Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!bbs!karl
From: karl@naitc.naitc.com (Karl Denninger)
Newsgroups: comp.protocols.nfs
Subject: Re: PC-NFS vs. Beame
Summary: Beame does too have a hot key.
Message-ID: <1990Nov07.204226.28761@naitc.naitc.com>
Date: 7 Nov 90 20:42:26 GMT
References: <3160@jaytee.East.Sun.COM> <2575@gazette.bcm.tmc.edu> <3196@jaytee.East.Sun.COM> <2583@gazette.bcm.tmc.edu> <90309.170944TOMIII@MTUS5.BITNET>
Reply-To: karl@bbs.naitc.com (Karl Denninger)
Organization: A.C. Nielsen Co.
Lines: 36

In article <90309.170944TOMIII@MTUS5.BITNET> TOMIII@MTUS5.BITNET (Thomas Dwyer III) writes:
>>Sure. I am talking more about it from the MS/DOS application point of view.
>>It needs to be more like the printer attached to a PC-LAN. Right now, most
>>of my users have to go an extra step to print via PCNFS (hot key, or enter
>>net print to insure that PCNFSD "heard" that there was stuff to print). A
>>few use the "program exit" and timeout features, but more would rather is
>>just acted like a printer attached to their PC.
>
>Well, on the other hand, we rather prefer Sun's idea of the NET PRINT *
>command.  If I want something to come out of the printer, *I'll* tell it
>to come out.  Beame has to guess when you are ready for the queue to be
>printed, where as Sun lets *you* decide.  

Not true.  You didn't read the docs!

There are three ways to get printer output from B&W NFS:
1) <CTRL> <PRT SC>.  Queues what you have in the spooler immediately.
2) If the application uses DOS interrupt services, it times out in 30 seconds.
3) If the application opens a DOS handle (ie: open("LPT1", .....)) the
   output is queued immediately when the handle is closed.

>I also like Sun's idea of having
>T: U: and V: as "windows" to the print queue; you can watch your file(s)
>get printed by using the "dir" command.  Beame does not have anything
>similar to this.

I find that a major hassle rather than a blessing.  It removes three drives
from use, and does so in a manner that is completely counter-intuitive.  Try
explaining this to an end user!

--
Karl Denninger	AC Nielsen
kdenning@ksun.naitc.com
(708) 317-3285
Disclaimer:  Contents represent opinions of the author; I do not speak for
	     AC Nielsen on Usenet.