NetComm NP3640 Configuring your Computers, Printing Methods, Which printing method should I use?

Section 4 - Configuring your Computers

This Section details the client configuration required on LAN computers to use the printer attached to the Print Server.

Overview

Before performing client configuration, the Print Server must be installed on your LAN, and configured as described in the previous section. Both the Print Server and the attached printer must be powered ON.

Printing Methods

The Print Server supports a number of printing methods:

■Peer-to-peer Printing means that the print jobs are stored (queued) on your computer, and sent directly to the Print Server when it is available.

■Windows SMB printing is a Microsoft standard for using a "Network Printer". No additional software needs to be installed on your Windows computer, and printing from MS- DOS programs is supported. However, because the Print Server can not store files, large print jobs may cause problems.

■Server-based Print Queue means that all print jobs are stored (queued) on the Network Server (e.g. Windows NT/2000) and then sent to the Print Server . This allows the Network Administrator to modify the Print Queue. For example, an important job can be moved to the head of the queue.

■AppleTalk is also supported, and normally no configuration of the Print Server is required. See the Macintosh section of this section for details of client configuration.

Which printing method should I use?

■If using Windows 95, 98, NT, Me, 2000, or XP, the easiest method to use is Peer-to-peer Printing.

■If using Windows, and you need to print from MS-DOS programs, or you don't wish to install additional software, use SMB.

SMB is not suitable for large, complex documents. If you need to print large documents, as well as MS-DOS printing, you should install BOTH Peer-to-peer Printing and SMB printing. MS-DOS programs can use the SMB printer, Windows programs should use Peer- to-peer Printing.

■If your LAN has Network Servers (e.g. Windows NT, Windows 2000 Server) use the method advised by your Network Administrator. The Print Server can print via a queue located on a Network server, if desired.

■Unix users - refer to the Unix Manual on the CD-ROM, in the Manual/Unix directory.

■Macintosh users - refer to the Macintosh section of the User Guide.

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