GCC Technologies Elite XL-20/1200 Installation and maintenance instructions

GCC Networking Guide
Contents
Introduction to networking your printer ................................................1
Why should I set up a network? ..............................................................1
What does setting up a network involve? ..............................................2
Where do I connect the printer? .............................................................2
What happens when someone turns a computer off?...........................3
What if more than one person wants to print at the same time? ........3
What about security? ...............................................................................3
Which kind of network layout – bus or star?..........................................4
How will I know if I have enough printers for everyone? .....................4
NEST – Introduction ..................................................................................5
Setting up your printer.............................................................................5
General NetWare setup ............................................................................5
NetWare 3.12 instructions ........................................................................6
PCONSOLE ......................................................................................6
Creating a Print Queue ..................................................................6
Creating a Print Server...................................................................7
NetWare 4.1 instructions ..........................................................................9
Setting up PCONSOLE ....................................................................9
Creating a User.............................................................................11
Creating a User with NWADMIN.................................................11
G CC
TECHNOLOGIES

Creating a User with NETADMIN ........................................................... 12
Using GCC tools to remotely configure NEST on your printer ............. 14
Using WebAdmin to set up NEST........................................................... 14
NetWare 3.12 setup with WebAdmin.................................................... 14
NetWare 4.x setup with WebAdmin ...................................................... 15
Using the NEST Config Tool to set up NEST .......................................... 16
To sort the list of devices ............................................................. 17
To filter the list of devices ........................................................... 17
To filter the list ............................................................................. 17
Editing a device ........................................................................... 18
Understanding the Device Configuration dialog box .......................... 18
Displaying an item and its description ....................................... 18
Editing an item............................................................................. 18
Restoring the default values of an item, subject, or device ..... 18
Changing the password for a device .......................................... 19
Completing your editing ............................................................. 19
Configuring Windows computers that use your NEST printer............. 19
Control-d and PostScript printing ............................................... 19
Preventing a Windows 3.1 computer from sending Control-d 19
Preventing a Windows 95 computer from sending Control-d . 19
Special NEST considerations ................................................................... 20
Problems you may encounter ................................................................ 20
Config Page NEST info ................................................................. 20
Typical problems with solutions ................................................. 20
WebAdmin – Introduction...................................................................... 23

Getting started........................................................................................23
Connecting to WebAdmin......................................................................24
Navigating WebAdmin ...........................................................................24
Linking to pages...........................................................................24
Refreshing information ...............................................................26
Printer Status frame .....................................................................26
Changing the printer’s configuration .........................................26
Printing Informational pages ......................................................27
WebAdmin Security ................................................................................28
WebAdmin password...................................................................28
TCP/IP address restriction.............................................................30
WebAdmin index ....................................................................................31
WebAdmin messages..............................................................................31
Setting up TCP/IP protocol .....................................................................33
Troubleshooting tips...............................................................................34
TCP/IP – Introduction ..............................................................................35
Software overview ..................................................................................35
Installing the optional filters .................................................................36
Setting up the printer on a TCP/IP network ..........................................36
Placing the printer ..................................................................................36
Configuring the control panel TCP/IP parameters ................................36
TCP/IP submenu descriptions..................................................................38
Identifying the printer to the network .................................................39
Confirming the network connection .....................................................40
Introduction to printing over a TCP/IP network ...................................40

Print jobs can be sent to a printer in two ways: ...................................40
Print with the internal lpd .....................................................................41
Creating a spool directory ......................................................................41
Configuring the internal spooler ...........................................................41
Attaching a hard disk to the printer .....................................................42
Sending print jobs to the internal spooler ............................................42
Printing with a master (Berkeley) spooler with tcpif ...........................43
Creating a spool directory on the master spooler ................................43
Editing the printcap files ........................................................................43
Printing text files with texttcpif.............................................................44
Using tcpof ..............................................................................................45
Using telnet with the printer .................................................................45
TCP/IP Notes - A: TCP/IP overview ..........................................................46
TCP/IP Notes - B: TCP/IP addressing ........................................................47
IP address .....................................................................................47
IP address class .............................................................................48
IP address restrictions ..................................................................48
IP subnet masks ............................................................................48
Broadcast address ........................................................................49
TCP/IP Notes - C: TCP/IP Restrictions.......................................................50
Ethernet – Introduction ..........................................................................52
Ethernet network connection ...............................................................52
10Base-T (Unshielded Twisted-Pair or UTP) network connection ....... 52
10Base-2 (RG-58, Thin Coax, or Thinnet) network connection ............52
Direct Ethernet connection ....................................................................54

