UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers

I am trying to set up a unix server to print to a printer in another city. I've got a "Unix" guy helping me set up the printer on the unix box, but we are having trouble.

The printer is located on an HP JetDirect 170x print server on a private network. On the router at that location, I have forwarded both TCP Ports 9100 and 515 to that print server. I know this is working because:
a) if i telnet from a host outside to the Public IP of this location over either TCP Ports 9100 or 515, it connects
b) I have installed this printer on a Windows box sitting right next to the Unix box and am able to print with no problems.

Unfortunately, I don't know Unix well. The Unix guy says the printer is set up correctly, but I don't have much confidence. When I asked him what protocol the Unix server uses to print, he said "I think Xon/Xoff".

So, are there any ports besides TCP 9100 and 515 that need to be forwarded to the Print server at the printers location?

Is there additional configuration on the Unix location/server that needs to be made in order for this to work?

Thanks in advanced
MATT

What OS?
Either you find a jsuitable etdirect printer installer:
Product search results

Either you try to install and configure CUPS

Or you define your printer as remote printer

You need to tell us which version of Unix you are running. Setting up printers varies greatly.
In most cases the lpstat command will show you information on the printer setups. Look at man lpstat for options. Try "lpstat -t".

The version of Linux is SCO 5.7.

I worked with the "unix guy" to try to get this going. Sitting at the Unix box, the typed "telnet xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx 9100" where xxx... is the public IP where the printer is located. He then would type letters and when he hit enter, it would print out on the printer.

However, he was unable to get any of the print jobs in the unix queue to print. There were about 20 or so print jobs in the queue, some very old and some a few days old. I asked him if he could delete the old print jobs. He deleted a couple of them, but still nothing on the printer.

He did the lpstat -t and pointed the the printer and said "there it is". He then re-assured me that unix cannot print in this way because we are using port forwarding on the remote site. He even called his buddy who said nope, can't be done.

I'm still not convinced, and think the printer may not be setup correctly. I asked him about CUPS and he said he's never used it, and doesn't really know too much about it. He said the only way I am going to be able to print to the printer in the remote site is to establish a site to site VPN, which would require purchsing new equipment capable of this.

So, here are my questions:
1) Can SCO Unix 5.7 print to a remote printer in this way?
2) I have TCP ports 9100 and 515 forwared to the Jet Direct printer server at the remote location. Are there others I need?
3) Can someone tell me how, or where to find out how to setup/configure a printer on SCO Unix 5.7? Do i NEED additional software (CUPS, other, ...) or can it be done with what i've got?

Thanks to all who chimed in.

How can I explain?
HP jetdirect is almost a protocol to itself using port 9100... and makes sence using it if you have hpnp software installed ( the jetdiredt printer installer etc...)
but you jetdirect box can also be used as a host (proof do a telnet to its IP...) and so you can configure a remote printer but its not the same as "network printer" remote printer has no idea of what printer is at the remote end and so will not know what to do with options like -onb -olm8 -oc etc...
Did you have a look at CUPS? -> Common UNIX Printing System

All the best