Printing to JetDirect Attached Printers: AIX 3.2.5 to 4.2.0

About this document

This document discusses configuring and troubleshooting related to printing to JetDirect attached printers. This information applies to AIX Version 3.2.5 through Version 4.2.0.

Prerequisites to configuring

AIX version 3.2.5 should be installed on the system. Previous versions of AIX do not support the Hewlett-Packard JetDirect feature; one exception is with AIX version 3.2.4 if a certain fix was installed. The fix (PTF) to allow use of the JetDirect with AIX version 3.2.4 is U435111.
A working knowledge of Ethernet, addressing, TCP/IP, and SMIT (System Management Interface Tool) is assumed.
The printer should be configured for network printing (that is, the JetDirect card should be physically installed and configured as necessary).
This document assumes that you are NOT setting up a JetDirect card with an "lpd" (RFC 1179) daemon running on the card. Check with Hewlett-Packard for model specifications.
This document assumes that your network is running TCP/IP protocol though you could be running multiprocotol (that is, Novell IPX in along with TCP/IP protocol).

Overview of configuration

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

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 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, "Setting the IP address for HP Printers", which can be found on the Hewlett Packard Web site.

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 system, the system server will recognize the network query (hardware address broadcast) generated by the card and will send the appropriate data to the card.

Important notes

The BOOTP/TFTP server cannot be across the gateway from the printer.
There should be only one machine on the network that acts as the BOOTP/TFTP server.
The JetDirect card really only supports ethernet; however, you should be able to use the card on a token ring set up with only minor modification. See Token Ring Setting.
If you are going across a router from the system to JetDirect printer AND if you are using BOOTP/TFTP to download IP address to the printer, YOU MUST make sure that the router is configured to allow bootp daemon to go across that particular router. (This is something you must configure; AIX support cannot help you with this!).

Steps to configure server

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

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

a. IP address for JetDirect card __________________________.
b. Hostname associated with IP address ____________________.
c. Hardware address of JetDirect card _____________________.
d. Network type (ethernet, token ring) ____________________.
e. Gateway address of network _____________________________.
f. Subnet Mask of network _________________________________.
g. Printer type (model, make) _____________________________.

Some of this data might or might not be used depending on your particular network set up and whether or not you want to set up your computer 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, we will use the following set up (refer to the letters in the preceding list for references to the following items):

a. 150.1.1.4
b. hp4
c. 080109463974
d. ethernet
e. 150.1.1.1
f. 255.255.255.0
g. HP LaserJet IV

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 system a BOOTP/TFTP server. Some things to consider at this point:

a. Were you able to enter the IP address of the printer at the site of the printer (front panel input)?
b. Is there another BOOTP/TFTP server on the same network?

Refer to the following decision help matrix:

   Questions
   a    b      Answers
   ---  ---     ----------------------------------------
   Yes  Yes     Up to you as to if you want to set up the
                JetDirect through a BOOTP/TFTP server or not.
                Note that if you choose to set the JetDirect
                through a BOOTP/TFTP server, then you must make
                sure the BOOTP/TFTP server on the same network
                is configured appropriately.
                        
                Suggestion:  Do NOT set this up as a BOOTP/TFTP
                server.  In STEP 6, choose option No. 2.
                        
   Yes  No      Same as above.
           
                Suggestion:  Do NOT set this up as a BOOTP/TFTP
                server.  In STEP 6, choose option No. 2.
                
   No   Yes     If the other BOOTP/TFTP server on the same 
                network is an IBM eServer pSeries or RS/6000, 
		you must be on that system
                to continue on with the steps.
                        
                Suggestion:  You really don't have a choice here
                but to set this up as a BOOTP/TFTP server.  In 
                STEP 6, choose option No. 1.
                        
                If the other BOOTP/TFTP server is not a pSeries or 
		RS/6000, then you must do what is appropriate on that system
                to configure the network data for the JetDirect
                down loading.
                        
                Suggestion:  Since the down loading of network 
                data is being done on the other machine, you don't
                need to set the system up as a BOOTP/TFTP server.
                In STEP 6, choose option No. 2.
   No   No      You don't have a choice here, you must set up the
                system to be a BOOTP/TFTP server since there is no
                other way to down load the network data to the
                JetDirect Card.
                        
                Suggestion:  Not really a suggestion.  In STEP 6, 
                you must choose option No. 1.

