line printer

[ARUN_19]

Hi All,
I am trying to configure a Fujitsu 900 LPM line printer (Model 3042) on a parallel port of HP9000 D230 server running on HP-UX 10.2.
I tried configuring the printer both from SAM and lpadmin, the device file gets created,the spooler is ok,but the print does not work!!Checked an normal Dot Matrix Printer(EPSON) which works fine!I even tried creating device file with different minor numbers (the HP Instant Information CD gives details of different handshaking modes 1-6)for different handshaking modes, and then configuring the printer(this time with the option in SAM-configure a printer with non-standard device file)but still the problem persists.Any known issues to configure a line printer on a PARALLEL INTERFACE???
Thanks in advance!!!!

[A. Clay Stephenson]

THe 3042 could be equipped with either a Centronics or a DataProducts parallel interface and they are not equivalent. The Epsom uses a Centronics interface and it works so I think you have your answer. I am assuming that this printer is actually known to work. The 3042 also can be connected via a serial interface - so tyat might be another option for you.

[Rajeev Shukla]

Hi Arun,
There doesn't seem to be any problem with your parellel interface on HP server. And i have configured Tally and dataproduct printers on parelly interface which work fine.
The problem could be with the emulation of the printer you are using on 3042.
Try changing the emulation to epson or IBM that should solve your problem.

Cheers
Rajeev

[Bill Hassell]

Parallel interfaces are NOT all the same, as you've seen from the man page for cent. While the driver understands 6 different 'Centronics' standards, there are other variations which may or may not work. It may never be possible to make it work due to electrical differences. Most PCs handle the parallel port in BIOS which doesn't exist in the HP 9000. Since the Epson printer works OK, the parallel port is fine.

One possibility is that the printer simply does not speak ASCII. This is a VERY common problem for Postscript-only printers. If you send ABC to the printer, nothing happens (or if the printer has debug modes, it will log a format error). There is a postscript script which will take plain ASCII and preformat it for Poscript (level 1 and up) compatible printers.

Check the printer for an ASCII compatibility mode and if there is one, try using that setting. If it still fails, the only alternative is to use an external JetDirect adapter which handles the majority of parallel printers. If you can, get the adapter on the condition that it will be compatible. The JetDirect box has a selftest button that will send a test message to the printer without any computer attached. If it works, download the latest HP Printer Installer software from www.hp.com for HP-UX.

[Frank Slootweg]

> but the print does not work!!

Please define what "does not work" means, i.e. *exactly* what did you do, which (error and other) messages did you get, etc.?

At minimum, do a ll(1) and lssf(1M) for the devicefile and a "ioscan -fn -H ..." for the hardware path and a "cat /etc/passwd >/dev/..." and post the results.

Please also see the recent thread "Configuring Fujitsu 3042 printer" http://forums.itrc.hp.com/cm/QuestionAnswer/1,,0x8d23f608743fd711abdc0090277a778c,00.html , assuming you are not the poster of that thread ("Nagamani", but you are 'both' from the same country).

[ARUN_19]

Hi Guys,
Thanks for the prompt reply!!Finally the problem got rectified.I had to create a device special file using mksf command with -h option(I first created a device file with -m option which did not work)so finally it is something to do with handshaking!!!
Thanks again
ARUN
***Yes we both are from same country & COMPANY!!sorry for posting the same question!!)

[ARUN_19]

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