Microplex M305 User manual

M305 Print Server
Quick Installation and
Configuration Guide
Manual Version 1.0
For firmware version 1.0
Microplex Systems Ltd.
8525 Commerce Court
Burnaby, B.C. V5A 4N3
http://www.microplex.com/
P/N 79-305-100
manual4.book Page 1 Saturday, January 16, 1999 4:26 PM

Copyright 1991-1999 Wyndham Technologies Inc.
All rights reserved.
No patent liability is assumed with respect to the use of the
information contained herein. While every precaution has
been taken in the preparation of this manual, Microplex
Systems Ltd. assumes no liability for errors contained
herein or for incidental or consequential damages in
connection with the performance or use of this material.
Copyright 1996, Novell, Inc. All rights reserved. All
other product names are trademarks of their respective
manufacturers or providers.
This manual was written, illustrated, and produced using
FrameMaker workstation publishing software.
Rev: 01/99
Printed in Canada.
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V1.0 3
TABLE OF CONTENTS
MANUAL OVERVIEW ...............................................1
PDF File Index.....................................................................1
Documentation Conventions................................................2
M305 INTRODUCTION..............................................3
Overview..............................................................................3
What is the M305?...............................................................3
How Does the M305 Work?................................................4
Product Features ..................................................................5
M305 INSTALLATION...............................................7
Overview..............................................................................7
Unpacking the M305 ...........................................................7
Attaching to the Network.....................................................8
CONFIGURATION TOOLS......................................15
Overview............................................................................15
Two-Part Configuration.....................................................15
Available Tools..................................................................15
Troubleshooting Tips.........................................................21
WINDOWS CONFIGURATION................................23
Overview............................................................................23
Environment Description...................................................23
M305 Configuration ..........................................................24
Troubleshooting Tips.........................................................29
UNIX CONFIGURATION .........................................31
Overview............................................................................31
Environment Description...................................................31
M305 Configuration ..........................................................32
Host Configuration ............................................................34
Troubleshooting Tips.........................................................35
NOVELL CONFIGURATION ...................................39
Overview............................................................................39
Environment Description...................................................39
M305 Configuration ..........................................................40
Host Configuration ............................................................41
Troubleshooting Tips.........................................................48
APPLETALK CONFIGURATION ............................51
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4V1.0
Overview............................................................................51
Environment Description...................................................51
M305 Configuration ..........................................................52
Host Configuration ............................................................52
Troubleshooting Tips.........................................................53
M305 REFERENCE PAGES....................................55
Overview............................................................................55
M305 Naming Scheme ......................................................55
M305 Command Shell.......................................................56
Back to Factory Defaults ...................................................62
Firmware Upgrades............................................................63
GETTING HELP.......................................................65
Help Methods Available....................................................65
Repair Procedure................................................................66
M305 SPECIFICATIONS.........................................71
Hardware Specifications....................................................71
Software Specifications .....................................................75
GLOSSARY.............................................................77
INDEX ......................................................................83
Appendix A - More on Windows ......................... A-1
Overview......................................................................... A-1
M305 Configuration ....................................................... A-3
General Workstation Configuration................................ A-9
Windows 95/98
Workstation Setup......................................................... A-10
Windows NT
Workstation Setup......................................................... A-12
Windows Troubleshooting............................................ A-15
Appendix B - More on Unix ................................. B-1
Overview..........................................................................B-1
M305 Configuration ........................................................B-2
Host Configuration Overview..........................................B-9
Direct Printing Without the Spooler................................B-9
Printing Via the Spooler ................................................B-10
Manual System V Host Setup........................................B-13
Manual LPR/LP Host Setup ..........................................B-16
Printing from AIX..........................................................B-22
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V1.0 5
Manual Printing with FTP’s PC/TCP............................B-24
Printing Using FTP Daemon..........................................B-25
Direct Socket Printing....................................................B-25
Device Printing - Microplex’s NPD ..............................B-26
Troubleshooting.............................................................B-31
Appendix C - More on Novell .............................. C-1
Overview..........................................................................C-1
M305 Configuration ........................................................C-2
Host Configuration ........................................................C-11
Troubleshooting.............................................................C-17
Appendix D - More on AppleTalk........................ D-1
Overview......................................................................... D-1
M305 Configuration ....................................................... D-2
Appendix E - Extra Features/Additional Information
E-1
Overview..........................................................................E-1
Print Server Architecture .................................................E-2
General Options...............................................................E-5
M305 Security..................................................................E-7
Printer Monitoring and Logging....................................E-11
FTP Daemon..................................................................E-14
Managing with SNMP ...................................................E-21
Troubleshooting.............................................................E-25
NCSA.............................................................................E-25
Appendix F - More on Specifications..................F-1
Overview..........................................................................F-1
Network Connectors........................................................F-2
Power Socket ...................................................................F-2
Parallel Port (PRN)..........................................................F-3
M305 LEDs......................................................................F-7
Variable Definitions.........................................................F-7
Appendix G - More on Commands .....................G-1
Overview......................................................................... G-1
Command Shell Overview.............................................. G-2
Complete Command List................................................ G-3
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6V1.0
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MANUAL OVERVIEW
V1.0 1
MANUAL OVERVIEW
This manual describes the installation and configuration of
an M305 on your network. It describes a basic setup for
each supported network environment. For more detailed
information about configuration and management, please
see the Portable Document Format (PDF) files available on
the CD ROM supplied with the M305 or from the Technical
Support section of Microplex’s Web site,
“http://www.microplex.com/”.
