Parallel Port Challenges 2010.7 {Solved part way } {Kernel Issue}

[KnightFlyer]

Item in question, Okidata 9pin impact printer raw mode no drivers.

Spooler is now working.

However printer pauses a second or more between lines.

It does not matter whether I use the spooler or print direct.

I boot an old 2009 Live disk.  The delay goes away.

I suspect a kernel configuration error pertaining to parallel impact printer.

[old_guy]

jackrandle
I don't know about a Okidata 9pin impact printer, but I have an HP6p connected to the parallel port.
If I try:
ls -l > /dev/lp0
I also get a mess
but:
ls -l | lpr
works fine
What do you get with:
lpc status
I get:
HPLaserJet6p:
        printer is on device 'hp' speed -1
        queuing is enabled
        printing is enabled
        no entries
        daemon present
How did you install the printer?
Earl

[djohnston]

jackrandle,

I'm using a parallel port printer, too. Works great.

[darrel@localhost ~]$ lpc status
HP_DESKJET_710C:
   printer is on device 'parallel' speed -1
   queuing is enabled
   printing is enabled
   no entries
   daemon present
[darrel@localhost ~]$

[KnightFlyer]

I will get back with you, the systems are in another city.  I only have an inkjet parallel printer here at home, it  installs OK.

At the customer's site we have a 2009 PCLOS print server running with 2 parallel okidata impact Invoice printers, they were installed with the PCC tool, specifying cups and with no-driver raw mode specified.  This works best, for our application. There is no problem with that system.  Using the same physical computer, but with PCLOS (2010.7 all updates)  Printer installed with the PCC tool, we get a working daemon, but when data is sent through the spooler or direct, whether it be just the date, or a directory listing, we get slow printing and garbage.  Then when we drop the old hard drive back in with 2009 PCLOS everything is OKAY.  Another server on that network has already been upgraded to 2010, and it has a same type printer, same phenomena, and we can't afford the time to take it down, to downgrade to 2009.  Our stop-gap measure is to route all printing to the 2009 Print server.  This results in another issue, as that 2009PCLOS machine cannot import 2010PCLOS NFS shares.  I am sure my customer is getting tired of me and PCLOS.  I am sure nothing is wrong with cups, spooler, or pcc. 

To test Raw Parallel Impact printers you can login as root, and at the command line prompt type :
cat >/dev/lp0. 
then your keyboard will echo to the printer, after every <RETURN>. 

If this simple test fails, then of course the spoolers, and cups will not work, drivers or raw.

My new thoughts are to yank out expansion parallel card, use a single port and assign irq and address in the bios.
Anyone else have advice or suggestions?

[KnightFlyer]

I now have a working spooler, But unacceptably slow. 
exists a long one second or more delay between lines. (Impact Printer).
I have tried using tunelp to no avail.

Anyone got any ideas?