KERMIT is a
file transfer protocol developed at
Columbia University. It was named after Kermit the
frog, one of
Jim Henson's popular muppets. KERMIT uses seven or eight data bits per character. The protocol is designed to
convert the eighth bit by stripping it and prefixing the resulting character with another character. Doing so enables
operating systems that cannot support
eight-bit data characters or certain
ASCII control characters to support
file transfers in which those characters are disguised.
KERMIT is however 10-20% less efficient than the XMODEM protocol, and should only be used for accessing computers that cannot handle eight-bit characters.