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Section 6: Setup for Unix systems
52 Axis NPS 550 User’s Manual
Print methods
The NPS 550 supports several different print methods for printing under
TCP/IP. Axinstall will suggest a print method suitable for your particular
Unix system, but you might want to use another method depending on
your printing requirements (banner pages, status logging, etc.) Use the
overview below to determine which method to use:
LPD The recommended method where available.
Advantages: Easy to set up – install the NPS 550 as a remote queue in SMIT (AIX), or
add a remote printer to /etc/printcap using the rm and rp fields (BSD).
Limitations: Spooler features (AIX), and printcap or lpr options (BSD) such as
multiple copies are not available.
FTP The recommended method when LPD is not available.
Advantages: Uses industry standard network software on the host.
Limitations: No printer status logging. BSD: May conflict with other input or output
filters. Doesn’t allow both input and output filters. System V: No filters or
interface programs can be used.
PROS A protocol developed at Axis. Comes in two versions; PROS A (named
pipe), and PROS B (filter).
Advantages: The NPS 550 appears as a device to the system. Print traffic (including
printer status and readback) is logged to file. BSD: All printcap options are
available.
Limitations: A C compiler is required to build the PROS A drivers.
Reverse Telnet Often used for printing via a terminal server printer port. Only
recommended if you already have a Reverse Telnet driver installed (not
available for AIX).
Advantages: Easy to set up with previously installed Reverse Telnet drivers.
Limitations: No status logging. Drivers are not supplied with the NPS 550. Existing
drivers may be slow.