Unix administration - Line printer configuration on Fedora linux

Author

Line printer configuration on Fedora linux

ravikatti@gmail.com

2005-05-30, 7:53 am

hi,

I am trying to configure line printer(Dataproduct) on Fedora core 3.
The printer prints few strings and stops. Even the string is incomplete
as random letters are missedout during printing. I tried using "Raw
print queue" as well as "Generic text only" driver on fedora. the
hardware is compaq pentium IV system. Also the parallel port is set to
"SPP enhanced" on this compaq system.

The same system and cable properly prints on a HP deskjet printer. so
is this issue related to driver settings? What would be typical
printers.conf and /etc/printcap setting for these kind of line
printers?

any pointers are greatly appreciated.

TIA
Ravi

Bill Marcum

2005-05-30, 8:48 pm

Moe Trin

2005-05-30, 8:48 pm

In article <1117458281.492971.245140@g47g2000cwa.googlegroups.com>,
ravikatti@gmail.com wrote:

>I am trying to configure line printer(Dataproduct) on Fedora core 3.
>The printer prints few strings and stops. Even the string is incomplete
>as random letters are missedout during printing. I tried using "Raw
>print queue" as well as "Generic text only" driver on fedora. the
>hardware is compaq pentium IV system. Also the parallel port is set to
>"SPP enhanced" on this compaq system.

652047 Jan 30 2004 Hardware-HOWTO
258831 Aug 4 2003 Printing-HOWTO

The Dataproduct name isn't listed, so you will need to determine what
printer is similar. By the way, did you check in the comp.os.linux.*
newsgroups - specifically c.o.l.hardware?

Old guy

ravikatti@gmail.com

2005-06-05, 7:47 am

Hi Guys,

I am still clueless. linuxprinting.org has almost all printers listed
but dataproduct printers. Could someone help with respect to
/etc/printcap entries and the filter options. Any pointers suggestions
will be greatly appreciated.
I also posted on fedora newsgroup and many unix groups but havent
received any convincing replies. I am sure there are line printers
wokring on linux out there.

TIA

Moe Trin wrote:
> In article <1117458281.492971.245140@g47g2000cwa.googlegroups.com>,
> ravikatti@gmail.com wrote:
>
>
> 652047 Jan 30 2004 Hardware-HOWTO
> 258831 Aug 4 2003 Printing-HOWTO
>
> The Dataproduct name isn't listed, so you will need to determine what
> printer is similar. By the way, did you check in the comp.os.linux.*
> newsgroups - specifically c.o.l.hardware?
>
> Old guy

Bill Marcum

2005-06-05, 5:51 pm

On 30 May 2005 06:04:41 -0700, ravikatti@gmail.com
<ravikatti@gmail.com> wrote:
> hi,
>
> I am trying to configure line printer(Dataproduct) on Fedora core 3.
> The printer prints few strings and stops. Even the string is incomplete
> as random letters are missedout during printing. I tried using "Raw
> print queue" as well as "Generic text only" driver on fedora. the
> hardware is compaq pentium IV system. Also the parallel port is set to
> "SPP enhanced" on this compaq system.
>
> The same system and cable properly prints on a HP deskjet printer. so
> is this issue related to driver settings? What would be typical
> printers.conf and /etc/printcap setting for these kind of line
> printers?
>
> any pointers are greatly appreciated.
>
> TIA
> Ravi
>
I've been doing some Google searching and it's hard to find anything
specific on Dataproducts line printers, but one thing I have found is
that some of them don't use a Centronics standard parallel port. The
owner's manual would have information about making a printer cable.
(this might not apply if your printer has a centronics-style connector,
but I don't know)
http://www.driverforum.com/printer/748.html

Adobe has ppd files packaged for Windows or Mac, but I don't know if
these are for line printers or only for laser printers.
http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/main.html
On a linux system you'd have to extract the files with stuffit or wine.

Another thing I have found is that the Dataproducts name is apparently
now owned by Hitachi which also owns Ricoh.
http://www.hitachi-printingsolution...rs/prntdrv.html
Try the "legacy drivers"

--
Depend on the rabbit's foot if you will, but remember, it didn't help
the rabbit.
-- R.E. Shay

Moe Trin

2005-06-05, 8:48 pm

In article <1117975975.799268.146670@g14g2000cwa.googlegroups.com>,
ravikatti@gmail.com wrote:

>I am still clueless. linuxprinting.org has almost all printers listed
>but dataproduct printers. Could someone help with respect to
>/etc/printcap entries and the filter options. Any pointers suggestions
>will be greatly appreciated.

