Using a Local Printer or Plotter

This chapter describes how you can attach a printer or plotter to an HP Netstation. Topics include:

If you have problems with the printer installation, refer to If the Printer Will Not Print.

Which Devices Can I Connect?

Which devices you can connect depends largely on your host computer. In general, all HP printers are supported on any multi-vendor system. Other printers that can plug into the Netstation and have their own model scripts are also supported.

On HP-UX 9.x systems, HP Netstations support any printer or plotter that can plug into the Netstation and has a model script in /usr/spool/lp/model
For HP-UX 10.x systems: /var/spool/lp/model
Note that HP plotters with model numbers HP 7440a, HP 7475a, HP 7550a, HP 7570a, HP 7595a, or HP 7596a require a different setup method from other printers or plotters.
Printer and plotter types that do not have a model script may work with the dumb and dumbplot scripts respectively.
On Sun systems, HP Netstations support the printers and plotters that are installed on the HP workstation.

Physically Connecting a Printer or Plotter to the Netstation

This section explains how to connect a printer or plotter to the Netstation and how to test the connection.

Connecting to the Parallel Port

To connect a parallel printer to the Netstation, use a Centronics-style cable (HP 24542D). The parallel port is optional on the HP ENVIZEX II Netstation (order HP Part Number C5215A).

Connecting to the Serial Port

To connect a serial printer to the Netstation, use an HP 24542G cable. If your Netstation has two serial ports, you can connect the printer to either serial port. To configure the Serial Port to work with the printer:

Press and hold [F12] to access the configuration screens.
Select [Terminal], then [Serial (1)] or [Serial (2)] depending on whether the printer is connected to the first or second serial port.
Set the baud rate, data bits, stop bits, parity, and flow control as described in the printer's documentation.
Note: The printer or plotter will not work if the same serial port is used for SLIP or PPP. To ensure that SLIP or PPP is not connected to the printer or plotter serial port, do the following:

Select [Network], then [SLIP(1)], [SLIP(2)], [PPP(1)], or [PPP(2)] depending on whether you are using SLIP or PPP on port 1 or 2.
If necessary, select the [Activate] button to disable it.

Testing the Netstation-Printer Connection

HP Netstations have print tests you can use with non-PostScript printers to test the Netstation-to-printer connection.

Press and hold [F12] to access the configuration screens.
Select [Diagnostic], then [Printer Test].
Select the port to which the printer is connected (parallel, serial 1, or serial 2).
Select [Start Test].

If your printer does not print the Netstation's configuration, check the cable and the printer for problems.

How to Set Up Local Printing

There are two different ways you can set up your Netstation to support local printing:

Using Jetdirect and remport
Using the LPR/LPD Berkely printing setup.

Reasons to Choose Jetdirect and remport

You may wish to choose Jetdirect and remport if:

If you are already using the Jetdirect software
If there are special application considerations that favour remport/Jetdirect printing
If you are connecting a serial printer.

For more information, see Using JetDirect and remport.

Reasons to Choose LPR/LPD

You may prefer LPR/LPD printing if:

You want to print from an NT system (e.g., in a mixed UNIX and Windows NT environment)
You need to enable direct printing from local applications such as the HP Netstation Software Java Runtime Environment (JRE) or the Navio Navigator for HP Netstations
You do not want to install the Jetdirect software
You do not plan to use serial printers.

For more information, see Using LPR and LPD to Set Up Printing.

Using JetDirect and remport

If you plan to use remport and JetDirect, do the following:

Follow the instructions in Setting up the Netstation.
Follow the instructions in one of the following sections:
- Setting Up an HP-UX or Sun Host
- Setting Up an HP-UX Host for HP Plotters (for HP 7440a, HP 7475a, HP 7550a, HP 7570a, HP 7595a, or HP 7596a plotters)
- Setting Up an IBM AIX Host.

Setting up the Netstation

Set up your Netstation to load the following extensions:

remport (remote ports)
One of the following:
- parallel (if the printer is connected through a parallel port)
- serial (if the printer is connected through a serial port)

For more information about downloadable extensions and how to load them, see Using Downloadable Extensions.

Setting Up an HP-UX or Sun Host

The administration script (xtadm) makes it easy for you to add a Netstation's printer or plotter to the print spooler and provides a script to test the operation of the printer or plotter.

The "Printers, plotters" section of the administration script prompts you for all the information required to set up a printer or plotter on the print spooler.

Before you begin, you need to know the following:

The terminal name of the printer's Netstation
The type of connection (serial or parallel)
The name you wish to assign to the printer (the default is the Netstation's terminal name)
The printer type (laserjet, quietjet, etc.).