PDF File Index
Table 1 lists the PDF files that are available on the CD ROM
included with your unit. Please refer to these documents if
you can’t find what you’re looking for in this guide.
Table 1: Microplex PDF Files
File Name Description
windows.pdf Appendix A - Print setup for Windows
environments.
unix.pdf Appendix B - Step-by-step manual
configuration instructions for Unix
environments.
novell.pdf Appendix C - RPRINTER configura-
tion and other Novell information.
apple.pdf Appendix D - Additional configuration
for AppleTalk environments.
extra.pdf Appendix E - Details about the M305’s
additional features such as printer log-
ging.
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MANUAL OVERVIEW
2V1.0
Documentation Conventions
The document conventions used in this manual and the
appendices are as follows:
• The Courier font in boldface indicates commands that
you type.
$ping ftp.microplex.com
• Regular Courier font indicates displayed results.
ftp.microplex.com is alive
• Example names and numbers described in text are
bold.
sends data to the M305 named spike...
The model directory...
• Variable values are shown in italics both in command
syntax, output, and in text. Italics also add emphasis.
ping ipname
ipname
is alive
Please enter the ipname at the prompt.
Make sure you first contact...
specs.pdf Appendix F - Additional specifications
for the M305 hardware.
command.pdf Appendix G - In depth look at the
M305’s internal command shell. (for
commonly used commands, see Com-
mon npsh Commands on page 58.)
Table 1: Microplex PDF Files
File Name Description
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M305 INTRODUCTION
V1.0 3
M305 INTRODUCTION
Overview
The purpose of this chapter is to acquaint you with the
M305’s architecture and special features.
What is the M305?
The M305 10/100 Pocket Print Server allows you to locate
your printer anywhere on a 10 Base-T or 100 Base-T LAN
rather than attaching it directly to a host system. After fol-
lowing some simple configuration steps, the printer can be
simultaneously shared with users on Unix (TCP/IP), Win-
dows (NetBIOS over TCP/IP), Novell (IPX), or AppleTalk
(EtherTalk) networks. Multiple users and multiple protocols
are supported simultaneously.
Note: The M305 is compatible with most printers
with a Centronics parallel interface.
The M305’s key physical components are:
• a 10/100 network interface connector to connect to the
network,
• one parallel port,
• Flash memory to store firmware and user-configurable
settings,
•SDRAM.
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M305 INTRODUCTION
4V1.0
How Does the M305 Work?
Print Path
The print path is the path data takes when the host sends a
job to a printer through the M305. This print path can be
divided into the three components (refer to Figure 1).
Figure 1: Print Path Components
Host The host sends the job to one of four pre-
defined destinations(e.g. d1prn) on the print
server, not directly to the I/O port.
Print Server The job passes through the destination’s
associated model (e.g. m1) for optional pro-
cessing and then continues through the desti-
nation’s associated logpath (e.g. l1) where
logging information is recorded. The data
then ends up at the destination’s associated
I/O port, prn.
Printer The data passes from the print server’s I/O
port to the attached printer for output.
There are four destinations on the M305, with each having
an associated model and logpath. The model determines if
any extra data processing (e.g. ASCII to PostScript conver-
sion) needs to be done and the logpath determines whether
job logging (e.g. user ID) or printer errors need to be
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