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[sindi keesan <keesan AT sdf.lonestar.org>]

We were given two postscript-capable network printers, the older one 
(working) an HP with parport, BNC and RJ45 connectors (probably 10Mbit) 
and the newer one (not yet working - gets a checksum error when I load the 
printer software to the hard drive we put into it) a color laser printer 
with parport and RJ45 that is 10 or 100MBit (the printer came with 
either option, post 1998).  Even 10MBit would be faster than parport.

I could download a 32MB network management program to send files to the 
printer over a network, but I think I can also ftp them over a crossover 
cable if I can assign an IP number to the printer - how can I do that with 
BL?  The manual assumes an ethernet hub, which I also have but have not 
used.  ftp 192.168.1.x, bin, put filename.ps, bye.  Presumably I could 
also set up a plip connection - does ftp work via plip?  There is even a 
serial port.  The thing has a 133MHz cpu and 4 SIMM slots and a scsi 
controller.  But no keyboard (just a few menu type buttons) and a very 
minimal screen.

The printers can do postscript 2 and pcl 5 (HP?).  Can I simply cat 
filename.ps > /dev/lp0?  And with netpbm:  jpegtopnm filename.ps|pnmtops 
[options for resolution] > /dev/lp0?  (or pbmtolj for monochrome files). 
I don't think I need ghostscript, which is for printing ps or pdf on a 
non-ps printer.

How would I write a printcap for a ps printer on lp0?  If I use the 
ethernet connection do I replace /dev/lp0 with /dev/eth0 (and for serial 
with ttyS0) and ifconfig eth0 and what else needs changing?

A friend got these from a warehouse that was going to dump them and they 
are huge (2' cubes) so he gave them to us, knowing we have a bit of floor 
space left.

keesan AT sdf.lonestar.org
SDF Public Access UNIX System - http://sdf.lonestar.org