I wish to print from MsDos based application to a networked printer. We can't find how to capture LPT port to a networked device from Win XP clients. We solved this problem on the Win9x clients by using Netbeui and capturing the LPT port with networked printer address. No IPX on server.

You 95 solution would indicate you are either not using the novell client or you don't know about setting up print queues on the server and directing print jobs from the client to the server which directs it to the network printer. It does not matter what the protocol is except when it comes to the print server. Most support all three, ipx, tcp and netbeui. Netbeui is peer to peer networking which in this case you would use "net use" or "net print" depending on your microsoft setup. What protocol is not something to be concerned about if you are a pure tcp/ip network. If you want to print from dos to a netware based print server you have to capture the lpt port which can be done from the netware client/capture statement in the login script/ or by running a batchfile before entering the dos program. You setup a print queue on the server using pconsole which connects the networked printer [jetdirect card or print server not a printer from a shared pc (shared printer is not a print server in netware terms)] and assign what users can use it or Public for everyone to use it. That's it in a nutshell.

Print queue require ipx. If you have a pure ip environment then the chances are good that you are using NW5.x or above. Implement NDPS and configure the NDPS printers to service the print queues. Use the novell client on xp and dos workstations and capture the lpt1 to the chosen queue.

Good catch dunce concerning ipx and print queues. You don't have to implement NDPS if you have ipx on the server only and ipx on the print server. The server queue will act like a gateway recieving print jobs under tcp/ip and sending them to the print servers as ipx.

Unlike Windows NT, Windows 2000 and XP usually has IP printing installed by default. First, be sure the printer has been setup for DHCP and assigned a DNS name by printing out a “Network Setup Page” at the printer. If the network setup has not been done there are usually at least 2 ways to do so. Some printers can be setup using a web browser if you know the IP address of the printer. Some older printers require the Network setup be done using the menus at the printer. HP Jet direct and Lexmark print servers can usually be setup through Telnet or using the Management software that is supplied by the vendor. Be sure the printer has a DNS Name so you can access it via the DNS and not IP. If IP is used and it changes via DHCP, you will not print anymore. Using DNS name you should print regardless. Once this is done the following steps should be performed. Be sure you have the printer drivers available either on CD-ROM or through a network connected drive. Click on Start, Settings, Printers, Add Printer Wizard then select "local". Click next and Choose "Create" then open drop down box and choose "Standard TCP/IP Port" A wizard will open click next and then put in the DNS name of the printer... Do NOT use the IP address which can change if the printer is setup for DHCP. After you have typed in the DNS name click “Next” and follow the wizard to install the correct drivers for the printer you are installing. When this is finished do a test print and verify things are working.