EPSON
EPSON AMERICA, INC.
INFORMATION
Product Support Bulletin
Subject:
Maximum Number of Printers Supported by Current Equity Computers
Date: 02/06/91
PSB No: S-0128
Page(s): 1 of 1
Originator: KAS
As computing environments increase in complexity, there has been an increasing
number of instances that require the support of several printers by one computer.
One common example is that of using Novell Netware’s print server capabilities to
provide printer access to a large group of users with differing printer requirements.
Netware is capable of supporting three (3) parallel and two (2) serial printers on one
server. Recent testing has shown that the Equity 386/25 Plus, Equity 386/25, Equity
386/20 and the Equity 386SX Plus will support three (3) parallel ports along with two
(2) serial ports. The key factor in providing support for a third parallel port is the
need for a parallel interface card that can be set to the IBM Monochrome
Graphics/Parallel printer I/O address at 3BCh. The computer looks for this address
first and, if present, will assign the parallel port on that card as LPT1. The built-in
parallel port (I/O address 378h) will then be addressed as LPT2. We also had an
AST I/O Mini serial/parallel card addressed at l/O address 278h, which was then
reassigned to LPT3. Each of the three parallel ports was attached to a printer. There
was also a printer attached to each of the two serial ports. All five printers were then
set to print simultaneously under Netware Version 2.15 Rev. C using PCONSOLE. All
five printers were able to print the documents assigned to them, simultaneously. The
units were then tested using WordPerfect 5.1 on the network and again were
successful in printing to the five (5) printers at the same time. The last tests were run
with the units booting under DOS 4.01 and screen prints being directed to each of
the printers. WordPerfect 5.1 was also used to direct documents to each of the
printers. Again all five (5) printers were able to print the files that were sent to them.
Although not all Equity computer models were tested in this situation, the Equity
models 386SX, lIe, Ill+ and II+ should work in a similar manner if the instructions
above are used as a guide. There is one item of which to be aware when using the
this setup and that is the system will complete the RAM count and lock up if using a
monochrome monitor. If you need to use three parallel ports, USE A COLOR
MONITOR.
