Sun Microsystems, Inc.  Sun System Handbook - ISO 3.4 June 2011 Internal/Partner Edition
   Home | Current Systems | Former STK Products | EOL Systems | Components | General Info | Search | Feedback

Asset ID: 1-72-1006179.1
Update Date:2009-09-28
Keywords:

Solution Type  Problem Resolution Sure

Solution  1006179.1 :   How to install a USB 1.x printer on Sun Fire[TM] 280r.  


Related Items
  • Sun Fire 280R Server
  •  
  • Solaris SPARC Operating System
  •  
Related Categories
  • GCS>Sun Microsystems>Servers>Entry-Level Servers
  •  

PreviouslyPublishedAs
208652


Symptoms
I have a postscript printer that I would like to install on my Sun Fire[TM]
280r USB port but I'm not sure of the procedure or which device to use.

Resolution
This procedure will explain prerequisites and procedure for installing a
USB type postscript printer on Sun Fire[TM] 280r USB port.
Prerequisites.
----------
1.) Solaris 8 10/00 (minimum).
# cat /etc/release
		Solaris 8 10/00 s28s__u2wos_11b SPARC
	Copyright 2000 Sun Microsystems, Inc. A ll Rights Reserved.
Assembled 31 August 2000
2.) Verify 'usbprn' driver exist in /etc/driver_aliases
# grep usbprn /etc/driver_aliases
usbprn "usbif,class7.1"
3.) Identifying USB printer device.
The USB printer device gets built in /dev/printers directory. By default
there is a device called '0' which is a link to /dev/ecpp0.  This device is
for the SUN's builtin parallel port and should not be used for USB.
The best way to identify the USB printer device is to check the contents of
this directory while hot plugging the printer. Each hotplug will create and
delete the device.
Ex.
# ls /dev/printers
0        <-- before attaching printer just default device exist.
#
#ls /dev/printers
0  1    <-- after attaching printer, device '1' is created. This is the USB
printer device.
#
# ls -l /dev/printers/1
lrwxrwxrwx   1 root     root          48 Dec  9 12:37 1 ->
../../devices/pci@1f,0/usb@c,3/printer@2:printer
#
# ls /dev/printers
0        <-- attached printer removed, device '1' removed.
#
USB device in this example is /dev/printers/1
4.) USB Patch installed.
Solaris 8.  (109896-22 or later)
# showrev -p | grep 109896
Patch: 109896-18 Obsoletes:......  <-- needs to be upgraded to -22 or
later.
#
Solaris 9. (115553-03 or later)
# showrev -p | grep 115553-03
Patch: 115553-03 Obsoletes:......
later.
#
5.) USB port. Preferably a usb port on the SF280r root hub (builtin).
6.) Cable, usb type A/B. 5m (16' 4") maximum lenght.
Three methods for printer installation
==============================
1.) CLI  (Command Line Interface) method uses 'lpadmin(1M)'.
2.) ADMINTOOL(1M)  GUI  Note. This method will be EOL in a future Solaris
release.
3.) PRINTMGR(1M) GUI.
Attaching Printer
==============
SUN recommends initially attaching any USB device directly to the USB root
hub on the SUN machine using a 5m (16' 4") or less USB type A/B cable. If
the printer supports Full Speed (FS) 12Mb/s or High Speed (HS) 480Mb/s  the
cable should be USB 2.0 (HS) rated (Ie. data lines twisted and shielded).
Once confirmed to work the USB device can be moved to external self powered
hub and retested. If the printer supports USB 2.0 specification you will
need to install a USB 2.0 pci addon card to utilize the 2.0 speed
(480Mb/s) then attach the printer directly to the card. Otherwise, the
printer will run at FS (12Mb/s) max.
Pre-configuration Printer Test
========================
This simple test will give you some indication the printer works. If this
test fails please check to make sure printer is attached to a usb port and
printer is powered on. Make sure the test file is a postscript file and the
printer supports postscript. If the printer works then use one of the three
methods below to configure for Solaris spooling.
Ex.
# cat <postscript file> > /dev/printers/1
#
Configuring Printer for Solaris
========================
CLI - lpadmin(1M)
-------------
# lpadmin -p usbptr -v /dev/printers/1 -T PS -I postscript
UX:lpadmin: WARNING: "/dev/printers/1" is accessible by others.
TO FIX: If other users can access it you may get
unwanted output. If this is not what you
want change the owner to "lp" and change
the mode to 0600.
Processing continues.
# enable usbptr
printer "usbptr" now enabled
# accept usbptr
destination "usbptr" now accepting requests
#
# lpstat -p usbptr  <-- check status. Should be 'idle'.
printer usbptr is idle. enabled since Dec 08 10:23 2003. available.
#
ADMINTOOL(1M)  GUI
----------------
# /usr/bin/admintool &
GUI will appear.
Select "Browse" ---> Printer
Select "Edit" ---> Add  ---> Local Printer
Printer Name: <1-14 chars>
Description: <general description of printer or its location>
Printer Port: /dev/printers/1	1 = device identified in Prerequisites step
3.
Printer Type: Postscript
File Contents: Postscript
Fault Notification: Write to Superuser
Options: Default Printer (optional)
	Always Print Banner (optional)
User Access List: all
Select 'OK'  <-- to add with above selections.
Printer should now be listed.
# lpstat -p usbptr  <-- check status. Should be 'idle'.
printer usbptr is idle. enabled since Dec 08 10:23 2003. available.
#
PRINTMGR(1M) GUI
--------------
/usr/sadm/admin/bin/printmgr &
Gui will appear asking to select Name Service type.  Select  your current
name service or
'files' if not sure.   Select 'OK' to accept choice.
Under 'Printer' select 'New Attached Printer"
Printer Name: Enter <1-14 chars> for a name		
Description: <any general description of printer or location of printer.
Printer Device: /dev/printers/1
Printer Type: Postscript
File Contents: Postscript
Fault Notification: Write to Superser
Options: Default Printer (optional)
	Always Print Banner (optional)
User Access List: all
Select 'OK' to configure printer.
Printer should now appear on list.
# lpstat -p usbptr  <-- check status. Should be 'idle'.
printer usbptr is idle. enabled since Dec 08 10:23 2003. available.
#
Testing Printer under Solaris
=======================
# lp -d usbptr /etc/inittab
request id is usbptr-1 (1 file)
#


