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This article is from a FAQ concerning SCO operating systems. While some of the information may be applicable to any OS, or any Unix or Linux OS, it may be specific to SCO Xenix, Open Desktop or Openserver.

There is lots of Linux, Mac OS X and general Unix info elsewhere on this site: Search this site is the best way to find anything.

Printing FAQ

How do I install a HP Network Printer or Print Server?

There are several ways to add the printer. First, you can use the HP Printer Manager: scoadmin HP Network Printer Manager

Before running this, add the printer name/ip address to /etc/hosts or DNS if you are not using BOOTP. If you are using BOOTP, choice 2 on the HP menu lets you add the configuration to /etc/bootptab (or you can do it manually). You need the MAC address of the printer or print server- that's the number that looks like 00:00:C6:00:3C:7F. Reboot the printer/server and print out its configuration sheet so that you can confirm that it got its IP address after doing this.

Choice 6 on the menu adds the printer to the spool system. It's generally best to use the same name throughout: if you've called the printer "hpprinter", then make that the spooler name also. Choose "HPLaserJet" as the model (note where that uses capital letters!). If you need to make adjustments to the interface, you'll find it in /usr/spool/lp/admins/lp/interfaces/model.orig with the spooler name you chose. The HP script calls the script in model.orig, and also saves log files in /tmp/ using the (printerspoolername).$$ and /tmp/hpnpf.$$ ($$ is the current PID). Those logs are automatically removed if the interface is successful- otherwise, look for them in /tmp.

Anytime you have a lot of files in a directory and just need to see what has been added or used most recently, try:

 ls -lut | head
 
 

You can also print to HP printers using "netcat". I usually just use a copy the "network" printer script for that: go to /usr/spool/lp/model and copy "network" to some other name ("hpprinter"). Edit "hpprinter" and modify the line that looks like this:

 ) | $network -s -ob $lpflags
 

 ) | netcat -h hpprinter -p 9100
 

You also need to remove the lines near the top of the script that say:

[ -r $mapping ] || exit 2
set -- `grep -e "^$printer:" $mapping` || exit 3
shift
network=$*
 

Now just add a local printer using

 scoadmin Printer Manager
 

(or "mkdev lp") and use "hpprinter" as its interface and /dev/null as the device.

Or set the printer up using the HP Printer manager and modify the /usr/spool/lp/admins/lp/interfaces/YOURPRINTER changing these lines:

HPNPF=/usr/bin/netcat
and
if $REALMODEL "$@" | $HPNPF -h YOURPRINTERIP -p 9100  2> $LOG > /dev/null
 

You can download ftp://ftp.aplawrence.com/pub/netcat.hp.model

Finally, you could install the printer on a Windows machine and print to it through Visionfs or Samba. Or, set it up as an LPD printer and print to it that way (other articles here cover those methods).

If you need to use one of the multiport HP Jetdirects (two or more parallel ports), see http://aplawrence.com/cgi-bin/ta.pl?104997 and http://aplawrence.com/cgi-bin/ta.pl?105327

Click here to add your comments






Wed Jul 20 00:39:45 2005: Subject:   anonymous


I have a HP psc printer2210 all-in-one which is up and
running everything is OK except I can send faxes out but cannot receive I have
misplace the instructions can you help me.
Kay
archie1206@myway.com



Wed Jul 20 00:41:20 2005: Subject: receiving faxes   anonymous


I have a HP psc printer2210 all-in-one which is up and
running everything is OK except I can send faxes out but cannot receive I have
misplace the instructions can you help me.
Kay
archie1206@myway.com



Wed Jul 20 08:38:22 2005: Subject:   TonyLawrence


I'm quite sure you can get the manual from HP's web site.



Mon Aug 14 22:10:58 2006: Subject: ( 0 0 This comment got tagged as spam by my spam filter. Always preview your comments before posting. )   anonymous


dont have any software to install hp psc 1210v printer could u help
ekthick26@aol.com




Tue Aug 15 13:56:20 2006: Subject:   TonyLawrence


Looks like a cheap dumb "Windows-only" printer. Those things are really not worth having, but see http://aplawrence.com/Unixart/printing.html#windoze



Wed Aug 16 13:26:00 2006: Subject:   BigDumbDInosaur


Looks like a cheap dumb "Windows-only" printer.

It is a "cheap dumb 'Windows-only' printer, the emphasis being on "cheap and dumb." Also it is a USB interface, not Ethernet.



Thu Nov 23 00:52:41 2006: Subject:   anonymous



We added a new hard drive and forgot to save the printer. I cannot find my disk
to reinstall the printer. Could I please get help with this or know where to get
another printer cd?

---

Buy Take Control of Your Domain Names

---

Thu Nov 23 09:33:28 2006: Subject:   TonyLawrence


From the manufacturer's web site?



Thu Feb 21 04:48:46 2008: Subject: lost everything on the hp.   dumbkid


Okay i lost everything on my computer the other day i ordered new disk put them in but now i cant get my printer or microsoft works to work can someone please help me i know nothing about computers and i have finals comin up... <<<PLEASE HELP>>>



Thu Feb 21 12:06:47 2008: Subject:   TonyLawrence


You are in the wrong place, sorry: you need a Microsoft site.

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