1. What is a Peer to Peer network?
2. What are the limitations of Peer to Peer printing?
3. Is their a way of improving this limitation?
4. What are the different Peer-Peer printing methods available?
5. What Peer to Peer printing method does my Canon Printer support?
6. What is NetBIOS and NetBEUI?
7. What is SMB?
8. What is the Master Browser?  What problems can occur?
9. How do I configure Peer to Peer printing protocol on the Customers Windows 9.x Workstation?
10. Printing with a shared parallel port.  What is the setup procedure on the Canon Printer?
11. Printing with a shared parallel port.  What is the setup procedure on the customers workstation?
12. Printing with NetBIOS only protocol.  What is the setup procedure on the the Canon printer?
13. Printing with NetBIOS only protocol.  What is the setup procedure on the customers workstation?
14. Printing with SMB protocol.  What is the setup procedure on the Canon printer?
15. Printing with SMB protocol.  What is the setup procedure on the customers workstation?
16. Printing with SMB Protocol.  I can see the device in Network neighboorhood but I cannot connect to it.  What can I do?
17. I need help with the Net Use command in Windows NT4, 2000 and XP
    

1.  What is a Peer to Peer network?
A Peer to Peer network is a collection of computers, printers and other devices that are independent of any dedicated Servers.
A Peer to Peer network does have size and security limitations.
Peep to Peer printing is not routable
 
 

2.  What are the limitations of Peer to Peer printing?
A Peer to Peer network is also called a workgroup
According to Microsoft Documentation (Networking Essentials page 16), their are typically fewer than 10 computers in one Workgroup.
Thus NetBIOS or SMB printing is not recommended with a Peer to Peer workgroup of more than 10 computers.
 
 

3.  Is their a way of improving this limitation?
The problem with a Peer to Peer workgroup is that each node advertises its existence using broadcasts.  This creates a large amount of network traffic.
A solution is to reduce the broadcasts through the use of a WINS.

Windows NT 4 has a native WINS service
Windows 9.x does not.  I searched for one.  No luck.  Do you know of a third party solution?
Obviously many Linux and UNIX variants offer this form of service as well.

If you have a WINS server and all workstations and printers (Nodes) point to the WINS server, it is theoretically possible to have more computers in the Workgroup (Domain) beyond the Microsoft limitation of 10.
 
 

4.  What are the different Peer-Peer printing methods available?
1.  Connecting a printer to a LPT port and sharing the port
2.  Networking the printer using NetBIOS protocol
3.  Networking the printer using SMB protocol  (SMB is really NetBIOS over TCP/IP)
 
 

5.  What Peer to Peer printing method does my Canon Printer support?
Refer to this document for Parallel, NetBIOS or SMB printing options.
 
 

6.  What is NetBIOS and NetBEUI?
NetBIOS is an acronym for "Network Basic Input Output System".  It is an application programming interface (API).  It augments the DOS BIOS by adding special functions for local area networks (LANs).  A majority of PC LANs are based on the NetBIOS protocol.

In simpler terms, NetBIOS is an interface between the PC's BIOS (Hard drives, floppies...) and the Network.

NetBEUI is an acronym for "NetBIOS Enhanced User Interface". It is an enhanced version of the NetBIOS protocol used by network operating systems such as LAN Manager, LAN Server, Windows for Workgroups, Windows 95 and Windows NT.
 
 

7.  What is SMB?
SMB is an acronym for Server Message Block.  It is a message format used by DOS and Windows to share files, devices and directories.  NetBIOS is based on the SMB format
 
 
 

8.  What is the Master Browser?  What problems can occur?  How do I check?

What is the Master Browser?
The Master Browser is a Workstation (Or Server in a Client Server environment) that holds a table of Computer names (NetBIOS names) and respective TCP/IP addresses (Or IPX address)
In simpler terms, when you click on Network Neighboorhood, the Workstations and Printers you can see are stored in a list called the Browse list.
This list is stored and updated by a Master Browser.

What problems can occur?
A significant problem can occur when a Windows 9.x workstation is configured for File and Print Sharing.  The default setting for Browse Master isAutomatic.
This means if you install File and Print sharing on 5 Windows 9.x workstations, all 5 of these workstations will fight for the Master Browser status.

You absolutely must (Or deal with many headaches) have only one permanent Master Browser.

