HP 3000 Manuals

Creating the Network Printer Configuration File [ Native Mode Spooler Reference Manual ] MPE/iX 5.5 Documentation


Native Mode Spooler Reference Manual

Creating the Network Printer Configuration File 

The network printer configuration file NPCONFIG.PUB.SYS is a flat ASCII
file that the system manager creates and modifies using a text editor.
The purpose of the NPCONFIG file is to supply to the system additional
configuration data about network printers that is not defined in SYSGEN.
The NPCONFIG configuration file is designed to be extensible.  As needed,
for example, when placing a new network printer in service, the system
manager may update the entries in NPCONFIG.

At a minimum, NPCONFIG must have the following information:

   *   An LDEV-specific entry for each network printer.

   *   The printer's network address, which is either its numeric IP
       address or a domain name which the spooler can resolve to its IP
       address.

For example, a complete though minimal entry in NPCONFIG for the network
printer designated as LDEV 19 might be:

     19     (network_address = 192.187.63.25)

Most NPCONFIG files will also have one global entry whose items are
applicable to all network printers.  This makes it convenient to
configure a group of printers that belong to the same "family" since it
is unnecessary to repeat identical configuration items for each LDEV
entry.  (With one exception, setup_file, items found in the LDEV specific
entries take precedence over those in the global entry.)  For example, a
global entry for a group of LaserJet 4Si printers might look like this:
________________________________________________________________________________________
|                                                                                      |
|                                                                                      |
|      global (setup_file = LJ4SISET.HPENV.SYS      # LaserJet 4Si setup file.         |
|              message_interval = 60                # Repeat msgs every >= 60 secs.    |
|              banner_intray = 1                    # Upper tray has colored banner    |
|                                                   #   paper.                         |
|              banner_trailer = FALSE               # Only need a header page.         |
|              pjl_supported = TRUE                 # LJ4Si is a full PJL device.      |
|              jam_recovery = TRUE)                 # Reprints jammed pages by itself. |
|                                                                                      |
________________________________________________________________________________________

            

Any text that follows the pound sign (#) are comments, and can help make
the NPCONFIG file self-documenting.

It isn't necessary to enter values for every possible item in either a
global or LDEV-specific entry.  Items that you do not specify
automatically assume the default values.  The "Items in an NPCONFIG
entry" section, later in this chapter, describes each item in detail and
includes its default value.  For a brief overview of the items, refer to
table 3-2.

For further reference, two sample configuration files and an explanation
of the setup files they reference are included in this chapter.  Read "A
Small Sample Configuration" and "A Large Sample Configuration" for more
information.

Syntax of NPCONFIG entries 

When you add an entry to NPCONFIG, it must conform to a specific syntax.
The entry consists of an entry_id which is either the keyword global for
the one global entry in NPCONFIG, or the LDEV number of the network
printer you are adding to the configuration (without leading zeros).  The
remainder of the entry is composed of keywords which indicate the item
you are defining and the value you assign to it.  So, the syntax of each
entry is:
_________________________________________
|                                       |
|                                       |
|      <entry_id> ( <keyword1>=<value1> |
|                   <keyword2>=<value2> |
|                   ...                 |
|                 )                     |
|                                       |
_________________________________________

            

You may enter individual items in any order, one per line.  Whitespace is
optional except where required to delimit a token.  All text between the
pound sign (#) and the end of the line is treated as comment.

All text is case-insensitive except when it is part of a string.  Thus,
you can type the global entry specification as "GLOBAL", "global",
"GlObAl", or any other combination of upper- and lowercase letters
spelling "global".

For example, here is a global entry which sets the value of only one
item, the poll interval:
_______________________________________
|                                     |
|                                     |
|      global (poll_interval=5)       |
|                                     |
_______________________________________

            

Here is an example of an entry for LDEV 19:
________________________________________________
|                                              |
|                                              |
|      19     (poll_interval = 15              |
|              network_address = 15.13.194.150 |
|              program_file = OUTSPTJ.PUB.SYS) |
|                                              |
________________________________________________

            

Items in an NPCONFIG entry 

The table on the next page briefly describes each of the items used in
the NPCONFIG file and lists the default value.  Following the table, each
of the items is described in detail.

