1330_Parallel_Port_Connectivity

NEXTSTEP for Intel Processors

Title: Parallel Port Connectivity
Entry Number: 1330
Last Updated: <<Date June 17, 1997>>

Product Vendor: NA

Keywords: Parallel, Port, Connectivity, Laptop, Peripheral, Printer

Usage Commentary:
You can use the parallel port to connect printers and other peripheral devices to your system.

Setup and Installation:
Set the parallel port address to 378h.

Known Problems:
Release 3.1 and 3.2:

The current implementation of the parallel port driver doesn't support bidirectional data transfer. Because file transfers require this feature, you can't use LapLink^TM-style file transfer applications. Future versions of the parallel driver may support this functionality.

Although you can set the parallel port to addresses other than 378h with Configure, they won't work.

Turn on the peripheral device before you boot the computer, or your computer and peripherals may not load the parallel port driver.

Some PC vendors map the parallel port at 378h LPT1, while others map it to LPT2. If you need to run software using LPT1(i.e. under SoftPC) on a machine where LPT2 is mapped at 378h, you will need to use the machine's set-up or EISA Configuration Utility to swap LPT1 and LPT2.

	The current implementation of the parallel port driver doesn't support bidirectional data transfer. Because file transfers require this feature, you can't use LapLink^TM-style file transfer applications. Future versions of the parallel driver may support this functionality.

	Although you can set the parallel port to addresses other than 378h with Configure, they won't work.

	Turn on the peripheral device before you boot the computer, or your computer and peripherals may not load the parallel port driver.

	Some PC vendors map the parallel port at 378h LPT1, while others map it to LPT2. If you need to run software using LPT1(i.e. under SoftPC) on a machine where LPT2 is mapped at 378h, you will need to use the machine's set-up or EISA Configuration Utility to swap LPT1 and LPT2.