network printing - with duplex option

[TCEQ UNIX]

Unix Print Server is 11, network printer is lazer jet 5si. Printer has duplex printing capability. Trying to print using following options: lp -d(printer name) -opi8 -ofp16 -olandscape -oduplex filename. It does not print in duplex mode. Any suggestions?

[Pete Randall]

Is this defined as a "remote" printer, or as a "network" printer (i.e. through jetadmin/hppi)?


Pete

[TCEQ UNIX]

It is configured as network printer, but is called as remote printer from other UNIX server. I have tried to use the option from remote server

[Bill Hassell]

The problem is that it is not a "network printer" as defined by SAM. A network printer is one that uses an HP JetDirect interface in the printer and HP-UX prints directly to the printer. Remote printers are always problematic in SysV Unix (like HP-UX) because lp requires the remote print server to understand and act on -o options. This is only possible when the remote print server is also HP-UX.

If the LaserJet 5si has a JetDirect card, then download the latest version of HP Printer Installer: http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/DriverDownload.jsp?pnameOID=18922&locale=en_US&taskId=135&prodSeriesId=27349&prodTypeId=18972 (sorry for the ugly URL).

Use swinstall to add the latest HPPI software to your system (it will not affect any existing printers). Now delete the current printer from your HP-UX system (hint: lpshut then lpadmin -xPrinterName then lpsched). Now add the LaserJet 5si with this command:

addqueue -hHostName -qprinter_name

-h can be either the IP address or hostname of the printer. -q is the queue name you'll use with the lp command. Now the options will all work. For a man page on the options, try man net_lj5x

[TCEQ UNIX]

I should have made it clear. Both the servers are HP 11, Print server and server where remote print queue is created. If I use print command with all the other -o options, everything works perfectly, except -o duplex. If I send a report of 10 pages, than some page prints on duplex and some does not. if I send 2 page report it does not print on duplex mode

[TCEQ UNIX]

I have already installed HPPI, and that is how I have created print queues.

[Bill Hassell · Accepted solution]

I noticed that you are specifying the font pitch and lines per inch. Does the report have imbedded formfeed characters to eject to the next page? If so, these formfeed characters may be occurring 1 line too soon and you'll have to adjust the line spacing on the printer to accomodate this 'feature' of the report. What's happening is that a formfeed is occurring just after the printer has reached the bottom of the page and performed an automatic page eject--then the next line is the formfeed in the report, so a blank page is created. In duplex mode, this looks like single sided. You can verify this by printing a straight ASCII file that has no formfeeds.

You can control the vertical spacing very accurately using -ovsi### Start with -ovsi10.5 and adjust up or down to control the line spacing (rather than -olpi8).