[Pkg-cups-devel] Bug#560003:

[James]

This problem, in my case, is related to the specific Prolific Technology
PL-2305 USB to IEEE-1284 Parallel Port Adapter manufactured with the PL-2305
chip.  I have both a Neostar Technology Co Model: USP-1284 adapter with the
Centronics connector, and a Rosewill RCW-602 with the DB-25F connector.  No
information is provided about versions or revisions for these devices.

The USP-1284 does not work, and the log has:

 kernel: [50858.092105] usb 2-1: new full speed USB device number 6 using uhci_hcd
 kernel: [50858.281158] usb 2-1: New USB device found, idVendor=067b, idProduct=2305
 kernel: [50858.281168] usb 2-1: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=0
 kernel: [50858.281175] usb 2-1: Product: IEEE-1284 Controller
 kernel: [50858.281180] usb 2-1: Manufacturer: Prolific Technology Inc.
 mtp-probe: checking bus 2, device 6: "/sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1d.0/usb2/2-1"
 mtp-probe: bus: 2, device: 6 was not an MTP device
 udev-configure-printer: add /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1d.0/usb2/2-1/2-1:1.0
 udev-configure-printer: parent devpath is /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1d.0/usb2/2-1
 udev-configure-printer: Device vendor/product is 067B:2305
 udev-configure-printer: invalid or missing IEEE 1284 Device ID
 

The RCW-602 works, and the log has:

 kernel: [51256.868129] usb 2-1: new full speed USB device number 7 using uhci_hcd
 kernel: [51257.113158] usb 2-1: New USB device found, idVendor=067b, idProduct=2305
 kernel: [51257.113168] usb 2-1: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=0
 kernel: [51257.113174] usb 2-1: Product: IEEE-1284 Controller
 kernel: [51257.113179] usb 2-1: Manufacturer: Prolific Technology Inc.
 mtp-probe: checking bus 2, device 7: "/sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1d.0/usb2/2-1"
 mtp-probe: bus: 2, device: 7 was not an MTP device
 udev-configure-printer: add /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1d.0/usb2/2-1/2-1:1.0
 udev-configure-printer: parent devpath is /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1d.0/usb2/2-1
 udev-configure-printer: Device vendor/product is 067B:2305
 udev-configure-printer: MFG:Hewlett-Packard MDL:HP LaserJet 4 Plus SERN:- serial:-
 kernel: [51258.231429] ttyS1: LSR safety check engaged!
 udev-configure-printer: URI matches without serial number: usb://HP/LaserJet%204%20Plus
 udev-configure-printer: No serial number URI matches so using those without
 udev-configure-printer: Queue ipp://localhost:631/printers/HP-LaserJet-4-Plus has matching device URI
 udev-configure-printer: Re-enabled printer ipp://localhost:631/printers/HP-LaserJet-4-Plus


Everything is the same, up until the "invalid or missing IEEE 1284 Device ID".
In either case, though, hp-probe fails to find the usb printer device, and so
the result of hp-probe is of no practical significance.

The command "hp-query -m'HP LaserJet 4 Plus' -a" seems to work, but hp-info
says "No devices found."

I'm not sure what software is providing the actual driver for the PL-2305, but
the module usblp is not loaded and apparently not needed.  There is no device
file /dev/usb/lp0 created, but there is a device

 crw-rw-r-T 1 root lp   189, 134 Dec 13 19:20 /dev/bus/usb/002/007

lpstat -p successfully reports the printer status.


The printer drivers for the HP LaserJet 4 Plus are a separate matter.
cupstestppd complains FAIL for several of the printer drivers.  I don't know
that this actually matters.  Using the Postscript drivers without actual
Postscript capability in the printer makes a mess, though.  The printer
wizards don't seem to always know when there is no Postscript support.


James