Troubleshooting: Adding an HP Network Printer on HP-UX Systems

Setting up a network printer on an HP-UX system can sometimes present challenges. If you’re experiencing issues with adding your HP network printer, particularly after confirming network connectivity, this guide will walk you through troubleshooting steps to get you printing. We’ll focus on common problems and solutions, drawing from expert advice to help you successfully integrate your printer.

Verifying Network Connectivity

Before diving into printer configurations, it’s crucial to ensure your HP network printer is properly connected to your network and reachable from your HP-UX system.

Ping Test: Use the ping command from your HP-UX terminal to check if your system can communicate with the printer’s IP address. A successful ping indicates basic network connectivity.
```
ping <printer_ip_address>
```
If the ping is successful, proceed to the next steps. If it fails, you’ll need to troubleshoot your network connection, ensuring both the printer and the HP-UX system are on the same network and properly configured.
/etc/hosts File: While not always necessary for network printers, ensuring the printer’s hostname and IP address are correctly listed in your /etc/hosts file can sometimes resolve name resolution issues. However, for modern networks, relying on DNS is generally preferred.

Configuring the Printer on HP-UX using SAM

HP-UX provides the System Administration Manager (SAM) tool, a powerful interface for system configuration, including printer management. This is the primary method for adding a network printer.

Accessing SAM: You’ll need super-user (root) privileges to access and use SAM for printer administration. Launch SAM from your HP-UX terminal.
```
sam
```
Navigate through the SAM menus to find the “Printers and Plotters” section, and then select “Printers/Plotters”.
JetDirect Printer Installer: Within the Printer Administration options in SAM, you should find an option related to adding a network printer, often referred to as “JetDirect Printer Installer” or similar. This tool simplifies the process of adding network-connected printers.
Add Printer to Local Spooler: Select the option to “Add printer to local spooler”. This will initiate the process of configuring the printer within the HP-UX printing system. SAM will guide you through prompts to specify the printer’s network address (IP address or hostname) and other relevant details.

Alt text: HP JetDirect Printer Installer interface showing options for spooler administration and adding a network printer.

Note: Don’t be concerned if a ping test from within the JetDirect Printer Installer fails. Sometimes, the installer’s built-in ping test might not function correctly, but network connectivity could still be fine. Proceed with the configuration.

Addressing Driver Compatibility

Driver issues are a common cause of printing problems. If your printer is added to the spooler but jobs are not printing, driver incompatibility could be the culprit.

Generic HP LaserJet Drivers: HP-UX often includes generic drivers for HP LaserJet printers. Trying a compatible, but slightly different, model’s driver can sometimes resolve issues. For instance, if you have a LaserJet 2600n, attempting to use the configuration for a “HP LaserJet 2100 Series” or even a “LaserJet 4” can be a viable troubleshooting step. SAM usually provides a list of pre-configured printer models; experiment with these options.

Alt text: Screenshot of HP LaserJet printer driver selection menu, highlighting various LaserJet series models.
Specific Driver for LaserJet 2600n: While generic drivers often work, for optimal functionality, a specific driver for the LaserJet 2600n would be ideal. Check HP’s support website or HP-UX driver repositories for a dedicated driver for your printer model and HP-UX version. However, be aware that driver availability for newer printers on older operating systems like HP-UX can be limited.

Advanced Considerations

If standard configuration and driver adjustments don’t resolve the issue, consider these more advanced points:

Adding New Printer Configurations: In some cases, you might need to manually add your specific printer model’s configuration to the HP-UX printing system. Resources and forums dedicated to HP-UX may contain guides on how to create custom printer configurations if a suitable pre-existing one isn’t available.
JetDirect Box: In older HP-UX environments or with printers that have compatibility issues, using an external HP JetDirect print server box might be necessary. A JetDirect box acts as an intermediary, handling network communication and simplifying printer integration with HP-UX.
HP-UX and Newer Printer Compatibility: It’s essential to acknowledge that very new HP printer models might lack drivers or full compatibility with older operating systems like HP-UX. HP-UX is a mature OS, and driver support for the latest hardware may not always be available. Before assuming a configuration issue, verify if your printer model is generally known to be compatible with HP-UX.

Conclusion

Adding an HP network printer to HP-UX involves network verification, proper configuration within SAM, and careful consideration of printer drivers. By systematically working through these steps, starting with basic connectivity and progressing to driver adjustments and advanced options, you can effectively troubleshoot and resolve most issues, enabling successful printing from your HP-UX system. Remember to consult HP-UX specific documentation and community resources for further assistance if needed.