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2.1.2.1 Raw TCP/IP Printers

Raw TCP/IP is a network protocol that utilizes the TCP/IP protocol directly without any additional interpretation of the TCP data stream. It is supported by many printer Network Interface Cards (NICs), print servers, and terminal servers.

There are other printer protocols that layer upon TCP/IP, including CPAP (Common Printer Access Protocol), LPD, and Telnet. DCPS uses CPAP to communicate with DIGITAL PrintServer printers.

Note
DCPS does not support the Telnet or LPD protocols.

To communicate with your printer using raw TCP/IP, the NIC, print server, or terminal server that you use to connect your printer to the network must provide a raw TCP/IP port. Further, this raw TCP/IP port must support bi-directional communication between the printer and your OpenVMS system. DCPS does not work with unidirectional ports, such as those found on the NICs for the DEClaser 3500 and 5100 printers, the RapidPrint 200, and Hewlett-Packard JetDirect cards that interface with the printer via its XIO (versus MIO) slot.

Before you can communicate with your printer via TCP/IP, you must define an IP address for it. You may also assign a name to the address. Refer to the printer documentation for information on setting the printer's IP address. Refer to Compaq TCP/IP Services for OpenVMS or Process Software MultiNet for OpenVMS documentation for information on configuring your OpenVMS system's TCP/IP environment.

If your printer is connected through a print server or terminal server, you must configure the IP address of the server. You also need to configure the connection between the printer and the server (for example, you may need to perform actions similar to those described in Section 2.1.2.2.2 for LAT printers). Refer to documentation for your terminal server or printer server for information on configuring its network and printer interfaces.

2.1.2.2 LAT Printers

2.1.2.2.1 Configuring the Printer for LAT Access

To configure serial printers as network printers through a LAT connection to the Ethernet, change the following:

  1. If you are using a serial printer connected via a terminal server, set the necessary port and server characteristics for the printer (see Section 2.1.2.2.2 for DECserver devices).
  2. Make the necessary changes to SYS$STARTUP:LAT$SYSTARTUP.COM (see Section 2.1.2.2.3).
  3. Set the communications speed (see Section 2.1.2.2.4).

You can also change the printer password and printer name. These changes are optional and explained in Section 2.1.3.3 and Section 2.1.3.4.

2.1.2.2.2 Setting DECserver LAT Port Characteristics

Note
The process for configuring non-DECserver LAT devices is not described here, but many LAT devices use the same commands used by a DECserver device. Refer to the online help or other documentation for your NIC, terminal server, or print server for more information.

To change DECserver port characteristics, you need privileged status on the DECserver device. Once you have privileged status, use the DEFINE PORT and SET PORT commands.

The DEFINE command changes the port's characteristics in the server's permanent database. These changes do not take effect until the next login for the port.

SET commands take effect immediately, but only alter the port's characteristics for the current session. For example, to change the INPUT SPEED and OUTPUT SPEED values on PORT_6 to 19200 baud (on a DECserver 200), issue the following commands from the console server manager: 


LOCAL> SET PRIVILEGED
PASSWORD> password
 
LOCAL> SET PORT 6 SPEED 19200
LOCAL> DEFINE PORT 6 SPEED 19200

Note
DECprint Supervisor supplies a sample command file for this purpose, if using LAT. This command file sets the characteristics for a DECserver with the Terminal Server Manager (TSM) software, and records data in the TSM database. (TSM is a software product available separately from Compaq.) The command file is: 


SYS$COMMON:[SYSHLP.EXAMPLES.DCPS]DCPS$CONFIG-PRINTER-PORT.COM


This command file provides examples of characteristics for DECserver 100, DECserver 200, and DECserver 500 devices.

For information about the commands and procedures for your DECserver device, refer to your DECserver management guide.

Make sure the DECserver port characteristics match the settings on your printer. Table 2-1 and Table 2-2 list DECserver port characteristics that must match the settings on your printer.

Table 2-1 DECserver Port Characteristics
Character size 8
Parity None
Input speed 9600
Output speed 9600

Make sure the queue limit is not set to 0, which disables queuing.

Table 2-2 Printer-Required DECserver Port Characteristics
Characteristic Default Settings
ACCESS REMOTE
AUTOBAUD DISABLED
AUTOCONNECT DISABLED
AUTOPROMPT DISABLED
BREAK DISABLED
BROADCAST DISABLED
FLOW CONTROL XON
INPUT FLOW CONTROL¹ ENABLED
OUTPUT FLOW CONTROL¹ ENABLED
INACTIVITY LOGOUT DISABLED
LOSS NOTIFICATION DISABLED
MESSAGE CODES DISABLED
QUEUING ENABLED
VERIFICATION DISABLED

¹Characteristic not supported by the DECserver 500 server.

