Adding a xerox printer to the ndps rms

[jwills]

When I go into the Resource Management (RMS) tab, in the NDPS Broker and hit "Add Resources", then select "NPD Files", how do I add a printer to this resource list. When I choose "Add" I am prompted for a file with a *.ndx extension. I do not have a file with a *.ndx extension. Does this file come from Xerox?

 

[ak8899]

Why do you want to use NPD Files?

Here's some info about NPD Files:

Formerly TID2950305

Novell Distributed Print Services (NDPS) 2.0

Novell is the only company that makes NPD files for NDPS.


symptom


The purpose of NPD files is to give NDPS information about printers that do not communicate through a bi-directional interface. The information we get from these files is for informational purposes only.




fix


It is not necessary to select a printer type or NPD file to be able to use a printer with NDPS; the customer can (should) select (NONE) when creating a printer agent.

Newer printers especially, do not need NPD files because most are capable of bi-directional communication. This is particularly true of HP printers (or any manufacturer that has a gateway) because their gateway talks to the printer and gets the printer configuration information dynamically.

Some of the confusion pertaining to NPD files is due to the fact that when configuring the HP gateway there is a place where the user is allowed to select a NPD file. HP has put this capability in strictly to get information about non-HP printers that are attached to their print\queue server boxes. It is not obvious from the interface that it is optional, and in most circumstances should be ignored unless the printer being used is non-bidirectional.




regards,
Alain