🚀 go-pugleaf

  Just thought I'd let folks know about a problem we're having with the QMS
PS-410 printer in an AppleTalk network.

  We run a network using an Ethernet backbone, FastPaths bridges to
Phase 1 LocalTalk, and Star Controllers, sorta like this:

                           Ethernet
       <======================================================>
            |      |       |       |          |          |
            FP     |       |       FP         |          FP
            |     Mac     VAX      |         Sun         |
            |                      |                     |
      Star Controller       Star Controller        Star Controller 
     /    /    \    \      /    /    \    \       /    /    \    \  
     |    |    |    |      |    |    |    |       |    |    |    | 
    Mac  Ptr  Mac  410    PC   Mac  Ptr  Mac     Mac   PC  Mac  Ptr

  Any device (Mac, VAX, Sun, PC) can print on any printer (LaserWriters and
work-alikes).  The VAX runs VMS 5.3 and PacerLink/Share/Print, the Sun runs
KIP/CAP 5.x.

  The problem is that the every day or so the 410 takes a one way trip to
Never Never Land.  The only way to bring it back is the secret handshake
reboot, holding down both panel buttons during power up, which totally
wipes parameter ram.  The problem can be forced by printing certain files.
It only affects 410s; 810s, etc., are not affected.

  QMS first suspected the Star Controllers (I think this showed poor
understanding of AppleTalk networks, as SCs are protocol-transparent level
1 devices).  They set up their own network with a couple of them and
everything worked fine, of course.  I gather that they are now going to
try setting up a FastPath or two.

  Apparently the 410 is the first QMS printer in which they were able to
diddle the Adobe ROM code.  They're up to ROM version 8 now, and it's still
no go with this problem.  Memory leaks have been ruled out.

  QMS has been kind enough to provide us with an 810 until the 410 problem
is solved.  No complaints there :-).
--
/kenw

Ken Wallewein                                                     A L B E R T A
kenw@noah.arc.ab.ca  <-- replies (if mailed) here, please       R E S E A R C H
(403)297-2660                                                     C O U N C I L