Member Avatar for tronik

hi ..
i have a network here with some os9 macs, 1 win notebook, 2 g4s with os x panther ... and a hp laserjet 4
my problem is: i can't find the network printer in os x.. i can load that apple talk window in the printerlist again and again but nothing happens...there haven't been any printing problems with one of the g4s until i installed os x a week ago so it can't be a hardware problem
i read all the things bout turning on apple talk in the sys preferences and directory services folders and then basically try it again and again but there has to be another solution ..well i hope ;) any suggestions?
greez

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Dani AI

Generated

reported that OS X (Panther) would not discover a networked HP LaserJet 4 via AppleTalk, even though the same printer and other Macs worked on the LAN. raised the network-card question and pointed toward IP/JetDirect and the PostScript SIMM. Those clues strongly suggest a discovery/protocol mismatch (AppleTalk zone, card mode or switch behavior) rather than a broken printer.

Practical checks that resolve most cases:

  • Obtain the printer’s network/configuration page to confirm the network card type, AppleTalk zone and any IP address. The JetDirect/EtherTalk card will list the protocol support and current settings.
  • Verify basic TCP/IP reachability and the JetDirect port from the Panther machine:
ping <printer-ip>
telnet <printer-ip> 9100

A ping reply and an open 9100 socket indicate the card speaks TCP/IP even if AppleTalk discovery fails.

  • If the card responds by IP, add the printer in OS X as an IP printer (JetDirect/RAW port 9100 or LPD) and select a PS-capable driver (Generic PostScript if a PostScript SIMM is installed). If the card only offers EtherTalk/AppleTalk, confirm the Mac and printer are in the same AppleTalk zone — mismatched zones will prevent discovery.

Additional notes: managed switches, VLANs or routers can block AppleTalk name discovery while still forwarding basic IP traffic. When discovery remains unreliable, the robust workaround is IP printing (or sharing the LaserJet from an OS 9 host) until the network card is replaced or its firmware/settings adjusted.

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Member Avatar for gortonsfi

So does the Laserjet have the network card upgrade or is it connected through one of the macs by parallel or serial?

Member Avatar for tronik

So does the Laserjet have the network card upgrade or is it connected through one of the macs by parallel or serial?

it hangs directly in the network and communicates only by apple talk

Member Avatar for tronik

ok my problem solved...i tried hanging another printer to the network and it works flawlessly with it..apple talk found it immediately just like its supposed to work ;)... looks like os x has a specific problem with the HP laserjet 4

Member Avatar for kc0arf

Hello Tronik,

Your HP printer is wired through the network, and the windows computers can see it. So I am assuming that it is on a Jet Direct card.

OS X can print to it via IP or via Appletalk. As you mentioned earlier that the printers worked before in OS 9, I assume that the needed Postscipt SIMM is also installed. Very good.

Try printing through IP. Give the printer an IP number, and then see if your OSX box can ping it. IF so, try to build the printer in the Print Control panel.

Christian

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