Planning printer pool definitions

Printer pool definitions let you broadcast data to more than one printer at a time. Each printer pool definition defines the group of printer definitions to which you want to broadcast data.

Only NetSpool supports broadcasting. Therefore, only VTAM® applications can print to a printer pool definition. NetSpool uses the attributes specified in the Allocation section of each printer definition to create output data sets on the JES spool, one output data set for each printer definition.

Figure 4 shows the relationship between a printer pool definition and printer definitions.

Figure 4. Relationship between printer pool definition and printer definitions

The printer pool definition specifies the NetSpool printer LU name (LUDEPT01 in this example) and lists the printer definitions in the broadcast group (Printer 1 and Printer 2). The printer definitions are standard printer definitions. That is, they could be used for printing directly from clients, including VTAM applications.

ISPF panel for a printer pool definition shows the panel that you use to specify attributes in a printer pool definition. For more information about how to create a printer pool definition, see Broadcasting data using multiple printer definitions.