Imagewriter II and Lion.

JLModer2 wrote:

... Does soemone make a 25pin-8pin din adpater or is it best to just hack one of my cables and put a 25 pin connector on it?

I just noticed this - do you have an original ImageWriter or the ImageWriter II?

The latter uses a Mini-DIN 8. The original IW uses a DB25. Links to both manuals appear in the User Tip. Their signals are compatible but the pinouts are obviously different.

Its an Image Writer II. I saw the 25 pin port on the print server, which is what I thought was supposed to be used.

I didn't realize there was a cable that went with the Lantronics for DB9 to RJ45.

I found a 25 pin to Mini DIN8 in my junk box... I am assuming it was a old modem cable. Can I use that with a "null" to the 25 pin on the Lantronics?

John

The DB25 are the print server's parallel ports. Don't use your serial modem cable with them.

The RJ45 is an odd choice for the serial port, but their cable makes it a moot point.

Ok John...

I have all the pieces in play...

I thought I had the lantronics setup correct, used this link for help:

http://www.bsmdevelopment.com/Reference/Inst_Hdw_LantronixPrtServ.html

When I reboot the lantronix, I does print a few lines of text (can't really read it as my ribbon is shot, but looks like it is from the Lantronixs.)

The cable I got was actually one mad for a video editing machine, so I hope it is correct. I had the null in-line, and didn't get anything out of it... Took it out, and it printed the text from the lantronix.

However, When I add the IP printer I can add it by IP address, and it will set it up as a Generic Post Script. It Tries to print, but keeps Pausing, with no output to the printer. If I try to add it by hostname (ie ldp://EPS2-100/ImageWriterII) it won't configure it...

Advice?

When it boots, the Lantronix prints a short configuration summary to the Serial 1 port. It's about half a page of straight ASCII text. If it's intelligible it probably means your cable is OK. If you don't want it to do that there is a way to disable it, or simply use Serial 2, which doesn't output anything upon boot.

I can add it by IP address, and it will set it up as a Generic Post Script.

That's not right. Using a print server doesn't change anything about the printer drivers - you must use the ImageWriter drivers from the Linux website, exactly as you would if you were to use a USB to serial converter. In other words you don't require Part 1 of the User Tip, but you have to install all the other components. Generic Postscript won't work.

I'm working on another User Tip describing how to set up the Lantronix.

http://www.bsmdevelopment.com/Reference/Inst_Hdw_LantronixPrtServ.html

I read that page. My User Tip will be much better. 😉

Neither EZWebCon nor Java will be necessary.

In the meantime you can contact Lantronix. They won't have a clue what an ImageWriter is, but their technical support is excellent.

Thanks John...

So just skip Step one, and all else needs to be done?

I'll try it tonight, and let you know!

John

Not exactly, which is the reason for writing a separate User Tip. Basically though, you will be installing an IP printer with correct addresses specified for both the print server and the serial port, using the ImageWriter drivers from the Linux Foundation - not PostScript.

From what you describe, you didn't install the drivers yet. The new User Tip will have a procedure and screenshots appropriate for the serial print server solution.

I guess I'll have to wait for the user tip then...

I installed the 4 packages you mentioned in the Keyspan User Tip. Attempted to add it as an IP Printer...

It will add if I use the IP address (10.0.1.3), set as LPD and select the Foomatic driver... But, instead of going into "Pause", now it flows through the quene, and does nothing...

It will not add from hostname. I have the host name set as //EPS2-100/ImageWriterII/

I can ping 10.0.1.3, but not the hostname.

So I must have something set wrong in the lantronix. Under Services, I have an error that says "Err::Unknown OID Modem Control"

I did add the port, and configure it as the other doc I found sugesseted. I set the port to 9600/N/8/1, with CTSRTS enabled.

The printer does reliably print the "boot" sequence from the Lantronix, so I am pretty confident the cable and Printer Server are OK.

Sigh...

Add the ImageWriter as an IP printer. I suggest you assign the Lantronix a static IP address - make it high enough so that it's not likely to be assigned by your router, e.g. 10.0.1.100, or reserve that IP address from its DHCP assignment table. Specify the IP address in the print server under Server Properties as in the screenshot below.

Add your desired IP address and de-select DHCP. Update Server Settings when you're finished. Don't forget the IP address otherwise you'll have to factory reset it.

So I must have something set wrong in the lantronix. Under Services, I have an error that says "Err::Unknown OID Modem Control"

That doesn't affect printing. Here is another screenshot with the IW powered up and ready to print, using its default serial port settings:

Ok I did just as you said...

I added the Imagewriter II as an IP printer with an address of 10.0.1.3, which is the address that is statically set in the EPS2-100, as well as reserved in my router.

When I try to print to it, I can see it clear the print Q, but nothing prints. No error, just goes to nowhere.

I have the driver set to Apple ImageWriter II, Foomatic + iwhi. In print preferences it showas as idle and green.

The Lantronix looks similar to your screenshots. I have attached pictures of the pages I thought were relevant:

The only difference I see on yours is that CTS: is NO in mine, and Yes in yours...

Thanks for your help!

John

To clarify:

I have attempted to add as IP printer with:

IP address: 10.0.1.3

and

URI: lpd://EPS2-100/ImageWriterII/

I have done this through Printer Preferences, as well as CUPS. All with the same results.

It concerns me that I can Ping the Lantronix by IP address fine, however I cannot ping it by hostname.

I *Think* something is not set in the lantronix correctly.

The only difference I see on yours is that CTS: is NO in mine, and Yes in yours...

That means one of two things: either the IW is asserting its hardware handshake signal, which it will do if the Select button is not illuminated, or the cable is miswired. It won't print in that condition. It's also possible, though unlikely, that some other hardware problem exists.

If the Select button LED is illuminated and you still see NO on that page then investigate the cable.

Here's what you need:

[EPS-100] >

[Lantronix's proprietary RJ45 to DB9F cable] >

[DB9M to DB9F "null modem" adapter] >

[DB9M to mini-DIN 8 adapter] >

[standard Apple "peripheral-8" cable] >

[ImageWriter]

The DB9M to mini-DIN 8 adapter might be the hard part. I don't recall where I found mine, but it's a simple adapter that just passes the signals straight through - it doesn't swap anything. I may have found it on eBay.

I have done this through Printer Preferences, as well as CUPS. All with the same results.

With the print server, I don't think you need to do anything with CUPS. You certainly can add a printer there, but I believe System Preferences > Print & Scan is all you need. It's one of the things I need to confirm before publishing the User Tip. I want to start with a brand new, unadulterated Mavericks installation, which is the reason it's taking some time.

Ok, it is possible that the cable is incorrect. The select light is on.

The cable I am using now is from an A/V setup, which is DB9M to MiniDIN8 M.

So I have the Lantronix>RJ45/DB9F>DB9M/MINIDIN8M>IW.

It does print from the Lantronix in this config, meaning it will print the boot seq. when on port 1.

If I put the NULL in the cable, it will not print the boot seq.

I can't seem to find the adapter you talk of, lots of DB9F to Mini8 M, but not a DB9M to to Mini8F adapeter.

Do you know the Pinouts? Can I just make a RJ45-Mini8F out of one of my peripheral-8 cables?