Re: Printing to networked printers?

[Paul Goyette <paul%whooppee.com@localhost>]

On Thu, 20 Jul 2017, jgw%sdf.org@localhost wrote:

> I've been using a crusty old HPLJ PCL-only printer for years with
> the following setup:
>
> --
> The following was done to enable traditional lpd-based printing on NetBSD:
> (note: you'll need to install ghostscript for PostScript printing)
>
> 1) create /etc/printcap entry:
>
> # sudoedit /etc/printcap
> ...
> # HP Laserjet 2100 on HP JetDirect print server on LAN @ 192.168.1.12:
> lp|hplj-2100:\
>        :sh:\
>        :sd=/var/spool/output/lpd/hplj-2100:\
>        :rm=192.168.1.12:\
>        :rp=PORT1:\
>        :lf=/var/log/lpd-errs:\
>        :lp=/dev/null:\
>        :if=/usr/local/lib/if-hplj_2100:\
>        :mx#0:

Hmmm.  You're using :rm=192.168.1.12: and :rp=PORT1: rather than my use 
of :lp=9100@192.168.1.250: (and you're using the -r option on lpd to 
allow the use of an input filter on the remote printer).  I understand 
what you're doing, but I'm pretty sure it's not related to my problems, 
as I have confirmed with tcpdump that I'm successfully sending data to 
the printer via port 9100.  Just in case, I tried  using rm&rp but still 
I get nothing printed.  "lpc stat" shows that the job is still in the 
queue, "waiting for 192.168.1.250 to come up" - I had to manually kill 
the process that was waiting for the printer to recover.

> 2) create input filter /usr/local/lib/if-hplj_2100:
>
> # sudoedit /usr/local/lib/if-hplj_2100
>
>  #!/bin/sh
>  #  ifhp - Print Ghostscript-simulated PostScript on a HP LaserJet 2100
>  # -- revisions --
>  # swapped "lj5gray" for "ljet4" for higher (1200 dpi) resolution option
>  # swapped "ljet4" for "pxlmono" due to papersize problems
>  # ---------------
>  #
>  # For plain-text files:
>  printf "\033&k2G" || exit 2

The magicfilter sends "\033E\033&k2G\033(0N" as a prefix, and "\033E" as 
suffix - I have no idea what any of this means!  :)  I tried to use your 
prefix but still no output on the printer.

>  # For PS files:
>  IFS=""
>  read -r first_line
>  first_two_chars=`expr "$first_line" : '\(..\)'`
>
>  if [ "$first_two_chars" = "%!" ]; then
>       exec 3>&1 1>&2
>       /usr/pkg/bin/gs -dSAFER -dNOPAUSE -dBATCH -dQUIET -q -sDEVICE=lj5gray \
>           -sOutputFile=/dev/fd/3 -sLETTERSIZE=letter -_ && exit 0
>  else
>       # For PCL files:
>       echo "$first_line" && cat && printf "\033&l0H" && exit 0
>  fi

What do you use to handle .pdf files (first-four-chars = "%PDF") ?  :)

>  exit 2
>
> 2.1) ..and set the proper permissions:
>
> # sudo chmod 755 /usr/local/lib/if-hplj_2100
>
>
> 3) create spool file /var/spool/output/lpd/hplj-2100:
>
> # sudo mkdir /var/spool/output/lpd/hplj-2100

Spool directory is already there.

> 4) enable lpd in /etc/rc.conf:
>
> # sudoedit /etc/rc.conf
> ...
> # enable Line Printer Daemon:
> lpd=YES	  lpd_flags="-lrs"    # -s use secure domain only
>                              # -r allow print filters
>                              # -l enable logging

did that


> 5) start lpd daemon:
> # sudo /etc/rc.d/lpd start

Did that, too.

> --
>
> I've also experimented with "raw" printing using ncat(1) plus gs(1) if
> printing a PS/PDF file):
>
> % cat cat_sitter.ps | /usr/local/lib/if\-hplj_2100 | ncat 192.168.1.12 9100
>
> This works pretty well for occasional use.
>
>
> Lastly, some HP printers have an FTP server running where you can basically
> just upload a file and the file prints.  Mine does and will print plain text
> and PCL files just fine that way.
>
> Hope this helps,

It was a good try, but unfortunately it did not help.  I'm still using 
the old laptop for printing.

Thanks for trying.



+------------------+--------------------------+----------------------------+
| Paul Goyette     | PGP Key fingerprint:     | E-mail addresses:          |
| (Retired)        | FA29 0E3B 35AF E8AE 6651 | paul at whooppee dot com   |
| Kernel Developer | 0786 F758 55DE 53BA 7731 | pgoyette at netbsd dot org |
+------------------+--------------------------+----------------------------+