Printing from SAP to a printer outside the network

[Former Member]

Hi All,

We have a requirement wherein the SAP user has to issue the printout to a printer which is in a different location and not in the network same as that of SAP. The people in the remote location just collects these printouts .

We dont want to inculde this printer in our network (WAN) as it is entirely differnet entity. Also not interested in faxing the documents.

Is there anyway we can achieve this ( by ftping the spools to that remote printserver/print queue or some other options)?

Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

Regards

Arun

[Former Member]

Hi Ruchit,

The option 'remote printing using Berkley protocol' (U)seems to be more practical rather than doing ftp.

Could you please provide some pointers for the below questins?

1.If we use access method U, the system displays an additional host system field. What host name needs to be given if this is a remote windows printer ( printer is not in the same n/w as that of SAP, but can be set up in internet)

2.Will it support if the host system is Windows system? ( SAP is runnning on HP-UX)

3. I am not sure about opening firefalls for the printer for port 515. How can this be done. At SAP level anything else needds to be done.

4.While defining the host printer in UNix for 'U', any special configuration needs to be done?

Thanks for the inputs

Regards

Arun

[Former Member]

Hello Arun,

Here are the answers:

1.If we use access method U, the system displays an additional host system field. What host name needs to be given if this is a remote windows printer ( printer is not in the same n/w as that of SAP, but can be set up in internet)

Here you need to give the hostname (IP address can also be used though not highly recommended) of the server to which printer is connected to.

2.Will it support if the host system is Windows system? ( SAP is runnning on HP-UX)

Yes it will. Almost all our print servers are on Windows while SAP is on Unix.

3. I am not sure about opening firefalls for the printer for port 515. How can this be done. At SAP level anything else needds to be done.

For this please contact administrators of that server. Also ask them to ensure that LPD(line pinter dameon) service is running on port 515. They will understand it. Firewall has to be opened in order to have any communication between SAP and print server.

4.While defining the host printer in UNix for 'U', any special configuration needs to be done?

Not really. Check this out please:

http://help.sap.com/saphelp_nw2004s/helpdata/en/c1/d4ea3bb5af9112e10000000a11402f/content.htm

Regards.

Ruchit.

[Former Member]

Hi Juan,

Thanks for the response. Can you pass some pointers/links regarding how to set up printing to a PDF file.

Regards

Arun

[Former Member]

Hello Babu,

You can create a printer which will save the spool at application server level. For that you need to write a unix script and in the printer you need to attach this script using command record id that you will find under the tab Host spool activation method. You can give a dummy value for host printer and you need to use local printing : Method L for this.

Once the spool is saved at application server level you can send uit through FTP.

But the best option is do remote printing using Berkley protocol. You don't need to make the printer or the print server a part of WAN just need to open firewalls for the print server for port 515.

Regards.

Ruchit.

[JPReyes]

Hi Arun,

You can set SAP to print to a PDF file and then send it by mail or ftp the file etc..

Regards

Juan

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