Configuring Telnet printer sessions

The topic contains instructions for attaching to printers on the system from remote locations on the network.

You must create a 3812 or 5553 virtual printer device to use Telnet printer emulation. Such a device is needed to generate the printer data streams sent for the printer session. Printers used with Telnet printing can be attached to the PC or attached to the same network as the PC. Telnet printer sessions negotiate with a remote Telnet client on a system that supports Telnet printer emulation.

Telnet printer sessions deliver the printer data stream between the two systems as either EBCDIC or ASCII depending on the preferences of the requesting client.

Telnet printer sessions are active immediately after Telnet initialization. Printing functions do not require user profiles and passwords. However, if your security requires it, you can use Telnet exit point programs to block printer sessions from starting.

When using Telnet printer sessions, all print data is spooled to a printer writer queue for printing. You cannot print directly to a print device. When using the printer file commands to create printer file (CRTPRTF), change printer file (CHGPRTF), and overwrite printer file (OVRPRTF), use the default SPOOL (*YES) parameter. Also, Telnet sets the printer writer or output queue to the same name as the printer.

To set up your Telnet printer sessions, follow these steps:

1. Check to make sure that the TCP stack is active. If not, issue the STRTCP command to start the TCP stack.

2. Start the Telnet server. Refer to Starting the Telnet server.

3. Set the number of virtual devices. Refer to Setting the number of virtual devices.

4. Set the Telnet session keep-alive parameter. Refer to Setting the Telnet session keep-alive parameter.

5. Create virtual controllers and devices. Refer to Creating virtual controllers and devices.

6. Activate the QSPL subsystem. Refer to Activating the QSPL subsystem.

7. Test the setup with a test printer file.

8. Print a file through a Telnet printer session.