In <002101bdfb04$2b4f4c20$29e2a1d1@pavilion> [log in to unmask] writes:

> > 1-  Few month ago I started depending on Network Printing successfully >
> connected any printer equipped with an internal or external jetdirect. > At th
> same time I started to experience unexplained system halts when I > try to
> reconnect to the network
>  using the same udc which was in use > before switching to network printing.
> What I managed to find out  is > that a network printer was outputting at the
> time when the network went > down and as soon as I reconnect to the network th
> system halts. I used
>  > OUTFENCE 14 few minutes before bringing the network down and also used >
> STOP, SHUTQ and ABORTIO to isolate specific network printers; it works, >
> reconnected to the network without any problem but this means lots of > work
> that needs operator efforts
>  and accuracy specially when dealing > with huge number of printers. Any
> suggestions to speed up the process or > solve this problem?

The sysfail problem when network printers are active was discussed at length
on the list about a week or two ago... check the archives (I don't recall the
specific recommendations)

> > 2-  Another issue with network printing is that some printers LJ 5si ( >
> possibly not supported ) don't work efficiently when configured as > network
> printers, their speed drops to LJ II level. They use higher > versions of PCL.
> > Any solution?

We use LJ5si's extensively and don't see any speed degradation. There is a
noticeable delay between printouts (and sometimes between banner page(s) and
the printout, but once it starts printing, it hums along pretty well. Much
better, in fact, than some of the PC/NT applications pushing data to the same
printer(s).

> > 3-  All my printers have forms loaded. When used only by HP3000 users > they
> work fine, but when shared with other network users they lose forms > as soon
> as they receive a file from windows based applications. Please > let me know i
> you experienced
>  something like this.

When sharing a printer you have to figure that occasionally someone on another
platform is gonna reset the printer (and possibly overwrite forms in memory).
You/your application needs to take that into account. I know some(?) of the
third party forms-controlling apps check each time they print to ensure that
any downloaded fonts/forms are still resident. Short of that, you should
probably ensure that any needed forms are downloaded for each print job.

We have other problems with shared printers however... We seem to have to
stop/restart the spooler on these "shared" printers several times a day.
Especially if another platform "gets" to the printer between the opening
banner page and the first page of report output.. Terribly annoying and will
probably result in an HPRC call when I get a chance.

                -Chris (remove nospam for replies) Bartram