Lantronix ETS Reference Manual - 10:  Appletalk Host Setup

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10:  AppleTalk Host Setup

The EZWebCon configuration software is the easiest way to configure the ETS. See your Installation Guide 

for more information on using the EZWebCon software.

The following sections cover command line print configuration for AppleTalk hosts. 

Note:

Macintoshes that do not support EtherTalk will need either an Ethernet card or 

a LocalTalk-to-EtherTalk router to use the ETS 

10.1   Configuration

An ETS servicing AppleTalk print queues must have the AppleTalk protocol enabled (the default). To 

verify that AppleTalk is enabled, enter the List Protocols command. 

The ETS advertises its attached printers as LaserWriters. The ETS and its printers can be assigned to a 

specific zone with the Define Protocols AppleTalk Zone command.

Figure 10-1:  Specifying a New AppleTalk Zone for the Printer

Since printers attached to the ETS aren’t directly connected to the network, any programs or utilities that 

attempt to modify their AppleTalk settings will fail. The ETS controls all AppleTalk parameters, such as 

zone name and job time-outs, so modifying these settings on the printer itself will have no effect. Changes 

to the printer’s serial port will need to be reflected in the ETS port settings as well. 

10.1.1   Bitronics Interface

Printing from a Macintosh requires bidirectional PostScript data flow. Serial ports are inherently 

bidirectional, but not all parallel ports are. For that reason, Lantronix ETS units support the Bitronics 

interface created by Hewlett-Packard (IEEE 1284 nibble mode). This interface is an extension to the 

standard Centronics interface. Printers that support Bitronics allow bidirectional communication via the 

parallel port. To enable Bitronics on an ETS parallel port, use the following commands:

Figure 10-2:  Enabling Bitronics Mode

If the PostScript printer attached to the ETS can not provide interactive responses to the printing host, 

AppleTalk printing will fail. Macintoshes typically require responses to PostScript queries sent to the 

printer.

Note:

Bitronics mode must be supported by and enabled on the printer. For the HP 

LaserJet 5, enabled the ADV FNCTNS option in the parallel menu.

Local>> DEFINE PROTOCOLS APPLETALK ZONE “Accounting”

Local>> DEFINE PORT 2 BITRONICS ENABLED

Local>> LOGOUT PORT 2