Curt Brimacomb ([log in to unmask]) wrote:
: Hi,

: I am doing an eval on a 2851 extendnet DX print box.  It is supposed to =
: just like a hp jetdirect card/box.  It seems to work fine on the network =
: from the PC's using a HP laserjet 4 printer. =20

: My question is that with MPE/iX 5.5, you are supposed to be able to do =
: network printing, but it says in the communicator manual that it is with =
: jetdirect cards/box.  Has anyone used extended systems equipment with =
: 5.5 and found that it would work?  Extended Systems says that as long as =
: the hp3000 does LPR it will work.

: I am running with pp 1 applied also.

I'm not familiar with your print box, but the reason we insist on use of a
JetDirect box is because the spooler actually queries the MIB on the box
to ascertain properties of the printer and the network connection.  If your
box mimics the JetDirect box, it should work.  However, MIBs are supposed
to be vendor and device specific; if your box is a clone it could open up
other more serious questions.  And if it isn't a clone, it may not respond
correctly to the SNMP MIB queries.  Even if it does appear to work correct-
ly, it is not a supported configuration.  This could raise support issues
if something later goes wrong with your HP3000 network printing.

Finally, the base network printing package on MPE 5.5 does not do lpr, so
if that is an Extended Systems requirement, you'll have to go with a
network spooling add-on (ESPUL, NBSpool, NP92,...) that does support lpr --
if you want to stick with your print box.

However, if you'll pardon my saying so, it seems to me that you are using
the interface box tail to wag the network printing dog, unless there are
more compelling reasons to use that box that you haven't shared with us.

-Larry "MPE/iX Spoolers 'R' Us" Byler-