From owner-freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG Wed May 21 16:01:22 2014 Return-Path: Delivered-To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Received: from mx1.freebsd.org (mx1.freebsd.org [8.8.178.115]) (using TLSv1 with cipher ADH-AES256-SHA (256/256 bits)) (No client certificate requested) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTPS id A794E355 for ; Wed, 21 May 2014 16:01:22 +0000 (UTC) Received: from wonkity.com (wonkity.com [67.158.26.137]) (using TLSv1.2 with cipher ECDHE-RSA-AES256-GCM-SHA384 (256/256 bits)) (Client CN "wonkity.com", Issuer "wonkity.com" (not verified)) by mx1.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTPS id 54323247A for ; Wed, 21 May 2014 16:01:22 +0000 (UTC) Received: from wonkity.com (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by wonkity.com (8.14.8/8.14.8) with ESMTP id s4LG1JcO003921 (version=TLSv1/SSLv3 cipher=DHE-RSA-AES256-GCM-SHA384 bits=256 verify=NO); Wed, 21 May 2014 10:01:19 -0600 (MDT) (envelope-from wblock@wonkity.com) Received: from localhost (wblock@localhost) by wonkity.com (8.14.8/8.14.8/Submit) with ESMTP id s4LG1JKX003918; Wed, 21 May 2014 10:01:19 -0600 (MDT) (envelope-from wblock@wonkity.com) Date: Wed, 21 May 2014 10:01:19 -0600 (MDT) From: Warren Block To: Markus Hoenicka Subject: Re: USB to parallel for printer HP LaserJet 4mL In-Reply-To: Message-ID: References: <20140519134901.GA2823@La-Habana> User-Agent: Alpine 2.00 (BSF 1167 2008-08-23) MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed X-Greylist: Sender IP whitelisted, not delayed by milter-greylist-4.4.3 (wonkity.com [127.0.0.1]); Wed, 21 May 2014 10:01:19 -0600 (MDT) Cc: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org X-BeenThere: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.18 Precedence: list List-Id: User questions List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Wed, 21 May 2014 16:01:22 -0000 On Tue, 20 May 2014, Markus Hoenicka wrote: > At 2014-05-19 15:49, Matthias Apitz was heard to say: >> Hello, >> >> I have an older printer HP LaserJet 4mL which always worked nicely when >> attached to my FreeBSD servers/laptops using its parallel interface. >> >> Now I do not have any such laptop with parallel anymore. Are there any >> recommendations for an USB to parallel interface for printers? >> >> Thanks in advance >> >> matthias > > Not quite USB to parallel, but rather RJ45 to parallel: we used to have a > JetDirect external network adapter for an old LaserJet in our lab which did > the trick for us. Used or refurbished ones seem to be affordable. I guess you > have some sort of switch or router to connect your laptop to. I agree that a network connection is more useful. Some older routers had parallel printer ports. Any generic USB to parallel converter is also likely to work. However, if the price of a used external JetDirect or USB adapter is over $20, I would suggest instead upgrading the printer. Used business laser printers aren't too hard to find for $50 or less, and many include USB or Ethernet or both. They will also be much faster.