Local and remote printer setup

Configuring the NPRINTER daemon (advanced UNIX users)

The NPRINTER configuration files PRTConfig, RPControl, and RPConfig provide the necessary information to the NPRINTER daemon for attaching the specific print server to the specified UNIX printer.

The PRTConfig file and the RPControl file must be configured for your specific environment. The defaults in the RPConfig file are adequate for most environments, but can be fine tuned if necessary.

NOTE: The RPConfig file contains run-time configuration parameters for NPRINTER. These parameters control items like the time interval between status checks and how many tries should be made before logging an error or a warning.

These files are by default located in the /etc/netware/nprinter path on the NetWare Services server. The NPRINTER daemon polls these files, so you can add and delete printers while NPRINTER is running.

NOTE: Changes made to these files while NPRINTER is running should always be made to PRTConfig first, and then to RPControl.

PRTConfig file parameters

The PRTConfig file allows users to set up the host printer configuration that gives NPRINTER access to the host printers. This file is configurable with a text editor.

Be aware that the ``#'' symbol marks a heading (or comment line) and the characters ``hq'' mark the beginning of an entry.

The PRTConfig file has the following format:

#hq printer_name host_queue_name priority [form_name]

hq hp lp 1

hq lw_apple lp1 1 purple

This file is platform dependent, requiring you to modify this file to fit your platform. The first three parameters must have values. The fourth parameter (``form_name'') can be left blank.

#hq	printer_name	host_queue_name	priority	[form_name]
hq	hp	lp	1
hq	lw_apple	lp1	1	purple

printer_name

Uniquely describes the printer or queue. The name can be up to 20 characters long. This name is not the host's name for the printer; it is the name NPRINTER uses to map an entry in RPControl to an entry in PRTConfig.

host_queue_name

The name assigned to the host printer queue that you want NPRINTER to spool print jobs to. The NPRINTER daemon uses this name to find and open the host printer queue.

priority

Allows you to assign a priority level to the printer. In the reference port version, you can assign a value from 0 to39, with the highest priority being 0.

This field is platform specific. If the platform differs from the reference platform, modifications to NPRINTER may be necessary.

form_name

Identifies the form name to be used with this print queue. It is platform specific. This field can be left blank.

The information in the PRTConfig file is not updated dynamically. You can have multiple entries in this file which define different forms or priorities for the same ``host_queue_name''. Each entry must be given a unique printer name.

RPControl file parameters

The RPControl file contains the remote printer assignments. This file should be platform independent. This file ties the printer number with the printer configuration information in the PRTConfig file.

This file is configurable with a text editor. Be aware that the ``#'' symbol marks a heading (or comment line) and the characters ``rp'' mark the beginning of an entry.

The RPControl file has the following format:

#rp print_server_name printer_slot printer_name

rp PS-LOGAN 0 hp

rp PS-ARES 8 lw_apple

#rp	print_server_name	printer_slot	printer_name
rp	PS-LOGAN	0	hp
rp	PS-ARES	8	lw_apple

print_server_name

Identifies the print server that NPRINTER attaches the printer defined in this file to. The NPRINTER daemon does not validate the print server name when the name is entered into the file. It validates the name when it tries to initialize the printer.

During the initialization, NPRINTER sends out a SAP packet to find the print server's address. If the print server name is not in the SAP agent's table, NPRINTER cannot initialize the printer. There are two main reasons for a print server's name not being in the SAP agent's table:

The print server is down and, therefore, is not advertising its presence on the network.
The print server's name has been incorrectly entered in the RPControl file.

printer_slot

Identifies the printer number that corresponds to the printer object that was created. The slot number must be from 0 to 255.

The NPRINTER daemon does not validate the printer number until it has established a connection with the print server. It will return an error if either of the following conditions occurs:

Another printer is already using the printer number
The printer number has not been configured

printer_name

Identifies the host printer queue that NPRINTER is supposed to use for this printer. This name must be the same name that was entered as the ``printer_name'' in the PRTConfig file.

RPConfig file parameters

This file allows you to configure NPRINTER to work efficiently with your particular implementation of your platform. It is configurable with a text editor.

The RPConfig file has the following syntax:

Max_Wait_Packet_Time: 100 to 3200 milliseconds (default 2000)
Status_Check_Interval: 1 to 3600 seconds (default 5)
Idle_Before_Job_End: 1 to 60 (default 2)
Idle_Before_Prt_Status: 1 to 3200 (default 20)
Error_Before_Inform: 1 to 3200 (default 5)
Warn_Before_Inform: 1 to 3200 (default 5)

The parameters are global, applying to all printers attached to NPRINTER. All of the parameters except Max_Wait_Packet_Time and Status_Check_Interval set initial values for the printer processes.

