Set up an LPR desktop printer queue on Mac OS 9
Requirements
To set up a desktop printer queue for classic Mac OS that works over an RIT Internet connection, you must have the Apple LaserWriter driver, version 8.5.1 or later. LaserWriter 8.5.1 is part of Mac OS 8.1 and can be obtained separately from the "Apple Software Updates" Web site. Later releases of the LaserWriter driver are tied to Mac OS upgrades and updates. This type of desktop printer queue uses the UNIX line printer protocol (LPR) over the TCP/IP, or Internet, protocol. Therefore, you must have a working Internet connection to print. If you are not on the "RIT campus network", you will need to use a Virtual Private Network link to the RIT network. The LaserWriter driver, when set up for LPR printing, requires that your printer have:- Adobe PostScript Level 1 or better (or the equivalent)
- a network connection (Ethernet preferred)
- support for the LPR/LPD protocol (either at the printer or within the print server you are using)
Directions
- Open the "Desktop Printer Utility application". From Mac OS 7 through 9.0.4, it is found in the "Apple LaserWriter Software" folder in the "Apple Extras" folder at the top level of your computer's hard disk. Under Mac OS 9.1 and later, it is found the "Utilities" folder in the "Applications (Mac OS 9)" folder at the top level of your hard disk.
- Select the "LaserWriter 8" driver in the pop-up menu in the Desktop Printer Utility's "New" window (which should open by default when the program is launched). You should see four or five options under "LaserWriter 8" in the "New" window. For example:
- Printer (AppleTalk)
- Printer (Infrared)
- Printer (LPR)
- Printer (no printer connection)
- Printer (USB)
- Translator (PostScript)
- Select "Printer (LPR)" from the list.
- Click "OK." The "Untitled 1" desktop printer queue window appears. This is where you set most of the options for your desktop printer queue. Not all settings can be changed in the Desktop Printer Utility; depending on your printer, you may have set some options from the Finder's "Printing menu" later.
- Click on the "Change..." button next to the "PostScript ˙ Printer Description (PPD) File" area of the window. Select the PPD file appropriate to your printer. If you have a non-Apple printer (a Hewlett-Packard LaserJet, for example), you will need to download and install the PPD file appropriate to your printer model to get access to any advanced features of your printer.
- Click on the "Select" button when you've chosen a PPD, to select that PPD and go back to the print queue window.
- Click on the "Change..." button next to the "Internet Printer" area of the window. A new dialog box with two fields appears.
- Enter either of the following in the "Printer Address" field:
- Host name or IP address of the print server (i.e. the RIT VMScluster or other LPR/LPD server); for VMS printer queues, this would be "vmslpd.rit.edu".
- Host name or IP address of the printer, if you are printing directly to the printer itself (the printer must support direct TCP/IP printing)
- Enter the print queue in the "Queue" field:
- The exact name of the print queue on the RIT VMScluster or other LPR/LPD server, such as "prabc01"; for some kinds of print servers (such as Windows NT 4 Server), this queue name is case sensitive
- A dummy queue name if you are printing directly to a printer.
- Click on the "Verify" button. This verifies the "Printer Address" field against RIT's Internet name servers. It does not verify that the device is actually an LPR print server, however.
- Click on the "OK" button to return to the desktop printer queue window.
- Select the "Save As..." command from the File menu. Save the printer somewhere on your startup hard disk. Desktop printer queues do not have to be saved directly on your desktop, but they must be saved to your startup disk or partition.
Section:
Keywords: internet, mac os 8, mac os 9, network, printing, system administration
Question: How do I print to a TCP/IP-enabled printer in Mac OS 9?
FAQ item: true
Score: 500
