Memory

Normally, this memory client doesn’t need to be changed unless you plan to download many different non-PostScript fonts.

Spool Buffers

Also known as Host Input and K Mem for Spool, this memory client stores incoming data from all the interfaces until the emulation can process the print job. When enough memory is allocated to this client, the host becomes free more quickly, and the number of jobs that the printer can accept simultaneously is increased. You should consider the amount of data being sent simultaneously when allocating memory to the spool buffer. If available, a hard disk can supplement this client with additional memory needed for spooling. See the “Hard Disk Management” section later in this chapter.

»Note: While increasing this client is beneficial in reducing network traffic, throughput is not necessarily increased. In addition, making this client too large could actually decrease throughput because of the overhead involved with managing a large spool.

Disk Cache

This memory client stores frequently used data in system memory instead of continually storing and retrieving it from a hard disk. If a hard disk is used and a lot of disk access is required, adding memory to the disk cache may increase the printer’s performance. For exam- ple, if many fonts are stored on disk, faster access to these fonts is achieved by increasing the disk cache size. Conversely, if no hard disk is used, the disk cache should be set to 36 KB until a hard disk is installed and formatted. However, when one or more hard disks are installed and formatted, they are not available until the disk cache cli- ent is increased.

The disk cache is a high speed temporary buffer for data going to and from the hard disk. It can speed the printer in two ways:

n Information such as frequently referenced fonts and logos may still be in the cache and may not have to be pulled off a hard disk each time they’re needed.

n Information being written to a hard disk can be held in the cache temporarily until a more convenient time to be written to disk.

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QMS 1660E Print System Reference