Configuring a Port for Direct-Access Printing

Direct access printing allows users on the LAN to access a port and to issue print commands directly to the printer. This topic describes ways users can access a printer directly and explains how to configure the port to support each method.

Method 1: Specifying Port Numbers in the Telnet or Remote Shell Command

This method allows users to issue telnet or remote shell (rsh, remsh) commands that identify the correct port by using TCP port numbers. 

User Command Example 1

In this example, a user specifies a standard telnet connection on port 8 using IP address 199.250.38.15.

cat myfile | telnet 199.250.38.15 2008

User Command Example 2

In this example, a user specifies a remote shell (rsh on some UNIX systems)  on port 8 using IP address 199.250.38.15.

cat myfile | rsh 199.250.38.15 2008

User Command Example 3

In this example, a user specifies a raw telnet connection on port 8 using IP address 199.250.38.15.

cat myfile | telnet 199.250.38.15 2108

Note: To specify a hunt group in the command instead of an individual port, use the group number specified on the group field of the set ports command that configured the port.

Configuration

There is no special configuration required to set up a port for this type of direct access. Simply configure the port for a printer. 

Method 2: Using Alternate IP Addresses 

This method provides similar functions to method 1, but it differs in two ways:

• Alternate IP addresses allow users to identify both the Digi device and a specific port by simply specifying an IP address.
• Alternate IP addresses cannot be used with raw connections.

User Command Example 2

In this example, a user again accesses a port on the Digi device. Note that only an IP address identifies both the device and the serial port to access.

cat myfile | telnet 199.250.38.15

Method 2 Configuration

To configure an alternate IP address, do the following:

1. Configure the port for a printer.
2. Supply a set altip command that specifies the following:
• The port to which the printer is attached (on the group field)
• The IP address to assign (on the ip field)

Example

set ports range=6 dev=prn group=6
set line range=6 baud=9600 csize=8 stopb=1 parity=n
set flow range=6 cts=on ixon=off ixoff=off
set altip group=6 ip=199.250.38.15