Setting up the Printer Port
As said previously, this printer needs a to have the serial port set to special settings.
Failure to do this, will cause either the system to completely lock up, or the printer port to lockup (you won't be able to use it until next reboot).
The serial port can be setup using this command (as root) before talking to the printer port:
stty --file /dev/ttyS1 460800 raw cstopb echo ixon ixoff
Here is a slightly easier to understand version of the same command (but longer to type):
stty 230400 raw -echo cstopb < /dev/ttyS1
stty ixon ixoff < /dev/ttyS1
Note: If the printer is on the modem port, replace ttyS1 throughout this howto with ttyS0.
Put this line in the /etc/init.d/rc.d/rc.local file, or in another script that gets ran as root on boot (such as rc.serial or even your own rc script).
I've seen other people put this command in your printer filter, but if you run it on boot, you don't have to have it in your filter.
Choosing the Printer in Printtool
Install these packages (or the equivlent debs):
1. mpage-2.4-7.ppc.rpm
2. lpr-0.36-2.ppc.rpm
3. rhs-printfilters-1.51-2.ppc.rpm
4. printtool-3.40-3.ppc.rpm
Open up an xterm and type printool in it. This will start the printool program.
It will probably complain about you not having certain types of networking installed. This is safe to ignore.
Click Add. This will bring up another dialog, allowing you to configure a printer.
Change the Printer Device to /dev/ttyS1.
Click Input Filter [Select]. Then choose your printer from the list. Make sure to choose the proper printer, other drivers won't work.
Repeat adding printer queves, for each resolution you want your printer to be able to use. For example you might want one queve for 300x300 dpi color printing, another for 1440x720 dpi b/w printing.
Click OK and OK again. This will bring you back to the main dialog.
Go to Tests. Try the print postscript test. This should print out a nice tiger from your printer.
Now, any application can acess your printer (it will show up with the lp queve).
