I/A PRINTERS GUIDE

By: Angel Corbera
email: acorbera@foxboro.com

(Last update: 18 Dec 2003)

* This document reflects my observations and experiments with printers on I/A systems, specially on the Solaris platform at software versions 4.3/6.1 or higher.
* You can always return to this page by clicking the Home icon: at the bottom of any page.

* To go to my personal web page click here.
* My scripts for I/A are at the end of this page.
* How I run my first marathon?
My 'maratones'.

* To see my other Troubleshooting Guides:
- "C Compiler (ver 5.0) Installation on I/A Stations at v 4.3/6.1/6.2 Troubleshooting Guide".
- "Annunciator Keyboard Installation Trooubleshooting Guide".
- "Troubleshooting Control Processor Booot Problems".
please visit Foxboro CSC web site (Resources/Troubleshooting Guides).

  1. PRE-INSTALLATION SCENARIO
    I want to buy a new printer for my I/A system!
    1. Printer Types
    2. Printer-Host connection types
    3. Recommendations, restrictions, and limitations
    4. System Definition

  2. NEW INSTALLATION SCENARIO
    I am ready to install my new printer!
    1. Hardware installation
    2. Software installation
    3. Additional steps for certain printers (Quick Fixes, patches)
        PCL3 printer on Ultras
        Dot-matrix printers direct connected to 51's
        PostScript printer on Comm Processor
        PostScript printer on PW
        Diskette K0173UW
        Modification of SysDef's prt_type.dat
    4. Final Tests

  3. POST INSTALLATION SCENARIO (TROUBLESHOOTING)
    My printer is NOT working!
    1. Master Reference Table
    2. Basic Tests
    3. Configuration Tests
    4. Spooler Tests
    5. Printscreen debugging
    6. Other problems

  4. UPGRADE/REPLACEMENT SCENARIO
    My printer is broken and I need to replace it!.
    1. Get old printer Part Number
    2. Choosing a replacement

  5. APPENDIXES

    1. Appendix A: New & Old I/A printers, cables and parts
    2. Appendix B: Printer Performance times
    3. Appendix C: Printer types and descriptions
    4. Appendix D: System Definition Printer-Interface-Host parameters
    5. Appendix E: Scripts and files from diskette K0173UW Rev A
    6. Appendix E2: Scripts and files from diskette K0173UW Rev B
    7. Appendix F: Fixing "faulted"printers (method 1)
    8. Appendix G: Fixing "faulted"printers (method 2)
    9. Appendix H: How printers are created
    10. Appendix I: /etc/printers
    11. Appendix J: Delete/Undelete Printer Method
    12. Appendix K: System Management Printer display
    13. Appendix L: Verifying Printer Configuration Parameters
    14. Appendix M: Printer switches setup
    15. Appendix N: Non-Standard Printers
    16. Appendix O: Script upd_admin
    17. Appendix P: Ascii on PCL3/PostScript
    18. Appendix Q: bpatch
    19. Appendix R: Printscreen background info
    20. Appendix S: Filters
    21. Appendix T: Lexmark Printer Setup
    22. Appendix U: Printer related Helpful Hints
    23. Appendix Y: Source code of "chk_prtr"
    24. Appendix Z: Sample report from "chk_prtr
    25. Appendix Z1: Files for the chk_prtr Sample Report