----- Original Message -----
From: "rotaiv" <rotaiv@[...].com> 
To: <perl-win32-admin@[...].com> 
Sent: Friday, April 27, 2001 8:12 AM
Subject: Re: how to check the status of a networked printer


>  At 04/26/2001  08:49 PM, Paul Popour wrote:
> 
>  >Do you want to monitor the status of the printer, the
>  >communication interface, or the print queue.
> 
>  I'm not really sure.  The printer responds via IP.  The panel on the
>  printer says, "Ready".  However, it you try to look at the job queue, NT
>  will say, "Status unavailable".  At this point, no further print jobs will
>  be printed.  The solution so far has been to delete the port, create a new
>  one and assign the port pack to the printer.
> 

A few non-Perl troubleshhooting hints.

    Disable bi-directional support (known problem with certain combinations
of hp 4000s and NT LPR printing)
    Use either a W2K Pro PC to LPR directly to the printer (divide and
conquer)

>  >If printer, use snmp modules (if HP printers use the webjetadmin
>  >program which does all this for you [using snmp]).
> 
>  I thought of this idea but have not yet tracked down the latest version of
>  Jet Admin.  Also, I have bad memories from previous installations so I am
>  little shy of using it again.  I like the idea of using SNMP to check -
any
>  suggestions on which module or a sample?
> 

The newest version of WebJetAdmin is good.  Be careful when setting up the
discovery process.


>  >If the interface, use Net::Ping.  If not IP, shoot yourself now.
> 
>  As already noted, it is IP and it does respond.
> 

It responds to an ICMP packet (ping)?  How about a telnet connection
(Net::Telnet).


>  >If print queue, well the queue doesn't really have a status, use
>  >the win32::Service or Win32::Lanman module to check the status of
>  >the spooler service.
> 

Actually, this is not really true.  The queue is either running or paused.
(0 or 1).
The job in the queue has a status.  You can ADSI to queury the value.

>  I looked at the docs for Win32::Service - how will this help?  The spooler
>  service appears to be working as other printers serviced by the same
server
>  are working fine.
> 

Only applicable if the problem is a spooler problem.

>  I downloaded Win32::Lanman yesterday but as of yet, I have been unable to
>  find any documentation.  If anyone has a link, that would be appreciated.
> 

It's in the .pm and in certain conditions also in an html file under your
Perl directory.



_______________________________________________
Perl-Win32-Admin mailing list
Perl-Win32-Admin@[...].com
http://listserv.ActiveState.com/mailman/listinfo/perl-win32-admin