Troubleshooting
Problem
This document will help you setup a print share on the IBM i NetServer using System i Navigator.
IMPORTANT:
**************************************************************
IBM i NetServer print sharing requires the client and server to support SMB1 to allow the client to fall back to supported versions of print flows. IBM i NetServer does not support the Windows services necessary for supporting print over the SMB2 protocol.
**************************************************************
This is also documented in:
MA48963: OSP NETSERVER PRINT SHARES WILL ONLY WORK IN SMB1 ENVIRONMENT: https://www.ibm.com/mysupport/s/defect/aCI3p0000008tisGAA/dt306601?language=en_US
There is also an Idea:
NETSERVER PRINT SHARES WILL NOT WORK WITH SMB2: https://ideas.ibm.com/ideas/IBMI-I-2489
Resolving The Problem
This document will help you create a shared printer object on IBM i NetServer using System i Navigator.
IMPORTANT:
**************************************************************
IBM i NetServer print sharing requires the client and server to support SMB1 to allow the client to fall back to supported versions of print flows. IBM i NetServer does not support the Windows services necessary for supporting print over the SMB2 protocol.
**************************************************************
This is also documented in:
MA48963: OSP NETSERVER PRINT SHARES WILL ONLY WORK IN SMB1 ENVIRONMENT: https://www.ibm.com/mysupport/s/defect/aCI3p0000008tisGAA/dt306601?language=en_US
There is also an Idea:
NETSERVER PRINT SHARES WILL NOT WORK WITH SMB2: https://ideas.ibm.com/ideas/IBMI-I-2489
It is still possible to add a printer share, but it will not work if in SMB2 environment or mixed SMB1 and SMB2 environment.
From Navigator for i:
WORK MANAGEMENT / PRINTING / PRINTERS
Right click on the printer to share, select SHARE and NEW SHARE
A share window is presented with the following information to fill out:
| Share name: | (required) The name that this printer will appear as on the network. |
| Description: | (optional) A brief description of the printer. |
| Output queue: | (required) It is recommended to BROWSE for the output queue and library. |
| Printer driver: | (optional) A suggestion of the driver that the PC should be used for the printer. You must specify the exact spelling and spacing of the driver for Microsoft® Windows® to automatically install the driver. If the spelling does not match or the driver is not pre-installed, you are prompted for the manufacturer and model of the printer when installing it on the PC. |
| Printer file: | (optional) You can leave it blank or select any printer file you would like to use. If a printer file is not specified, the default printer file QPNPSPRTF in library QSYS is used. |
| Spooled file type: | (optional) This can be left at the default of Auto-select unless a specific type is required. SNA character set is for IBM SCS drivers. Advanced function printing is for IBM AFP drivers. User ASCII is for all other printer drivers. |
Click OK, and the shared object is created.
To install the printer on a PC: Adding a Printer that Uses an IBM i NetServer Print Share
There is an unsupported tool in the QUSRTOOL library that will allow you to add a printer share via a CL command or menu option. For more information on this tool, please view this short video.
The GO NETS Tool for IBM i NetServer
The GO NETS command tool for IBM i NetServer allows you to create, delete, and add printers right from the command line. This video introduces the GO NETS Command line tool for IBM i Netserver
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Historical Number
14385318
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Document Information
Modified date:
12 May 2025
UID
nas8N1019655