To begin:

Invoke the administration scripts, as described in Invoking the Netstation Administration Scripts.
Choose Printers, plotters from the main menu.
Choose Check operation of a printer or plotter.
The administration script uses ping to verify that the Netstation is connected to the network, then sends a test file to the printer. This test bypasses the print spooler. If the test fails, check that the Netstation and the printer are properly connected and configured.
Choose Add a printer or plotter. The script prompts you as necessary. To access the online help, at the prompt, type: ?

To learn how to print a file, see Printing a File.

Setting Up an HP-UX Host for HP Plotters

To use HP 7440A, HP 7475A, HP 7550A, HP 7570A, HP 7595A, or HP 7596A plotters with HP Netstations, you must use a pseudo-terminal driver as follows:

Assign the master side of the pseudo-terminal driver. You do this when you set up a daemon that directs data from a pseudo-terminal driver to the Netstation.
Assign the slave side of the pseudo-terminal driver. You do this when you add the plotter to the print spooler.

Assigning the Master Side of the Pseudo-Terminal Driver

To assign the plotter daemon to the master side of the pseudo-terminal driver, follow these steps:

Copy the sample setup script as follows:

cp /opt/hpxt/enware2/share/examples/hpnptyd.sh /sbin/init.d/hpnptyd.sh

Set up the symbolic links by typing:

ln -s /sbin/init.d/hpnptyd.sh /sbin/rc3.d/S400hpnptyd.sh
ln -s /sbin/init.d/hpnptyd.sh /sbin/rc2.d/K400hpnptyd.sh

The change will take effect when the host is rebooted. If you wish to start the daemon now, type:

/sbin/init.d/hpnptyd.sh start

In the sample setup script:

/dev/ptym/ptyr8 specifies the master side of the pseudo-terminal driver ptyr8. The name you choose should be as high as possible to reduce the likelihood that another program will grab the pty. Also, you will need it to set up the slave side of the pseudo-terminal driver.
The -x specifies the terminal name or IP address of the Netstation to which the printer is attached (xterm2 in this example).
The -p identifies the serial or the parallel port on the Netstation:
- Choose 9100 to send the data to the serial port.
- Choose 9102 to send the data to the second serial port (if present).
- Choose 9101 to send the data to the parallel port.

Assigning the Slave Side of the Pseudo-Terminal Driver

To assign the slave side of the pseudo-terminal driver, use sam as follows:

On the root server as superuser, type: sam
Select [Printers and Plotters].
From the [Actions] pulldown, choose: "Add Printer/Plotter Requiring Nonstandard Device File..."
Fill in the resulting menu as follows:
- For Printer name, choose a unique name. You may use the Netstation's terminal name.
- For Printer Model/Interface, use hp7440a, hp7475a, hp7550a, hp7570a, hp7595a, or hp7596a.
- For Printer Device File Name, type in the name of the slave side of the pseudo-terminal driver. For example, if the /etc/rc entry has /dev/ptym/ptyr8, the printer device file name is /dev/pty/ttyr8.
  Note: Type over the default Printer device file name if one exists. This default name is incorrect.
- Enter Printer Class to suit your system or leave it blank.

Setting Up an IBM AIX Host

Before you begin you need to know the following:

The terminal name of the Netstation to which the printer is connected.
The type of connection (serial or parallel).
The name you wish to assign to the printer (the default is formed from the Netstation's terminal name).
The printer type (laserjet, etc.).

To begin:

As superuser, type: smit
Choose: Devices
Choose: Printer/Plotter
Choose: Print Spooling
Choose: Add a Print Queue
Choose: Printer Attached to Xstation
smit prompts you for all the necessary information.

To learn how to print a file, see Printing a File.

Using LPR and LPD to Set Up Printing

If you plan to use LPR and LPD, do the following:

Set up the LPD side on the Netstation that is directly connected to the printer. Follow the instructions in Setting Up LPD on the Netstation with the Printer Connection. (If you want to connect the printer to a host rather than a Netstation, create a Berkeley LPR/LPD RFC1179 printer queue, as described in the documentation for your host computer.)
Set up the LPR side on this Netstation, and every other Netstation that will use this printer directly from a local client such as the local Java runtime environment (JRE) or the Navio Navigator for HP Netstations. Follow the instructions in Setting Up Netstations to Print Directly Using LPR.

Setting Up LPD on the Netstation with the Printer Connection

On the Netstation that has the direct printer connection:

Switch to the Netstation binary directory:
```
cd /opt/hpxt/enware2/xthome/bin
```
If you have not previously done so, create a directives file for this Netstation:
cp directives ipaddress.directives
(where ipaddress is the IP address of the Netstation)
Edit the Netstation's directives file, and uncomment the following line:
```
 # noshow auto App lpd=lpd  "Berkeley LPR printer daemon"
```
For more information about the directives file in general, see Customizing the directives File.
When you are setting up the host side print queues, you will need to know the terminal name and the name of the print queue. LPD creates two print queues:

Queue: Definition
raw: All data is sent to the printer without interpretation
text: End of lines are translated as carriage returns. Intended for UNIX-formatted text.