Pick one of the faster Workstations and adjust the Browser Master value to Enabled.  Disable Browse Master on all other Workstations.

Try to leave the Browse Master on as much as possible throughout the business day.  If it goes down, the customer will not be able to browse the Network.

How do I check?
Right click on Network Neighboorhood, select properties.
Click the configuration tab and browse to the bottom of the list "The following Network components are installed"
If File and Print sharing for Microsoft Networks is not installed, do not worry about that workstation
If it is, double click on it and check the Browse Master Value.
Ensure that only 1 workstation has this value enabled.  All others must be disabled
Check all Windows 9.x PC's including the infrequently visiting Laptops.
 
 

9.  How do I configure Peer to Peer printing on the Customers Windows 9.x Workstation?
It is assumed that the customers Workstations have a correctly installed Network.  (Network cards, Hubs, cables...)
 
 

1.    Configuring TCP/IP on the Windows 9.x Workstation

1.  Right-click on the Network Neighborhood icon. Select Properties from the pop-up menu to display the Network dialog box.
    (You can access the same dialog box by double-clicking the Network icon in Control Panel.)

2. From the Network dialog box, look for the protocol in the list of installed components. If it exists, go to step 5. If it does not exist,
    choose the Add button to display the Select Network Component Type dialog box.

3. Double-click from the Select Network Component Type dialog box to display the Select Network Protocol dialog box

4  Highlight Microsoft from the Manufacturers side, then highlight TCP/IP from the Network Protocol Side. Choose
    OK when you are finished to display the Network dialog box.

5. Double-click the protocol to display the TCP/IP Properties dialog box. The next step is to create a TCP/IP Address.

6. Switch the selected TCP/IP configuration from "Obtain an IP address automatically" to "Specify an IP address".

7. Enter an IP address and Subnet mask in the required field.

8. After selecting OK twice, you may be prompted for the Windows 9.x CD

9.  You must restart the computer when prompted.

2.  Setting up the Windows 9.x Workstations for a Workgroup

1.  Right click on Network neighboorhood and select properties

2.  Select the identification tab

3.  Select a Computer name, Workgroup and Computer Description.  The computer name is the name seen on the network
    neighboorhood
    The Workgroup name must be less than 15 characters long, no spaces. Ensure the same Workgroup name is used for all Workgroup
    members.
    The Computer description appears in Network neighboorhood under "Comment"
 

3. Enabling Windows File and Print Sharing

    File and Print sharing offers the ability for each Workstation to share files and printers for other to use.
    It is really only necessary to install File and Print Sharing on one workstation.  This will allow this workstation to become the
    Master browser.

1. Right-click the Network Neighborhood icon. Select Properties.

2. Choose the "File and Print Sharing" button to display the File and Print Sharing dialog box.

3. Enable "I want to be able to give others access to my files" and or "I want to be able to give others access to my printers"  by clicking
    in the check box next to this setting. Choose OK to continue to go back to the Network dialog box.

4. Click the configuration tab and browse to the bottom of the list "The following Network components are installed"
    You should now see File and Print Sharing for  Microsoft Networks.  Double click on it and check the Browse Master Value.
    Ensure that only 1 workstation has this value enabled.  All others must be disabled.  Click here for more details

5. Restart the computer when prompted.

10.  Printing with a shared parallel port.  What is the setup procedure on the Canon Printer?
First ensure the Canon Printer has Peer to Peer (Parallel, NetBIOS or SMB) printing available.  Click here for Networking Specs.

Connect the printer to a Windows 9.x workstations LPT port
Some EFI devices require the Parallel port must be enabled and attached to a queue.

First enable the parallel port.
Setup, Network, Port, Parallel, Enable Parallel Port.

Then publish your print Queue and associate a Queue to the parallel connection
Setup, Printer Setup, Publish your Queue.
Setup, Printer Setup, Parallel Connection, select Direct, Print or Hold
 
 

I want to connect my Canon Network Printer in a Peer to Peer network using NetBEUI
 
 
 

12.  Printing with NetBIOS only protocol.  What is the setup procedure on the the Canon printer?
By default, printers that's support NetBIOS printing are ready to print without any configuration.

You may need to confirm that the NetBIOS protocol is enabled. on the Canon device.  In Netspot, highlight the device, select Device,  Disable or Enable print application.