Max_Wait_Packet_Time

Specifies the maximum time NPRINTER waits to receive packets before going on to other processes.

Status_Check_Interval

Specifies the basic interval that NPRINTER waits between doing status checks on all printers. The NPRINTER daemon adds this parameter value to the last time it did a status check to determine the time for the next status check and then compares the next status check time to the current time. It checks the status when the next status check time is equal to, or greater than, the current time.

The NPRINTER daemon waits at least the specified interval between status checks. The actual interval might be slightly longer. For example, NPRINTER does not do a status check if the next status check time is 10:10:05 and the current time is 10:10:04. It waits and loops through the program one more time. When NPRINTER returns to the status check routine, the current time might be 10:10:06 or later.

Idle_Before_Job_End

Sets the threshold value for determining when a job ends if the printer does not immediately receive another job. The value of this parameter is multiplied by the Status_Check_Interval parameter to determine the actual time.

If both parameters are at the default value, NPRINTER waits 10 seconds after receiving the last packet of a job before signaling an end-of-job.

You should increase this parameter if NPRINTER incorrectly assumes a job has ended when it has not.

Idle_Before_Prt_Status

Sets the threshold value for determining when NPRINTER does a status check on an idle printer and then notifies the print server if the status has changed. The value of this parameter is multiplied by the Status_Check_Interval to determine the actual time.

If both parameters are at the default value, NPRINTER waits 100 seconds before doing a status check.

Error_Before_Inform

Prevents the scrolling of error messages that occur in rapid succession. The first occurrence of a message is always displayed. This parameter sets the maximum number of times NPRINTER skips displaying the second or subsequent occurrence of an error message for a particular printer while the printer is in a given state.

Warn_Before_Inform

Prevents the scrolling of warning messages that occur in rapid succession. The parameter sets the maximum number of times NPRINTER skips displaying the second or subsequent occurrence of a warning message for a particular printer while the printer is in a given state.

Adding a printer entry

To add a printer entry, either employ the scoadmin(1M) procedure outlined in ``Connecting a local printer to a NetWare print server (Nprinter)'', or carry out the following manual steps:

Edit the PRTConfig file.
The PRTConfig file has the following format. Syntax examples are provided within the file itself.

#hq printer_name host_queue_name priority [form_name]

hq hp lp 1

hq lw_apple lp1 1 purple
- On a new line under the ``hq'' column, type ``hq''.
- Under the ``printer_name'' column, type the name of the printer.
  This can be any identifying name. It is used as a tag to identify the printer in both the PRTConfig file and the RPControl file, so it must be the same name in both files.
- Under the ``host_queue_name'' column, type in the name of the UNIX printer that you want the NetWare print jobs to be sent to.
- Under the ``priority column'',type in the UNIX print system priority level of the print jobs that NPRINTER will submit.
  The supported levels are 0 to 39, where 0 is the highest priority.
- (Optional) Under the ``form_name'' column, enter any predefined form.
  Forms are predefined in the UNIX print system. If forms are not being used, this column should be left blank.
Edit the RPControl file.
The RPControl file has the following format. Syntax examples are provided within the file itself.

#rp print_server_name printer_slot printer_name

rp LOGAN 0 hp

rp ARES 8 lp_apple
- On a new line under the ``rp'' column, type rp.
- Under the ``print_server_name'' column, type (in all caps) the name of the NetWare print server that will be servicing this printer.
- Under the ``printer_slot'' column, type in the printer number that was assigned to the printer when it was created.
- Under the ``printer_name'' column, type in the name of the printer that was entered in the PRTConfig file.
(Optional) Edit the RPConfig file, which has the following syntax:

Max_Wait_Packet_Time
100 to 3200 milliseconds (default 2000)
Status_Check_Interval
1 to 3600 seconds (default 5)
Idle_Before_Job_End
1 to 60 (default 2)
Idle_Before_Prt_Status
1 to 3200 (default 20)
Error_Before_Inform
1 to 3200 (default 5)
Warn_Before_Inform
1 to 3200 (default 5)

#hq	printer_name	host_queue_name	priority	[form_name]
hq	hp	lp	1
hq	lw_apple	lp1	1	purple

#rp	print_server_name	printer_slot	printer_name
rp	LOGAN	0	hp
rp	ARES	8	lp_apple

Deleting a printer entry

To delete a printer entry, either employ the scoadmin(1M) procedure outlined in ``Disconnecting a local printer from a NetWare print server'', or carry out the following manual steps:

Edit the PRTConfig file.
- Note the ``printer_name'' value that is associated with the printer you want to delete.
  You need to know the ``printer_name'' value to complete Step 2.
- Delete the printer line.
Edit the RPControl file.
- Locate the line with the ``printer_name'' value from Step 1.
- Delete the printer line.