Installing Kermit on TOPS-10

[Jeremy Doolin]

Hey all,

I have a working TOPS-10 7.04 system running, trying to get MUD1 going, using the instructions on Quentin's Blog (https://www.quentin.org.uk/category/retro-computing/). 

He mentions using Kermit to transfer the MUD1 source, and this has let me down another fun rabbit hole: installing Kermit, as this install does not seem to have it. I have a BACKUP tap file of K10MIT, but I'm really not sure how to install it. Do I need to create a new PPN for it before restoring, or can I install it in [1,2]? I wouldn't say no to detailed instructions, as I'm still getting a feel for TOPS-10. 

Also, is there a way to list the MFD?

Thanks!

Jeremy

[Noah Smith]

Hi Jeremy, I was installing and using Kermit on TOPS-10 back in late 2024. In early 2025 switched to using tape files instead, and have forgotten many Kermit details since then, but can point toward the following in case they help

https://github.com/decwarorg/utexas/blob/main/simh/kermit.do - simh script that installs kermit from tape. Thanks to Rich Cornwell for this.

https://github.com/decwarorg/history/blob/main/technical/notes/sec2-kermit.md - notes from when had that working

Ahha, and should point toward the mothership - Rich Cornwell's website https://sky-visions.com/dec/tops10.shtml 

Cheers,

Noah

[jeff gunter]

In tops10 you can list the mfd(s) by using the knowledge that it’s ppn is
1,1

Try using “dir mfd:” because mfd is usually an ersatz device defined as
“ssl:[1,1]”.

Also you can do it without an ersatz device by saying such things as DIR
DSKB:[1,1] or DIR ALL:[1,1]

DIR command is short for DIRECT which runs the DIRECT program from SYS:. So
you can use any direct switches like /f and or /w etc.

-jfg

------ Original Message ------
Received: 11:37 PM EDT, 06/04/2026
From: Jeremy Doolin <jdo...@gmail.com>
To: PiDP-10 <pid...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: [pidp-10] Installing Kermit on TOPS-10

> Hey all,
>
> I have a working TOPS-10 7.04 system running, trying to get MUD1 going,
> using the instructions on Quentin's Blog
> (https://www.quentin.org.uk/category/retro-computing/).
>
> He mentions using Kermit to transfer the MUD1 source, and this has let me
> down another fun rabbit hole: installing Kermit, as this install does not
> seem to have it. I have a BACKUP tap file of K10MIT, but I'm really not
> sure how to install it. Do I need to create a new PPN for it before
> restoring, or can I install it in [1,2]? I wouldn't say no to detailed
> instructions, as I'm still getting a feel for TOPS-10.
>
> Also, is there a way to list the MFD?
>
> Thanks!
>
> Jeremy
>

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