HPUX Printing

[Rpger Tavener]

Does anyone have any opinions on using Distributed Print Services as opposed to using LP with Jetadmin to connect to Jet direct connected printers. We are looking for the easiest way to manage these printers. Any ideas would be appreciated.

Thanks

[Alan Riggs]

I find managing printers through jetadmin to be the easier and more convenient choice. Most admins I have spoken to feel the same.

[nnf97]

I was reading this link http://us-support2.external.hp.com/cki/bin/doc.pl/sid=f5bbc313041dc707ec/screen=ckiDisplayDocument?docId=200000024625600
What I gather is if the setup is really huge, go with DPS, and if it is smaller which use JetAdmin.
Also, if security is a concern, DPS would be a better bet.
Regards,
Nabeel

[Matthew Cherry]

Unless you intend to install and administer DCE you will not utilize the full potential of HPDPS. On the other hand the lp spooler will happily administer local, network and remote printers. In addition I would say that in general lp allows far easier administration of a printers.

[Tim Malnati]

I was going to write a lengthy post about all the resaons why not to use HPDPS, but I decided to keep it short instead. Here are the three big strikes against it:

It is a power pig! The software efficiency is the worst I've seen (even makes Microsoft look good).

It uses the SAM interface which makes it unreasonably cumbersome and slow in use.

HP support for the product is poor! Many HP printers are not directly supported (and certainly not non HP printers), JetAdmin is not integrated, and the printer side of the HP house (cposupport) isn't even aware of the product (let alone support it).

[Al Langen]

I have seen the best and the worst of print servers in my life. The best: lp under hp-ux.

As far as creating and administering print queues, jetadmin makes the job super easy. It makes me feel guilty to get paid for adding print queues.

[Mike Keighley]

Although I would not argue with what has been said about lp and jetadmin being easier, I would like to redress the balance by pointing out that HPDPS does have some plus points:

Support for multiple stationery types (via the "media-ready" print attribute.

The same printer script can be used regardless of whether you are connecting locally, via tcpip/jetadmin or via tcpip/bsd. This is important to us, as we heavily customise scripts, and use multiple connection types.

Load balancing across > 1 physical printer.

Proactive notification of backlogs.