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TCP/IP : Introduction
Introduction
This chapter details the configuration of a GCC Printer for printing over Ethernet running
the TCP/IP network protocol. All of the software required for printing over TCP/IP to the
printer is contained in the printer; additional (optional) TCP/IP software is included on
the CD-ROM that came with your printer.
You must have
16 MB of RAM installed in the printer to use TCP/IP.
Software overview
The TCP/IP software includes:
TCP/IP protocol stack:
This is the primary TCP/IP software. It is contained within the
printer.
Internal lpd
- The printer contains an implementation of lpd, the Berkeley UNIX spooler.
Lpds on other machines can forward print jobs to the lpd in the printer, with no additional
software. For most sites, this is the preferred way to use the printer. UNIX System V Re-
lease 4 has a different spooler, but it can be configured to communicate with any Berkeley
spooler, including the one in the GCC printer.
telnet server
- The printer contains a telnet (remote login) server which allows you to
communicate with the printer via a telnet client running on your computer. This provides
direct interaction with the printer’s PostScript interpreter. Most computers running TCP/
IP have telnet clients available.
The following TCP/IP filters are contained on the printer CD-ROM in a folder named
UNIX.
Note: Three of the filters, tcpif, tcpof, and unix_pcl, are provided as C source. A third filter,
texttcpif, is provided as a Bourne shell script. Use of these filters is optional.
tcpif
- tcpif is an lpd input filter that runs on UNIX machines. It bypasses the printer’s
internal spooler and sends the final print data to the printer through a direct TCP connec-
tion. This makes it possible for a UNIX lpd to process print data with optional filter and
formatting programs; the printer’s internal lpd does not support filters. The tcpif filter is
compatible only with the Berkeley UNIX printing system - lpr and lpd.
unix_pcl
and
texttcpif
- These UNIX filters allow UNIX text files to be printed properly
by the Printer’s PCL interpreter.
tcpof
- Lets you add header pages at the beginning of print jobs.