Connect an old parallel HP LaserJet 6P printer to MacBook Pros (Mac OS X 10.5.8 and 10.8.2)?

I have no other idea than trying to use an alternative driver, that is Gutenprint, giving a try does not harm anything.

Then my last suggestion is get a new printer.

I have been using the HP Direct 170X for about 4 years or so now that I upgraded from PowerPC to Mac OSX. It is an interface thta connects the parallel port on the printer to an ethernet port on my Mac (or, in my case, my ethernet hub).

There are a number of different models with different casings (appearance) all with the same name. The one that I chose (from eBay) has the model designation number on the back as J4102B. There are others with similar designations but I don't know if they would work. I got this one because another post somewhere said it did. In all my research for configuring it and such I don't recall coming across anything that would indicate another different "model" wouldn't work in the same way.

Because I am not an everyday-set-up-a-new-network kind of person, I made a very detailed record of the procedure in case something about the network messed it up.

I have the steps listed below, but first... some notes...

It is possible to configure the JetDirect to a different IP address, but you cannot do it with a Mac. So I booted up Windows on my Mac using Parallels, entered the default IP address of the interface into address bar and up came a page that is imbedded in the interface. If the page doesn't look like it loaded completely (only happened once or twice) then just refresh the page.

To find current IP address: press and hold test button to print config page.

If you want, you can access the parameters using Terminal App in Mac and type: usenet [current IP address]

You can also use Web JetAdmin in Windows but it's been too long since the time I tried for me to remember how this worked. I believe it took a very, very long time for the app to get up and running.

If you want to see what the current address of the interface is, just hook it up with ethernet and parallel cables, turn on the printer and interface and then, on the printer, press the oval shaped button and the round button at the same time. Two test print pages will print. The address will be shown on the 2nd page.

Hewlett Packard HP 6MP Printer

To Configure JetDirect 170X Print Server Model J4102B

1. Turn off printer.

2. Disconnect power to the Print Server

3. Connect the ethernet cable from the computer directly to the Print Server.

4. Hold reset button while plugging power back in. Hold for at least 5 seconds. This will reset the IP address to the default setting: 192.0.0.192

5. Start up Windows (If you try to do so with Mac you will get the message: “Macintosh OS is not supported to run this application.”

6. Click on Start

7. Click on Control Panel

8. Double Click on Network Connections.

9. Right click on the main Connection (1394) and select Properties

10. Under “This connection uses the following items:” select “Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)”

11. Below that, click on” type in 255.255.255.0

15. Click OK

16. Click OK

17. Open Internet Explorer

18. In the address bar, type in 192.0.0.192 to access the Print Server’s built in configuration software

19. Click on Administration

20. Click on Configuration

21. Change TCP Configuration Type: to Manual

21. Change Current IP Address: to 192.168.1.16 (because the range for static IP addresses with the 2Wire router is from 192.168.1. Properties

12. Select “Use the following IP address”

13. In “IP address:” type in the following address 192.0.0.193

14. In “Subnet mask:1 to 192.168.1.63. (The 16 suffix is arbitrary. It can be anything between 1 and 63.) Don’t know about the subnet mask, whether it should be left at 0.0.0.0 or changed to 255.255.255.0 but the 2Wire documentation indicates the 255 configuration.

23. Don’t know if this needs to be done: Change Current Gateway to 192.168.1.16

24. Click on Apply (This may take 3 or 4 minutes to execute. There should be some red text that shows up reading “Changes in process...” and then it will change to “Changes successfully applied.” Note: If the changes are not used (by clicking on Home) the configuration will change back to the default setting.

Note: Once this change is made, it is no longer possible to access this built in software under the current IP configuration of the computer. It will need to be changed back to how it was, typically, DHCP. As a result of this inaccessibility, the functionality of the software will be eliminated. This will include the status indicated at the top of the window regarding the identity of the printer (undetected) and the Print Server (error?)

25. Go back to the Network Connection and change the IP settings back to the original, typically, DHCP.

26. Once this is done, you can access the built in configuration software of the Print Server, using the new address it has been given: 192.168.1.16 Note the status of the printer at the top of the window should indicate the make and model of printer. If it doesn’t, execute the following steps.

27. Windows: Go to control panels. Mac: Go to Applications/Utilities/

28. Windows: Select Printers and Faxes

Mac:

29. Windows: Select Add a printer

30.

Settings for OSX Open Library/Printers/hp/Utilities/Printer Setup Utility.app

or Applications/Utilities/Printer Setup Utility.app

DHCP Disabled

IP Address 192.168.0.16

To connect to print server Use a terminal application in OSX

Telnet 192.168.0.16

Password nil

Help type: ?

