Can I install Parallel Port Drivers in a later kernel?

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differential
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Can I install Parallel Port Drivers in a later kernel?

#1 Post by differential »

I have an old HP 4Plus parallel port printer of which I am fond. One of my computers does not have a parallel port and so I have used a cheap PCI parallel port card and with the addition of a file in /etc/modprobe.d this works well with the 2.6.32 kernel.

I tried the same thing on this computer with a later Puppy (Saluki) using the 3.2.8 kernel and it does not work because there are no kernel parport drivers . Also explains why it works in Linux Mint 10 but not 11.

My question is, can they be added using insmod? Bit out of my depth about here.

Only other option is to get a network adaptor for the printer.

Thanks.

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rcrsn51
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#2 Post by rcrsn51 »

I tested this in Saluki 023 on a machine with a parallel port. Running "lsmod" confirmed that both the parport and parport-pc modules had been loaded automatically.

I then ran "modprobe lp" and it loaded. However, with CUPS 1.3.11, you don't need this step - CUPS will load it for you if you ask to install a parallel port printer.

differential
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#3 Post by differential »

Thank you so much!

Have just printed a test page.

The 4 Plus dates from an era when printers were made to last. Mine got it's fuser jammed recently with a broken gear tooth and when I pulled it apart found how well it was made. Found a local printer guy that had cut his teeth on these and he replaced the fuser and the nylon gear that had got damaged by the jammed fuser and put in new exit rollers for 120 nzd.

So great to know it is not obsolete.

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rcrsn51
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#4 Post by rcrsn51 »

What did you do to get it working?

differential
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#5 Post by differential »

Unfortunately my joy was misplaced! I have two computers both with Saluki but one with an original parallel port and the other with a parallel port card.

What you suggested worked fine on the machine with a parallel port. Cups 1.3.11 brought up the LPT option and it worked but it was working anyway. On the machine with the ide parallel port card, lsmod gave:

parport_pc used by 0
parport used by 2 parport_pc,lp
lp used by 0

I used modprobe lp and it brought up a warning about the file I had inserted in /etc/ modprobe.d called parport_pc.conf with the contents

options parport_pc=0xb800 and said it was ignoring this line.

When I went to install the printer it did not bring up the LPT option.

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rcrsn51
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#6 Post by rcrsn51 »

Do you need this options file at all? I believe that the standard parallel port setup is

Code: Select all

io=0x387 irq=7
Remove the options file, reboot and run "dmesg | grep par". What info do you get about the card?

differential
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#7 Post by differential »

The file in modprobe.d was suggested in

http://ubuntuforums.org/archive/index.p ... 29616.html

and this worked with Mint or Wary ie with earlier 2.6.32 or 2.6.35 kernels with parallel port drivers.

I deleted this and the result of dmesg | grep par is:

0.103187]: 3 comparators, 32 bit 25.000000MHz counter.

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rcrsn51
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#8 Post by rcrsn51 »

Run "lspci -nn". What are the [vendor:product] ID codes for the card?

Run "lspci -v" and confirm that the address 0xb800 is still valid for the card.

Try the following set of commands

Code: Select all

rmmod lp
rmmod parport_pc
modprobe parport_pc io=0xb800
dmesg | tail
modprobe lp
dmesg | tail
Last edited by rcrsn51 on Sun 07 Oct 2012, 21:49, edited 1 time in total.

differential
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Location: Auckland, New Zealand

#9 Post by differential »

I won't be able to get back to this until this evening but meantime did you mean parport-pc or parport_pc or does it not matter?

Thanks for your help. I do appreciate it.

differential
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#10 Post by differential »

Ok I have assumed parport_pc as before and the outputs from the two dmsg | tail entries were as follows:

dmesg | tail
[ 129.830844] IT8726 SuperIO detected.
[ 129.832621] lp: driver loaded but no devices found
[ 130.355438] vattery-acpitoo[4518]: segfault at 0 ip b6d4e41c sp bfbb650c error 4 in libc-2.10.1.so[b6d20000+13a000]
[ 236.009724] forcedeth 0000:00:07.0: eth0: link up
[ 369.846030] lp: driver loaded but no devices found
[ 440.642949] parport0: PC-style at 0xb800, irq 646 [PCSPP,TRISTATE]
[ 440.642957] parport0: irq 646 in use, resorting to polled operation
[ 440.723387] lp0: using parport0 (polling).
[ 440.723391] lp0: console ready
[ 459.846531] lp0 off-line

and the second one:

# modprobe lp
# dmesg | tail
[ 129.830844] IT8726 SuperIO detected.
[ 129.832621] lp: driver loaded but no devices found
[ 130.355438] vattery-acpitoo[4518]: segfault at 0 ip b6d4e41c sp bfbb650c error 4 in libc-2.10.1.so[b6d20000+13a000]
[ 236.009724] forcedeth 0000:00:07.0: eth0: link up
[ 369.846030] lp: driver loaded but no devices found
[ 440.642949] parport0: PC-style at 0xb800, irq 646 [PCSPP,TRISTATE]
[ 440.642957] parport0: irq 646 in use, resorting to polled operation
[ 440.723387] lp0: using parport0 (polling).
[ 440.723391] lp0: console ready
[ 459.846531] lp0 off-line

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rcrsn51
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#11 Post by rcrsn51 »

Code: Select all

[ 459.846531] lp0 off-line 
That looks like the key line. But I don't know what is different about kernel 3.x to cause it.

If you run the same set of commands on a kernel 2.x Puppy, do you get something different?

differential
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Location: Auckland, New Zealand

#12 Post by differential »

I could not get the Wary terminal to copy the output. So frustrating. I believe there may be a way but could not find it.

I have done a screen copy using mtpaint and it is attached.

On /lib/modules/2.6.xx/kernel/drivers/parport there are three drivers listed:
parport_cs.ko, parport_pc.ko, and parport_serial.ko whereas 3.2.8 kernel is missing that parport entry.
Attachments
terminal.png
(66.84 KiB) Downloaded 634 times

differential
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Joined: Thu 26 Jan 2006, 05:36
Location: Auckland, New Zealand

#13 Post by differential »

I did not think these drivers were included in the 3.2.8 kernel but they are. The same three so interesting to know what the difference is between the kernels. It is not only a Puppy thing. Mint 10 works fine with the extra file in modprobe.d but Mint 11 won't.

badab99
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#14 Post by badab99 »

silly me for butting in but have you made sure the printer is online. the old 4 models have the online/offline button... I am guilty of this with miniport wifi cards is why I thought of it. simple gotcha maybe.

differential
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Joined: Thu 26 Jan 2006, 05:36
Location: Auckland, New Zealand

#15 Post by differential »

I think it is a deeper problem than that. I am aware of the On Line button.

Further thoughts over night. Did CUPS install those drivers in the 3.xx kernel because I don, think they were there before.

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