From: "Paul A. Fischer, Sr UNIX Sys Consultant" <paul@openage.COM>
Subject: RE: Parallel printers in Unix 4.1
Resent-From: mmdf@xenitec.on.ca
Submit-To: scogen@xenitec.on.ca
Organization: [resent by] The SCOGEN gateway and Propagation Society
Date: Tue, 13 Oct 1992 11:01:28 GMT
Precedence: bulk

>Situation: System was Xenix 2.3.4 w/ parallel ports at 378 int 7
>and 278 int 5, lp0 and lp2.

>Upgraded to unix 3.2 4.1 and (after mkdev parallel) I end up
>with lp0 and lp1 (???).

>This is not good because:

>       1. It's supposed to be impossible (?)
>       2.  Stuff going to lp1 takes it's sweet time
>         getting there.

>But mkdev parallel seemed pretty straightforward :-)

>Where did I go wrong (aside from buying that RS Mod I back in '77)?

mkdev parallel sets the parallel port names according to the order in which 
they were installed!  SCO no longer follows the DOS method of naming parallel 
ports, and allows you to set them up as you need them.

As for the printing speed...


Parallel printer is printing slowly under Version 4.0 of SCO UNIX

KEYWORDS: v4 spooler printer tandy parallel _fst patch slow documentation unix 3.2 version 4.0 unix 

RELEASE:  SCO UNIX System V/386 Release 3.2 Operating System Version 4.0

PROBLEM:  I have a parallel printer that is printing slowly.  It pauses
          before printing each line of text.

CAUSE:    Your printer may be deselecting itself upon receipt of a line
          of text and then reselecting itself again for the next line.

SOLUTION: A patch the parallel printer driver using _fst may resolve this 
          problem.  You can use this patch with either the polled or standard 
          lp devices.  A description of how to patch the driver follows:

          The hash signs (#) and asterisks (*) are prompts from the system
          shell and from the patching program, /etc/_fst -- do not type them.

            #cd /etc/conf/pack.d/pa
            #cp Driver.o Driver.o.00
            #/etc/_fst -w Driver.o
            *patime+b1?xxx
            _patime+0xb1:0x45f6 0x10f8 0xe74
            *patime+b1?w 9090 9090 9090
            _patime+0xb1: 0x45f6=      0x9090
            _patime+0xb3: 0x10f8=      0x9090
            _patime+0xb5: 0xe74= 0x9090
            *$q
            #

     
          You must then relink the kernel.  Refer to the "Adding Device
          Drivers with the Link Kit" for relinking instructions.


          IMPORTANT NOTE: If you do not get the expected responses from _fst, 
          you need to abort the patch.  Enter "$q" at the _fst prompt, and 
          copy the file Driver.o.00 to Driver.o.  If you find that your kernel
          does not function properly with the patch applied, you can back out
          of the patch by copying the file Driver.o.00 to Driver.o and re-
          linking your kernel.
                
          The application of these patches can cause other classes of parallel
          printers to hang.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Independent SCO support and service provider in the D.C. metro area.
No Incumbents in '92. Get the crooks out of office. Vote & Send a Message
Paul A. Fischer           | Open Age Inc.  | paul@openage.com
Sr. UNIX Sys. Consultant  | (301) 948-6422 | (301) 948-9644 Fax

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