Return to BSD News archive
Xref: sserve comp.os.vms:92322 comp.sys.cdc:687 comp.sys.sun.admin:35420 comp.unix.admin:22245 comp.unix.bsd:14701 comp.unix.sys5.r4:8198 Newsgroups: comp.os.vms,comp.sys.cdc,comp.sys.sun.admin,comp.unix.admin,comp.unix.bsd,comp.unix.sys5.r4 Path: sserve!newshost.anu.edu.au!harbinger.cc.monash.edu.au!msuinfo!agate!howland.reston.ans.net!vixen.cso.uiuc.edu!sdd.hp.com!saimiri.primate.wisc.edu!relay!relay2!towenpc.nswc.navy.mil!towen From: towen@relay.nswc.navy.mil (Thomas Owen - K104) Subject: Enterprise-Wide Network Printing Administration Solution Message-ID: <towen.94.01363A1F@relay.nswc.navy.mil> Sender: news@relay Organization: Code K104, Naval Surface Warfare Center X-Newsreader: Trumpet for Windows [Version 1.0 Rev B] Date: Wed, 24 Aug 1994 18:23:01 GMT Lines: 39 We are developing an Enterprise-Wide Network Printing Strategy/Solution that will allow the users on any platform to access any printer to which they are authorized. This solution will most likely rely upon numerous networked multi-protocol print servers that are accessed by various platforms including Novell clients, Unix (BSD and System V) clients, UNIX (BSD and System V) application servers, and standalone desktop workstations (e.g., IBM PC or MacIntosh). This system is envisioned to encompass at least 1500 printers and a similar number of clients and application servers. One of the major problems will be in the administration of the printcaps, queues, etc., in the UNIX environment and desktop workstation environment. Novell servers will allow the user to select any printer from a single menu tree that includes all resources from all servers. Adding or deleting a printer can be accomplished by a single administrative action (at a single location or on each server as appropriate) with the results automatically distributed to the participating servers as required. However, there does not appear to be a similar capability in the UNIX environment. It is not feasible to have 1500 printcap entries on every client or application server especially if all need to be updated via a non-automatic means. Has anyone attempted to solve this problem or have any information that may be helpful? Any help would be greatly appreciated. In addition, there are several hosts that are VMS based and are running Wollongong TCPIP software. Again, any help here would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance, Tom Owen =================================================================== Thomas F. Owen Naval Surface Warfare Center towen@relay.nswc.navy.mil Dahlgren Division Work: (703) 663-7614 17320 Dahlgren Road Fax: (703) 663-7999 Dahlgren, VA 22448-5100