HPJetDirect

JetDirect is HP's brand name for ethernet cards for printers and ethernet to parallel port converts. The internal ethernet cards are used extensively at Trinity College where PPR is written. They have proved to be high quality, useful, and dependable devices. These devices support a number of protocols, including:

• AppleTalk PAP
• Raw TCP/IP on port 9100
• LPR

Both AppleTalk work fine with PPR. Using LPR is not recomended since it doesn't permit two-way communication with the PostScript interpreter. Use the "atalk" interface program for AppleTalk and the "jetdirect" interface for TCP/IP.

The jetdirect interface is a version of the tcpip interface program with default options appropriate for HP's version of the protocol. The interface just opens a connection to port 9100 and blasts the data down it. Control codes such as control-d for end-of-job work just like they do on the printers serial or parallel ports, so you can use the "control-d" jobbreak method if you want to. For HP printers which support PJL, you can use the "pjl" jobbreak method. If the PPD file which you have selected indicates the printer supports PJL, this will be set for you automatically.

If you use the "atalk" interface, you can accept the default job break method, which is "signal" or you choose "signal/pjl". The later isn't selected automatically, even if the PPD file indicates that the printer supports PJL because though the PPD file for the HP LaserJet indicates that it supports PJL, it doesn't over AppleTalk.

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