on 12/6/99 9:04 AM, Michael Anderson at [log in to unmask]
wrote:
> I know that HP/MPE has always had the ability to restart
> spool files backward x number of pages, or forwards x
> number of pages. Our current printer config doesn't
> support Page Level Recovery, so the printer will start back
> at page#1 after a printer/page jam.
>
> The printers in question all have a network interface.
>
> Lev. 851; HP2300 (1100L), C2356A
> Lev. 850; LPQ800, C2304B
> Lev. 848; LPQ800, C2304B
>
> What is the best way to enable page level recovery for the
> above three printers?
>
> Michael Anderson
> Student Services Programmer/Analyst
> Spring Independent School District, Houston, Texas, 77090
> 281.586.1105
I'm assuming that the 2300 is a laserjet... if so you may need to get on of
the external jetdirect boxes.
For the other printers it's a little uglier... I just finally got them
working.... I think.... Today is the first day of using lpq1400 in
production. I've attached the docs I got for getting PLR to work. WARNING:
The needed memory is painfully expensive, the best price I could find was
from Genisys.
Good Luck,
Lane
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
LP Series Printers that support Page Level Recovery (PLR):
---------------------------------------------------------
With the April 1999 introduction of the LP Series version "C" printers, new
printer firmware was released which is automatically shipped with these
printers. In addition to providing support for the new "C" version, this
firmware includes Page Level Recovery capability when connected to HP 3000
MPE/iX 5.5 (and later) servers via the HP Jetdirect Ex network interface.
PLR is incorporated as part of the Printer Job Language (PJL) feature
support in the printer. More information about the "C" version printers
along with a data sheet can be found at the following HP site:
http://www.businessservers.hp.com/products/printers/lp/. The new printers
include: C3201C/LP500, C3202C/LPQ500, C3204C/LPQ1000, C3205C/LPQ1500 and
C5640C/LPQ1500.
Customers with "B" version printers who wish to take advantage of the PLR
feature, can do so by updating to the new "C" firmware level. Downloading
the "C" version firmware to one of the earlier printer versions may require
that additional memory is installed. The "C" version firmware requires 4Mb
Flash and 4Mb DRAM. This memory can be purchased directly from HP. The
amount of memory and the version of firmware on a printer can be determined
by printing out a configuration listing. A field engineer must replace and
install the memory and perform the firmware download over the printer
parallel port from a PC.
Currently, the "A" versions of the printer that have been updated to the "C"
version of the firmware have not been fully tested for Page Level Recovery.
Using Page Level Recovery on the LP Series Printers:
---------------------------------------------------
The native mode spooler on MPE/iX 5.5 (and later) supports Page Level
Recovery. Page Level Recovery provides the ability to restart printing at
any page of a document due to device problems or a suspended spooler.
(Refer to Appendix C of the ëHP 3000 MPE/iX Native Mode Spooler Reference
Manualí for more information). Clarification on how it is handled for the
LP Series Printers is described here.
There are 3 types of PLR that can occur. All 3 types use silent run
techniques. That is, the data is sent to the printer and the printer
interprets it but does not start actual printing until the printer reaches a
target starting page specified by the spooler (e.g. the page following the
last one printed).
Restarting at a user-specified page number in a command.
Processing of a spool file can be suspended and then resumed. It can be
suspended by using the SPOOLER command with the SUSPEND parameter or by
using the SUSPENDSPOOL command. It can be resumed with the SPOOLER command
with the RESUME parameter or by using the RESUMESPOOL command. When the
spool file resumes printing it can start exactly where it left off or at
another page that is specified.
For the LP Series Printers, the optional OFFSET parameter in the SPOOLER
command can only be used to specify an absolute offset (i.e., absence of a +
or ñ sign). When the OFFSET parameter is not used, printing resumes where
it stopped. When the OFFSET parameter is used, a silent run (PLR) will
occur up until the specified starting place. Note, the CIPER protocol
devices (e.g., C256x using the HP-IB interface) allow you to specify the
OFFSET parameter with the + or ñ sign. With the LP Series Printers, if the
OFFSET parameter is used with the + or ñ sign, unpredictable results will
occur.
Due to the fact that the LP Series Printers are typically connected to the
network with a JetDirect Ex interface, many of the spooler commands (e.g.,
those described above) should be avoided for mid-file suspension because the
network connection can be dropped if the printer is ready to receive data
but no data is being sent. (Refer to the section ëSuspending a Spoolerí in
the ëHP 3000 MPE/iX Native Mode Spooler Reference Manualí)
Restarting at the point of interruption when a device exception occurs.
When a device exception occurs, this is an ëunexpectedí recovery situation.
A device exception includes things such as paper jams, low on paper, etc.
Assuming that the LP Series printer is connected to the network with an
'external' JetDirect Ex interface, in order for PLR (silent run) to take
place after a device exception, without specifying spooler commands to
restart, the printer MUST be power cycled (e.g. after the jam). This is
different from the way it may work with other HP printers that support PLR
and use an 'internal' JetDirect interface. This is also different from the
way it works with the C256X printers that use the HP-IB interface. This
caveat may be one of the major reasons it appears that PLR does not work for
the LP Series printers. Note, printing starts with the page following the
last one printed.
Restarting at the point of interruption when a particular spool file is
reprinted after being interrupted previously by a command.
In this case a spool file is reprinted after being interrupted by a command
such as SPOOLF #O nnn; DEFER. For the LP Series printers, when the spool
file is undeferred, after being interrupted with the deferred option, a
silent run (PLR) will occur up until the page following the last one
printed.
A spool file can also be interrupted with SPOOLER ldev; STOP command, but
this command should be avoided for LP Series printers connected to the
network with the JetDirect Ex interface due to network printing problems
with stopping mid-file as described in 1 above.
Conditions and Steps:
--------------------
In order for PLR to be successful for the LP Series Printers, certain
conditions must be met and additional steps must be taken prior to PLR ever
taking place. These conditions and steps are described below.
-- HP 3000 system must be on MPE/iX Release 5.5 (and later)
-- The firmware revision of the LP Series printer must be the "C" version.
The version of firmware on a printer can be determined by printing out a
configuration listing. Currently, the following versions can be obtained
from a field engineer through the HP internal web site for LP Series
printers.
PCL-II/LP+:
Function Code Release 353218. Version V2.05F Part No. 353218.
VGL:
Function Code Release 353220. Version V2.05E Part No. 353220.
PGL:
Function Code Release 353219. Version V2.05E Part No. 353219.
-- The LP Series printer must have 4Mb Flash and 4Mb DRAM memory. The
amount of memory on a printer can be determined by printing out a
configuration listing. 4Mb Flash and 4Mb DRAM comes with the "C" version
printers. The part numbers for these parts are:
4Mb Flash - 202417-001PX
4Mb DRAM - 202412-001PX
-- The JetDirect Ex and LP Series printer must be configured for Bitronics.
This can be done from the control panel of the LP Series printer from the
Host Interface menu.
-- An IEEE 1284 compliant cable must be used. HP P/N C2950A or C2951A.
-- The following variables must be set for the printer in the MPE/iX
npconfig file: pjl_supported=true, jam_recovery=false
-- After the above conditions are met, the following sequence of steps must
be performed.
Stop the spooler (e.g. STOPSPOOL 6)
Power off the printer and the JetDirect EX interface
Power on the JetDirect EX interface first
Power on the printer
Start the spooler (e.g. STARTSPOOL 6)
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