VTAM Printer Support System (VPS)
Support and Administration
VPS
Background
VTAM Printer Support System software corporation. It enables print requests generated on the z/OS mainframe system to be printed on network (LAN) connected printers using the Berkeley Line Print Deamon (LPD) mechanism. 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 connected to a PC, a Unix workstation or device designed specifically for this task (i.e. a LanTronix box). AppleTalk printers are accesible using the Network Systems Branch (NSB) AppleTalk converter as their LPD host. This converter translates the LPD protocol to AppleTalk protocol to enable printing on the AppleTalk printers.
In this environment, 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 should be able to provide help if help is needed 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 support personnel be knowledgeable about all of the different TCP/IP software.
User Registration Procedure
To enable a printer to receive print requests from the mainframe system, the printer must be registered with CIT. This registration allows for the correct configuration to be entered into the VPS configuration files. Details of the information needed for registration are listed below or you may go directly to the registration site:
VPS registrations received by the NIH Help Desk will be processed in 2 business days.
Information required for an LPD server request
List print "VPS command name"
Note: If user is requesting use of the ADB system, a VPS command name will be assigned by System Administrator.
Note: Printer queuename is restricted to a maximum of 14 characters long.
Information required for an AppleTalk printer request
Note: Character restrictions for AppleTalk/Xinet printer queue names ...
Once the NIH Help Desk receives a request for VPS printer registration, 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 the Division of Network Services and Telecommunications (DNST) for testing. If the setup includes the ADB system, the ADB office is notified.
The ticket is then forwarded back to the NIH Help Desk where e-mail is sent to the user and TLC or CSC notifying them when their print queue will be available for use and other pertinent information.
Sample email notification of completion of registration
Mail sent to User:
REMEDY TICKET: ST0######
DATE: 00/00/00
Your request for mainframe to network printing has been completed. The service you will be using is called: VPS.
The print queue you requested, for machine: 156.231.xxx.xx or machine.inst.nih.gov
Queuename: TEST
has been setup.
Please setup your queuename exactly as it is listed above (case sensitive).
It will be available for use on: 00/00/00
To access this from Wylbur, use a command similar to ...
list print NIHC#### ... options
The NIHC#### name is the best name by which to refer to your print queue should you ever have problems and need to contact the NIH Help Desk.
ADB default printer registration may not yet have been completed. To access this printer from ADB you can set the printer on the Change Printer screen to: NIHC####.
If you have any problems or questions, please contact the NIH Help Desk at 301-496-4357.
National Institutes of Health
Center for Information Technology/DCS/NIH Help Desk
9000 Rockville Pike
Building 12A
Bethesda, Maryland 20892
VOICE: 301-496-4357
TTY: 301-496-8294
E-Mail: ITHelpDesk@nih.gov
AppleTalk printer configuration
For AppleTalk printers, the LPDHOST is defined as PRINTSHARE.NIH.GOV. This LPD server is maintained by the Network Systems Branch and converts the TCP/IP LPR protocol to an AppleTalk protocol.
Print queue configuration modifications
Users may request a change to their configuration. Such as, they may move to new location and require a new IP address, Hostname, or Printer Queuename. Please refer to the web site 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 queuename). To remove a printer queue, please refer to the web site VPS Modification
If you have any questions or require further assistance please contact the NIH Help Desk.
Other helpful documents available to users on the Web...