          Table 3-2.  Summary of NPCONFIG File Items 

          Item                                     Definition 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

network_address           Network address of the printer, specified either as an IP
                          address or as a domain name that resolves to an IP address.
                          This item is required.  No default.

TCP_port_number           Port number used by the spooler to establish a TCP
                          connection to the target printer.  Default = 9100.

program_file              Name of the output spooler program file invoked for the
                          network printer.  Default is OUTSPTJ.PUB.SYS.

poll_interval             Initial time interval, in seconds, that the spooler waits to
                          retry connecting to the printer.  Default is 10 seconds.

poll_interval_max         Maximum amount of time, in seconds, that the spooler waits
                          to retry connecting to the printer.  Default is
                          poll_interval.

setup_file                Fully-qualified MPE/iX name of a file containing information
                          for a printer setup string.  No default.

run_priority              Scheduling queue assigned to the output spooler process.
                          Default is CS.

SNMP_get_community_name   The "SNMP Get Community Name" for this printer, which
                          determines who can check printer status.  Default is ALL.

data_timeout              Amount of time, in seconds, that the spooler waits for a
                          specific network I/O request to complete before verifying
                          that the printer and network are functioning correctly.
                          Default is 10 seconds.

snmp_timeout              Amount of time, in seconds, that the spooler waits for a
                          printer status check to complete.  Default is 5 seconds.

snmp_max_retries          Number of times that the spooler should cycle through
                          printer status checking before consulting message_interval
                          to display error/warning messages.  Default is 3.

message_interval          Minimum interval, in seconds, at which a printer status
                          message is redisplayed, as long as it applies.  Default is
                          0, which displays the message only once.

banner_intray             Sends a paper source command to the printer to allow banner
                          pages to be taken from a separate paper tray.  No default.

data_intray               Sends a paper source command to the printer which specifies
                          the paper tray for normal data pages.  No default.

banner_header and         Determines whether or not spool files are printed with a
banner_trailer            header, a trailer, both, or neither.  Default is TRUE. The
                          CI command HEADOFF overrides these settings.

pjl_supported             Specifies whether or not the spooler tests a printer to see
                          if it can effect Page Level Recovery and actual Page Count
                          Logging.  No default.

jam_recovery              Specifies whether or not the spooler invokes its own jam
                          recovery procedure.  Default is FALSE.

socket_trace              When ON (enabled), initiates a socket-level trace of the TCP
                          connection.  Default is OFF.

transport_trace           When ON (enabled), initiates a TCP-level trace of the socket
                          in addition to a socket-level trace of the TCP connection.
                          Default is OFF.

Each of the items that you can use in an network printer entry in the
NPCONFIG configuration file is described below.

