Printers & Supplies
Solutions & Services
Customer Support
Partners
PhaserShare Series B network interface and PhaserShare cards These bring ease-of-use, superb shareability and broad compatibility to Tektronix Phaser Color Printers.
PhaserShare software PhaserShare software makes it easy to install, configure, and manage Phaser printers on a NetWare network.
PhaserLink software PhaserLink software is internal printer software that provides printer status and supports printer management through a World Wide Web browser.
Tektronix PhaserPrint for UNIX software PhaserPrint for UNIX software provides a driver with push-button control of printer features and fast raster file printing capability from UNIX workstations.
PhaserShare Series B network interface The Phaser 360 printer supports the PhaserShare Series B network interface. This printer is equipped with a built-in PhaserShare Series B network interface with a 10BaseT Ethernet connector. This printer can be equipped with these optional PhaserShare Series B network cards:
PhaserShare Series B Token Ring card. This card is equipped with STP (Shielded Twisted Pair) and UTP (Unshielded Twisted Pair) connectors. Only one connector can be used at a time.
PhaserShare Series B LocalTalk card (AppleTalk).
The PhaserShare Series B network interfaces and the protocols they support are listed in the following table.
PhaserShare cards PhaserShare cards work with the following printers: Phaser 380, 350, 340, 560, 550, 540, and 600. PhaserShare cards enable you to use your printer with Ethernet, Token Ring, LocalTalk, or serial connections. PhaserShare cards can be purchased initially with the printer as options or added later as upgrade kits. A PhaserShare card is a small, slide-in circuit board installed in the printer, with connectors visible on the back of the printer.
The PhaserShare cards and the protocols they support are listed in the following table. A printer can have only one PhaserShare card installed at a time. When a PhaserShare card is installed, all ports on the card and the printer's standard parallel port can be simultaneously active. Also, all network protocols can be simultaneously active.
Recognizing PhaserShare Series B interfaces and earlier PhaserShare cards On your network, you may have some Tektronix printers that are equipped with PhaserShare Series B interfaces and other Tektronix printers that are equipped with earlier PhaserShare cards. Printers equipped with earlier PhaserShare cards are supported differently in printer management software such as the PhaserShare Administrator and PhaserLink software. These differences are noted throughout this guide. There are several ways to determine if the printer is equipped with a PhaserShare Series B interface or an earlier PhaserShare card:
Card rear panel. The cards are labeled on the rear panel.
The printer's Configuration Page. For Series B interfaces, Series B appears following the Network Information area on the printer's Configuration Page. If an earlier PhaserShare card is installed, the printer's configuration page reports the type of card installed in the PhaserShare field.
The printer's Startup Page. For Series B interfaces, Series B appears in the Ethernet, Token Ring, or LocalTalk fields on the printer's Startup Page. If a PhaserShare card is installed, the printer's startup page reports the available connections in the Ports field.
PhaserLink software. In PhaserLink, if the Adobe PostScript field reads Adobe PostScript Level 3 Version, the interface is Series B. If the field reads Adobe PostScript Level 2 Version, the printer supports PhaserShare network cards (not Series B). The Adobe PostScript field is on the View Printer Information page or on the View and Configure General Settings page, depending on the printer type. Links to these pages can be accessed by clicking the Configuration icon. For more information on PhaserLink software, see PhaserLink Software: the Printer's Information Link.
PhaserShare Administrator. In the PhaserShare Administrator, Series B interfaces are identified in the Ethernet or Token Ring tabs, where Series B is displayed in the Interface Information area. For more information on the PhaserShare Administrator, see PhaserShare Administrator Software for NetWare Networks.
Phaser printers are compatible with nearly all PC client/server environments. The printer's Ethernet and Token Ring network interfaces are compatible with the following:
Windows NT servers over TCP/IP or EtherTalk protocols
LANServer 4.0 servers via TCP/IP
UNIX workstation via TCP/IP
Windows NT n Windows for Workgroups
OS/2 Warp n DOS
Supported UNIX workstations UNIX workstations typically communicate using the TCP/IP protocol.
Supported VMS workstations VMS workstations in DECnet environments are supported using the printer's TCP/IP support and PhaserSym software from Tektronix. Contact Tektronix Technical Support for more information (see If you need help from Tektronix). If you already have TCP/IP for OpenVMS, (DIGITAL TCP/IP Services for OpenVMS, formerly UCX, or Multinet), you can use that software without PhaserSym.
Phaser printers are compatible with Banyan Vines and Microsoft LAN Manager servers; however, third-party interfaces are required. Contact Tektronix Technical Support for more information (see If you need help from Tektronix).
