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BLAST

BLAST - Features

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BLAST for DOS
BHOST
BLAST UNIX Professional
BLAST UNIX Workstation

BLAST Data Pump
BLAST for VMS
Warranty Information

BLAST for DOS

Summary

BLAST Professional DOS brings easy-to-use, high-performance, error-free session serial communications to the DOS PC world. BLAST Professional DOS features the BLAST error-free session protocol, a suite of terminal emulators, and an extensive scripting language.

BLAST Professional DOS provides an easy-to-use interface for interactive operations. Additionally, BLAST can run in background mode as a communications tool for other applications.

Documentation

Each BLAST Professional DOS product is issued with one user manual, a quick reference card, a quick start guide and one BHOST user manual.

File Transfer Protocols
BLAST Protocol XMODEM
KERMIT YMODEM
YMODEM-G ZMODEM

Emulators
* DEC VT320/220/100/52 * HP 2392
* WYSE 60/50 * IBM 3101
* PC ANSI Color * Ampex D80
* ADM3A * DG D461 /411 /410/200
* TV920 * TTY
* Hot keys allow creation of keyboard macros.

BHOST

Includes BHOST, the remote host program for DOS that allows you to run both ends of your connection without having to purchase additional software.

Remote Control

BLAST Professional for DOS supports remote control of another PC through a memory-resident module, BHOST. BHOST is supplied on separate media for installation on a remote machine. Additional copies of BHOST can be licensed separately.

Powerful Scripting Language

Easy enough for non-programmers, yet powerful enough for professionals, BLASTscript language allows:

  • Automation of frequently performed tasks
  • Unattended polling of remote sites through the supplied autopoll script.
  • Linking communications into your application
  • Automated dialing and logon sequences

Connections

BLAST Professional DOS provides connectivity through RS-232 serial ports. TCP/ip services TELNET and FTP are also supported.

Technical Specifications

BLAST Professional for DOS runs on PC's with Intel and compatible 80286, 80386, 80486 and Pentium processors. BLAST Professional for DOS is compatible with MS-DOS 3.2 and forward. BLAST Professional for DOS runs in a DOS window on Windows-3.1, Windows-95 and Windows-NT.

BLAST requires approximately 450K of RAM to execute and 1.3 MB of of disk storage.

Features and Benefits

  • Uses any RS-232 connection including: dial-up modems, ISDN, X.25, hardwire, and satellite circuits.
  • BLAST includes an easy-to-use scripting language for automating communication tasks.
  • The BLAST Protocol guarantees 100% error-free transfers.
  • The BLAST Protocol supports six levels of on-the-fly data compression.
  • A suite of sample scripts, including our own Autopoll script, are supplied to help new script programmers learn by example.
  • BLAST speeds transmissions with the BLAST bi-directional file transfer protocol.


Product Index

   
BHOST

Summary

BHOST is the BLAST remote host program for DOS based PCs. BHOST is designed to run in the background and monitor serial port activity. BHOST provides login, terminal access, BLAST file transfer and remote control capability when a serial connection is established.

Please note, BHOST provides no dialing capabilities. BHOST is strictly a dial-in, host-mode product.

BHOST provides a variety of services to the dial-in user.

  • BHOST provides terminal access to any type of terminal emulation software that connects to the BHOST machine.
  • BHOST provides BLAST file transfer capability to any machine running BLAST software.
  • BHOST provides remote control to any machine running BLAST Professional for DOS or BLAST Professional Unix.

BHOST is ideally used where dial-up access to an unattended PC is required.

Documentation

Each BHOST product is issued with one user manual.

File Transfer Protocols

BHOST supports the BLAST File Transfer Protocol.

Emulators

BHOST is a host-mode product. It supports no terminal emulators.

Licensing

One copy of BHOST is included with each copy of BLAST Professional for DOS. Additional copies of BHOST can be licensed separately.

Connections

BHOST provides connectivity through RS-232 serial ports.

Technical Specifications

BHOST runs on PC's with Intel and compatible 80286, 80386, 80486 and Pentium processors. BHOST is compatible with MS-DOS 3.2 and forward. BHOST runs in a DOS window on Windows-3.1, Windows-95 and Windows-NT.


Product Index

   
BLAST UNIX Professional

Summary

BLAST Professional Unix brings easy-to-use, high-performance, error-free session serial communications to the PC Unix Workstation/Server world. BLAST Professional Unix features the BLAST error-free session protocol, a suite of terminal emulators, and an extensive scripting language.

BLAST Professional Unix provides an easy-to-use interface for interactive operations. Additionally, BLAST can run in background mode as a communications tool for other applications.

Documentation

Each BLAST Professional Unix product is issued with one user manual, a quick reference card and a quick start guide.

File Transfer Protocols
BLAST Protocol XMODEM
KERMIT YMODEM
YMODEM-G ZMODEM

Emulators
* DEC VT320/220/100/52 * WYSE 60/50
* PC ANSI Color * Ampex D80
* ADM3A * TTY
* TV920 * Hot keys allow creation of keyboard macros.

