10.3: Share a Panther printer with OS 9

Dec 08, '03 11:16:00AM

Contributed by: Anonymous

Previous hints (Share a non-PostScript USB printer with OS 9, Access 10.2 shared PostScript printers from OS 9) detailed how to extend Mac OS X's printer sharing with Classic (OS 9) Macs. The process is now much simpler. The instructions for setting up cups-lpd on the server are no longer necessary -- Panther is already set up to share printers via the lpr protocol.

I have an old LaserJet 6P that was made for Windows: no Postscript, no USB (parallel port instead), no Ethernet, no print server built in. Nevetheless, this solution allows me to print to the 6P, in Postscript, from any Mac. Apple has done most of the work: the GimpPrint drivers (now built into Panther) drive the printer and the Ghostscript software (also in Panther) peforms the Postscript interpretation that the printer lacks. The LaserJet itself is connected via a USB-to-parallel cable. The steps you need to take are:

  1. On the Panther Mac that the printer is physically connected to, you need to find out the printer's CUPS name. You can do this by typing lpstat -v in Terminal, or through the CUPS web interface. If you use lpstat -v, the name is the first part of the line listing the printer. For me it was HP_LaserJet_6P.

  2. Use the Desktop Printer Utility on the OS 9 Mac to setup an lpr printer. Use the "Generic" PPD. The "Printer Address" is the IP address of your server, and the "Queue" is your USB printer's name.
P.S. - This hint will work for any computer that can print via the lpr protocol, not just Mac OS 9.

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