AIX Printer Tips: HP JetDirect and JetDirect Ex3 Printing in AIX 4.2.1 and Later

AIX Printer Tips: HP JetDirect and JetDirect Ex3 Printing in AIX 4.2.1 and Later

Contents

About This Document

This document contains instructions for configuring and troubleshooting HP JetDirect and JetDirect Ex3 printers in AIX 4.2.1 and later.

Prerequisites to Configuring

Overview Of Configuration

The JetDirect card requires network configuration data (such as the card's IP address and subnet mask) each time the printer is powered on in order to communicate with the host system over the network.

The card can get this data either from a BOOTP/TFTP server on the network or from parameters entered manually from the front panel on the printer and saved in nonvolatile memory on the card. The method of attaining an IP address for the card is dependent on type of card (external box, like the EX model, or internal card) and the type of printer. When shipped from the factory, the card is set to get network configuration data from the network (BOOTP/TFTP server).

The method of setting the ip addresses is described in the technical document AIX Printer Tips: Setting the IP Address for HP Printers.

If you cannot manually configure the card to accept the IP address from the front panel of the printer, then to get configuration data from the network, the BOOTP/TFTP server must be configured. When BOOTP/TFTP is configured on the RS/6000, the RS/6000 server will recognize the network query (hardware address broadcast) generated by the card and will send the appropriate data to the card.

Important Notes

Steps to Configure Server

Follow these steps on the RS/6000. These steps will configure the RS/6000 to use the JetDirect printer and will, if necessary, make the RS/6000 a BOOTP/TFTP server.

Have the following data written down and available prior to beginning (get this information NOW):

Some of this data might or might not be used depending on your particular network setup and whether or not you want to set up your RS/6000 as a BOOTP/TFTP server. For instance, you might not be going through a gateway, in which case you will not have an entry for the gateway address.

For demonstration purposes, use the following set up (refer to the letters in the preceding list for references to the items below):

NOTE: The hardware address may be attained by printing out a test page on your printer once the JetDirect card is connected to your printer. Check the printer and JetDirect card manual for instructions on how to do this. The entry on the test page should look something like this: "LAN HW Address". Usually, the JetDirect card will also have the hardware address written on it. Make a note of the fact that the test page will also indicate that there is NOT an IP address presently on the card unless you have already entered one through the front panel.

STEP 1. To BOOTP/TFTP or not; deciding whether or not to make the RS/6000 a BOOTP/TFTP server. Some things to consider at this point:

STEP 2. Make sure the printer has a valid hostname and IP address: STEP 3. Entering the following at the AIX command line:
   ----------------------------------------------------------------
                         Add a Print Queue

  Move cursor to desired item and press Enter.  Use arrow keys to scroll.

     #  ATTACHMENT TYPE      DESCRIPTION
        local                Printer Attached to Local Host
        remote               Printer Attached to Remote Host
        ascii                Printer Attached to ASCII Terminal
        hpJetDirect          Network Printer (HP JetDirect)
        file                 File (in /dev directory)
        ibmNetPrinter        IBM Network Printer\
        other                User Defined Backend

  F1=Help                 F2=Refresh              F3=Cancel
  8=Image                F10=Exit                Enter=Do
  /=Find                  n=Find Next
   ----------------------------------------------------------------

STEP 4. Select hpJetDirect Network Printer (HP JetDirect) and press the "enter" key.

STEP 5. The following prompt will appear on the screen once you have chosen No. 4 and press the "enter" key:

   ----------------------------------------------------------------
                           Printer Type

   Move cursor to desired item and press Enter.

     Bull
     Canon
     Dataproducts
     Hewlett-Packard
     IBM
     Lexmark
     OKI
     Printronix
     QMS
     Texas Instruments
     Other (Select this if your printer type is not listed above)
  F1=Help                 F2=Refresh              F3=Cancel
  F8=Image                F10=Exit                Enter=Do
  /=Find                  n=Find Next
   ---------------------------------------------------------------- 
  • Select the printer manufacturer and press Enter.

