RE: [WinMac] JetDirect names change: Mac printing

PetersJB@nswccd.navy.mil
Fri, 14 May 1999 12:17:27 -0400

Doug,

Under similar conditions, I've used two techniques to address the problems
you've outlined: First, if your network has been configured with multiple
AppleTalk zones, assign the printer (or print queue) to an appropriate zone.
This avoids clustering so many printers into the default zone. Second, I
try to give a printer similar but not identical names for it's various
identities.

For instance, the out-of-the-box default name for an LJ 4000 using the
AppleTalk protocol might be "HP LaserJet 4000 Series". As you've seen, as
each similar printer is brought on-line subsequently, the "1", "2", etc. is
appended to make the network identity of any printer in a zone be unique.
If I rename the printer (via LaserJet Utility) to "LJ 4000, Code 5500", then
if the printer is offered through a print queue I might name it "LJ 4000,
Code 5500 (Q)". Similar names are given to appearances under NetWare or
when using HPs network printing apparatus.

We have dozens of printers on our network and I see 15 generically named
LaserJet 4000 printers in the Chooser. I can't imagine trying to identify
the one I want. The half-dozen I've renamed and re-zoned are easy to find
and use along with their NT print queue counterparts.

Hope this helps.
________________________________________________________________________
Brooks Peters (301) 227-1243 (voice)
NSWC - Carderock Division (301) 227-5930 (fax)
Code 5500 (Bldg. 18, Rm. 127) mailto:PetersJB@nswccd.navy.mil
9500 MacArthur Blvd.
West Bethesda, MD 20817-5700

> ----------
> From: Parker, Douglas
> Sent: Friday, May 14, 1999 9:53 AM
> Subject: [WinMac] JetDirect names change: Mac printing
>
> I've read the FAQ--this isn't in it.
>
> I have a mix of Macs and WIN95/NT systems in an environment with NT
> servers.
> Printers are connected to HP JetDirects. WIN systems print through the NT
> print server to the printers--no problems there. Our Macs had been
> printing
> through NT also, but that's been disabled--now the Macs print directly to
> the printer via AppleTalk through the JetDirects.
>
> But we're having big problems with the naming of the JetDirects: If the NT
> queue is called ABC, and if the JetDirect is named ABC (SFM is not enabled
> on the NT print server--I'm pretty sure that's right--the Mac output goes
> directly to the JetDirect and never touches the NT queue), then after a
> period of time (weeks) the JetDirect renames itself to either one of two
> things:
>
> 1) ABC1
> or
> 2) HP LaserJet Series n
>
> where n is some integer. The value for n never stays consistent from
> printer
> to printer. It's obviously picking up the next integer available as it
> resets its name on the fly, or as you power cycle the printer.
>
> We need to pin down a permanent name for our printers so our Macs can
> print.

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