[rescue] Parallel ports [was Re: Slightly OT: ?Bad Cap Saga]

[Lionel Peterson]

>From: wa2egp at att.net
>Date: 2008/08/22 Fri PM 06:48:31 EDT
>To: The Rescue List <rescue at sunhelp.org>
>Subject: Re: [rescue] Parallel ports [was Re: Slightly OT: ?Bad Cap Saga]

>-------------- Original message ----------------------
>From: der Mouse <mouse at Rodents-Montreal.ORG>
>>
>> > ...but meanwhile, this whole discussion is moot because you haven't
>> > actually tried it with USB, have you?
>> 
>> No, I don't have a USB "parallel port" device of any stripe.
>> 
>> I have in the past glanced at USB code for other things - in
>> particular, I was attempting to make it work in a much older NetBSD,
>> one that didn't really support it out of the box - and that's what I
>> was basing my guesses on.
>> 
>> Am I wrong?  _Is_ sending a byte out over a USB "parallel port" device
>> as simple as it is on a real parallel port?
>> 
>> > You qualify your statements as something akin to "I haven't tried it,
>> > but it probably won't work" but I don't see anything convincing me it
>> > won't work, just that you're too much of a stick in the mud on this
>> > issue to give it a try.
>> 
>> Perhaps.  Care to point me to docs for a few, so I can read them over
>> to figure out whether they even try to provide the capabilities I'm
>> after?  I did a little searching, but all I found was some generic
>> babblage, no specific product docs.  (If I'm going to spend money to
>> satisfy you on this point, at least I'm going to have grounds to think
>> I'll get a useful device before I buy!)
>
>I just bought an Inland USB Parallel Converter from MicroCenter for about $10 and on the package they claim: "Fully compliant with USB specifications version 1.1, Provides bi-directional ECP function, supports standard PC parallel port register-based operation,... Maximum throughput: 1.2 Mbps (ECP mode)..."  Does this info help?  I'm trying to get a Powerbook to use a parallel printer. This should be fun...

Time for a print server:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00006B9HK

I've used it with an older HP LaserJet 2100 - worked great, incl. Mac and Solaris clients. Then I got a printer with a built-in JetDirect card.

Lionel