Can't print with Olivetti PR2

English Network/Internet
1

I have Linux SuSe 11.3 installed, the printer is Olivetti PR2, it’s an old passbook printer, and the printer is connected VIA SERIAL port.
When installing via CUPS, i have the option for serial port available, i am trying to use all possible drivers for the printer, e.g.:

  • generic postscript drivers
  • IBM Proprinter II drivers
  • IBM Generic drivers
  • any Olivetti drivers.

The printer is in READY status, printer seems installed in CUPS, when i try to print a test page, it creates a job, printer sets to status PROCESSING, but does nothing. No printing, no sounds from the printer self.

Can anyone help me how to check, if the printer is recognized as a device in linux, and if the data can be sent to printer at all ?

2

It doesn’t seem to be supported. You can check this database for Linux printer support: Printer List | OpenPrinting - The Linux Foundation

3

Thanks I did, you’re right, there’s no actual support for Olivetti PR2. Actually the closest driver is the IBM ProPrinter II. I have used this one, but to my surprise the printer does not even make a sound.
You see, i don’t have an idea how to make sure, the printer is connected and on-line. It has the green light on, but i am not sure, if the Linux sees it. Can you perhaps tell me, how to check the devices on ports, if they are alive?
Thanks a million…

4

I’m not sure. Serial devices had been obsolete for a while when I started using Linux, so have never used one. The oldest printer tech I know is parallel ports. I’m guessing you could try running something like

dmesg | grep serial

or

dmesg | grep tty

in a terminal and try to find it. Maybe someone with more serial port experience will chime in.

5

Ok, thanks. It seems, there is something at the end of the line… :slight_smile:

    0.718225] serial8250: ttyS0 at I/O 0x3f8 (irq = 4) is a 16550A
6

You might try something simple like

cat file > /dev/ttyS0

with “file” being an existing file.

7

It doesn’t do anything. I have even created a very simple .txt file to print, but the terminal just enters a new line, without any response.

I am wondering, how in CUPS I can add a printer if I cannot see a serial port in the options?

8

Your probably out of luck unless you can find a compatible driver. A last resort might be to run Win XP in vmware or virtualbox and print from there.

9

I have the same problem with Olivetti PR2E with serial port.
Is there any solution for this problem?

Installing Windows on VirtualBox is not solution. :open_mouth:

10

This printer should emulate Olivetti Standard, IBM PP & X24.

http://media.olivetti.com/support/BROCHURES/PR2_PLUS_gb.pdf

Please check and make 100% sure that the wiring of your serial cable is correct.

11

Hi guys, exactly, the problem was with the cable, of course. :slight_smile:

Now the printer at least reacts, but the printing is awful, probably a wrong driver, or character set, as it prints all sorts of weird characters, but almost no letters.