When your printer stops printing, follow these steps:

• If your printer fails consistently, follow the steps in Section 11.3.1.
• If your printer fails occasionally, follow the steps in this section.

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 DECprint Supervisor for OpenVMS User'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.

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:
   • Determine the printing node
   • Determine the LAT node and port name
   • Check the port and system server names
   • Determine the host controlling the printer
2. Troubleshooting the printer:
   • Check port characteristics
   • Follow procedures in Section 11.3.1
3. Other troubleshooting hints:
   • NOTREADY status
   • Common error messages and their probable causes

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

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:

• To determine the type of service circuit, for example UNA--0 or QNA--0, use the following commands:

  $ MCR NCP NCP> SHOW KNOWN CIRCUITS

• To determine the 48-bit Ethernet address (for example, 08--00--2B--05--C7--05), use the following commands:

  $ MCR LATCP LCP> SHOW NODE server-name

  
  For example, to get the Ethernet address for TAS200PSSA, enter the following command:

  LCP> SHOW NODE TAS200PSSA

  Node Name: TAS200PSSA LAT Protocol Version: 5.1 Node State: Reachable Address: 08-00-2B-05-C7-05 Node Ident: LN03R V2.0 DECServer 200 Incoming Connections: Enabled Circuit Timer (msec): 80 Multicast Timer (msec): 30 Service Groups: 15, 31-32 99 Service Name Status Rating Identification BURNET Available 0

  
  In this example, the Ethernet address 08-00-2B-05-C7-05 is displayed.
  You can use the service circuit name and the Ethernet address to make a connection to the LAT node using the following command:

  $ MCR NCP NCP> CONNECT VIA service-circuit PHYSICAL ADDRESS nn-nn-nn-nn-nn-nn

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

After determining which system controls the printer port, follow these steps.

Step 1: Check port characteristics

Compare the LAT port characteristics with those listed in the DECprint Supervisor for OpenVMS Software Installation Guide. To view the port characteristics, issue the SHOW PORT command at the Local> prompt or the TSM> prompt.

Step 2: Use procedures in Section 11.3.1

Follow the steps in the appropriate section:

• For a new printer, Section 11.3.1
• For a printer that has stopped printing, Section 11.3.2

If you follow these procedures and the printer is not printing, go to step 3.

Step 3: Regain control of the LAT port

You may need to disconnect a symbiont process that controls the port connected to the printer. For example, an unsupported version of the symbiont software might not disconnect after it gains control of the port. Disconnect the symbiont process with the following command:

Local> SET PRIVILEGED Password> Local> LOGOUT PORT port_number

You need privileged status on the LAT node to execute this command.

11.3.3.3 Common LAT Error Messages

The following list contains common error messages received in a network environment. The error message prefix is DCPS$. The severity level is not indicated. The messages are arranged alphabetically by ident-string. (Refer to the DECprint Supervisor for OpenVMS User's Guide for an explanation of the error message format.)

DCPS$_CONAPPLICATION, Connection request is not to a LAT applications port
Explanation: This message usually occurs when a LAT port is not reserved as an applications port, and another device is connected to the port that is requested by the printer. The LAT configuration file LAT$SYSTARTUP.COM should contain a line similar to the following with the /APPLICATION parameter.

SET PORT LTAnnn:/NODE=server-name/PORT=port-name/QUEUE/APPLICATION

To avoid this problem, specify a higher port number for the printer.

DCPS$_CONTERMINATED, Connection abnormally terminated
Explanation: This message occurs when communication to the LAT node is interrupted. This results in a stopped queue. Check the following:

• Power is supplied to the LAT device.
• Printer port is not logged off.
• All connections from LAT device to the Ethernet cable are working.

DCPS$_CONTIMEOUT, Connection timed out, server not available, or incorrect server name specified
Explanation: This message occurs when the server name is not recognized. This problem may indicate the collision of user terminal space and the printer port.

Verify that the server name connected to the printer port is correct. Compare the server name specified in the LAT configuration file LAT$SYSTARTUP.COM with the server name on the LAT device. LAT$SYSTARTUP.COM should contain a line similar to the following:

SET PORT LTAxxx:/NODE=server_name/PORT=port_name/QUEUE/APPLICATION

Use the SHOW PORT command to find the server name associated with the printer port:

Local> SHOW PORT port-name

DCPS$_LRJACCESSDENIED, Access denied
Explanation: This message usually occurs when the group code specified in LAT$SYSTARTUP.COM does not match one of the groups on the LAT device connected to the printer. Thus, the printer software does not have access to the LAT port. The LAT configuration file LAT$SYSTARTUP.COM should contain a line similar to the following:

SET NODE/GROUP=group-list/ENABLE

Compare groups, /GROUP=group-list, set in LAT$SYSTARTUP.COM with those set on the LAT device (SHOW PORT command).

DCPS$_LRJDELETED, Queue entry deleted by server
Explanation: This message occurs when someone manually terminates the connection to the LAT device.

DCPS$_LRJILLEGAL, Illegal request parameter
Explanation: This message indicates that an internal LAT error has occurred. Submit a Software Performance Report.

