VPS Support and Administration Guide
Use of the Administrative Database (ADB) System
Adding additional ADB user’s to an existing
printer
VPS Support and Administration
Guide
VPS is a product that enables print requests generated on the Titan system to be printed on network (LAN) connected printers running Berkeley Line Print Deamon (LPD) software.
The printer receives the print request from a host running the LPD protocol. Printed output can come from Administrative Data Base (ADB)/Delpro, DB2, Wylbur, TSO, or batch jobs. The printers can be via PC, Unix workstation or a device designed specifically for this task (e.g., a LanTronix box).
AppleTalk printers are accessible using the Division of Network Systems and Telecommunications (DNST) AppleTalk converter as their LPD host. This converter translates the LPD protocol to AppleTalk protocol to enable printing on the AppleTalk printers.
Center for Information Technology (CIT) is responsible for maintaining VPS, ensuring availability and maintaining print queues, including the addition of new printer queues. The requestors of the VPS queues are responsible for running and maintaining the LPD server and the queues on the LPD server. If LPD queues are not properly configured then VPS can not deliver print requests. CIT can provide some assistance in setting up the LPD server and defining the queues on the LPD server. Configuration of the LPD server is a function of the TCP/IP software being run on the user's machine. It is not expected that CIT support personnel will be knowledgeable about all of the different TCP/IP software.
· User name, NIH address, phone, email.
· LPD server software: what type of software is being used? (i.e., Windows 2000, XP, Unix, etc.)
· LPD server IP address or hostname (i.e., 156.231.xxx.xx or machine.inst.nih.gov).
· Printer queue name: The name on the server that is recognized over the network to receive print requests.
Note: Printer queue names are restricted to a maximum of 14 characters.
For AppleTalk printers, the LPDHOST is defined as PRINTSHARE.NIH.GOV. This LPD server is maintained by DNST and converts the TCP/IP LPR protocol to an AppleTalk protocol.
Information
required for an AppleTalk printer request
· AppleTalk zone name
· AppleTalk printer queue name
Note: Character restrictions for AppleTalk/Xinet printer queue names...
o All alpha characters must be lowercase
o Maximum of 60 characters long.
o Special characters include letters, digits, dashes, slash and underscore“_".
To enable a printer to receive print requests from the Titan system, the printer must be registered with CIT. This registration allows for the correct configuration to be entered into the VPS configuration files. VPS registrations received by the NIH help desk will be processed within 2 business days. For instructions on filling out the VPS form, please visit:
· http://silk.nih.gov/silk/vps/instructions
Once your request for VPS registration has been received, a Remedy ticket is created with the information you have supplied. The ticket is then assigned to the VPS support group where it is then reviewed for proper setup configuration.
If print queue is configured in AppleTalk, the ticket is forwarded to DNST for setup on the LPD to AppleTalk gateway (printshare).
To register for VPS printing services, please visit:
· http://silk.nih.gov/silk/vps/registration
Use of the Administrative Database (ADB) System
The ADB system was developed to automate the processes related to the procurement of goods and services and to translate the procurement actions into accounting transactions that are processed by the Central Accounting System (CAS).
If your setup includes the use of the ADB system, the ADB office is notified. Your request is then forwarded back to the VPS support group who will notify the requestor that the VPS printer has been defined.
Information required for ADB access
· User Titan Name
· User Titan ID
· User Titan Account
Users may request a change to their configuration, e.g., they may move to new location and require a new IP address, Hostname, or Printer Queue name. Both the current configuration and the new configuration information should be supplied in order to minimize the amount of time it takes to process the modification request. Please refer to the web site:
· http://silk.nih.gov/silk/vps/modification.
Adding additional ADB user’s to an
existing printer
Additional user's may be added to an existing NIHC printer by providing the printer number the user will be added to, user's full name, Titan userid and Titan account. To add additional ADB user’s please refer to the web site:
· http://silk.nih.gov/silk/vps/modification.
Print queue removal
A queue may need to be removed from the configuration files; either at the user's request or after appropriate period of non-use, as documented in interface articles (see INTERFACE 200). Print queues that have not been used in 6 months are eligible for removal (and reuse of the queue name). To remove a printer queue, please refer to the web site:
· http://silk.nih.gov/silk/vps/modification.
If you have any questions or require further assistance please contact the NIH Help Desk, at (301-496-4357) or email - helpdesk@nih.gov.
Other
helpful documents available to users on the Web...
· Instructions for filling out VPS registration form
· Instructions for configuring LPD servers for Titan printing
· Using VPS to print from the Titan system
·
Template for submitting batch job
for VPS