Defining Output Devices for Local UNIX Printing
You are working with the UNIX operating system and want to print on an output device without having to send the data over a network connection. The SAP spool server is to forward output requests directly to the host spooler in the same system (local printing). This configuration is the most reliable way of connecting a UNIX output device. To do this, you must create the corresponding device definitions for this output device in the SAP System.
Prerequisites
The spool server and the host spool system must be on the same host.
A spool server is an SAP server that has a spool work process and therefore offers the spool service.
Ensure that a spool server is running on the UNIX system.
You can see which servers in the system are spool servers in the list of SAP servers.
Ensure that you can already print documents on the printer from your PC.
If this is not the case, install the printer on the UNIX system. You can find details about this in your UNIX documentation.
NoteIt is irrelevant whether the printer is directly connected or a shared network printer.
End of the note.
Procedure
Follow the procedure below to create a device definition for local UNIX printing:
Call transaction SPAD, and choose
Output Devices
.If you are not in change mode, switch to this mode by choosing
Change
.You now have the following options:
You can create a new device definition by choosing
Output Device
Create
.You can use an existing device definition as a template.
To do this, click the entry for the output device that is to be used as a template, and choose
Output Device
Create Using Template
.
Specify the name of the output device and fill out the mandatory fields of the individual tab pages as follows:
Field
Input
Tab Page
Device Attributes
Device Type
Enter the device type that is defined in the SAP System for the printer model, such as HPLJ4 for the HP Laser Jet.
You cannot use the generic device type SWIN for printing from UNIX.
Spool
Server
Select the SAP spool server that is running on the UNIX system.
For additional information, see Spool Server.
Device class
Select
Standard Printer
.Tab Page
Host Spool Access Method
Access Method
We recommend access method L.
Host Printer
Enter the name of the output device as it is specified in the host system.
Enter the name exactly as it is defined in the host, that is, with the same capitalization.
Optional: Classify the device. To do this, choose
Edit
Classification
and then the appropriate output type classification for this device. Although classification of output devices is optional, it provides this advantage:If you also classify your spool servers, the spool system checks that the device and server classifications match. This helps to ensure an optimal output configuration.
ExampleIf you are preparing to assign a mass printer to a time-critical production server, then the spool system warns you of this disparity.
End of the example.Optional for Experts: Define or select a command set for this device (access method L only).
If this device needs print and query commands that differ from the default commands, then you can specify a command set for use with this device.
To do this, proceed as follows:
Choose
Edit
Command Set
.If you have already defined an acceptable command set, then enter the identification letter of the set in the
Command record ID
field.If you want to define a new command set, then enter a letter to name the set in the
Command record ID
field.Double-click on the field.
In the next dialog box, enter the commands that are to be used with this device.
The command set can also be used in other access method L device definitions.
Result
You can use the printer in the SAP System as soon as you have saved the device definition.
Example
The following example shows the definition of a printer that is to be used as an output device for local UNIX printing.
Device Attributes tab page:
Host Spool Access Method tab page:
As the host spool system and the spool server are on the same server, the name of the same server appears on both tab pages. In this example, the printer also has the same name both in the SAP System and in the operating system.
Note
Local UNIX printing is the fastest and most reliable method to output SAP documents. However, you can also set up UNIX printers for remote PC printing. For more information, see Defining an Output Device for UNIX Remote Printing.
