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Configuring an Apple LaserWriter 12/640 Printer to work with Mountain Lion

I have an Apple LaserWriter 12/640PS printer that works great. But since LION and now MOUNTAIN LION I cannot connect to it. Previously I had an ethernet cable going from my D-Link DIR-635 Router to a LocalTalk (AppleTalk) adapter which then plugs into the printer into it's "Ethernet" (AppleTalk or also called the EtherTalk) port.

OK now I no longer have the D-Link router, rather a new (latest 5th generation) Apple Extreme. More info: my ISP changed some things and the LaserWriter is now "set" on an IP address of: 192.168.0.123 which seems to be out of the range of my ISP allotted numbers – but perhaps I can change that manually by accessing my ISP's modem via the website / setup area??

BUT I am thinking that since I really only need to print to this LaserWriter from my one MacBook Pro running 10.8.2 Mountain Lion – could I not find either a Parallel to USB adapter or some other (USB to DIN8-"LocalTalk" port)??? I used to have some software and a cable (Parallel to DIN8) for my PowerBook back in 1994 that let me print to a parallel-port only printer back then, seems like yesterday actually…

The LaserWriter has these 3 ports: LocalTalk (DIN8 type I think); EtherTalk (not an RJ45 cable!) and Parallel.

I also have a G4-733 Mac from 2001 that can startup in OS 9.2.2 -- but I don't seem to find the Printer with that (via the Ethernet cable to the adapter to the EtherTalk port of the LaserWriter printer). This G4-733 does not have "DIN8" ports - just USB (I believe 2.0 but not certain - USB 2 came out in 1999 so I think this is 2.0 and I can check when I next boot this Mac). It also has FW400 and SCSI but don't think that helps much for printing. Ethernet RJ45 of course also.

Any ideas on what to do here. Again, it worked before via my current set-up and perhaps the key is just changing the IP address (or enabling this address via my Apple Extreme or via the ISP's modem setup via the web address).

Hope this is somewhat clear--- think I have most of the information on one page here. I can run tests, buy adapters or cables if necessary-- have enough cartridges to print another 10,000 pages at least!!

Thanks in advance.

Best regards,

Steve Schulte

Friday 8 February 2013

MacBook Pro, OS X Mountain Lion, Also a Mac SE running 6.0.4 - not upgrading that!

Posted on Feb 7, 2013 11:46 PM

21 replies

sig

Level 8

35,862 points

Mar 29, 2013 4:47 AM in response to Stephen Schulte1

You connect the printer with a d-25 cable to the JetDirect. The JetDirect gets connected via Ethernet to your router.

Mar 29, 2013 6:53 AM in response to sig

Sig,

This is all real new to me so let me see if I've understood:

I need to get the HP JetDirect 300X Print Server 10/100 (like the one shown on eBay)
I then attach a D25 "male-to-male" cable from the HP JetDirect 300X Print Server 10/100 to my Apple LaserWriter 12/640 PS
Not sure if one comes with that eBay offer
I then use a standard J45 Ethernet cable to connect the HP JetDirect 300X Print Server 10/100 to my router

Questions & Clarifications:

At my home office I am using an Airport Extreme (802.11n - generation 5). It has 3 ethernet "out" ports - so I should run an ethernet cable from that Airport Extreme to the HP JetDirect 300X Print Server 10/100 - correct? (And since I am already using all 3 of those ports, I imagine I could put a switch in-between or would I need another router??) FOR NOW: I will simply disconnect one computer using an ethernet cable and test without any switch or router – I will run directly from the Airport Extreme to the HP JetDirect 300X Print Server 10/100.
I am asking the above because I have read somewhere that this did not work with an airport express or airport extreme-- but that could be something that I read that was concerning another type of set-up…
Please verify that I canNOT simply use a USB to Parallel cable and go directly from my MBP (mid-2010 running ML 10.8.3) to the Apple LaserWriter 12/640PS printer??

OK thanks very much for just checking this list / sending a reply. Seems I am getting close but would like to try to find this equipment in Belgium or France or the UK or Germany instead of getting it (likely with 110 volt instead of 220 volt transformer) from the USA--- but that is possible if the only source.

Best regards,

Steve Schulte

Friday 29 March 2013

greg sahli

Level 7

25,508 points

Mar 29, 2013 8:55 AM in response to Stephen Schulte1

Yes, you can try a USB-parallel cable. However, results are often mixed, because those have a data-shifter chip in the larger printer-connector end, and this makes data transfer one-way only. But printer drivers often expect some feedback, and don't get it with a USB-parallel cable. Some(Many?) people find that they have to cycle the printer to get it to print the next document. And there is a special USB driver made just to handle this problem:

http://buymelunch.org/printing/usbtb/

As far as the print server goes, you basically understand it correctly. You will need to use your own print cable from server to printer. I think it's a DB 25 to Centronics cable. You use a switch to get more ethernet ports. A router will complicate things, and is not intended for this.

sig

Level 8

35,862 points

Mar 29, 2013 5:12 PM in response to greg sahli

"A router will complicate things, and is not intended for this."

I mentioned a router because most folks already use one and it is a switch with ethernet ports.

Mar 31, 2013 8:47 AM in response to JBVeenstra

I did what you said, JB Veenstra, with my Personal LaserWriter 320 (1993) and it shows-up on my new iMac with OS 10.8 Mountain Lion—BUT when I click print and the progress screen comes up, it runs for awhile saying "connecting to the printer," but eventually says there's no printer connected.

I'm copying and pasting below what you said, JB—and thanks for your input, but any thoughts about my results?:

"You need a Mac running classic and the Apple Laserwriter Utility (OS9 app)

This app can be used to give the printer a networkname, ip adres, etc.

In OSX you make a LP printer using the ip adres and the PPD of the 12/640

and of you go. I have one still running here in a network with OS 10.5, 10.6 en 10.7

Guess it works with 10.8 too."

sig

Level 8

35,862 points

Mar 31, 2013 10:45 AM in response to Morty Sklar

Occam's Razor applies here.

The most useful statement of the principle is:

"when you have two competing theories that make exactly the same predictions, the simpler one is the better."

Configuring an Apple LaserWriter 12/640 Printer to work with Mountain Lion