Local printer parallel connection with OpenSuse 11.4 does not work. "Unconnected" Help please

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#1

Local parallel connection with OpenSuse 11.4 does not work. “Unconnected”
Help please

I used a OKI B4600 printer connected to Windows computer by USD and by old fashioned centronics LPT cable to OpenSUSE desktop.
This worked OK under OpenSUSE11.3 and before. On upgrade to 11.4 I find I can connect with and use a USB cable to printer but control panel says 'LPT" printer is unconnected but it discovers printer and downloads drivers.
Why no connection.
Only LPT option is in ‘network’ and asks for URI but printer is local and not on a network.
Is there away to connect with older cable type to printer?
Thanks in advance

#2

Local parallel connection with OpenSuse 11.4 does not work. “Unconnected”
Help please

I used a OKI B4600 printer connected to Windows computer by USD and by old fashioned centronics LPT cable to OpenSUSE desktop.
This worked OK under OpenSUSE11.3 and before. On upgrade to 11.4 I find I can connect with and use a USB cable to printer but control panel says 'LPT" printer is unconnected but it discovers printer and downloads drivers.
Why no connection.
Only LPT option is in ‘network’ and asks for URI but printer is local and not on a network.
Is there away to connect with older cable type to printer?
Thanks in advance
If you really did an upgrade and not a clean install of openSUSE 11.4, you may need to delete all previous entries for this printer, as root and start over. Some how it seems like more than one interface is mixed up with the same printer and a fresh start may be the answer. Such oddities as what you are seeing is why doing an upgrade is not always successful. If you did do a clean install, then we need to clarify just how you intend on using the printer and what interface you plan on sticking with.

Thank You,

#3

I had a similar issue, I could not print to my Canon i560 which also connected to my parallel port. It worked before in 11.3 and suddenly, in 11.4, it stopped. I tried deleting the old printer from cups and reconfiguring it again. It wouldn’t work, cups could not scan for parallel devices. Network printers, yes. USB printers, yes.
To make a long story short, after some digging around, I found out that the module ‘lp’ was not loaded. I did a quick “modprobe lp” and ever since then, I can print normally. To make sure lp gets loaded, I modified the file /etc/modprobe.d/99-local.conf to contain the line “install lp /bin/true”

You may want to check if lp gets loaded.

#4

See here:
11.4 can.t find printer.

#5

To make sure lp gets loaded, I modified the file /etc/modprobe.d/99-local.conf to contain the line “install lp /bin/true”

I’ve haven’t tried loading modules from here (since my Red Hat days), but its still a good approach… :slight_smile:

FWIW, In the other thread linked to by Sauerland, this was suggested:

To load the lp module at boot:

YaST > System > /etc/sysconfig Editor. Navigate to System > Kernel > MODULES_LOADED_ON_BOOT. Add the lp module. Click on ‘OK’ when done.

#6

Dear Folks,
Cable solution.
20110413 Could not get computer to load or recognize LPT, tried various things many times.
Solved by simple expedient of buying an LPT to USB cable certified for Windows and Mac OS , the Max OS bit being critical.
Connected to an old 1 USB port - this port did not work, connected to a 2 USB port and printer found, set up as root via control and works.

So I have a working printer via USB to LPT cable .

#7

Dear Folks,
Cable solution.
20110413 Could not get computer to load or recognize LPT, tried various things many times.
Solved by simple expedient of buying an LPT to USB cable certified for Windows and Mac OS , the Max OS bit being critical.
Connected to an old 1 USB port - this port did not work, connected to a 2 USB port and printer found, set up as root via control and works.

So I have a working printer via USB to LPT cable .
That is very interesting that a native LPT port fails when a USB to LPT port adapter works. So you just never know but we are happy to hear of your success eionmac and thanks for letting us know of the solution.

Thank You,

#8

On 2011-04-14 00:36, jdmcdaniel3 wrote:
>> So I have a working printer via USB to LPT cable .

> That is very interesting that a native LPT port fails when a USB to LPT
> port adapter works. So you just never know but we are happy to hear of
> your success eionmac and thanks for letting us know of the solution.

That’s not a solution, that’s a bypass. A solution would be loading the module.

If several people have the same problem, you should indeed report in
Bugzilla, all of you.

–
Cheers / Saludos,

Carlos E. R.
(from 11.2 x86_64 “Emerald” at Telcontar)

#9

There is a bug report here:

https://bugzilla.novell.com/show_bug.cgi?id=673845

For those affected, please add to it.

The installer should ideally be detecting the presence of a parallel port, then configuring, so that it gets loaded at boot. That would make it easier for new users, who are not aware of the drivers required.