NetportExpress print servers come in two basic models. The Netport Express 10/100 Printer servers come in single-port external and 3-port external and run on 10 or 100 Mbps Ethernet. The Intel NetportExpress PRO print Server is a 3-port box available for both 10 Mbps Ethernet and Token Ring. A previous mode the NetportExpress XL has been discontinued, but setup will also be included in this document.
This document applies to all levels of AIX.
The Intel Web site at http://www.intel.com/network/products/print_servers.htm describes Intel's NetportExpress print servers.
The Intel technical Q&A page for Installation and Configuration
is http://www.intel.com/network/questions_answers/print_servers3.htm.
From a software perspective, both of these print servers are identical. They support networks running IPX/SPX, NetBEUI, TCP/IP and AppleTalk protocols. From a UNIX and hence an AIX perspective the only one of these that is important is TCP/IP. The NetportExpress print server supports several ways to print from UNIX clients. These include:
The NetportExpress must have an IP address for AIX to be able to print to it. This can be done using the DHCP, RARP, and BOOTP. When using RARP or BOOTP, a static address is assigned (the server gets the same address all the time) and this address should be assigned a host name either on the DNS (Domain Name Server) or in the AIX /etc/host file. Setting up DHCP is beyond the scope of this document. If you already have an IP address assigned to the print server, then skip to the section on configuring the print server.
When setting the IP address with BOOTP, you will need to know the Netport Express print server MAC address which you can get from the test page or from the label on the bottom of the print server device. Add an entry to the /etc/bootptab as follows:
netpr1:ht=tr:ha=0002310481BB:ip=9.19.130.129 netpr1:ht=ether:ha=0042310481BB:ip=9.19.130.132
When setting the IP address with RARP follow these steps:
arp -s ether ip_address network_address temp
where:
ip_address is the IP address you want to assign to the print server or the host name in the /etc/host file.
network_address is the NetportExpress print server MAC address from the test page or printed on the label on the bottom of the print server device. Enter this address in two-digit pairs separated by colons. Example: 00:90:27:1E:5D:B8.
Set the NetporExpress print server address by typing:
ping ip_addresswhere ip_address is the IP address or host name of the print server in the /etc/host file.
The NetportExpress print server must have an IP address assigned to it before going to this step. In this step, you will use your web browser such as Netscape Navigator from either AIX or your PC. Configuration is done through a Web based Netport Manager on the NetportExpress as follows:
You will add a remote queue with local formatting when you do not want to change the settings on the printer, or when the data has already been formatted such as when AIX is acting as a print server for a PC. These instructions assume AIX 4, but similar queues can be setup at AIX 3. Set up the remote queue as follows:
A remote queue with local formatting can be used when you want control of the printer trays, pitch size, page orientation, and other factors determined by an AIX virtual printer and the qprt print command including header pages.
To add a remote queue with local formatting follow these steps:
smitty mkpq
---------------------------------------------------------------- Add a Print Queue Move cursor to desired item and press Enter. Use arrow keys to scroll. # ATTACHMENT TYPE DESCRIPTION local Printer Attached to Local Host remote Printer Attached to Remote Host ascii Printer Attached to ASCII Terminal hpJetDirect Network Printer (HP JetDirect) file File (in /dev directory) ibmNetPrinter IBM Network Printer\ other User Defined Backend F1=Help F2=Refresh F3=Cancel 8=Image F10=Exit Enter=Do /=Find n=Find Next ----------------------------------------------------------------
Type of Remote Printing Move cursor to desired item and press Enter. Standard processing Standard with NFS access to server print queue attributes Local filtering before sending to print server
The HOSTNAME of remote server is the host name or ip address that you added to /etc/hosts.
The Name of QUEUE on remote server is
LPT1_PASSTHRU for Parallel Port 1 LPT2_PASSTHRU for Parallel Port 2 COM1_PASSTHRU for Parallel Port 2The TYPE of print spooler on remote server is BSD
At AIX 4.3 set the backend timeout period to 50.
For example:
Add a Remote Print Queue with Local Filtering
Type or select values in entry fields.
Press Enter AFTER making all desired changes.
