Overviewing the Spool Subsystem

SAP Spool System Architecture

Chapter 35: Overviewing the Spool Subsystem

Contents
SAP Spool System Architecture ................................................................
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35–1
SAP “Local” Printing................................
Printing ................................................................
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................................35–135–1
Set Up Requirements ........................................................................................................................................................................ 35–2
SAP Remote Printing ................................................................
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Network printers......................................................................................................................................................................... 35–3
SAP Fax Device................................
Device ................................................................
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......35–4
35–4
Policies and Roles ................................................................
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35–4
Environment...................................................................................................................................................................................... 35–4
Policies and Procedures .................................................................................................................................................................... 35–5
Roles and Responsibilities................................................................................................................................................................. 35–5

SAP Spool System Architecture

To provide a uniform interface to the spooling and printing services of diverse host operating systems, the
SAP System has its own internal spooling system.
All output requests generated by the SAP System and its components are passed first to the SAP spool
system. This spool system either passes the requests on to the host spooler for printing, or holds the
requests until they are explicitly released for printing, are picked up by other SAP components, or are
deleted.
This section discusses two printing methods, local and remote, and the implementation of an SAP fax
device.

SAP “Local” Printing

SAP Applicaiton Server with Spool NT Server or Workstation in which
Work Process and Host Spool PAC2 is defined as a shared
System (NT Print Manager) printer in the Print Manager

Network

Printer \\USPAC008\PAC2
is remote in relation to NT,
but local in relation to SAP

\\USPAC008\

Host System: Local Printer

NFLSF49 PAC4

In the illustration above, the SAP Application Server (NFLSF49) runs the print server (Print Manager) and
has direct and network connections to the printers.

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Overviewing the Spool Subsystem
SAP Remote Printing

The most reliable and often the fastest method to transfer data from the SAP spool system to the host
spool system is "local” printing. It is called “local” because both spool systems are running on the same
host system. This shared host system is also what makes it fast and reliable!
In this connection type, the SAP spool server passes output requests to the host spool system in the same
host. The spool server can then print on any locally- or remotely-connected printer that is defined in the
host spool system ( Print Manager). In the illustration above, connections are established in the Print
Manager to both a local and a remote printer.

Set Up Requirements
To implement local printing, you must do the following:
• Run an SAP application server with the spool service at a host system from which you can
conveniently drive your printers. You can set up as many spool servers (application servers that offer
the spool service) in your SAP System as you wish.
• Define connections in the spool system or Print Manager of the host to each of the printers that the SAP
spool server is to use.
• In each printer definition in the SAP spool system, fill in the Spool server field with the name of the
host system in which the spool server is running.
• For the Access method, Windows NT hosts can use either access method L or C. Use method C if you
use the NT Print Manager for output.

SAP Remote Printing

SAP Application Windows PC

Server with Spool running SAPLPD
Work Process and Print Manager

Direct or Network
Network Link
connection

Local Host:: Remote Host: Remote Host Printer:

Dodgers Walldorf \\Walldorf\HDBG

In the illustration above, the SAP Application Server (Dodgers) communicates with the print server (Print
Manager) on the Remote Host (Walldorf) via SAPLPD or LPDNT. The Remote Host then has a direct or
network connection to the printer. SAPLPD or LPDNT is an executable which is delivered when installing
SAP Frontend(SAPGUI) software. It communicates remotely with another R/3 system and route the print
request to a printer which attached to machine where SAPLPD or LPDNT runs.

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 Overviewing the Spool Subsystem
SAP Remote Printing

If your R/3 installation on Windows NT, it is recommended to install a SAP “local” printer
using access method “C” (direct operating system call). This is a faster connection and it can
point to any shared NT printer. Please see, Installing a Local Printer chapter .

