LANtastic by ARTISOFT Artisoft Technical Bulletin TITLE: Remote Printer Server (RPS) FILENAME: RPS.TXT UPDATED: 04.25.95 CLASSIFICATION: Network operating system AUTHOR: The Remote Printer Server (RPS) utility available in the LANtastic Network Operating System v6.0 allows a workstation (running REDIR only) to print network spooled files to its printer. This allows the sharing of multiple printers without the overhead of making the workstation with the printer you wish to share a server. Since the queue is stored on the server machine, even diskless workstations can be Remote Printer Servers. All users, including the RPS machine, wishing to access to printer must NET USE the printer resource (defined on the server). Terms:  Spool - this is the process that occurs on the SERVER that has the @REMOTE printer resource. This server will spool the print jobs. Spooling is the function of writing the file to be printed to this server's hard drive.  Despool - this is the function of sending the file to the printer to be printed. The RPS station "pulls" the file from the server and sends it to the RPS workstation's printer. Changes From LANtastic NOS v5.0 RPD  RPS is an advanced version of the LANtastic 5.0 Remote Printer Despooling program (RPD). With more power comes more responsibility. With RPD you only had to load ONE (1) line, RPS requires 3 distinct and definitive lines to load.  RPS works correctly with Windows. Caveats  RPS will allow you to attach to a resource that does not exist without generating an error. Be sure you are using a valid printer resource.  Print jobs may take up 60 seconds to print.  RPS will load with an incorrect username or password but will not despool jobs. Be sure you are using a valid username and password for RPS.  RPS username and passwords longer than 16 characters are accepted but are truncated past 16 characters. LANtastic NOS usernames and passwords can be no longer than 16 characters. Be sure you are using a valid username and password for RPS.  RPS REQUIRES a username with the D Remote Despooler Privilege.  RPS/DETACH will log a user off a server. This happens with RPS v1.00.03 (you can tell the version of RPS you have by typing RPS/DESCRIBE). ***  Printer Streams and RPS Support MUST be enabled in NET_MGR's Server Startup Parameters, Printing section on the server.  If RPS is loaded on a workstation that is running WordPerfect 6.0 for DOS, the workstation may lock up on exiting from WordPerfect. ***  RPS resets the printer before every print job. ***  After the first RPS line loads each RPS command says --- Remote Printer Server was NOT installed now ---. This is correct behavior when loading the 2nd and 3rd lines for RPS. *** These problems have been solved. You can download RPS v1.00.05 from the Artisoft BBS (520-884-8648). The file to download is NEWNOS.ZIP which contains the newer version of RPS plus fixes for a few other NOS v6.0 problems. Requirements  The RPS username MUST have the D privilege.  The @REMOTE resource on the server MUST be set to Output Device REMOTE.  PRINTING must be ENABLED  RPS Support on the server MUST be ENABLED.  Printer Streams must be ENABLED Note: Streams and RPS Support is located in NET_MGR - Server Startup Parameters - Printing. Restrictions 1] There is a maximum of 8 RPS stations allowed to spool to 1 server. 2] If you use more than 1 RPS workstation for the SAME printer resource, RPS REQUIRES at least 2 printer tasks on the server. It may be beneficial to set 1 task per RPS station. Having only 1 printer tasks will make some printer jobs seem to halt, freeze, or jam. Multiple printer tasks allow for simultaneous printer despooling. 3] If startup or cleanup files are used, the network path for the files must be specified instead of the local path, e.g. C:\SETUP.TXT would be replaced with \\SERVER\C-DRIVE\SETUP.TXT or whatever resource you specify. 4] Operator Notification and Immediate Despooling are not a supported function with RPS. Notes: 1] "STUCK" jobs may have to be manually removed. A stuck job is one that shows in NET as printing - but it isn't. To manually remove the job use NET's View Print Jobs and HALT the job, then delete the job and then START the queue again. You must have the Q Super Queue Privilege on your user account to halt the job. See Page 26 of the LANtastic User's Manual for directions on halting and deleting a print job. 3] It may take up to 60 seconds for the RPS workstation to begin printing a job. 4] After the first RPS line loads, further RPS commands return "---- Remote Print Server was NOT installed now ----". This is fine. As long as the first line installed correctly, this line informs you that it was not RE-installed. 5] When using multiple RPS sessions to despool a single queued resource, the first available printer will print first. During despooling, the RPS workstation will be marked active and other jobs scan down for the next available printer. (See Restrictions above on Printer Tasks) Setting up RPS 컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� On the server: 1] The RPS Username must have at least the D -- Remote Despooler Privilege. The Q - Super Queue Privilege is highly recommended. 2] In NET_MGR, Server Startup Parameters, Printing, be sure RPS Support and Printer Streams are ENABLED. 