IPS/3000 will get over most of the problems aired re network
printing. A demo copy is available from our web site smmsoftware.com

        For pricing and any other information please E-mail me

        Malcolm Mitchell        [log in to unmask]
> From:         Chris Bartram[SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> Reply To:     [log in to unmask]
> Sent:         19 October 1998 15:55
> To:   [log in to unmask]
> Subject:      Re: Network Printing
>
>  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
>