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    NetportExpress(TM) XL/EL Print Servers: Hardware Compatibility

    Contents:

    • PRINTERS AND PLOTTERS
    • SERIAL CABLE PINOUT FOR INTERFACING WITH HP LASERJET* 4 PLUS
    • SERIAL CABLE WITH HP PRINTER OR DRAFTPRO PLOTTER
    • SERIAL CABLE WITH APPLE LASERWRITER
    • GENERIC SERIAL CABLE
    • OTHER HUBS/CONCENTRATORS
    • BRIDGES
    • ROUTERS
    
    

    PRINTERS AND PLOTTERS

    
       As a rule of thumb, NetportExpress(TM) print server is compatible with
    
       any Centronics standard parallel printer or RS-232 interface serial
    
       printer.  If your printer is not listed, it does not mean it is not
    
       compatible, it just has not been specifically tested.  Below are some of
    
       the printers we have tested:
    
    
    
            Hewlett-Packard LaserJet II, IIp III, IIId, IIIp IIIsi, 4
    
            HP DeskJet 500 Plus
    
            Apple LaserWriter NTX or NT
    
            Compaq Pagemark 20
    
            DFX 5000
    
            QMS PS810
    
            QMS PS1500
    
            IBM Proprinter
    
            IBM Laserprinter 10L
    
            Okidata 320
    
            Okidata Microline 520*
    
    
    
       Note:     One of the most common problems is the printer cable.  If you
    
       are having problems printing, check your printer cable.  A faulty or too
    
       long cable can cause problems, from a few random garbage characters to
    
       nothing printing out. The NetportExpress server supports parallel
    
       printer cables no longer than 6 feet.  This means a cable over 6 feet
    
       that works correctly on a PC may not work on a NetportExpress server. 
    
       Also, in some cases a slower printer may require setting the parallel
    
       port to "Low Speed Centronics".  This can be done in the "Box and Port
    
       Settings" of NPAdmin (XL only), or "Netport Hardware" in Netport
    
       Manager.
    
    
    
       Plotters:
    
       Hewlett-Packard DraftPro 7570
    
       Hewlett-Packard 7475A
    
    
    
       Apple Laserwriter* II NT
    
    
    
       Symptom
    
       When printing to a Apple Laserwriter II NT Printer via the Netport(R)
    
       print server (serial interface) the upper 128 characters may misprint. 
    
       These upper 128 character misprints will usually be displayed by special
    
       characters being printed as something else.  
    
    
    
       Description
    
       The Apple Laserwriter II NT by default is configured for "SPACE"  parity
    
       which does not enable the upper 128 characters.   By using "MARK" parity
    
       the full character set is obtainable. 
    
    
    
       Solution
    
       Obtain the "LWSET"  file. Then copy this to the printer (apple
    
       environment) or copy / print  this file to the printer (dos
    
       environment).  The file "LWSET" reconfigures the printer via the
    
       PostScript* options and enables mark parity. The file is available
    
       through Intel's online services.
    
    
    
       The file contains:
    
    
    
       ---------------------------------------------------
    
    
    
       serverdict begin 0 exitserver
    
       sttusdict begin 25 9600 71 setsccbatch
    
       "control-d"
    
       ---------------------------------------------------
    
    
    
       Explanation of these three lines:   The first line "serverdict begin 0
    
       exitserverdict" is a postscript specific command that enables changes
    
       (persistent parameters) to be written to the printer. 
    
    
    
       There are two type of prameters that can be written, persistent and
    
       volatile.  The persistent prameters are permanent (printer may be
    
       power-cycled without losing the new configuration).
    
    
    
       The "0" zero in the "serverdict begin"  line is the default password. 
    
       It can be changed to any value but remember what it's changed to. 
    
       Suggestion - leave the password at "0" zero.
    
    
    
       The actual parameters are contained in the "statusdict begin 25 9600 71
    
       setsccbatch" line.
    
    
    
       The "statusdict begin" enables the changing of parameters.  The "25 9600
    
       71" are part of the "setsccbatch"  parameter which are used for
    
       communications prams.
    
    
    
       Specifically - "25" indicates the RS-232 Port
    
                           "9600" indicates the baud rate
    
                           "71" indicates MARK parity
    
    
    
       The third line contains one character only which indicates the end end
    
       of job .  This character (on third line by it's self, the diamond) is
    
       the "CTRL-D" character (end the job).
    
    
    
       Apple Laserwriter II
    
    
    
       This printer works fine with NetportExpress server through the serial
    
       interface.  Printer switches must be set so that SW1 is DOWN and SW2
    
       DOWN.  Other settings can be set as you wish.
    
    
    
       NetPort serial port should be configured to: 96,n,8,1,X or D,120,200.
    
    
    
       The Apple manual says to use 7 data bits, but that setting doesn't work
    
       with NetportExpress server.  You must use 8 data bits.
    