Display Settings type: /

I just looked on Amazon. The JetDirect model I have is selling for $5.99 (used) and the other one is $32.00 used.

The pic of the one I have is here:

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/82551381/HP%20JetDirect%20170X%20(J4102B).jpg

And the other one is pictured here:

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/82551381/HP%20JetDirect%20170X%20(Other).jpg

Another tip: Just checked the prices for cartridges. On Amazon... brand new... $37.50 for a genuine HP - not refurbished. 1000 or so pages.Sounds good to me.

Update to my previous posts

YES! You CAN use the Mac to configure your 170x and, according to the original shown in the url here, the HP JetDirect EX Plus print server (J2591A)

10.6: Get an HP print server working with Snow Leopard - Mac OS X Hints

I have converted the instruction given above so they are more explicit.

1. Cold Reset of the print server. This step should never be omitted, as it resets to factory defaults and makes the server reachable on a network to change its details (more on that later). Doing a Cold Reset on most HP products is not as simple as turning the power off then on again.

   For the JetDirect, remove all cables (including power).

   • Plug power in while holding the Test button down for 10 seconds.
   • Unplug power while holding the Test button down for another 10 seconds.
   • Reconnect all cables
   • Power up again. Sounds weird, but this is the only way it will work.
2. After the JetDirect has been powered on for at least two minutes, press the Test button once. It will print out its configuration pages.
3. Look at the 2nd page and look for the IP address of the print server.
   • The IP address will usually be 192.0.0.192, with no subnet mask or network server specified. If the DHCP has been turned off, as instructed later, then the IP address of JetDirect will be continue to have that ip address.
   • If the IP address is reported as 0.0.0.0 then it has not been sitting there in the power on status for a long enough time. Just wait a little longer and print the configuration page again.
4. Open your Mac's System Preferences.
5. Select Network
6. Take note of the IP address settings, including the Subnet Mask and Network Server, because the changes you will make are temporary and you will want to change the settings back to this one you have noted. It could look something like this.
7. Switch the IPv4 configuration to Manually. This will allow your Mac can to connect directly to the JetDirect.
8. Change the IP address to something that will be in the same range as the JetDirect. So if the JetDirect's IP address is the default 192.0.0.192, then change the Mac's IP address to 192.0.0.10.

   Note: If you have configured the JetDirect's IP address to not change even when powered off (as described below) then be sure to enter a temporary address for the Mac that would be in the same range of whatever address the JetDirect is configured to keep even in a power down.

9. Change the subnet mask to address shown in the configuration of the JetDirects subnet mask, if it is specified. If it is not, leave it blank.
10. Change the router to the address shown in the configuration of the JetDirect's default gateway, if it is specified. If it is not, leave it blank.
11. Click on Apply
12. Connect your Mac directly to the JetDirect with an Ethernet cross-over cable. If you use a regular Ethernet, I am told very bad things can / will happen, so make sure it is a cross over cable. They should not be any more than $10 at any computer shop, including Radio Shack, or, in Canada, The Source (formerly Radio Shack)
13. Open Terminal (in Applications » Utilities OR Apple-key and space-bar and type terminal
14. Enter this command:telnet 192.0.0.192 and press return
15. For the HP JetDirect EX Plus print server (J2591A) press return twice. For the HP JetDirect 170x type /. The JetDirect's settings should display.
    • If not, type ? and press Enter; now you will see both the settings and how to change them.
    • If you still cannot connect to the JetDirect or printer, the problem is almost certainly with the Cold Reset. Repeat the reset procedure, and make sure you do it right.
16. Change the JetDirect settings to the same range as the original Mac settings you took a note of earlier above (except for the specific IP address), including the Subnet Mask and Network Server.
    • So if Mac's IP address was 192.168.1.2, use something like 192.168.1.200 for the JetDirect. For my iMac, I use ip: 192.168.1.101and press Return
    • Type subnet-mask: 255.255.255.0or whatever subnet-mask you noted earlier, typically 255.255.255.0
    • Typedefault-gw: 192.168.1.254or whatever network server (router) ip address you noted earlier.
    • Typedhcp-config: 0to turn DHCP off. Otherwise the JetDirect will default to its factory settings if it loses power. If DHCP is turned on and the power goes off, the JetDirect will set it's IP address to the default 192.0.0.192
    • Note: If you do not make these changes within a reasonable time, you will get "timed out" - meaning you will lose the connection and a message will come up saying "Connection closed by foreign host." If this happens, you may not be able to reconnect again. It depends on what changes you were able to complete.
17. Press Enter or / again to check your settings.
18. If things look OK, type quit
19. Quit Terminal.
20. Go to your Mac's network settings in System Preferences and change them back to what you noted earlier.
21. Disconnect the cross over ethernet cable from your Mac and from the JetDirect.
22. Reconnect your Mac to your router.
23. Reconnect your JetDirect to your router.
24. Open System Preferences.
25. Click on Print & Fax.
26. To configure the HP Printer that is connected to the JetDirect
    • If the printer is shown on the list at the left, click on that name of that printer
      • Click on Open Print Queue
      • Click on Printer Setup and continue with next step
    • If the printer is not in in the list
      • click on the + sign
      • Click on IP
      • Select Protocol as HP Jetdirect - Socket
      • Type in the IP Address you gave the JetDirect
      • For Name: give the Printer the name of your choice, such as HP LaserJet 6MP
      • For Location: give the Printer the location of your choice, Office
      • For Print Using: select Select Printer Software…
      • In the search bar, type 6mp
      • Select HP LaserJet 6p/6MP - PostScript
      • Click on OK
      • Click on Add
      • If the Status continues to show "Connecting to printer…" for a while, just click on Configure. The panel of Installable Options will appear.
      • Click on Continue. The printer should appear on the Print & Fax panel, with the appropriate icon.
27. To place the Print Queue in the Dock, select Open Print Queue
    • Hold down the Command (Apple) key and click on the title of the window (HP LaserJet 6MP). This will bring up a menu showing the location of the file
    • Click on the Folder immediately below the name of the Printer, typically "Printers"
    • Drag the icon of the file to the location in the Dock you wish to have it placed

