Goodmorning all,

as in subject: i'm involved in a project to replace old os400 terminals on twinax with linux/unix computers that run the tn5250 emulator.

at first we got an image of a german configured suse linux that as it runs in germany but we had more problems reconfiguring the suse then it helps us

so we deceided to begin with a new installation and choose for freebsd 4.5 because that the only unix/linux i ever worked with.

with solving some f13-f24 key problems we got the emulator up an running (exept for the backspace that simply returns and doesn't delete)

now we're at the point of printing
we need to install 2 local printers on it: a parallel brother 1660e
and a serial zebra label printer
both printers should be able to print data the os400 sends

but the point where we stand is that we can't make the printers speak.

for the brother (/dev/lpt0):
i recompiled the kernel so ppc0 is polling (wow :-)
it actualy says that when doing #dmesg | grep lpt0
lpt0: <printer> on ppbus0
lpt0: Polled port

ok?

that's all i know to configure on that port
me, being more a DOS man am used to c:\dir > lpt1 and actually getting a printout
in my unix, when i do #lptest > /dev/lpt0 i get 3 blank pages (no toner is not empty)
when i try #cat textfile > /dev/lpt0 i get 3 blank pages

this makes me think in the direction of drivers? or something i missed?

then i set up and lpd for the printer which actually works but the same printing result: blank pages
anyhow, i searched this forum and found some usefull info,
went to linuxprinting.org, downloaded a ppd file for brother 1660e but from there i'm blocked (i don't know what to do with the ppd file, i even don't know if i need that file, the doc on that site is somewhat blurry)

i wonder if someone could suggest me on how getting the parallel printer to printing data?

for the other printer, the serial one, it doesn't do anything at all, but first i want to print on the lpt0

thnx

Hi,

Yes, the problem might be that you're using the wrong driver for your printer...
The .ppd driver is configured using lpadmin... Take a look at this great document http://www.itworld.com/Comp/2369/LWD001109geek1/ ...

ok guys,
i solved both printers!

how?
got on http://www.freebsddiary.org/apsfilter.php
after reading it, i deceided to begin a new setup on another pc with freebsd 5.2
there, in the /stand/sysinstall there are new entries which included printer utilities such as the apsfilter and cups, installed them both,
then it was simply run the SETUP from /usr/local/share/apsfilter
and there it was nice and easy, although for my brother 1660e, wasn't supported, installed the brother 1270 with the hl1250 driver, printed test page: ok!
for the serial zebra label printer, i installed generic ps driver an configured the serial port communiction with the data bits and bps...
didn't print a test page but, i found out zebra only respond to files beginning with ^Z or ^X, printed a txt file we use on as400
lpr -PRAW file.txt
printed ok! (RAW is name of que of that printer.

but now i have the following question for you guys:
what do i have to configure if i want to let the as400 print stuff on my local printers. according to our outsourcing firm the lpd deamon needs to be running and the queues of the printer must have the name that will be declared on the as400 like
name on as400: PRT01 and PRT02
then on the bsd it should be /var/spool/lpd/PRT01 and ..../PRT02
we tried to print from windows via lpr but didn't work, tried from as400, didn't work
personaly i think we need to install samba on the bsd?
or is it something else we need to take a look at?

thxn for your replies guys!