Parallel Port Issues

[Patrick Lists]

On 31-12-11 04:48, Mark LaPierre wrote:
>
> Anyone know how to find out if the parallel port is recognized? I have a
> parallel port printer connected to my machine but I can't seem to get it
> working.

It's been ages since I used a parallel port so not sure but have you 
checked /var/log/messages? If there's nothing in there maybe turn the 
printer off and on again while doing $ sudo tail -f /var/log/messages 
and see if there's any output. Do you have the appropriate kernel 
modules loaded like lp, parport and parport_pc?

$ modinfo lp
filename:       /lib/modules/3.1.6-1.fc16.x86_64/kernel/drivers/char/lp.ko
license:        GPL
alias:          char-major-6-*
srcversion:     27AEFDE12562FE797EC95EE
depends:        parport
vermagic:       3.1.6-1.fc16.x86_64 SMP mod_unload
parm:           parport:array of charp
parm:           reset:bool

$ modinfo parport_pc
filename: 
/lib/modules/3.1.6-1.fc16.x86_64/kernel/drivers/parport/parport_pc.ko
license:        GPL
description:    PC-style parallel port driver
author:         Phil Blundell, Tim Waugh, others
srcversion:     CF8320136E57DFCBBECA782
alias:          acpi*:PNP0401:*
alias:          pnp:dPNP0401*
alias:          acpi*:PNP0400:*
alias:          pnp:dPNP0400*
alias:          pci:v0000135Cd00000278sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00009710d00009865sv0000A000sd00002000bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00009710d00009865sv0000A000sd00001000bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00009710d00009901sv0000A000sd00002000bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00009710d00009815sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00009710d00009805sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00009710d00009755sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00009710d00009715sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00009710d00009705sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v000014F2d00000121sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v0000416Cd00000100sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00001415d0000C11Csv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00001415d0000C118sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00001415d0000C114sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00001415d0000C110sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00001415d0000C104sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00001415d0000C100sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00001415d0000C004sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00001415d0000C000sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00001415d00008403sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00001415d00009513sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00001415d00009523sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v000014DBd00002121sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v000014DBd00002120sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00009710d00009815sv00001000sd00000020bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00009710d00009805sv00001000sd00000010bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v000014D2d00008001sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00001592d00000783sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00001592d00000782sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00001409d00007268sv00001409sd00009018bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00001409d00007268sv00001409sd00000104bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00001409d00007268sv00001409sd00000103bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00001409d00007268sv00001409sd00000102bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00001409d00007268sv00001409sd00000101bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v000010B5d00009050sv0000D84Dsd00004014bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00001407d00008800sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00001407d00008003sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00001407d00008002sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00001407d00008000sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v0000131Fd00002021sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v0000131Fd00002020sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v0000131Fd00001021sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v0000131Fd00001020sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00001283d00008872sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00001106d00008231sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00001106d00000686sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
depends:        parport
vermagic:       3.1.6-1.fc16.x86_64 SMP mod_unload
parm:           io:Base I/O address (SPP regs) (array of int)
parm:           io_hi:Base I/O address (ECR) (array of int)
parm:           irq:IRQ line (array of charp)
parm:           dma:DMA channel (array of charp)
parm:           init_mode:Initialise mode for VIA VT8231 port (spp, ps2, 
epp, ecp or ecpepp) (charp)

There are various lp* commands that might help once you have made sure 
the appropriate kernel modules are loaded, the parallel port is 
recognized by the kernel and active and the cable and printer are ok: 
lpstat, lpadmin, lpinfo. They are part of the cups rpm. $ rpm -ql cups 
should give you a nice overview of available lp* files.

If all seems ok maybe try $ sudo system-config-printer to add it. I did 
not see a way to add a parallel printer but I don't have one so maybe 
it's detected dynamic.

Regards,
Patrick