TITLE
    Mac OS X Server: About Printing
Article ID:
Created:
Modified: 		60121
3/11/99
10/31/00
TOPIC

    This article contains the Mac OS X Server release notes about printing.

    Note: This document was installed by Mac OS X Server in /System/Documentation/ReadMe. For a list of other release notes see:
    Article 30925: " Mac OS X Server: Release Notes "

DISCUSSION

    Security Issues

    All Mac OS X Server machines are set up to disallow computers on the network to print to printers configured for that machine. If you wish to share a printer you will have to edit (as root) the file /etc/hosts.lpd to select which computers you wish to permit printing privileges - you must then reboot the machine to make the changes take effect. Please see the man page for hosts.equiv for information on the format of this file.

    PrintManager

    This application allows NetInfo printer entries to be created and exported to other domains. You may view, delete or get information about jobs in a printer queue.

    Known problems and workarounds:
      1. Viewing Print Queue only works 1 time.
      • Workaround: Quit and re-launch PrintManager.
      2. Cannot create/export remote printer entry if the domain need authentication.
      • Workaround: Use NetInfo.app to create the printer entry.
      3. Cannot select any printer specific options from a PPD file.
      • Workaround: Remove the execute bit from the PPD file located in /System/Library/Printers/PPDs/Apple/Resources/
      4. First local printer entry created does not update the Tabs correctly.
      • Workaround: Click on the tabs again.

    Backward Compatibility

    Because of the directory restructuring, printing to a Rhapsody Developer Release 1, NextStep, or OPENSTEP network printer from a Mac OS X Server computer does not work. This is because the Spooling Directory specified in the NetInfo entry for the printer does not exist on the Mac OS X Server system. There are two workarounds:
      1. Rename all the /printers/ [ PrinterName ] "sd" property keys to be "_sd". We have experienced no problems with legacy systems being able to print (if no spooling directory is specified, a default one is used).
      2. Create the spooling directory on the Mac OS X Server system. This workaround is less desirable as it will have to be repeated for all new systems.

Document Information
Product Area: Mac OS System Software
Category: Mac OS X Server
Sub Category: General Topics

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