If you are setting up the system to be a BOOTP/TFTP server then you must do the following prior to proceeding to STEP 2. If you are not, then just ignore the following and proceed to STEP 2.
First, in /etc/inetd.conf file make sure "bootps" and "tftp" are not commented out; that is, the lines containing "bootps" and "tftp" should not begin with a "#" symbol (if the lines do begin with the "#" symbol, then you must erase the "#" from the lines).
Next, at the AIX command line type inetimp. This will redigest the "inetd.conf" into something that the system can use. You need to do this because you have just edited that file.
Finally, at the AIX command line type refresh -s inetd. This will cause the "inetd" daemon to refresh itself--that is, to reexamine the redigested "inetd.conf" file for the new information.

STEP 2. Make sure the printer has a valid hostname and IP address:

If you are using a nameserver, ensure that the printer's IP address is in the nameserver database.
If you are not using a nameserver, ensure that the printer's hostname and IP address are in the /etc/hosts file.
```
           Sample "/etc/hosts" entry:
 
                hp4          150.1.1.4
```
If the hardware permits, enter the IP address you have chosen for the printer onto the printer now (usually through the front panel of the printer).

STEP 3. Enter the following at the AIX command line:

mkvirprt
You will see the following menu screen (or something similar):

   ----------------------------------------------------------------
         No.    Description                                                     
   
         1      Printer or Plotter Attached to Host  
         2      Printer or Plotter Attached to Xstation  
         3      Printer or Plotter Attached to ASCII Terminal  
         4      Network Printer (Hewlett-Packard JetDirect)    
   Enter number from list above (press Enter to terminate):  -> 
   ----------------------------------------------------------------

STEP 4. Select No. 4 from the menu screen for "Network Printer (Hewlett-Packard JetDirect)" and press the "enter" key.

If the preceding option, No. 4, does not appear on the SMIT menu, then either AIX is not installed to the correct update level (3.2.5) or the system does not have all the necessary software installed. You cannot proceed unless you have No. 4 as an option. Check installation if you do not see the No. 4 option.

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

   ----------------------------------------------------------------
         Enter the printer hostname: --->
   ----------------------------------------------------------------

Enter the printer hostname at the prompt. For example, enter "hp4" (our printer's hostname) and press the Enter key.

STEP 6. The following menu will then be displayed:

   ----------------------------------------------------------------
        No.    BOOTP/TFTP Server 
        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.
Press the Enter key after you entered a number.
If you choose option No. 1, then go to STEP 7.
If you choose option No. 2, then skip to STEP 10.
NOTE: Choosing option No. 1 will cause the creation of an entry in the /etc/bootptab file for the particular printer.

STEP 7. After you choose option No. 2 and press the Enter key, the following prompt will appear:

           ----------------------------------------------------------------     
      
           Enter the hardware address for the JetDirect Card:   ->
           ----------------------------------------------------------------

Enter the hardware address and press the Enter key. For example, enter "080109463974" and then press the Enter key.

STEP 8. You should then see the following prompt:

           ----------------------------------------------------------------
           Enter the gateway ip address (or Enter for none):   ->
           ----------------------------------------------------------------

Enter the gateway IP address and press the Enter key. For example, enter "150.1.1.1" and then press the Enter key. If you don't have a gateway, then just press the Enter key.

STEP 9. You should then be prompted to enter the subnet mask:

           ----------------------------------------------------------------
           Enter the subnet mask (or Enter for none):   ->
           ----------------------------------------------------------------

Enter the subnet mask and press the Enter key. For example, enter "255.255.255.0" and then press the Enter key. If you don't have a subnet mask then just press the Enter key.

STEP 10. A menu should appear prompting for you to input the printer type. You can use the up/down arrow keys to scroll through the selections to find your particular type of printer. The menu screen will look something like this:

----------------------------------------------------------------           
     No.    Description                                                        
     1      IBM 2380 Personal Printer II  
     2      IBM 2381 Personal Printer II  
     3      IBM 2390 Personal Printer II  
     .      ...
     .      ...
     .      ...
     19     IBM 4212 Proprinter 24P  
     20     IBM 4216 Personal Page Printer, Model 031  
     21     IBM 4224 Printer, Models 301,302,3C2,3E3     [ 42 more ]
     Enter number from list above (press Enter to terminate):  ->
     ----------------------------------------------------------------

For example, if you have an "HP LaserJet IV", keep scrolling down (using down arrow key).

