Edu-Met Oracle Information Center

HPNP Printer Configuration Software

To setup the hpnp facility on the SVR4 type machine, follow these steps shown below. This is everything I had to do to get it to work on NCR v3.02.00.

Package type installation of software :

The first scenario is for when you are using an NCR machine with MP-RAS version 3.xx.xx.

Get the hpnp.pkg.tar.Z file and place into the /var/spool/pkg directory.
cd /var/spool/pkg
zcat hpnp.pkg.tar.Z | tar -xvf -
Upon completion, you can remove the hpnp.pkg.tar.Z file
Issue the "pkgadd" command, and select the "hpnp" package. (just hit enter when it tells you that you should have the bootpd package. We dont need that feature)

The output of the pkgadd on my local machine is provided for you to compare your installation with.

Manual type installation of software :

The second scenario is for when you dont have a machine that will accept the packaged version as is. This would be a SCO machine, or NCR versions prior to 3.xx.xx :

Copy the hpnp directory from an existing machine if one exists, or untar the file hpnp.current.tar. This file is made to untar from the /usr/lib directory and will create the /usr/lib/hpnp subdirectory automatically.
Copy hpnpadmin to /usr/bin on the machine.
I copied these additional files, but am not sure if they are needed or not :
- /usr/lib/lp/model/laserjethpnp
- /usr/lib/lp/model/HP6L (my custom banner page)
- /usr/spool/lp/admins/lp/model/laserjethpnp
- /var/spool/install/defaultinstall/hpnp - (should only be if the package was installed)
- /var/spool/install/response/hpnp - (should only be if the package was installed)
Make sure to have the IP address in the hosts file before beginning the installation of the printer. This makes the task easier.
Make a directory called "model.orig" under the /etc/lp/interfaces directory if it doesnt already exist.

Printer installation :

Once you have done that, you can add them to the system. This is done thru the hpnp utility. You should be in the /usr/lib/hpnp directory. Execute the "hpnpcfg" script.

Choose step 4 to verify network peripheral connectivity. If it passes the ping test, continue on to the next step. If not, find out if it is because the IP address is wrong or the printer is not on, or you dont have access, or some other reason.

Choose step 6 to add peripheral to spooler. This is where you will actually add the printer to the systems lp spooler. Answer the questions similar to below :

Choose LP01 for the printer name. (This should match the name in the /etc/hosts file)
Hit enter for the second question. Allow it to default to same answer as question 1.
Select HP6L for the model. This is the one with the custom banner page. If not, then use the default laser model of laserjethpnp.
There is no spooler class to join, so just hit enter.
Set the LP01 printer to the default if so desired.

Now quit the hpnpcfg utility and try out the printer. Assuming you are using the HP6L model, if the printer fails to work, you may have to copy the file /usr/lib/lp/model/HP6L to /etc/lp/interfaces/model.orig/LP01 (for example). Or if need be, manually look at the currently installed model, and troubleshoot directly.

The only other task I performed was to stop and restart the spooler subsystem, with lpshut and lpsched from the /usr/lib directory.

Finally "lpstat -t" should show all the printers just added, and new default if chosen.

Try a test print. There is/are log file(s) kept in tmp, called hpnpcfg.log.* You can look at them for some assistance if needed.

This page last updated 12/30/1998