          Table 3-3.  Description of NPCONFIG File Items 

          Item            |                         Description 
                          |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          |
network_address           | The network address of the printer, required for
                          | LDEV-specific entries but meaningless if used in a global
                          | entry.  You may specify the address in one of two forms:
                          |
                          |  
                          |    *   As an IP address consisting of four numeric fields in
                          |        the form aaa.bbb.ccc.ddd.  The address may be
                          |        expressed in hexadecimal, octal, or decimal numbers.
                          |
                          |  
                          |    *   As a domain name.  If the aaa field begins with a
                          |        letter, OUTSPTJ interprets value as a domain name,
                          |        and tries to resolve it into an IP address.
                          |  
                          | For more information, read "Entering a numeric IP address
                          | correctly," later in this chapter.     
                          |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          |
TCP_port_number           | An integer between 1 and 32767 (inclusive) that identifies
                          | the port number by which the spooler establishes a TCP
                          | connection to the target printer.  If you specify any other
                          | number (including 0) for TCP_port_number, OUTSPTJ will
                          | replace it with the default value of 9100.  Optional.
                          |  
                          | For example, to configure two printers on ports 2 and 3 of a
                          | JetDirect Ex+3 interface, configure the printer connected to
                          | port 2 with TCP_port_number 9101 and the printer connected
                          | to port 3 with TCP_port_number 9102.     
                          |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          |
program_file              | The name of the output spooler program file invoked for the
                          | TCP/IP network printer, which is OUTSPTJ.PUB.SYS. The
                          | program file name is case-sensitive and must be
                          | fully-qualified.  You may also specify this file name using
                          | POSIX syntax, i.e.  /SYS/PUB/OUTSPTJ. If you enter any other
                          | name for program_file, you will see an error message at
                          | spooler process start time and no spooler process is
                          | created.  (Refer to the "OUTSPTJ.PUB.SYS spooler program
                          | file" section for more information.)  Optional.     
                          |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          |
poll_interval             | If the printer is unavailable to print a file, this is the
                          | initial time interval, in seconds, that the spooler waits
                          | before again attempting to connect to the printer.  The
                          | default is 10 seconds.  If you specify another value, it
                          | must be a positive integer.  Optional.
                          |  
                          | This value only has meaning when the spooler process is not
                          | suspended, when there is a file to print, and when the
                          | printer is busy or unavailable.  This may happen, for
                          | example, if the printer's network interface is powered off
                          | or if another host on the network already has a connection
                          | to the printer.  Do not confuse poll_interval with the
                          | polling performed by many third-party spooling solutions to
                          | determine if a spool file is available for printing.
                          |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

          Table 3-3.  Description of NPCONFIG File Items (cont.) 

                          |
          Item            |                         Description 
                          |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          |
poll_interval_max         | The maximum amount of time, in seconds, that the spooler
                          | waits before again attempting to connect to the printer.
                          | The default is the current value for poll_interval.
                          | Optional.
                          |  
                          | After the spooler fails to establish a network connection to
                          | its printer the first time, it waits the number of seconds
                          | determined by poll_interval before polling the printer
                          | again.  Thereafter, each time it fails to establish the
                          | connection, it increases the poll interval by 25%, up to the
                          | absolute value specified by poll_interval_max.  If the
                          | absolute value of poll_interval_max is less than
                          | poll_interval, the spooler uses the value of poll_interval.
                          |
                          |  
                          | The spooler only uses the absolute value of
                          | poll_interval_max to limit the polling interval.  The sign
                          | preceding the integer (+ or -) determines whether or not a
                          | message that the limit has been reached is displayed on the
                          | console or Associated device.  If you specify a negative
                          | value, the spooler displays a message.  If you specify a
                          | positive value, no message is displayed.     
                          |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          |
setup_file                | The fully-qualified MPE name of a file containing printer
                          | setup information.  The setup file can be either a
                          | bytestream file or a record-oriented file.  If the file is a
                          | record-oriented file, any carriage control (CCTL) byte is
                          | deleted, all leading and trailing blanks of each record are
                          | deleted and the remaining information is concatenated.  The
                          | default is no setup file.
                          |  
                          | If you insert setup_file in the global entry, it applies to
                          | all network print requests (unless the print request
                          | includes its own ENV specification).  If setup_file appears
                          | in an LDEV-specific entry, the contents are appended to any
                          | specification in the global entry unless the print request
                          | includes its own ENV specification.
                          |  
                          | The setup information can be anything that makes sense to
                          | the printer, including complex Printer Command Language
                          | (PCL) sequences or a combination of PCL and Printer Job
                          | Language (PJL) sequences for those printers that support
                          | PJL. The spooler does not check the contents of the setup 
                          | file.  Therefore, users should consult appropriate PCL and
                          | PJL documentation for their printer before attempting to
                          | construct a setup file.
                          |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

          Table 3-3.  Description of NPCONFIG File Items (cont.) 

