JetDirect

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 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.

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 an 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.

615n series

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 cards most directly 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. 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 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) which can save the customer upwards of US$350 at current (2007?) retail prices. [http://www.hp.com/go/hp-jetdirect/615n-info]

External print servers

Internal print servers

MIO

MIO (Modular Input/Output) was the first technology developed by HP for its laser printers to enable the addition of peripheral cards such as JetDirect.

LIO

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. The LIO backplane technology is based on a low power/low-voltage (<1-volt) differential signaling technology.

*200m 10/100 Base-T (Supports only Windows and Apple Mac, fixed firmware)
*250m 10/100 Base-T (Full support for Netware and Un*x, firmware upgradeable)
*280m 802.11b Wireless

EIO

EIO (Enhanced Input/Output) is a modular interface developed by HP for its printers to expand their capabilities. EIO does not just serve JetDirect cards, but EIO hard drives and the EIO Connectivity card for adding communication ports to the printers as well. EIO utilizes the 3.3V signaling technology of the PCI bus and is significantly more energy-efficient than MIO technology. EIO print servers will not work in LIO slots, nor will the LIO print servers work in EIO slots.

*600n 10Base-T/10Base-2 EIO Card (J3110A, J3111A, J3112A, J3113A) "(Discontinued)"
*610n for Ethernet/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) "(Discontinued)"
*630n Ethernet/Fast Etnernet/Gigabit (10/100/1000Base-Tx, 802.3) IPv6 (J7997G) "replacement for 625n"
*635n Ethernet/Fast Ethernet/Gigabit (10/100/1000Base-TX, 802.3) IPv6/IPsec (J7961A, J7961G)
*680n 802.11b Wireless "(Discontinued)"
*690n Ethernet/Fast Ethernet/Wireless (10/100Base-TX, 802.3, 802.11b, 802.11g) IPv6/IPsec (J8007G) "(New July 2008)" [http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/us/en/sm/WF05a/18972-18972-236253-34210-396578-3662193.html]

Other JetDirect products

bt1300

The BT1300 is a Bluetooth compliant network adapter for network-ready parallel or USB printers. "(Discontinued)"
* 2MB flash memory for software and print server upgrades

Print Server Appliance 4250

The Print Server Appliance 4250 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. "(Discontinued)"
* 128MB onboard memory
* 20GB onboard HDD with 7GB available for print spool operations
* Supports up to 50 individual print queues or printer installs
* 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 (LPD for printing only) for communication to virtually any network-compliant printer

EIO connectivity card

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)"

External links

* [http://www.phpclasses.org/browse/package/3653.html PHP JetDirect Source Code] - PHPClasses Repository - Show a message in a printer LCD display using PHP
* [http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/us/en/sm/WF02a/18972-18972-236253.html List of current HP JetDirect models]
* [http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c00227889&lc=en&cc=sg&dlc=en&product=409695 JetDirect Hardware/Firmware Solutions Overview]