Defining an Output Device for Remote UNIX Printing

You want to print using a UNIX printer and the SAP spool server is on a different host. There is a print architecture for remote printing. For remote printing, the SAP System transfers the print data to the Line Printer Daemon lpd. Lpd, in turn, transfers the data to the UNIX system for printing.

Prerequisites

· The target host system must have a compatible lpd configuration to be able to send the data over a network connection.

This is possible for all UNIX systems other than True64, as with True 64, spool requests must come from the root user. However, the SAP System cannot be started as the root user.

· The spool server and the host spool system are not running on the same host.

A spool server is an SAP server that has a spool work process and therefore offers the spool service.

· Ensure that you can already print documents on the printer from your UNIX host.

If this is not the case, install the printer on the UNIX host. You can find details about this in your UNIX documentation.

It is irrelevant whether the printer is directly connected to the UNIX host or whether it is a shared network printer.

Procedure

Follow the procedure below to create a device definition for remote UNIX printing:

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1. Call transaction SPAD, and choose Output Devices.

2. If you are not in change mode, switch to this mode by choosing Change.

3. You can now do the following:

¡ You can create a new device definition by choosing Output Device ® Create.

You can use an existing device definition as a template.

¡ To do this, click the entry for the output device that is to be used as a template, and choose Output Device ® Create Using Template.

4. Specify the name of the output device and fill out the mandatory fields of the individual tab pages as follows:

	Field	Input
Device Attributes Tab Page	Device Type	Enter the device type that is defined in the SAP System for the printer model, such as HPLJ4 for the HP Laser Jet 4. You cannot use the generic device type SWIN.
	Spool Server	Select the SAP spool server that is to format output for this device. For additional information, see Spool Server .
	Device Class	Select Standard printer.
Host Spool Access Method tab page	Access Method	Select access method U.
	Host Printer	Enter the name of the output device as it is specified in the host system (operating system). Pay attention to capitalization.
	Destination Host	Enter the name of the target host system to which the output data is to be sent. This is the host system with which the output device is connected.

4. Optional: Classify the device. To do this, choose Edit ® Classification and then the appropriate output type classification for this device. Although classification of output devices is optional, it provides this advantage:

If you also classify your spool servers, the spool system checks that the device and server classifications match. This helps to ensure an optimal output configuration.

If you are preparing to assign a mass printer to a time-critical production server, then the spool system warns you of this disparity.

5. Optional for Experts: Define or select a command set for this device (local printers only, access method L only).

If this device needs print and query commands that differ from the default commands, then you can specify a command set for use with this device.

To do so, do the following:

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a. Choose Edit ® Command set.

If you have already defined an acceptable command set, then enter the identification letter of the set in the Command record ID field.

If you want to define a new command set, then enter a letter to name the set in the Command record ID field.

b. Double-click on the field.

c. In the next dialog box, enter the commands that are to be used with this device.

For information about the command parameter, see parameter settings.

Result

You can use the printer in the SAP System as soon as you have saved the device definition.

Example

The following example shows the definition of a printer that is to be used as an output device for remote UNIX printing.

Device Attributes tab page:

Host Spool Access Method tab page:

As the host spool system and the spool server are on different hosts, the name of the destination host on which the Line Printer Daemon lpd is running is specified on this tab page.