UUCP `f' Protocol
The `f' protocol is a seven bit protocol which checksums an entire file at a time. It only uses the characters between `\040' and `\176' (ASCII `space' and ` ') inclusive, as well as the carriage return character. It can be very efficient for transferring text only data, but it is very inefficient at transferring eight bit data (such as compressed news). It is not flow controlled, and the checksum is fairly insecure over large files, so using it over a serial connection requires handshaking (XON/XOFF can be used) and error correcting modems. Some people think it should not be used even under those circumstances.
I believe that the `f' protocol originated in BSD versions of UUCP. It was originally intended for transmission over X.25 PAD links.
The `f' protocol has no startup or finish protocol. However, both sides typically sleep for a couple of seconds before starting up, because they switch the terminal into XON/XOFF mode and want to allow the changes to settle before beginning transmission.
When a UUCP package transmits a command, it simply sends a string terminated by a carriage return.
When a UUCP package transmits a file, each byte B of the file is translated according to the following table:
0 <= B <= 037: 0172, B + 0100 (0100 to 0137) 040 <= B <= 0171: B ( 040 to 0171) 0172 <= B <= 0177: 0173, B - 0100 ( 072 to 077) 0200 <= B <= 0237: 0174, B - 0100 (0100 to 0137) 0240 <= B <= 0371: 0175, B - 0200 ( 040 to 0171) 0372 <= B <= 0377: 0176, B - 0300 ( 072 to 077)
That is, a byte between `\040' and `\171' inclusive is transmitted as is, and all other bytes are prefixed and modified as shown.
When all the file data is sent, a seven byte sequence is sent: two bytes of `\176' followed by four ASCII bytes of the checksum as printed in base 16 followed by a carriage return. For example, if the checksum was 0x1234, this would be sent: `\176\1761234\r'.
The checksum is initialized to 0xffff. For each byte that is sent it is modified as follows (where B is the byte before it has been transformed as described above):
/* Rotate the checksum left. */ if ((ichk & 0x8000) == 0) ichk <<= 1; else { ichk <<= 1; ++ichk; }
/* Add the next byte into the checksum. */ ichk += B;
When the receiving UUCP sees the checksum, it compares it against its own calculated checksum and replies with a single character followed by a carriage return.
`G' The file was received correctly.
`R' The checksum did not match, and the file should be resent from the beginning.
`Q' The checksum did not match, but too many retries have occurred and the communication session should be abandoned.
The sending UUCP checks the returned character and acts accordingly.