Very Computer

Hi,

How do you set up an output filter for a remote printer in the BSD
printer svc?

I've read the man pages and looked at sources for lpr and what I've
seen is that output filters are only applied (i.e. the pipe is set)
for local printers.

How do you face then with printers with a built-in printing queue? It
would be nice if you could simply specify an `of' for a remote printer
too.

        -Nemo

Fco> How do you set up an output filter for a remote printer in the
Fco> BSD printer svc?

Fco> How do you face then with printers with a built-in printing
Fco> queue? It would be nice if you could simply specify an `of' for a
Fco> remote printer too.

I ran into this problem recently when replacing a LaserJet 4m on a
SunOS box with a new LaserWriter 16/600.  The LaserWriters no longer
have a serial port, so I couldn't just swap, but they do have a built
in lpd service, so I tried that.  Mistake.  The built in queue was a
neat idea, but as you pointed out, you can't do any filtering ... Has
anyone used this feature in a non-trivial environment?

I ended up installing the Columbia Appletalk Package (CAP) papif
filter for talking ethertalk to the printer.  Now I do filtering on
the Sun before shipping it over the net via ethertalk to the printer.
Works well.  You might want to check it out if you are in a similar
situation.
                                                - Dave

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