MPI linkcom 5 User manual

LinkCom 5 User Manual
LinkCom 5 User Manual
How to configure and use LinkCom 5
D13086-002
June 16

LinkCom 5 User Manual
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LinkCom 5 User Manual
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Content
1ABOUT MPI TECH ................................................................................................ 6
1.1 Trademarks ................................................................................................ 6
1.2 Contact ...................................................................................................... 6
2INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................. 7
2.1 Terms and definitions ................................................................................... 7
2.2 Related documentation................................................................................. 8
2.3 About this document .................................................................................... 9
2.4 Document history ........................................................................................ 9
3INTRODUCTION TO LINKCOM 5 ........................................................................ 10
3.1 Intention .................................................................................................. 10
3.2 Product features ........................................................................................ 10
3.3 Requirements............................................................................................ 11
3.3.1 PC system requirements ............................................................................... 11
3.3.2 Printer requirements..................................................................................... 11
3.3.3 Host system requirements............................................................................. 11
4FEATURES OF LINKCOM 5 ................................................................................. 13
4.1 Overview of LinkCom 5............................................................................... 13
4.2 End to end control ..................................................................................... 13
5INSTALLATION ................................................................................................. 14
5.1 Installation requirements. ........................................................................... 14
5.2 The LinkCom 5 PrintServer can be hardware connected in 3 different ways:...... 14
5.2.1 Connection via PRT/LAN ports........................................................................ 14
5.2.2 Connect a USB printer .................................................................................. 15
5.2.3 Host2Net connection .................................................................................... 15
5.2.4 General connection setup .............................................................................. 16
6OPERATING LINKCOM 5.................................................................................... 18
6.1 Using test button to print PrintServer configuration........................................ 18
6.2 Using test button to reset PrintServer to factory defaults ................................ 18
6.3 Understanding PrintServer LED signalling...................................................... 19
6.4 LED signalling explained ............................................................................. 19
7CONFIGURING LINKCOM 5 PRINTSERVER ........................................................ 20
7.1 Use of PrintGuide....................................................................................... 20
7.2 Getting started with PrintGuide.................................................................... 20
7.3 Configuring logical printers ......................................................................... 21
7.4 Configuring AFP/IPDS transform .................................................................. 21
7.4.1 PPD ............................................................................................................ 21
7.4.2 IPDS........................................................................................................... 22
7.4.3 Physical Printer ............................................................................................ 24
7.4.4 Strings........................................................................................................ 26

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7.4.5 Output driver............................................................................................... 27
7.5 Configuring AFP/ICDS transform.................................................................. 28
7.5.1 PPD ............................................................................................................ 28
7.5.2 PSS ............................................................................................................ 29
7.5.3 Physical Printer ............................................................................................ 30
7.5.4 Strings........................................................................................................ 32
7.5.5 Output driver............................................................................................... 32
7.6 Configuring DCA Transform......................................................................... 33
7.6.1 Telnet Print ................................................................................................. 34
7.6.2 DCA ........................................................................................................... 34
7.6.3 Physical Printer ............................................................................................ 35
7.6.4 Strings........................................................................................................ 37
7.6.5 Output Driver .............................................................................................. 38
7.7 Configuring SCS transform.......................................................................... 39
7.7.1 Telnet Print ................................................................................................. 39
7.7.2 SCS............................................................................................................ 40
7.7.3 Physical Printer ............................................................................................ 41
7.7.4 Strings........................................................................................................ 43
7.7.5 Output Driver .............................................................................................. 44
7.8 Configuring Transparent TCP/IP Printing ....................................................... 45
7.8.1 T Port ......................................................................................................... 46
7.8.2 Physical Printer ............................................................................................ 47
7.8.3 Strings........................................................................................................ 47
7.8.4 Output Driver .............................................................................................. 47
7.9 Printer templates ....................................................................................... 49
7.10 Internal LinkCom 5 web server .................................................................... 49
7.10.1 Accessing the internal web server .................................................................. 49
7.10.2 Status page with Configuration Page. ............................................................. 50
7.10.3 Advanced Configuration ................................................................................ 50
7.10.4 General....................................................................................................... 51
7.10.5 Logical Printers ............................................................................................ 51
7.10.6 TCP/IP section ............................................................................................. 53
7.10.7 Password section ......................................................................................... 54
7.10.8 Logout of web server .................................................................................... 54
7.10.9 Restart PrintServer....................................................................................... 54
7.10.10Restore Factory Default Configuration............................................................. 54
7.10.11Remember to save changes and restart PrintServer ......................................... 55
8CONFIGURATION OF HOST SYSTEMS ................................................................ 56
8.1 Setup in mainframe TCP/IP environment ...................................................... 56
8.2 PSF/MVS AFP/IPDS printing ........................................................................ 56
8.2.1 PSF/MVS start-up procedure.......................................................................... 56
8.3 PSS/MVS AFP/ICDS printing ........................................................................ 56
8.3.1 PSS printer profile using TCP/IP attachment .................................................... 57
8.4 PSS/VM AFP printing using TCP/IP ............................................................... 58
8.4.1 Sample PSS VM printer profile definition using TCP/IP ...................................... 58
8.5 Setup in OS/400 TCP/IP environment ........................................................... 58

