From owner-freebsd-hackers@FreeBSD.ORG Thu Dec 14 19:02:57 2006 Return-Path: X-Original-To: freebsd-hackers@freebsd.org Delivered-To: freebsd-hackers@freebsd.org Received: from mx1.FreeBSD.org (mx1.freebsd.org [69.147.83.52]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 3B42916A5AC for ; Thu, 14 Dec 2006 19:02:57 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from mrcomputerwiz@hotmail.com) Received: from bay0-omc2-s37.bay0.hotmail.com (bay0-omc2-s37.bay0.hotmail.com [65.54.246.173]) by mx1.FreeBSD.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 53E2B43DA6 for ; Thu, 14 Dec 2006 19:01:05 +0000 (GMT) (envelope-from mrcomputerwiz@hotmail.com) Received: from hotmail.com ([65.55.132.98]) by bay0-omc2-s37.bay0.hotmail.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC(6.0.3790.2668); Thu, 14 Dec 2006 11:02:42 -0800 Received: from mail pickup service by hotmail.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC; Thu, 14 Dec 2006 11:02:41 -0800 Message-ID: Received: from 65.55.132.123 by by127fd.bay127.hotmail.msn.com with HTTP; Thu, 14 Dec 2006 19:02:39 GMT X-Originating-IP: [69.177.106.166] X-Originating-Email: [mrcomputerwiz@hotmail.com] X-Sender: mrcomputerwiz@hotmail.com From: "Mr CW" To: freebsd-hackers@freebsd.org Date: Thu, 14 Dec 2006 19:02:39 +0000 Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed X-OriginalArrivalTime: 14 Dec 2006 19:02:41.0526 (UTC) FILETIME=[6E1B2160:01C71FB2] Subject: Capturing Parallel Port Data X-BeenThere: freebsd-hackers@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.5 Precedence: list List-Id: Technical Discussions relating to FreeBSD List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Thu, 14 Dec 2006 19:02:57 -0000 Hi Guys, I have been reading the ppi man page and have searched Google but have not found an answer to my problem: I work at a business which uses cable testers that output plain text to a dot matrix printer (any old DMP will work). (Cirris cable testers) The paper trail is getting huge so I am trying to write a program that does the following: Prompts the user for the cable part number Reads data from the parallel port, which is connected to the parallel output of a Cirris tester Prompts for any notes regarding the cable Inputs the data into a database table Now, my real question is: how do I read data from the parallel port on the FreeBSD computer that is coming from the tester which is trying to 'print' to the FBSD computer's parallel port? Is there a suggested pinout for a parallel crossover calbe to accomplish this task with ppi? Is the crossover cable even required? Finally, is there a FBSD-sanctioned parallel port driver for use with Perl instead of using ppi and C? Any and all help is welcomed and apriciated. -J. Hunt _________________________________________________________________ Get free, personalized commercial-free online radio with MSN Radio powered by Pandora http://radio.msn.com/?icid=T002MSN03A07001