HP DECprint Supervisor for OpenVMS

These Release Notes for HP DECprint Supervisor (DCPS) for OpenVMS, Version 2.5 (November 2005), provide essential information for system managers and users regarding the current release.

Key Updates and New Features:

• New Printer Support: Adds support for several HP Color LaserJet, HP LaserJet, and Xerox DocuPrint N4525 models.
• Enhanced LPD Support: Improves compatibility with remote LPD queues and printers, introducing optional spooling (configurable per system or queue) to determine job size for printers requiring it.
• Improved Installation: Offers more granular control over stopping queues during installation.
• Flag Page Improvement: Displays the printer name in parentheses to distinguish it from the product name.

Key Bug Fixes:

• Resolved issues with Raw TCP jobs causing delays in job deletion or STREAMUSE errors during queue stop/start.
• Fixed INTRAYNOTAVL errors when selecting trays on specific HP LaserJet printers.
• Corrected stapling issues for the LaserJet 9000 when STAPLE=NONE was specified.
• Addressed LPD jobs failing with PostScript "checkconfiguration" errors when the printer name logical was undefined.
• Included a missing AppleTalk file (DCPS$BE_APPLETALK.EXE) in the kit.
• Significantly improved DCPS symbiont performance and CPU usage on OpenVMS Integrity (I64) systems.
• Fixed an incorrect OLDSETUP message during startup.

Important Restrictions and Known Issues:

• Compatibility: AppleTalk support is discontinued on OpenVMS V8.2 and later. Specific HP printers require firmware updates to prevent service errors or queue startup problems, or use of the _NO_SYNC logical name.
• Configuration: Printers with auto-sensing features must be set to "PostScript" or "Auto-Sensing" mode (not "PCL"). Raw TCP/IP jobs may remain in "Starting" state due to incorrect port numbers or lack of printer synchronization; workarounds involve printer settings or defining a _NO_SYNC logical name. Long Raw TCP/IP jobs may terminate due to NIC idle timeouts.
• Functionality: DCPS translators do not generate color PostScript (output is grayscale). Issues like clipped pages or incorrect scaling can occur with certain PostScript drivers when using NUMBER_UP greater than 1. Some printers do not send status messages to the host. DDIF printing requires DECwindows or DECimage Application Services. Certain parameters like /COPIES with PostScript files, and PAGE_LIMIT used with /JOB_COUNT, can produce undesired results. Embedded PJL commands are discarded, and binary mode should be avoided with PJL printers.
• System Stability: DCPS processes may consume excessive CPU after system time changes (e.g., Daylight Saving Time), requiring specific OpenVMS TDF/DECnet patch kits. Autostart Raw TCP queues may fail with "invalid device name" errors (requires OpenVMS QMAN patch). Symbiont aborts (ACCVIO/BADPARAM) can occur due to OpenVMS delta-time restrictions, requiring specific OpenVMS library patches. Insufficient I/O buffers (MAXBUF) can lead to OPCOM errors and queue stoppage.