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8.6 PSF/400 AFP Printing Using TCP/IP .............................................................. 58
8.7 AS/400 / iSeries Settings for Version 3.7, - 7.x ............................................. 59
8.7.1 Creating the PSF configuration....................................................................... 59
8.7.2 Creating the Printer Device Description ........................................................... 60
9SCS/DCA PRINTING USING TN3270E/TN5250E ............................................... 62
9.1 TN3270e setup using OS/390 communication server ...................................... 62
9.1.1 Mainframe TCPIP profile definitions: ............................................................... 62
9.2 TN5250e set-up......................................................................................... 62
9.2.1 Auto-configuration of devices ........................................................................ 63
9.2.2 Manual Configuration of Devices .................................................................... 63
10 LED SIGNALLING EXPLAINED IN DETAILS ........................................................ 67
11 UPDATING FIRMWARE...................................................................................... 70
11.1 How to update firmware ............................................................................. 70
11.2 Updating firmware with PrintGuide............................................................... 70
12 USING PRINTGUIDE TO ADD NEW FEATURES ................................................... 72
12.1 Prerequisites ............................................................................................. 72
12.2 Installing new features ............................................................................... 72
13 ENABLING/DISABLING HIDDEN FEATURES ...................................................... 74
13.1 How to enable/disable options ..................................................................... 74
13.2 Disabling IPv6 and DHCPv6......................................................................... 74
13.3 Test button reset feature ............................................................................ 75
14 CLONING PRINTSERVER SETTINGS .................................................................. 76
15 TROUBLESHOOTING ......................................................................................... 78
15.1 Changes to the output printer address are not applied.................................... 78
15.2 LinkCom 5 hangs during a restart ................................................................ 79
15.3 Not able to see options for Matrix printing..................................................... 79
15.4 Not able to see finishing options in PrintGuide ............................................... 80
15.5 DCA Output language keeps returning to Matrix ............................................ 81
16 INDEX............................................................................................................... 82

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1About MPI Tech
The MPI Tech Group is a leading provider of document management and document
output solutions that put the customer in charge. With our software and hardware
solutions we enable customers to create, print, secure, transform, distribute and
archive their information.
Our services run on multiple operating systems making it possible for our
customers to manage all their paper and electronic output through a coherent
software and hardware platform.
The MPI Tech products range from Mainframe and Midrange printing solutions
through Server, Embedded and Stand-alone Hardware based transforms to pure
LAN connectivity. The product range also includes document creation tools and
document management and routing solutions that enables customers to manage
their entire document life cycle from document creation to the documents final
destination whether it is digital or paper.
More information is available at www.mpitech.com
1.1 Trademarks
Company and product names mentioned in this manual are trademarks or
registered trademarks of their respective owners. MPI Tech cannot be held
responsible for any technical or typographical errors and reserves the right to make
changes to products and documentation without prior notification.
1.2 Contact
France
40, rue du Général Malleret Joinville
BP 88 - 94402 Vitry sur Seine Cedex
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
E-mail: [email protected]
Denmark
Vadstrupvej 35
DK-2880 Bagsvaerd
Phone: [phone]
E-mail: [email protected]
United Kingdom
Anchor House, 50 High Stret
Bagshot GU19 5AW
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
E-mail: [email protected]
Germany
Bavariastrasse 7a
D-80336 Muenchen
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
E-mail: [email protected]
North America - West Coast
4952 Warner Avenue, Suite 301
Huntington Beach, CA 92649-5506
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
E-mail: [email protected]
North America - East Coast
2001 Jefferson Davis Highway, Suite 306
Arlington, VA 22202
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
E-mail: [email protected]

