Chapter 11: Printing on a Network

Lesson 1: Network Printing

In this exercise, a list of terms is given in the left column. For each term listed, fill in the definition in the space given in the column to the right.

Term	Definition
Redirection	The direction of a request for services from the local computer out onto the network.
Print spooler	Software that intercepts a print job and sends it to a print queue.
Print queue	A buffer in which the print job is held until the printer is ready to print it.
Print-sharing utility	A utility that helps the network administrator manage all the functions of a print server.
Share name	The network name of a shared resource.
Printer driver	Software that allows the printer to work with the print server.
Print Manager	A Windows NT print-sharing utility.

Lesson 2: Managing a Shared Printer

1. Identify and describe four tasks required for routine printer maintenance.

Printer maintenance includes supplying the printer with paper and toner, clearing the printer if there is a paper jam, and monitoring the printer's output to ensure that print jobs do not back up and overflow the printer's output bin. Other tasks are monitoring the printer's performance and notifying a technician if a serious problem develops, as well as routinely cleaning the printer in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.

2. Describe how a network administrator can allocate a single printer's resources among several workstations.

The best means of allocating a single printer's resources is to share the printer on a network. Then give users network permission to use the shared printer.

3. Define PDLs and describe their function in printing.

PDLs are page-description languages that tell a printer how printed output should look. The printer uses the PDL to construct text and graphics to create the page image.

Lesson 3: Sharing Fax Modems

1. How does a fax server compare with a shared printer? What are the roles of�each?

A shared fax server does for fax communication what a shared printer does for printing: it makes fax capabilities available to all users on the network. A shared fax server allows anyone on the network to send a fax; a shared printer allows anyone on the network to access that printer's resources.

2. Define the function of a fax server.

A fax server gives users the ability to send a fax without having to leave their desks. Some fax servers allow an administrator to monitor incoming faxes and to route them to the intended recipients, while discarding others, such as advertisements.

3. Describe three enhancements that can be added to a fax server.

Some fax-enhancement software allows users to send faxes from word-processing packages, databases, spreadsheets, and e-mail. Some even provide diagnostic utilities, error reporting, and accounting features to make fax servers easy to administer.

1. When network users want to print data on a shared network printer, the data is�sent to a _____________ that feeds the data to the printer.

server

2. Each network print job must be ________________ away from a computer's local printer port and onto the network cable.

redirected

3. The memory buffer in the print server's RAM that holds the print job until the printer is ready is called a ______________.

spooler

4. In order for users to access a shared printer, they must have a way to ________________ the printer.

identify

5. The printer uses the _________ to construct text and graphics to create the page image.

PDL

6. Managing users who access printing over a computer network includes assigning _________________, as with any other shared network resource.

permissions

7. One task an administrator can accomplish from a remote location is to ______________ print jobs in the queue.

reorder

8. Most current network operating systems allow an administrator to manage a network printer with a ____________ - _______________ ______________.

print-sharing utility

9. A good fax server service allows an administrator to ________________ incoming faxes and to ____________ the appropriate one to the proper person.

monitor, route

10. Fax-server enhancements that allow users to send faxes from ______________, _________________, and ____________ are available.

databases, spreadsheets, e-mail