Spooler FASTP Network Print Processes Manual

Installation and Configuration Considerations for
FASTPTCP
Spooler FASTP Network Print Processes Manual — 427528-007
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TELNET Terminal Servers and Supported TTAP
Printers
Note that although NOTIMINGMARK=YES does not always result in lost print data
for AWAN 3886 models, this setting is still not recommended.
In addition, AWAN users should check the value of the TIMEOUT specification in
the FASTCNFG DEVICE entry. The TIMEOUT value specified must be large
enough to allow for normal printing and for temporary pauses due to conditions
such as out of paper. Typical values are 180000 (30 minutes) to 720000 (2 hours).
Although the default value of 0 is compatible with earlier FASTPTCP product
versions, this value should be changed if any problems occur. Extremely large
values, such as 12345678 (specified in older documentation) are not
recommended.
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For non-AWAN terminal servers, support for IAC DO TM varies. Some terminal
servers immediately respond to IAC DO TM as soon as it is received from
FASTPTCP at the end of print data. In these instances, FASTPTCP immediately
closes the TCP/IP socket session and reports the print job as complete to the
Spooler. If the terminal server immediately discards all pending data on socket-
session close, print data will be lost. (This loss can occur on improperly configured
AWAN 3883, 3884, and 3885 models.) If the terminal server does not discard
pending data, no problem occurs unless the terminal server is rebooted or the port
is reset before the data is sent to the printer. Confusion can result because the
print job is reported as completed within the Spooler, but some print data can still
be buffered within the terminal server.
For terminal servers that sometimes lose data at the end of print jobs, try setting
the SLOWPACE parameter for the FASTNFG DEVICE entry. This parameter
inserts a delay after the last print job data is sent out by FASTPTCP and before the
TCP/IP socket session is terminated. Note, however, that this delay slows down
every print job, and might not guarantee complete printing, especially if the printer
is out of paper, or some other similar error occurs.
Note that SLOWPACE is no longer generally recommended for AWAN server
connections. SLOWPACE has been largely superseded by NOTIMINGMARK=NO
for AWAN and by SHUTDOWNTO.
TELNET Terminal Servers and Supported TTAP Printers
FASTPTCP supports Printronix printer models 5515, 5516, 5518, 5573, 5573D, 5574,
and 5577 with the TTAP protocol. The printers are connected to an AWAN server or
other terminal server asynchronous port by using the following settings:
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8-bit character length and EVEN parity.
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Binary or transparent 8-bit data.
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No flow control.