dmjd@gauss.uucp (Daniel Devasirvatham 21321) (02/08/91)
We have several HP laserjet printers (+ II & III) which are now running off serial links to System V computers. I am trying to work out a simple way to move them to ethernet. They will then be driven by an existing Vax (Ultrix 4) installation on the ethernet backbone, which already has postscript. So, rather than trying to install new hp downloadable fonts etc, we would like to make these hp laserjets look like postscript printers. What hardware is available to interface GPIB/HPIB or RS232 to ethernet (thick lan) ? This could be either a standalone box or a card that replaces the current interface card in the laserjets. Hp makes a box (expensive) which seems to be tailored to Novell Nets. Also, would such an interface require special driver software on the host ultrix computer ? Hp also makes a postscript cartridge for the laserjet. We have the 2 MB memories need to use it. Will plugging this in make the hp laserjets look like postscript printers to the outside world, or would they still need to be sent special escape sequences etc ? In short, would we need hp laserjet drivers for ultrix ? Are there any other alternatives ? Replies could be sent either to the net (preferable) or the email address below. Thanks in advance. Daniel Devasirvatham dmjd@nyquist.bellcore.com
lrb@alex.ctrg.rri.uwo.ca (Lance R. Bailey) (02/08/91)
In article <1991Feb7.221431.8721@bellcore.bellcore.com> dmjd@nyquist.bellcore.com writes: > >We have several HP laserjet printers (+ II & III) which are now running >off serial links to System V computers. > >What hardware is available to interface GPIB/HPIB or RS232 to ethernet > >Hp also makes a postscript cartridge for the laserjet. > .... >In short, would we need hp laserjet drivers for ultrix ? you have THREE issues here. net access ,PostScript printer from HP lj, and PostScript printing. 1) net access. okay, the easiest way to access the printers is to attach them via RS232 to a computer which supports remote printing requests. This allows _computer_ to handle the spooling, timeouts, paper outs etc.how does the 'majik network box' handle the paper outs? or even the darn thing powered down. does it have a disk for spooling requests? once the printer is attached to this computer, then set up remote print queues from other computers to it. ie: attach the printer to machine A, queue foo. set up machine A to accept net requests to print to this computer's queue (sometimes this is the null act, sometimes it means playing with hosts.equiv (suns} sometimes the printcap entry (VMS running wins/tcp) etc.) now tell computers B,C, D etc. to have queue foo and that queue foo is a remote queue on A. If B,C,D can not remote print, then play games with the rsh command to the A as user lp. I can supply details and printer models for the sys5 spooler setup. we have ljIII (as PostScript printers), lj2, DEC ln03, applelasers connected to VAX/VMS, suns, hp 9/800 and NeXT's and they all are very, very happy printing to each other. very transparent, very nice. the OTHER method of net access is to buy a printer sharing device and run a serial line from each computer to the box and a line from the box to the printer. In this manner I also weave about 8 PC's into the above scheme. 2) get an HP lj cartridge for the lj III to turn it into a PostScript printer. it has at least one subtle bug in it, but this shouldn't annoy you. besides right now it is _the_ best for turning an ljIII into a PostScript printer. for the other printers, there are a host of cartridges, test-drive the PacificPage and HP models. 2) PostScript printing. if you turn the HP laser into a PostScript (real:) printer then it will act like a PostScript printer. Any PostScript printer reads PostScript, and does the following when you send it non-PostScript. the processing signal (light, sign, dwarve) blinks for a bit and then stops with nothing coming out of the printer. PostScript is a programming page description language. if 'simple ascii' such as a source listing or a man page is sent to the printer then it chokes. The ultrix machine (like the NeXT) generates and sends out PostScript. If you tell it to 'print the screen' it generate a PostScript program and THEN punts it to the printer. clever. Any computer that you wish to have access to the (newly PostScripted) printer must, must, must send PostScript to the printer. If it cannot generate PostScript then get get yourself a ascii/hpgl/foo --> PostScript interpretor. I've written them, john down the street writes them, the net has about a kazillon of them kicking around. take your pick. welcome to real printing. -- Lance R. Bailey Systems Manager box: Robarts Research Institute email: lrb@rri.uwo.ca Clinical Trials Resources Group fax: 519.663.3789 P.O. Box 5015, 100 Perth Dr. vox: 519.663.3787 ext. 4108 London, Canada N6A 5K8