🚀 go-pugleaf

>Is there a free utility to monitor the usage of Novell 3.12 printers? We 
>have a couple of printers that are rather expensive operationally and we 
>would like to charge back the users for these particular printers, 
>preferrably per sheet. We have 2 color laser (kinda) printers and one HP 
>Design Jet 600. One particular problem is that the DesignJet 600 is the 
>variable paper sizes. We don't know what to do about that, maybe charge 
>per print job based on one 'normal' size that we use.
>
>If there isn't a FREE utility, is there one at all, or several? Can you 
>recommend them? 
>
>Thanks in advance!! Copy follow ups to dhyde@unmc.edu PLEASE??

Don:

I did some investigation on this for a local college and could not find anything which would 
allow you to charge back users (per page or per character) for the use of printers under 
NetWare.  The closest I got to was a print server box (ie: like Intel's NetPort or HP Jet Direct 
box's) that worked under Unix which would provide this capability but unless you want to send 
your print jobs through a UNIX box it's not an alternative.  I don;t know of anything thet is 
available for free

When I was talking to MicroPlex Systems Ltd, (phone 800-665-7798, 604-444-4232, or email 
info@microplex.com) and casually suggested that they might want to look into adding this option 
for their print server box's on the NetWare side. According to their literature, the ethernet 
print server would generate a log file of who is printing and how many pages were printed but 
after a follow up call it was only if you were using UNIX that you would get this capability.

I am going to contact them again to see if anything has changed.  I would also be interested if 
anyone else knows of a product which will allow us to charge back users for printing on a 
NetWare system (free or otherwise).

Mark

mpinder@awinc.com (MARK PINDER) wrote:
>I did some investigation on this for a local college and could not find anything which would 
>allow you to charge back users (per page or per character) for the use of printers under 
>NetWare. 

Unlike some people, I typically I don't toot my own horn in these newsgroups, but since
once in a while I respond to posts with advice, it seems like now is a good time to talk
about Pcounter.  Pcounter is page counting print server software for Novell, and it comes
in NLM and EXE (dedicated print server) formats.

Pcounter counts pages on any PostScript and LaserJet compatible (PCL) printer, and
can account for plotters on a per-job basis.  And it doesn't matter where your
printer is located - it can be parallel, serial, remote, or networked.  Accounting
can be done for each user (using Netware's built-in accounting) and additionally
a log file is kept containing all of your printing activity.

Pcounter also enhances the standard Novell printing process with these features:
- LPR output to a UNIX host
- Automatic text to PostScript conversion
- Pleasant looking banner pages with correct information including page count and 
  account balance.
- Simple printer and queue management from the PCOUNTER console.
- Remote control so that you can always see what's happening.
- Automatically place jobs on hold;  Delete old held jobs.
- Reject incorrect print job types and incorrect paper sizes.
- Built in screen blanker; automatic reboot on file server crashes. (EXE only)

Pcounter 3.11a comes with a 45 day grace/trial period for unlimited usage after your
first installation.  It's available by ftp:

ftp://ftp.netcom.com/pub/an/andtech/pcnt311a.zip
ftp://netlab2.usu.edu/apps/pcnt311a.zip

Andy Charmatz
A.N.D. Technologies
andtech@netcom.com