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Date:	Tue, 9 Oct 2001 11:44:54 PDT
From:	"J. R. Fox" <jr_fox@pacbell.net >
Reply-To:	scoug-help@scoug.com
To:	scoug-help@scoug.com
Subject:	SCOUG-Help: Print Server Obtuseness (mine)

Content Type: text/plain

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Steve Carter wrote me offline, and I'm also posting my reply here
(hope he doesn't mind), as it
will shortcut any reply I might have made to Peter or anyone else
on the list who has recently
attempted to clue me in on this question.

Steve Carter wrote:

> OOPS!
> It's lower case, instlpr.exe !!!
> [Sorry, I got too clever for my own good.]
> ... and it works here!
> It's 817K, and I'll mail it to anyone who asks (privately).

Thanks, Steve -- Got it. This is the one for Win-9x, right ?

>> Sounds like the SMC won't suffice for the 2 workstation,
>> 2 printer, all-sharing situation I described.

> But 1+2=3, and you get four from the SMC7004! One input port
> and FOUR output ports!
> Well, I was talking about 2 workstations, each able to use
either
> of two printers, at will.

> The built-in printserver uses a dedicated parallel connector,
> leaving an RJ-45 network connection free. You could have three

> print servers and two printers, or three computers and two
print
> servers, as long as you use the built-in SMC print server.

I'm afraid I must be awfully dense when it comes to hardware, or
else I just don't quite follow you here. Maybe I need a diagram
. .
. . (Crude line-draw Ascii illustration accepted.)
What is going into the SMC input port, and from where ? If there

is just one Parallel connection at the SMC, the other printer is
left
out, No ? Unless one of the printers has a network printer card
inside it (for the available Ethernet connector you mentioned),
and
they don't. I didn't really follow Peter's explanation either.
(Sorry, Peter.)

> Maybe I'd be better off getting them a separate
> multi-port print-server box. But it seems as though the add-on

> piece of s/w will be necessary also. If the SMC cd comes with
the
> print server for Win-9x, is that going to be proprietary & only

> for the SMC box ?

> Maybe, but I'm not sure. I think not, but I didn't test it.
> You can have several of these tcp/ip printer apps in any case.
> I've got three: SMC, IBM and a Cannon app I tried out, but
> don't now use. They don't seem to conflict with each other.

>> Do I need a separate print server utility (driver) for each
>> workstation ?

> You'll have to install the tcp/ip printer application on each
Win9x
> workstation. Win9x doesn't support TCP/IP printing
out-of-the-box.

O.K. I think this much I got.

> You might need a different application for each print server,
> installed on each Win9x computer that needs to print to it. I
> used the SMC application only with the SMC, and the IBM with
both
> the HP170x and the Digi 3400x.

I gather you are referring to the InstLPR thingie ? If I could
get
by with just the SMC print server functionality (in h/w), that
would
be great.

So you are using multiple print server boxes in this setup ? I'm

also still not clear on how the print server app.s are leveraged
together -- and esp. together with the h/w print device(s).

> I like the IBM lpr program I referred to. I've used it on two
> different print servers, and based on that limited experience,
> it seems like it should work on any TCP/IP print server.
Remember,
> Win-printers will not work on a print server. (They're too
stupid.)

The users at this future home-office installation have avoided
Win
printers thus far, on my advice. I believe they have a Deskjet
840c
inkjet, and will be adding some sort of HP laser, possibly an
older,
used, 4-series model.

>> Each could conceivably have its own lpr program in Windoze,
>> because 'doze 9x doesn't come with it, you have to add it.

> Yes. The application on the SMC CD works fine with the SMC.
> I used the IBM lpr for the other print servers. Mabe not
> necessary, but it helps me keep them straight.

I'm getting lost in the ozone here. Better send that diagram.

Jordan

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