Setting up NT to accept Unix print jobs.

See also: http://www.aplawrence.com/Unixart/netprint.html

Using the printer on the NT Box

One of the simpler options is to use LPD/LPR.

On the NT machine:

• Make sure the printer works from NT and is set as shared.

• Make sure 'Microsoft TCP/IP Printing' is installed (look in Control Panel -> Network -> Services).
  If not use the Add option to extract it from the cd - and reboot.

• Use the Control Panel -> Services -> TCP/IP Print and set to Automatic then start it.

• You may also need to add a dword registry key to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\LPDSVC\Parameters. Run regedit (just click Start->Run and type "regedit"), and then click down through to parameters. Then add a new dword value called "SimulatePassThrough", and finally modify it so its value is "1". This lets the Unix side format the data without NT deciding it knows better what to do with it.

On the Unix Machine:

• Ensure you can 'ping' the NT server by NAME as well as IP address.

• Make sure the RLP package is installed, (check to see if the directory /usr/spool/lpd exists.)
  If it does, remote printing probably was configured. Don't run it twice.

• Run rlpconf (or scoadmin printer manager) and add the printer.

• If you are planning to print large documents (> 1Mb) then make sure you add mx#0 to the printer definition in /etc/printcap
  (See: http://www.sco.com/cgi-bin/ssl_reference?640234 )

• Once you have a remote printer defined, you can use the command rlpstat printer-name to find out what is happening. Or if you prefer, you have a directory /usr/spool/lpd, and a directory for each printer within that. In those directories you will find "status" files which may help you understand any problems that come up.

Using the printer on the Unix Box

On the NT machine:

• Make sure 'TCP/IP Printing' is running (see above section)
• Add a New printer with the options:
  • My Computer -> Add Port -> LPR Port -> Name of Unix Box -> Name of Unix printer -> Tick the new port -> Follow Bouncing Ball.

On the Unix Machine:

• Make sure RLP is installed (see above).
• Run rlpconf (or scoadmin printer manager) and add the printer.
• Add an entry into /etc/hosts.lpd for the nt machine.

Related SCO TA's:

http://www.sco.com/cgi-bin/ssl_reference?640225 I've run rlp twice (Pre OSR 5)
http://www.sco.com/cgi-bin/ssl_reference?640258 Root can print but normal users can't
http://www.sco.com/cgi-bin/ssl_reference?640234 Copy too large

Comments and suggestions always welcome - tom@tkrh.demon.co.uk