Setting Up Netstations to Print Directly Using LPR

On every Netstation that will use the printer:

Switch to the Netstation binary directory:
```
cd /opt/hpxt/enware2/xthome/bin
```
If you have not previously done so, create a directives file for this Netstation:
cp directives ipaddress.directives
(where ipaddress is the IP address of the Netstation)
Edit the Netstation's directives file, and uncomment the following lines:
```
 # Driver LPRdrvr=drvr/lprExt "Remote printer driver (BSD/RFC 1179)"
 # Auto extension Alias=drvr/aliasExt "Name alias extension"
 # prerequisite LPRdrvr = Alias
```
For more information about the directives file in general, see Customizing the directives File.
If you have not already done so, create a remote configuration file for the Netstation (terminalname.cfg). For more information, see Using Remote Configuration.
In the terminalname.cfg file, create a print queue by adding the following line:
LPR queue = queue:host:remqueue:desc:f
where the variables are as follows:

Variable
Definition
queue
the local name or alias for the queue,
host
the hostname or IP address of the directly connected Netstation,
remqueue
the name of the printer queue on the directly connected Netstation,
desc
a textual description of the queue,
f
an optional format for print jobs in this queue
l
for raw text, the default print queue
f
for formatted text,
o
for PostScript.

For example:
```
LPR queue = laser:dave1x:HPLaserJ:"Dave's desk"
```
For the queue that you have just defined, you can add the following optional lines in the terminalname.cfg file:
- LPR Leader
- LPR Trailer
- LPR Local Spool Threshold
- LPR Spool Path.
These lines are explained in detail below.
- LPR Leader = queue:string
  This defines a string that will be sent to the printer before the print file. To include a non-printable character, use \x followed by a hex code or \o followed by an octal code. The Esc character can be represented by \x1b. For example,
```
LPR Leader = laser:"\x1b(s20v(s1S"
```
  switches a PCL printer to print text.
- LPR Trailer = queue:string
  This defines a string that will be sent to the printer after the print file. For example,
```
LPR Trailer = laser:"\x1b(s12v(s0S"
```
  returns a PCL printer to graphics mode.
- LPR Local Spool Threshold = queue:n
  This variable defines how much Netstation memory should be used for buffering data. There are three possible cases:
  1. Leave as the default. All print jobs will be buffered locally. If the Netstation runs out of memory, the print job will fail.
  2. Set the Local Spool Threshold between 1 and the maximum available memory in the Netstation. Any file larger that n bytes is sent to a spool file on the file server. (A smaller file is buffered in Netstation memory.)
  3. Set the Local Spool Threshold to 0 This is a special case that says that the print file should be sent to the printer directly, without being buffered in memory or sent to a spool file. The file is sent to the printer with a data file size value of 0 (which means 'unknown').
    For example,
```
LPR Local Spool Threshold = laser:0
```
    says that files are sent directly to the printer.
  Note: Some LPD implementations do not deal correctly with a data file size of 0. (They assume that the print file is empty.) Do not set the spool threshold to 0 unless you are confident that the LPD at the other end can accept it. The LPD shipped with HP Netstation Software handles this situation correctly.
- LPR Spool Path = queue:path
  (where path is the directory that will contain spooled print files. By default, this is /opt/hpxt/enware2/spool) created during HP Netstation Software installation.
Optionally define additional print queues in the same way.
Reboot the Netstation.

Printing a File

You can print a file to a printer connected to a Netstation using much the same commands as you would on any UNIX system.

On HP-UX or IBM AIX Systems

To print a file, use: lp -dprintername filename

For example: lp -dxterm1par data.output

Note: To eliminate the -d option, make the local printer the default by typing one of the following command lines in the $HOME/.xsession or (for HP VUE users) $HOME/.vueprofile file:

For C shell, use: set lpdest=printername
For Korn shell and Bourne shell, use:
LPDEST=printername
export LPDEST

On a Sun System

To print a file, use:

lpr -Pprintcap_name
lp -dprintcap_name

Examples:

lpr -P700xpr data.output
lp -d700xpr data.output

To print PostScript files, you can use:
lpr -Pprintcap_name -h file
For example: lpr -P700xpr -h data.ps

How the Print Command Works

When you issue a print command using the print spooler, the hpnpf utility completes the print request.

Monitoring the Status of a Local Printer

HP Netstation Software 9.0 uses SNMP to identify a parallel printer attached to a Netstation and to report back whether the printer is out of paper, jammed or offline.

You can query the configuration and status of your parallel printer using any SNMP-supported printer utility (for example, JetAdmin). For more information on SNMP, refer to Using SNMP.