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| Thread ID: 39100 | 2003-10-27 10:14:00 | Lpt Ports and Printer Servers | pskiwi (2823) | Press F1 |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 187064 | 2003-10-27 10:14:00 | I want to run 6 parallel printers. I already have 3 connected up to separate parallel printer ports(LPT1,2,3). Is it possible to have another 3 parallel ports in a pc(if their is room) to have LPT 4,5,6 or is their a limit on LPT?? The other question is would I be better of going for a Printer server(3 port). Has anybody set those up or use them and can recommend any brand, trick etc I have tried to set the printers up using a manual switch with A,B,C,D but the printers would not print. Any suggestion/ideas welcomed Paul |
pskiwi (2823) | ||
| 187065 | 2003-10-27 23:02:00 | I have used Jet Direct and Dlink 3 port print servers without any major problems; sometimes the Dlink software is a bit funny (Had strange problems with it sometimes seeing devices and sometimes not on w2k pc's). If you go dlink make sure you read the manual; setting up for lpr printing is easy when you understand it (setting por to print to etc) but is confusing if you haven't done it before. For a legacy app we have a 2k workstation with 7 mapped lpt ports and I think the max is 8. However, getting that many into a PC would be a bit tricky with irq conflicts and the like. |
TerryW (2183) | ||
| 187066 | 2003-10-28 00:20:00 | 6 is a bit ambitious, but probably not impossible. :D 3 is the "standard" limit for a PC ... that's based on the DOS address allocations (and more of a problem, the IRQs). (Of course you could use 2 (or maybe 4 on COm ports, but again the IRQs are a problem). The later Windows versions seem to allow more ... but I think that's meant to cope with iR, USB, and networks. I think your best chance is with printer servers. Switches are not recommended ... they really only worked properly and consistently with traditional plain ascii "TTY" printers. In fact HP say not to use them. Mdern printers which talk as much to the computer as the printertalks to the printer don't like being disconnected. |
Graham L (2) | ||
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