The first RFC for FTP is RFC 765, from June 1980. It begins: The objectives of FTP are 1) to promote sharing of files (computer programs and/or data), 2) to encourage indirect or implicit (via programs) use of remote computers, 3) to shield a user from variations in file storage systems among Hosts, and 4) to transfer data reliably and efficiently. FTP, though usable directly by a user at a terminal, is designed mainly for use by programs. Note that today there are few "programs" that know how to speak FTP directly, when someone says "FTP this" they almost always mean running the user-types-command-to-a-FTP-client. (Yes, there certainly are some programs that know how to speak FTP, I'm just pointing out that this isn't as common as the originators of the protocol wanted. If anything, it seems to be gaining in popularity as a "built-in" protocol, for example wget will take a ftp: or http: URL quite interchangably.) The user interface for both Kermit and FTP certainly are similar, and that shouldn't be a surprise, since the "big iron" being hooked up to other "big iron" in that day was almost always PDP-10 to PDP-10. Both the Kermit and FTP command styles are descended from the PDP-10 conventions (the TOPS-20 monitor in particular.) -- Tim Shoppa Email: shoppa(a)trailing-edge.com Trailing Edge Technology WWW: http://www.trailing-edge.com/ 7328 Bradley Blvd Voice: 301-767-5917 Bethesda, MD, USA 20817 Fax: 301-767-5927