Print Servers vs. PCL Drivers
 

At my office there is a Linux box connected to a Xerox WC-M20. Problem is, this multi-function printer barely functions with basic settings using PCL generic drivers, and the mfr. supplied variety don't work at all.

So, here's what I would like to know:

• Can I circumvent this problem using a print server (ie: D-Link DI-704UP and the like)?

• How does a print server handle the drivers and capabilities accessed from the client computer?

• And what is the most compatible and inexpensive print server/way-to-accomplish-this?

I just mention D-Link as an inexpensive print server I'm aware of. I imagine it's not a Linux-compatible device (and I'm told their support is terrible). I've heard GVC has a similar product.
But, hey, as you may have guessed, I have so little experience with print servers that I'll leave the expert opinions up to you folks.

Thanks.

As far a I know, most print servers don't know the specifics of any particular printer. They simply provide the network connectivity through industry standard protocols (such as lp, jetdirect, etc.), and after that they just relay the data byte stream through to the printer. I doubt whether such a device would be helpful in this case.

--- rod.

I get it. I've come across something similar in Windows networking when sharing a printer: other than the remote connection, the drivers are installed as if the printer were a local device.

Well, then, is there a plausible method of using Wine or some other Windows emulator so that I can use the mfr. *.inf drivers?

That might be possible, but I don't think Windows apps running under wine interact well with native Linux apps. There a few systems/packages that provide third party driver support for Linux. TurboPrint is, I beleive, one of them. I think this kind of product tries to fill the niche you are in. That's about the only suggestion I have.

BTW, what driver are you presently using? I did a quick scan of Cups drivers, hoping to see something like a generic PCL driver, along the lines of the generic Postscript driver. I wasn't able to find one, but perhaps such a thing does exist.


--- rod.