[Entry Fields]
Description Lexmark Optra E laser p>
* Name of new PRINT QUEUE to add [laser4+B]
Remote server characteristics
* HOSTNAME of remote server [netport1]
* Name of QUEUE on remote server [LPT1_PASSTHRU]
TYPE of print spooler on remote server BSD
Send PASS-THROUGH FLAG to queue yes +
on remote server?
Backend TIME OUT period (minutes) [50] #
Send control file first? no +
To turn on debugging, specify output []
file pathname
typeset piorlfb_rbflags="" # rembak flags to typeset piorlfb_rbflags="-T50" # rembak flags
To add a remote queue with no formatting follow these steps:
smitty mkpq
---------------------------------------------------------------- Add a Print Queue Move cursor to desired item and press Enter. Use arrow keys to scroll. # ATTACHMENT TYPE DESCRIPTION local Printer Attached to Local Host remote Printer Attached to Remote Host ascii Printer Attached to ASCII Terminal hpJetDirect Network Printer (HP JetDirect) file File (in /dev directory) ibmNetPrinter IBM Network Printer\ other User Defined Backend F1=Help F2=Refresh F3=Cancel 8=Image F10=Exit Enter=Do /=Find n=Find Next ----------------------------------------------------------------
The HOSTNAME of remote server is the host name or ip address that you added to /etc/hosts.
The Name of QUEUE on remote server is
LPT1_PASSTHRU for Parallel Port 1 if the data is preformatted or PostScript LPT2_PASSTHRU for Parallel Port 2 if the data is preformatted or PostScript COM1_PASSTHRU for Parallel Port 2 if the data is preformatted or PostScript LPT1_TEXT for Parallel Port 1 if the data is ASCII text. LPT2_TEXT for Parallel Port 2 if the data is ASCII text. COM1_TEXT for Parallel Port 2 if the data is ASCII text.The TYPE of print spooler on remote server is BSD
In AIX 4.3, set the Backend TIME OUT period to 50.
Add a Standard Remote Print Queue
Type or select values in entry fields.
Press Enter AFTER making all desired changes.
[Entry Fields]
* Name of QUEUE to add [laser5]
* HOSTNAME of remote server [netprt2]
* Name of QUEUE on remote server [LPT2_TEXT]
TYPE of print spooler on remote server BSD
Backend TIME OUT period (minutes) [50] in AIX 4.3
Send control file first? no +
To turn on debugging, specify output []
file pathname
DESCRIPTION of printer on remote server []
This is most easily done by adding a -T50 flag to rembak in the queue device stanza for the queue in /etc/qconfig
backend = /usr/lib/lpd/rembak -T50
The NetportExpress 10/100 and Pro models can accept print jobs through a socket connection at TCP/IP ports listed here:
Port 3001 Parallel Port 1 Port 3002 Parallel Port 2 Port 2501 Serial Port
From an AIX viewpoint, the socket program that is part of the HP JetDirect support can be used to print to a TCP/IP port at AIX 4.2.1 and later. To setup a JetDirect queue to print to the NetportExpress follow these instructions:
smitty mkpq
---------------------------------------------------------------- Add a Print Queue Move cursor to desired item and press Enter. Use arrow keys to scroll. # ATTACHMENT TYPE DESCRIPTION local Printer Attached to Local Host remote Printer Attached to Remote Host ascii Printer Attached to ASCII Terminal hpJetDirect Network Printer (HP JetDirect) file File (in /dev directory) ibmNetPrinter IBM Network Printer\ other User Defined Backend F1=Help F2=Refresh F3=Cancel 8=Image F10=Exit Enter=Do /=Find n=Find Next ----------------------------------------------------------------
If you get a message that the software is not installed, then place the AIX Installation Media into the proper device and continue witht he installation of the HP JetDirect drivers. The install screens will give you only the printer drivers when entered from this point in smit. Once you have installed the software you will have to restart at STEP 1.