Additional Information
To allow other SUN machines to use this printer make sure 'printer' entry
in
/etc/inetd.conf and /etc/services is uncommented.

To make printer the 'default'.
# lpadmin -d <printer>

This procedure applicable for other newer SUN machines with USB interfaces.

Using a USB-Parallel adapter won't work.

Product
Sun Fire 280R Server
Solaris 9 Operating System
Solaris 8 10/00 (S8U2)

usb, printer, install, config, postscript, sun fire, 280r, usbprn, PRINTMGR, ADMINTOOL, lpadmin, hub
Previously Published As
72868

Change History
Date: 2003-12-16
User Name: 81292
Action: Approved
Comment: Fixed some format errors. Ok to publish
Version: 0
Date: 2003-12-10
User Name: 29883
Action: Approved
Comment: ready to publish
Version: 0
Date: 2003-12-09
User Name: 26914
Action: Approved
Comment: Re-edited document. Ready for 2nd Tech Review.
Version: 0
Date: 2003-12-08
User Name: 26914
Action: Updated
Comment:
Version: 0
Date: 2003-12-08
User Name: 81292
Action: Approved
Comment: Added trademarks. OK to publish
Version: 0
Date: 2003-12-08
User Name: 27008
Action: Approved
Comment: Looks Fine...
Version: 0
Date: 2003-12-08
User Name: 26914
Action: Approved
Comment: Ready for Tech Review
Version: 0
Date: 2003-12-03
User Name: 26914
Action: Created
Comment:
Version: 0
Product_uuid
296f2476-0a18-11d6-86cf-c8096baa086c|Sun Fire 280R Server
4f82caac-36f3-11d6-866b-85f428ef944e|Solaris 9 Operating System
a85a4016-2bd5-11d6-8e94-bd970cb0ab87|Solaris 8 10/00 (S8U2)

Attachments
This solution has no attachment
  Copyright © 2011 Sun Microsystems, Inc.  All rights reserved.
 Feedback