rklatt@uunet.uu.net (Randolf E. Klatt) (09/21/90)
I am looking to hear from anyone that has looked at the back of an ALM-2 and figured out what it takes to use that port marked "printer". What is the underlying hardware implementation (parallel/serial?). What sort of a /dev entry does it use? What gets added to the kernel to use it? Is there an FM I should read? P.S. 3/260 , 16M, SunOS4.1 Randolf Klatt Westinghouse Electric Corporation ITTC Simulators Department (412)733-6672 rklatt@ittc.wec.com
dahl@ebay.sun.com (Michael Dahl) (10/08/90)
> I am looking to hear from anyone that has looked at the back of an ALM-2 > and figured out what it takes to use that port marked "printer". What is > the underlying hardware implementation (parallel/serial?). What sort of a > /dev entry does it use? What gets added to the kernel to use it? Is there > an FM I should read? > > P.S. 3/260 , 16M, SunOS4.1 I have been through this exercise. I never got it fully working, but here is a summary of what I found out. The ALM-2 has a parallel printer port. A pinout for the printer port can be found on page 30 of the 16 Channel Asynchronous Line Multiplexer-2 Field Service Manual and Installation Notes that should have come with your board. Also see Section 8 starting on page 39 covering Printer Port Loopback Diagnostics. As per Appendix A, when you give the MAKEDEV mcp0 command, you will also create a /dev/mcpp0 device which is for the parallel printer port. If memory serves me, you should be able to use a standard PC parallel printer cable to hook up your printer. I hooked everything up and then tried a "cat testfile > /dev/mcpp0" The testfile had 4 lines in it, but only 2 lines came out on the printer. A larger file seemed to come out ok, but I didn't look that close. I never got any further than this, as we received an IBM RS/6000 with a parallel port that was already configured and worked without problem. All of this was using SunOS 4.0.3. It may work better in 4.1. To be fair, I never did call Sun support on the problem to see if they could help. Hope this helps. Michael Dahl, Cimplex Corporation Voice: (408) 879-2800 Fax: (408) 879-9605 1500 E. Hamilton Ave. Suite 100, Campbell Ca. 95008 dahl@netcom.uucp - or - {apple,claris}!netcom!dahl