Net print que don't start

[Antoniov.]

Hello,
gone to my customer;
OpenVMS V7.1-2;
TCP/IP V5.0A;
DCPS V1.5;

AXP has IP x.x.x.220; mask 255.255.255.0;
Xerox printer has IP x.x.x.213; same mask;

created new que using dcps$execution_queue command:
P1 (queue_name) = xerox6200;
P2 (dev) = axpnode::"ip_rawtcp/x.x.x.213:9100"
P3 (lib) = DCPS_LIB;

I want create a new que to postscript network printer. When issue PRINT/QUE=XEROX6200 ... que goes busy, entry goes in starting, printer display receiving data and then doesn't happen nothing!

If I send a file using ftp COPY/FTP myfile xerox:: data is printed.

Where do I wrong? What have I do?

Thanx 4 your suggestions.
Antoniov

[Martin P.J. Zinser]

Hello Antoniov,

I do not have all the details, but I think this is a problem connected to the end of file mark
(^D maybe). A Google might turn up more...

Greetings, Martin

[Ian Miller.]

does that printer respond to port 9100? Often LPD is used to Xerox printers. You can check by using telnet x.x.x.213 9100
Check in release notes of the version of DCPS you have to see if that Xerox printer is recogised.

[Antoniov.]

Hi Martin,
DCPS is a standard VMS product (until toody I've never used) to print file so I think it no need insert EOF in file.
Hi Ian,
Now I can't try telnet because I've returned to my office; tomorrow I'll post you the result.
Thanx
Antoniov

[Martin P.J. Zinser]

Hello Antoniov,

from your description " printer display receiving data" so I think we can be pretty sure it is actually listening on port 9100.

Greetings, Martin

[Antoniov.]

Yes Martin,
I've looked at some PCs that print fine; in their driver, port is 9100.
Today in the afternoon (CET timezone) I'll return to my customer to make other tries.

Thanx
Antoniov

[Willem Grooters]

Antonio,
I don't know the printer, saw on the Xerox site it's specs, and I think you ran into a "comptability" issue. Given the fact that COPY/FTP works and DCPS will just send the file, this _could_ mean that COPY will signal the printer to start printing but that the command to start printing as sent by DCPS, is either not recognized by the (non-HP....) printer or just fails. For what I know of DCPS, it's mainly for HP printers (even before Digital was aquired by Compaq) so that may be your problem.
Another hint: in my early days I ran into a printer that buffered the input but started printing after it was _manually_ forced to do so, or by a buffer being filled up (it then printed the whole file...). IMHO this is an error in the printer's software, should long be addressed, but you never know...

[Åge Rønning · Accepted solution]

DCPS V1.5 is very old and I would suggest you upgrade to latest version. Support for many printers have been added since V1.5.

If you need LPD support I would suggest trying the Field Test of DCPS G2.3 which is available on the net.

The major feature of this release is the addition of LPD support. Printing via LPD allows printing to printers that don't support bi-directional IP communications.

Kit and information could be found here:

ftp://xfer.support.compaq.com/to_customer/

where is the name of the file you want to copy. Note that you cannot browse the contents of the 'to_customer' directory, but must specify the file name:

dcps_g23_alpha.zip
dcps_g23_vax.zip
dcps_g23_documentation.zip
dcps_g23_documentation_bookreader.zip

[Vouters]

Antoniov,

There is something which seems to be a double possibility. The COPY/FTP, unless I am wrong, uses the assigned FTP ports (should be 21 and 24). Your printer is assigned port 9100. To make it sure, can you use the Telnet utility to:
TELNET> CREATE_SESSION using a TNA device number, your Xerox IP hostname or addresss and port 9100. Then you copy your file to TNAxxxx:. Does it work ? If yes, just TELNET> DELETE_SESSION xxxx.
Then with the Xerox printer declared in DCPS, attempt to:
TCPTRACE /PORT=9100.
Does it help you in troubleshooting the problem ? Do you see a FLAG FIN=1 in the dialog with the printer ?
These are just some clues I would first look at, as I am NOT a DCPS specialist.

[Martin P.J. Zinser]

Hi Age,

I thought about the 2.3 kit too, but is that supported on 7.1-2 ?

Greetings, Martin

[Antoniov.]

Thank to all!
My customer has changed our meeting to tomorrow because today in Italy have calculate the VAT tax!
So I cannot execute any command.
Martin, I wrong to read your post: perhaps the problem is a end of comunication.
Willen, reading your post I remember that DCPS required bidirectional handshare; so this printer could be recognized by DCPS.
And Age, DCPS V1.5 is very old. I would prefer don't change any software because I'll have check compatibilty issue; VMS is V7.1-2, upgrading required time and time and my customer is not happy of this. If DCPS V2 work on V7.1 I can upgrade it.
Philippe, I will your suggestion tomorrow.
Non I not assign points until I'll tried.

Thanks again
Antoniov

[Åge Rønning]

Hi Martin,
official support for OpenVMS Alpha V6.2, V7.2-2, V7.3, V7.3-1 and V7.3-2.

Since it's working on V6.2 I presume the list reflects the versions having either standard support or Prior Version Support. This is the version sw is checked against, But I wouldn't expect any problems on V7.1-2. See http://www.hp.com/hps/os/os_pvs_eur.html for details on supported OpenVMS versions.

So when mentioning DCPS upgrade earlier on I should also have mentioned OpenVMS version....

[Antoniov.]

Hi to all,
after download Age's files, read documentation; manager guide referring TCP/IP raw printer (as xerox I've used) tell: when printer que remain in starting means wrong port number or compatibility issue. Port 9100 is right (as I've seen on PC and also it's most common printer port).
I've not seen xerox in compatibily list but I download DCPS V2.3 so tomorrow I'll install it on server.
I read DCPS can work on OpenVMS since V6.2.

Bye
Antoniov
P.S.
Age, thank for link.

[Dieter Rossbach]

I run DCPS with "foreign" printers without any problem.

DCPS Version 2.1

Don't forget to define the system wide logical

"DCPS$XEROX6200_NO_SYNC" = "TRUE"

otherwise DCPS tries to start a "dialog" with the printer before sending data, and that might not work with the lpd on AXP

Regards

Dieter

[Antoniov.]

Hi Didier,
your post work!
Hi Age,
I've upgradated DCPS.
10 pts well used!
Thanx to all.