Installing the MSNULL Printer Driver (91199)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft LAN Manager 2.1
This article was previously published under Q91199

SUMMARY

The MSNULL.DRV printer driver is shipped with LAN Manager 2.1. Most, if not all, IBM printer drivers are limited to LPT1-3 and COM1-3. IBMNULL.DRV is able to only access those ports. The MSNULL.DRV driver is basically the same as the IBMNULL.DRV with two important exceptions:

  • It will send data to any port, pipe, or filename that is set up in the OS2.INI file under the Port Names section.
  • Most PM printer drivers, if printing to a COM port, set the port parameters before each print job. MSNULL.DRV does not.
Many third party COM port boards allow for a wider range of baud rates and other settings than are allowed from OS/2 PM Control Panel. You can now use the port setting utilities supplied by these vendors and the driver will not continually undo the setting.

MORE INFORMATION

The MSNULL.DRV printer driver is not available for use under Print Manager after installing Microsoft OS/2 for LAN Manager Servers (the OS/2 in the box). After installing LAN Manager 2.1, you can install the MSNULL.DRV printer driver by doing the following:

  1. Select the Print Manager screen. From the Setup menu, choose the Printer Install command.
  2. Select New, and type

    C:\%LANROOT%\DRIVERS (in place of A:\)

    where %LANROOT% is set to the LAN Manager installation directory (for example, C:\LANMAN). The default installation is C:\LANMAN\DRIVERS.
  3. Choose OK.
  4. In the "Connect to:" box, enter the port, the printer name, and a description.
  5. Choose OK.
You can now use the MSNULL.DRV printer driver for other printers and queues.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:9/30/2003
Keywords:KB91199
©2003 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.