Printers, ip addresses

[Doug_3]

A newbie jetadmin/lp question!

What is the best way to set up printers for our N class where the IP address change every month or so? They are not on the dns server. We use Novell print queues and jetdirect cards. I am thinking of putting them in the hosts file.

Is there another method or a file jetadmin uses that I can edit manually as needed?

Thanks in advance,
Doug

[Francisco J. Soler]

Hi,
How do you know about the new ip?
You can send an e-mail to root account, and filter it to execute a script that changes the host-file automatically or you can add a cron line in the root crontab that checks some file and changes host file if needed.

There are some ideas.
hope this helps.

Frank.

[benoit Bruckert]

Hi,
You should use fixed addresses for your printer (and configure the lpr server in the jetdirect card)..
You can configure dhcp to send to jetdirect an exact address (link with mac-adress)..
You say you are using Novell print queues, you can then configure lpr on the novell server, and configure on the N class the printers on the novell !
hope that help
Benoit
________
"Les femmes, comme l'a dit un fran??ais plein d'esprit, nous inspirent le d??sir de r??aliser des chefs-d'oeuvre et nous emp??chent toujours de les mener a bout."
Oscar Wilde
________

[Doug_3]

Thank you Benoit and Francisco,
Let me clarify the issue. The Network Team only uses dynamic ip's for the jet direct cards and printers. I can not determine in advance what they will be.

I have been assigning the print queue's on the hp and when they change I use the jetadmin utility to either drop the printer and rebuild it or to change the ip.

I was wondering if jetadmin is using a file I can directly modify with VI or use a script. Otherwise I'll probably take your suggestion of using the hosts file and modifying that when the IP's change.

Thanks again,
Doug

[Kodjo Agbenu]

Hi Doug,

Edit the "PERIPH" variable in /etc/lp/interface/, and set it to either the IP or hostname of the printer.

Just in case : by using dynamic DNS updates, it would be possible to set up a dhcp server (dynamic IP allocation) for your printers, while having a fixed DNS name. This could be done on a low cost machine (let's say a PC running Linux).
If you want more information on this, please post a message.

Good luck.

Kodjo