Access network printer via MS-DOS

oops.. typo
net use LPT2 \\<printer-server-ip\<printer-server-name> /p

Sorry, but you cannot print a file to the print server name, but only to the printer name instead. The printer server creates up to three printer names (it has three printer connectors) in the LAN that must be addressed when wanting to print a file. But I haven't found this printer name in any of the Windows dialogs.

is it a HP Jetdirect printserver?

No, it's a D-Link DP-100.

Doesn't the D-Link printserver have some kind of configuration software (like the HP Jetdirect software)?

Yes, it does, but I'm not able to find the installed printers in this configuration tool. That's why I searched for the printer name within the Windows printer configuration dialogs.

i'm verry sorry, but at this point i'm unable to help you further.
My knowledge of a D-link printserver is zero...

The only thing i can think of.... goto start/settings/printers
rightclick on the printer and choose properties
click on the TAB "ports" and select the printer
Now click on "configure port" and then you should see the printername...

if not... then i can't help any further..
Sorry

So if you go to a Windows machine, do an dAdd Printer in the Printer window, select network and browse, you don't find a server with printers available? The D-Link still has to conform to what a Windows machine is expecting unless you *have* to install special software in order to access the printers. Try the Windows test and see what you get. Also, did you try to use the lpt2 Goldwing offered? (actually, should be lpt2:) and then use lpt2: for printing? You have to use lpt2 from dos. It doesn't understand the unc format \\machine\printer directly, only through net use. So do the net use command and then try "copy test.prn lpt2: /b" and see if that doesn't work for you.

Also, and I don't know anything about this print server either, you should be able to configure the server with a name. Most D-Link products are not only very user friendly (IMHO) but they are also very comforming (also IMHO).  :-)  Write back and tell us what you find.

Good Luck!

Oops - make that "copy /b test.prn > lpt2:"

Thank you for the effort you both made. :-)
I will try and inform you as soon as possible!
Regards, Hamilton

Some testing of mine now showed me that the problem seems to be of another kind than I thought. In my network there are two (and more) PCs with the static IP addresses 192.255.255.31 and ~.~.~.32; the last one is called "Celeron466" and has a folder "Data" accessible for the other network PCs. Sitting at the first mentioned PC and typing
prompt> dir \\Celeron466\Data
in the DOS prompt, the content of the directory is displayed. When I try the equivalent command
prompt> dir \\192.255.255.32\Data
an error message occurs telling me that the computer name could not be found in the network. Moreover, pinging the IP 192.255.255.32 works quite fine.
I noticed exactly the same behaviour as I tried the Explorer's option to bind the directory to the drive letter U:. It works when you provide the PC name, it does not when you enter the IP.
Regards, Hamilton.

Obviously that won't work! So you have to fix that first. Now you see why DHCP is so much better! Probably best to disconnect every machine, make a list of new IP's for each one, and set them one at a time regardless of whether the one they have now is a good one or not. You can waste a lot of time *fixing* them only to set one the same as another one!

Looking back at the post, I realize that when you say DOS, you mean DOS from Win98. Skip the "net use" bit. For that, you just need to capture the printer port. Open up the properties for the printer port, go to the port settings and click on capture. I don't have a Win98 machine in front of me to guide you exactly, but you shouldn't have too much trouble finding those settings. Afterwards, you can just do the copy command like I said before and it will stick between reboots. Make sure to use the right lptx that was captured. If you can't find the settings, add the printer again, and this time when it says do you print from MS-DOS, say yes. It will capture the port for you. That's all it's doing.

well im not sure if it will negotiate netbios service, but that might be what is resolving names...
if you type "NET VIEW" it will send a broadcast for all computers to reply their 'names'
this might just show the name

oh and you cannot use NET with ip's
you can do a NET VIEW on an ip but thats it.
you would have to add static entries in the LMHOSTS file (LMHOSTS.SAM by default and has to be renamed with no extension)

Thinking more about this, do you have another protocol installed other than TCP?

Also, it's been nearly a month now. Are you still working this, or is it a dead issue?

Have you tried capturing the printer port ?
It is in printer setup detail window.
I am doing same to print on remote printers. and works fine. No idea of Dlink print server.
good luck.