Compaq DECprint Supervisor (DCPS) for OpenVMS
System Manager's Guide


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10.15.2 Incorrect Sheet Count on Duplex Jobs

The HP LaserJet IIISi printer exhibits the same behavior with sheet count as mentioned in Section 10.14.2.

10.16 HP LaserJet 4SiMX Printer

10.16.1 Incorrect Sheet Count on Duplex Jobs

The HP LaserJet 4SiMX printer exhibits the same behavior with sheet count as mentioned in Section 10.14.2.

10.17 HP LaserJet 5M Printer

10.17.1 Problems Selecting an Input Tray

DCPS may ignore explicit INPUT_TRAY parameter values for the HP LaserJet 5M printer, instead utilizing paper from another input tray. DCPS may also report that TRAY_1 is not available, even though the tray is a standard tray, when tray 1 is empty.

Both classes of problems are related to the printer attempting to select an alternate input tray if the desired tray is empty or otherwise not satisfactory. To avoid these problems, use the HP 5M console to specify that tray 1 is a "cassette" and to lock out all but one of the available input trays. Refer to the printer's user manual for more information.

10.17.2 Incorrect Sheet Count on Duplex Jobs

The HP LaserJet 5M printer exhibits the same behavior with sheet count as mentioned in Section 10.14.2.

10.18 HP LaserJet 5SiMX Printer

10.18.1 Job Trailer Pages Print in Next Bin

If the network manager has placed the mailbox bins into "job separator mode" using the administration software supplied with the printer, the DCPS job log and trailer pages print in the next bin, separated from the rest of the job.

10.18.2 Tray Is Not Available Due to Lack of Memory for Loaded Paper

If an input tray is loaded with a paper size that cannot be printed with the current memory configuration, DCPS reports the tray as not available. (Refer to the HP5SiMX users's guide for memory requirements.)

10.18.3 Duplex Not Supported Due to Lack of Memory for Loaded Paper

If an input tray is loaded with a paper size which cannot be printed in duplex mode with the current memory configuration, DCPS reports that duplex is not supported. (Refer to the HP5SiMX users's guide for memory requirements.)

10.18.4 Incorrect Sheet Count on Duplex Jobs

The HP LaserJet 5SiMX printer exhibits the same behavior with sheet count as mentioned in Section 10.14.2.

10.19 HP LaserJet 4000, 4050 and 5000

10.19.1 Minimum Firmware Version

To use an HP LaserJet 4000 or 5000 printer from DCPS, the printer must be running a minimum firmware version of 19980714 MB3.68. To use an HP LaserJet 4050 printer, it is recommended that the printer be running a minimum firmware version of 19991030 MB6.30. This firmware version number is displayed as Firmware Datecode on the printer's configuration page.

If your printer is running an older version of firmware, contact HP and request the proper version. The new firmware will be sent on a SIMM to be installed in your printer.

10.20 HP LaserJet 8000, 8100 and 8150

10.20.1 Optional Mailbox

DCPS numbers the optional mailbox bins on the HP LaserJet 8000 printer from 1-5, 1-7 or 1-8, depending on the particular option installed. This is consistent with the numbers molded into the plastic beside the bins. The printer's console, in contrast, refers to these same bins as numbers two through nine. Refer to the HP LaserJet User Guide for your printer model for more information about the numbering and purpose of trays with different options and configurations.

10.20.2 Problems Starting Queues

Some models in this series may not allow DCPS jobs to start. To resolve this, either set the printer to PostScript mode or suppress DCPS's PostScript synchronization. See the Release NotesRelease Notes or the O penVMS System Manager's Reference Manual for more information.

10.20.3 Minimum Firmware Version

To use a HP LaserJet 8000 printer from DCPS, the printer must be running a minimum firmware version of 19980610 MB4.28. This firmware version number is displayed as Firmware Datecode on the printer's configuration page.

If your printer is running an older version of firmware, contact HP and request the proper version. The new firmware will be sent on a SIMM to be installed in your printer.

10.21 HP XL300 Printer

10.21.1 Communication Problem

If a file printed to the XL300 printer contains multiple userdata messages that are returned in quick succession, some messages may be lost, and others returned incorrectly. Also, occasionally, messages that the DECprint Supervisor wants returned to it will get garbled. This will result in spurious messages to the user's terminal (if /NOTIFY is set). Otherwise, the job prints correctly.

