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Section 5.4: Novell and UNIX Printers

Windows XP Professional provides Client Service for NetWare, a network software add-in that you can use to enable your computer to interoperate with NetWare servers. When installed on a computer running Windows XP Professional, Client Service for NetWare enables access to files on the NetWare server and printing to the NetWare printer. For computers to interoperate with each other, they must be running the same protocols. NWLink, a component of Client Service for NetWare, provides that interoperability. NWLink is an Internetwork Packet Exchange/Sequenced Packet Exchange (IPX/SPX)-compatible protocol that is automatically installed when you install Client Service for NetWare.

You can access NetWare printers depending on the methods of authentication. To connect to a NetWare printer using a Graphical User Interface (GUI):

  • Click on the start button
  • Click on CONTROL PANEL
  • Click PRINTERS AND OTHER HARDWARE
  • Click ADD A PRINTER
  • Click NEXT to start the Add Printer Wizard.
  • On the Local or Network Printer page, click A NETWORK PRINTER OR A PRINTER ATTACHED TO ANOTHER COMPUTER
  • Click NEXT
  • On the Specify a Printer page, click connect to this printer, and type the name of a printer, using the format: \server_nameprinter_name where server_name is the name of the server to which you want to connect, and printer_name is printer to which you want to connect
  • Click NEXT.

5.4.1: Installing a Printer Using LPR

In a mixed environment where printing services are distributed, users need to be able to print to any or all print devices. To enable printing to UNIX printers, you must install Print Services for UNIX, and then set up an LPR port and install the printer. The LPR port is best suited to servers that communicate with UNIX machines.

To install Print Services for UNIX:

  • Click on the start button
  • Click CONTROL PANEL
  • Click ADD OR REMOVE PROGRAMS
  • Click ADD/REMOVE WINDOWS COMPONENTS
  • Scroll and select the other network file and print services check box
  • Click the DETAILS button to ensure Print Services for UNIX is highlighted
  • Click OK
  • Click NEXT
  • Follow the wizard instructions.

A network-connected printer must have a card that supports line printer daemon (LPD) protocol for TCP/IP printing to work properly. To set up an LPR port and install the printer on a computer running Windows XP Professional:

  • Click on the start button
  • Click CONTROL PANEL
  • Click PRINTERS AND OTHER HARDWARE
  • Click PRINTERS AND FAXES
  • Click ADD A PRINTER
  • Click NEXT
  • On the Local or Network Printer page, click LOCAL PRINTER ATTACHED TO THIS COMPUTER
  • Clear the automatically detect and install my plug and play printer check box
  • Click NEXT
  • On the Select a Printer Port page, click create a new port
  • Click LPR PORT
  • Click NEXT
  • Provide the required information
  • Follow the instructions in the wizard to finish installing the printer.

Note: Before you can add the LPR port, you must first install Print Services for UNIX

Table 5.1: Services for Non-Microsoft Operating Systems Client Computers

Client Required Services
Macintosh Services for Macintosh. This is not included not Windows XP Professional but is included with Windows 2000 Server.
UNIX TCP/IP Printing, which is also called the LPD Service, is included with Windows 2000 Server but is not installed by default. It is not included with Windows XP Professional.
NetWare File and Print Services for NetWare (FPNW), an optional add-on service for Windows 2000 Server, is not included with Windows XP Professional or Windows 2000 Server.