Another access method for passing output data to the host spool system is remote printing. In this access
method, the SAP spool work process passes output data by way of a network link to the host spooler in a
Windows NT system. You can use any printer that is accessible from the host spool system, whether it is
locally-attached to the host or is accessed by means of host remote-printing facilities.
A Windows printer is remote with respect to the SAP System under the following circumstances:
• The printer is attached to a Windows 3.1 or Windows for Workgroups PC. Since no SAP application
server can run on these systems, the SAP System must always transfer print output to them by way of
a network link and the SAPLPD program.
• The printer is attached to a Windows NT system, but there is no SAP spool server running on the NT
system.
• The printer is a shared network printer, but there is no SAP spool server running on an NT system
that shares the printer.

Network printers
You should not use this access method to print directly to a printer that is equipped with its
own Ethernet or Token Ring card. The problem with this configuration is that the SAP spool
server must restrict its transmission speed to that acceptable to the printer. If the printer does
not have its own hard disk and you are not accessing it by way of a printer server, then data
transmission to the printer can tie up the SAP spool server for considerable lengths of time.

To implement remote printing, you must do the following:

• Set up printers at host systems that meet the high reliability requirements of this access method. (See
the preceding notes.)
• Run an SAP application server with the spool service at a host system of your choice. You can set up
as many spool servers (application servers that offer the spool service) in your SAP System as you
wish.
• In each printer definition in the SAP spool system, specify the host system in which the spool server is
running as the Spool server of the printer.
• For the Access method, specify U (Print on LPDHOST via Berkeley protocol).

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Overviewing the Spool Subsystem
SAP Fax Device

SAP Fax Device

SAP Application Windows PC running
Server with Spool SAPLPD and WinFax
Work Process software

Internal or External
Fax Modem
Network Link

Spool Server: Destination Host::

pnsfo113 HPXU 648

You can use the SAPWIN device type and SAPLPD to fax from Windows ’95 or Windows for
Workgroups. SAPLPD (or LPDNT) is an executable which is delivered when installing SAP Frontend
(SAPGUI) software. It communicates remotely with another R/3 system and routes the print request to a
printer which attached to machine where SAPLPD or LPDNT runs.
To implement the faxing configuration:
• Ensure that your SAP application server offers the spool service. You can do this in the application
server in the Computing Center Management System(Tools → Administration → Computing Center →
Management System Control → All work processes).
• In the remote host Print Manager, define your fax device (WinFax) as a printer.
• Add definitions for the fax device to the SAP spool system specifying the Device type as SAPWIN and
the Access method as S (print on LPDHOST via SAP protocol).
• Start the SAPLPD transfer process in the remote host.

Policies and Roles

Environment
According to the type of print tasks, printers are installed. At the end-user site, desktop printers—such as
inkjet or laser printers—are installed.
For large print jobs, the system printer in the computing center is used.

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 Overviewing the Spool Subsystem
Policies and Roles

Policies and Procedures

Time Critical Printing
• For time-critical printing, escalation procedures up to the top management are
defined.
• A spare printer is available for each 3 printers of the same type.
• Printers for time critical print tasks (e.g. delivery notes, invoices) must be
replaced immediately to enable interruption free business workflow.
• The spare printers are already predefined, so that they could be easily
exchanged even by the end-user.

Mass Printing • Mass printing must be performed in a batch window.

• Maintenance contracts are signed to achieve zero downtime operation
• Mass printing must be planned like a time critical background job to ensure
that the overall performance of the system is not affected.

Confidential Printing • Confidential printing output can only be printed on specially assigned printers
located in non -public areas.
• Printing of confidential output is only allowed on specific printers. The user
creating the output is responsible for immediate removing of the output.

Roles and Responsibilities

Task Role
Monitor Printer Operation (non-central) Operator/End-user
Monitor Printer Operation (computing Operator
center)
Maintain Confidentiality of Print Output End-user
Define Printers for Confidential Output System Administrator/Application Dep.
Manager

For further details refer to…

R/3 System Administration Made Easy

Introducing R/3 System Architecture (Ch. 1)

R/3 Basis Knowledge Products

SAP System Management → Reference → Implementation → Spool System

R/3 System Online Help

Basis Components → System Administration → Printing Guide → Connecting a Printer or Fax at a

Microsoft Windows System

Basis Courses

Advanced R/3 Administration (BC305)

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