Re: How to connect two Parallel printer on USB

In message <ant2616390b0pErr@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Chris Evans <chris@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> I was going to send this to the Iyonix mailing list but then realised it
> applies also to the A9
>
> We have two customers who need to connect two parallel printers to their
> Iyonixes
>
> There are a number of ways I believe this can be done, but rather than
> reinvent the wheel is anyone already doing this and if so what method?
>
> The options I have theorised that should work are:
>
> Option 1: Have two USB-Parallel units, I believe the units would have to
> have different vendor and product IDs (we have two very different units
> here that have the same ID as they are based on the same chip set)
>
> Option 2: Connect one printer to the Iyonix/A9 via a USB-Parallel interface
> and connect the other to another RISC OS computer e.g. a RiscPC and print
> to that over ShareFS/Access, this is a tried and tested method but replies
> on a second computer to be kept powered up.
>
> Option 3: have one USB-Parallel interface and swop in the setting file
> $.!Boot.Choices.Printers.Settings before loading printers, this option is
> untested, would require swapping cables between printers and I believe
> require a powerdown between selecting printers so all in all not a good
> option but I believe would work.
>
> Option 4: Like option three but hand merge the two settings files, this
> IIRC does on the surface appear to work i.e. you get two relevant icons on
> the icon bar but reportedly didn't work when someone tried it in practice.
> If this method does work it is still not ideal as you have to move the
> cable.
>
> p.s. With the last two a switch box can be used to save changing cables but
> the box would have to use the 36way Amphenol type connectors, which are
> fairly rare. (We do have them in stock!)
>
>
> n.b. on Select and Adjust the settings file is stored:
> $.!Boot.Choices.Users.Single.Printers.Settings or $.!Boot.Choices.Users.
> <username> .Printers.Settings
>
> All thoughts and suggestions welcome

One or more Ethernet print servers. There are quite a few multi-port
parallel ones available, and loads of single-port ones. Consult
http://www.ebay.co.uk/ and search for "print server" in the "computing"
category.

Dave
.

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