A search on google turns up seventy thousand hits on buying ribbons and
such crap for them, but nothing interesting in the first few pages of
results. You might try there, and refine your search terms to include
such things as the model number which you haven't mentioned.

>I also posted on fedora newsgroup and many unix groups but havent
>received any convincing replies.

Yeah, you're lucky. A year or two ago, you'd be flayed alive for posting
a Linux question in a *unix* group. Apples are fruit, and so are oranges,
but apples are not oranges.

>I also posted on fedora newsgroup and many unix groups but havent
>received any convincing replies.

I suspect google would have turned up something, but have you looked in the

alt.comp.periphs.printers
comp.periphs.printer
comp.periphs.printers

news groups? Only the last is listed as a Big8 group, but the others are
on the news server I'm reading from.

>I am sure there are line printers wokring on linux out there.

Most everyone seems to require Laser printers, or at worst inkjets, but
I think Linux even supports Daisy Wheel printers after a fashion. As
mentioned up-thread, your best bet is to find out what the printer is,
and then look at the manual to see what it's similar to. I suppose there
might be some way you can kick the printer to emulate an Epson FX-80 or
similar - just about all non-laser printers seem to be able to do that.

Old guy

Dave Hinz

2005-06-07, 5:59 pm

On 5 Jun 2005 05:52:55 -0700, ravikatti@gmail.com <ravikatti@gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi Guys,
>
> I am still clueless. linuxprinting.org has almost all printers listed
> but dataproduct printers. Could someone help with respect to
> /etc/printcap entries and the filter options. Any pointers suggestions
> will be greatly appreciated.

Can you explain what is so unique about the printer you want to install
that makes you want to use it? Can you use a supported printer?

Sometimes an item is so old, that it'll never get good support with
modern OS and apps, and it's time to let it go. This might be one of
those times.

Dave Hinz

2005-06-07, 5:59 pm

On Sun, 05 Jun 2005 19:13:45 -0500, Moe Trin <ibuprofin@painkiller.example.tld> wrote:
> In article <1117975975.799268.146670@g14g2000cwa.googlegroups.com>,
> ravikatti@gmail.com wrote:
>
>
> A search on google turns up seventy thousand hits on buying ribbons and
> such crap for them, but nothing interesting in the first few pages of
> results. You might try there, and refine your search terms to include
> such things as the model number which you haven't mentioned.
>
>
> Yeah, you're lucky. A year or two ago, you'd be flayed alive for posting
> a Linux question in a *unix* group. Apples are fruit, and so are oranges,
> but apples are not oranges.

Not really, he would have had the usual idiot go into his rant, and a
bunch of us advising him to avoid said idiot. Nothing flame-worthy
about posting a unix question on a unix group, and Linux is just another
unix, just as are FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD, and MacOSX.

> Most everyone seems to require Laser printers, or at worst inkjets, but
> I think Linux even supports Daisy Wheel printers after a fashion. As
> mentioned up-thread, your best bet is to find out what the printer is,
> and then look at the manual to see what it's similar to. I suppose there
> might be some way you can kick the printer to emulate an Epson FX-80 or
> similar - just about all non-laser printers seem to be able to do that.

Sure, but at some point, why bother? Drop 50 bucks, get a new printer,
and get on with life. Unless it's a tinkering-specific project.

ravikatti@gmail.com

2005-06-08, 2:49 am

Well, I have posted a question pertaining to unix admin. Nothing wrong
in it.

I am using cobol on old m68k system which unfortunately is dying. The
line printer is still very much live and kicking. The cobol
applications takes care of every aspect of the company like
HR,Admin,Accounts etc. So the printing load is very high on different
kinds of continous stationery. It is for these reasons I am desperate
to get the line printer working on linux.
For now I have solved the problem by using print server(hardware). But
am really keen to get the printing done directly from linux. It
certainly is flow control problem, and am looking at right printcap
entries and filter options. Even if someone can help me with "tunelp"
parameters that would be great.
Thanks to all those who have replied, but would like to keep this
thread alive.

TIA
Ravi

Dave Hinz wrote:
> On Sun, 05 Jun 2005 19:13:45 -0500, Moe Trin <ibuprofin@painkiller.example.tld> wrote:
>
> Not really, he would have had the usual idiot go into his rant, and a
> bunch of us advising him to avoid said idiot. Nothing flame-worthy
> about posting a unix question on a unix group, and Linux is just another
> unix, just as are FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD, and MacOSX.
>
>
> Sure, but at some point, why bother? Drop 50 bucks, get a new printer,
> and get on with life. Unless it's a tinkering-specific project.

