Print Solutions from Atac

Newsletter for Asia-Pacific Region

Second Quarter, 2005

Atac Pty Ltd

Australasian Distributor for Barr & Emtex

In this issue - How can we help you?
  • Out with the old

  • An upgrade tale

  • How to eliminate DOS, RJE, SNA

  • Q & A

More information at ...

http://www.atac.com.au/barr.htm

http://www.atac.com.au/emtex.htm

Email David Kirk
or call  +61 3 9521-8070

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More information at ...

http://www.atac.com.au/barr.htm

http://www.atac.com.au/emtex.htm

Email David Kirk
or call +61 3 9521-8070

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More information at ...

http://www.atac.com.au/barr.htm

http://www.atac.com.au/emtex.htm

Email David Kirk
or call +61 3 9521-8070

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More information at ...

http://www.atac.com.au/barr.htm

http://www.atac.com.au/emtex.htm

Email David Kirk
or call +61 3 9521-8070

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More information at ...

http://www.atac.com.au/barr.htm

http://www.atac.com.au/emtex.htm

Email David Kirk
or call +61 3 9521-8070

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More information at ...

http://www.atac.com.au/barr.htm

http://www.atac.com.au/emtex.htm

Email David Kirk
or call +61 3 9521-8070

Out with the OLD . . .

This quarter's newsletter deals with one of the hardest things some of us have to do from time to time - throw out old but working systems and upgrade them.  The reasons for this can be varied, but usually relate in some way to the relentless pace of change in our working lives.

We're forced to upgrade sometimes just to:

  • Keep current with new application features required

  • Keep current with supported hardware platforms

  • Keep current with supported software environment (O/S)

even if our current systems are working perfectly right now!

Obviously this means that when evaluating any product, consideration must be given to the entire operating environment which must be supported for the expected product life span.  This includes hardware technology (remember micro-channel / ISA / EISA / parallel etc.) and Operating environment (DOS, LINUX, XENIX, UNIX . . .).  And this is all just INSIDE the box!

There's nothing new in any of this.  Barr currently has three different "legacy" technologies at, or approaching, end-of-life.

  • DOS based Barr systems will continue to receive support until the end of 2007.  DOS itself has had no support since the end of 2001, but is viewed as reliable and stable.  Advantages in Windows technologies in terms of management and remote control are beginning to force retirement of these "standalone" machines.

  • ISA based Barr hardware adapters have all been replaced with PCI versions (and parallel dongles with USB).  ISA slots are now virtually impossible to buy in new machines, which are all mainly PCI based.

  • SNA communications with mainframes are on the way out as IBM introduces Enterprise Extender (EE) or HPR/IP (High Performance Routing over IP) technology.  EE means TCP/IP all the way from the mainframe to the desktop; no special DLSW routers, no 802.2 LLC2 protocol etc.  Already available with OS390 v.10+ and z/OS, only minor VTAM changes are required to existing SNA remote device definitions to enable RJE and NJE communications over pure TCP/IP.

The good news is that the process of upgrading is for the most part pretty painless.  Contact Atac today for help in migrating away from your old "legacy" print systems.

An upgrade tale . . .

A leading world financial institution, with nine branches throughout the region, has embarked on a major upgrade of their DOS/RJE based printing environment.  This client (we'll call them BigBank) is migrating their Barr systems all the way from DOS to Windows XP, and eliminating RJE and SNA along the way.

BigBank currently runs Barr DOS/RJE based systems, receiving data from a mainframe and printing to local Impact printers.  RJE provides the JOBNAME and FORMNAME information, necessary for stationery coordination on the printers at the branch print centres.  Barr's Print TCP/IP module allows BigBank to receive their data via the TCP/IP LPD protocol direct from VPS on the mainframe.

However, LPD does not recognize FORM info at all; it's information which is just not sent from VPS.  A special VPS modification (EXIT 25) was made to place the FORMNAME into the LPD control file's USERNAME field and pass it down the line with each print job.  A Barr Override Table rule was put in place to extract the FORMNAME from the USERNAME field and place it in the FORMNAME field.  Problem solved!

The elimination of SNA communications and replacement with TCP/IP was a huge benefit to BigBank in streamlining their infrastructure and eliminating a legacy protocol (and a bunch of Token Ring SNA routers) from their network.