                          |
          Item            |                         Description 
                          |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          |
run_priority              | The scheduling queue to which the output spooler process is
                          | assigned when it is created.  Acceptable values are BS, CS,
                          | DS, or ES. The default value, CS, is used if you specify any
                          | value other than these choices.
                          |  
                          | Spooler processes for system printers (HP2680, HP5000, etc.)
                          | are created in the BS queue because there are few such
                          | printers on a given system and because they require a
                          | constant stream of data to avoid warmup cycles and
                          | repositioning the paper.  Spooler processes for serial
                          | printers (i.e.  those connected via a DTC) always run in the
                          | CS queue and cannot be reassigned.  Spooler process for
                          | network printers default to the CS queue, but you can assign
                          | them to another one.  When running in the CS queue, spooler
                          | processes compete on an almost equal footing with user
                          | processes ("almost" because they are time-sliced, but as
                          | system processes they do not decay from the base of the CS
                          | queue as user processes do).  However, if you have only a
                          | few serial or network printers, you may choose to run their
                          | spoolers in the BS queue.  Hewlett-Packard generally
                          | recommends that you do not specify the DS or ES queues for
                          | network printers, since the resulting spooler performance
                          | would probably be unacceptable.     
                          |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          |
SNMP_get_community_name   | The JetDirect interface card uses Simple Network Management
                          | Protocol (SNMP) services to retrieve printer status.  SNMP
                          | allows you to restrict access to this retrieval service by
                          | assigning a password using the term "SNMP get community
                          | name." Most system managers allow the printer default "ALL"
                          | to remain in effect, which means that every user can access
                          | printer status.  To ensure that the spooler can retrieve
                          | status information from the printer, set this item to the
                          | printer's "SNMP get community name".  Note that if you set
                          | this item to anything besides ALL, you may wish to restrict
                          | read access to NPCONFIG.PUB.SYS to prevent users from
                          | reading the password.  Optional.
                          |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

          Table 3-3.  Description of NPCONFIG File Items (cont.) 

                          |
          Item            |                         Description 
                          |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          |
data_timeout              | The amount of time, in seconds, that the native mode spooler
                          | waits for a specific network I/O request to complete before
                          | it checks whether or not the printer and network are
                          | operating properly.  This item is one of four that you may
                          | use to determine how network and/or printer problems are
                          | managed.  Default is 10 seconds, but you may enter another
                          | positive integer or 0.  If you enter a value of 0 for
                          | data_timeout, the three other I/O timing items (explained
                          | below) are not used.  Optional.
                          |  
                          | The optimal value for data_timeout depends on the speed of
                          | the printer, the nature of the data (text, graphics,
                          | PostScript), the complexity of the network, and its normal
                          | bandwidth.  For more information, read "Using I/O timing
                          | effectively" later in this chapter.     
                          |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          |
snmp_timeout              | The amount of time, in seconds, that the native mode spooler
                          | waits for an SNMP request to complete before assuming that
                          | it will not do so and continuing.  The default is 5 seconds.
                          | Optional.
                          |  
                          | When the data_timeout expires, the spooler issues a Simple
                          | Network Management Protocol (SNMP) request to check the
                          | status of the printer.  Since the SNMP request also must use
                          | the network, a network problem can also cause the expiration
                          | of data_timeout.     
                          |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          |
snmp_max_retries          | The number of times that the spooler cycles through printer
                          | status checking before consulting message_interval (the next
                          | item) to possibly display error/warning messages.  The
                          | default is 3, but you may enter a positive integer or 0.  A
                          | value of 0 means that such messages are never displayed.
                          |  
                          | Briefly, a single cycle works as follows:  After
                          | transmitting data to the printer, the spooler waits for a
                          | period of time defined by data_timeout.  If that timeout
                          | expires, the spooler issues an SNMP request to retrieve
                          | printer status, then waits a for a period of time defined by
                          | snmp_timeout.  The item snmp_max_retries defines how many
                          | times the spooler executes this cycle before consulting
                          | message_interval.  If the default value of 3 is used, for
                          | example, then the third snmp_timeout causes the spooler to
                          | consult message_interval.     
                          |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          |
message_interval          | Specifies the minimum interval, in seconds, at which a
                          | printer status message (such as "LDEV #6, PAPER OUT") is
                          | displayed on the console or on an associated device, for as
                          | long as the message applies.  Optional.
                          |  
                          | The default message_interval is 0, which displays the
                          | message once, when the condition is detected, and not
                          | thereafter.  You may enter a positive integer.  For example,
                          | if you enter a value of 60 for this item, the PAPER OUT
                          | message will be redisplayed no more than every 60 seconds
                          | until the paper is loaded.
                          |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

          Table 3-3.  Description of NPCONFIG File Items (cont.) 

