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READ.ME
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2000-05-15
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IBM Network Printer
Resource Utility
(IBM NPRU)
for OS/2
NPRU Version 2.09
Portions Copyright (c) IBM Corporation 1996, 1998, 1999
Portions Copyright (c) JADTech Corporation 1996
Portions Copyright (c) Armadillo Software Corporation 1996
Welcome to the IBM Network Printer Resource Utility (NPRU)
for these IBM Printers:
- IBM Network Printer 12
- IBM Network Printer 17
- IBM Network Printer 24
- IBM InfoPrint 20
- IBM InfoPrint 32
- IBM InfoPrint 40
This readme file contains information you need to install the
IBM NPRU. This file also contains additional information not
included in the product documentation.
Contents:
This readme file is divided into the following sections:
Overview
Software Requirements
How the NPRU Works
NPRU's Limitations
Getting Started
Setting Up the NPRU on a Network
Making a Custom Install Directory
Setting Up Non-Administrative Systems
Installing the IBM NPRU
Correcting Mistakes Made During Installation
Removing the IBM NPRU
Service and Technical Support
Hints and Tips
Overview:
The OS/2 IBM Network Printer Resource Utility (NPRU) provides
for administration and control of PCL and PostScript printer
resources. It lets you manage printer resources, including
user-supplied fonts and overlays, using the storage options
available on your printer such as RAM, flash memory, and hard
disk.
Installing the NPRU is optional. If the NPRU is not installed,
the driver for the IBM Network Printer is fully functional,
except that it will not manage user-supplied fonts and overlays.
The driver will be able to access NPRU resources if your systems
administrator sets up a shared NPRU path for your company, and
you set the NPRU path with the SETNPRU command supplied on the
installation diskette.
Software Requirements:
The IBM NPRU driver works with these OS/2 versions:
- OS/2 Warp (3.0) or higher
- OS/2 2.11 with the IBM CSD B103 or later.
You can obtain the fix pack for OS/2 2.11 (IBM CSD B103)
with the latest version of the driver on the home page for
IBM Printing Systems: http://www.printers.ibm.com
Note, however, that OS/2 2.11 is no longer supported by
IBM OS/2 technical support.
How the NPRU Works:
The NPRU can manage resources only for printers that have drivers
that support NPRU functions. The driver must communicate with the
NPRU database to obtain information about user fonts and overlays.
For example, the driver needs to output special font-selection
codes for a user-supplied font. Only a driver that is aware of
NPRU fonts and overlays will be able to obtain user-supplied font
information and generate the proper output codes.
Your company can use the IBM NPRU to place fonts and overlays
into an inventory that is available to all printers in the
network. Users can then configure individual printers with the
desired capabilities.
For example, your company may have forms for purchase orders,
shipping, order entry, and manufacturing. All of these forms
can be placed in the NPRU database. Once there, the purchase
order forms can be loaded permanently on your printers in the
accounting department; shipping forms on the printers in the
shipping department; order entry forms on the printers supporting
order entry; and work orders on the printers nearest the
manufacturing floor. Each printer can be loaded with the resources
for its intended use from one NPRU.
In addition, the administrative offices may have several
"private" printers that users can manage independently each
with their own NPRU installed locally.
NPRU's Limitations:
The NPRU is not designed to solve all of the printer-management
problems that can arise in an enterprise. It is designed to
provide administration and control of user-supplied printer
resources. The NPRU only manages user-supplied fonts and
overlays. It does not manage the OS/2 spools or printer objects
for a group.
The NPRU does not automatically synchronize printer properties
throughout the group. For example, the NPRU cannot determine
whether a font download succeeded because it can't query the
printer for font information.
The NPRU does not manage printer names within the system. The
network-systems administrator is responsible for ensuring that
each workstation is configured with the proper set of print
objects for a particular user.
In order to use the NPRU in a LAN environment to share resources
with multiple users, the NPRU database must reside on the path that
is accessible to all users. The easiest way to meet this requirement
is to assign a consistent drive and sub-directory throughout the
network. For example, R:\IBMNPRU could be assigned as the main
<NPRU path>. In this case, all NPRU-managed resources in the system
are accessible to all users.
Getting Started:
There are two types of IBM NPRU users: administrative and
non-administrative. An administrative user can update the NPRU
font and overlay inventories. A non-administrative user can
access the font and overlay information for printer, but cannot
update the inventory.
Usually, the administrative user is a network-systems
administrator or power user. Administrative users have the need
to create, install, or manage network printer resources.
Non-administrative users are all other users of the network
printer resources.
If you are a non-administrative user of network resources, you
should consult with your company's network-systems administrator
for the proper way to use the NPRU at your facility. Your systems
administrator may assign a range of font and overlay IDs for your
use and can instruct you on how to set up the NPRU resource path
for your driver.
