topic Re: HP-UX 11.0 Drivers?? in Operating System - HP-UX

HP-UX 11.0 Drivers??

Mike Fisher_5 — Fri, 14 Mar 2003 11:35:57 GMT

Hi y'all

SERVER:
rp2430 HP-UX 11.00

IMPACT PRINTERS:
Newbury Data P5005
Epson DFX5000

CONNECTION:
Serial

QUERY:
I am told that I will need spooler software to drive these printers

What's your experience/advice on this?

Mike

Re: HP-UX 11.0 Drivers??

melvyn burnard — Fri, 14 Mar 2003 11:45:08 GMT

Like the standard Unix lp spooler that comes with the OS?
Do you have hte mux serial ports to connect htese printers to?

Re: HP-UX 11.0 Drivers??

Mike Fisher_5 — Fri, 14 Mar 2003 11:52:44 GMT

Melvyn

What's hte?

We do have..
J2485A. 16-port RS232 DB25 module

BTW - Good personal quote !!

Re: HP-UX 11.0 Drivers??

Pete Randall — Fri, 14 Mar 2003 12:03:11 GMT

Mike,

hte is the spelled sideways.

The lp spooler should work just fine.

Pete

Re: HP-UX 11.0 Drivers??

Jdamian — Fri, 14 Mar 2003 12:04:42 GMT

read lpadmin(1M) man pages

Re: HP-UX 11.0 Drivers??

melvyn burnard — Fri, 14 Mar 2003 12:05:21 GMT

hte is my personal dyslexic typing.
If you have the Mux, then use the lp spooler to set up these printers, but you will need to set them using the DUMB model script.
Many people are using serial printers in this way. You could of course buy additional software, etc.
Be aware HP class these as "unsupported" printers.

Re: HP-UX 11.0 Drivers??

Mike Fisher_5 — Fri, 14 Mar 2003 13:11:50 GMT

Pete:
htanks

JDM:
thanks

Melvyn:
My end-user may well want "additional software"
He [and I] have no system admin/prog skills

So just in case...

Anyone:
What user-friendly software is available in the UK?

Re: HP-UX 11.0 Drivers??

Bill Hassell — Fri, 14 Mar 2003 13:22:54 GMT

The lp spooler is not like a PC at all. There are no drivers since there is no printer metadata interface (a common language to describe printing actions like fonts and graphics and colors). Instead, the lp spooler uses a simple script to add features like a banner page or the ability to control line spacing. For HP printers, the options are extensive (landscape mode, 2up and 4up text printing, double sided, etc).

But for these 'dumb' printers, you would use SAM to add the printers to the spoolinng system and use (you guessed it) the dumb model script. That script can be customized but you probably don't need to if all you want is simple printing. Look at the scripts in /var/spool/lp/model and you'll see extensive support for HP printers.

As long asa you use the printers for plain ASCII text, all is well. Any printer features like larger or smaller fonts or changing the lines-per-inch, etc, will have to be imbedded into the file you print. To create some of the options you see in HP model scripts, you'll need technical reference manuals for the printers and some skills as a script writer.

As far as software goes, look at the Liverpool http://hpux.connect.org.uk/

Re: HP-UX 11.0 Drivers??

Mike Fisher_5 — Fri, 14 Mar 2003 14:11:04 GMT

Bill:
Your explanation/information was very clear
Thx I learnt something

However..

Followed your link
Not sure how to find relevant info
[e.g. searching "printer" gives too many returns]

Can you help with that?

Re: HP-UX 11.0 Drivers??

Bill Hassell — Fri, 14 Mar 2003 14:28:21 GMT

You were asking about software for HP-UX. If you meant, is there an alternative to HP's print spooler, there are a few commercial products but they are pricey and designed for dozens to hundreds of printers and users.

Re: HP-UX 11.0 Drivers??

Steven E. Protter — Fri, 14 Mar 2003 14:36:59 GMT

Workable, affordable alternative:
http://www.easyspooler.com

Pretty decent support, good price.

Dazel's license fee was more expensive than my 9000 servers but it seemed like a pretty good product.

SEP

Re: HP-UX 11.0 Drivers??

Mike Fisher_5 — Fri, 14 Mar 2003 15:47:28 GMT

Bill:
Thanks
Good answers as usual

SEP
Useful
Had a quick stroll 'round the web site
I'll present it to the client
He's got large, varied & distributed printing needs so It's possible he will not flinch at the costs

To all who responded:
I wish I'd been clearer with my question so as to save you all time
I'm still learning the terminology

I'll be raising a tankard of dark, foaming Genius to you all in 80 mins

Mike