Configuring Hewlett-Packard network printers

Configuring HP network printers as local printers

You can make an HP network printer appear as a local printer. It can then be treated as any other printer; for example, any available model scripts and filters can be used. This is done using the hpnptyd(1M) utility.

Configure a pseudo-terminal to the networked printer, as follows:

/usr/lib/hpnp/hpnptyd -m /dev/ptypn -x host

where n is the pseudo-tty number and host is the host name of the network printer. This command starts a daemon which redirects data sent to the pseudo-tty to the network printer.

Once the pseudo-tty has been set up, you can use lpadmin(1M) or the Printer Setup Manager to add the printer to the system.

For example, to add an HP LaserJet 5N (PCL) with lpadmin:

lpadmin -p mhlaser -T hplaser -I pcl -m standard -v /dev/ttyp18

Print requests sent to mhlaser are sent across the network to your laser printer.

NOTE: When the system is rebooted, the required hpnptyd will not be automatically restarted. However, the command can be added to one of the standard startup scripts, such as /sbin/rc2. See init(1M) and inittab(4).

As with other ``local'' printers, you can allow remote systems to send print requests. See lpsystem(1M), lpusers(1M), and lpadmin(1M) for details. This allows management of your network printer from one central system, while still allowing access from remote clients.