RIMAS for UNIX Software Installation

To: Users of Shared Logic Unix/Linux Systems

From: The SHARED LOGIC Group, Inc.

Re: Adding a Printer to a Unix Server

Date: July 20, 2000

Perform the following steps, in the order listed, to add a printer attached to a Unix server. A printer attached in the manner described below will be used for direct output, as opposed to output through the Unix print spooler.

1. Determine if the printer will use a serial or a parallel interface.

2. Select a serial or parallel port on the Unix server and cable the printer to that port.

3. Determine the name of the Unix driver for the port you have selected. The driver is normally in the /dev directory, and should have a name starting with tty for a serial port or lp for a parallel port.

4. If the driver does not already exist in the /dev directory, you will have to configure the driver. This is done with system administration software delivered with your computer, or with configuration software delivered with a multiport board that was added to your system. For example, your will use smit on an AIX system or mkdev on an SCO Unix system for standard ports, or pcu when configuring ports for Digi International multiport boards.

5. If you are adding a serial printer, you may have to enter commands that are executed when you boot your system to establish baud rates, parity settings, etc. The following four (4) commands are commonly added for serial printers:

a. “prtsleep /dev/driver”, to keep the printer driver open.

b. “sleep 5”, to delay while prtsleep starts up.

c. “chmod 666 /dev/driver”, to allow all logins to use the driver.

d. “stty 9600 ixon –ixany ixoff”, to establish serial port configuration. Additional options are sometimes required.

You will have to enter these commands manually the first time, to avoid having to re-boot your system as part of this procedure.

6. Test your hardware and Unix software set-up by doing the following:

a. Login as “root”.

b. Type “cat /etc/motd >/dev/driver”, where “driver” represents the device driver name in your /dev directory. This command should print the message of the day on your printer.

c. Type “ls –ialR /usr >/dev/driver”, where “driver” again represents your port driver. This will print several pages of columnar data to test “flow control”. Look carefully at this listing for any evidence of the printer failing to print in columns.

If your printer does not print correctly, or if flow control is not working, correct the cause of the problem before continuing.

7. While still logged in as “root”, type “ln /dev/driver /dev/LPT#”, where “driver” represents the device driver name in your /dev directory and “#” represents the number or letter you select to identify the print you are adding to your system.

8. Type “ls –ial /dev/LPT*” and check the following:

a. a. That your printer (LPT#) is listed.

b. b. That the permission on the printer you are adding matches those for other printers you are already using successfully. Use the chmod command to change the permissions, if necessary.

9. Now use your normal application login to test the printer setup. You should be able to print Shared Logic reports to the new printer just as you do to printers previously configured on your system.