>We have a need, due to application limitations, to define quite a few
>printer devices which don't exist.  (We use NBSPOOL to move those reports
>to real network printers.)  We have defined printers on all the empty
>ports on both our DTC's and on our HP-IB card.  Can we define a "SCSI"
>printer on the SCSI card (never heard of a SCSI printer)?  Can we define
>DTC cards which aren't there and assign printers to those ports?  How
>about defining other interfaces (HP-IB, HP-FL) which aren't there?
>--
>
>Glenn A. Mitchell               [log in to unmask] or
>Director, Computer Technology   [log in to unmask]
>Maine Medical Center            (207) 871-2409
>Portland, ME  04101
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Glenn,
 
   I think there is an easier solution to your problem.  I also use
NBSpool, and had a similar problem configuring more devices than ports.
 I found out that there is a neat trick you can use to resolve this
problem...  Configure a non-existant DTC into the system, with
non-existant Cards.  It's been a while, so I'm not sure I have the
steps below in the right order, but they should demonstrate what I mean.
 
  From NMMGR:
     Create meaningful profile names.  (I use "NetBase" and "LanPrint")
     Within these profiles, the only meaningful information is the
Device Class Name.
     Make sure the Device Class Name matches the Profile Name for simplicity.
     Select "Go To Classes".
     Type names for any printers you wish to configure for that profile name.
 
   At this point, you have device class names in the system, but no
devices.  All you have to do now is configure non-existant devices into
the system...
 
   From NMMGR:
     Create an additional DTC, "NETWORK".
     For the DTC LAN Station Address, use "00-00-00-00-00-00".
     Add Direct Connect or Modem cards to the DTC.  (I use one modem card.)
     Select the Configure Card option for the previous step.
     Configure one port for each profile name.  (I have two ports configured.)
     For the port LDEVs, select unused LDEVs.  (I use two, "900" and "901".)
     For the Profile name, use the profiles you created above.
 
   From NBDIR:
     Create file equations for each of the non-existant printers you
just created.
 
   This method has the advantage of not having to dedicate physical
ports for devices which will never be connected to the local system.
I've been using the above configuration for several years, and have
seen no real drawbacks to the method.
 
   I hope this helps.  If you have any questions, or need additional
information, let me know.
 
                                David N. Lukenbill
 
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David N. Lukenbill
US Naval Surface Warfare Center, Louisville
Integrated Ships Defense, Resource Management
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