From owner-freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG  Sun Dec 21 13:54:25 2003
Return-Path: <owner-freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG>
Delivered-To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org
Received: from mx1.FreeBSD.org (mx1.freebsd.org [216.136.204.125])
	by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id D1DE716A4CE
	for <questions@freebsd.org>; Sun, 21 Dec 2003 13:54:25 -0800 (PST)
Received: from galilee.polands.org (CPE-24-29-189-110.new.rr.com
	[24.29.189.110])
	by mx1.FreeBSD.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 395BB43D53
	for <questions@freebsd.org>; Sun, 21 Dec 2003 13:54:24 -0800 (PST)
	(envelope-from doug@polands.org)
Received: from email.polands.org (samaria.polands.org [172.16.1.17])
	by galilee.polands.org (8.12.9/8.12.9) with SMTP id hBLLsMkj067366
	for <questions@freebsd.org>; Sun, 21 Dec 2003 15:54:23 -0600 (CST)
	(envelope-from doug@polands.org)
Received: from 172.16.1.35
        (SquirrelMail authenticated user djp)
        by email.polands.org with HTTP;
        Sun, 21 Dec 2003 15:54:23 -0600 (CST)
Message-ID: <4875.172.16.1.35.1072043663.squirrel@email.polands.org>
Date: Sun, 21 Dec 2003 15:54:23 -0600 (CST)
From: "Doug Poland" <doug@polands.org>
To: questions@freebsd.org
User-Agent: SquirrelMail/1.4.0
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain;charset=iso-8859-1
X-Priority: 3
Importance: Normal
Subject: Postscript printer, serial or parallel cable?
X-BeenThere: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org
X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.1
Precedence: list
List-Id: User questions <freebsd-questions.freebsd.org>
List-Unsubscribe: <http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions>,
	<mailto:freebsd-questions-request@freebsd.org?subject=unsubscribe>
List-Archive: <http://lists.freebsd.org/pipermail/freebsd-questions>
List-Post: <mailto:freebsd-questions@freebsd.org>
List-Help: <mailto:freebsd-questions-request@freebsd.org?subject=help>
List-Subscribe: <http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions>,
	<mailto:freebsd-questions-request@freebsd.org?subject=subscribe>
X-List-Received-Date: Sun, 21 Dec 2003 21:54:26 -0000

Hi,

I recently got my hands on a free (woowho!) HP 4050 printer.  I'm
going to hook it up to a FreeBSD 4.9-STABLE server.  The printer has
two serial (one male/one female) connectors, a Centronix port, and
some odd looking port that looks like you plug a mouse into it.

The handbook states that I can use serial or parallel cabling to a
postscript capable printer but there may be some advantage to a serial
cable as it is bi-directional.  I've got several newer IEEE
something-or-another parallel cables lying around unused.   They were
rather expensive and, IIRC, proported to be bi-directional.

Question:  Is a serial hookup preferable to parallel?  As a future
possiblity, this modest FBSD box may become a dedicated print server
with a color laser and ink jet also hanging off it.  I'll probably
install CUPS and "share" it with windows users via Samba.

Thanks for your input

-- 
Regards,
Doug