Setting up a network printer as local device in RHEL

Issue

• Instead of setting a network JetDirect print queue I would like to setup a device, like /dev/printer1 for example, that is linked to the IP address of the printer. I remember setting this up using the hpnptyd command in SCO Unix.

• We would like to make a network printer appear as a local printer. It can then be treated as any other printer; for example, any available model scripts and filters can be used. This is done using the hpnptyd utility in SCO Unix using the following procedure:

  1. Configure a pseudo-terminal to the networked printer, as follows:

     /usr/lib/hpnp/hpnptyd -m /dev/ptypN -x host
     

  where N is the pseudo-tty number and host is the host name of the network printer. This command starts a daemon which redirects data sent to the pseudo-tty to the network printer.

  1. Once the pseudo-tty has been set up, you can use lpadmin to add the printer to the system. For example, to add an HP LaserJet 5N (PCL) with lpadmin:

     lpadmin -p mhlaser -T hplaser -I pcl -m standard -v /dev/ttyp18
     

  Print requests sent to mhlaser are sent across the network to your laser printer.

• Today we are using an application that runs under SCO OpenServer 6.0. We have Okidata connected to Digiboard using a serial connection (for example, /dev/ttya01). The application is set up to print directly to /dev/ttya01. I am setting up RHEL without any Digiboard. I will be converting the serial Okidata printer to a network connection. A print server (192.168.2.1) will be connected to the parallel port of the Okidata. In RHEL, I can add a new printer using a DeviceURI like socket://192.168.1.2, and it will print fine from RHEL. However, The application is written to print to a serial printer's device and not to a spool printer queue. Is there a way to link the IP address (192.168.1.2) to a device in /dev, for example /dev/okidata. Where that device would print to the Okidata's network printer when sending data to the /dev/okidata?