JetDirect
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
JetDirect is the name of a technology sold by Hewlett-Packard that allows computer printers to be directly attached to a Local Area Network. The most common communication uses TCP port 9100.
The "JetDirect" designation covers a range of models from the external 1 and 3 port parallel print servers known as the 300x and 500x, to the internal EIO print servers for use with HP printer and some other branded models. There are also wireless print servers available, including Bluetooth and 802.11b and g models, as well as gigabit ethernet and IPv6-compliant network cards.
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[edit] History
The JetDirect was first introduced in summer 1991 as an XIO(Extended Input/Output) interface card that supported Ethernet and various networking protocols over an AUI/BNC connection. Initially, a separate card was required for each protocol needed, such as TCP/IP, IPX/SPX, AppleTalk, or DLC/LLC. In October of that year, a line of cards with a MIO(Modular Input/Output) interface was released. Not until 1994 would MIO interface cards be released that could support more than one protocol per card.
The next development releases added connection interfaces. In 1992, a card with both RJ45 and BNC connectors was released, and in 1993, the first external JetDirects were introduced with a parallel interface. This enabled JetDirect cards to connect to almost any printer, making that printer network-capable. In 1995, the Ex plus 3 was released, with 3 parallel ports on one network interface, allowing 3 printers to share 1 network address.
1997 saw the new numbering format for both internal and external JetDirects. Internals began the 6xx series with the release of the 600n, multi-protocol card that supported TCP/IP, IPX/SPX, DLC/LLC, and AppleTalk over a token-ring network; along with the 1760x series external print server - also multi-protocol. An ethernet version of the 600n was released in 1998. In 1999, the JetDirect autoswitch was introduced.
1998 also saw the release of 170x, the first value-line print server aimed at smaller companies that did not necessarily need full networking - only TCP/IP or IPX/SPX support. This was followed in 2000 by the JetDirect 70x home print server.
[edit] The 615s
In 2002 HP released the 615n series of Internal EIO print server. This model featured a new chipset manufactured in Singapore that had an issue to do with either overheating or data overload. Otherwise known as the ASIC issue, this meant the 615n card could fail without warning, and when it failed, would completely shut down, appearing to vanish from the printer entirely. No power would flow to the card, and nothing could be done to restore a card in this state.
Soon afterwards, HP began to do a per-item replacement policy that is continuing at this time and will continue until October 31, 2008, when all known 615n cards will be at least 4 years old and at such time HP probably feels it has done appropriate corporate responsibility for a defect in manufacture.
The 615n card most directly effected was the units installed in the Laserjet 2300, 4200 and Color 4600 series. Those cards appear to be most prone to failure.
Any 615n series card can fail, but it is up to HP to determine if the failure is due to the chipset or some other factor. It is recommended to call them or contact them through the Web site and they will proceed to do some simple troubleshooting steps to determine if the failure is due to the chipset or some other means. If it is proven to be the chipset, HP would be able to replace the card under warranty with an as-new card (nominally a 620n) which can save the customer upwards of US$350 at current retail prices. [1]
[edit] External print servers
| Model number | Printer ports | Network ports | Network protocols | Firmware | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 170x | One Parallel (IEEE 1284.4) | One RJ45 10Base-T Ethernet | TCP/IP, IPX/SPX, and DLC/LLC | Non-upgradeable | |
| 175x | One USB 1.0 | One RJ45 10/100Base-TX ethernet | TCP/IP, AppleTalk, LPD (Windows and MacOS only) | Non-upgradeable | |
| 300x | One Parallel (IEEE 1284.4) | One RJ45 10/100Base-TX ethernet | TCP/IP, IPX/SPX, AppleTalk, and DLC/LLC | 2 MB | Two models available; the standard RJ45 model, and the OfficeConnect model, designed to integrate into the 3Com OfficeConnect network family of products OfficeConnect model now discontinued |
