Sharing the Network Printers on z/OS
For details about sharing an IPDS printer between multiple host systems, see page 53 "Sharing the
Printer with IPDS host systems (PSF/400 or z/OS)".
The printer may be shared with PSF in one of two ways:
•
Sharing the printer with other non-IPDS host systems using MID and the JES Spool.
• Sharing the printer with other IPDS host systems, without MID. This method also shares the printer
with non-IPDS host systems.
Sharing the printer with other IPDS host systems, without MID JES Spool
Printer Sharing
JES spool printer sharing is valid for TCP/IP attached network printers. A session with the printer is
maintained while there is output on the JES spool and the printer is available. When there is no more
output on the spool and the disconnect interval expires, PSF ends the session with the printer. This allows
any other IPDS host, such as System i to share this printer. PSF attempts to restart the session when there
is more work on the spool for the printer. After the session is restarted, PSF must reload the resources
required for the print jobs. When using this method of network printer sharing, PSF cannot determine if
another printer driver is active.
You can request this method of network printer sharing by specifying the following parameters in the PSF
Startup Proc.
MGMTMODE=OUTAVAIL
FAILURE=WCONNECT
TIMEOUT=REDRIVE
DISCINTV=nn
• MGMTMODE
Set this parameter to "OUTAVAIL". "OUTAVAIL" requests that PSF start a communications session
with the printer only when output is available on the JES spool.
• FAILURE
Specifies the action PSF is to take after a printer failure or a TCP/IP network failure. If
FAILURE=WCONNECT and the printer is connected to another host when PSF attempts to establish
a connection on TCP/IP, PSF continuously retries (up to the limit specified by CONNINTV) until the
printer becomes available. If FAILURE=STOP, PSF must be restarted by an operator command.
• TIMEOUT
Specifies the action that PSF is to take after a timeout when no output is available on JES. The
DISCINTV parameter specifies the timeout interval. TIMEOUT=REDRIVE requests that PSF redrive
4. Configuring z/OS to Print IPDS Files
40