DCPS$_LRJINUSE, Port or service in use
Explanation: This message usually occurs on a LAT port when port-name is not set with the queuing parameter (/QUEUE) enabled or when the queue limit is too small. On the LAT device, enter the following command:

SET PORT port-name QUEUE ENABLE

DCPS$_LRJNAMEUNKNOWN, Port Name is unknown
Explanation: This message occurs when the port name specified in the LAT configuration file LAT$SYSTARTUP.COM is not known on the server. Compare the port name specified in the LAT configuration file LAT$SYSTARTUP.COM with the printer port name associated with the server. LAT$SYSTARTUP.COM should contain a line similar to the following:

SET PORT LTAnnn:/NODE=server-name/PORT=port-name/QUEUE/APPLICATION

Find the name of the printer port associated with the server, by issuing the following command:

Local> SHOW PORT port-number

DCPS$_LRJNOTOFFERED, Service is not offered on the requested port
Explanation: This message usually occurs when the access mode is not set to REMOTE on the LAT port. Use the SET and DEFINE commands as follows to set the access mode for the port:

Local> SET PORT port-number ACCESS REMOTE Local> DEFINE PORT port-number ACCESS REMOTE

Serial printers transmit unsolicited data to the host system when power-up initialization occurs. The OpenVMS operating system normally interprets unsolicited data from a terminal device as a login request. The printer software startup file sets the SECURE_SERVER terminal characteristic for all printer terminal devices on the host system. SECURE_SERVER prevents the OpenVMS host and the printer from engaging in a potentially endless login dialog.

To eliminate login dialog, set terminal characteristics for terminal devices by using the following procedures in this order:

1. SYSGEN AUTOCONFIGURE
2. SYSTARTUP_VMS
3. DCPS$EXECUTION_QUEUE.COM

AUTOCONFIGURE uses SYSGEN parameters to set default terminal characteristics for all terminal devices on the system. Your system will not encounter the login dialog problem if SECURE_SERVER is set with SYSGEN. The SYSGEN parameter that accomplishes this is TTY_DEFCHAR2. Refer to the OpenVMS System Management Utilities Reference Manual for information on setting SYSGEN parameters.

The system startup procedure may also set terminal characteristics. Since this command file executes prior to the printer startup file, your system will be less vulnerable to the login dialog problem if SECURE_SERVER is set for printer terminal devices within the SYSTARTUP_VMS file.

DCPS$EXECUTION_QUEUE.COM (the printer execution queue command file) sets the SECURE_SERVER terminal characteristic for printer terminal devices by default. This file is provided in the software kit.

If your printer is configured on a LAT device in a local area Ethernet, set the LAT port and the terminal server characteristics for the printer to minimize login dialog. Refer to the DECprint Supervisor for OpenVMS Software Installation Guide for LAT port characteristics.

11.4 What to Do if Printing Is Slower than Expected

Slower printing speeds can result from:

• Printing of complex ANSI jobs from applications
• Printing of complex PostScript jobs
• Occurrence of ANSI translator prologue mismatch
• Changing the printer password from the default (refer to the DECprint Supervisor for OpenVMS Software Installation Guide).

Complex ANSI jobs include those that use many downloaded fonts on a page. These jobs always take longer to print.

For serial printers, a 30-second delay before the printing of ANSI jobs indicates an ANSI prologue mismatch between the ANSI translator and the print job. On a serial printer, power cycle the printer (turn it off and then on) to load the appropriate prologue. The first ANSI print job is delayed by the loading of the prologue, but subsequent ANSI print jobs are printed more efficiently.

If your printer is connected to multiple nodes running different versions of the printing system, power cycling the printer may not eliminate the 30-second delay. The node that connects to the printer first persistently loads its prologue. The other nodes must load the prologue with every print job. To eliminate the delay in this case, every node should run the same version of the DECprint Supervisor software.

11.5 What to Do if Layup Definition Files Are Not Found

DECprint Supervisor software places the following sample layup definition files in the location specified by the logical name DCPS$LAYUP:

LPS$HOLES.LUP
LPS$SINGLEHOLES.LUP
LPS$DOUBLEHOLES.LUP
LPS$NUP.LUP
COLOR-PRINTER-FULL-PAGE.LUP
PROPRINTER-FULL-PAGE.LUP

Make sure that the layup directory logical name, DCPS$LAYUP, points to SYS$SYSDEVICE:[SYSHLP.EXAMPLES.DCPS] or to the directory that contains the .LUP sample files on all nodes in the cluster.

11.6 What to Do if Files Are Printed with Unexpected Results

The DECprint Supervisor software attempts to print every file in every print job even if there are problems in the specification of print parameters and print job attributes. Print queues with erroneous default parameters can still print files, but all the print parameters are not effective and messages are generated indicating the problem, as described in Section 11.6.1.

In cases where the file is printed using the wrong data type translator, the file data type has not been correctly determined by the DECprint Supervisor software. The methods for solving problems with automatic data type detection are described in Section 11.6.2.

11.6.1 What to Do if Default Queue Parameters Are Not Effective

If you enter a parameter in DCPS$STARTUP.COM incorrectly, print jobs sent to that print queue are printed, but the invalid parameter and the parameters following it are not applied to the print job.

If an invalid print parameter is included in the queue definition, the printing system generates an error message that is displayed on your screen and printed on the job trailer page for every print job sent to the associated queue. The parameters that are not processed take the default settings.

In the following example, there is an extra L in the argument to the second parameter, PAGE_ORIENTATION. Therefore, the printing system ignores the second parameter, NUMBER_UP=2. Only the first parameter, SHEET_SIZE=B, is processed.

@sys$startup:dcps$generic_queue - ! Landscape queue DCPS$WIDE$PRINT - ! P1 - Generic queue name TEK4014_TTB4 - ! P2 - /GENERIC = execution queues "SHEET_SIZE=B,PAGE_ORIENTATION=LLANDSCAPE,NUMBER_UP=2" ! P3 - Default queue parameter ! P3 - Default queue parameter

For every print job for this queue, an error message similar to the following is displayed on the screen and printed on the job trailer page in the message section:

10-MAR-2002 15:21 %DCPS-E-PARSYNERR, Syntax error in the /PARAMETERS qualifier at or near PAGE_ORIENTATION=LLANDSCAPE