                          |
          Item            |                         Description 
                          |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          |
banner_intray             | Controls whether or not a PCL Paper Source command is sent
                          | to the printer, allowing banner pages to be taken from a
                          | separate paper tray.  No default.  Optional.
                          |  
                          | The spooler performs no checks on the value you enter for
                          | banner_intray except to verify that it is an integer.  It is 
                          | your responsibility to provide a valid positive value. 
                          | Typical values are 1 (selects the upper tray) or 4 (lower
                          | tray).  Consult your printer's documentation for details.
                          |  
                          | If you enter a positive integer, it is inserted into the PCL
                          | Paper Source command, Esc&l#H, replacing the "#", when a
                          | banner (header or trailer) is printed.  If you omit this
                          | item, no Paper Source command is sent to the printer during
                          | banner printing, and any banner page is then taken from
                          | whichever intray was last used.  If you enter a negative
                          | value or 0, the printer behaves as if the item were omitted.
                          | This allows an LDEV-specific entry to cancel a global entry.
                          |
                          |  
                          | Once selected, the banner page intray is not automatically
                          | deselected to print data, nor can the spooler detect the
                          | tray that was in use prior to the Paper Source command that
                          | selected the banner tray.  If you use the banner_intray
                          | item, you should also specify a value for the next item,
                          | data_intray.  Alternatively, you can include a PCL Paper
                          | Source command that selects your normal data output tray in
                          | your setup_file or in a user-specificed ENV file.
                          |  
                          | If the printer does not support multiple source tray
                          | selection, it ignores any Paper Source command sent to it.
                          | Therefore, it is safe to include this item in the
                          | configuration file for such a printer, especially if you
                          | intend to replace it soon with a printer with multiple
                          | source trays.     
                          |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          |
data_intray               | When used in conjunction with the banner_intray item for a
                          | printer with multiple paper sources, the data_intray item
                          | instructs the printer to take banner pages and data pages
                          | from different intrays.  No default.  Optional.
                          |  
                          | The spooler performs no checks on the value you enter for
                          | data_intray except to verify that it is an integer.  It is 
                          | your responsibility to provide a valid positive value. 
                          | Typical values are 1 (selects the upper tray) or 4 (lower
                          | tray).  Consult your printer's documentation for details.
                          |  
                          | If you enter a positive integer, it is inserted into the PCL
                          | Paper Source command, Esc&l#H, replacing the "#", when a
                          | data page is printed.  If you omit this item, no Paper
                          | Source command is sent to the printer before printing data,
                          | and the paper for data is then taken from whichever intray
                          | was last used.  If you enter a negative value or 0, the
                          | printer behaves as if the item were omitted.  This allows an
                          | LDEV-specific entry to cancel a global entry.
                          |  
                          | If the printer does not support multiple source tray
                          | selection, it ignores any Paper Source command sent to it.
                          | Therefore, it is safe to include this item in the
                          | configuration file for such a printer, especially if you
                          | intend to replace it soon with a printer with multiple
                          | source trays.
                          |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

          Table 3-3.  Description of NPCONFIG File Items (cont.) 

