Printing from Windows PC Labs

Authentication

The RCS server called sambasrv connects Windows machines to the networked campus printers and to the RCS UNIX environment. Before you can print from Win 95/98 and WinNT systems, you must first authenticate yourself by entering your RCS userID and password and then connect to RCS through sambasrv.

On a Win95/98 computer, you enter your ID and password in the login window:

Click in the User name box and type your RCS userID.
Press Tab or click in the Password box.
Type your password and press Enter/Return.

To connect to sambasrv, double-click the RCS icon. In the connect window that appears, check either (or both) of the boxes that allow you to connect to your UNIX home directory or to the UNIX public areas. Click OK.
On a WinNT computer, you log in using the userID "rcsguest" (no password needed).
To authenticate, double-click on the RCS icon to bring up a window that will prompt you first for your RCS userID and then your password.

After you enter your ID and password, the "Connect to RCS Resources" window will appear. To connect to sambasrv, check either (or both) of the boxes that allow you to connect to your UNIX home directory or to the UNIX public areas. Click OK.

Printing from an Application

When you select Print... from your application's File menu, a dialog box opens that shows information about the default printer and allows you to choose options, such as which pages and how many copies to print.

To use a printer other than the default, click on the down-arrow next to the printer name and select from the list. When you have made your choices, click OK to send your job to the specified printer.

Checking the Print Queue

Currently, you need to connect to the RCS UNIX system in order to check the print queues of the various networked printers. To make the connection, double-click the SecureCRT icon to start a secure telnet session to one of the remote UNIX hosts: 
    rcs-ibm1.rpi.edu     rcs-ibm2.rpi.edu 
    rcs-sun1.rpi.edu     rcs-sun2.rpi.edu
After you start SecureCRT, a Connect window will appear. Select a hostname from the list and click OK. You will then be prompted for your RCS userID and password.

Once you are connected, enter the command lpq at the UNIX prompt, using the -P option to specify the name of the printer you used. For example, if you sent your job to vclw, the double-sided printer in the VCC Print Room, the command would be: 

    lpq -P vclw

When you have finished your remote session, type logout and then close the SecureCRT window.

BE SURE TO LOG OUT BEFORE LEAVING!

On Win95/98, double-click on the Logoff icon (which looks like an open door with an arrow).
On WinNT, use the Start menu to select Shut Down and then Close all programs and log on as a different user.

If you fail to log out, others may use your account and you will be charged for it.

Return to the ACS Consulting home page.

Return to the Printing page.

Return to ACS home page.

Please send comments and suggestions to

consult@rpi.edu