Технология HP Jetdirect: история и развитие сетевой печати

Network printer technology

HP 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 "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 printers. The Jetdirect series also includes wireless print server (Bluetooth, 802.11b and g) models, as well as gigabit Ethernet and IPv6 compliant internal cards.

HP Jetdirect was first introduced in March 1991 (code named QuickSilver) with the LaserJet IIIsi network printer (code named Eli). Jetdirect is based on HP's MIO (Modular Input/Output) interface, which was designed from the ground up with the IIIsi to create a mainstream full function high performance networked printer. The initial MIO interface card had Ethernet and Token Ring physical layer variants and used various networking protocols over an AUI/BNC connection. Initially, a printer needed a separate card for each protocol, such as TCP/IP, IPX/SPX, AppleTalk, or DLC/LLC. The following year, the team applied the technology to the legacy accessory slot on the LaserJetIIs and IIIs XIO (Extended Input/Output). MIO type Jetdirect cards were also used for network connectivity on some HP/Agilent laboratory equipment, such as the 6890A and 6890 Plus series of gas chromatographs. These included unusual network connection types such as HPs I Net, which was used as an interconnect between various pieces of hardware that controlled the 58xx and 68xx series gas chromatographs. 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 8P8C modular telephone and BNC connectors for Ethernet 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 Jetdirect servers. Internals began the 6xx series with the release of the 600n, multiprotocol 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 multiprotocol. 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.

More advanced versions of JetDirect supported a number of network printing protocols. However, the protocol that ended up being associated with it, the JetDirect protocol, is its raw TCP/IP protocol sometimes referred to as Socket API or RAW. It is an extremely simple network printing protocol. Submitting a print job can be done by netcating a file containing the page description language (e. g. PostScript, PCL) to the appropriate TCP port on the printer (default port is 9100). Information about the printer and job is simply sent to the client while the TCP connection is active. The port would reject connections if the printer is busy. This protocol adds support for querying for printer status by non printing users via a separate UDP port. Most JetDirect devices also came with, JetDirect Interface, a telnet interface for configuring the device or printer.

Model number Printer ports Network ports Network protocols Firmware NotesEX One Parallel 10BASE2 and 10BASE T (Ethernet) or DE 9 (Token Ring) TCP/IP, IPX/SPX, and DLC/LLC Flash EEPROM BOOTP Client, 4 Models were available: J2382A, J2382B (both Ethernet) and J2383A, J2383B (both Token Ring)EX Plus One Parallel 10BASE2 and 10BASE T TCP/IP, IPX/SPX, and DLC/LLC Flash EEPROM BOOTP & DHCP ClientEX Plus3 Three Parallel 10BASE2 and 10BASE T TCP/IP, IPX/SPX, AppleTalk, and DLC/LLC Flash EEPROM DHCP Client (not BOOTP)170x One Parallel (IEEE 1284.4) One RJ45 10BASE T Ethernet TCP/IP, IPX/SPX, and DLC/LLC Non upgradeable Discontinued175x One USB 1.0 One RJ45 10/100BASE TX Ethernet TCP/IP, AppleTalk, LPD (Windows and Mac OS only) Non upgradeable Discontinued in favor of the en1700300x One Parallel (IEEE 1284.4) One RJ45 10/100BASE TX Ethernet TCP/IP, IPX/SPX, AppleTalk, and DLC/LLC, IPP, FTP 2 MB Four models have been made available: J3263A, the base model; J4101A, an OfficeConnect model designed to mimic the style of 3Com OfficeConnect equipment so that stacking it on top of such equipment is aesthetically pleasing; J4101B, an updated version of J4101A; and J3263G, a RoHS compliant version of J3263A. All except the J3263G have been discontinued, but all still get firmware updates.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 en3700en1700 One USB 2.0 One RJ45 10/100BASE TX Ethernet TCP/IP, AppleTalk 2 MB Limited Firmware flashable for USB connectivity to certain HP printersen3700 One USB 2.0 One RJ45 10/100BASE TX Ethernet TCP/IP, IPX/SPX, AppleTalk, and DLC/LLC 4 MB Discontinued in favor of ew2500500x Three Parallel (IEEE 1284.4) One RJ45 10/100BASE TX Ethernet, one BNC (10BASE2) TCP/IP, IPX/SPX, AppleTalk, and DLC/LLC 2 MB Discontinued in favor of the 510x510x Three Parallel (IEEE 1284.4) One RJ45 10/100BASE TX Ethernet TCP/IP, IPX/SPX, AppleTalk, and DLC/LLC 2 MB Same product as the 500x, except no BNC connector and RoHS compliant, discontinuedwp110 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 Discontinued380x 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 ew2400ew2400 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 Discontinued in favor of ew2500ew2500 One USB 2.0 One 10/100BASE TX Ethernet, Wireless 802.11b/g TCP/IPv4, TCP/IPv6, AppleTalk, IP Direct Mode, LPR/LPD printing, FTP, IPP, IPX/SPX, DLC/LLC, Novell NetWare NDS, NetWare Bindery, Novell iPrint 8 MB

In 2002 HP released the 615n series of Internal EIO print server. This model featured a new chipset manufactured in Singapore that had a problem related to 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. Soon afterwards, HP began to do a per item replacement policy that has ended as of October 31, 2008, when all known 615n cards were at least 4 years old and at such time HP felt it had taken appropriate corporate responsibility for a defect in manufacturing. The 615n cards most often affected were 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. HP 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 cause. 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).

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. (Discontinued)