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WHATSNEW.DOC
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1993-08-25
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FPServer: THE Fast Novell NetWare Print Server
Version 3.2
What's New File (WHATSNEW.DOC)
==================================================
Richard L. Hartman (RLH)
Novell Registered Professional Developer
5205 North Mulvaney Court, Spokane, WA 99212-1611
509-924-6576 (voice) 509-926-4626 (fax) CompuServe 76350,2275
===========================================================================
WHAT'S NEW IN VERSION 3.2?
===========================================================================
PLENTY! Version 3.2 includes many, many new features which were not
present in the last publicly available version (2.5).
Over the past several years I have researched network printing at hundreds
of sites and received comments from hundreds more. The results of this
research become new features in FPServer - those which are truly important
to network printing. In many cases, these are features which no other
print server (PC-based nor "black box" nor in-the-printer) has ever
offered. They may become commonplace in the future, but FPServer continues
to define the state of the art in network printing technology.
This file provides a brief overview of FPServer's new features. More
detailed information is available from the FPSERVER.DOC file, which has
also been updated to support version 3.2. Be sure to consult FPSERVER.DOC
for complete details.
===========================================================================
NEW FEATURES
===========================================================================
Even Faster
----------------------------------------
THROUGHPUT is the number-one priority for network print servers - period.
And FPServer is faster than ever before. Throughput has been increased
50-100% over previous versions, and this bandwidth is still dynamically
allocated across all active ports in real time. Data rates exceeding
100,000 BYTES PER SECOND are common on 386-class machines driving parallel
printers (assuming the printer can handle data that rapidly).
Direct Support for FIFO'd Printers
----------------------------------------
A recent development in high-speed printers (especially laser printers) is
the use of a small FIFO as the front end of the parallel port. These
buffers generally accept 8-32 bytes at extremely high data rates, store
them internally, then interrupt the printer's microprocessor only when the
FIFO is full. This dramatically improves the efficiency of the printer's
microprocessor by only requiring its attention when the FIFO is full rather
than for every individual byte.
To get maximum performance from these new printers, FPServer analyzes the
data-reception behavior of parallel printers and optimizes its output
algorithm for FIFO-based operation if detected.
Multiple File Servers
----------------------------------------
More installations are moving to multi-server environments as networks
become more common. In support of this, FPServer now services up to seven
separate file servers simultaneously. Each port may be service jobs from a
separate print queue on a separate file server - you do not need to
consolidate all of your print jobs on a single file server.
You can also have multiple ports service a common print queue to reduce
print job dwell time. If you have duplicate printers, you can multiply the
bandwidth of print job servicing by specifying the same print queue for
multiple ports.
Seven Simultaneous Print Devices
----------------------------------------
You may now drive up to SEVEN printers from a single FPServer host! Three
parallel and four serial print devices can be active simultaneously, each
serving print jobs from different print queues on different file servers.
All ports operate autonomously - and FPServer's real-time optimization
divides available bandwidth between active ports to maximize throughput
under all conditions.
Banners
----------------------------------------
In direct response to client requests, FPServer now provides support for
print job banners. Unlike the banners provided by other print servers,
however, FPServer always displays the ACTUAL job owner's name and up to
twenty characters of job description - regardless of the NPRINT or CAPTURE
settings used to generate the print job. The banner is also date and time
stamped in international format for ease of reference.
Form Feeds
----------------------------------------
In further response to customer requests, FPServer now provides support for
formfeeds at the end of print jobs. If the FormFeed flag is set by the
print job's owner, FPServer emits a formfeed at the end of every copy.
Programmable Port Addresses
----------------------------------------
FPServer allows you to explicitly specify the I/O addresses for each active
port. In addition to providing support for hardware which uses
non-standard I/O, this allows you to logically rename ports regardless of
their physical addresses.
Programming port addresses is an option, not a requirement. If you do not
specify an address for a port, FPServer will automatically derive the
address from the BIOS data area in low memory.
Regardless of where the address originated (your command or BIOS), FPServer
always confirms the presence of physical hardware before enabling it for
use. This prevents "artificial" ports which are generated by some programs
from causing print server or network problems.
Robust Video System
----------------------------------------
This release incorporates a vastly improved video system that has proven
compatible with ALL video interfaces available for testing (even those
non-standard AT&T 6300's!). The new system automatically detects the type
of interface and modifies its behavior accordingly. All standard video
systems are supported: MDA, MGA, CGA, EGA, VGA, and SVGA, on any type of
monitor compatible with the video interface.
Full Color Screen Display
----------------------------------------
The new video system includes FULL COLOR support for machines equipped with
color interfaces and monitors. Colors are used to highlight information
and warning messages; blinking is used to highlight errors and
time-sensitive conditions.
Of course, monochrome-equipped systems are detected and accommodated as
well. Brightness and blinking are used in place of the color system's
color displays.
Zoom Views of Individual Ports
----------------------------------------
Any of FPServer's seven ports may be "zoomed" for closer examination. A
full-screen view of the selected port is presented, including a deep
display of pending print jobs. Like all FPServer screens, zoomed port
displays are kept current in real time; jobs advance on screen as they move
in the print queue and the Current/Former lines show present and past port
activity.
Delete Print Jobs - Gracefully
----------------------------------------
If you've ever experienced a runaway print job, you know how inconvenient
such a situation can be. Once you realize things are not going right, you
have to stop the printer, stop the print server, rush back to your PC, run
PCONSOLE, delete the job from the print queue, restart the print server,
and restart the printer. What's worse, other print jobs being serviced by
the print server are also interrupted (this can make you VERY unpopular!).
FPServer eliminates this "runaway runaround" by allowing you to delete
print jobs right from the print server console. When "zoomed" on a single
port, you may delete any print job (including the current one) by
highlighting it and selecting delete from a menu. ALL traces of the job
are deleted: The printer (if parallel) is reset, FPServer's buffer is
emptied, and the job is deleted from the print queue. A message reminding
you to reset the printer (if necessary) is displayed on-screen and the port
is held idle for a programmable period of time so you may reset the printer
or manually flush its input buffer.
Restart Print Jobs - Conveniently
----------------------------------------
FPServer's ability to de