Good Day:

 I'm hoping someone can shed some light on the Spooler enhancements
available under MPE/iX 5.5.

 In reading the Technical Data sheet from the HP web site it states:

"In MPE/iX 5.5, the MPE/iX spooler has been enhanced to support network or LAN-based printers over TCP/IP. This
enhancement enables printers to be placed in workgroups where the demand is the greatest, resulting in improved user
productivity. MPE/iX spool-files can be printed to any Printer Command Language (PCL)-based printer attached to the HP
3000 via a TCP/IP network connection and a JetDirect interface. Page level recovery is also supported for printers
supporting Printer Job Language (PJL). Page level recovery enables the printer to continue printing from the next logical page
in a spoolfile should a paper jam or a device powerfail occur. This
enhancement is bundled with MPE/iX. "

 It has been mentioned to me that these enhancements virtually
constitutes a new product.  I am also told that the "old style" of
printing will not peacefully co-exist with the new IP based network
printing.  Since we have a large number of existing printers spooled
from the 3000 it would introduce a reason for us to delay the switch
to 5.5.  Could someone clarify the validity of these statements?

 Also... the Technical Data sheet says that JetDirect cards are
supported.  Does that mean this is not Unix style lpd printing?  Can
it not talk/print to a device other than a JetDirect card?

Thanks,
Jim
******************************************************************
Jim Alton
Systems Analyst
Mohawk College
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