3] Under NET_MGR, Shared Resource Management: A] Create a resource. Press the key B] Name the resource. Be sure to start with the @ symbol. C] Choose REMOTE as the output device. (Press ) D] Highlight the new resource and press . (Optional) E] Modify any parameters as needed, e.g. characters per second. (Optional) On the RPS workstation: RPS has four command modes: INSTALL, CONFIGURATION, ATTACH/DETACH, GENERAL. RPS must be invoked a minimum of 3 times to load. [see below for optional switches] 1] RPS /USERNAME=(login name) [optional switches] RPS /USERNAME=RPS-1 2] RPS /DEVICE_NAME=name /PORT=port [optional switches] RPS /DEVICE_NAME=RPS-FRED /PORT=LPT1 NOTE: DEVICE_NAME is a unique name you specify and the Port designation should not have the colon (:) on it. 3] RPS /ATTACH PORT-NAME:RESOURCE-NAME RPS /ATTACH LPT1:\\SERVER\@RESOURCE Note: DO NOT put a SPACE between the PORT and the RESOURCE information IMPORTANT: The username you specify on the RPS line will be the one it logs into, even if you previously logged into the server under a different name. This workstation now ONLY has the rights and privileges allotted to the RPS user name. For Example: If you log onto the server as SUPERDUDE with all rights and privileges then set up RPS with a username of RPS-ONLY. You now have ONLY the rights for RPS-ONLY! If you re-log in to the server for any reason with a different username - then that username MUST have the D privilege or RPS will stop. If you do a RPS/DETACH with RPS v1.00.03 you are totally out of the server even if you previously had logged in to the server. See *** above for solution. TROUBLESHOOTING: 컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� RPS WON'T LOAD: 1] Make sure that the RPS workstation is logging into the server with a username that has the D privilege (Q is also recommended). 2] Only 8 RPS stations are allowed to connect to one server. If a station attempts to load RPS and specifies a server that already has eight RPS stations attached, the ninth station will report the error; "ERROR: The server specified cannot accept any more remote despoolers." 3] Make sure the command line syntax is proper. PRINT JOBS ARE NOT PRINTING 1] Make sure the resource on the server is set to type REMOTE, not a physical port. 2] Make sure despooling is enabled on the server and try 2 printer tasks if only 1 is configured. 3] Check for the use of Streams. RPS does not support the use of Streams for an RPS device - so if Streams are being used for other printer devices, be sure an RPS device isn't being controled with Streams. 4] Be Sure Printer STREAMS are ENABLED in NET_MGR. While Streams are not supported for an RPS device (see 3 above) the feature MUST be enabled in NET_MGR on the RPS Server before RPS will despool correctly. 5] Clear Print Jobs From the Queue in NET_MGR's Queue Control Maintenance section. Server cannot be running when you perform this function. SERVER/REMOVE will remove server from memory. A SAMPLE WALK THROUGH TO CREATE RPS 컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� Configuration: Server name: SERVER-REMOTE Remote Resource for RPS: @RPS-1 RPS Workstation: WS1 with a printer physically attached to LPT1 Username: Dave Privileges: AQMUSODN RPS Username: RPS-1 Privileges: DQ RPS DEVICE_NAME=RPS-WS Go to the server.  Run NET_MGR  Add a user account for RPS-1 giving the above rights in INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNT MANAGEMENT.(NOTE: if all users use the same wildcard account give the * account the privileges)  Create a resource under SHARED RESOURCE MANAGEMENT.  Name the resource @RPS-1 choose REMOTE as the Output Device.  Press on @RPS-1 and change the Chars/Second to 10000 - this is not required, but will speed printing.  Enable RPS Support under Server Startup Parameters - Printing. Also be sure that Streams are ENABLED.  Shut down and reboot the Server. Go to the RPS workstation  Start the network  Enter the following:  RPS /USERNAME=RPS-1  RPS /DEVICE_NAME=RPS-WS /PORT=LPT1  RPS /ATTACH LPT1:\\SERVER-REMOTE\@RPS-01 Note: at this time the RPS work station should be able to despool the printer jobs. If you also want to share the printer, you need to net use the printer as well. NET USE LPT1 \\SERV01\@RPS-1 If you don't want to type in the lines each time, you can store the configuration of RPS to a file by: RPS BATCH > RPS-SET.BAT Now you just need to run RPS-SET.BAT to invoke the RPS workstation. NOTE: you will have to edit the file and place the PASSWORD= command in the file if your system requires passwords. ARTISOFT, Inc. makes no warranties as to the completeness or accuracy of this document. LANtastic is a trademark of ARTISOFT, Inc. Brand names, company names, and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies. We have several methods, you can use to receive support. Our normal technical support line is 520-670-7000 (7a-5p MT). You can post a message on CompuServe in the Artisoft Forum. CompuServe is answered in 1 business day (if left before 6am MT). You can post a message on the Arti-Facts BBS @ 520-884-8648 or 520-884-9675 (14.4k) [8,n,1]. For immediate access to a technician, you can contact our Express Service @ $2.50/minute with extended hours of 6a-9p MT and 6a-5p MT on Saturday. Express service can be obtained at 1-900-555-8324 (billed to phone) or 1-800-293-3936 with a valid AmEx, MC, or VISA card. Please Note During Daylight Savings our Times are 1 hour earlier.