editors, well matched to
their own terminals and systems. Therefore, CCN has implemented
NETRJS (see RFC #189), to provide remote job submission and retrieval
services, before implementing NETCRT.
There are a number of other functions in URSA besides crje; some of
these would probably be useful to remote users. URSA contains a
comprehensive STATus service, whose constantly-updating displays are
"windows" into the operation of the machine and the operating system,
allowing a user to watch the progress of his jobs through the system.
URSA also includes on-line data set (file) utilities, convenient for
a user with files stored at CCN. To obtain access to these
facilities, a few sites which use CCN heavily may want to implement
NETCRT. The schedule for implementation of NETCRT at CCN to allow
Network access to URSA will depend upon the existence of a user site
that wants the service and that will write a suitable NETCRT user
process. Interested sites are urged to contact the CCN Technical
Liaison, Bob Braden.
Even though the implementation schedule for NETCRT is nebulous, we
are publishing the specs now for several reasons. First, we would
like comments and criticisms. Furthermore, NETCRT contains some
features which may be useful in the protocol(s) now being developed
for full graphical displays.
Braden