Remote Control

BLAST Professional Unix supports remote control of PCs running DOS through a memory-resident module, BHOST running on the DOS PC. BHOST is licensed separately.

Powerful Scripting Language

Easy enough for non-programmers, yet powerful enough for professionals, BLASTscript language allows:

  • Automation of frequently performed tasks
  • Unattended polling of remote sites through the supplied autopoll script.
  • Linking communications into your application
  • Automated dialing and logon sequences

Connections

BLAST Professional Unix provides connectivity through RS-232 serial ports. TCP/ip TELNET service is also supported.

Technical Specifications

BLAST Professional Unix runs on the following Unix systems:

* SCO Unix 3.2-4.2
* SCO Unix Open Server 5

Features and Benefits

  • Uses any RS-232 connection including: dial-up modems, ISDN, X.25, hardwire, and satellite circuits.
  • BLAST includes an easy-to-use scripting language for automating communication tasks.
  • The BLAST Protocol guarantees 100% error-free transfers.
  • The BLAST Protocol supports six levels of on-the-fly data compression.
  • A suite of sample scripts, including our own Autopoll script, are supplied to help new script programmers learn by example.
  • BLAST speeds transmissions with the BLAST bi-directional file transfer protocol.


Product Index

   
BLAST UNIX Workstation 10.8.1

Summary

BLAST Professional Workstation brings easy-to-use, high-performance, error-free session serial communications to the Unix Workstation/Server world. BLAST Professional Workstation features the BLAST error-free session protocol, TTY and pass-through emulators, and an extensive scripting language.

BLAST Professional Workstation provides an easy-to-use interface for interactive operations. Additionally, BLAST can run in background mode as a communications tool for other applications.

Documentation

Each BLAST Professional Workstation product is issued with one user manual, and an installation guide.

File Transfer Protocols
BLAST Protocol XMODEM
KERMIT YMODEM
YMODEM-G ZMODEM
FTP

Emulators

In addition to TTY emulation, BLAST Professional Workstation supports pass-through mode. In pass-through mode, all terminal control sequences will be passed unfiltered to the controlling terminal for fast, accurate displays.

Powerful Scripting Language

Easy enough for non-programmers, yet powerful enough for professionals, BLASTscript language allows:

  • Automation of frequently performed tasks
  • Unattended polling of remote sites through the supplied autopoll script.
  • Linking communications into your application
  • Automated dialing and logon sequences
  • Scripted FTP transfers

Connections

BLAST Professional Workstation provides connectivity through RS-232 serial ports. TCP/ip FTP and TELNET services are also supported.

Technical Specifications

BLAST Professional Workstation runs on the following Unix systems:

* Data General Aviion - DG-UX based on Motorola 88K and x86 processors
* Compaq - Tru64 Unix based on Alpha processors Not yet released
* Hewlett Packard HP-9000 - HP/UX based on PA-RISC processors
* IBM RS/6000 - AIX based on RS/6000 and Power PC processors
* Linux - Redhat 5.1, SuSE 6.1, Caldera OpenLinux 2.2 based on x86 processors
* SCO - Open Server 5 based on x86 processors
* SCO - UnixWare 7 based on x86 processors
* SGI - IRIX based on MIPS processors Not yet released
* SUN - Solaris 2 based on SPARC and x86 processors

Features and Benefits

  • Uses any RS-232 connection including: dial-up modems, ISDN, X.25, hardwire, and satellite circuits.
  • BLAST includes an easy-to-use scripting language for automating communication tasks.
  • The BLAST Protocol guarantees 100% error-free transfers.
  • The BLAST Protocol supports six levels of on-the-fly data compression.
  • A suite of sample scripts, including our own Autopoll script, are supplied to help new script programmers learn by example.
  • BLAST speeds transmissions with the BLAST bi-directional file transfer protocol.


Product Index

 
BLAST Data Pump

BLAST Data Pump brings easy-to-use, high-performance file transfer automation to the 32-bit MS-Windows world. BLAST Data Pump features the BLAST error-free session protocol, FTP, and XMODEM wrapped by the powerful BLASTscript language to facilitate automation of file transfers over both serial and network connections.

Powerful File Transfer Automation Tool

BLAST Data Pump is a file transfer automation tool. Created for hands-off, non-interactive usage, the Data Pump is made to be integrated into other applications to provide file transfer services. However, unlike a communication library, the Data Pump is simply called by your application, not linked into your application.

