LPR Printing to JetDirect with Firmware 03.15 (or later) Fails

The information in this article applies to:

• Microsoft Windows NT operating system version 3.1
• Microsoft Windows NT Advanced Server version 3.1
• Microsoft Windows NT Workstation versions 3.5, 3.51, and 4.0
• Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 3.5, 3.51, and 4.0

SYMPTOMS

When using LPR to print to an Hewlett-Packard (HP) printer with an internal or external JetDirect product, printing fails from some applications or clients, but not others. An Event 2004 error is written to the System Log. The JetDirect cards that exhibit this problem have firmware revision 03.15 through 04.08.

CAUSE

If the LPR control or data file that is sent from Windows NT to the printer is exactly 99 bytes the JetDirect card fails to correctly process the remaining LPR packets. In Network Monitor the control or data file appears as 100 bytes because of a line feed at the end of the control or data file. The data file contains the actual print job. The control file typically contains the following information:

   Host Name
   User id
   Format control Character (l or f) and filename
   Unlink datafile and filename
   Job name for the banner page

RESOLUTION

According to Hewlett Packard, firmware revision 04.09 fixes this problem. Contact Hewlett Packard about the availability of this update. It is also available from the HP web site www.hp.com.

To determine if the control file is the problem, have the user log in with a shorter user name. If they can now print, they are experiencing this problem. If the problem is with the data file, changing the name does not make a difference and you may have to get a network trace to determine the problem.

The JetDirect card is manufactured by Hewlett Packard, a vendor independent of Microsoft; we make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding this product's performance or reliability.