I would like any info on the best way to get recipe printouts from machines that have different operating systems, over an ethernet network. I have 4 machines: 2 running Win NT/Lookout, 1 running Win NT/Fix: and 1 running
a Dos app. The machines all print to local parallel ports and I would like to set up a network to print from one location.

 

Could you install the network and use a NET USE statement to alias the network printer into a virtual local port, like LPT2: ? Then set the software to print to LPT2:, and it will be none the wiser. (Note that there are restrictions for printer name and path length and special character usage when used with DOS boxes.) If the software can't be configured not to use LPT1:, remove the hardware port or change it to LPT2:.

In the NT machines, I'd even think you might be able to set the HMI software for the use of a network printer without the use of a port alias.