This discussion is locked
Ric Lobosco
Level 1 (120 points)
Notebooks

Q: Networking LW 360

I just got a used iBook, and will be setting it up, moving files over, etc., eventually getting rid of my old (beige) G3-MT, but retaining my LaserWriter 360 (for now, until I can afford something more current).

I understand I need a LocalTalk to ethernet adapter (which I'm hunting for), and some sort of bridge software that I think can be found in Apple's archives?

Does OS 10.4.x have drivers that will work on this printer? Or will I need to go elsewhere for them?

Do I NEED a print server, or simply hook the adapter to the network?

Also, I saw this on an old post about networking an LS360, and didn't know what it meant:
These are Postscript level 2 printers that do not support LPR/LPD.

What's "LPR/LPD"?

I have heard that some of my old OS9 apps, running in "Classic" MAY not print, but I suppose I'll have to test that, once I get further down the road, and before I go and sell my G3-MT, Lombard and other gear.....

Thanks in advance
Ric

iBook, Mac OS X (10.4)

Posted on Oct 2, 2008 5:41 PM

by Grant Bennet-Alder,Solvedanswer
Grant Bennet-Alder Grant Bennet-Alder
Level 9 (61,385 points)
Desktops
A:
"But for now, I can ignore LPR/LPD?"


Yes. More and more Printers you buy New today are adding it, but its features are sort of generic. You have better control and more options using Appletalk.

"One last clarification: Does OSX have drivers for the LW360 built in? "


Yes. All the Printers that are at least Postscript Level 2 use the built-in LaserWriter Driver and a PPD file that specifies the features and options specific to that particular printer. All are installed automatically, not optional. You would have to work very hard to remove them.

Posted on Oct 3, 2008 12:57 PM

Close
Ric Lobosco

Q: Networking LW 360

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by Grant Bennet-Alder,Helpful

    Grant Bennet-Alder Grant Bennet-Alder Oct 2, 2008 5:51 PM in response to Ric Lobosco
    Level 9 (61,385 points)
    Desktops
    Oct 2, 2008 5:51 PM in response to Ric Lobosco
    "I understand I need a LocalTalk to ethernet adapter (which I'm hunting for), AND some sort of bridge software that I think can be found in Apple's archives? "


    That should read OR "LocalTalk Bridge" software from Apple's Archives to run on my Beige G3, so that the G3 running pre-OSX software (with both Ethernet and LocalTalk ports) can act as the adapter.

    This article explains what LPR/LPD is, and what it does.:

    24512- What is LPR?

  • by Ric Lobosco,

    Ric Lobosco Ric Lobosco Oct 2, 2008 10:38 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder
    Level 1 (120 points)
    Notebooks
    Oct 2, 2008 10:38 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder
    That should read OR "LocalTalk Bridge" software from Apple's Archives
    to run on my Beige G3, so that the G3 running pre-OSX software (with
    both Ethernet and LocalTalk ports) can act as the adapter.


    Hmmm... I didn't realize that was what the software was for... But since I'm planning to phase out the G3, I guess I won't need the s/w?

    I'm guessing I only need a print server IF (or when) I send jobs to the printer from more than one 'puter?



    This article explains what LPR/LPD is, and what it does.:


    I might be sorry I asked! #:-0
    Seriously, I only HALFWAY understood this article....

    But I do thank you, Grant! You're always a source of so much good info!

    Thanks,
    Ric

  • by Grant Bennet-Alder,Helpful

    Grant Bennet-Alder Grant Bennet-Alder Oct 3, 2008 6:18 AM in response to Ric Lobosco
    Level 9 (61,385 points)
    Desktops
    Oct 3, 2008 6:18 AM in response to Ric Lobosco
    "I'm guessing I only need a print server IF (or when) I send jobs to the printer from more than one 'puter? "


    You can be actively printing to that printer from any one of all the computers on your network at any given time. In addition, the printer has some memory (and you can add a bit more). When you try to send a second job. and the printer memory is full, it will report that it is busy. If there is some extra room in memory, it will begin to accept the new job from a second computer.

    What most folks find on a home network is (except in very rare instances) a print server is not needed. Occasionally, you have to wait for the previous job from another computer to finish before you can print. In a busy office, waiting to start to print might be a pain, so a print server could be an advantage, but is not a requirement to have access from every computer.

  • by Ric Lobosco,

    Ric Lobosco Ric Lobosco Oct 3, 2008 8:47 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder
    Level 1 (120 points)
    Notebooks
    Oct 3, 2008 8:47 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder
    Thanks, Grant! I think I got it... single computer, the spooler will store the print jobs. If/when I add another 'puter to the network and try to print from two (or more) pc's at the same time, a print server would be a good thing.

    But for now, I can ignore LPR/LPD?

    One last clarification: Does OSX have drivers for the LW360 built in?

    You've been a GREAT help!
    Ric

  • by Grant Bennet-Alder,Solvedanswer

    Grant Bennet-Alder Grant Bennet-Alder Oct 3, 2008 12:57 PM in response to Ric Lobosco
    Level 9 (61,385 points)
    Desktops
    Oct 3, 2008 12:57 PM in response to Ric Lobosco
    "But for now, I can ignore LPR/LPD?"