Print a configuration page from Netspot to confirm the MAC address of the machine
 
 

13.  Printing with NetBIOS only protocol.  What is the setup procedure on the customers workstation?
Install the Printer driver.  Install to a parallel port for now.

You must capture a printer port in order to use NetBIOS printing
Start, settings, printers, right click on driver, properties, details.
Select, capture printer port.  Choose an unused LPT port.  Check Reconnect at logon.
Under path enter the following information using the UNC naming convention

\\c_Last 6 of MAC address\mps

Last 6 of MAC means the last 6 characters of the Canon Printer's MAC address
MPS is an acronym for the Microsoft Printing System

For example, our GP 200F has a MAC address of 000085011379

Thus is this example, the correct naming convention is

\\c_011379\mps

Choose ok, if all went well, Windows will accept this path.

If you get an error like "The computer or share name could not be found" confirm you have the correct MAC address

Also ensure that you have NetBIOS protocol installed

You may need to confirm that the NetBIOS protocol is enabled. on the Canon device.  In Netspot, highlight the device, select Device,  Disable or Enable print application.
 

Printing to an alternate Spool location
 

NetBIOS printing by default can print directly to the Canon device but it is limited to the spooling of one job at a time.

It is possible to configure NetBIOS printing to spool to an alternate spool file location.  This spool location is a shared folder within the Windows 9.x workgroup.

Create a folder with Full Share rights that all workstations can see.  For example if Bill has his computer name set to "bills_pc" and a folder named "spool" shared with full access,  the UNC naming convention is

\\bills_pc\spool.  In Netspot under the "Spool to" select Server and enter this information "\\bills_pc\spool"

Now, 2 jobs or more can be spooled to an alternate location.

Please ensure that the Shared spool folder is on a PC that remains on throughout the printing day.

The Canon printer SMB setup involves several steps.

Enabling TCP/IP for Ethernet.
Providing an IP address and Subnet Mask
Enabling Windows Printing
Providing a Server name, Workgroup or Domain
And finally, publishing Queues

SMB setup can be done at the control panel of all Canon devices.  Netspot can be configured to configure some of the devices.

Print a configuration page to assist you in seeing where the various data entry points are

Network Setup, Protocol Setup
Enable TCP/IP:    Yes
Ethernet Setup Enable auto IP configuration (we suggest No)
IP Address Subnet Mask Enter the planned TCP/IP address and Subnet Mask.  Ensure they are correct for your network
You can safely ignore the Gateway settings and any errors related to gateways.

Network Setup, Service Setup
Enable Windows Printing: Yes
Server name (Enter any name no spaces less than 15 characters)  This is the name you will see in Network neighboorhood
Server comments (These are the comments you will see in Network Neighboorhood)
Workgroup or Domain (Enter here the workgroup or domain information
WINS server.  If a WINS is present, enter the IP address here

Printer Setup
Publish Direct, Print, Hold.  Selecting yes will allow these queues to be seen and printed to.

Ensure you save your changes.  The device will reboot

After a short time you should be able to see the device in Network neighboorhood.
 
 

15.  Printing with SMB protocol.  What is the setup procedure on the customers workstation?
Install the Printer driver.  Install to a parallel port for now.
Now, select add port from the drivers settings;
Start, settings, printers, right click on driver, properties, details.
Select Add port, then select Browse.  The computer will browse the Network to see which devices are available.
Once the device is seen, double click it and choose the required print Queue.
Print     Jobs are spooled, stored and printed
Hold    Jobs are spooled and stored
Direct  Jobs are directly printed and not stored

Select OK (3 times to close the printers dialog boxes) and you are done

Important TIP!!

You may notice that this will setup the printer port using the UNC naming convention something like this

\\SMB_NAME\Queue_name
ie
\\IR600\print

You can also use the IP address rather than the SMB name
\\IP_Address|\Queue_Name
ie
\\192.168.10.10\print

Using the IP rather than the SMB name will ofter resolve browser problems

This tip provided by Vince McHugh of NECS\Canon.

Thanks Vince
 

16.  Printing with SMB Protocol.  I can see the device in Network neighboorhood but I cannot connect to it.  What can I do?
If you are using a Windows NT WINS server, you may have to wait 50 minutes for this to clear itself.
If their is no WINS, you obviously have a Master Browser.  You may need to update the browse table.
On the Windows 9.x command line type "nbtstat -R".  Hopefully this will help.