10.22 Lexmark Optra Rt+ Printer

10.22.1 Tray Linking and INPUT_TRAY

If tray linking is enabled by the printer console, the linked trays cannot be selected individually using the INPUT_TRAY parameter. Specifying any linked tray in the INPUT_TRAY parameter causes the printer to select among the linked trays in accordance with its own algorithm.

10.23 Lexmark Optra S

10.23.1 Problems Starting Queues

Some models in this series may not allow DCPS jobs to start. To resolve this, either set the printer to PostScript mode or suppress DCPS's PostScript synchronization. See the Release NotesRelease Notes or the O penVMS System Manager's Reference Manual for more information.

10.24 Tektronix Phaser

10.24.1 Printer Configuration Settings

You must change the following AppSocket settings when using Phaser printers with DCPS:

Table 10-3 Tektronix Phaser Configuration Settings
AppSocket Setting Value
Interpreter PostScript
Filtering Interpreter-Based


Chapter 11
Troubleshooting Procedures

This chapter contains troubleshooting procedures for diagnosing error conditions on the printer system.

When a printer problem occurs, information may be displayed on the user's terminal if the /NOTIFY qualifier is included on the PRINT command line. This information may indicate the cause of the failure.

Check the job trailer page from the print job, which shows some of the messages that result from printing. Problems with the print files are indicated on a file error page (see Section 6.6).

When a printing system problem occurs, examine the console output or the OPERATOR.LOG file for operator communication manager (OPCOM) messages. If your terminal is not running OPCOM, use REPLY/ENABLE to enable PRINTER and CENTRAL messages. Restart the symbiont, and reprint the job. Then you can read the relevant messages. This procedure requires OPER privileges. Printer messages are listed in the User's GuideUser's Guide.

11.1 What to Do if a Serial Printer Is Not Printing

When you examine the OPCOM messages, look for a message from the printer indicating NOTREADY. This message indicates that the printer is unable to acknowledge any queries from the system. Check for the following:

11.1.1 What to Do if a Locally-Connected Serial Printer Will Not Start Printing

The steps in this section apply to any serial printer on a local line.

Step 1: Print a test page

Manually print a test page on your printer, following instructions in your owner's manual.

If able to print a test page, go on to step 2 to check the printer hardware and software configurations. If the printer does not produce a test page, check the printer hardware.

Step 2: Check the printer hardware and software configurations

The configuration settings on the printer and in the software associated with the printer must be the same. To verify that the settings match, check a printed summary sheet or the printer console or switches to verify that the settings are consistent for the following settings:

Refer to the printer owner's manual for information on how to change these settings.

Check the terminal device characteristics of a directly-connected serial printer by issuing the following command on the node of the device:


$ SHOW TERMINAL device-name[:]

The variable device-name is the device name in the printer startup file in parameter p2 of the execution queue definition.

Check for the following characteristics:

The summary sheet and the terminal settings should be the same.

If your printer interface runs at a different speed, make sure you set the same configuration switch settings and device characteristics.

If the printer is connected directly to the host, check the baud rate setting in the printer startup command file. If you did not enter a baud rate in parameter p6 of the execution queue definition, the startup procedure sets the printer speed at 9600 baud. Refer to the SET TERMINAL command in the OpenVMS DCL Dictionary for information on changing the system's interpretation of the device characteristics.

If your printer is connected by a LAT device to a local area Ethernet, see Section 11.1.3.

If the settings agree and the job still does not print, go to step 3.

Step 3: Check communications software

Test the operation of the communications equipment by attempting to send data directly to the device. To perform this procedure, make sure the queue is paused (see Section 5.7).

The device must not be spooled to accomplish this procedure. If the device is spooled, enter the following command:


$ SET DEVICE LTAnnnn:/NOSPOOL

To test the communications setup, issue the SET HOST/DTE command to the printer. Use the commands in the following examples:


$ SET HOST/DTE LTA9092:
Connection established, type ^\ to exit
Ctrl/T
%%[ status: idle ]%%

After you press Ctrl/T, you should receive a message in the form of %%[Status: description]%%. If you receive this message, the connection to the printer is established and working.

If no message of this type is displayed, enter the commands in the following example:


^\
$ COPY TT: LTA9092:
showpage Ctrl/Z
$

The test is successful if a page of paper is ejected from the printer. If no paper is ejected, there is a faulty connection with the printer. In this case, check the communications cables. Then try the commands in the first example again.

If the COPY command succeeds, but the SET HOST command fails, check the communications cables inbound from the printer to the host node for a faulty connection.