Getting rid of DOS, SNA and RJE in a move to Windows XP and Barr TCP/IP is a huge migration spanning the earliest and latest Operating Systems written for PCs.  Nevertheless, the Barr interface is consistent enough to allow rapid implementation with minimal operator training.

Contact Atac today to discuss fully managed upgrades to your legacy Barr environment.

How to eliminate DOS, RJE, SNA . . .

The following information may be useful in helping to plan your own migration or upgrade if you currently use Barr/DOS and/or SNA/RJE.

To eliminate DOS:

  • You need to upgrade to Windows 2000 or Windows XP, workstation or server version.  This will definitely require a new, current model PC.

  • An upgrade path exists for most Barr/DOS configurations, with significant trade-up discounts for systems under Annual Service Agreement (ASA).

  • Any Barr ISA cards will have to be upgraded to PCI versions.

To eliminate RJE:

  • Switch data transmission to TCP/IP LPD or TCP/IP IP Socket.

  • Account for any special JES EXITs currently in place (rare).

  • Determine whether your print data type requires BINARY transmission.  Typically this is Xerox Metacode which contains all character values.  IP Printway includes the REMOTE PSF option; CA-SPOOL v.2+ and VPS include optional LCDS output modules which can all transmit to Barr TCP/IP in this mode.

  • Account for missing job attributes normally sent with RJE.  This includes the FORMNAME and, in rare cases, the FCBNAME.

To eliminate SNA:

  • Replace your current RJE or NJE module with Barr/Print TCP/IP if possible.

  • Switch to Enterprise Extender (EE) software if you must maintain an RJE or NJE link.  This allows RJE and NJE communications over pure TCP/IP.  The mainframe system must be running OS/390 v.10+ or z/OS to include EE support.  Minor VTAM changes only are required at the mainframe end.

Q & A

Q.  How do I read ad-hoc files into BEPS?

A.  Use the PRINT UTILITY tool, available under the TOOLS menu.  This tool allows ad-hoc importing of a wide variety of different print file formats on the MANUAL SPOOLING TAB.  Simply click ADD, navigate to and select your file, then tell Print Utility what type of file it is.  Selections include ASCII, ASCII with ASA, Barr/DOS, VBM, AFP, BINARY, EPS and Custom print data types.  The chosen file is imported immediately and is then available to print or view in the SPOOL Window.

Q.  How do I setup permanently polled directories, into which I can just drop print files destined for BEPS?

A.  Once again use the Print Utility Tool, and configure input directories on the AUTOMATIC SPOOLING TAB.  Here you ADD LAN or LOCAL directories which Print Utility will monitor.  Note that each input directory will accept one data type only.  You may therefore have to create and define several input directories, if you will have multiple print data types, such as those mentioned above.

Each input directory has a number of settings relating to it which allow you to tag files with different values, i.e. All Metacode files coming in from F:\META-IN may be placed on HOLD and given a CLASS value of "M" and a PRIORITY of 2.  Other settings control how often the input directory is to be polled and whether files from that particular directory are Retained after printing, or Deleted.

Q.  How do I process Postscript and PCL files into BEPS via Print Utility?

A.  Postscript and PCL files are best handled by using the BINARY (NOT NJE WRAPPED) option.  This brings the files in exactly as read from disk.  The reverse is true when these files are printed; they have to be sent in BINARY mode (to a Postscript or PCL printer) as well.  The BEPS Spool Printer's ADVANCED TAB has an option called SPECIAL: PASS DATA TO PRINTER UNCHANGED which must be selected to accomplish this.

Note that BINARY files can only be viewed in HEX mode and must be reprinted in their entirety.

Q.  Who is/are Atac?

A.  Atac is the Barr and Emtex Distributor for Australia, New Zealand and South-East Asia.  With over thirteen years experience in the market, we support systems running 24x7x365 from Christchurch to Tokyo and Perth to Mumbai, in most of the largest print shops in the region.

Our customers include banks, print bureaux, financial institutions and petro-chemical companies as well as printer and mainframe vendors.  Outsourcing organisations and facilities management companies make extensive use of Atac's expertise.

Atac is privately owned, with an extensive technical background stretching back over thirty seven years of continuously profitable operation.

Feedback

Your feedback is valuable to Atac and helps us provide the high standard of service which you have come to expect from us, and which we are proud to deliver.  Whether you have questions about our product range, a story to share regarding your experiences, or you would like to comment on our newsletter, just send us an email.

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