Looking for gateway function to support running PSF/AIX
ITEM: RTA000095530
Q:
ABSTRACT: PSF/AIX: Need to run PSF/AIX in mixed environment (TCP/IP,
Novell IPX; also MVS and PSF/MVS)
SEARCH ARG: psf/aix novell
TOPIC THREAD: PRINT
PSF/AIX
..
Customer has PSF/MVS driving 3829 today. Is migrating to AIX/UNIX world
but will retain investment in host MVS and Novell (IPX) networks for a
long time to come. I am proposing PSF/AIX driving two 3160's to replace
host print functions (PSF/MVS to 3829), but am also trying to provide
platform for future interoperability between Novell LAN, MVS Server, and
nascent AIX - TCP/IP networking. TCP/IP to be installed on MVS soon,
but Novell servers (11) are slated to remain IPX. User wants to send
Windows application output from Novell (IPX) LANs to the 3160s. Is
there any way to do this? PSF/AIX supports TCP/IP but I don't see any
support for IPX. Physical layer is Token Ring. PSF/2 would support
Novell and TCP/IP through Comm Manager/2 - I suppose now it is all under
the covers of WARP/Connect; but I'm concerned about the horsepower
differences between PS/2 and RS/6000 platforms, and about the strategic
fit of OS/2 in an environment that is migrating to AIX/UNIX.
NET: Is there any way to get PSF/AIX to support Novell IPX LANs, both
for incoming data to be printed on the 3160's as well as data coming
from the MVS system as AFPDS and being converted to PCL and routed to
HP printers on the Novell LANs? Ideally, I think I'm looking for
"gateway" software to run on the RS/6000 along with PSF/AIX. If such
software is available what impact does it have on sizing the RS/6000?
Thank you.
A:
There probably is some way to get AIX (and therefore PSF/AIX) to support
Novell IPX, and this item will be assigned to the PSF/AIX specialist for
further comment, but I thought I should mention a few considerations:
If the customer requires banners for printing from the Novell LAN, the
only way to get the Jobname and Userid onto a PSF header page is to go
through PSF/2, in conjunction with the QREADER NLM on the Novell Server.
PSF/2 could then route the job to PSF/AIX using TCP/IP protocols. If
you wish to pursue this option further, this item can re-routed back to
me.
Re-assigning to the PSF/AIX specialist...
A:
| (Updated May 1996)
| Two options for you, one with TCP/IP and one with IPX.
One way to implement this would be to add TCP/IP capability to the
Novell servers. Please review ASKQ items RTA000042932, RTA000086562,
and RTA000089327 for information on NetWare Loadable Modules (NLMs)
that can be added to Novell to add LPR/LPD support. These are
installed on the Novell servers and thus have no impact on the RS/6000
sizing.
| According to a press release I saw on the Novell web site
| (specifically http://corp.novell.com/press/pr96038.htm), Novell has
| also enhanced NetWare 4.1 support for TCP/IP, "expanding NetWare
| users' printing options to include UNIX and other IP-based printers...
| All NetWare clients can access network printers running lpr/lpd."
| Please contact Novell for additional information on NetWare/IP 2.2.
Or to get the IPX support you refer to (no TCP/IP), there is an
optional feature of AIX 4.1.4 (or later) called AIX Connections.
| Among other capabilities, it allows the RS/6000 to act as a print
| server for many different PC-based clients through the NWserver,
| LSserver, and MACserver components without requiring any additional
| software on those clients.
Here is a quote from a new ITSO redbook, "AIX Connections for Beginners"
(SG24-4588), page 1:
"NWserver is software that is installed on an AIX-based computer and
enables it to provide file, print and terminal emulation services to
NetWare-compatible client PCs. NWserver is also able to act as a client
to NWserver and Novell NetWare servers. It also includes an SPX/IPX
protocol stack to support SPX/IPX clients."
| Although no formal testing has been done by Boulder between AIX
| Connections and PSF for AIX, I have successfully set up NWserver
| on the RS/6000 and configured a printer as is described on page 24
| of AIX Connections: Up and Running¢ (SC23-1758-01). You can point
| to an existing PSF for AIX queue in the same way that you point to
| existing AIX queues. Although I've not tested the other (LSserver or
| MACserver), I believe they should also work. I also know of one
| customer that has successfully configured NWserver to work with a
| PSF for AIX queue.
| There is also an "ncprint" command that allows AIX users to print
| to NetWare servers. I have no experience with this piece of AIX
| Connections, so I can't say if it does or does not work to route
| output from PSF/AIX to NetWare printers.
| Note that there is a SmoothStart contract available through the IBM
| Availability Centers for installation of AIX Connections; see US
| Announcement Letter 696-006 for additional information. Services
| for the installation and customization of PSF for AIX are available
| through the IBM Printing Systems Company Services organization in
| Boulder.
I will have to defer to the AIX specialists for sizing information
on AIX Connections. If you wish to pursue, I can transfer this item
to their queue for additional comments.
As far as MVS jobs, they can either use MVS Download (feature of
PSF/MVS 2.2) once TCP/IP for MVS V3 is installed, or they might use
PSF Direct (SNA LU6.2, some printer sharing considerations). There
are a number of libraried ASKQ items that discuss these options, so
let me know if you need help locating those items or have additional
questions after reviewing them.
Closing for now but let me know if I can be of further assistance.
S e a r c h - k e y w o r d s:
AIX PSF/6000 PSF/AIX CONNECTIONS IPX SPX NOVELL NETWARE
infoprint
WWQA: ITEM: RTA000095530 ITEM: RTA000095530
Dated: 03/1999 Category: XPSF6000
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