Note
On many versions of DECserver devices, QUEUING is not a port characteristic, but is a server characteristic whose default is ENABLED.

2.1.2.2.3 Editing the LAT Configuration File

The LAT configuration file (SYS$STARTUP:LAT$SYSTARTUP.COM) defines host node service characteristics. Before you start the print queues, make sure the LAT driver is running and ports are available.

Note
Commands referenced in this section are LATCP commands. For more information on LATCP commands, refer to the OpenVMS LAT Control Program (LATCP) Manual.
  1. Edit LAT$SYSTARTUP.COM and add the following command to create an applications port on the host node (service node) that will support your printer: 


    $ CREATE PORT LTAd:/NOLOG/APPLICATION

    In this command format, you supply the number of the applications port for d, which must be a unique number from 1-9999.

    Note
    LTA devices are not always dedicated to printers; they may be shared with other devices. Connections to the LTA device from the other devices are established dynamically among the lowest available ports. If you assign a higher port number to the printer, you can help secure the port for the printer and prevent interference from connections to other devices.

  2. In LAT$SYSTARTUP.COM, add the following command to associate the applications port with a remote port on a server: 


    $ SET PORT LTAd:/NODE=server_name/PORT=port_name/QUEUE/APPLICATION

    In the command format, you supply the following values:
    LTAd: Name of the application port
    server_name Name assigned to the LAT device
    port_name LAT device's port name

    The following example associates application port LTA9000: with port PORT_7 on a remote DECserver 200 named LN03RDS: 


    $ SET PORT LTA9000:/NODE=LN03RDS/PORT=PORT_7/QUEUE/APPLICATION

    If the LAT device is dedicated to printing services, you can define the LAT connection for the printer in the DCPS$STARTUP.COM file. This makes it easier for you to solve configuration problems because all the information is in one file. However, if the LAT device also supports devices other than printers, you should define the port in the LAT$SYSTARTUP.COM file.

  3. To make a successful LAT connection, you must make sure the following lists of groups have at least one LAT group in common:
    If you did not set up these groups correctly, you receive the following error message when a print job is submitted: 


    %DCPS-E-LRJACCESSDENIED, Access denied

    You can use LATCP commands to include the necessary LAT group designations. For additional information, refer to the OpenVMS LAT Control Program (LATCP) Manual.

    Note
    This information is not required for the DECserver 90L device.

    2.1.2.2.4 Setting the Communications Speed

    Make sure the serial printer communications speed is set to the default (9600 baud). If you want the printer to run at a different baud rate, use the following procedure.

    If the printer is on a DECserver device, use the following steps:

    1. Set the printer to the appropriate baud rate (see your printer hardware installation guide).
    2. Set the DECserver communications speed (see your terminal server installation guide).
    3. Power on the printer. Wait for the printer to eject the power-up test page, and then check the test page to ensure that the desired settings are indicated on the test page.

    2.1.2.3 AppleTalk Printers

    If you use your printer in an AppleTalk network, the address of the printer in the AppleTalk network is normally the printer's PostScript printername. If two or more printers have the same printername and are on the same zone of the AppleTalk network, the actual node names for these printers will be depend on the order in which the printers are powered up. Printers of the same product type will have the same printername until it is explicity changed. Therefore, it is necessary to change a printer's printername to ensure the printer is uniquely and consistently identified on the network. Use the tools provided with your printer, and/or your PC or Macintosh to change the name of your printer.

    2.1.3 General Information

    2.1.3.1 Using Third-Party Printers

    You can use DCPS with some third-party printers as well as DIGITAL and selected Compaq printers. Consult the SPD for the list of third-party printers supported by the DECprint Supervisor software. You may also be able to use DCPS in an unsupported fashion with printers not listed in the SPD (see Section 7.12).

    Your system must have a valid DCPS-OPEN license for you to use a third-party or unrecognized printer with DCPS.

    Before installing a third-party printer, perform the following:

    Printing legal size paper or printing duplex requires more memory than the base configuration. Consult your printer manual for your minimum requirements.

    2.1.3.2 Setting the printer timeout

    The printer may abort a print job if it does not receive data for a specified period of time. Compaq recommends that you change the timeout value to zero (0), which means no timeout.

    You may be able to set the timeout value through the front panel, as documented in the operator's guide for your printer.

    You can also change the printer timeout value with the setdefaulttimeouts PostScript operator. Modify the standard file SYS$COMMON:[SYSHLP.EXAMPLES.DCPS]LPS$SET_TIMEOUT.PS to change the timeout value to 0. Print the file using the DATA_TYPE=POSTSCRIPT parameter to change the timeout value in the printer's nonvolatile memory to 0, thus preventing timeout conditions on the printer.