                          |
          Item            |                         Description 
                          |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          |
banner_header             | Used to restrict banner printing to either a header or a
banner_trailer            | trailer, or neither one.  The default is TRUE for both
                          | items, which prints headers and trailers, but you may also
                          | set either or both to FALSE. The values are not
                          | case-sensitive.  Optional.
                          |  
                          | The banner_header and banner_trailer items are only tested
                          | if Headers have been enabled for the device with MPE's
                          | HEADON command.  In other words, setting either item to TRUE
                          | does not override an MPE/iX HEADOFF condition.  However,
                          | setting both items to FALSE renders an MPE/iX HEADON command
                          | meaningless.     
                          |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          |
pjl_supported             | Specifies whether or not the printer supports the necessary
                          | Printer Job Language (PJL) features to effect Page Level
                          | Recovery (PLR) and actual (as opposed to estimated) Page
                          | Count Logging.  Enter a value of FALSE to indicate that the
                          | printer does not support the necessary PJL to do correct PLR
                          | or actual Page Count Logging.  Enter TRUE to indicate that
                          | the printer does support the necessary PJL commands.  (The
                          | values are not case-sensitive.)  To have the spooler
                          | automatically test the printer for PJL support, omit the
                          | item.  No default.  Optional.
                          |  
                          | Be careful not to specify TRUE for a printer that does not
                          | support the required level of PJL. If you do, the spooler
                          | may never complete the print job (since it sends a PJL
                          | request and then waits for a corresponding reply, which it
                          | will never get from a non-PJL device).  Or, if the spooler
                          | does complete the job, the output will be interspersed with
                          | PJL command text generated by the spooler.
                          |  
                          | If you do not need Page Level Recovery or actual Page Count
                          | logging on a printer that supports it, you may wish to set
                          | pjl_supported to FALSE anyway.  If you set this item to TRUE
                          | or if PJL support is discovered automatically, there may be
                          | a noticeable delay between printing the header and data, or
                          | between printing the data and the trailer.
                          |  
                          | When you are configuring a LaserJet IIIsi, set the
                          | pjl_supported item to FALSE (instead of TRUE or instead of
                          | omitting the item altogether).  The LaserJet IIIsi printer
                          | supports only a primitive level of PJL, not a full
                          | implementation.     
                          |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          |
jam_recovery              | Specifies whether or not the printer has its own jam
                          | recovery procedure.  The default, FALSE, indicates that the
                          | printer does not have its own recovery procedure and, when a
                          | jam occurs, will rely upon the spooler's.  Optional.
                          |  
                          | If your printer is configured with enough memory to reprint
                          | any pages lost due to a paper jam (with no help from the
                          | host), you should set this item to TRUE. Note, however, that
                          | if you specify TRUE, and the printer does not recover from a
                          | jam on its own, data may be lost.  (This is why the more
                          | conservative value (FALSE) is the default--output may be
                          | duplicated but should never be lost.)
                          |  
                          | If you adopt the default value or set jam_recovery to FALSE,
                          | you may get duplicate pages of output, especially if the
                          | printer does not support Page Level Recovery and has to
                          | restart the print job from the beginning of the file.
                          |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

          Table 3-3.  Description of NPCONFIG File Items (cont.) 

                          |
          Item            |                         Description 
                          |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          |
socket_trace              | Specifies whether or not socket-level tracing is on.  The
                          | default is OFF. Optional.
                          |  
                          | When this item is ON (enabled), it initiates a socket-level
                          | trace of the TCP connection.  Socket-level tracing is useful
                          | when you suspect that the problem is in the bytestream of
                          | data sent to the printer as opposed to a problem that may be
                          | occuring at the TCP transport layer.  (If you suspect that
                          | the problem is related to networking, using the
                          | transport_trace item, described next.)
                          |  
                          | To format the data you receive from a socket trace, use the
                          | NMDUMP utility and, when prompted, specify subsystem number
                          | 5 (sockets).     
                          |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          |
transport_trace           | Specifies whether or not TCP-level tracing is on.  The
                          | default is OFF. Optional.
                          |  
                          | When this item is ON (enabled), it initiates a TCP-level
                          | trace of the socket in addition to a socket-level trace of
                          | the TCP connection.  Transport-level tracing is useful when
                          | you suspect problems with transport level software or, for
                          | example, if you need to identify TCP port numbers and/or
                          | connection parameters on either your local or the remote
                          | systems.
                          |  
                          | To format the data you receive from a transport trace, use
                          | the NMDUMP utility and, when prompted, specify subsystem
                          | number 3 (NetTransport).
                          |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Making changes to NPCONFIG 

The spooler process for each configured network printer reads the
NPCONFIG file once, briefly, when it first starts executing.  This occurs
when the system first boots if the LDEV is configured as OS or "output
spooled" in SYSGEN. The spooler also reads the NPCONFIG file whenever a
user starts a spooler process by issuing either a SPOOLER nn;START or a
STARTSPOOL nn for the printer.