    Yes. More and more Printers you buy New today are adding it, but its features are sort of generic. You have better control and more options using Appletalk.

    "One last clarification: Does OSX have drivers for the LW360 built in? "


    Yes. All the Printers that are at least Postscript Level 2 use the built-in LaserWriter Driver and a PPD file that specifies the features and options specific to that particular printer. All are installed automatically, not optional. You would have to work very hard to remove them.

  • by Ric Lobosco,

    Ric Lobosco Ric Lobosco Oct 23, 2008 5:58 PM in response to Ric Lobosco
    Level 1 (120 points)
    Notebooks
    Oct 23, 2008 5:58 PM in response to Ric Lobosco
    I've purchased an AsanteTalk (Ethernet to LocalTalk adapter), and tried to set it up, through my wireless network, to print to my LW360 Select, but no luck!

  • by Ric Lobosco,

    Ric Lobosco Ric Lobosco Oct 23, 2008 6:19 PM in response to Ric Lobosco
    Level 1 (120 points)
    Notebooks
    Oct 23, 2008 6:19 PM in response to Ric Lobosco
    I've purchased a used AsanteTalk (Ethernet to LocalTalk adapter) for a song, and tried to set it up, through my wireless network, to print to my LW360 Select, but no luck! So I decided to renew this thread.

    The AsanteTalk shows the right lights, as does the bridge I'm hardwired to. I fumbled around in the OSX "Printer Setup Utility" and THINK I set up the LW360 as the default printer, but when I try to print, the job "stops."

    My old beige G3 (OS9) should see a new selection in the Chooser, according to the Asante documentation, but no such luck. (I plan to get rid of the G3, when I know the iBook does everything I need it to do.)

    I DON'T suspect a problem with the adapter YET, but something else, probably how I'm trying to configure the iBook, and my difficulty grasping how OSX works (far different than OS9).

    PS: I have a WRT54GL "hacked" to be a remote bridge to the home wireless network (so I could connect my old G3), and I've plugged the AsanteTalk into one of it's ports (indicator on the bridge for that port lights up, as do the Asante "power" "link integrity" and Rx/Tx handshake when 1st powering up.

    Anything you can recommend to walk me through proper configuration (or diagnosing) will be most appreciated!!! I'd like to get the iBook set up right first, then contact Asante if it's still not working.

    Message was edited by: Ric Lobosco

  • by Grant Bennet-Alder,

    Grant Bennet-Alder Grant Bennet-Alder Oct 23, 2008 6:57 PM in response to Ric Lobosco
    Level 9 (61,385 points)
    Desktops
    Oct 23, 2008 6:57 PM in response to Ric Lobosco
    Hi Rick-

    Some third-party wireless Bridges/Access points do not consider AppleTalk packets to be valid Ethernet packets, so they discard them. For debugging, start with a wired connection to bypass this potential problem.

    All these AppleTalk Bridges, but the AsanteTalk in particular, do not acquire/re-acquire Printers that drop out for any reason. Asante issues instructions that all other devices should be powered up and stable (printer lights stopped flashing) and only then should the AsanteTalk be powered up.

    Some AsanteTalk models have an 8-pin serial cord, others have a PhoneNet jack. If you are using PhoneNet boxes and phone cords, the open phone jack on the last PhoneNet box is supposed to have a terminating resistor mounted in it. If you don't have one, there are ways to make one out of common parts, but without the terminator the connection will be unreliable. You may be able to select the printer in the Chooser, but then not be able to print.

    Also with PhoneNet boxes, be certain your phone cord has all four wires and contacts. PhoneNet uses the outer ones not usually used for telephones, so all four must be present in the cord.

  • by Ric Lobosco,

    Ric Lobosco Ric Lobosco Oct 27, 2008 2:36 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder
    Level 1 (120 points)
    Notebooks
    Oct 27, 2008 2:36 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder
    Sorry for the delay, couldn't log into the support discussions over the last few days....

    Thanks for the obvious reminder: I tried a crossover ethernet cable, and got a little more (dialog boxes), but the print job stops again.

    The AsanteTalk has the 8-pin DIN LocalTalk connector. Can't find "Chooser" in OSX.

    I powered up the printer fully, then the AsanteTalk fully, then tried to print. The job shows up in the Print Monitor, but then the job is stopped. I try to restart, and after about 30 seconds, it stops the job again. If I re-attach the printer to my old G3, it prints just fine!

    The AsanteTalk documentation isn't the clearest, but it seems I've done what I'm supposed to. The OSX Help files weren't clear and helpful, but then I'm not connecting through USB or FW.... I'm still suspicious of the OSX printer set-up, although I can't be sure.

    Must I also reboot my iBook (in some sequence) to be able to print?

    Thanks!

