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HP Jet Admin vs. NT 4.0 Printing. . .

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7 replies

by aspiring_one

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We have a Windows NT 4.0 network with HP Printers. I was wondering if anyone can tell me if there are any real advantages to using HP Jet Admin instead of the native print solution that comes with Windows NT? I know that NT will allow you to set print priorities, permissions, and spooling, but I'm not really sure if you can do this with HP Jet Admin. In either case, which one do you recommend and why? Also, what are the advantages and disadvantages of each?

7 replies

by svc

My office has a similar setup with an NT network and I use HP Jet Admin for two reasons.
1. It helps to take some of the load off of the server for handling the print request.
2. It allows the printer to be setup as a device hanging off of the network with it's own IP address instead of being hard wired to a system.

by sgotero

Hi!, i have in my office HP jetdirect, it's a wonderfull software, overall the new version HP web jetadmin, it's enable to you to do anything with the printer like do NT. You must create the vitual ports in NT, here you assing permissions and prioritys, and jetadmin facilites it (with his own wizard). The wrong with this software is that only manage HP printers. If you have Lexmark, you must install this in other way. Good Luck.

by bmccool

Okay here's my 2 cents.
Assuming the HP printers are going to be attached using the JetDirect card anyway.
(Disable the protocols you don't need on all the jetdirect cards)
there are then 2 ways to connect everyone to these printers.
1) FREE FORALL, each machine is configured for each printers IP/IPX-SPX - MAC address, and printer drivers are installed.
Pros: Fast printing, simple in concept (like a party line)
Cons:Increased network traffic (each pc polls each printer's status), may cause slower logons as each printer is queried.

2. Server Queues, jet direct ports defined on one or more servers, drivers loaded there.
Pros: Queue control, a failed printer can be paused and it's queue redirected to a functional printer. Clients can attach new printers from a browse window.
Con:increased server load, need for disk space for the temp spool files.

Personally I like option 2, but it's your call.

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