If you are a network-systems administrator, a good first step is
to install a private copy of the NPRU and become familiar with
its functions before attempting to set up a large network. The
installation disk provided with your printer will install the
NPRU. Install the NPRU in the directory of your choice and use
the NPRU with a printer that is not currently being managed by
any other copies of the NPRU. This will make a "privately"
managed printer.
If the printer is shared by several people who are using NPRU
functions, each user should be assigned his own range of font
IDs and overlay IDs for any permanently assigned resources,
such as permanent RAM or disk. Make sure that each user working
with assigned IDs selects the "Override ID" checkbox when adding
resources.
Setting Up the NPRU on a Network:
If you are a non-administrative user, you need to see your
network-systems administrator before attempting to install
the NPRU.
If you are a network-systems administrator, your first step is
to set up the network and test that it is configured properly.
The assumption is that you are adding NPRU capable printers and
printer drivers to an existing network.
Next, plan the location for the NPRU database so that all users
can share your resources.
Assign unique print object titles to each printer in your
network, and use these titles when installing the drivers on
each user's system. The NPRU manages printers using the OS/2
"Object title" of the printer, so it is important to install
printer drivers and create printer objects for each printer
with the same OS/2 "Object title" on all systems.
It is anticipated that a network-systems administrator would
install a driver and the NPRU on an administrative system with
the installation diskettes that came with the printer. Then,
the system administrator could make a custom installation
directory (or diskette) for installing the driver on
non-administrative systems and for linking these drivers to
the NPRU inventory files.
Making a Custom Install Directory:
You can use a custom install directory to set up
non-administrative workstations.
Create a new directory that is accessible to the workstations.
This may be a directory on the administrative system that can
be NFS mounted by the workstations, or it may be a custom
installation diskette.
1. If applicable, copy any network configuration files that need
to be updated on the workstation to that install directory.
2. Copy the files located on the driver installation diskette
to the custom install directory. Be sure to copy the
SETNPRU.EXE program as well as the driver files.
3. If a batch file is used to update the network configuration,
add the following command to the end of the batch file:
SETNPRU <NPRU path>
where <NPRU path> represents the path of the NPRU
inventory resource files.
Example: SETNPRU R:\IBMNPRU
where R:\IBMNPRU is the path to the root
inventory directory.
Note: NFS may perform case sensitive string comparisons
on file names. When using NFS, it is important to
avoid problems by using case consistent strings for all
printer names and file paths.
The custom installation directory is now ready to use to set up
the non-administrative systems.
Setting Up Non-Administrative Systems:
If a batch file is used, run the batch file to update any
network configurations and to set the NPRU path.
If a batch file is not used, edit any necessary network
configuration files and enter the following command to set the
NPRU inventory resource path:
SETNPRU <NPRU path>
where <NPRU path> represents the path of the NPRU
inventory resource files.
Example: SETNPRU R:\IBMNPRU
where R:\IBMNPRU is the path to the root
inventory directory.
In either case, use the OS/2 Templates folder to install the
driver and create a printer object for each printer. See the
readme file on the printer driver diskette for installation
instructions.
Configure each printer object and spool to match your company's
physical configuration. Be sure to set up the proper printer
features in the "Printer properties" notebook. Also, set up the
output configuration for the spool to match your configuration.
If the network configuration changes require rebooting, reboot
the system.
The workstation will now access the NPRU inventory data.
Installing the IBM NPRU:
Before you install the IBM NPRU, read all the information in
this readme file.
To begin installation, place the installation diskette into
your source drive (represented by a:). Type "a:\install",
and press Enter. You will be guided through the installation
process.
Correcting Mistakes Made During Installation:
You can always reset the path for the NPRU by running the
SETNPRU.EXE program on a workstation.
Print object titles can be changed using the "Settings"
and "Properties" of your print object.
Removing the IBM NPRU:
To remove the IBM NPRU and its associated files from your
system, place the installation diskette into your a: drive,
type "a:\install", and press Enter. You will be guided
through the process to remove the NPRU.
Service and Technical Support:
For Technical Support of this product, use any of these:
- Access the home page for IBM Printing Systems using this
address: http://www.printers.ibm.com
- In Canada, access the IBM Bulletin Boards with these numbers:
-- Montreal, Quebec (514) 938-3022 (EST)
-- Toronto, Ontario (905) 316-4255 (EST)
-- Vancouver, BC (604) 664-6464 (PST)
Use NO PARITY BITS/8 DATA BITS/1 STOP BIT.
- In the USA and Canada, telephone 1-800-358-6661.
- Call or visit the business from which you purchased this product.
Hints and Tips:
- Online documentation is available for the IBM NPRU. Select the
"Help" button or press F1 to display the online help.