Print Sessions Stop with Host Print Service (180864)

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An update has been made to the Host Print service so that it can be configured to specify the maximum number of DCs that can be opened. If the maximum number of DCs is reached, the Host Print service will reject any additional print jobs it receives. If this occurs, it will log an Event 21 in the Windows NT Application Event Log. In addition, the SNA Print Server will return IBM Sense Code 0x0814 (Bracket BID Reject - RTR Forthcoming) to the host when a print job is rejected for this reason. The host should interpret this error as meaning that the print job can be re-sent at a later time.

If the update has not been applied the hardcoded limit of 30 will be used if using Windows NT V4.0, 4.0 SP1, 4.0 SP2, or 4.0 SP3. There is no hardcoded limit using Windows NT 3.51 Operating System.

If the update is applied, there is no hardcoded limit for the Windows NT system. However, the number of DCs that can exist on a Windows NT 4.0 system is still limited by the amount of memory that is allocated to GDI resources.

NOTE: The SNA Print service may reject print jobs for reasons other than this, which would result in the same IBM sense code being returned to the host.

If there is a need to control how many DCs the print server is allowed to create, follow these steps:

WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

NOTE: This registry entry is case sensitive.

1. Apply the hotfix.
2. Start the Windows NT Registry Editor (Regedt32.exe) and find the following key:

   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\SnaPrint
          \Parameters\ 

   Add the following entry to this key:

          Value Name: MaxGDISessions
          Data Type: REG_DWORD
          String: <value>

   where value is the maximum number of DCs that can be created by the Host Print service. Since the the number of DCs that can exist is still limited, the recommended maximum value for this parameter is 200.

In addition, the DC limitation is not applicable if the host print sessions are configured to use a PDF file. Print sessions configured to use a PDF file do not create DCs, and they do not make any other Graphical Device Interface (GDI) calls. NOTE: The SNA Print service may reject print jobs for reasons other than this, which would result in the same IBM sense code being returned to the host.

If there is a need to control how many DCs the print server is allowed to create, follow these steps:

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

For information about how to edit the registry, view the "Changing Keys And Values" Help topic in Registry Editor (Regedit.exe) or the "Add and Delete Information in the Registry" and "Edit Registry Data" Help topics in Regedt32.exe. Note that you should back up the registry before you edit it.

1. Apply the hotfix.
2. Start the Windows NT Registry Editor (Regedt32.exe) and find the following key:

   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\SnaPrint
          \Parameters\ 

   Add the following entry to this key:

          Value Name: MaxGDISessions
          Data Type: REG_DWORD
          String: <value>

   where value is 1 - 250.

In addition, the limit of 250 DCs is not applicable if the host print sessions are configured to use a PDF file. Print sessions configured to use a PDF file do not create DCs, and they do not make any other Graphical Device Interface (GDI) calls.