Step 4: Check DCPS$STARTUP.COM

Make sure that the DCPS$STARTUP.COM file reflects your print queue needs and that the changes are appropriate for your printer. To check the printer execution queue characteristics, enter the following command, inserting the name of the printer execution queue:


$ SHOW QUEUE/FULL exec-queue-name

For example, the characteristics for the printer execution queue TXA1_LN03R on host EDEN are as follows:


$ SHOW QUEUE/FULL TXA1_LN03R


 Printer queue TXA1_LN03R, on EDEN::TXA1: 
 /BASE_PRIORITY=4 /FORM=DCPS$DEFAULT /LIBRARY=DCPS_LIB /OWNER=[SYSTEM] 
 /PROCESSOR=DCPS$SMB /PROTECTION=(S:E,O:D,G:R,W:W) /SCHEDULE=(NOSIZE) 
 /SEPARATE=(BURST,TRAILER) 
$ 

Specifically, check the following:

If the queue characteristics do not match those defined in DCPS$STARTUP.COM, stop the printer execution queue.

Next, execute the DCPS$STARTUP.COM file, as follows:


$ @SYS$STARTUP:DCPS$STARTUP

Recheck the execution queue characteristics. If the characteristics are correct and the job still does not print, go to step 5.

Step 5: Check queue logical defaulting

Use the following command to check the values of queue default parameters in the DCPS$STARTUP.COM file, in p4 of the execution queue definition, and in parameter p3 of the generic queue definition.


$ SHOW LOGICAL DCPS$queuename_PARAMETER

Step 6: Check the queue configurations

The values provided in DCPS$STARTUP.COM are not validated, but simply passed as parameters to the appropriate OpenVMS commands and utilities. Therefore, the OpenVMS commands and utilities detect and report any errors directly. Refer to the OpenVMS System Messages: Companion Guide for Help Message Users for an explanation of error messages issued by the following DCL commands:

Note

To debug DCL command procedures and record the information in a file, you can use the following commands:


$ SET HOST 0/LOG
$ SET VERIFY


Alternatively, you can set parameter p8 in the execution queue definition in DCPS$STARTUP.COM to 1 for automatic recording.

11.1.2 What to Do if a Locally-Connected Serial Printer Has Stopped Printing

When your printer stops printing, follow these steps:

After checking all messages, including the notification messages from the PRINT command, the console output, and the OPCOM log, go to step 1 if the cause of the problem is not apparent.

Step 1: Print the IVP data sheets

Print the following Installation Verification Procedure (IVP) files from SYS$COMMON:[SYSTEST.DCPS]:

DCPS$IVP_ANSI.DAT
DCPS$IVP_POST.DAT
DCPS$IVP_REGIS.DAT
DCPS$IVP_TEK4014.DAT
DCPS$IVP_PCL.DAT
DCPS$IVP_PROPRINTER.DAT

Remember to use the appropriate DATA_TYPE parameter value, indicated in the file name following the underscore, for each of the files. For example, to print DCPS$IVP_REGIS.DAT, use the following PRINT command:


$ PRINT/QUEUE=queue-name/PARAMETERS=(DATA_TYPE=REGIS)- /NOTIFY SYS$COMMON:[SYSTEST.DCPS]DCPS$IVP_REGIS.DAT

If the files are not printed, go to step 2 to check the files for user error.

If any of the IVP files are not printed, check to see if the translator execution files exist, using the following command:


$ DIR SYS$SHARE:TRN$*.*


Directory SYS$COMMON:[SYSLIB] 
 
TRN$ANSI_PS.EXE;     TRN$DDIF_PS.EXE;     TRN$REGIS_PS.EXE;  
TRN$TEK4014_PS.EXE;  TRN$PCL_PS.EXE;      TRN$PROPRINTER_PS.EXE; 
 
Total of 6 files. 

If the correct files are present, go to step 2.

If any files are missing, reinstall the DECprint Supervisor software.

Step 2: Check files for user error

If a particular file fails to print, examine the trailer page from the print job for messages that indicate the cause of the failure. For an explanation of, and recovery procedures for the error messages, see the User's GuideUser's Guide.

If the file is a PostScript file, an error exists in either the PostScript file or in the application that generated the PostScript file. If the application is supplied by Compaq, submit a Software Performance Report (SPR).

If the file is other than a PostScript file, an error exists in the translation process. If the translator is supplied by Compaq, submit a Software Performance Report.

Sometimes, when the serial communication cable between the printer and the host is disconnected and later reconnected, the active print job displays the status Printing when nothing is happening at the printer. Power-cycle the printer, then resubmit the lost print job.

