Printer Setup

Applicable to: FreeBSD 3.x, 4.x
Updated: March 5, 2000

This Sheet describes the procedure I used to set-up my HP LaserJet 2100 on my FreeBSD machine. Once this setup is completed, FreeBSD can act as a print server (via Samba) for other computers on the local network.

1. Ensure support for the parallel ports is included in the kernel. If not, edit /usr/src/sys/i386/conf/PANDORA and compile a new kernel:

   # Parallel port LPT0 and LPT1 (on add-in card)
   controller      ppbus0
   controller      ppbus1
   device          ppc0    at isa? port? tty irq 7
   device          ppc1    at isa? port? tty irq 9
   device          lpt0    at ppbus0
   device          lpt1    at ppbus1

   See the Cheat Sheet Building a Custom Kernel for the steps needed to recompile your kernel.

2. Make sure that the device nodes /dev/lpt0 and /dev/lpt1 are created; otherwise, create them:

   # cd /dev
   # ./MAKEDEV lpt0
   # ./MAKEDEV lpt1

3. Ensure that the printer is connected to the computer.

4. Test the connection between the computer and the printer. The traditional way is to use lptest:

   # lptest > /dev/lpt0

5. Unfortunately, HP LaserJets will not respond to this plain-ascii output. Therefore, to test the devices, use a Windows machine to print from Word, and print the results to the file test.prn. Copy (or FTP) this file to the FreeBSD machine, and then send it to the printer:

   # cat test.prn > /dev/lpt0

   With this test file, the printer should respond.

6. Edit /etc/printcap:

   Pandora:

   # HP LaserJet 2100 Series PCL 6
   lp|lj|HP LaserJet 2100 Series PCL 6:\
       :lp=/dev/lpt0:sd=/var/spool/output/hplj:\
       :lf=/var/log/lpd-errs:sh:mx#0:\
       :if=/usr/local/libexec/lpfilter:

   Renata:

   # HP DesignJet 600 on lpt0
   plotter|HP DesignJet 1050C:\
       :lp=/dev/lpt0:sd=/var/spool/output/plot:\
       :lf=/var/log/lpd-errs:sh:mx#0:
   	
   # HP LaserJet 5 on lpt1
   lp|lj|HP LaserJet 5:\
       :lp=/dev/lpt1:sd=/var/spool/output/hplj:\
       :lf=/var/log/lpd-errs:sh:mx#0:\
       :if=/usr/local/libexec/lpfilter:

7. Create the LaserJet filter /usr/local/libexec/lpfilter:

   #!/bin/sh
   printf "\033&k2G" && cat && printf "\033&l0H" && exit 0
   exit 2

   Be sure to make this file executable.

8. Edit /etc/rc.conf:

   lpd_enable="YES"              # Run the line printer daemon.
   lpd_program="/usr/sbin/lpd"   # path to lpd, if you want a different one.
   lpd_flags=""                  # Flags to lpd (if enabled).

9. Start the spooler:

   # /usr/sbin/lpd

10. Test the spooler:

    # cat test.prn | lpr (Defaults to lp, may also use -Plp)

11. Test the LaserJet filter:

    # lptest 40 20 | lpr