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