Direct Ethernet connection options ......................................................54
Option 1 - Apple Attachment Unit Interface (AAUI) .................54
To connect the printer to a computer using an AAUI port .......54
Option 2 - BNC to BNC connection .............................................55
To connect the printer to a computer with a BNC connector ... 55
Configuring the printer for network operation ...................................56
Configuring EtherTalk software on your computer .............................57
Configuring your Macintosh for Ethernet communication .................58
Configuring EtherTalk software on a PC-compatible ...........................58
Network activity LED ..............................................................................58

1
Introduction to networking your printer
Note: The following information is a guide. It covers the broad outline of
networking, and is not intended to give you all the information you need to
set up a network. Consult the documentation that came with your computer
and operating system. If you have doubts about whether you are able to
install a network yourself, we recommend that you consult a professional in
the field.
You can use your GCC printer on networks. This section of the manual gives you a brief
overview of the process and the costs and benefits. Because networks vary considerably
from one site to another, the information in this section is a general guide only.
There are two kinds of networks; peer to peer, where every computer can communicate
with any other, and client-server, where one or more computers are dedicated as servers
and all the other computers on the network are clients.
Client-server computing is normally complicated and is usually administered by trained
network specialists. This is because most client-server software can control up to thousands
of users, and many features are provided that are not needed at smaller sites.
This section deals mainly with peer to peer networks as these are easier to set up and
administer. Depending on the amount of printing that your organization produces, one
printer can support up to 25 users. You can always add additional printers as necessary.
Why should I set up a network?
You can set up a network and reap benefits with only two computers. Benefits include:
• One printer will service both users; therefore you save the cost of another printer.
• Depending on how the network is configured, one user can allow the other access to
some, all, or none of the files on the computer, and this access can be read-only or
read and write. You save on the inconvenience of transferring files by “SneakerNet”
— carrying floppy disks from one computer to the other.
• Other peripherals can be shared. You can copy files or install programs from a CD-
ROM drive on another computer. You save the cost of equipping both computers
with a full range of peripherals.
• Some networks let you mix Macs and PCs so that both platforms can share the
printer.
• Most networks have e-mail. Even in small offices e-mail makes sure that messages get
to the person who needs them, rather than being lost in a sea of paper.

2
• Depending on your software, you may have additional benefits like the ability to use
one computer to send and receive faxes for every user on the network, or being able to
back up files to a central disk or tape drive.
What does setting up a network involve?
You need to install a network card in each computer, and provide cable to connect the
computers together. In a bus network, each computer is connected to the next in a line; in a
star network, all computers are connected to a device called a hub. The reasons why you
would choose a bus or a star network are discussed later.
The cost per computer (the cost of a network card and cabling) starts at under $100. You
pay more for ease of installation of the card and for faster networking, though the speed of
standard Ethernet is more than adequate for small sites. Hubs start at under $100, and the
more expensive models allow you to connect more computers (basic hubs often have only
five ports).
Most Macintosh computers have some form of networking built-in. All models have
AppleTalk, and more recent models have EtherTalk, Apple’s name for its Ethernet imple-
mentation. You can mix AppleTalk and EtherTalk computers on the same network.
AppleTalk’s disadvantage is that it is considerably slower than Ethernet. You could find
that users on an AppleTalk network become tired of waiting. You can upgrade many Macs
to Ethernet.
Where do I connect the printer?
In most cases, you connect the printer directly to a computer on the network. When other
users want to print, the file is sent to the computer with the printer attached and stored
temporarily on that computer’s hard drive. Then the file is printed in the background. This
means that someone working on the computer attached to the printer can continue work-
ing on their own programs while the computer is sending the file to the printer.
Some Macintosh networks allow you to connect the printer directly to the network cable,
rather than connecting it to a printer.
If many people are sending large files to the printer the person using the computer attached
to the printer may find the computer is slowing down; in most cases this will not be a
problem. Some organizations dedicate an older computer to be a print server. This com-
puter is not normally used for any other purpose; it must be able to run the operating
system of the other computers and have sufficient free hard drive space to hold the files
that are being printed.

