From owner-freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG Tue Oct 18 13:31:35 2005 Return-Path: X-Original-To: questions@freebsd.org Delivered-To: freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG Received: from mx1.FreeBSD.org (mx1.freebsd.org [216.136.204.125]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 3A7AC16A41F for ; Tue, 18 Oct 2005 13:31:35 +0000 (GMT) (envelope-from bsilver@chrononomicon.com) Received: from trans-warp.net (hyperion.trans-warp.net [216.37.208.37]) by mx1.FreeBSD.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id A912343D45 for ; Tue, 18 Oct 2005 13:31:34 +0000 (GMT) (envelope-from bsilver@chrononomicon.com) Received: from [127.0.0.1] (unverified [65.193.73.208]) by trans-warp.net (SurgeMail 2.2g3) with ESMTP id 27134571 for multiple; Tue, 18 Oct 2005 09:31:36 -0400 In-Reply-To: <20051018091959.6a303d86.wmoran@potentialtech.com> References: <20051018091959.6a303d86.wmoran@potentialtech.com> Mime-Version: 1.0 (Apple Message framework v623) Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed Message-Id: Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit From: Bart Silverstrim Date: Tue, 18 Oct 2005 09:31:58 -0400 To: Bill Moran X-Mailer: Apple Mail (2.623) X-Server: High Performance Mail Server - http://surgemail.com X-Authenticated-User: bsilver@chrononomicon.com Cc: questions@freebsd.org Subject: Re: How well do USB -> parallel adapters work for printers? X-BeenThere: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.5 Precedence: list List-Id: User questions List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Tue, 18 Oct 2005 13:31:35 -0000 On Oct 18, 2005, at 9:19 AM, Bill Moran wrote: > > This will be FreeBSD 5.4 machine. > > I need to hook a printer to a server (actually, it's a "plotter", an HP > inkjet plotter). The server doesn't have a parallel port, and the > printer > doesn't have a USB port. > > The guy who provides our hardware recommended a USB -> parallel > adapter, > but I've got no experience with these. I've been warned about USB -> > serial adapaters and how the translation isn't always 100%, so I'm > trying to gather some information before I go forward with this plan. > > Anyone use one of these? How well do they work in general? How well > do they work under FreeBSD? I don't know about the answer to your question, but one alternative that may work better for you is to purchase an HP print server (JetDirect) that can take the parallel interface from the printer and then serve it as an IP printer. You may even be able to help mask that by putting it on the network as an IP printer, then use the FreeBSD printer to share it out as a Samba printer to Windows systems (if this is the type of setup you're aiming at) so users can connect still to your FBSD printer server system without knowing that the printer is accessible also as an IP printer. May also save some hair pulling in getting the USB<->Parallel interface working under FreeBSD. -Bart