How to use Netcat with the NetportExpress PRO/100 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.

Netport PRO/100 docs

Pro100 Home Page

Pro100 Troubleshooting notes

Netcat Source and binaries

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

Setup the PRO100 Print Server using Unix

Setup the IP address with ARP (Address Resolution Protocol)

arp -s 192.168.1.23 00:AD:C9:B3:61:77

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

Once in the ARP table you should be able to telnet to the print server to setup the other details. e.g. telnet 192.168.1.23

Use the username root and the default password is just a carriage return. e.g.

NetportExpress(tm) PRO/100
PRB36177

login: root
password: 

NetportExpress(tm) PRO/100
Copyright (c) 1997 Intel Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

Connected to PRB36177

Telnet Configuration Main Menu
Choose from the following

(1)  TCP/IP Configuration
(2)  Port Configuration
(3)  Display Status
(4)  Utilities
(E)  Exit

Enter selection: e

Adjust settings as required.

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

192.168.1.23 pserv

The pserv 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:pserv:3001

The various Intel print servers uses ports

3001    First parallel port
3002    2nd parallel port
2501    Serial port

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 pserv -p 3002
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.

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