DPI announces NETPrint 1000 for DEC LAT; New print server allows multi-protocol printing on DEC networks

Business Wire, June 28, 1995

WALTHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 28, 1995--In its continuing efforts to provide multi-protocol printing for a wide range of network operating systems, DPI (Digital Products Inc.) announces NETPrint 1000 print server with DEC LAT support.

The newest member to DPI's print server family supports simultaneous printing from DEC LAT, NetWare IPX/SPX and TCP/IP. With two parallel and one serial/parallel port, NETPrint 1000 allows users to place printers anywhere on their Ethernet LAT network.

"DEC networks make up approximately three to five percent of the network market," said Bill Peisel, chief technology officer for DPI. "A significant number of our customers had LAT installed on their networks and were asking for a convenient way to share the same network printers among their LAT, NetWare and TCP/IP systems. By adding LAT support, we're responding to the needs of our customers while strengthening our multi-protocol offering."

Through a license from DEC, NETPrint 1000 supports DEC LAT v.5.2 and acts as a dedicated DECserver device. LAT parameters are configured through DEC's MOP (Maintenance Operations Protocol) and support both MOP v3.0 and v4.0. Printing via Print Queues on the hosts, NETPrint supports Print Queues on OpenVMS, ULTRIX and OSF/1. Users designate one LAT printer per unit.

Developed under Novell's NetWare Technology Licensing and NEST (Novell Embedded Systems Technology) programs, NETPrint 1000 is fully compatible with NetWare v.2.2+, 3.x and 4.x. In addition, NETPrint provides full PCONSOLE support and unlimited queues on up to 16 file servers.

NETPrint also supports operating systems compatible with TCP/IP's standard lpd (line printer daemon) including: SUN (Solaris 1.1, 2.0), DEC (Ultrix 4.3), HP-UX and IBM-AIX UNIX systems, SCO and Alpha OSF, Windows NT 3.5, LAN Server 4.0 and, with third-party software, Windows for Workgroups.

Software is supplied for AT&T (System V release 4) compatible systems. NETPrint's Intelligent Filters & Queues, for UNIX, automatically formats print jobs and routes them to the appropriate printer.

Installation is easy. The simple three-step process is printed on the bottom of the unit and no software is required. NETPrint's two status LED make operation easy. Specific blinking patterns and operations guide, printed next to the LED, tell users the status of the print jobs, print server, and printer at a glance. If a file server goes down, NETPrint will automatically reattach itself. In addition, NETPrint comes with a Windows-based management/diagnostic utility, which enables network administrators to centrally manage, turn protocols on and off, test printer ports, troubleshoot and reboot all connected NETPrints from their PC.

Maximum flexibility is provided through NETPrint's independent protocol support and Flash ROM. Each protocol can be independently installed and managed. If one protocol is down, the other protocols may continue to print. 1MB of Flash ROM allows network administrators to centrally perform product and network updates, such as future NDS support, on up to 25 NETPrints simultaneously.

NETPrint 1000 with DEC LAT supports both 10BaseT and 10Base2 Ethernet networks, has two 1284 bi-directional parallel ports and a UNIPORT. The UNIPORT supports a serial printer or, with the addition of the $60 UNIPORT-OUT adapter, another parallel printer. In addition, the UNIPORT can be used to support PowerMinder, DPI's unique power management option. PowerMinder automatically turns off idle printers until a job is sent. With PowerMinder, users can save up to $200 a year in electricity costs and is priced at $99.

DPI provides a six-year warranty with all NETPrints. In addition, their unique "Spare-in-the-Air" program guarantees a replacement unit overnight if, for any reason, NETPrint fails during the first 90 days. All DPI customers have unlimited access to toll-free technical phone support.

NETPrint 1000 with DEC LAT is $595 and is available immediately through DPI's worldwide network of resellers and distributors including Ingram Micro and Tech Data.

DPI, the industry leader in network printing and peripheral sharing technology, supports more than one million users worldwide. For networks, DPI offers NETPrint and JETXPrint, high-speed print servers for Novell, DEC, Apple, Banyan and UNIX networks. PrintDirector, a family of automatic printer sharing devices is offered for the non-networked market. The privately held company is located at 411 Waverley Oaks Road, Waltham, Mass. 02154, (617) 647-1234.

CONTACT: Network Associates

Sherri Walkenhorst, 801/373-7888

or

Digital Products Inc.

Marilyn Peterson, 617/398-4564

mpeterson@digprod.com