The scope of this review is to document how the Xerox DocuPrint 4517 performs with the VPS suite of products, from Levi, Ray & Shoup, Inc. This printer was configured and tested by the Systems Engineers in the Enterprise Document Engineering (EDE) group at LRS.
Company Profile
Xerox Corporation manufactures and sells publishing systems, copiers, printers, scanners, fax machines, and associated products and services in more than 130 countries. The Xerox DocuPrint 4517 is sold exclusively through retailers, resellers, and distributors via the Xerox Channels Group based in Rochester, NY. For more information about Xerox products call (800) 34-XEROX, or visit the Xerox World Wide Web site at
http://www.xerox.com/print or the Xerox Forum on CompuServe (Go Xerox, OfficeDocument Solutions).
Printer Highlights
The Xerox DocuPrint 4517 and 4517mp were originally introduced on January 26, 1996. These models, along with the 4508 8-ppm personal printer, were the first desktop printers to carry the DocuPrint name. Both the DocuPrint 4517 and 4517mp support PCL 5e data streams. The DocuPrint 4517mp also supports true Adobe PostScript level 2 data streams, and includes four additional megabytes of memory (for a total of six megabytes) and a network interface card (NIC).
VPS/TCPIP Configuration & Testing
The Xerox DocuPrint 4517 was installed on the network using the optional token-ring network interface card. The NIC was configured to support TCP/IP and automatic data stream sensing. The configuration tested included PCL 5e and Adobe PostScript level 2 support, and 37 MB of memory, with no other optional features.
The VPS test system used during this review was VPS Release 7.0 at fix level 010, and was configured to include VPS/TCPIP and VPS/PCL. 
The DocuPrint 4517 was configured in VPS as a standard LPD supported device using the new VPS 7.0 keyword: "COMMTYPE=(TCPIP,LPD)" (VPS 6.2 keyword: DEVTYPE=V.LPD). The default LPD queue name for the 4517 is "PASSTHRU" and is defined in the VPS printer definition using the keyword "TCPPRTR=PASSTHRU." The VPS printer definition contained no other special options for this device.
Testing began with standard line mode reports and line mode reports formatted with VPS user exit 14 to add PCL and Postscript commands. All output and formats were printed correctly. We then modified the VPS printer definition to include support for the VPS/PCL product. The printer definition was changed to include the VPS 7.0 keyword: "CONVTYPE=PCL" (VPS 6.2 keyword: "DEVTYPE=V.LPD.PCL"). This option allows output that references AFP resources to be converted to PCL prior to being sent to the printer. Reports formatted by VPS/PCL containing multiple fonts, overlays, and page segments were printed correctly.
The testing was successfully repeated using the VPS direct sockets connection. This was defined using the VPS 7.0 keywords "COMMTYPE=(TCPIP,SOK)" (VPS 6.2 keyword: "DEVTYPE=V.TCPIP.SOK"), "TCPRPORT=2501" (same for VPS 6.2), and "RELREQ=I" (same for VPS 6.2). Since direct sockets offer advantages, it is recommended over LPD for TCP/IP communications for printers, like the 4517, that support both.
VPS/PC Configuration & Testing
The Xerox DocuPrint 4517 was then configured to support Novell networks as a Novell Netware print server. The Netware attachment option provides Netware printing support from Netware 3.x servers and 4.x servers that support bindery emulation. When configuring the printer to support Netware, the Netware print server and print queue must be defined on the Novell file server before the protocol is enabled in the printer. The VPS system used for this testing was configured to include VPS/PC for NT. The VPS/PC for NT product was installed on a dedicated Pentium PC using VPS/PC for NT Release 1.0.010.
Initial tests of Netware support included line mode reports. These reports were sent to the printer with PCL and Postscript formats included at the host using VPS exit 14 and at the PC using VPS/PC printer command sequences. All output and formats were printed correctly. Additional testing involved modifying the VPS printer definition for VPS/PC to include support for VPS/PCL. Reports formatted by VPS/PCL containing multiple fonts, overlays, and page segments were printed correctly.
Features & Options: Xerox DocuPrint 4517
| Parameter | Description |
| Print Speed | Up to 17 ppm - simplex |
| Resident Memory | 2MB (4517) 6MB (4517mp) standard, expandable to 64MB |
| flash memory card (optional) |
| Hard Drive | 125MB optional |
| Resident Fonts | 35 Type 1 scalable fonts (PostScript Level 2) |
| 45 scalable fonts (PCL 5e compatible): 10 TrueType, 35 Intellifont |
| Resolution (quality) | 1200 x 600 dpi, 600 x 600 dpi |
| Paper Handling | Input: 250 sheet universal tray (standard) |
| 100 sheet bypass feeder (standard) |
| 1 or 2: 500 sheet universal paper deck (optional) |
| 75 envelope feeder (optional) |
| Output: 250 sheets face down (standard) |
| 500 sheet offset catch tray (optional) |
| mailbox/collator: 10 lockable bins, 50 sheets/bin (optional) |
| Duplex | Optional |
| Automatic Data Stream Sensing | Yes |
| Language(s) | PostScript Level 2 emulation (standard on 4517mp) |
| Enhanced PCL 5e emulation (standard) |
| Printer Port(s) | High-speed bi-directional parallel port (IEEE1284) (standard) |
| Connectivity | Ethernet* |
| Token-Ring* *(4517- optional, 4517mp- one is standard) |
| Duty Cycle | Up to 65,000 pages per month |
| Warranty | One year on-site warranty |
Report Card
Xerox DocuPrint 4517
| Installation |  | | | Ratings: | | | = no problems | | - | = problems | | + | = above average | | N/A | = not applicable |
|
| VPS | |
| VPS/PCL | |
| VPS/IPDS | N/A |
| VPS/TCPIP | + |
| VPS/PC | |
