AIX 3 printing problem

[david7777777777]

I've got an old IBM PwerServer 570 running a PICK database on AIX ver.3. I can navigate the menu systems fairly well but I cannot find a menu that lets me play around with the printer and do things like send it a test page or run diagnostics on it.

My problem is that the system no longer prints for some reason. I can see where it says that there is one job in the queue for the printer but I can find no commands or menus that let me do anything useful with the printers in the AIX system. I've rebooted with no luck.

Any help is greatly appreciated. The vendor wants to charge me $300 to tell me the answer. Cold day! Thanks.

 

[AIXSPadmin]

If it is a PICK database it is probably a UniVerse spooler (it has been 3 years since I worked on PICK/UniVerse, oh fond memories).

Is it an AIX or a JetDirect server problem? Hmmm!!!

Which printer is it assigned to? If using the UniVerse queue name, they are defined in /usr/spool/uv/sp.config. Most likely it is something like LPXX.

Use `grep` on the printer name from the /usr/spool/uv/sp.config file. Look for the path following the word 'driver', which will be the file doing the actual work of printing.

`cat` the file and it might give you something like:
lp -dhp@accountrecv. This means it is handled by the AIX spooler since the `lp` command is used.

Use `lpstat` to see what is on the queue.

Use `lsvirprt` to display virtual printers. Enter the number for the device that matches from the cat of the file above, "hp@accountrecv"

Then enter `qadm -U hp@accountrecv`

You can also use the `enable` command to enable your print queue.

Or use `lp -dQueue File` to print.

Hope this helps.

 

[david7777777777]

It is a PICK database, sorry. I'm going to try what you've said. I'm not sure how much I can translate to understnad, like at which prompt do I type these commands and so on, but thank you very much for your help. Stay tuned....

 

[david7777777777]

Ok, after over 12 years learning new software I'm fairly proficient at learning to navigate a UNIX O/S right now. I know the "ls" command and how to use it to some extent now. After you've stopped laughing please continue.

On the PICK console, as opposed to the AIX system console sitting right next to it, I've managed to navigate to a prompt where I can type in commands like "ls" and actually move around a little. So I followed your suggested path and got into the /usr/spool/ directory, where I did another ls command and here are the contents of that directory:

pio qdir stat

I soon realized I needed more command parameters or something in order to use/enter any of these options I think. I didn't see the "uv" directory. So does this mean that I'm not using the UniVerse spooler or whatever the UniVerse thing refers to? Thanks.

 

[david7777777777]

Ok, after over 12 years learning new software I'm fairly proficient at learning to navigate a UNIX O/S right now. I know the "ls" command and how to use it to some extent now. After you've stopped laughing please continue.

On the PICK console, as opposed to the AIX system console sitting right next to it, I've managed to navigate to a prompt where I can type in commands like "ls" and actually move around a little. So I followed your suggested path and got into the /usr/spool/ directory, where I did another ls command and here are the contents of that directory:

pio qdir stat

I soon realized I needed more command parameters or something in order to use/enter any of these options I think. I didn't see the "uv" directory. So does this mean that I'm not using the UniVerse spooler or whatever the UniVerse thing refers to? Thanks. If you're interested I'm at 800-645-6686 x8588. You will be rewarded for your help.

 

[AIXSPadmin]

On your AIX terminal try running an `lpstat`, this will give you output like:

Queue Dev Status Job Files User PP % Blks Cp Rnk
------- ----- --------- --- ------------------ ---------- ---- -- ----- --- ---
PRT7082 hp@PR READY

If your "Status" for a printer says DOWN, the enable the printer using the steps outlined above, or do:
`enable PRT7082`

Also, your UniVerse spooler config files are probably in another directory, you can try find:
`find / -name "uv" -exec ls -l {} \;`
This will find the uv directory if it exists. If not then you probably are not using UniVerse, but I would be surprised.

Still you should be able to print via AIX.

 

[david7777777777]

When I enter the lpstat command at the ":" prompt, it says that the verb "lpstat" is not defined.

When I run the Find command like you said, an error says that I'm using an odd number of parameters or something like that. So I figured I'd start with the basics and you can tell where to go. I entered these two commands one after the other ("cd /" then "ls&quot and here are the results, which I'm assuming means that this is the directory listing for the root of whatever volume I'm looking at:

A881e8800
A88208800
A88218800
Ab085b001
Ab086b001
fs.size
sh_history
bin
bootrec
cdrom
cms
core
corporate
dev
etc
export
home
ibas
inst_ptf
lib
local
local1
log
lost+found
lotshare
lpp
mnt
opt
pci
s010
sbin
smit.log
smit.script
sys
tftpboot
tmp
u
unix
usr
var

Based on this, where do you think I should start looking? I hope this helps you help me figure out how to find my printer and spooler on this system. Thanks very much.

 

[david7777777777]

One other note: Almost every time I walk up to this machine, the screen is covered with lines that read something like this:

system or user utilization is 96% (Over 90%)

Should I be concerned about this in your opinion? This is an old IBM PowerServer 570 running AIX 3. It's role here is coming to an end but I'll probably need it to stay alive for another 6 months to 1 year. Just wanted your opinion on that point. Thanks.

 

[Yegolev]

I'm going to guess that you are entering the lpstat command on the PICK console, but I don't know anything about PICK. I do know that those (error?) messages are not AIX messages, but then I don't remember a whole lot about AIX 3. In reality your AIX prompt could look like anything but it might be a "#" or a "$".

The good news is that you seem to be able to change directories (cd) and look at files (ls), so you should be able to do `cd /usr/spool` and then do `ls` to see what's in there. Try to cd to something in there that looks like "uv". However that won't help you much unless you can get an AIX prompt. IBM Certified -- AIX 4.3 Obfuscation

 

[david7777777777]

I rebooted the server because it appeared to lock up as I was poking around. During the boot process, it said that a device that was previously detected was not found. I'm sure that might be a problem. I'm now wondering if it some how lost the printer settings.

I've made my way into the Printer Configuration area and I'm able to navigate around a bit. I've been able to pull up two print devices: lp0 & lp2. Their status says READY. Now I'm trying to figure out how I can possibly send a test page or something to the printer. I'd also like to know where I can find the network IP address settings for the printer and stuff like that. I know this is a lot of information but anything you can throw my way will help tremendously. Thanks.

 

[AIXSPadmin]

You can print to a printer using:
`lp -dQUEUE File`

I don't know if lp0 & lp2 are queue names or devices, but I am guessing queues. So just do the above. If you are at an AIX prompt you can do `lpstat` to list the printer status.

You can run `diag -a` to find previous devices that are no longer found and it will give you information on what the device(s) are.

If a printer goes down or you want to disable it, use:
`enable lp0` or `disable lp0`

I don't know how you have your printers connected, however, if they are using JetDirect print servers or similar print servers, then you can print out the configuration of the print server using the test buttons on the print server itself.