Updated TCP/IP Printing Components for Windows NT 3.51 (153666)

SUMMARY

The Windows NT TCP/IP printing support has been modified to encompass greater functionality then what was available with prior releases. Modifications were made in three separate areas:

Improved System V support
Support for multiple data files per control file
Improved TCP/IP output when spooling a high number of jobs

MORE INFORMATION

Improved System V Support

Windows NT version 3.5x supported TCP/IP printing as documented in RFC1179. However, this RFC "describes an existing print server protocol widely used on the Internet for communicating between line printer daemons," and does not specify an Internet standard. Different implementations support different options, so due to popular demand, enhancements were added for Windows NT.

Support for Multiple Data Files per Control File

Windows NT supports multiple data files per control file, and when used in "print through" mode as an intermediate spooler, it correctly passes the hostname parameter through the Windows printing subsystem.

Improved TCP/IP Output When Spooling a High Number of Jobs

Prior to Windows NT 3.51 Service Pack (SP) 5, all TCP/IP print jobs sent from a Windows NT computer were sourced from TCP ports 721 through 731, and if many jobs were sent in quick succession the ports could be "used up," causing a pause in printing until one of them passed through the TCP TIME_WAIT state. This has been modified for Service Pack 5, and now line printer remote (LPR) jobs are sourced from any available reserved port between 512 and 1023.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT version 3.51. This problem was corrected in the latest Windows NT 3.51 U.S. Service Pack. For information on obtaining the Service Pack, query on the following word in the Microsoft Knowledge Base (without the spaces):

S E R V P A C K