---------------------------------------------------------------- BOOTP/TFTP Server Move the cursor to desired item and press Enter 1. Make this system a BOOTP/TFTP server 2. Do NOT make this system a BOOTP/TFTP server Enter number from list above (press Enter to terminate): -> ----------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------- Add a Print Queue Type or select values in entry fields. Press Enter AFTER making all desired changes. [Entry Fields] Description Hewlett-Packard LaserJet 5Si/5Si MX Names of NEW print queues to add PCL [hp5pcl] PostScript [hp5ps] HP-GL/2 [] Printer connection characteristics * HOSTNAME of the JetDirect Card [hpprt3.aix.dfw.ibm.com] * HARDWARE ADDRESS of the JetDirect Card [080109463974] * NETWORK INTERFACE Ethernet * PORT [9101] GATEWAY ADDRESS [9.19.169.202] SUBNET MASK [255.255.240.0] F1=Help F2=Refresh F3=Cancel F4=List F5=Reset F6=Command F7=Edit F8=Image F9=Shell F10=Exit Enter=Do ----------------------------------------------------------------
The following screen will appear if you do not choose bootp:
----------------------------------------------------------------
Add a Print Queue
Type or select values in entry fields.
Press Enter AFTER making all desired changes.
[Entry Fields]
Description Hewlett-Packard LaserJet 5Si/5Si MX
Names of NEW print queues to add
PCL [hp5pcl]
PostScript [hp5ps]
HP-GL/2 []
Printer connection characteristics
* HOSTNAME of the JetDirect Card [hpprt3.aix.dfw.ibm.com]
* PORT [9102]
F1=Help F2=Refresh F3=Cancel F4=List
F5=Reset F6=Command F7=Edit F8=Image
F9=Shell F10=Exit Enter=Do
----------------------------------------------------------------
Port 3001 Parallel Port 1 Port 3002 Parallel Port 2 Port 2501 Serial PortThis can be done by editing the /etc/qconfig file with vi and changing the value of 9100 to 3001, 3002, or 2501.
pslog: device = lp0 lp0: file = /dev/lp0 header = always trailer = never access = both backend = /usr/lib/lpd/pio/etc/piojetd 9.19.129.99 3001The change can also be made through smit as follows:
smitty spooler Choose: Programming Tools Choose: Queues and Queue Devices Choose: Queue Devices Choose Change / Show Characteristics of a Queue Device Enter the queue name Change 9100 in the BACKEND PROGRAM pathname to 3001, and so on.
If you receive new flash upgrades to the NetportExpress print server, they can be updated from AIX using ftp as follows:
The Netport Express XL has been discontinued by Intel but is included here for completeness.
This single file is the AIX 3.2 .config file that when placed in /usr/lib/lpd/pio/etc is read by mkvirprt and thus by smit mkvirprt when adding a virtual printer. The file is simply a modification of the jetdirect.config file and uses the piojetd backend, which sends the data to the NetPort with the socket program /usr/lib/lpd/pio/piohpnpf.
The following is from the Intel Page on the internet at http://support.intel.com/support/netport/vintage/6045.htm. There is also a document that describes problems in general with the netport, Netport(R) II Print Server: Troubleshooting Notes from Tech Support (#6066), at http://support.intel.com/support/netport/vintage/6066.htm.
To install a network printer for AIX, use Netport Manager to configure the NetportExpress XL print server for TCP/IP printing:
For more detail on filling in the fields for TCP/IP printing, refer to your online help, or to the manual "TCP/IP Printing Using the Intel NetportExpress XL Print Server."
To set up the AIX host, you will need:
Once you can PING, carry out the following steps:
If the archive has been downloaded directly to your AIX host enter these commands:
Each line contains the IP address defined in Netport Manager and an alias. (The alias name is an arbitrary name used later in SMIT.)
For example:
To test printing with AIX and the XL, use a command such as QPRT.
For example:
The basic steps for doing this are as follows:
For more detail on filling in the fields for TCP/IP printing, refer to your online help, or to the manual "TCP/IP Printing Using the Intel NetportExpress XL Print Server."
You may want to set up how to do local formatting at the end of this section for some needs.
[ Doc Ref: 91911200412588 Publish Date: Mar. 29, 2001 4FAX Ref: 6491 ]