You may edit the NPCONFIG file at any time.  The changes will take effect
on a particular LDEV the next time that the spooler process starts for
that printer.  The changes will have no effect on a spooler process that
is already executing.

To change the network printer configuration for a spooler process that is
currently running, follow these steps:

   1.  Open the file NPCONFIG.PUB.SYS in the editor of your choice and
       modify the entry as needed.

   2.  Save your changes to the file and exit the text editor.

   3.  Issue the STOPSPOOL or SPOOLER <ldev>; STOP command for the LDEV
       whose configuration you need to modify.

   4.  Issue the STARTSPOOL or SPOOLER <ldev>; START command for the
       LDEV.

Errors in NPCONFIG 

If you enter a value in NPCONFIG that does not meet the requirements for
that particular option, OUTSPTJ will replace the erroneous value with the
default, and display a message about the replacement.

For example, suppose you enter a number that is not within the proper
range for poll_interval, which is 1 to 2147483647.  When this error is
encountered, the output spooler substitutes the default value of 10 and
displays a message similar to this:
_______________________________________________________________________
|                                                                     |
|                                                                     |
|      Output spooler, LDEV #19:  Check NPCONFIG.  The valid range of |
|      item "poll_interval" is 1 to 2147483647.                       |
|      The spooler will use the default value, 10.                    |
|      Native Mode Spooler message 9041                               |
|                                                                     |
_______________________________________________________________________

            

Or, for example, if you enter a value other than TRUE or FALSE for an
NPCONFIG item that requires a binary setting, the output spooler
substitutes the default value and responds with another kind of message.
For example:
____________________________________________________________________
|                                                                  |
|                                                                  |
|      Output spooler, LDEV #19:  Check NPCONFIG.  Valid values of |
|      item "pjl_supported" are TRUE and FALSE.                    |
|      The spooler will use the default value, FALSE.              |
|      Native Mode Spooler message 9042                            |
|                                                                  |
____________________________________________________________________

            

Security and the configuration files 

You create the NPCONFIG.PUB.SYS with the same security matrix as a
typical file in the PUB group of the SYS account.  As a result, only
users with SM capability or a user logged on in PUB.SYS can make changes
to the file or to its security matrix.  If you plan to add an ACD to the
file, do so only after careful consideration of its impact.

The security matrix for files in PUB.SYS are also appropriate for any
setup files specified in NPCONFIG.PUB.SYS. This matrix allows any user to
read the files, but prevents the user from changing or purging them.  It
isn't necessary, however, to store setup files in PUB.SYS. You can place
them in any group, account, or hierarchical directory since you must
enter their fully-qualified file names in NPCONFIG anyway; for example,
setup_file = LJPORTRT.HPENV.SYS.

Here is the standard security matrix for NPCONFIG.PUB.SYS, which is also
appropriate for your setup files.
_________________________________________________________
|                                                       |
|                                                       |
|      FILE: NPCONFIG.PUB.SYS                           |
|                                                       |
|      ACCOUNT ------  READ : ANY                       |
|                     WRITE : AC                        |
|                    APPEND : AC                        |
|                      LOCK : ANY                       |
|                   EXECUTE : ANY                       |
|                                                       |
|      GROUP --------  READ : ANY                       |
|                     WRITE : GU                        |
|                    APPEND : GU                        |
|                      LOCK : ANY                       |
|                   EXECUTE : ANY                       |
|                      SAVE : GU                        |
|                                                       |
|      FILE ---------  READ : ANY        FCODE: 0       |
|                     WRITE : ANY      **SECURITY IS ON |
|                    APPEND : ANY        NO ACDS        |
|                      LOCK : ANY                       |
|                   EXECUTE : ANY                       |
|                                                       |
_________________________________________________________

            



MPE/iX 5.5 Documentation