| 310x | One USB 1.0 | One RJ45 10/100Base-TX ethernet | TCP/IP, IPX/SPX, AppleTalk, and DLC/LLC | 2 MB | Discontinued in Favor of the en3700 |
| en3700 | One USB 2.0 | One RJ45 10/100Base-TX ethernet | TCP/IP, IPX/SPX, AppleTalk, and DLC/LLC | 4 MB | |
| 500x | Three Parallel (IEEE 1284.4 | One RJ45 10/100Base-TX ethernet, one BNC (10Base-2) | TCP/IP, IPX/SPX, AppleTalk, and DLC/LLC | 2 MB | |
| 510x | Three Parallel (IEEE 1284.4 | One RJ45 10/100Base-TX ethernet | TCP/IP, IPX/SPX, AppleTalk, and DLC/LLC | 2 MB | |
| wp110 | One Parallel (IEEE 1284.4) | One RJ45 10/100Base-TX ethernet, Wireless 802.11b | TCP/IP, AppleTalk, IP Direct mode, telnet, SLP, IGMP, BOOTP/DHCP, WINS, SNMP, HTTP, Auto-IP, and Apple Rendezvous | 2 MB | Discontinued |
| 380x | One USB 1.0 | Wireless 802.11b | TCP/IP (IP Direct Mode, LPD, FTP, IPP), IPX/SPX, DLC/LLC, and AppleTalk. Also NDS, NetWare Bindery, NCP, telnet, SLP, IGMP, BOOTP/DHCP, WINS, SNMP v1 and v2c, and HTTP | 4 MB | Discontinued in favor of ew2400 |
| ew2400 | One USB 2.0 | One RJ45 10/100Base-TX ethernet, Wireless 802.11b/g | TCP/IP, IPX/SPX Direct mode, AppleTalk, IP Direct mode, LPD printing, telnet, SLP, IGMP, BOOTP/DHCP, WINS, SNMP, HTTP, Auto-IP, and Apple Rendezvous | 4 MB |
[edit] Internal print servers
[edit] MIO
Discontinued product line MIO (Modular Input/Output) is a technology developed by HP for its laser printers to enable the addition of peripheral cards such as JetDirect.
400n 10Base-T or 10/100Base-TX
- J4100A Ethernet/Fast Ethernet
- J4105A Token Ring
- J4106A Ethernet
[edit] LIO
Discontinued Product Line LIO interfaces were developed by HP as a corporate response to the strictly internal MIO and EIO development path. The LIO interface differs from MIO/EIO in that the card is wrapped in an external plastic casing and is hot-swappable. This means it does not need the printer to be turned off to change or remove the card.
200m 10/100Base-TX
250m 10/100Base-TX
280m 802.11b wireless ethernet
[edit] EIO
EIO (Enhanced Input/Output) is a modular interface developed by HP for its printers to expand their capabilities. Compatible EIO interface cards are the JetDirect Print Server, the EIO hard drives and the EIO Connectivity card for adding communication ports to the printers. EIO uses the PCI bus and is energy-efficient compared to the MIO technology.
600n 10Base-T/10Base-2 EIO Card (J3110A, J3111A, J3112A, J3113A) Discontinued
610n for Token Ring/802.5, DB9, RJ45 (J4169A, J4167A) Discontinued
615n 10/100TX (J6057A) Discontinued
620n Ethernet/Fast Ethernet (10/100Base-TX, 802.3) (J7934A, J7934G)
625n Ethernet/Fast Ethernet/Gigabit (10/100/1000Base-TX, 802.3) (J7960A, J7960G)
635n Ethernet/Fast Ethernet/Gigabit (10/100/1000Base-TX, 802.3) IPv6/IPsec (J7961A, J7961G)
680n 802.11b wireless ethernet discontinued
[edit] Other JetDirect products
[edit] bt1300
Bluetooth wireless adapter Discontinued
- The BT1300 is a Bluetooth compliant network adapter for network-ready parallel or USB printers.
- 2MB flash memory for software and print server upgrades
[edit] 4250
Print Server Appliance 4250 Discontinued
- The Print Server Appliance is perhaps the most ambitious of the JetDirect products - being a complete print solution in a box. The system comes ready to go with a pre-loaded and configured Print Server running on a Linux core with an Apache Web Server. Once connected to the network, the device is able to manage up to 50 print shares with any supported network-ready printer, not just HP products.
- 128MB onboard memory
- 20GB onboard HDD with 7GB available for print spool operations
- Supports up to 50 individual print queues
- Allows up to 350 simultaneous client connections for enterprise printing
- Allows for updating and loading of print drivers from any source through an on-board web browser interface
- Supports both TCP/IP connections and LPD connections for communication to virtually any network-compliant printer
[edit] EIO card
EIO connectivity card Discontinued
- The JetDirect EIO connectivity card allows for the expansion of any EIO printer to gain a USB 1.0, Serial, and Localtalk interface. This card has all three interface connectors and on-board electronics to give the printer the ability to use these interfaces.
[edit] External links
- PHP JetDirect Source Code Show a message in a printer LCD display using PHP
- List of current HP JetDirect models