    To submit the file for printing as a PostScript job, use the following command: 


    $ PRINT/QUEUE=queuename/PARAMETER=(DATA_TYPE=POSTSCRIPT) LPS$SET_TIMEOUT.PS

    When the print job is processed, a page is printed to indicate that the timeout was successfully changed.

    2.1.3.3 Changing the Printer Password

    PostScript printers have passwords that restrict access to certain functions. You can change the password for your printer from the default value. For serial printers, submit a print job that includes the current password as well as the new password. Refer to the PostScript Printers Programmer's Supplement for information about changing your printer's password.

    The default password for ScriptPrinters is (LN03R), with the parentheses required. The default password for DEClaser printers is 0 (the number zero), without parentheses. If you change the printer password from the default, print jobs may take longer to print, because the printer password is required to persistently load PostScript prologues for ANSI files and separation pages.

    2.1.3.4 Setting the Printer Name

    Some system messages include the printer name. If you have not set a unique printer name, these messages contain the default printer name. The default printer name for a ScriptPrinter printer is LN03R. The default printer name for a DEClaser printer is DEClaser. For example, on a DEClaser printer where the name has not been changed, the following message reflects the default printer name: 


    %DCPS-I-TRAYSUBST, Output will be delivered to the only tray on DEClaser

    If you change the DEClaser printer name to SNUFFY, the same error message reflects the unique new printer name: 


    %DCPS-I-TRAYSUBST, Output will be delivered to the only tray on SNUFFY

    For non-PrintServer printers, the printer name is stored in the printer's nonvolatile memory. To set the printer name, edit a copy of the file LPS$SET_PRINTER_NAME.PS found in SYS$COMMON:[SYSHLP.EXAMPLES.DCPS] to include the desired name and password. Select a printer name of 31 characters or less.

    Then submit the file for printing as a PostScript job: 


    $ PRINT/QUEUE=queuename /PARAMETER=(DATA_TYPE=POSTSCRIPT) - LPS$SET_PRINTER_NAME.PS

    Edit and submit a copy of LPS$SET_PRINTER_NAME.PS for each printer that requires a unique name.

    2.2 DIGITAL PrintServer Printers

    DIGITAL PrintServer printers are network printers. They require the OpenVMS DECnet, Compaq TCP/IP for OpenVMS, or Process Software MultiNet for OpenVMS software to be running on the OpenVMS systems where the DECprint Supervisor software is running.

    Note
    Make sure that PrintServer Software is running on the PrintServer printer before starting DECprint Supervisor.

    The following procedures allow users to access PrintServer printers on TCP/IP and DECnet networks.

    2.2.1 Defining PrintServer TCP/IP Network Nodes

    Before you can communicate with your DIGITAL PrintServer printer via TCP/IP, you must assign an IP address to it. You may also associate a name with the address.

    Refer to the PrintServer documentation for information on setting the printer's IP address. Refer to Compaq TCP/IP Services for OpenVMS or Process Software MultiNet for OpenVMS documentation for information on configuring your OpenVMS system's TCP/IP environment.

    2.2.2 Defining PrintServer DECnet Network Nodes

    Before you can communicate with your DIGITAL PrintServer printer via DECnet, you must assign a DECnet address to it. You may also associate a name with the address.

    Refer to the PrintServer documentation for information on setting the printer's DECnet address.

    To associate a DECnet node name name with the printer's DECnet address, use the NCP command if you are running DECnet Phase IV software, or the DECNET_REGISTER command if you are running DECnet-Plus (formerly DECnet/OSI) software. Refer to the OpenVMS DECnet documentation for more information about node names and these commands.

    2.2.3 Deleting the PrintServer Client Startup File

    An existing LPS$STARTUP.COM file, if any, is no longer used and is not compatible with DECprint Supervisor. Delete this file after you edit DCPS$STARTUP.COM. To delete this file, follow this procedure:

    Note
    Delete all generic queues before deleting the execution queue.
    1. Stop existing print queues with the STOP/QUEUE/RESET command.
    2. Delete existing PrintServer print queues.
    3. Add new print queues to DCPS$STARTUP.COM for PrintServer printers.
    4. If you have any customized definitions in the LPS$STARTUP.COM file, copy the changes into SYS$STARTUP:DCPS$STARTUP.COM.
    5. Edit SYS$MANAGER:SYSTARTUP_VMS.COM, removing the reference to SYS$MANAGER:LPS$STARTUP.COM.
    6. Delete LPS$STARTUP.COM. You can delete this and other files that are no longer needed for PrintServer printing using the following command file: SYS$COMMON:[SYSHLP.EXAMPLES.DCPS]DCPS$DELETE-LPS-CLIENT.COM

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