The BLAST Error-Free Session Protocol

The BLAST protocol transfers files and executes remote commands over both network and serial connections. Error-free delivery of data is assured by a sophisticated cyclical-redundancy-check algorithm. If network errors or loss of a serial connection cause a file transfer to be interrupted, the BLAST protocol uses its error detection capabilities to restart the transmission from the point of interruption, thus saving time and money. BLAST is a full-duplex protocol, which enables bi-directional file transfer. Unlike public domain file transfer protocols, the BLAST protocol uses the full bandwidth of your modem. The sliding window design allows constant streaming of data to either a serial or network connection, resulting in faster performance than other protocols. Because BLAST is a session protocol, it can transmit messages and perform remote system commands even while files are being transmitted. Supported system commands include File Rename and Delete, along with Remote Print and Change Directory.

FTP Automation

Data Pump supports FTP and provides a simple means of automating FTP transfers. With the BLASTscript language, users easily connect to multiple sites, transfer files, and check for interruptions and other errors using FTP.

Data Pump Viewer

Although designed for hands-off, non-interactive use, the Data Pump provides the Data Pump Viewer. The Viewer is a GUI-based application designed to help debug a file transfer task. It has a terminal viewer, script viewer, and log viewer.

Scripting

Easy enough for non-programmers, yet powerful enough for professionals, BLASTscript language allows:

  • Automation of regularly performed file transfer tasks
  • Unattended polling of remote sites through the supplied Autopoll script.
  • Automated modem initialization and dialing.
  • Automated logon procedures for many multi-user systems.
Technical Specifications

  • Runs on any 486 or higher computer capable of supporting Windows 95 or Windows NT.
  • Is a 32-bit, threaded application supporting dial-up serial communications and TCP/IP services through WinSock.
  • Requires approximately 4.5 MB of disk space.
  • Ships with documentation in HTML format.
  • Includes Netscape Navigator for browsing on-line documentation.
  • Ships on CD-ROM.
Licensing

Data Pump is licensed in the following ways:

  • Single User License - For an individual user on a machine.
  • Application Server License - Installation on a LAN Application Server on which multiple users login either directly or via remote access software. Data Pump software executes on the application server machine.
  • Network File Server License - Installation on a LAN File Server usage by an unlimited number of users attached to the LAN. Data Pump application executes on client machine.
Technical Support

Licensed BLAST users may call technical support at 919-542-3007 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. (Eastern Time), Monday through Friday, for assistance from our support staff. A variety of maintenance and support plans are available from BLAST, Inc. Please contact your sales representative at 800-242-5278 for more information.

Connections and Protocols

  • Connects to any RS-232 device, including dial-up modems, ISDN terminal adaptors, X.25 PADs, and satellite circuits giving you flexibility in the type of serial connection you can make.
  • Uses WinSock TCP/IP networking connectivity. 32-bit application provides robust MS Windows 95 and Windows NT support. Threaded application provides a high level of memory efficiency allowing many concurrent sessions.
  • Supports the BLAST error-free session protocol, guaranteeing efficient delivery of data over both network and serial connections.
  • Provides an FTP client for network-based communications.
  • Supports XMODEM for communications with machines that do not support BLAST or FTP.


Product Index

   
BLAST for VMS

Summary

BLAST Professional VMS brings easy-to-use, high-performance, error-free session serial communications to the VAX/VMS and Alpha VMS world. BLAST Professional VMS features the BLAST error-free session protocol, TTY and pass-through emulators, and an extensive scripting language.

BLAST Professional VMS provides an easy-to-use interface for interactive operations. Additionally, BLAST can run in background mode as a communications tool for other applications.

Documentation

Each BLAST Professional VMS product is issued with one user manual, a quick reference card and a quick start guide.

File Transfer Protocols
BLAST Protocol XMODEM
KERMIT YMODEM
YMODEM-G ZMODEM

Emulators

In addition to TTY emulation, BLAST Professional VMS supports pass-through mode. In pass-through mode, all terminal control sequences will be passed unfiltered to the controlling terminal for fast, accurate displays.

Powerful Scripting Language

Easy enough for non-programmers, yet powerful enough for professionals, BLASTscript language allows:

  • Automation of frequently performed tasks
  • Unattended polling of remote sites through the supplied autopoll script.
  • Linking communications into your application
  • Automated dialing and logon sequences
Connections

BLAST Professional VMS provides connectivity through RS-232 serial ports.

Technical Specifications

BLAST Professional VMS runs on the following systems:

  • DEC VAX running VMS 5.4 and later.
  • DEC Alpha running VMS 6.0 and later.

Features and Benefits

  • Uses any RS-232 connection including: dial-up modems, ISDN, X.25, hardwire, and satellite circuits.
  • BLAST includes an easy-to-use scripting language for automating communication tasks.
  • The BLAST Protocol guarantees 100% error-free transfers.
  • The BLAST Protocol supports six levels of on-the-fly data compression.
  • A suite of sample scripts, including our own Autopoll script, are supplied to help new script programmers learn by example.
  • BLAST speeds transmissions with the BLAST bi-directional file transfer protocol.


Product Index

   
Warranty Information
  BLAST is licensed on a per-CPU basis and comes with a 90-day warranty.


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