Very Computer

I have a server with 3 parallel ports.  I need to add at least one more;
I'd prefer 2.

I bought and installed a siig ISA card with high IRQs and 2 ports.  The
card installed fine, and worked fine, but it messed up the system
clock.  The clock speeded up by about 10 min/day.  Pulled the card,
clock went back to normal.

So I need two more ports.

Q:  Is anyone aware of an intelligent parallel port card that works with
linux?  I have not been able to find one.  Something like a digi board
with parallel ports.

Q:  Printer servers:  which work well?  I need a lot of throughput - as
much as I can get.  Our plotters are not upgradeable to take network
cards so I need fast parallel ports.  Plot jobs can run as large as 40
MB with occasional 100 MB.

Thanks,

--Yan

--

Think different
        ride a recumbent
                use Linux.

I have used HP's in a variety of environments, including an Architectural
firm running an HP 400 series plotter with 4 drafters pointing to a single
HP print server. They are using RH6.1 on a Dell as a file and print server.
They only print documents to a Lexmark Optra R + using HP4 drivers on the
Linux queue. Works fine.

HP makes a 3 parallel port model -
http://www.cdw.com/shop/products/default.asp?EDC=133586

Using the HP print server allows them to use the native HP drivers (they are
using ACAD2000 & R13) to the plotters. Linux does not support HP plotters
very well.

We have not had good luck with the Linksys print servers. They have a very
small buffer and spool slowly to plotters.

We are not a big fan of HP due to POOR driver support for Linux, but since
this will effectivly bypass the Linux box and allow you to use your Windows
( I made the assumption...) or ACAD drivers to feed the plotters direct. It
has worked for us so far.

The down side is that you are limited to the RAM on the print server and the
spooler of the local workstation (NT??).

Hope that helps.

Quote:> I have a server with 3 parallel ports.  I need to add at least one more;
> I'd prefer 2.

> I bought and installed a siig ISA card with high IRQs and 2 ports.  The
> card installed fine, and worked fine, but it messed up the system
> clock.  The clock speeded up by about 10 min/day.  Pulled the card,
> clock went back to normal.

> So I need two more ports.

> Q:  Is anyone aware of an intelligent parallel port card that works with
> linux?  I have not been able to find one.  Something like a digi board
> with parallel ports.

> Q:  Printer servers:  which work well?  I need a lot of throughput - as
> much as I can get.  Our plotters are not upgradeable to take network
> cards so I need fast parallel ports.  Plot jobs can run as large as 40
> MB with occasional 100 MB.

> Thanks,

> --Yan

> --

> Think different
> ride a recumbent
> use Linux.

I don't know the speed on the Hawking Print Servers that I use but
they have 10/100 ethernet ports. Got them for only $60 online.
Work with included drivers in win98. NT with TCP/IP printing installed
and lpd under RedHat Linux

Todd (Tech-Rat)
On Fri, 28 Apr 2000 09:27:38 -0400, Yan Seiner

We have two HP plotters and one Some Other Brand....  As well as a line
printer and an old laserjet.  The throughput is critical on the
plotters, so a large (upgradeable) buffer would be nice.

I use both the Win32/AutoCAD 2000 HP drivers as well as Linux's
Ghostscript to drive the plotters.

OTOH, I am using a jetdirect interface on our laserprinter, and HP has
prety good support for it.  Web interface, linux-based management
software, etc.  You have to dig on the web site, but the software is
there, and it's kept current.

Thanks for the advice.

--Yan

--

Think different
        ride a recumbent
                use Linux.