RFC 327 (rfc327) - Page 2 of 5
Data and File Transfer workshop notes
Alternative Format: Original Text Document
RFC 327 Data and File Transfer Workshop Notes April 1972 Richard Winter discussed the Datacomputer application. The Datacomputer though usable from terminals directly will not be engineered for direct terminal users, but for use by programs. In Datalanguage a user can define data and file structure, and also how the file/data is to be transferred. Using the data language it is possible to transfer entire files, or only the relevant parts of files. The following is an example of file transfer as currently envisioned in the Datacomputer. LOGINCREATE CREATE PORT = (for transfer to Datacomputer) = (for transfer from Datacomputer) LOGOUT (CREATE statements are needed only when the description(s) required are not already on file at the Datacomputer. A port description can specify a standard "external name", thus making a port statement optional also. "External name" is to be a HOST-socket specification. The data transfer is to be in accordance with network data transfer standards. The File and Port descriptions are to be in Datalanguage.) Alex McKenzie discussed the TIP user needs, describing the current capabilities and limitations of TIPs and TIP terminals. TELNET format is the first choice of TIP users, followed by DTP using the indefinite bit stream mode. There are two TIPs with magnetic tape systems which are capable of transferring data between them using the current DTP (RFC 264) in the descriptor count mode (utilizing sequence number option). Bob Braden discussed the RJS protocol and presented some data on RJS use. NETRJS is 1% of CCN job load representing 2,000 jobs, 10,000 sessions and 1,000 hours connect time in the last 5 months. Average job input is of the order of 100,000 bits (400 cards), average job output is 700,000 bits (1,000 lines). Large files have about 10 million bits representing about 8-10 minutes of transmission time. The RJS protocol will be defined in a forthcoming document. Ray Tomlinson described the CPYNET system BBN is using to transfer files among TENEX systems. CPYNET commands are ASCII strings with a fixed syntax. The original connection is closed after a command is accepted, and data is transferred on a new connection using previous socket number, but with possibly a different byte size. The data transfer rate achieved in CPYNET has been about 10 Kb/s. Bhushan



