Lantronix EPS2-100 serial / parallel print server setup notes
This document describes a method for using a Lantronix EPS2-100 print server on a Mac OS X "Lion" or later system for the purpose of using an Apple ImageWriter serial printer with current production Macs running OS X. Sections of it may also be applicable to other serial or parallel printers. It has been verified to work with each succeeding OS X version through OS X "Yosemite". The procedure contained herein is equally applicable to the Lantronix EPS1 and EPS4 series print servers. It assumes the user has already added the ImageWriter printer drivers explained in the document "Apple ImageWriter printer installation in OS X". Since it includes instructions for using a USB to serial adapter, it is necessary to follow only steps 2, 3, and 4 in that document before proceeding with this one.
0. How to use this document
Before proceeding with any installation, please read this entire User Tip including any disclaimers that may appear.
This document is intended to augment but not supersede or contradict the manufacturer's instructions. Refer to Lantronix's website for documentation and support. Their instructions for the Mac predate OS X and are woefully outdated, but instructions for Unix may be useful.
Screenshots may vary depending on the specific OS X version installed. Click a screenshot to make it larger and more legible. Screenshots have been an ongoing problem with Apple's support website and may not appear.
Hyperlinks in this document may appear to contain spaces. This is an apparent limitation of the software this site uses. Click or copy / paste but don't attempt to type them manually. Readable URL addresses have been incorporated that way intentionally, so that the user may confirm they are not redirecting to some undesired site.
For OS X "Lion" and later, Gatekeeper settings may prevent opening packages downloaded from the sites described in this document. To temporarily bypass Gatekeeper settings hold a control key while opening installer packages, select Open from the contextual menu, read the disclaimer and then click Open. This security feature should not be bypassed indiscriminately. For more information please refer to the Appendix at the end of this document.
1. Initial device configuration
If you have a cable and printer connect it to Port 1 since it will output useful messages upon boot, unless that function has been disabled by the user. See Appendix. Defaults are 9600-n-8-1. I used an Apple ImageWriter II and a "null modem cable" attached to the EPS's included serial cable. The other end of the "null modem cable" connects to a DB9 to mini-DIN 8 adapter (see note), then a standard ImageWriter M/M mini-DIN 8 cable to the ImageWriter. The boot messages will be priceless if you do not know the unit's IP address - more about that later.
- Note: I can no longer to find any of those adapters sourced by anyone. The eBay vendor from whom I purchased it is no longer active. Suggestions welcome.
- Constructing your own cable is an option. For instructions read Lantronix EPSx-100 to ImageWriter II cable.
Before doing anything with the EPS it must first have an IP address. If your router is configured to distribute IP addresses it defaults to receive one via DHCP but the problem is you won't know what it is, unless a printer is already connected and working as in the above. I tried the CD-ROM "EZWebCon" Windows program but it didn't work and I didn't spend much time trying to make it work. Instead of wasting time with Windows I assigned the IP address with Terminal on the iMac using a "directed ping packet":
- The directed ping packet procedure must be accomplished within 2 minutes of booting the EPS.
- The resulting configuration is temporary, and is intended for the sole purpose of enabling communication with Telnet or the EPS's embedded webpage server.
Johns-iMac:~ john$ sudo arp -s 10.0.1.103 00:80:a3:62:c0:0d
Johns-iMac:~ john$ password: ← (enter your superuser password)
Johns-iMac:~ john$
... where the 10.0.1.103 is the desired IP address and 00:80:a3:62:c0:0d is the device's unique MAC address. Following that you must ping the device with that address, also within the two minute window.
- Note: The ability to use a "directed ping packet" to set an IP address can only be used with a new, never-before configured print server containing no IP address.
Resetting the unit to factory defaults will not restore its ability to read a directed ping packet.
- If you receive a previously configured EPS and you do not know its IP address, you will need to determine or configure its IP address some other way.
- The instructions page 4-6 describe a method using a terminal emulator and Serial Port 1. They are not very detailed and I have not attempted this method.
- Other ideas:
- Reset the EPS according to its instructions, then try its allegedly default IP address 192.168.1.1.
- For other suggestions that I have not verified, read the document linked under the Additional Resources heading following the Appendix.
Using Terminal, you may then Telnet to the device:
Johns-iMac:~ john$ telnet 10.0.1.103
Trying 10.0.1.103...
Connected to 10.0.1.103.
Escape character is '^]'.
Lantronix EPS2-100 Version V3.7/1(031017)
Type HELP at the 'Local_6> ' prompt for assistance.
