Using PRINSTA.EXE with Windows NT (109694)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 3.1
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 3.1
  • Microsoft Windows NT Advanced Server 3.1
This article was previously published under Q109694

SUMMARY

The LAN Manager utility PRINTSTA.EXE, that ships with the Microsoft Client Pack, will allow a LAN Manager workstation to share a local parallel printer. Microsoft LAN Manager 2.x Compatible Workstations can connect to a PRINSTA.EXE print server with the NET USE command.

MORE INFORMATION

To connect to a workstation running PRINTSTA.EXE from a Microsoft LAN Manager 2.x Compatible Workstation, use the following syntax: 
   NET USE <Redirected Port:> \\<Workstation Name>\<Share Name>
For example: 
   NET USE LPT1: \\PSERVER\LPT
If a Windows NT workstation needs to access a PRINTSTA.EXE print server, use the following steps:

  1. Connect to the PRINTSTA.EXE print share from a Windows NT command prompt.
  2. Create a printer in Windows NT Print Manager that uses the redirected port.
The command line options for setting up a PRINTSTA.EXE print server are: 
Usage        PrintSta [options]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

/A:n         - Auto-disconnect time in minutes, 0-1440; 0=never.

/B:n         - Maximum number of network buffers, 2-20.

/C:n         - Maximum number of remote connections, from 1-20.

/D           - Remove LAN Manager Print Station.

/E           - Enable network popups. (Not available for non-spooling.)

/F:n         - Maximum number of spooler files, from 1-10; 0=no spooling.

/I:n         - Timer loop iterations, from 1-255.

/K:n         - Kill printer job. n = job number from print manager.

/L:n         - Parallel printer port, from 1-3.

/M:n         - Cache memory per spool file, in bytes, from 128-4096.

/N:name      - Provide exclusive access for name. Up to 15 characters.

/O:n         - Number of characters to output to printer on each pass.

/P:password  - Queue password. Up to 15 characters.

/Q           - Hold/Release print queue.

/R:n         - Printer retry interval, in seconds, from 1-255.

/S           - Turn separator pages on.

/T:n         - Timer priority, from 1-255; 1=highest.

/W:path      - Absolute path to working directory.

Default: /A:0 /B:5 /C:5 /E /F:5 /I:1 /L:1 /M:128 /O:32 /R:5 /T:10
Additional information on performance tuning, known problems, and usage is available in Knowledge Base articles 99531, 97749, and 93440.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:11/20/2003
Keywords:kbenv KB109694
©2003 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.