[comp.sys.hp] sharing hp2564 with 825 & 925

jsadler@bcstec.UUCP (Jim Sadler) (11/20/89)

We have a HP3000-9[2,3]5 and a HP9000-825 located in the same room.  I
would like to share a hp2564b printer with both systems.  The problem is
that that the 3000 send some type of setup(escape codes) to the printer,
that the 825 does not like.  Currently I have to take the printer
offline and power down the printer and connect it to the 825.  After I'm
done with I connect it back up to the 3000 and the spooler on the 3000
has to be restarted for the printer(The 3000 queriesthe printer and
finds it not in the mode it was ?).

What I want to do is put in a HP-IB switch and do the following steps:
1 Take printer offline from the 3000.
2 Switch the printer from the 3000 to the 9000.
3 Put the printer online for the 9000.
4 Change the 9000 printer model send the escape codes to reset the printer to a 
  state that the 9000 is happy with.
5 At the end of the 9000 lp model send the escape codes that set up printer for 
  the 3000.
6 Take the printer offline from the 9000.
7 Switch the printer back to the 3000.
8 Put the printer online for the 3000.

What I need to know is what does the 3000 send to the printer?

	jim sadler
	206-234-9009
	BCS unix support

P.S.
Reality prevents me from careing too deeply that the above configuration IS NOT
supported by HP. 
8 Swith the printer back to the 3000 and hopefully the mpe/xl folks won't have    start up the spooler every time I use it.

rjn@hpfcso.HP.COM (Bob Niland) (11/21/89)

re: "...would like to share a hp2564b printer with both systems."

> The problem is that that the 3000 send some type of setup(escape codes) to
> the printer, that the 825 does not like.

They probably aren't escape codes.  They are probably AMIGO or CIPER bus
secondary commands.  Indeed, I suspect they are the commands that DISABLE
recognition of certain escape sequences in user data (like, unfortunately,
<ESC>E, which is hard-reset).  The 3000 print spooler intercepts, validates
and converts user sequences to bus secondaries.  This is to prevent users
from messing up the printer configuration for the next job.  Compared to
HP-UX, MPE is slightly paranoid in this regard.

You will probably need to have your HP-UX spooler make a DIL library call
and emit the appropriate bus secondaries to enable escapes and then put the
printer back the way you found it after each job.  I can't find the needed
reference material in my library.  You'll need to have your SR or SE contact
Network Printer Division in Boise, ID, and request info on the CIPER command
set and/or the underlying AMIGO protocol.

It is also possible that some obscure printer configuration parameters are
different for MPE and HP-UX.  Bottom line:  this won't be trivial.

Regards,                                              Hewlett-Packard
Bob Niland      rjn%hpfcrjn@hplabs.HP.COM             3404 East Harmony Road
                UUCP: [hplabs|hpfcse]!hpfcla!rjn      Ft Collins CO 80525-9599

This response does not represent the official position of, or statement by,
the Hewlett-Packard Company.  The above data is provided for informational
purposes only.  It is supplied without warranty of any kind.

thull@hpfelg.HP.COM (Scott Thull) (11/21/89)

Jim:

   Another way to share the printer between a 3000 and a 9000 is with some
new software available from HP.  I think it is supported on the 9xx systems.
If you have a lan connection between the 3000 and the 9000 this software will
send print requests to the system with the printer attached.  I don't know
the cost, but your local HP 9000 SE or 3000 SE may be aware of the specifics.

Scott Thull
HP EDD Mktg.
Ft. Collins, CO