Re: Host-based printing in linux

It's a Lexmark Laser printer, which is hooked up to the printer port on the
PC, and the AS/400 sends the print job to the PC, via a dedicated terminal
session for the printer, and then prints out the job. I'll take a look at
the documentation previously referenced and see if I can get it running. If
not, I may have to use a stand-alone print server (gee... that would be
terrible! <GRIN>)




-----Original Message-----
From: linux5250-bounces-Zwy7GipZuJhWk0Htik3J/[email protected] [mailto:linux5250-bounces-Zwy7GipZuJhWk0Htik3J/[email protected]]
On Behalf Of Scott Klement
Sent: Thursday, June 03, 2010 1:09 PM
To: Linux 5250 Development Project
Subject: Re: [LINUX5250] Host-based printing in linux

Hi John,

> How does one set up a host-based AS/400 printer in Linux?

I'm not 100% sure that I understand your question, but...  the phrase 
"host-based" usually means that all of the logic of interpreting the 
printout is done on the host (aka the PC) instead of on the printer 
itself.

In other words, the printer manufacturer must provide a specialized 
piece of software ("driver") -- one specifically designed for the exact 
piece of hardware at-hand -- that interprets the printer language (PCL, 
PostScript, whatever) and sends precise low-level instructions to the 
printer's motors and logic boards.

Assuming you mean the same thing...

Do you have a driver like this for Linux?   Did your printer 
manufacturer include one?

If not, I'm afraid you're pretty much out of luck.  In the future, I'd 
suggest spending a few extra bucks to get a printer that's not 
host-based.  After all, host-based is usually the hallmark of a very 
cheaply made printer.


> We have several laser printers hooked up to Windows PCs that print
> through Windows from the AS/400 and I'd like to replicate that in
> Linux.

If the printer manufacturer provides Linux drivers, this should be easy. 
  Follow their instructions on how to install the driver.  Make sure you 
can print to it.


> I know I need to get the printer set up in Linux first, but then what? How
> does one set up an AS/400 "Printer" on the local machine?

I'm not really sure... it depends on how your host-based driver takes 
it's input.  I've never encountered a host-based driver on Linux.  I 
would suspect that it would take PostScript input (since most Linux 
software I've used outputs PostScript) and converts it to the printer's 
low-level language.   But I've never actually seen one, so this is 
purely a guess.

But if I'm right, you could use a tool like scs2ps via lp5250d to print 
to it...
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