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2Introduction
2.1 Terms and definitions
Transform
A conversion from one protocol into another. E.g. the transform from AFP document
type over IPDS data stream into PostScript.
PrintGuide
The Windows application that is used to discover, monitor and configure MPI Tech
PrintServers including LinkCom 5. PrintGuide is also used to backup, modify, and
restore the PrintServer configuration. Feature enablement and software updates are
also applied using PrintGuide.
PrintServer
A device that connects printers to client computers over a network. LinkCom 5 is a
PrintServer, and besides the above description, it can also connect printers with
host systems (AS400, IBM Mainframe, Unix) as well as offer direct TCP/IP port
9100 print from office computers.
Printer definition files
PrintGuide comes preinstalled with predefined printer definition files (*.itc) for
multiple printer models. The files are normally installed in the
“..\MPI Tech\PrintGuide\Printer Descriptions\” subfolder on a computer with
PrintGuide installed. They contain information about trays, duplex-, colour-
capabilities, finishing options, paper sizes and printable area.
In order to use a predefined printer definition file with a LinkCom 5 PrintServer, use
PrintGuide to import the desired printer definition file. This is done from the menu
“PrintServer”, “Upload Configuration”. Change “Files of type” to “Printer
Configuration Template” and browse to the location of the ITC files.
Find and select a suitable printer model definition file. It will be applied to the
selected LinkCom 5 PrintServer.

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Please note that in order for Matrix options to appear as available options in
PrintGuide it is necessary to first load a matrix printer definition file via PrintGuide.
Firmware
Firmware is the operating system of LinkCom 5. Firmware can be updated using
PrintGuide.
MPI Tech will make firmware updates available to customers with valid
maintenance. Firmware updates can include new features, improvements, error
corrections and other updates.
Host2Net
Host2Net printing is when the PrintServer and the printer are not directly
connected. Instead the PrintServer receives the print data from the host on the LAN
port and targets the output printer using the LAN port sending the output data back
over the network to the destination printer. In this situation, the PrintServer’s PRT
or USB ports are not used.
Maintenance
Maintenance is a yearly fee paid to MPI Tech that allows for the customer to receive
support for their software and hardware solutions purchased from MPI Tech.
The support can be in the form of written help, remote sessions or the like. Error
corrections can also be in the form of new firmware.
2.2 Related documentation
LinkCom 5 Quick Guide, doc. no.D10600
Getting Started with PrintGuide, doc. no. D60364
Host Print Setup Guide, doc. no. D60425
FSL reference, doc. no. D60313
PSS MVS, Product Installation Guide, doc. no. D13052
PSS VM, Installation Guide, doc. no. D13055
EPM Product Guide, doc. no. D13070

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2.3 About this document
The purpose of this manual is to introduce the LinkCom 5 PrintServer, and help the
user setting up the PrintServer to receive host print data from different host
systems and deliver PCL or PostScript or matrix data (Epson or IBM Proprinter) to a
network or USB printer.
The user is expected to be knowledgeable in how to setup host systems to deliver
data to printers and how to initiate print jobs from the specific host system.
This user guide also contains tips and best practices on the host system side for
various host systems.
2.4 Document history
Major changes in this and previous versions of this manual.
Revision D13086-002
Support for automatic discovering of printer connected via USB or PRT port
Web server added
More detailed configuration page
Support for Matrix printing (Epson and IBM Proprinter emulation)
Revision D13086-001
This is the initial document version.

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3Introduction to LinkCom 5
Printing host data on an inexpensive LAN- or USB-based printer used to require
expensive hardware and complicated programming in order to eliminate the
incompatibilities between the two environments. Thanks to the LinkCom 5
PrintServer from MPI Tech, your LAN- or USB-connected printer can receive host
print data using any existing standard TCP/IP host attachments.
LinkCom 5 is capable of receiving host print to support either a USB printer or LAN
connected Printer. Using the built-in transparent network switch, the receiving LAN
based printer can be network connected via the LinkCom 5 PrintServer. This can be
a great benefit eliminating the need for an extra network outlet.
The PrintServer comes with a predefined set of print protocols, print transform and
output device according to the hardware license(s).
High speed print options, full colour support and extra transforms require separate
license.
A new feature for LinkCom 5, is support for Gigabit on the LAN side and that both
IPv6 and IPv4 is now supported.
LinkCom 5 converts host print data to a format that is compatible with standard
office printers. Printers can be connected via LAN or USB. LinkCom 5 delivers real-
time conversion that is passed to the printer via the existing LAN or USB
connection.
LinkCom 5 provides conversion of IPDS, ICDS, SCS and DCA host data streams into
PCL5/5c and PostScript languages. Printing to matrix printers using IBM Proprinter
and Epson emulation is also possible with IPDS, SCS and DCA tranforms.
In the basic configuration LinkCom 5 supports one printer session and one ICDS
transform (ICDS to PCL5 or PS). Either one USB printer or one LAN printer. The
LAN printer can either be connected via the LinkCom 5 PRT connector, or reside
elsewhere on the network.
3.1 Intention
This manual describes how to install LinkCom 5, and how to configure the different
features. Please note that some of the features requires additional hardware
licenses.
3.2 Product features
The LinkCom 5 features the following:
TCP/IP session
SCS/DCA with FSL support
IPDS printer emulation (IP40, 4028, 3812, 3816, 4247(matrix))
PCL, PostScript output