Warning for using >1 NAS with printing on x64-OS

Ninlil

Since NAS (at least the versions I've seen) is a 32-bit application, it "suffers" from being "boxed" in the WOW64-mode in a 64-bit OS (Windows Server 2003 x64, Vista x64 a.s.o)

The following link has Microsoft's view on things:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/923357 (someone please fix this in a better way [-o< )

But to be brief:
The first 32-bit application that prints anything seems to "lock" any other sessions that wants to print from a 32-bit application.

This WILL occur if you have >1 NAS that runs "Reports" that print (to either virtual or real printer).
Since the NAS-session "never" closes, only reconnects, only the first one will get it's report printed.
Any other NAS will get "Cannot print" in the Event-log (it looks like the error in old version where NAS could not handle extra report-permission to modify "indirect"-tables)

Solution:
Don't run a printing NAS on a 64-bit, use a 32-bit OS instead.

Just a warning to you all, before you consider suicide for not finding this. ](*,)
(it took me >8 hrs #-o using Sysinterals "Process Monitor" and going thru >100K log-entries)

ara3n

Would we have the same issue then with Service Tier for 2009? if it is running on 64 bit OS? The Service tier is 32 bit as well.

kine

Service tier is not printing anything... if you want to print something automatically, you will still need to use NAS... ;-)

Maci

I´ll thank you you can answer the question: is imposible to start a NAS in a 64-bit server? I´m interesed in the versions 3.70, 4 and 5.

Thanks

ara3n

No, it's not impossible. I have several clients that have 64 bit os and they run NAS on it.

kine

Yes, NAS can be run on 64bit but only in WOW mode... but it is running without problems (or only with some small problems which can be solved).

ajhvdb

kine wrote:

Yes, NAS can be run on 64bit but only in WOW mode... but it is running without problems (or only with some small problems which can be solved).

What is WOW? I must be simple... #-o

kine

Windows On Windows (not World Of Warcraft) see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WOW64