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AFTP:  APPC File Transfer Protocol

Note: This has been written as if everything was completed and
available.  See the Development Schedule for the delivery time frame.

WHAT IS AFTP?

AFTP enables users to perform file transfers across a network between
heterogeneous computers.  You can use AFTP to transfer files between any
platforms that support the APPC protocol.  In addition to file transfer,
AFTP also provides a number of other functions, including directory
listing and file manipulation (e.g., delete, rename).


AFTP IN A WORLD OF FILE TRANSFER

AFTP was designed to provide better functionality, performance, and
usability than IND$FILE, ALMCOPY, or TCP/IP's FTP program.  It is not
meant to support every form of file representation in its native form or
every form of data translation.  We believe that a fraction of the
funciton solves 99% of the file transfer problems.  Thus, AFTP's focus
is on fast, efficient transfer of text and binary files.


AFTP AS A STANDARD APPLICATION

AFTP was designed to be the file transfer standard for APPC in the same
way that IND$FILE is the standard for LU2 and FTP is the standard for
TCP/IP.  AFTP can be supported on most APPC platforms, both IBM and
non-IBM.

To facilitate its adoption as a standard application, AFTP was written
to be as portable as possible.  The communications portions use CPI-C
(Common Programming Interface for Communications).  CPI-C is supported
on many platforms, including both IBM and non-IBM operating systems.
Platform independence was achieved by implementing AFTP in portable ANSI
C code.  All platform specific code is clearly documented and separated.
As a result, it is very easy to port AFTP to a new operating system.


WHAT ARE THE AFTP DELIVERABLES?

AFTP provides:
 - A command line file transfer program: ACOPY
     Provides quick access to the file transfer functions and can be
     invoked from a batch file.
 - An interactive user interface: AFTP
     Allows the user to enter a dialog with the remote AFTP server,
     issue commands, and see the results.  This program was modelled
     after the TCP/IP FTP program.
 - A PM program: PMAFTP (OS/2 2.0 only)
     Provides a graphical user interface to the file transfer program.
     Also enables the user to drag-and-drop files to and from the OS/2
     desktop.
 - An application programming interface
     Allows you to imbed the AFTP file capabilities directly into your
     own application.  Bindings are provided for a variety of languages.
     The C language, COBOL, and REXX will be supported initially.


WHAT PLATFORMS ARE SUPPORTED?

APPC Market Enablement currently supports AFTP on OS/2, DOS, and VM.
We are working with IBM and non-IBM products to get AFTP running
on most APPC platforms by the beginning of 1994.


WHERE CAN YOU GET AFTP?

The AFTP program executables and programming libraries are available on
CompuServe in the APPC forum, on the OS/2 BBS, and on the CPI-C CD-ROM.
Within IBM, AFTP is available on MKTTOOLS and OS2TOOLS.

See below for the anticipated distribution dates.


WHAT IS THE DEVELOPMENT SCHEDULE?  (it's really NOT all done yet!)

Prototypes up and running:  2/22/93
Preliminary Spec available: 3/11/93
  via anonymous ftp:
    ibmstandards.cary.ibm.com
    login as anonymous
    in /pub/cpic/aftp
       postscript and ascii text available
Beta available within IBM:  4/05/93
Available externally:       5/15/93


NEED MORE INFO?

Contact:

  Peter J. Schwaller
  VNET:       PJS at RALVM6           Tie Line: 444-4376
  Internet:   pjs@vnet.ibm.com            (919) 254-4376
  CompuServe: 76711,371

  Linda S. Bonanno
  VNET:       LBONANNO at RALVM6      Tie Line: 444-0907
  Internet:   lbonanno@vnet.ibm.com       (919) 254-0907