Dave Hinz

2005-06-08, 5:58 pm

On 8 Jun 2005 01:07:19 -0700, ravikatti@gmail.com <ravikatti@gmail.com> wrote:
> Well, I have posted a question pertaining to unix admin. Nothing wrong
> in it.

I'm not criticizing your choice to spend time on a 20 year old printer,
I'm wondering why you're trying to do it. Big difference.

> I am using cobol on old m68k system which unfortunately is dying. The
> line printer is still very much live and kicking. The cobol
> applications takes care of every aspect of the company like
> HR,Admin,Accounts etc. So the printing load is very high on different
> kinds of continous stationery. It is for these reasons I am desperate
> to get the line printer working on linux.

Is the real question "How do I find a current line printer that is
supported by Linux", maybe? Because you could probably find a supported
printer in the list (guessing Epson series is a good bet), and then find
a printer to match on eBay, and you're in business.

Oh, and when you top-post, it screws up the flow of the conversation.
Particularly a problem in a technical newsgroup where context is
important.

Liam Cunningham

2005-06-08, 5:58 pm

On Wed, 08 Jun 2005 01:07:19 -0700, ravikatti wrote:

> Well, I have posted a question pertaining to unix admin. Nothing wrong
> in it.
>
> I am using cobol on old m68k system which unfortunately is dying. The
> line printer is still very much live and kicking. The cobol
> applications takes care of every aspect of the company like
> HR,Admin,Accounts etc. So the printing load is very high on different
> kinds of continous stationery. It is for these reasons I am desperate
> to get the line printer working on linux.
> For now I have solved the problem by using print server(hardware). But
> am really keen to get the printing done directly from linux. It
> certainly is flow control problem, and am looking at right printcap
> entries and filter options. Even if someone can help me with "tunelp"
> parameters that would be great.
> Thanks to all those who have replied, but would like to keep this
> thread alive.
>
> TIA
> Ravi
>
We have a very old dataproducts printer (a 420 I think) running off a
linux box. I our case the box running RedHat 9 and cups. In any event, a
standard line printer should work without any problem provided the serial
port is working (assuming this is a serial printer). As far as
configuration is concerned, you should configure said lineprinter as a
generic printer. You may need to adjust the serial configuration to match
the printer.
Our configuration file has the following entry:
#DeviceURI parallel:/dev/lp0
<DefaultPrinter dp>
Info Created by redhat-config-printer 0.6.x
DeviceURI serial:/dev/ttyS0
Location Data Processing
State Idle
Accepting Yes
JobSheets none none
QuotaPeriod 0
PageLimit 0
KLimit 0
</Printer>

The line DeviceURI is where you configure your port. If you are using a
parallel port, use the commented out line. If as I assume you are using a
serial port, you should may need to adjust some setting like this:
DeviceURI serial:/dev/ttyS0?baud=38400+size=8+parity=none+flow=soft

All of the above assumes you are using cups and not an earlier printing
system.

--

If at first you don't succeed,
read the manual......

Doug Freyburger

2005-06-08, 5:58 pm

ravikatti@gmail.com wrote:
>
> I am using cobol on old m68k system which unfortunately is dying.

There is nothing unfortunate about an old system dying. You
can tell the pioneers because they are the ones dead in the
trail with an arrow sticking out of them. You can tell the
langards because they are the ones dead in the trail with
tire marks on their back and they were killed because they
got run over when a pioneer lapped them in the race and ran
them over. Don't be either a pioneer or a lagard unless you
know the price and are willing to pay it. Your use of the
word unfortunately hints that you don't know the price of
being a lagard. Or that your management doesn't ...

> The line printer is still very much live and kicking.

Still not a reason for keeping it. It a new printer will
work, it should be used. Imagine the problems when your
new system ages and dies and you're stuck with a printer
so old it uses something called RS-232 and few even
remember what that used to mean. Find a USB printer that
works with your continuous forms if possible.

> It
> certainly is flow control problem, and am looking at right printcap
> entries and filter options.

Do you specify "if=" and "of=" filters that process your
data? They get attached to the device to send the data.
Experiment with "stty" within the script. On HPUX the
interesting parameters would be clocal, ixon, ixoff,
rtsxoff, ctsxoff, your system will be similar but will
differ in details.