    
    
       LaserWriter Switch Settings
    
    
    
       SW1 up   & SW2 up:    LocalTalk enabled
    
       SW1 down & SW2 up:    Serial port enabled at 1200 baud
    
       SW1 up   & SW2 down:  Serial port enabled 9600 baud (RS-232 &
    
                              RS-422)
    
       SW1 down & SW2 down:  Serial port enabled 9600 baud (RS-232 only)
    
       SW3 up   & SW4 up:    postscript batch
    
       SW3 down & SW4 up:    Diablo 530
    
    
    
       SW3 down & SW4 down:  H/P laserjet
    
       SW3 up   & SW4 down:  postscript interactive
    
       SW5 down & SW6 down:  XON/XOFF
    
       SW5 up   & SW6 up:    XON/XOFF (yes, this is correct)
    
       SW5 down & SW6 up:    Etx/Ack
    
       SW5 up   & SW6 down:  DSR
    
    
    
    

    SERIAL CABLE PINOUT FOR INTERFACING WITH HP LASERJET* 4 PLUS

    
       HP indicates the serial cable is DB-9 to DB-9.  Pinouts as follows:
    
    
    
       DB-9 (NetPort server)       DB-9 (HP Laserjet 4 Plus)
    
       Pin 2                       Pin 2
    
       Pin 3                       Pin 3
    
       Pin 4                       Pin 4
    
       Pin 5                       Pin 5
    
       Pin 6                       Pin 6
    
       Pin 8                       Pin 8
    
    
    
    

    SERIAL CABLE WITH HP PRINTER OR DRAFTPRO PLOTTER

    
       The following serial cable has been tested and will work with the
    
       NetportExpress(TM) XL and the HP LaserJet* series printers & plotters:
    
    
    
       DB-9 (NetPort server)       DB-25 (HP LaserJet)
    
       DCD 1                        4 RTS
    
       RXD 2                        2 TXD
    
       TXD 3                        3 RXD
    
       DTR 4                        5 CTS & 6 DSR
    
       GRN 5                        7 GND
    
       DSR 6 & CTS 8               20 DTR
    
       RTS 7                        8 DCD
    
    
    
    

    SERIAL CABLE WITH APPLE LASERWRITER

    
       The following serial cable has been tested and will work with the
    
       NetportExpress(TM) XL print server and the Apple LaserWriter printers:
    
    
    
       NPX                         LaserWriter
    
       RXD 2                        2 TXD
    
       TXD 3                        3 RXD
    
       DTR 4                        4 RTD
    
       GND 5                        1 GND & 7 GND
    
       DSR 6 & CTS 8               20 DTR
    
       RTS 7                        5 CST & 6 DSR
    
    
    
    

    GENERIC SERIAL CABLE

    
       The following serial cable is a generic RS-232 serial cable and will
    
       work with the NetportExpress(TM) XL print server and many standard
    
       printers:
    
    
    
       DB-9 (NetPort server)       DB-25 (serial printer)
    
       RXD 2                        2 TXD
    
       TXD 3                        3 RXD
    
       GND 5                        7 GND
    
    
    
       DSR 6 & CTS 8               20 DTR
    
       RTS 7                        5 CTS & 6 DSR
    
    
    
    

    OTHER HUBS/CONCENTRATORS

    
       Cabletron Hubs/Concentrators have been tested and are compatible.
    
       Hewlett-Packard 48 port Hubs have been tested and are compatible.
    
       Synoptics Hubs/Concentrators that are 10BaseT compliant have been tested
    
       and are compatible.
    
    
    
    

    BRIDGES

    
       The NetportExpress(TM) print server is compatible over network bridges
    
       including Source Routing bridges on Token Ring.
    
    
    
       A bridge connects two networks together.  The hardware for each network
    
       can be the same or different.
    
    
    
       Example:
    
       Network_A (Token Ring hardware) connected via a bridge to network_B
    
       (thin-wire Ethernet hardware). 
    
    
    
       Note:     Both networks must be running under Novell NetWare.  Connect
    
       the NetportExpress print server to the thin-wire Ethernet side.  Then,
    
       because of the bridge connecting the two LANs, users on either network
    
       can utilize printers connected to the NetportExpress print server.
    
    
    
    

    ROUTERS

    
       The NetportExpress(TM) print server is compatible through a router.
    
    
    
       Through the use of a filter, a router can limit traffic on a network by
    
       restricting unnecessary packets to a particular LAN segment.  This
    
       filter could be the cause of a NetportExpress print server not being
    
       accessible to all users on the network.  Care must be taken when
    
       designing these filters to ensure complete accessibility to the
    
       NetportExpress print server's printers.
    
    
    
       Note:     The Cisco Router AGS+ must be running v9.15 or greater of the
    
       software.
    
    

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