Note

When reconnecting the printer to the host, turn off and then turn on the printer. Turning the printer off and on ensures proper synchronization between the print symbiont and the printer.

11.1.3 What to Do if a LAT Printer Is Not Printing

A network environment allows several separately managed systems to access the same printer. Therefore, when the printer is not printing, you must determine which node has control of the printer.

The remaining sections discuss the following steps in troubleshooting the printer in a network environment:

  1. Determining the node that controls the printer:
  2. Troubleshooting the printer:
  3. Other troubleshooting hints:

11.1.3.1 How to Determine Which Host Controls the Printer

A network printer may fail to print if another node is accessing the printer, or if the printer has stopped printing. Perform the following steps to determine which host has control of the printer.

Step 1: Determine your printing node

To determine which node runs your printer, issue the following command, inserting the name of the print queue you use:


$ SHOW QUEUE/FULL queue-name

From the first line of the following sample display, you determine that FIERY is the node that runs your printer and LTA546 is the application port associated with the print queue:


Printer queue LN03R3, on FIERY::LTA546, mounted form DCPS$DEFAULT 
                                                      (stock=DEFAULT) 
    /BASE_PRIORITY=4 /FORM=DCPS$DEFAULT (stock=DEFAULT) 
    /NOENABLE_GENERIC /LIBRARY=DCPS_LIB lowercase /OWNER=[SYSTEM] 
    /PROCESSOR=DCPS$SMB /PROTECTION=(S:E,O:D,G:R,W:W) /SCHEDULE=(NOSIZE) 
    /SEPARATE=(BURST,TRAILER) 
$ 

Perform steps 2 and 3 on the node (FIERY) that runs the printer.

Step 2: Determine LAT node and port name to which the printer is connected

Look in the LAT startup file SYS$STARTUP:LAT$SYSTARTUP.COM. The SET PORT command associates the application port (LTAd) with a specific port (/PORT=port_name) on the server (/SERVER=server_name).


CREATE PORT LTA546: /NOLOG  /APPLICATION                 ! LN03R3 
SET PORT LTA546: /APPLICATION /QUEUE /NODE=TAS204 /PORT=PORT_7 

Note

The port must be set with queuing enabled (/QUEUE) and as an application port (/APPLICATION).

Make sure that SYSTARTUP_VMS.COM invokes LAT$STARTUP.COM.

Step 3: Check port and server system names

Ensure that port and server system settings are the same as those in the SYS$STARTUP:LAT$SYSTARTUP.COM. Use the LATCP SHOW PORT command to look at the application port (LTAd) as follows:


$ RUN SYS$SYSTEM:LATCP
LCP>SHOW PORT lta546
Local Port Name = LTA546:  application
  
  Specified Remote Node Name = TAS204 
  Specified Remote Port Name = PORT_7 
  Actual Remote Node Name = TAS204 
  Actual Remote Port Name = PORT_7 
  Link Name = LAT$LINK

Step 4: Determine which host controls the printer

You can determine which host controls the printer by logging in to a terminal that is connected directly to a DECserver or by connecting to a LAT device over the network. If you have direct access to the DECserver port, go directly to step 4B.

Step 4A: Connect to the LAT device

Use either the Network Control Program (NCP) or Terminal Server Manager (TSM) to connect to the DECserver device over the network.

To use NCP, issue the following commands:

After entering the NCP CONNECT command, press Return until you get the pound sign (#) prompt. At this prompt type the password (ACCESS) to get the Local> prompt:


# 
username: username
Local> 

Step 4B: At the LAT console port

After making your connection and logging in to the LAT console, enter the following commands:


Local> SET PRIVILEGED
Password>
Local> SHOW SESSIONS PORT_7

The default password is SYSTEM.

The following example shows a SHOW SESSIONS PORT command on a DECserver 200 that tells you that a remote system HAILEY controls port 7.


Local> SHOW SESSIONS PORT 7
Port 7:  (Remote)      Connected       Current Session 1 
-Session 1: Hailey     Connected       Pasthru

If your system runs the TSM software, issue the following commands:


$ RUN SYS$SYSTEM:TSM$MAIN
TSM> USE SERVER tas204
TSM> SET PRIVILEGED
Password> 
TSM> SHOW SESSIONS PORT_7

Note

To run the TSM program, you need read access to the TSM management directory file and OPER privileges. For more information, refer to the Guide to Terminal Server Manager.


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