Sams Teach Yourself MCSE Windows NT Server 4 in 14 Days
(Publisher: Macmillan Computer Publishing)
Author(s): David Schaer, et al
ISBN: 0672311283
Publication Date: 12/15/97

Spooling Print Jobs

Spooling is the process of queuing print jobs. By default, print jobs are spooled to the boot partition; however, this can be modified through the registry.

How the NT printer uses the spooler is controlled via printer properties. On the most basic level an administrator can select to either spool print jobs or to print directly to the printer. Printing directly to the printer is faster than spooling; however, the ability to control the print jobs is lost.

When spooling is selected the administrator has the option to modify the following settings:

•  Hold Mismatched Documents: The printer will verify that the print job has been submitted in a format understood by the print device before submitting it.

•  Print Spooled Documents First: A print job that is fully spooled will be sent to the print device even ahead of higher priority jobs that are still spooling.

•  Keep Documents After They Have Printed: Print jobs remain in the spooler even after being submitted to the print device. This is an excellent option to select for users, such as accounting people, whose applications might not enable them to resubmit a print job.

Sometimes a job gets stuck in the spooler, you cannot delete it, and it does not print although the Print Manager indicates that the job is being printed. Stop and then restart the spooler service. This will free up the job so you can remove it.

8.10. Printing in a Multi-Vendor Environment

Microsoft will expect an MCSE to be competent in installing NT print services in heterogeneous environments. As an MCSE you will commonly encounter the need to direct printing to non-NT-based systems, including Novell NetWare and UNIX.

8.10.1. Printing to a NetWare Server

To print to a NetWare-based print server you must have installed Gateway Services for NetWare. This will allow the NT 4.0 Server to both print to the NetWare print server directly and redirect jobs to the NetWare print server on behalf of its clients.

The NetWare print server is not configured to pass print drivers back to NT clients. It is necessary for the administrator of the NT Server to load a compatible driver manually when connecting to a NetWare-based print server.

8.10.2. Printing with TCP/IP

Installing the TCP/IP print services provides two functions. The NT server will be able to print to UNIX and other TCP/IP-based print servers, and UNIX clients will be able to direct print jobs to the NT printer.

The configuration of the TCP/IP printing is relatively simple. The first step, as shown in Figure 8.21, is to install the TCP/IP print services.

Figure 8.21.  Installing Microsoft TCP/IP Printing Services.

This alone is sufficient to be a client to TCP/IP-based print servers and network printers using the LPR command or to redirect print jobs to the LPR port. However, in order to allow UNIX clients access, the TCP/IP print service must be started on the NT server. This service is essentially a print daemon that will enable the NT server to accept inbound print requests to TCP/IP ports. After the service is started, running the LPQ command will show the status of the printer.

To print to an LPR port, you must supply the name or IP address of the print server and the name of the printer.

8.10.3. Hewlett-Packard Printing Support

Before being able to direct printers to a Hewlett-Packard network print device using a Jet Direct card you must first load the DLC protocol. After the DLC protocol is installed the Hewlett-Packard Network Port is listed as an available port as shown in Figure 8.22.

Figure 8.22.  Loading DLC makes the Hewlett-Packard Network Port available.

The key is to remember that the only way to enable the Hewlett-Packard Network Port is to load DLC. This will let the NT print server communicate with the print server. As is outlined fully in Chapter 3, “Installing NT Server 4.0,” the DLC protocol is not a routable protocol.

8.11. Lab

This lab will aid in your learning by testing you on the information presented in this chapter, as well as by giving you exercises to hone your skills. Answers to the review questions can be found in Appendix B, “Answers to Review Questions.”

8.11.1. Review Questions

Question 1

Membership in which of the following groups will let a user share directories on an NT 4.0 Server?

A.  Domain Users

B.  Administrators

C.  Domain Admins

D.  Server Operators

Question 2

Which of the following services must be active in order to share data on an NT 4.0 Server?

A.  Directory Replicator service

B.  Server service

C.  Workstation service

D.  Messenger service

Question 3

What built-in group are you made a member of when accessing data from a share point on another computer?

A.  Interactive

B.  Network

C.  Domain Users

D.  Domain Guests

Question 4

Which of the following administrative tools are used to manage shares?

A.  Server Manager

B.  User Manager for Domains

C.  System Policy Editor

D.  Disk Administrator

Question 5

A certain user attempts to access a share point on an NTFS partition of a remote computer. The share has been marked Everyone Full Control, yet she is unable to access any files in the directory. What is the probable cause?

A.  The user is connecting to the wrong share.

B.  The user is running an older version of Windows.

C.  The Interactive group has been granted No Access.

D.  Her access rights are being blocked by more restrictive NTFS permissions.

Question 6

What is the safest and most effective way to prevent new users from attaching to a server’s share points?

A.  Remove the right to Access this Computer from the Network from the Everyone group.

B.  Stop the Server service.

C.  Pause the Server service.

D.  Pause the Netlogon service.