How to use Netcat with the Axis 5400 Print Server and SCO Unix

by Tom Melvin; tom@tkrh.demon.co.uk

Netcat is a program that will output (print) to any arbitrary IP port. This is especially handy for avoiding problems with SCO lpr and HPNP. The idea is to use the stock SCO print spooler, and to use netcat to output to the print server.

Axis docs

5400 Home Page

Axis 5400 Support Page

Netcat Source and binaries

http://www.LearnByDestroying.com/sco/lp/

Setup the Axis 5400 Print Server using Unix

The easiest way is to let DHCP assign the initial address for you and then point your browser at it. Otherwise.

arp -s 192.168.10.201 00:AD:C9:B3:61:77

The MAC address is on the bottom of the print server.

Once assigned an address you should be able to point a browser at it (or use telnet/ftp) to setup the other details. e.g. telnet 192.168.10.201

Use the username root and the default password is pass.

Between telnet and ftp - ftp is far the simplist way is to:

[testbox:ttyp0] root # ftp 192.168.10.201
Connected to 192.168.10.201.
220 AXIS 5400 FTP Network Print Server V6.10 Feb  7 2000 ready.
Name (192.168.10.201:root): root
331 User name ok, need password
Password:
230 User logged in
Remote system type is unknown.
Using ascii mode to transfer files.
ftp> get config
local: config remote: config
200 PORT command successful.
150 Opening data connection for config (192,168,10,143,4,36), (mode ascii).
226 Transfer complete.
6834 bytes received in 0.22 seconds (29.79 Kbytes/s)
ftp> 221 Goodbye.
[testbox:ttyp0] root #

Now edit the config file to suit and when you are happy use the ftp put command to send the config back to the print server.

You can check the setting by pressing the 'test' button for a test page, if you press the test button twice you will get a printout of all the setting.

Switch off all un-used protocols, set the RTEL_PR1 to 9101, e.g. the port number you want to print to.

Add entry to /etc/hosts file
Add an entry to /etc/hosts that looks like this:

192.168.10.201 axis

The axis is now the hostname of the printer (not the printer name).

Create a file called /etc/printers
Add an entry to /etc/printers that looks like this:

#printer_name:printer_hostname:port_number
document:axis:9101

Setting up the Unix print spooler

Copy one of the example interface files into the lp model directory (/usr/spool/lp/model) and then:

Make sure you can print from the command line before you start
lpstat -t | /usr/lib/lponlcr | netcat -h axis -p 9101
Create the printer with /usr/lib/lpadmin -m netcat.dumb -v /dev/null -p name-of-printer
Edit /etc/printers with the name-of-printer: host name : and port number.
Make sure /etc/printers is owned by root, readable by anyone, chmod'd to 644
accept name-of-printer ; enable name-of-printer
Print a dummy file.

What port numbers?
(taken from Axis support page).

What TCP port number should I specify on my client system if I want to make a TCP connection to the print server? I tried printing to port 9100 which works for my HP JetDirect devices but not for the Axis unit.

The TCP port number in the Axis unit is user definable simply by editing the value of the RTEL_PRx parameter. You may set the value to any valid/free TCP port number you like, such as 9100. The port number is associated with a logical printer in the print server. When you print to the defined port number it will go through the associated logical printer on the Axis unit.

If you have "HP JetAdmin Support" set to YES and "Axis Print System Support" set to YES then the following ports will automatically be reserved for use as shown below:

9100	HP JetAdmin
9900	Axis Print System - PR1
9901	Axis Print System - PR2
9902	Axis Print System - PR3

Comments and suggestions always welcome - tom@tkrh.demon.co.uk