    STEP 6. The following menu will then be displayed (for example, after choosing HP):

       ---------------------------------------------------------------- 
                                  Printer Type
    
      Move cursor to desired item and press Enter.
    
        hplj-2    Hewlett-Packard LaserJet II
        hplj-3    Hewlett-Packard LaserJet III
        hplj-3si  Hewlett-Packard LaserJet IIISi
        hplj-4+   Hewlett-Packard LaserJet 4 Plus
        hplj-4si  Hewlett-Packard LaserJet 4Si 
        hplj-4v   Hewlett-Packard LaserJet 4V
        hplj-5si  Hewlett-Packard LaserJet 5Si/5Si MX
        Other (Select this if your printer type is not listed above)
       ----------------------------------------------------------------
    

    STEP 7. The following menu will then be displayed:

       ----------------------------------------------------------------
                          BOOTP/TFTP Server 
    
        Move the cursor to desired item and press Enter
    
         1.  Make this system a BOOTP/TFTP server  
         2.  Do NOT make this system a BOOTP/TFTP server  
    
       Enter number from list above (press Enter to terminate):  ->
       ---------------------------------------------------------------- 
    
    
  • From STEP 1, enter the number as appropriate to your situation.

    STEP 8 with bootp. After you choose option No. 1 and press the "enter" key, the following prompt will appear:
      ----------------------------------------------------------------           
                              Add a Print Queue
    
      Type or select values in entry fields.
      Press Enter AFTER making all desired changes.
    
                              
                                                    [Entry Fields]
      Description                                 Hewlett-Packard LaserJet 5Si/5Si 
    MX
    
      Names of NEW print queues to add
        PCL                                             [hp5pcl]
        PostScript                                      [hp5ps]
        HP-GL/2                                         []
    
      Printer connection characteristics
    *    HOSTNAME of the JetDirect Card                 [hpprt3.aix.dfw.ibm.com]
    *    HARDWARE ADDRESS of the JetDirect Card         [080109463974]
    *    NETWORK INTERFACE                              Ethernet
    *    PORT                                           [9101]  
         GATEWAY ADDRESS                                [9.19.169.202]     
         SUBNET MASK                                    [255.255.240.0]
    
    F1=Help                     F2=Refresh                  F3=Cancel               
        F4=List  
    F5=Reset                    F6=Command                  F7=Edit                 
        F8=Image 
    F9=Shell                    F10=Exit                    Enter=Do
      ----------------------------------------------------------------
    

    STEP 8 without bootp After you choose option No. 2 and press "enter", the following screen will appear.

      ----------------------------------------------------------------           
                              Add a Print Queue
    
      Type or select values in entry fields.
      Press Enter AFTER making all desired changes.
    
                              
                                                    [Entry Fields]
      Description                                 Hewlett-Packard LaserJet 5Si/5Si 
    MX
    
      Names of NEW print queues to add
        PCL                                             [hp5pcl]
        PostScript                                      [hp5ps]
        HP-GL/2                                         []
    
      Printer connection characteristics
    *    HOSTNAME of the JetDirect Card                 [hpprt3.aix.dfw.ibm.com]
    *    PORT                                           [9102]  
    
    F1=Help                     F2=Refresh                  F3=Cancel               
        F4=List  
    F5=Reset                    F6=Command                  F7=Edit                 
        F8=Image 
    F9=Shell                    F10=Exit                    Enter=Do
      ----------------------------------------------------------------
    

    Troubleshooting Tips/Diagnostics

    Caveats

    JetDirect Card Resets Printer Between Jobs

    A customer did the following:

    1. sent a control setup file to the printer
    2. sent a file to use the control file settings
    The file didn't use the control file settings.

    Token Ring Settings

           ---------------------------------------------------------------- 
      hp4:ht=tr:ha=080109463974:ip=150.1.1.4:sm=255.255.255.0:gw=150.1.1.1:
           ----------------------------------------------------------------
    

    Legend for "/etc/bootptab" File


    HP JetDirect and JetDirect Ex3 Printing in AIX 4.2.1 and Later: AIX Printer Tips: jetd421.html ITEM: FAX
    Dated: 99/03/10~00:00 Category: zap
    This HTML file was generated 99/06/24~12:42:08
    Comments or suggestions? Contact us