HP DJ 300x, Lexmark T620 & Netware 4.x will not print

[Granvillew]

Environment Netware 4.11 server, HP Jetdirect 300x external print server, Lexmark T620 laser with parallel connection and Windows98, 2000 or XP clients.

The problem – we are running DOS based applications which send print jobs to queues via captured local ports (LPTx. When a job is sent to this printer it “goes active” i.e. the power light flashes to indicate data is being received, the display shows “busy” and it starts the warm up process, you can hear the fan, etc.

Jobs from Windows based apps print fine, Word and Excel.

By way of a test I have created a text files using Notepad. If I print from Notepad this works perfectly. OTOH if I use PCONSOLE to submit the job to the queue it acts the same as the DOS based print jobs.

IPX/SPX settings are correct. Using TCP/IP does not appear to be an option with 4.x. I have set the port on the 300x to PCL, as I found info that the PS setting can cause problems.

Any advice will be gratefully accepted.

TIA.

 

[mcall]

Have you tried creating printer local and printing from the app (will need to end capture)? If fails, possible might need to send init/reset string to printer before/after DOS job. Also, try copying another job locally to captured port. If good, might try shutting down AV. Norton AV has been known to cause prob. Might be other intrusive app common to systems (assuming multiple systems having prob)

 

[Granvillew]

Uh ho, I missed some vital info. My apologies.

I have 3 other T620 which work fine. Two are connected to local ports and one via an internal NIC. The print queue for the later is setup on the 4.11 server.

The printer I am having the problem with used to work fine when setup to print via a Lantronix ps via a queue on an elderly 3.12 server. The Lantronix ps failed and a planed upgrade for our prime apps has the HP Jetdirect as the preferred hardware. And as a final blow one of the main users of the printer has a WinXP client PC which does not want to log into Netware 3.12!!

Thanks.

 

[mcall]

since printer does not seem in error, blame must be with jetdirect. I'd prob start with call to HP to verify jetdirect model compat with 4.11. Also, see if can change services from raw to text or visa versa. Downside is may affect output from windows apps. As of xp client, please forgive but can only shake my head in unhelpful manner :<

 

[Granvillew]

Ok, problem solved. The issue was between the Hp and and the Lexmark, although Netware MAY have contributed. I changed 3 setting on the printer and it works, the changes were under the "Parallel Menu":

"PS Smartswitch" from "Off" to "On"
"Protocal" from "Standard" to "Fastbytes"
"MAC Binary PS" from "On" to "Auto".

I don't understand it, but it works. Thanks for the input, guys.