Adding Parallel Printers at AIX 4 and 5

Answer

This document describes how to configure a printer device and one or more print queues. Use this procedure to connect a printer directly to a parallel port on the local host.

This document applies to AIX Versions 4 and 5.

NOTE: If you only want to configure a printer without adding a print queue, do not use this procedure. See the section "Configuring a printer without adding a queue" in this document.

Prerequisites

1. Read the documentation for your printer. Printer-specific information may be needed to connect and configure the printer.

2. A parallel port must be available on the system.
   # lsdev -Cc printer | grep 0P will show if a printer is already attached.

3. You must have root authority.

Configuring a local printer and adding a queue

1. Connect the printer to the local host by performing the following steps:
   • Use the shutdown command to halt the system.
   • Turn off the system and any external devices.
   • Connect the printer to the appropriate parallel port with a supported cable of less than or equal to six feet.
   • Set up your printer as described in the printer documentation.
   • Restart the system.

2. Enter the SMIT fastpath:
   • smit mkpq

3. Select the attachment type local.

4. Select the manufacturer of the printer.
   If the manufacturer of your printer is not listed,
   • select a supported printer with similar characteristics or
   • select Other to use a generic printer definition.

5. Select the printer model.
   If your printer model is not listed,
   • select a supported printer with similar characteristics or
   • select Other to use a generic printer definition.
     If you select a generic printer definition, you will get a no printer initialization string generated before a print job. As a result, print flags such as setting pitch and page orientation will have no effect.

6. If prompted, select the Add NEW Printer option.
   If you already have a printer added, select the device to which you want to add the queue.
   
   • lp0 IBM 4029 LaserPrinter

7. Select the type of printer interface.
   • parallel

8. Select the parent adapter.
   • ppa0 Available 00-00-0P Standard I/O Parallel Port Adapter

9. Fill in queue names in the following screen (number and type of emulation will vary based on printer type selected):

                                  Add a Print Queue
   Type or select values in entry fields.
   Press Enter AFTER making all desired changes.
     
                                                           [Entry Fields]        
     Description                                         IBM 4029 LaserPrinter   
     
     Names of NEW print queues to add
        ASCII                                           [ascpp0]
        GL Emulation                                    
   [glpp0]                       
        PCL Emulation                                   
   [pclpp0]                       
        PostScript                                      
   [pspp0]                       
        IBM 5587 G01 Japanese Data Stream Emulation by  []
     4029
     
     Printer connection characteristics                                          
   *    PORT number                                     [p]                      +
        Type of PARALLEL INTERFACE                      [standard]               +
        Printer TIME OUT period (seconds)               [600]                    +#
        STATE to be configured at boot time              available
   

   NOTE: If the printer supports more than one type of print data, such as PostScript and ASCII, enter a print queue name for each print data type.

10. Review and change the remaining attributes as necessary.

11. Select Do or hit the Enter key to add the printer.

12. When the printer and print queues have been created successfully, their names are displayed. Be sure to note any error messages.

13. Select Exit and then enter the SMIT fastpath to customize the new printer attributes.

Testing the print queue

To test the print queue make sure you use a file that is appropriate for the printer you have attached. If you are testing an ASCII text or PCL queue, one of the following commands is recommended:

• lptest 10 10 | qprt -P <queue>
• enq -P<queue> /etc/motd
• lptest 10 10 > /dev/lp2 (use correct lp number)

If you are testing a printer that prints only PostScript or HPGL, print a known good file or use the following commands:

• lptest 10 10 | enscript -d<psqueue>
  qprt -Ban -P<ps_queue> /usr/lib/lpd/pio/burst/H.ps

With HPGL it is best to use a known good file.

Troubleshooting parallel port problems

1. Defective parallel cable

2. Parallel cable longer than six feet

3. Printer setup for serial rather than parallel-common on proprinters and HPLJ III

4. Delay setting for older parallel printers and plotters-a common symptom being initial printing is fine, after a moment though, data is lost

Setting the Delay for Parallel Port Printing

The handshaking on the parallel port is quite simple but depends on the printer receiving the data within a set period of time after the data has been shown as READY. There is a single SMIT setting for this.

1. smitty printer

2. Choose Printer Plotter Devices

3. Choose Change / Show Characteristics of a Printer/Plotter

4. Choose lp0 Available 00-00-0P-00 IBM 4029 LaserPrinter

5. The next screen will show:

                  Change / Show Characteristics of a Printer/Plotter
   Type or select values in entry fields.
   Press Enter AFTER making all desired changes.
     
   [TOP]                                                   [Entry Fields]
     Printer/Plotter                                     lp0
     Printer/Plotter type                                ibm4029
     Printer/Plotter interface                           parallel
     Description                                         IBM 4029 LaserPrinter
     Status                                              Available
     Location                                            00-00-0P-00
     Parent adapter                                      ppa0
   * PORT number                                        [p]                      +
     Type of PARALLEL INTERFACE                         [standard]               +
     Microseconds to delay between characters           [0]  
     Printer TIME OUT period                            [600]                    +#
     STATUS of device at BOOT time                       available               +
     
   

6. Change Microseconds to delay between characters to 100-500

Configuring a printer without adding a queue

The procedure for adding a printer without adding an AIX print queue differs slightly from the preceding discussion. This is the case, for example, if you are using a third party print spooler or if you are using applications that print directly to a device file.

Following are the steps to add a printer without adding a print queue.

1. Use the smitty mkprt fastpath.

2. Choose Add a Printer/Plotter.

3. Select the Printer/Plotter Type.

4. Choose the Printer/Plotter Interface.

5. Choose the PORT number.

6. Modify any serial attributes.

7. Press the Enter key to add the printer.

This will add a device file in /dev such as /dev/lp24.

Testing

Example:

  lptest 10 10 > /dev/lp24
  cat /etc/hosts > /dev/lp24

To look at the configurations or make temporary changes to the device configuration use:

# splp lp24
device = /dev/lp24      (+ yes     ! no)
CURRENT FORMATTING PARAMETERS (ignored by qprt, lpr, and lp commands)
Note: -p + causes the other formatting parameters to be ignored.
-p !    pass-through?                   -c +    send carriage returns?
-l 64   page length (lines)             -n +    send line feeds?
-w 80   page width (columns)            -r +    carriage rtn after line feed?
-i 0    indentation (columns)           -t !    suppress tab expansion?
-W !    wrap long lines?                -b +    send backspaces?
-C !    convert to upper case?          -f +    send form feeds?
CURRENT ERROR PROCESSING PARAMETERS
-T 30   timeout value (seconds)         -e !    return on error?

To print postscript to this file you may need to set the printer to passthrough mode using:

splp -p+