Username>
The user name may be arbitrary. At that point I supplied the following:
Local_6> su ← (enable superuser)
Password> ← (password is "system" and is not echoed)
Local_6>> define server ipaddress 10.0.1.103 ← (prompt becomes >> when superuser active)
Local_6>>
You may also use a web browser to configure the EPS. Use the IP address you assigned to it. Most parameters require a login name and password. They are set by default to "login" and "system" respectively.
Note the name of the port you want to use. "EPS_62C00D_S2" below corresponds to Port 2 (the six digits between the underscore characters are the last three octets of the devices's MAC address). I used Port 2 since the EPS sends messages to Port 1 (the "console" port) during boot – see Appendix.
2. Adding the printer to OS X:
In the Mac's System Preferences > Print & Scan, click "+" then "add other printer", "IP" tab, protocol "LPD" and the EPS's IP address. You cannot leave the queue name blank for default queue; you must supply the above port name exactly. The EPS has several ports, so it needs to know which one you want.
Print Using: "Select Printer Software..." then select "Apple ImageWriter II, Foomatic..." This document assumes you already have drivers downloaded from The Linux Foundation's Open Printing website and that they have been successfully installed.
OS X versions prior to Lion are similar. "Print Using:" select Apple, then the appropriate driver. The printer name is automatically filled with EPS100 but you can change it. Again, do not use the default queue.
The ImageWriter is normally set to use hardware handshaking. The EPS defaults to XON / XOFF. I tried changing the ImageWriter to that but after a paragraph the text got garbled anyway. So I recommend changing the EPS to use CTS/RTS instead (Port Properties > Configure):
3. Appendix
Messages are sent to Serial Port 1 during boot. To suppress boot messages from being sent to the printer as the EPS boots, Telnet to the server and do the following (change "enabled" to "disabled" if you wish to undo this):
Local_6> su
Password>
Local_6>> define server silentboot enabled
Local_6>>
Or just check "silent boot enabled" in the browser interface, and reboot the EPS:
You can avoid having the ImageWriter print the boot messages by connecting it to Serial Port 2. That would require changing the queue name in the above examples from "EPS_62C00D_S1" to "EPS_62C00D_S2". Don't forget to configure that port in the web browser (for example, change XON/XOFF to "RTS/CTS").
Note: I don't know why it worked with RARP and BOOTP checked like the above screenshot. It shouldn't have. After determining that DHCP would work (it does), I had to uncheck BOOTP or it would always get an IP address from the router, overriding the static address I supplied. So un-check them.
Another problem: I don't know how this happened but you don't want "permanent" in the Mac's arp table. It was stuck on AirPort permanently, and I did not know the iMac's Ethernet cable had become unplugged. The problem was that attempting to ping the EPS when AirPort was off or disconnected resulted in nothing.
Johns-iMac:~ john$ arp -a
(10.0.1.1) at 0:3:93:e6:5b:26 on en0 ifscope [ethernet]
(10.0.1.102) at 0:15:e9:dd:e9:dc on en0 ifscope [ethernet]
(10.0.1.103) at 0:80:a3:62:c0:d on en1 permanent [ethernet] ← see this? Don't know how it got that way.
The manpages for "arp" explain that I should have used the "temp" in the initial directed ping packet. I surmise omitting it caused the IP address to be locked to the AirPort network only. (Edit: Tried that, it made no difference.) Anyway, it ought to look like this:
(10.0.1.103) at 0:80:a3:62:c0:d on en0 ifscope [ethernet]
To erase arp entries use Terminal
Johns-iMac:~ john$ sudo arp -da
10.0.1.1 (10.0.1.1) deleted
10.0.1.102 (10.0.1.102) deleted
10.0.1.103 (10.0.1.103) deleted
Johns-iMac:~ john$
After doing that I simply "pinged" 10.0.1.103 and it magically reappeared in the arp table.
4. Additional Resources
http://www.bsmdevelopment.com/Reference/Inst_Hdw_LantronixPrtServ.html
Added for reference. I have not verified any of it.
Related User Tips
Apple ImageWriter printer installation in OS X
Lantronix WiBox WBX2100E Serial Device Server setup notes
Lantronix EPSx-100 to ImageWriter II cable
5. Disclaimer
The user assumes complete responsibility for system instability, crashes, data loss, and other miseries that may result from following the procedures described in this document. Always have a verified and reliable backup plan should something go wrong.
Retain all downloaded .dmg files since their installation packages also contain uninstallers that you may require in the future, and there is no guarantee they will always remain available to download from their respective sources.
________________________________________________