[comp.protocols.appletalk] A-Talk ImageWriters hanging network

PJORGENS@COLGATEU.BITNET (Peter Jorgensen) (10/02/90)

Greetings,

We have a modest AppleTalk network which includes an AppleShare file server,
two LaserWriter, four AppleTalk ImageWriters, 16 Macs and one PC.

The problem we occassionally run into is one of the AT Imagewriters will go
into an error condition (as evidenced by it's red error light being lit) and
users can no longer reliably access other network devices (the file server, the
LaserWriters, other Imagewriters). Turning the printer off clear the problem.
Unfortunately, in a public "lab" such as this, there is often no one around
who knows to do this. The users panic, they start unplugging wires, and people
lose their work.

Question 1) What causes the Imagewriter to crash? My theory (unproven) is
            someone printing with the regular Imagewriter chosen in the chooser.

Question 2) Have you ever experienced this problem and/or found a way to prevent
            it?

Thanks in advance,

Peter Jorgensen
Microcomputer specialist
Colgate University - Hamilton, NY 13346
AppleLink - U0523
BITNET - PJORGENSEN@COLGATEU
tel - 315-824-1000 ext 742

PETER@YALEVM.BITNET (Peter Furmonavicius) (10/04/90)

Hello.  This sounds exactly like the problem that we are experiencing
also.  I have no idea what causes this condition in the AppleTalked
Imagewriters.  However it seems unlikely that it is caused by someone
printing with the regular Imagewriter chosen in the chooser.  If a user
tries to do this, they are prompted to select a printer port (either
their printer port or their modem port are the alternatives).  If they
select their printer port, they receive a message:

        ImageWriter cannot be used on
        the Printer port while AppleTalk is
        active.  Do you want to make
        AppleTalk inactive?  Access to
        current network services will
        have to be reestablished.

             [ OK ]  [[ Cancel ]]

This problem is baffling me.  If anyone else has experienced this, or
knows what we might do to fix it, please contact me.  Thanks.

BITnet:  Peter @ YaleVM      InterNet:  Peter @ YaleVM.YCC.Yale.edu

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