The 6P is the very same printer as the 6MP except that the latter has a Apple's proprietary ADB serial port. I suppose the M was intended to designate it as "Mac."

The JetDirect connects to the parallel port, which both printers have.

I have had good luck with the 6p using an USB to parallel printer adapter. Then I either go direct from the mac USB or from an airport or airport express.

Configuring the printer in preferences under "Use:" I select "Generic PCL Printer"

In the past I have installed CUPS, foomatic, hipjs, Gutenprint . . . in the past I have had success, as far as I remember, with CUPS/Gootenprint -- but no longer.

I have two Macs - 2010 MacBook Pro and 2013 MacAir both running 10.8.5. I have a Trendnet TE100-PIP connected to my 1995 HP Laserjet 4+ I bought when I started my doctoral program. It is the v2 of the devise and I have been using it for almost 4 years with my Mac successfully. My Air was a recent purchase and gave the Pro to my wife as her computer was failing. I don't have an independent setup on the Air (unsuccessful attempts producing a lot of grabage output) but the Pro works great as a server for me and our home office has both machines set up and in proximity to the printer. As long as her machine isn't asleep or off, I can print though it just fine. For whatever it is worth I am using the "CUPS+Gutenprint v.5.2.6" and it works great. Printer is slower than anything on the market today of course but at 128,000 pages and doing strong with only having once replaced the rollers I am loathe to throw it away yet.*FYI, called Trendnet for advice on configuring the current device for the new system and they claimed it was not 10.8 compaitable (only 10.2-10.6 said the agent on the phone). That said, I just printed off airline boarding passes for tomorrow!

Thanks for the good advice .

I had exactly the same problem ; A HP Laserjet 6 which I was trying to work with a Mac Boor Pro running Snow Leopard . I had a USB to Parallel lead . The set up worked with Windows , but not my Mac.

As sugested I went to Gutenprint and downloaded the driver , selected the new driver on the list , and I can now print . It has taken me a year to get thid to work , with 'experts ' telling me to buy a new printer. Thanks !

I use a MacBook Pro 15" (late 2008) and have used an HP Laserjet 6P since 1998 (since 2004 on my Macs). The driver is part of the Gutenprint drivers that all OS X versions have had since 10.4.

The driver name I use is: HP LaserJet Series PCL 4/5

This driver prints perfectly to the 6P.

As for connectivity, I use a parallel to ethernet adapter:

http://www.amazon.com/TL-PS110P-parallel-ethernet-Internet-Printing/dp/B003CFATR 4

Setup is easy on any network. Just make sure to note the name of the queue (I called mine lpt1)

I've used this printer since OS X 10.3 Panther (the driver was obtainable via external driver update) and configuration to add the driver takes under a minute.

Any questions, feel free to ask.

Thanks, Marty!

It seems much much more of a plug and play solution than the HP interface. And if it doesn't require an external power source that would be one less AC/DC transformer to plug into to my power bar and suck up electricity. I've heard all these transformers really add up.