Re: Host-based printing in linux

Hi John, i don't know if you have solved but let me give you some hints
about :
The much easier way for link a printer to linux is have also the Lan
interface on it.
When you're able (let's imagine that we're using Ubuntu) to add the printer
to the system , you will be more able to use it as printer on the AS/400
with lp5250d.

this could be a simple command line :

lp5250d map=280 env.DEVNAME=PRTLASER env.IBMMFRTYPMDL=*HP4
outputcommand="scs2ascii | lp -d YOURPRINTERNAME" myas400.domain

means that you're able now to send a spool file to PRTLASER on the Iseries
and you will get the printed page on your printer. :-)

I assure that this works, i use it every day.
Ciao.
Alberto Ernestini.

"John Aldrich" <jaldrich@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> ha scritto nel messaggio
news:mailman.30759.1275586838.2580.linux5250@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

It's a Lexmark Laser printer, which is hooked up to the printer port on
the
PC, and the AS/400 sends the print job to the PC, via a dedicated terminal
session for the printer, and then prints out the job. I'll take a look at
the documentation previously referenced and see if I can get it running.
If
not, I may have to use a stand-alone print server (gee... that would be
terrible! <GRIN>)




-----Original Message-----
From: linux5250-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:linux5250-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of Scott Klement
Sent: Thursday, June 03, 2010 1:09 PM
To: Linux 5250 Development Project
Subject: Re: [LINUX5250] Host-based printing in linux

Hi John,

How does one set up a host-based AS/400 printer in Linux?

I'm not 100% sure that I understand your question, but... the phrase
"host-based" usually means that all of the logic of interpreting the
printout is done on the host (aka the PC) instead of on the printer
itself.

In other words, the printer manufacturer must provide a specialized
piece of software ("driver") -- one specifically designed for the exact
piece of hardware at-hand -- that interprets the printer language (PCL,
PostScript, whatever) and sends precise low-level instructions to the
printer's motors and logic boards.

Assuming you mean the same thing...

Do you have a driver like this for Linux? Did your printer
manufacturer include one?

If not, I'm afraid you're pretty much out of luck. In the future, I'd
suggest spending a few extra bucks to get a printer that's not
host-based. After all, host-based is usually the hallmark of a very
cheaply made printer.

We have several laser printers hooked up to Windows PCs that print
through Windows from the AS/400 and I'd like to replicate that in
Linux.

If the printer manufacturer provides Linux drivers, this should be easy.
Follow their instructions on how to install the driver. Make sure you
can print to it.

I know I need to get the printer set up in Linux first, but then what?
How
does one set up an AS/400 "Printer" on the local machine?

I'm not really sure... it depends on how your host-based driver takes
it's input. I've never encountered a host-based driver on Linux. I
would suspect that it would take PostScript input (since most Linux
software I've used outputs PostScript) and converts it to the printer's
low-level language. But I've never actually seen one, so this is
purely a guess.

But if I'm right, you could use a tool like scs2ps via lp5250d to print
to it...
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