    ----------------------------------------------------------------
         No.    Description                                                     
   
         28     IBM 6184 Color Plotter                       [ 27 more ]
         29     IBM 6185-1 Color Plotter  
         30     IBM 6185-2 Color Plotter  
         .      ...
         .      ...
         .      ...
         38     Hewlett-Packard LaserJet III
         39     Hewlett-Packard LaserJet IIISi  
         40     Hewlett-Packard LaserJet 4  
         41     IBM 3930 Page Printer  
         42     Printronix P9012 Line Printer  
         43     Plotter  
         .      ...
         .      ...
         .      ...
    Enter number from list above (press Enter to terminate):  ->
    ----------------------------------------------------------------

For our demonstration, we would enter "40" at the prompt for Hewlett-Packard LaserJet 4 and then press the Enter key. STEP 11. The rest is just as if you were normally entering a virtual printer. With the preceding example, the following would occur (you would get something different depending on the printer type that you chose above in STEP 10):

You would first get a prompt asking for header pages:

    ----------------------------------------------------------------
                Hewlett-Packard LaserJet 4                         
    Header pages wanted?  (n=none; a=each file; g=each job):  -> (n)
    ----------------------------------------------------------------

Just press the Enter key since you want the default, "(n)". Next you get a prompt asking for trailer pages:

    ----------------------------------------------------------------            
    Trailer pages wanted? (n=none; a=each file; g=each job):  -> (n)
    ----------------------------------------------------------------

Again, just press the Enter key since you want the default. You then get the prompt for postscript virtual printer (Note that in both instances below, it is up to you what to name the queues and if you want to make them a default queue or not):

    ----------------------------------------------------------------
    NOTE:   The hplj-4 printer supports multiple print data streams.
            Each of the data streams will now be configured individually.
    --------------------  PostScript  --------------------
    Enter print queue name (or, ! to bypass configuration):   -> (ps)
    Should this queue be the default queue? -> (y)
    ----------------------------------------------------------------

For example, enter "hp4ps" (purely arbitrary and up to you) and then press the "enter" key twice. Next, a prompt for pcl virtual printer would come up since the printer type does support multiple data stream (again, yours might not):

    ----------------------------------------------------------------
    --------------------  PCL  --------------------
    Enter print queue name (or, ! to bypass configuration):   -> (pcl)
    Should this queue be the default queue? -> (y)
    ----------------------------------------------------------------

For example, enter "hp4pcl" (again, purely arbitrary) and then press the Enter key. For the default question, enter "n" and then press the Enter key since in the preceding example the previous queue was chosen to be the default.
After all this, you should get the AIX command prompt. You should now be ready to print. Try running a "lpstat" command at the AIX command prompt to make sure that everything is "READY".

Troubleshooting tips/diagnostics

If the job sits in the queue with status "RUNNING" ("lpstat" command will show status) and does not print, the JetDirect card is probably not booted up and never received tftp packets.
Common cause:
- Faulty cables or unterminated ethernet lines. If you have any other hosts on the same net, verify that they can still communicate with no errors. Check cables and termination.
Can you ping the hostname? Can you ping the TCP/IP address of the hostname? Check the IP address of the printer by printing out a test page to see if the IP address is indeed there on the printer. Then check to see if the IP address is the same as the one you have in the /etc/hosts file.
If you can ping the hostname, then try:
- telnet hostname 9100

What you type should get sent to the printer. This is an example telnet session that printed to the printer.

           mod590 /etc # telnet 150.1.1.4 9100
           Trying...
           Connected to 150.1.1.4.
           Escape character is '^]'.
           Hey guys, this is going to print!!!
           ^]
           telnet> quit
           Connection closed.