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If you decide to use a computer as a print server, you may consider also using it as a fax
server if your software allows you to do this. Fax servers take the place of a fax machine;
they are left on continuously, and users have a password-protected area to receive faxes.
Fax servers can also send faxes from anyone on the network, and the printer takes the place
of the printing part of a fax machine. A fax server needs a modem and a phone line.
What happens when someone turns a computer off?
The network continues to run if a computer is turned off, but the files, printer, and other
resources associated with that computer are no longer available to other computers on the
network.
What if more than one person wants to print at the same time?
When several people send files to the computer attached to the printer, the first file re-
ceived is printed, and the remainder are queued — that is, they are stored in order on the
hard drive and printed in order when the printer is free.
What about security?
Once a computer is connected on a network you must do more than lock the door to
prevent access to it. Most systems allow you to specify which folders or directories can be
shared with other users, and let you name the users and specify that they have the correct
password. Computers that print sensitive materials should not print to printers in a public
area.
Passwords aren’t usually the first thing on peoples’ minds when a small network is set up,
but without proper password protection many unwanted things can happen. These can
include malicious e-mail sent under your name, employee snooping of sensitive material,
and outsiders sneaking into an office to search the network while the user is out to lunch.
People tend to choose passwords that are easy to remember; unfortunately, these pass-
words are also easy to deduce. Names of spouses, children or pets may be known to co-
workers. If passwords are too complex people tend to write them down and put them in a
desk drawer, which defeats the purpose.
MHALLIFW is an example of a password that cannot be easily guessed, but it seems that
could be easily forgotten until you realize that it is the initial letters of the first eight words
of the nursery rhyme “Mary had a little lamb.” Initial letters of lines from songs or adver-
tising slogans can also be used.

4
Which kind of network layout — bus or star?
When you make network using a bus layout, you use a type of cable called thin Ethernet.
This cable and the connectors used with it are called 10BASE-2. You do not need a hub for
a bus network, but if the cable is broken at any point some computers will not be able to
communicate with the others.
In contrast, a problem with a cable on a star network means that only one computer is
affected. The cabling used is called Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP), and this method is
called 10BASE-T. For a simple network, either method will be satisfactory.
In some cases, if your computer comes with a network card, you may be forced to use one
system or the other unless you replace the card. Other network cards may have both
interfaces.
How will I know if I have enough printers for everyone?
If you do not have enough printers for your needs, your users will tell you. They will
complain about having to wait until their jobs appear. In this case, you can add a printer to
the network.

5
NEST : Introduction
NEST (Novell Embedded Software Technology) is code written by Novell and licensed by
GCC. It provides NetWare protocols and is configured using standard NetWare utilities. It
offers these advantages:
• Your printer does not require a dedicated print server, so it connects directly to the
network.
• You can install the printer anywhere you have an Ethernet connection.
• NEST works with GCC’s WebAdmin utility.
This manual shows you how to install and configure your GCC printer to work with your
NetWare network. You set up your printer in two steps – the usual NetWare setup, fol-
lowed by the GCC specific NEST setup. If any of the computers on your network are
creating PostScript jobs using Windows, you will also need to configure them.
The printer’s NEST specific parameters are set up using GCC’s WebAdmin utility. Instruc-
tions for accessing and using the WebAdmin utility are located later in this section and in
Section 2 of this manual.
If you do not have TCP/IP on your network, you will be unable to use WebAdmin. In that
case you will need to use GCC’s NEST Config Tool, which is supplied on this CD.
Setting up your Printer
The instructions in this section are a condensed version of those in the installation guide, and
are intended for users experienced in setting up network laser printers. If you have questions
about any of the steps in this section, consult that section of the manual.
1. Unpack the printer and install the toner cartridge.
2. Insert paper into the paper tray and insert the paper tray into the printer.
3. Connect a cable from the Ethernet port to the network.
4. Plug the AC power cord into the printer, then plug it into a grounded AC
outlet.
5. Switch on the printer.
General NetWare Setup
This section discusses the NetWare utilities you use to set up your printer. This process is
the same as setting up any printer, but in a few cases there are specific instructions to
configure the NEST options. These are included in the instructions where necessary.