[comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc] Wanted: An lpr like TSR printing program for PC's.

stevek@hp-ptp.HP.COM (Steve Kite) (05/28/91)

/ hp-ptp:comp.sys.ibm.pc / ben@geology.wisc.edu (Ben Abernathy) /  1:50 pm  May 26, 1991 /
I have been monitoring the news and have noticed some really slick PD programs
for network applications.  There is the ka9q stuff, the clarkson ftp drivers,
the cute package, ncsa telnet, and the PC NFS implimentation (soss).

What I have not seen but really need is a program (commercial or PD) which
operates as follows:

DOS, Terminate and stay resident program that takes up very little memory and
will intercept information headed to LPT1 but instead will send it
in an lpr like manor to my unix machine where it can be directed to
any of the described printers in the printcap file.  It should utilize the
Clarkson FTP drivers so a variety of networking cards will be supported.
If I knew enough about the internals of the IBM, I would write it myself.

The closest one I have found was the TOPS for IBM, and TOPS netprint programs.
They suffered the problems of taking up too much memory and trying to impliment
file sharing, and not being able to handle large files.  
The final straw however was that our campus went to Appletalk Phase II.

It also seems that TOPS/Sitka has not yet achieved critical 
mass to be a major player in the networking game.

There was some PD code developed called: printnet and is found on 
sun.soe.clarkson which implimented the interception part, but was meant
to interface with a dedicated PC server.

In essence, all I want is to be able to do what the macintoshes can do 
inherently.  I don't want to be forced to use a ibm pc as a print server.

If anyboy can help me out or point me in the right direction I would
greatly appreciate it.  If responses are good and favorable, I will post
the results.

Thanks

-- 
	Ben Abernathy: Site and System Manager
	Department of Geology & Geophysics UW - Madison
	1215 West Dayton Street Madison, WI  53706
	ben@geology.wisc.edu
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