This printed out "Hey guys, this is going to print!!!" at the printer.
If printing out the test sheet and the IP address and subnet mask are blank, then the card has not been configured. Find the area under TCP/IP labeled bootp. It should say bootp in progress. This means that the card is sending out boot packets but is not getting packets back from the system. Unless there is a problem with the packets that the Jet Direct card is sending, this means that the system is not acknowledging the packets and sending replies.
Common cause:
The hardware address was entered incorrectly. You can verify the hardware address by examining the file /etc/bootptab. The "ha" field should match the hardware address printed out in the test page. If this is incorrect, then change as appropriate. Then at the AIX command line, type "inetimp" to redigest file and then type "refresh -s inetd" to refresh "inetd" daemon. Turn off/on printer (if card inside printer) or turn off/on the JetDirect box (if external). If this does not work, then remove the entry from /etc/bootptab file and perform all the preceding steps in this document starting with STEP 3.
If the above still did not work, then try running "bootpd" daemon in debug mode. Do the following:
- a. Comment out the "bootps" line in /etc/inetd.conf file.
- b. Redigest /etc/inetd.conf again with "inetimp".
- c. Refresh "inetd" daemon with "refresh -s inetd".
- d. At AIX command line, type "bootpd -d -d -d -d -s".
- e. Turn off/on printer (if internal card) or turn off/on the JetDirect box (if external). This will cause the hardware broadcast to start up.
If all goes well you should see something like this:
- bootpd: bootptab mtime is Wed Oct 19 13:21:23 1994
- bootpd: reading "/etc/bootptab"
- bootpd: read 1 entries from "/etc/bootptab"
- bootpd: dumped 1 entries to "/etc/bootpd.dump".
Then hopefully you'll see something like this:
- bootpd: bootptab mtime is Wed Oct 19 13:21:23 1994
- bootpd: request from hardware address 080109463974
- bootpd: hardware address not found: 080109463974
- bootpd: Dats all folks...
If you don't see this or if nothing else comes up, the system is not seeing any hardware broadcast across the network. You have a definite hardware problem on the network. Check your network connections and settings.
If you see the preceding, then the third line, "bootpd: hardware address not found: "080109463974", is indicating that you do not have an entry in the /etc/bootptab file for the particular hardware address. Check your file for the proper entry. Also check for other entries that are outdated/unused and delete them.
Make sure your subnet mask is set correctly. If your subnet mask is 255.255.255.0 then you don't need an entry for "sm=255.255.255.0" since this is assumed. However, if your subnet mask is different--for example, 255.255.0.0--then you definitely need an entry "sm=255.255.0.0" in your /etc/bootptab file for the printer in question. You can use the "ifconfig <network type>" command to figure out your network mask. For example, "ifconfig en0":
en0: flags=2000063<UP,BROADCAST,NOTRAILERS,RUNNING,NOECHO>
inet 150.1.1.1 netmask 0xffff0000 broadcast 150.1.255.255
Note the subnet mask of 255.255.0.0 in this example.
You could see a certain error from running bootpd.
bind fail::socket name already in use
bootpd:bind:

This error is saying that you have another bootpd process running on your system. Do a "ps -ef | grep bootp" to get the PID of the bootp process presently running and do a "kill -9 PID" to get rid of the process. Then retry the bootp in debug mode again.
Also note that with the external JetDirect box EX model, there is an indicator LED light called "Fault". If this light is on or is blinking, then you have a hardware problem with the JetDirect. Please call Hewlett-Packard for hardware help.
Some printers accept more than one interface, serial or parallel. Be sure that you have the interface set to the one that you are using. This is especially true with the external JetDirect.
If you are having problems getting the printer working with the BOOTP/TFTP server, try attaching the printer DIRECTLY to the Ethernet card in the machine. After you get that working, set up the printer to use the machine as the BOOTP/TFTP server.

Caveats

To conserve resources, bootpd exits if it receives no request for 15 minutes. It will restart when another request is received. Therefore, you will not see it running all the time.
Removing the virtual printer will not clean up the entry in bootptab or the device file in /var/spool/lpd/pio/dev. You must delete these yourself.

JetDirect card resets printer between jobs

A customer did the following:

sent a control setup file to the printer
sent a file to use the control file settings

The file didn't use the control file settings.

This is caused because the HP JetDirect card resets between each job. This is necessary because the card is multiprotocol and must reset to be ready for the next job.

Token Ring setting

There is only one thing you need to do when you are using a token ring network: change the "ht" variable in "/etc/bootptab" for your particular entry to "tr"; that is, "ht=tr". This is only done once you have finished ALL the steps.
Example of the setting in /etc/bootptab using our demonstration example as token ring instead of ethernet:

       ---------------------------------------------------------------- 
  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

first field -- hostname (may be full domain name and probably should be)
hd -- home directory EF=http://www.flash.net/~laixsoft/
sa -- boot server IP address
gw -- gateways
ha -- hardware address
ht -- hardware type
ip -- host IP address
sm -- subnet mask
tc -- template host (points to similar host entry)
hn -- name switch
bs -- boot image size

Printing to JetDirect Attached Printers: AIX 3.2.5 to 4.2.0: ITEM: FAX
Dated: 2000/12/11~00:00 Category: zap
This HTML file was generated 2001/03/08~16:06:19
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Printing to JetDirect Attached Printers: AIX 3.2.5 to 4.2.0

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