    Message was edited by: Ric Lobosco

  • by Grant Bennet-Alder,

    Grant Bennet-Alder Grant Bennet-Alder Oct 27, 2008 3:05 PM in response to Ric Lobosco
    Level 9 (61,385 points)
    Desktops
    Oct 27, 2008 3:05 PM in response to Ric Lobosco
    You should be able to see the AsanteTalk& LaserWriter printer on your OS 9 Mac, as an AppleTalk Printer, once you assign AppleTalk to the Ethernet port with the Appletalk Control Panel. The fastest way to accomplish that is to open the Chooser, make Appletalk Inactive there, and close the Chooser window. Then open the AppleTalk Control Panel and assign AppleTalk to the Ethernet port. Then open the Chooser again and select LaserWriter 8 in the left side of the window, and your LaserWriter should appear in the right pane, ready to be configured.

    In Mac OS X, you need to use Printer Utility to Add a Printer. Take extreme care to add your Printer only as an AppleTalk Printer, not as LPR/LPD or other printer. Once you have Printer Utility looking for AppleTalk Printers, the printer should be found automatically in less than a quarter minute. You should not have to specify its name, IP Address, or anything about it until it is found. Once it is found, you should select the LaserWriter 360 from the list of available configurations.

  • by Ric Lobosco,

    Ric Lobosco Ric Lobosco Oct 27, 2008 6:01 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder
    Level 1 (120 points)
    Notebooks
    Oct 27, 2008 6:01 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder
    I went ahead and contacted Asante. We hooked up the iBook to the AsanteTalk via x-over cable, diddled about with the iBook configuration (quite a bit, and with set up screens I hadn't seen). I successfully got the iBook to print in OSX. (I didn't try the iBook in OS9.)

    Not so, connected through my bridge... (The iBook showed no printer to select.)

    My tech buddy had me get a Linksys wrt54gl router last year, and load different firmware to make it behave as a remote wireless bridge so I could connect my antique G3 to the household wireless network. THAT was a **** of a chore!

    Asante tech isn't sure the Linksys can pass AppleTalk, or perhaps it's not enabled. Got a message out to my friend to help me with this. Or I'll contact Linksys. If this works, I'll address the config again, test OS9, and finish the migration from my G3 to the iBook.

    My fingers are crossed, and I'm trying to be patient!

  • by Ric Lobosco,

    Ric Lobosco Ric Lobosco Nov 13, 2008 5:13 PM in response to Ric Lobosco
    Level 1 (120 points)
    Notebooks
    Nov 13, 2008 5:13 PM in response to Ric Lobosco
    Well, I've been unsuccessful at determining how to get AppleTalk to pass through the Comcast wireless gateway or the Linksys WRT (modified to be a bridge). I'm putting that off in favor of just getting fully up and running on my iBook and getting rid of my old beige G3 MT and other ancient gear.

    I had to have Asante Tech Support's help in configuring OSX to allow me to print, and I've connected the iBook via Ethernet port by x-over cable to the AsanteTalk, then LocalTalk cable to the printer. (I copied down the configuration procedure, what to do if it "hangs," and configuring it to print over the wireless network, just in case.)

    (OSX is so NOT intuitive, compared with OS6, 7, 8 and 9. I do like a few things, but I also miss some things, and there's lots I still don't get! Perhaps I can change some things to behave more like I'm used to, but I suspect I'll have to read an encyclopedia about OSX to begin to understand it.)

    I'm able to print to the LW360 from OSX, but more importantly from most of my OS9 apps. I have a couple old apps I use RARELY (Illustrator & PageMaker) that I haven't yet been able to load onto the iBook, since I have to burn the install floppies to CDs and try to install them that way. And I haven't yet print from FileMaker. Assuming all this works, I can dispose of all my old gear, just use the iBook, and gradually upgrade programs and peripherals when I can afford to.

    Might sell the Linksys WRT, but certainly includes getting a new(er) USB or preferably network-ready printer, and recycle the AsanteTalk. I hope that there's folks in the cyberworld (eBay, CL) who will have a use for my old stuff, 'cuz I hate to see it pollute a 3rd World junk yard!

    Thanks all, for being helpful and informative!

  • by Solutionary,

    Solutionary Solutionary Dec 14, 2008 2:46 PM in response to Ric Lobosco
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 14, 2008 2:46 PM in response to Ric Lobosco
    I just ran into a problem hooking up my old Asante Talk with an HP Laserwriter 5MP to my new MacBook running Leopard. After MUCH screwing around, I decided to try hooking it up to my older powerbook to see if it would work. I fired it up and I got the message that Appletalk was not turned on in my ethernet network setting. Once I turned that on, bang, the printer showed up no problem.

    So I then went to the new MacBook to make sure Appletalk was turned on in my Airport setting (I wanted to hook the printer up to the network via my wireless netgrear router) and it was on, but the printer just wouldn't show up in the Appletalk network. I tried direct connect via a direct connect ethernet cable like I used on the older powerbook and WA LA, it showed up on the Apple talk network.

    So I tried again hooking it up to the Netgear router and nothing. Then I started trying different eternet cables. One after another till suddenly it worked! So the problem for me was with the eternet cables. I had a whole bag that looked alike but apparently they are quite different or just bad. All I needed was the right ethernet cable and the Asantetalk worked perfectly.

    Hope this helps. I know have my old HP Laserwriter 5MP cranking along for another many, many years!